Sport
8 April, 2025
Bulldogs bite in second half to snag big win
The Avoca Bulldogs have started the season off on a high after a comfortable 53-point victory over the Maryborough Giants at Avoca on Saturday.
AVOCA 16.13 (109) def MARYBOROUGH GIANTS 7.14 (56)
It was a close game up until half time when the Giants were still a very good chance of getting the points when they only trailed by eight points.
It was a great start to the game for former Giants player Mitch Whelan who kicked the first two goals of the game for the Bulldogs. Whelan has great hands and knows where the goals are, and the Bulldogs were very pleased with his four goal contribution for the game.
After the Bulldogs kicked the first three goals of the game, the Giants fought back with goals to Matthew Johnson and Karson Guareschi, to trail by three points at quarter time.
Johnson kicked the first goal of the second term, followed by another from Seth Hoskin and the Giants kicked out to a nine point lead early in the second term, but it was a short lived lead as Nathan Coghlan answered immediately and new recruit Alex Riches snapped truly for the Bulldogs to lead at half time.
Bulldogs Coach, Matt Newton, inspired his players at the main break as they came out firing on all cylinders Kicking seven goals to one to take a match winning grip on the game. Tyson Gray took a sensational diving mark to score Avoca final goal of the term.
It was goal for goal in the final term, but the game was well and truly in the Bulldogs keeping, helped by the strong marking effort of key forward Zack Lubeek, kicking two of his six goals of the game.
The Bulldogs named their best players: Riley Hamilton, Scott Cawthan, Alex Riches, Brayden Northern, Byron Wynd and Zack Lubeek. With Coghlan and Whelan both kicking four goals apiece.
The Giants better players were Cody Wright who was very solid running out the backline all day, Brandon Carter, Declan Wagstaff, Aiden Carter, Kaylab Eggers, and Sam Spink, with Matt Johnson being the only multiple goal scorer with two goals.