After a little scare 9 minutes into the 3rd quarter when the Maggies stretched to a 25 point lead, the Bulldogs once again set about running the maggies off their feet. Scott West began the onslaught, feeding the ball out from many stoppages, Cooney and Higgins were too good up forward, and Peter Street started winning some knocks and was getting possies around the ground. Cam Wight played well when given a run in the ruck, his mobility was too much for the lumbering pie big men. Akker played his best game to date, seems to be getting better each week, and is over the OP that was haunting him pre and early season. I also feel justified in suggesting Higgins was a better option than Robbins, and my prediction last year he would be a gun is beginning to show some acdcuracy. The fact that Brad Johnson was goalless in the 2nd half 12 goal to 3 rout augurs well for goalkicking ability.
My one criticism was to the selectors. When we struggle it is simply due to not having a power forward. I don't care if Street & Minson play ruck off the interchange and leave Darcy up forward, but they must move him to CHF when we hit those bad patches. Alternatively, give Tom Williams a game and put Shaggy Hargraves to CHF, but whatever, we went into todays game a tall short. Had it not been for Wight's cameo in the 2nd half, (and it was his attack on the ball and his mobilty that troubled Collingwood NOT his ruck work), we may have struggled. An extra tall gives us flexibilty, and at times we need that when sides have stymied our game style. The big guys I mention will NOT slow the team down, as Wight & Williams are 2 of the quickest on the sqaud, and Hargrave and Harris are way from slow!
All in all, a good win against a hard to beat team.
Hooroo....