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It took only a moment’s inattention but it was all that was needed to give the Tamworth Swans the upper-hand over the Gunnedah AFL Bulldogs in a crucial third quarter last Saturday.
The Dogs lost 10.9.68 to the Swans 13.8.86 in the round 10 match of the Tamworth Australian Football League (TAFL) played at Wolseley Park.
Both sides were within reach of victory throughout much of the match.
The points were tied 17-all at the end of the first quarter and just four points the margin at half-time.
A lapse in the third quarter allowed the Swans to bump the points buffer out to 20 before being reeled in slightly by the Dogs in the fourth.
“They blew us to pieces (in the third quarter),” Bulldogs coach Ryan Cooper said.
“Our guys just feel asleep and our structure went out the window.
“We tried to run them down but couldn’t quite get there.”
Andrew George and David Vidovic both kicked three goals each for the Bulldogs, among the side’s best, however inaccurate kicking early on cost the side dearly.
Also among the goal scorers was Jordan Mulherin who booted two and Matt Pengilly who slotted one.
Despite the loss, there much to gleam from last weekend’s showing.
Intensity was high, the effort encouraging and pressure on the Swans’ defences, admirable.
Bulldog Vidovic picked up his side’s player’s player award for strong display marking one their opposition’s best in Lachlan Rowling.
“He (Vidovic) was superb in his tagging role on Lachy,” Cooper said.
Rowling, who was rumoured to have played in Sydney, was the named competition’s best and fairest in 2008 and ran close again in the years to follow.
“Dave did a real good job,” he added.
This Saturday the Dogs kick into the first game of the TAFL double-header in Tamworth against the home-town Kangaroos.
It’s a game Cooper and his bottom-placed Bulldogs hope that with a little luck, might just be able to snare an upset win.