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Gunnedah District Bulldogs AFC player Jake Vigor had one mission for last weekend’s match against Tamworth Swans and he executed to perfection.
Pursue, persist and contain one of the Swans’ best in Gavin Knee, were the pre-game instructions from Bulldogs coaches, which Vigor performed to the minute.
“We said wherever Knee goes, you go, and he did it brilliantly,” co-coach Ryan Cooper said.
“I think he got to more than just him, he annoyed the whole team.”
Vigor didn’t kick a single goal but his superb job in the tagging role earned him his side’s player’s player honours.
The Dogs went on to win the match, the first of the 2015 Tamworth Australian Football League (TAFL) season, 14.14-98 to the Swans’ 6.14-50.
But while Gunnedah was singling out opposition players for special attention, the Swans had zeroed in on targets of their own.
Big in their sights was Bulldog and 2014 TAFL Best and Fairest winner, Andrew George.
“We have a fair insight as to who they’re after this year,” Cooper said.
The harassing tactics meant George had a fairly quiet game by usual standards and kicked just one goal last Saturday.
The Bulldogs weren’t overly concerned about their player’s new celebrity status among opposition teams and it’s unlikely George would be either.
If anything, the tactics will only served to galvanise George’s resolve and the team in general, Cooper said.
“It’s all part of the game,” he added.
“Teams will always have a go at your best players.”
“Teams will always have a go at your best players.”
- Bulldogs co-coach Ryan Cooper
Adding much needed depth to the Bulldogs’ playing ranks this year are a half dozen new faces at club including a handful, who until Saturday, had never played an Aussie Rules game.
The rookies were given a run-down of the rules during warm-up and learnt a few more on the fly. But given their limited preparation, slotted relatively easily into the team line-up, exceeding expectations.
“Considering our training numbers we were a little apprehensive but all players performed right across the park,” Cooper said.
“We said we wanted to kick the first goal of each quarter and we did.
“(The Swans) came back at us in the second but we pushed away in third.”
The coach attributed another big part of their success to their strong style of play.
“We dominated possession... we were a lot harder at the ball,” he said.
Mitch Swain led the Bulldogs goal-scoring on the weekend and booted six, six-pointers for his side.
But his services are unlikely to last the season as the goal kicker is due for his second knee operation.
Another to star for the Bulldogs on Saturday was Tommy Witts.
The “tenacious” Emerald Hill player kicked two goals against the Swans, alongside Jordan Mulherin who also booted two.
The Dogs play Narrabri Eagles at Wolseley Park on Saturday In their first home game of the season.
As both teams are usually evenly matched in skills, Cooper expects the game to be a good test of fitness for his troops.
“The last few games up there, we’ve played them without reserves,” he said.
“And they’ve only run over us toward the end.
“This will be a good test for us but I’m confident.
“We have quality (players) across the board.”