The Bulldogs led for three of the four quarters where their best win in recent times came about due to a consistent effort across all four quarters.

Best on ground was ruckman Al Hillard where, for the second match in a row, has been the Dogs lone ruckman.

His ability to give his side first use of the football at stoppages was a key highlight.

Coach Greg Piggott was quick to point out it was the consistency of all 22 players on the day that enabled his side to run out with the win against the reigning premiers who were unbeaten heading into the match.

“It was a good team performance, everyone stood up and contributed which is the most pleasing thing,” he said.

Piggott also acknowledged his backline’s – led by Ryan Cooper and skipper Andrew George – efforts in keeping the Nomads to just nine goals.

“Our backline was massive, they (Nomads) were coming off kicking 40 against Moree, so to keep them to under 10 goals is a massive effort,” he said.

While Cooper has been consistently in the best for the Bulldogs, George – in a different role for the side at full-back – had a blinder.

His ability to hit targets coming out of the full and half-back lines broke the game open for the Bulldogs going forward on numerous occasions.

The Dogs dominated the early exchanges but failed to capitalise as they scored just two majors from five scoring shots for the quarter.

However, the backline’s ability to spoil the slingshot of the Nomads coming the other way meant they held a three-point lead.

The lead widened to nine points at the half-time break as midfielders Scott Hardy, Jake Spackman and Mark Barrow kept the scoring opportunities coming.

The half-time siren awoke the reigning premiers who got on a roll with back-to-back goals.

The Dogs still did tremendously well against the fleet-footed Nomads and on the rebound – through George off half-back, Barrow and Spackman through the centre and forward pocket Ben Maher – who himself had a massive game, kept the Dogs in the hunt and down by a point going into the final quarter.

The Dogs’ calmness under consistent pressure meant they were able to go coast-to-coast on multiple occasions with three ventures turning into goals.

Young gun Maher proved the difference as he kicked two of his three goals for the day in clutch moments.

Since his debut in round three last season, Maher has grown into an elite footballer for the Dogs where time and again he produces the plays that lead to wins.

The ability to run out the four quarters has eluded the Dogs in the past, but in doing so at the weekend sends a stern warning to the Greater Bank North West AFL competition.