SOMETIMES it feels like nothing can go right for a team on any given day and for the Gunnedah Bulldogs that day was Saturday.
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As the team prepared to take on the Inverell Saints at Varley Oval, things took a turn as the team bus hit a kangaroo en route to the game and broke down.
Arriving to the game late, the Bulldogs rushed their pre-game preparation ahead of the top of the table clash.
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The final score was 18-12-120 to 10-9-69, but Bulldogs' captain Ben Maher said the side's unusual pre-game experience was "no excuse" for the loss of the game and the right to host a semi final.
"We were lucky a complete legend from Bingara got us a bus and drove us to and from the game," Maher told the Namoi Valley Independent.
"Obviously it put a bit of a spanner in the works warm up wise, but it's still no excuse, we still had all week to train and prepare for the game."
The match never got out past 12 points at each of the first three quarter breaks, but a seven-goal to one final quarter saw the Saints claim the win.
Despite the loss, several of the Bulldogs' key players impressed, including Andrew George (two goals), Jacob Spackman (two goals) and Sam Proudfoot.
"It was goal for goal in the first three quarters, the fourth [quarter] got away from us with a few quick goals, they just wanted it more," Maher said.
"He's [Andrew George] in unreal form.
"He's a real hard competitor and there isn't much he won't try and do.
"His best stuff on the footy field is both on and off the ball with his shepherds and how he positions himself in packs."
Maher said the side would now turn their focus to the finals series in two weeks.
"We need to use this loss as motivation to win up there in the semi final in a fortnight's time," he said.
"Inverell are a four-quarter team, they don't slack off and they are really eager for the football. We are the same and we will look to prove that in two weeks time."