Point Cook has strangled the life out of Box Hill North to exact revenge for last season’s heartbreaking Victorian Amateur Football Association division 4 semi-final defeat.
The Bulldogs produced a defensive showing of the highest order to hold the visitors to a single goal in 120 minutes of football at Saltwater Reserve on Saturday and win by a massive 153 points.
Bulldogs coach Ian Denny was rapt with the defensive effort.
“That was the side that beat us in the semi-final last year, so to do that to them was a bit of revenge I suppose,” he said. “Our backline was pretty tight and we starved them of opportunities … that was good.”
Point Cook benefited from having a near-full list from which to choose.
The Bulldogs’ hold on second spot was starting to look shaky after two consecutive losses, but Denny put that down to a weakened personnel situation.
“Westbourne got us by nine points two weeks ago, but we finished with 17 players that day and they’re the best team,” Denny said.
“We lost five players in that game on top of the list we already had out. Last week, we were just a bit under-manned against Eley Park … we got three or four of those back and they made a big difference on the weekend.”
On the flip side, it was Box Hill North’s turn to experience life with a weakened team.
Denny conceded the visitors’ outs had a bit to do with the lopsided nature of the game.
“You pick up a few and they lose a few – all of a sudden it’s a big turnaround,” he said.
Jordan Lampi showed why Point Cook was so giddy about his return to the club.
Lampi kicked eight goals, including five in the last quarter, in a best-on-ground performance.
“He’s probably the premier player in the competition,” Denny said.
Denny praised all the players who worked hard defensively in the Bulldogs’ back six and the midfielders who applied pressure to ensure the ball never made it into the defensive 50.
Mason Kip, Robbie Milne and Tom Kelly were the stands-out down back.
Bulldogs full forward Will Dawson kicked six goals, including his 50th of the season.
Point Cook has plenty of time to savour its victory with two football-free weekends coming up. The Bulldogs’ next game will be a blockbuster against finals contender Mount Lilydale on July 23.
Meanwhile, Westbourne Grammarians had a hard-fought 17-point win over North Brunswick at Allard Park to keep their quest for an undefeated season alive.
Chris Hudson’s four goals were crucial for the Warriors in a low-scoring affair.
With the bye for the VAFA representative games this weekend, the Warriors will next take to the field against Chadstone on July 16.
