The Bulldogs got their premiership defence off to the best possible start with a 97-point defeat of the Swans in an opening round clash at Wolseley Oval on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Gunnedah coach Doug Meagher said his side were missing several players, but the Dogs did not seem to suffer as a result - leading from start to finish.
Read also:
The final score was 22.13 (145) to 7.6 (48).
It was the long-awaited return of AFL North West, after the season was delayed because of COVID-19.
And even though the Swans were outclassed, it was an entertaining clash.
One of the home side's best was veteran Scott Hardy, a constant threat on the half-forward flank - attacking the ball with venom and kicking six goals.
The 33-year-old and John Woolaston are the sole remaining members of the Bulldogs side from the club's reformation in the noughties.
Hardy has experienced plenty of hard times at the Dogs, making the club's two premierships in three seasons a source of immense pleasure and pride for him.
Post-match, Swans defender and Leader sports journalist Ben Jaffrey said Hardy had a knack of choosing the right option when around the ball.
It was Hardy's first match since last season's grand final (he did not play in the Bulldogs' trial loss to the Swans at Wolseley Oval earlier this month).
The club's current healthy status "means the world" to him. (Saturday marked the debut of Gunnedah's women's and under-14 sides).
"Like, I love this club," he said. "I was around [the club] at a very young age, when it first got established again."
He continued: "And to watch us struggle all those years, and now, after about 15 years, to finally sort of see success, and see a few good up and coming players, and have the team culture that we do ... mate, that's why I'm still there."
In the women's match, the Swans won 9.3 (57) to 2.9 (21).
The Bulldogs men led 4.4 (28) to 1.1 (7) after the first quarter, 11.7 (73) to 4.2 (26) at half-time and 18.9 (117) to 7.3 (45) after three quarters.
Dogs full forward Brenton Cowell kicked four goals, while teammate Mark Ewington booted three goals
Josh Jones was the Swans' leading goal-scorer with two.
