It was a successful return to the coaches’ box for Rodney Eade on Saturday as the Western Bulldogs advanced to the quarter finals of the Wizard Home Loans Cup but it might be his former apprentice Paul Roos who will go home the happier man.
In what was the first meeting as coaches between Eade and the man who replaced him as coach of Sydney halfway through the 2002 season, the Bulldogs won 1.11.15 (90) to 0.11.4 (70) after breaking the game open in the third quarter.
In fine Bulldogs tradition, leading by 9 points at half-time (low score due to bad kicking, not lack of opportunities), they took the lead to 40 in the 3rd quarter & then let Sydney back to within 16 points in the 4th.
Why oh why can’t we hold on in the last quarter? If Sydney didn’t have Barry Hall, Stuart Maxfield, Paul Williams, Jason Ball, Michael O’Loughlin, Jared Crouch, Jason Saddington, Ben Mathews and Tadgh Kennelly all out, we would have been stuffed.
On a more positive note, Ryan Griffen looks to be the player to watch this season. A rookie with a good opening game & a solid history.