Umpires: K.Smith & J.Russo

Goalkickers: R.Ashman 3, J.Madden 1, J.Buckley 1, W.Ralph 1, A.Marcou 1.

Best: B.Doull, K.Hunter, R.Ashman, R.Austin, A.Marcou

Reports: Nil

Injuries: W.Johnston (undisclosed injury) replaced by R.Austin in the selected side.

Game Review

There was no third-quarter blitz this week. In fact there wasn't much of anything - the Blues hardly gave a yelp as we crashed to perhaps our worst loss of the season in Mark Maclure's 200th game. Rod Ashman, Peter Dean and Wayne Harmes battled hard on the windy confines of the Western Oval, but the more accurate Bulldogs got on top after half time and ended up winning by almost six goals.

As had happened before in this dramatic season, this loss could have been a disaster for the Blues. But while Carlton lost, Hawthorn crushed Collingwood at Princes Park, allowing the Blues to still cling tenuously to third ladder position. Meanwhile, Fitzroy continued their late-season charge. They thrashed North Melbourne at the MCG, with 'Superboot' Bernie Quinlan banging through 11 goals. Suddenly, the Lions were one win outside the five, with some chance of making the play-offs.

The Bulldogs enhanced their chances for a berth in the final five with a solid win against Carlton at the Western Oval. In a scrambly opening the Bulldogs scored the only two goals for the first term and held the initiative for the remainder of the contest. Bruce Doull, Ken Hunter and Rod Ashman tried hard for the Blues but overall they never looked likely to upset the tenacious Bulldogs. The Bulldogs played an inspired quarter which increased their six point half time lead to a safe 33 points by the next change. Nothing the bedraggled-looking Blues did in the last 30 minutes made any impression on a side determined to keep its finals hopes alive, it made the Blues visit to the Western Oval a nightmare once again. - Football Record.

Team

Video

Milestones

200 Games: Mark Maclure