The Bulldogs beat Moree on the opening day of the season in Moree and a win today would be crucial to the Greg Piggott-coached side continuing a run towards a semi-final berth and challenging the top three sides – New England Nomads, Inverell Saints and Tamworth Kangaroos.

Wins over Tamworth Swans and last Saturday’s comprehensive 83-point success against the Narrabri Eagles have buoyed the club.

They now have a firm grip of fourth spot on the ladder, having played each team in the competition on a weekend where the Swans celebrate a 10-year premiership reunion at No 1 Oval with a home game against Inverell Saints and Narrabri Eagles host unbeaten competition leaders New England Nomads at Leitch Oval.

The Swans-Saints match up is even more of a celebration for the home side, with club stalwart Dean Finlay celebrating his 250th game.

He  has won three flags with the Swans in 18 years with the club, a wonderful achievement.

At Gunnedah,  Piggott was happy with last Saturday’s win but did concede his side is still gaining confidence and cohesion in their game plan on a weekly basis.

“Our skills were good again, particularly the first half,” Piggott said.

“We need to continue to work on our game plan and not divert from it. 

“Hopefully that improvement will be seen against the top sides in the coming weeks.”

The Bulldogs blew the Eagles off the park in the first 10 minutes, with small forward Ben Maher, who kicked six of the 18 goals, excelling.

Maher, fellow forward Mitchell Swain and Piggott himself at centre half forward all landed majors in a hurricane start.

It only got better for the Bulldogs, as Piggott landed another two for the quarter, and Swain and Maher one each as the teams went to the first quarter break 44-6 up.

The second term followed a similar pattern and, again, it was Maher in the thick of things.

His roving ability at ground level was superb, continually winning his own ball and using his speed and agility to out-manouevre his opponent.

At three quarter time the score read 109 to 33. 

With the injury setbacks to Al Hillard and James Mack, it was the likes of captain Brad Jenkinson and winger Brent Hartley who found his way into the midfield that led the way for the Bulldogs.

Hartley, in particular, was impressive, with his speed out of contested packs and ability to mark the footy overhead a key feature of his play.

Jenkinson again controlled the midfield, and his efforts in attack and defence with his backline ensured the Bulldogs ran away comfortable victors by the match’s end.

Best on ground for the day was Hartley, and coach Piggott was rapt with his efforts on the day.

“He won the ball at times when he had no right to,” Piggott said.

“He was big today, particularly when we had injuries and had to reshuffle a few blokes.” 

He also praised the efforts of his captain. 

“Jenko again was huge,”  he said. 

“He’s consistently one of if not our best week to week. As captain, he always leads from the front.”