IT was all about sending a message. More than one message, in fact.
Shortly after his team stormed to a stunning eight-point win over North Wangaratta on Saturday, Tarrawingee coach Finton Eames made it clear the Bulldogs wanted to show former teammates Jamie Bell and Michael Naish that they had made the wrong decision by switching to the Hawks camp.
But even more than that, it was a performance, and a result, designed to sound a warning to the rest of the league.
The Bulldogs aren't just going to be making up the numbers.
This was classic Tarrawingee 21 men giving everything they had for 120 minutes.
It wasn't the same team that missed out on winning a third premiership in four years when it fell two points short of Moyhu last September, but it could yet be just as good.
It could be better.
On-baller Jack Spence has come on in leaps and bounds since last season, and produced a best on ground performance against the Hawks with trademark tenacity both at the ball and the opposition.
Chris Daws' impact has been steadily growing, and he had his best game of the season to date on Saturday, booting seven goals straight in the absence of star forward Daniel Barassi.
And Brendan Cairns and Joe Doyle have shored up an already strong back end, with the pair playing starring roles on Hawks pair Matt Smith and Phil O'Keefe.
Outside of the long term ramifications, this was a great game of football.
The Bulldogs were on from the get-go, but they didn't have it all their own way.
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
UNORTHODOX: Tarrawingee's Kent Braden kick a banana towards goals on Saturday against North Wangaratta.
PHOTO: Simon Groves
Last Modified on 09/07/2012 18:50