Gnowangerup cruise past Lake Grace-Pingrup to book fifth grand final appearance in past six years

A dominant display after quarter-time helped Gnowangerup progress to their fifth grand final in the past six years, crushing Lake Grace-Pingrup by 116 points in the Ongerup Football Association preliminary final on Saturday at Boxwood Hill. After a hotly contested opening term, the margin was just 11 points at the start of the second quarter but that was where the Bulldogs took control. Prolific ball winners Fraser House and Campbell Floyd got busy and power forward Timm House was a huge presence in attack as the Bulldogs kicked five unanswered goals in the second term to open up a 45-point buffer at half-time. The House brothers continued to fire and so did their side as they added another six goals in the third and then kept Lake Grace-Pingrup scoreless in the final term as they cruised to a big victory. Floyd was outstanding in the win, while the influence of midfielder James Culleton and Fraser House (three goals) was also telling as the Bulldogs won 20.19 (139) to 3.5 (23). Timm House finished with eight majors, his best haul of the shortened season, and spent most of the final term on the bench. Scott Anderson won plenty of possessions and Michael Long also kicked three majors as the Bulldogs responded well to their defeat the previous week in the second semifinal. Jedd Herbert was also able to celebrate his 150th game in Bulldogs colours with a win. Lake Grace-Pingrup started strongly but they could only add one goal after quarter-time and were soundly beaten in the finish. Ruckman Reuben Smith was among their best contributors along with Christopher Poot and Alex Duckworth. Mitch O’Neill worked hard in the middle of the ground and kicked one of their three majors while Tyson Prater and Shaun Hodgson also hit the scoreboard. The Bulldogs now get another crack at rivals Boxwood Hill in the league grand final this Saturday in Gnowangerup. Meanwhile in the reserves preliminary final, Boxwood prevailed by 18 points over Jerramungup. The Bulldogs were big winners in the juniors preliminary final, to give their club representation in all three grades at the grand final.