Lose the Game But........

By Mick Jeffrey
May 4 2003

Earlier in the year, the dome played host to the Kostya Tszyu fight against Jesse James Leija, dubbed the dust up at the dome. That fight turned out to be a bit of a fizzer in terms of the finish.

Fast forward to the 4th of May in 2003. The scene was the dome in the first quarter of the Round 6 match between St.Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. Bulldog Robert Murphy had just reduced the margin to a single kick when all hell broke loose.

Everyone was into one of the biggset all in brawls in many years. Some even likened it to the quarter time brawl in the 1990 Grand Final between Collingwood and Essendon. Saints player Heath Black was poleaxed by young Bulldog Ryan Hargrave, Rohan Smith was another casualty and the trainers and other club officials were not holding back.

I'm certainly glad I am not part of the AFL match review committee, as they would be up all day and night. At least they would be happy that the fines would enable the code to promote itself in other states. They would certainly be unhappy with the image that the brawl presents to the code.

For the record there was actually a game of football at the same venue on the same day (and there was no undercard). It is now a worrying 1-5 record for the Bulldogs as the Saints made it 2 in a row. There was a late fightback in the last quarter, but in the end it was a 15 point margin.

Once again the midifeld played their part. Scott West was agian influential with 33 possessions (and 5 points in our Possie Award). Darcy was good in the middle and for once Daniel Bandy was capable backup. But it seemed that the fight was the real turning point, and we will hear more of the fight than the game.

ST KILDA 15.10.100
BULLDOGS 12.13.85

BULLDOG GOALS: Bowden 3, Croft 2, R.Murphy, Gilbee, Brown, Hahn, Bandy, McMahon, Dimattina

BULLDOG BEST (afl.com.au): Dimattina, Bandy, Johnson, West, Gilbee, Harrison, Bowden