Happy Homecoming For Bulldogs.

Footscray have celebrated a return to the VFL and their spiritual home at Victorian University Whitten Oval with a thumping 117-point win over Richmond in the opening round of the Peter Jackson VFL season. Around 5000 fans watched on as the Bulldogs ran the Tigers ragged, kicking twenty goals to four after quarter-time to win 26.9.165 to 7.6.48; Ayce Cordy and Tory Dickson the chief destroyers in front of goal with five and four respectively.

The terraces were once again lined with the red, white and blue as the beer flowed and the chants of 'Footscray' bellowed from the E.J.Whitten Stand. It was the first match for competition points since 1996.

Former Bulldog and Sydney Swan listed player Ed Barlow got the visitors off to a good start kicking the first goal of the game. It was a competitive opening until the Dogs got going and booted the last four goals of the quarter, a sign of things to come. Quick goals to Jase Perkins, Jordan Russell and Nick Jamieson in the second quarter fired the lead out to 36-points. From there the Dogs never looked back as they ran hard and fast on the open spaces.

Brett Goodes staked a claim for AFL recall racking up countless possessions while Cordy and Dickson were handfuls for the Richmond defence. At half-time families enjoyed a kick-to-kick on the ground, their joy shared by the Bulldogs in the sheds holding a 41-point lead. In the third quarter the Tiger’s woes continued, held goalless while the home side piled on seven majors. Footscray’s Todd Finco providing a match highlight with a fine left-foot snap from well out at the northern end.

Richmond managed to find three goals in the last quarter, however they were unable to stem the Footscray flow as the Dogs booted another eight to blow the margin beyond 100 points. Cordy 5, Dickson 4, Finco and Perkins 3 each were the main goalkickers for Footscray while former Port Melbourne player Nathan Batsanis and ex-Seagull James Wall bagged two each for the Tigers.

The Bulldogs had winners all over the ground in an outstanding team effort with Goodes, Cordy, Nick Lower and Mark Austin prominent. For Richmond Batsanis, captain Ross Young, Anthony Miles and Matthew Arnot all worked tirelessly. Both sides meet their previously aligned clubs in round two with Footscray away to Williamstown and Richmond travel to the newly named Piranha Park to face Coburg.