Bulldog Brent Heus and his Stars opponent go head-to-head, if not toe-to-toe. 87304 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By KEN MOORE
BUNYIP has won its first senior premiership since 2000, defeating Garfield by 29 points on Saturday in front of a massive crowd at the Stars’ Beswick Street oval.
In an absorbing game the Bulldogs had to draw on all of their fighting qualities to overcome a 23-point deficit midway through the second quarter.
The gripping match kept the blood pumping in supporters of both sides until Bunyip wrested control of the game with a six-goal to nil last term.
Garfield entered the game without rising star Dylan Collis, who missed with a broken cheekbone and was replaced by Austin Van Strijp.
Bunyip recalled defenders Andy Henwood and Marc Jolley at the expense of Trevor Davies and Peter Edwards.
On a perfect day for football, and with the ground in tip-top shape, Garfield made all the early running.
With goals by Alex Nooy from a tight angle, young tyro Eddie Morris with a smart left foot finish, and robust forward Daniel Fry from a strong mark, the Stars went into the quarter time break with a 19-point lead.
Both teams were tentative with their ball movement early but it was the Stars who settled first and moved the Sherrin far more confidently.
In the first quarter Bunyip was often met with a wall of resistance across the Garfield half-back line, led by Stars ruckman Tom Marsh, Brett Reid and Ben Marsh.
Midfielders Matt Hobbs and Saxon Watson often dropped back to shield the defence, and Morris provided a regular springboard into attack.
If not for half-back Zac Vansittart the Bulldogs would have trailed by far more at quarter time.
Bunyip midfielders Michael Whyte, Michael Laszczyk and Danny Buckingham lifted in the second quarter and coach Callum Pattie and 16-year-old Tom Papley presented well across the forward line.
Yet for all the pressure they exerted, the Bulldogs could not make any inroads on the scoreboard and soon found themselves in more strife when Fry steered through his second major to put the Stars 23 points in front.
A late goal by Bunyip forward Dean Bassed, after he reeled in a courageous mark, reduced the margin to 15 points at half time.
The third quarter was a carbon copy of the second. Bunyip dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes but could not peg back the gap. The Bulldogs then fell 19 points behind when the dangerous Fry popped through his third goal.
But Bunyip kept pressing and, at the 13-minute mark, the shape of the game altered completely when Bassed marked and received a knock to the head that saw him leave the field.
It was deemed a 50-metre penalty and the offender, Stars coach Brent Eastwell, was yellow-carded for a 15-minute spell on the sidelines.
Stuart Edwards took the free and kicked truly. Soon after, Garfield conceded two consecutive 50-metre penalties to gift Laszczyk a goal and this trimmed the deficit to just seven points at three quarter time.
A tiring Garfield defence could not withstand a torrent of Bunyip advances in the final term as the Bulldogs midfield seized total control.
With goals by young gun Tom Papley with an opportunist kick off the ground, Brent Heus from a free kick, and Michael Whyte with a wonderful kick in heavy traffic, Bunyip raced to an 11-point lead inside the opening five minutes of the quarter.
Bunyip continued to push forward at every opportunity and goals from Bassed, Heus and Vansittart followed.
Garfield was out-run and outplayed from midway through the second quarter but, to the Stars’ credit, hung on until the last term.
Garfield was undermined by a bad ankle injury early on to Ryan Louch, while Jamie Ferguson and Ben Marsh were among a host of players feeling the final-quarter pinch as Garfield’s gallant finals campaign appeared to take its toll.
Bunyip midfielder Michael Whyte used the ball superbly all game and was awarded the best on ground medal.
Half-back Zac Vansittart pressed forward at every occasion, wingman Michael Laszczyk provided spark, and tall youngster Mitch Davies was prominent at both ends of the field.
Nathan Lieshout presented well across half forward after the main break, as did half-backs Marc Jolley and Brad Walker.
For the Stars, wingman Matt Hobbs used his skill to good advantage, ruckman Tom Marsh made a strong contribution at both ends, and Eddie Morris, Ben Marsh, Ned Marsh, Rory Hower and Alex Nooy all made their presence felt in and around the midfield.