While he was quick to give credit to the Bulldogs, Kennedy said he had expected far more from his team in the slippery conditions at John Flower Oval.

“We weren’t at our ruthless best,” Kennedy said.

“We’re happy to get the points but it was a lazy performance, to be honest.

“I expect more from our group. We didn’t match Wodonga’s energy and intensity.

“We were outplayed.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Wodonga but it was our worst effort for the year.”

Yarrawonga’s day was further soured by another serious knee injury to Jarryd Whinray in the first quarter.

He looks to have a suffered a third anterior-cruciate ligament strain.

The Pigeons will find out more today.

“That didn’t help,” Kennedy said.

“The boys were flat as a tack after that.

“It was his ‘good knee’ but when you’ve done two before, you’ve got a fair idea.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed.”

In a scrappy affair, the Bulldogs took it right up to the reigning premier in conditions that suited Ben Hollands’ side.

Wodonga controlled large periods of the game, with Ross Mulquiney, Marcus McMillan and youngster Logan Morey repeatedly forced to stand tall on the Pigeons’ last line of defence.

Tim Cooper and Drew Barnes thrived in contested situations, with John Pratt Wodonga’s best player.

Brendan Fevola, as usual, impressed with four goals in a low-scoring affair.