THURGOONA confirmed its status as the Tallangatta league's new superpower after the Bulldogs surged to a stunning 71-point grand final win over Barnawartha at Sandy Creek on Saturday.
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The Tigers matched their more fancied rivals in the first-half as the Bulldogs clung to a five point lead at the main break.
But the Bulldogs were able to bury the opposition in a 16 goal to five goal avalanche on their way to a crushing 21.7 (133) to 9.8 (62) victory.
With the match up for grabs the Bulldogs unleashed one of their most damaging 30 minutes of football for the season.
Classy Bulldog Sam Cross booted three goals in the opening 10 minutes of the third quarter to set his side alight.
Josh Maher joined the party to also boot three for the quarter on his way to a seven goal haul and claiming the medal for best-on-ground honours.
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Barton medallist Jayden Kotzur also booted two goals in the third quarter blitz.
The Tigers seemed powerless to stop the onslaught as playing a fourth consecutive final finally took its toll.
The Bulldogs charged to the three quarter time huddle with a commanding 48 point lead.
But far from satisfied, the ruthless Bulldogs inflicted more pain on their opponents during the last term, booting seven goals to three.
The victory handed the league powerhouse its third flag in four seasons.
Last year's defeat at the hands of Kiewa-Sandy Creek preventing the Bulldogs emulating Mitta's four-peat in 2004-07.
Coach Brett Doswell was ecstatic to land a flag in his first season in charge of the Bulldogs after last tasting the ultimate success with Wagga Tigers in 2001.
"The third quarter is called the premiership quarter for a reason," Doswell said.
"Barnawartha were right in the contest in the first half.
"But a lot of our leaders stepped-up in that third quarter and put some physical pressure on in the centre.
"We were able to get a lot more ball forward and our forwards capitalised."
Maher, Kotzur and Cross did most of the damage for the Bulldogs to finish with 14 goals between them.
Defenders Luke Gerecke and Kane Westlow were instrumental in restricting the Tigers to nine goals.
Tom Anson, Brad Dalbosco and Josh Spence tried to rally the Tigers but lacked the necessary support.
Doswell said the Bulldogs made a mockery of the theory that they were old and slow and vulnerable on the wide expanses of Sandy Creek.
"There is no substitute for class," he said.
"I think today proved that and we have got some great users of the football."
