Gutsy Thurgoona overrun by Yackandandah who extend giant killing run

The Bulldogs' bench resembled a casualty ward with four players tearing hamstrings during the opening quarter and sidelined for the remainder of the match.

Former coach Brett Doswell alongside Mitch Reilly, Matt Howard and Todd Miller were all out of action by quarter time.

The visitors were forced to play the remainder of the match with only 17 fit players.

At one stage during the third-quarter they only had 16 on the field after Ryan Murray was forced from the field with severe cramp before returning in the final quarter.

Despite the mounting injury toll the Bulldogs hit the front during the last quarter before the effort took its toll and the Roos finished with a flurry on their way to a 16.11 (107) to 11.8 (74) win.

Thurgoona co-coach Kade Brown said it was a gutsy performance by the reigning premier.

"It was a bizarre match to be part of and I've never previously seen anything like it," Brown said.

"I couldn't believe when four blokes went down with hamstrings in the opening quarter.

"The third-quarter was also fairly interesting when we only had 16 players for a while.

"We got back to 17 players in the last quarter and I thought it was a gutsy performance to hit the front.

"But we used all our petrol tickets getting there and they were able to run over the top of us in the end."

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Yackandandah have stamped itself as arguably the most improved side in the competition after claiming the prized scalps of the 2019 grand finalists in successive weeks.

Brown said the Roos were well coached by Darren Holmes and will be a dangerous proposition for most sides this season.

"They are a well drilled and structured side," Brown said.

"They are pretty happy to sit a player behind the play to create the overlap and set up their play from there.

"They have come a fair way."

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