Gordon seemed to have Daylesford’s measure right from the first bounce in their Central Highlands Football League match on Sunday.
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A good start from the Bulldogs came from the first goal of the match by Seb Walsh, but it was soon eclipsed by a solid spread of scoring shots by the Eagles.
Even though Walsh added a second major, Gordon led by 10 points at the first break.
The Bulldogs had their tails up in the second term, kicking two quick goals to take a two-point lead.
Daylesford extended the advantage to eight points and then two rapid-fire majors from Chris McGuigan snatched it back for the visitors.
The Bulldogs were hanging by a thread when Jack Nulty levelled the scores at the 13-minute mark.
And it was all downhill from there with Cam Richardson slotting a major and big man Brendan Sutcliffe booting two for Gordon.
The 18-point lead the Eagles had at half time blew out to 40 points in the third term, which was hit by atrocious conditions thanks to a hail storm and heavy rain.
Tye Murphy revelled in the heavy going, kicking two goals for Gordon in that quarter.
The final term was a mud wrestle with no team getting any real traction. The Bulldogs’ only reward was three behinds.
McGuigan top-scored for the Eagles with four goals, while Murphy and Sutcliffe finished with two apiece.
Around the ground, it was speedster Mick Nolan who commanded respect, while Ash Munari, Matt Raworth and Steven Nicholson conquered the muddy conditions.
Daylesford had just the one multiple goal-scorer, with Walsh booting two.
Sam Winnard and Max Risstrom had solitary goals, but probably deserved a better result.
The Bulldogs had big efforts from Joel Cowan, Patrick Rowe, Josh Cooper and ruckman Luke Carland.
“I liked the way we fought it out. It was a tough game. It was always going to be a tough game,” Gordon coach Gary Learmonth said after the match.
“In the second when they kicked a couple of goals we responded really well. We’re starting to get our run and carry going.”
Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan was quick to move on after Sunday’s defeat.
“We’ve got a few boys to come back in like every side probably has this point of the season,” Goonan said.
“Just got to keep winning. That’s our focus.
“We’re always a chance. Always a chance in every game we play.”
Gordon is now fifth on the ladder, while Daylesford has slipped back to ninth.
During round 15 of the CHFL, Gordon faces Bungaree at home this weekend, while Daylesford plays Buninyong at Buninyong.