Footscray Edgewater has awoken from its slumber, snapping a three-game losing streak in Premier Cricket.
The Bulldogs easily accounted for Geelong to win on first innings at the Merv Hughes Oval on Saturday.
PICTURE GALLERY: Footscray Edgewater v Geelong
The Dogs were set a modest 166 target and were never seriously in danger of falling short, even if they suffered a lower-order collapse and had to reach the target eight down.
Travis Dean (50) and James Crosthwaite (25) held the Bulldog top order together.
Dean has been ultra-consistent this summer with four half-centuries in seven innings and 306 runs at 61.
A patient Anthony Barton steered the Dogs across the line with his 53 not out.
Barton was a sure hand while the lower order crumbled around him.
The No.5 batsman had shown strong form in the seconds and deserved his call-up.
This was his best knock in the ones since making 91 against Prahran in the first half of last summer.
Perhaps it will be the start of a prolonged stay in the firsts for Barton this season.
The Bulldogs remain outside the top eight despite a positive 4-3 win-loss record.
The reigning premiers have a chance to close the gap before Christmas with five games in 22 days, starting with a road trip to Dandenong to be played as a Saturday-Sunday match at Shepley Oval this weekend.
