Footscray Edgewater has been the road warrior of the Premier Cricket over the past month.
The Bulldogs have travelled to Mordialloc, Port Fairy and Cranbourne but they’ll be back at home this Saturday.
The Dogs will return to Farnsworth Avenue in a better shape than when they left for a month on the road.
They have risen to fifth in the standings after consecutive away wins and sit comfortably among the early pacesetters.
After Saturday’s 34-run win over Casey-South Melbourne at Casey Field, Bulldogs captain Dean Russ said the side was very happy to be 4-2.
“That puts us where we want to be and where we expect to be,” he said.
The Bulldogs have little time to enjoy their lofty perch with a blockbuster two-day game with third-placed Ringwood starting on Saturday at Merv Hughes Oval.
The Bulldogs will get a real gauge on how they are travelling in their bout with the Rams.
“If we can get a win against them, that’s going to firmly entrench us to where we need to be,” Russ said.
Against Casey-South Melbourne, the Bulldogs had only 208 runs to play with and there were stages on Saturday when it looked as though it might not be enough.
The intervention of change bowlers Ben Green and Jeremy Hart put a halt to the Swans’ progress.
Green removed three of the top four batsmen and put the clamps in the run rate to finish with 3-26 off 13 overs.
The allrounder was man of the match, with his 76 not out in the first innings ensuring the Dogs would compile a defendable total.
“He’s a senior player so we have high expectations on him and he was able to deliver in spades,” Russ said.
Hart is proving a fine acquisition for the Bulldogs, with the leg-spinner taking his first five-wicket haul for his new club.
“His control and his ability to spin the ball and drift the ball was first class,” Russ said.
Import Dan Hodgson produced his best showing with the bat, grinding out 37 in unfavourable batting conditions.
With the Bulldogs having encountered a number of bowler-friendly wickets, the best could be yet to come from the Englishman.
“It only says he made 37 but it was worth a lot more in the whole context of the game,” Russ said. “I think the longer form and the better wickets are really going to suit him.”
Wicketkepper Dylan Kight was outstanding, taking two catches and two stumpings.
“He never lets the boys down,” Russ said. “His standards are second to none.”
