In what was perhaps Merrigum’s best chance to get a win in 2025, the Bulldogs simply couldn’t cut the mustard against Tallygaroopna in round 11 of Kyabram District League football.
Heading into the contest at Merrigum Recreation Reserve, neither team had a win in 2025, but it was Tallygaroopna that seemingly wanted it more.
In all fairness, it was a tight game through three quarters, with the Redlegs holding close leads right the way through, beginning with a 13-point advantage at the first break.
The Bulldogs romped their way back into the fray with a 4.3 in the second period, with Tallygaroopna adding three goals in reply, to make it a four-point game at the half-time siren.
A slight downturn in attacking production for Merrigum (2.1), meant that the consistent Redlegs (3.3), were able to push their lead back out to two goals with the final frame on the horizon.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it was an absolute Tallygaroopna domination down the stretch, with the team kicking six majors and limiting Merrigum’s production to just a single behind.
This barrage meant that the score ballooned out to an 8.8 (56) to 16.7 (103) finish, a scoreline that wasn’t necessarily representative of the tight contest.
Alas, it wasn’t to be for the Bulldogs, despite strong performances from Darcy Collins, who kicked six goals along with James Ross, Brayden Hall, Tom Cooper, Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick and Zak Parkinson.
Merrigum will have the toughest of all bouts in round 12, when it travels to Murchison Recreation Reserve to face the undefeated Grasshoppers.