Stars triumph over Bulldogs
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Garfield is on the board in season 2024 after a tough win over their struggling rivals in Bunyip.
In what was a tale of two halves, scores were level at half time in what was a grind of a match before the class and experience of the Stars won out in the end, allowing them to pull away 10.13 (73) to 4.6 (30).
That the game was so even at the half may have been a surprise to many in attendance, given the Bulldogs' well-documented difficulties in maintaining competitiveness since the beginning of last year.
Bunyip looked a different side to the one that failed to win a match in 2023, pushing the Stars in a scrappy contest that had plenty of big hits around the ball.
From there however the Bulldogs' old habits – and mistakes - crept in, allowing Garfield to gain ascendancy, particularly on the outside of the contest.
The Stars ultimately piled on seven goals to one in the second half to run out relatively comfortable winners.
New Stars co-coach Rhys Murphy played one of his finest games for the club, controlling the tempo of the play.
Nathan King put in a strong performance while Garfield recruit Callum Tyler (two goals) showed exactly why the club had sought him out as he was won the Tom Cleary medal for a best-on performance in the Garfield-Bunyip match.
For the Bulldogs young Alex Dijkstra continued his meteoric rise through the senior football ranks to be Bunyip's best. A lot of eyes will be on Dijkstra for a while as he helps to lead the club's rise from the canvas, such is the talent he possesses.
Mitch Sproles, recruit Stuart Johnson and debutant Lachlan Watson also showed plenty of positive signs for the Bulldogs.
It was a tale of two halves for both clubs. Garfield weren't quite jelling as a team in the opening two terms, their system breaking down on a number of occasions, while Bunyip were more than happy to create chaos without the ball and control it when they had possession. Frustration was evident in the Stars camp as what on paper should have been a simple win was turning out to be anything but.
The Bulldogs even won the second term and with the momentum they generated, likely could have been ahead had the term gone for longer.
A half time reset had the Stars working much better in tandem, however, and against the tide of a team linking up the Bulldogs retreated into bad habits.
Where they had resisted quick dump kicks in the first half, now they were becoming guilty of giving up control a little too easily.
It meant the home side were able to link up with one another, creating a wave of opportunities that the Bulldogs simply couldn't stop
New Garfield co-coach Lachlan Schreurs said although he was pleased to have won the Stars' opening game, there was plenty of work to be done.
"I think we had too many individuals early trying to do everything and maybe being a little selfish, we have to be a role-oriented team where everyone plays their part to compete against sides," he said.
"Credit to them, they played the way they wanted in the first half but we expected better overall."
The Stars will have to contend with some injury concerns, as Ben Greenall (hand), Will Pickering (wrist) and Lachlan Spinks (knee) all came out of the game worse for wear.
Bunyip coach Lachlan Petch described the game as a "missed opportunity."
"It hurts because we were well and truly in it," he said.
"The first half was us, it's how we've been training and we implemented our gameplan to perfection. But I think we might have felt the pressure a bit in the second half and we went back into old habits.
"The positive sign is that we played two really good quarters, I think you've got to find those positives."
Garfield will next play Dalyston away in what looks to be a gettable game while Bunyip are at home and will face a daunting task against a rampant Nar Nar Goon.