A six-goal haul from Ayce Cordy has guided Footscray to a nail-biting two point win against Richmond in the VFL on Saturday.
The Bulldogs endured a tight tussle with the Tigers all day, with the lead changing several times throughout the match.
It was Cordy’s effort and the work of Shane Biggs across half-back that inspired the Dogs to hold on in the final minutes.
After a lacklustre first term, the message from coach Ashley Hansen was clear at the first break, as the Dogs came out in the second quarter full of energy and noticeably raising their pressure.
Daniel Pearce led the charge and finished with ten tackles in a fierce display.
“(The message) at quarter time was just respecting that they were in a contest,” Hansen said.
“Richmond to their credit came out and forced us into a handball style game which got us on the back foot and forced us into creating a few turnovers for them which didn’t help us.
“It was just getting back to our style and making the most of our opportunities.”
Although getting off to a shaky start, Hansen commended his side for their ability to hold on.
“The belief and resilience when things weren’t going our way and determination and spirit was all really strong.
“Wins like that, you nearly take the behaviours out of it more than the execution and we certainly will today because I didn’t feel like we executed our game plan or style very well but we found a way which was really impressive and encouraging from the young group.”
Cordy was a dominant presence when he went forward for the Dogs and continued to build on his work around the ground that has been a trademark of his 2015 season at both VFL and AFL level.
Biggs collected 31 disposals, spending most of the match floating across half-back and linked up nicely with Dale Morris, in the veteran’s return from a pectoral injury.
Morris picked up 13 touches and five tackles and was his usual cool head in defence, before having stints in the forward line throughout the second half.
The Dogs now move to sixth on the VFL ladder and hold the second highest percentage in the league.
Footscray take on Sandringham next Sunday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Footscray 2.1 5.5 8.9 11.18 (84)
Richmond 2.5 5.6 11.9 12.10 (82)
Goals
Footscray: A.Cordy 6, Honeychurch, Jamieson, Daniel, Redpath, Campbell
Richmond: McDonough 3, Lennon, Lloyd 2, Lambert, Gordon, Barlow, Wynne, McBean
Best
Footscray: A.Cordy, Biggs, Russell, Honeychurch, Hunter, Pearce
Richmond: Cachia, Lambert, McDonough, Thomas, Dea, Gordon, Lloyd
