Bulldogs youngsters Dragovich, Panizza grabbing opportunity

All those players remain in contention to return to the league side at some stage and have been playing some good football in the winning reserves team, but what Curley saw against East Perth prior to last week’s bye was likely the most impressive performance of the season.

South Fremantle went down a man in the second quarter when full-forward Ben Saunders hurt an ankle, but played at a high intensity the whole afternoon with the pressure they put on East Perth and then attacking run going the other way proving a winning formula.

Cory Dell’Olio and James Sellar combined for seven goals in attack, and experienced players Adam Guglielmana, Brock Higgins, Ryan Cook, Blayne Wilson and Ashton Hams all had strong games but again it was the Bulldogs’ youth that provided the spark.

Dragovich came in to make his league debut against East Fremantle in the Anzac Derby and was terrific and backed that up again against East Perth with his competitiveness and attack on the ball a highlight, while Panizza did his second straight strong performance in a run-with role.

It was that attack on the ball and contest against East Perth that impressed Curley the most with the young players in the team leading from the front.

“I guess it’s an area we have been trying to work on a lot. I guess the pleasing thing is younger players like Dragovich was probably a leader in that area with his physicality,” Curley said.

“Certainly some of the more experienced payers lifted as well. It was a pretty even performance and certainly when our tackling and pressure is up it makes it easier for the back-line and it obviously gives the forwards a good chance to score too.”

Dragovich has graduated from the colts to senior football this year and made his league debut against East Fremantle with 23 possessions, seven marks and a goal, and then the 19-year-old backed it up with 19 disposals and a goal against East Perth.

Meanwhile, Panizza made his league debut in Round 23 last year and came in for his first match of 2015 also against East Fremantle, and did a tremendous job limiting the influence of former North Melbourne midfielder Liam Anthony all afternoon.

The 21-year-old from Williams then backed up by doing a good job keeping East Perth co-captain Brendan Lee quiet before he went off with a hamstring injury in the Bulldogs’ win over the Royals.

Curley was impressed with the fight shown by his team in the win prior to the bye and now hopes it can be replicated this Saturday against Peel Thunder at Fremantle with the likes of Dragovich and Panizza leading the way.

“It was really pleasing. It is pretty hard when you only have a three or four-day break and it was pretty hot on Monday and then East Perth had that break of an extra couple of days as well,” Curley said.

“But it shows if you’re not willing to let the game go, it doesn’t really matter what break you have got, you can hang in there and compete really strongly. The last 10 minutes we were out on our feet but we still hung in there and found a way to win.”