GNFL: Rovers Football Club demolish Towns Bulldogs in 153 point round four win

Rovers smashed Towns in their Saturday Great Northern Football League round-four match-up at WA Country Builder Stadium, with the two-time reigning premiers proving they are still a force to be reckoned with.

The first quarter was a pretty even contest, with the Demons leading 3.5 (23) to 1.1 (7), but they then shot ahead to take the game 25.24 (174) to 3.3 (21).

Rovers coach Ian Comben said a quick restructure and good ball work helped them “gradually take control” from the second quarter.

“At quarter-time we had a chat and readjusted things,” he said. “Towns’ pressure in the first quarter was very good and we made a couple of positional changes and our ball use improved.

“Jaimon Alone, Tom Denton, Joey Ugle and Jamie Geier were great and it was a really good team effort overall.

“Shukri Pearce, we shifted where he normally plays, started playing him out back pocket, and his use of the ball on Saturday was exceptional.”

Towns coach Dale Baynes said the Dogs’ backline held up under extreme pressure, led by Rowan Farris.

“If it wasn’t for him and the other backs it probably would have been a 200-point flogging,” he said.

“Rovers have won the last two premierships so we knew who we were up against. We’ve got a young squad to work with and we were pretty undermanned going into the game.

“So we sort of set ourselves to battle it out and try and be competitive, and I think for probably the first three quarters we did that.”