IT'S often noted in the game of golf that it's not how you play a particular hole, what counts is how many shots it takes. So it was on Saturday as two of the AFL's youngest teams committed a series of skill errors and turnovers in a game that failed to reach any great heights. But that mattered little to the Bulldogs, who were grateful to bank the four points and claim their fourth win of the season.

 

There were concerns another 'Siren-gate' was set to tarnish Saturday afternoon's game, with around two minutes of action continuing in the first quarter after the count down clock being used on the television coverage had reached zero. But it turned out it was an issue with the broadcaster and the siren did in fact ring out on time. It turned out there was no added scoring during those two minutes in any case and there was no repeat of the original 'siren-gate' between Fremantle and St Kilda in Launceston back in 2006.

Taylor Adams and Jeremy Cameron will both face a nervous wait, with the Match Review Panel certain to assess two separate incidents at StarTrack Oval. Adams cleaned up Adam Cooney with a high shot that sparked a quarter-time melee. Cameron's wasn't as clear-cut, with the key forward involved in a bump with Jason Johannisen with the ball in dispute. It ended with the young Dog being taken from the ground on a stretcher and with his neck in a brace. The word from the Bulldogs was the contact was shoulder first and Johannisen's concern was concussion, not a neck injury.

 

The changing political landscape in Canberra in recent times even had an impact on Saturday's game. Former leader Julia Gillard, the Bulldogs' No.1 ticket-holder, was on hand last year to hand out the Prime Minister's Cup for the game between these two sides. But with her deposed, and Kevin Rudd overseas, it was left to ACT sports minister Andrew Barr to do the honours to acting Dogs skipper Ryan Griffen.

 

Callan Ward has been GWS' top-ranked player all season at No.24 heading into this weekend, but he was unusually quiet on Saturday afternoon, with the likes of Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith leading the way. It was a different story for Griffen, the highest ranked Dog at No.11, whose silky skills stood out on an otherwise error-strewn game between these two young sides.