Hammer Time - Dingos Return From Hamilton Victorious

The Toronto Dingos returned down the QEW with the chocolates yesterday afternoon after taking care of the Hamilton Wildcats 13.15 (93) to 6.3 (39), continuing their unbeaten run to start the 2025 AFL Ontario Season.

Keen to get over some of the slow starts that have plagued them the first couple of rounds, the Dingos burst out of the gate against the Wildcats, continuing some of the form we had seen pre bye in the second half of the Tim Shaw Memorial Game. Midfielder Ludo Barrat opened the goal scoring for the game after crumbing the pack and kicking truly around the body.

The midfield goalfest continued through the quarter with Michael Ladd & James Talbot snagging majors and sending the Dingos into the first break with a 17-point lead.

With the wind in their backs in the second quarter, the Dingos began to capitalize on solid ball movement, with defenders Lachlan Barazza and Harry Moore thrusting the ball forward from half back and allowing the tall forwards to crash packs and the smalls to mop up.

Small Forward Zach Shaw shone in the second quarter, nailing two goals (first in Dingos colours), and putting in those 1% efforts with his shepherding and repeat efforts to put pressure on the ball and get to the contests. The Dingos slammed on another 5 goals in the quarter to take a 51-point lead into the main break.

Determined not to be humiliated on their home deck, the Wildcats came out of the half time break eager to make up for the poor performance up until that point. Utilizing the advantage of the wind, they were able to get deep forward entries and capitalize with a four goal quarter, with Dingos managing one major despite multiple shots at goal.

However the revival was short lived as the Dingos hit the last quarter keen to inflict more pain on the home team. Harry Shelton added to the midfielder's goal tally, hitting the scoreboard for the first time this season with two majors, in a three goal quarter that saw the Dingos run away with the 54-point victory.

Goals: M. Lugarini (3), L. Barrat (2), M. Ladd (2), Z. Shaw (2), H. Shelton (2), J. Ian, J. Talbot

Best: L. Barrat, M. Lugarini, Z. Shaw, J. Talbot & H. Shelton