The missing personnel showed early as the Dockers didn't quite click in the opening exchanges. Skipper Adam was a strong target up front, seeing plenty of it with Smithy and Cody rebounding well off the halfback line. Coach Matt Thompson was pushing hard through the midfield and Peaty was trying to muster a bit of intensity from centre halfback. The Dockers added two majors for the quarter to be up 17 to 1 at the first change.

The second quarter was a much better one for the Dockers. Ruckman Big Mitch was getting higher than Ben Cousins on a bender, allowing on ballers Mitchell Donohue and Taj Treweek to work their way into the game. A shin injury to big Mitch saw him push up to full forward and allowed for reformed bulldog Caleb Kersting to slot seamlessly into the ruck. Elsewhere around the ground it was like something out of the Matrix with Smiths absolutely everywhere, Cody Smith swooping on loose footy, Jared Smith displaying silky skills whenever he touched the Sherrin and former rugby league enthusiast Cohen Smith just generally making a nuisance of himself on the half forward flank. Some lovely ruck work up front from Kersting enabled Adam to add his second while coach Thompson got in on the action with a couple of majors. The Dockers up by a dominant but not unassailable 55 to 7 lead at half time.

Despite the large margin the Suns kept fighting in the third quarter, adding another goal of their own and making the Dockers work for every inch. The back line was busy again but Michael the sloth Moran and Darcy were manning up well. Wingers Luke and Shayne started to find some space on the flanks while centre half back Peat must've lost his compass as he found himself on the forward 50 and fluked a goal. The Suns tenacity and fight was still pestering the Dockers, skipper Adam given a spell on the sidelines by the umpire for a poorly phrased piece of feedback regarding his use of the whistle.

Down a man to start the final quarter the Dockers kept pushing, Thommo slunk forward yet again and added his fourth, Caleb Kersting continued to impress in the ruck, Mitchell Donohue terrorised the Suns midfield with a courageous grab in traffic. Elsewhere Young Rhys Cooley made his presence felt, coming on to the forward flank and showing relentless pressure to lay 3 tackles in a row and win a free kick. Daniel snuck an intercept mark to add his second, Cohen was showing signs of leather poisoning on the half forward flank while down in the backline Cody and Sloth showed great determination in defusing a couple of Shellharbour attacking raids, keeping the Suns side goalless for the term. The final score Ulladulla 92, Shellharbour City 16.

Despite the scoreline it really was a tough hit out for the purple haze. Players player went 1 vote Cody Smith, 2 votes Matt Thompson and 3 Daniel Peat. Thanks as always to John Dyball, Tim Forrester, Harrison Donohue and Kimberley Peat for their work running the off field machinations. The boys are off to Northern Districts next weekend in a top-of-the-table clash with the Tiges before their final home game on Saturday the 17th against Port Kembla. Be sure to get down for a pie and a beer!