At Bill Andriske Mollymook Oval, the Dogs opened the day’s scoring, when Michael Salafia and Arthur Scott combined on a wrap-around, before the halfback hit winger Steine Lofts with a pass to score in the corner.

Salafia missed the conversion and it was 4-nil after five minutes.

In a sign of things to come in the see-sawing affair, the Eagles were next to score, after Josh Sainsbury was first to a Aaron Merrick grubber, which hit the upright.

Merrick slotted the extras the visitors led 6-4 after 15.

But that lead was short lived, as the Eagles made an error on the very next set.

The Dogs capitalised when skipper Nick Goodman dived over from close range, following a barnstorming run by Scott. Salafia nailed the kick and the score was 10-6.

The Eagles rebounded almost immediately, when Callum Azzopardi got outside his man and scored in the left corner.

Merrick had his kicking boots on today, landing one from the sidelines, to put his team in front by two. 

Just before the interval, much to the delight of the home fans, Wade Walker crossed to score, despite pressure by two defenders.

Salafia failed to convert and the score at the break was 14-12.

The hosts lead was extended soon after the resumption, after a Lepani Waqa intercept led to PJ Ardler crossing over. Salafia again missed, and the lead was six.

Just when the hosts looked to be on the ascendancy, Park’s Jiye Ellis made a try-saving tackle of Geoff Johnson before grounding a Scott Austin grubber at the other end to level the scores – following the Merrick conversion.

This proved a turning point, as the final 20 minutes belonged to the Eagles.

Merrick continued his strong match, slicing through a rushing-up Dogs defence to stroll over untouched and when he converted his own try off the upright, the Eagles led by six.

With seven to play, Merrick stretched the lead to eight, following a penalty.

To rub salt into the wounds of the hosts, Azzopardi then scored his second of the afternoon, being first to an Austin grubber kick, before reaching out with his right hand to score.

Merrick missed his first kick of the afternoon, making the final score 30-18.

Best for the victors were halves Merrick and Austin, while fullback Ellis and forwards Simon Harris and Sainsbury played tough.

For the Dogs, Scott was close to best on ground in a losing team, while Tyler Clark, Kirren Roughly and Waqa were solid.