The Bulldogs dominated all four quarters of the match at Dick Burwell Oval to run out 16.11.107 to 2.5.17 winners, as the travelling side capitalised on a struggling Nelson Bay outfit.

Alongside Hardman’s sensational second quarter ‘specky’, he also shone in a brilliant three minute period in the same quarter, slotting home three majors for a hat-trick.

Although the Bulldogs eventually stormed to the 107-point haul their backline were key to the fixture, with Josh Nicol’s 25 first-half touches critical to keeping the Marlins to just two goals and five behinds.

Lachlan Deverell, Linc Stewart, Riley Warner and Oscar Anderson were all identified as stand-out defensive performers alongside Nicol by club coach Marty Reiman.

Luke Roach, Nicholas Metcalfe, Kayne Gibbs and Tristan Warner all bagged doubles for the victorious club.

Elsewhere on the weekend, Wyong Lakes came back from a 16-point deficit at half time, slotting seven majors home to take an 11.13.79 to 10.8.68 win over Killarney Vale at The Don. Jarred Cross scored five goals in the contest for the Magpies.

Also on Saturday, Terrigal Avoca were triumphant in their first derby against Gosford since 2011, sending their near-neighbour rivals packing in a 15.22.112 to 4.6.30 match.

The local rivalry also had a deeper dynamic to it – Lachlan and Daniel White, playing for the Panthers and the Tigers respectively, faced off against each other for the very first time, with both named best for their teams.

The Hawks trotted out 20.28.148 winners over the Dockers, 3.4.22, leaving the Lake Macquarie outfit still searching for their first points of 2018. Finally, Singleton stemmed Newcastle City’s barrage in the first half, but a second half surge saw the inner-city club stretch to a 15.9.99 win over the Roosters, 2.5.17.

Maitland had the bye round.

TABLE: Cardiff (100 per cent), Terrigal Avoca (83.33), Newcastle City (80), Warners Bay, Gosford, Wyong Lakes (60), Singleton (40), Nelson Bay (33.33), Maitland (20), Killarney Vale (16.67), Lake Macquarie (0).