The Cats held a 40-point buffer in the final term, before Price’s men took their foot off the accelerator and the Bulldogs mounted a spirited comeback that would fall short in the 13.15 (93) to 11.10 (76) defeat at JF McLean oval on Saturday.

Price said the lapse in concentration made the game look closer than it was.

“We just lost our way for five or ten minutes in the last quarter and we let them get two or three consecutive goals and it made it look a bit more respectable,” he said.

Price said he was pleased with his sides’ ability to capitilise at both ends of the ground on a very windy day with the Cats more prominent scoring into the wind than the Bulldogs.

Ben Lenehan was named best on ground, while youngsters Brad Edge and Sam Alberts were ferocious in the midfield, receiving praise from Price.

“Ben was outstanding in the ruck in the second half,” he said. “Sam recognised the dangerous players around him and got across and shut them down and then when it was his chance to get the footy he would win it and get it going our way.”

Robbie Hare (three goals), who was one of Allansford’s 10 individual goal kickers, was a standout in the ruck and up forward for the Cats.

Thomas Wright was a standout for the Bulldogs kicking two goals and was named as Panmure’s best player in their fifth straight loss.