The Bulldogs were in full control leading 11.9 (75) to 1.10 (16) but had an extra player run out in the last quarter and play for around eight minutes, before the infringement came to the attention of the match officials.

 A head count was taken of the teams and having had 19 players on the ground the Bulldogs were stripped off their entire score and had to begin from scratch for the rest of the final term.

 Despite trailing by 16 points the Bulldogs almost won; booting 2.5 to Norths single goal for the rest of the fourth quarter but Norths prevailed  2.10 (22) to 2.5 (17).

Tom Green and co-captain Dale Perrett were standouts in a Norths side which was outplayed; with  Murray accepting the responsibility for the loss.

 ‘‘I put my hand up, it was my mistake,’’ said Murray who is a foundation figure of the Bulldogs, a premiership-winning player and has coached the University-based club to three straight premierships.

 ‘‘When we ran out in the fourth quarter we had an extra player on the ground.

‘‘Normally, I check where everyone is; even check whose gone to the bathroom but I made a blue and the rules are the rules. You have to cop it and move on.’’

   Bulldogs recruit Evan Smith, who last season played in the elite North East AFL competition, showed his class with seven goals before his contribution and the entire Dogs score counted for nothing.

‘‘We lost but we played outstanding footy,’’ Murray said.

 ‘‘Our pressure was right up there and I couldn’t be happier with the effort. It’ll count for nothing but it was a very positive performance.’’

  The Dogs now face the unbeaten Wollongong Lions in the match of the season on Saturday  at North Dalton Park.

  The Lions made it three straight wins on their return to South Coast AFL with a  19.19 (133) to 4.4 (28) victory over Shellharbour at Kully Bay Oval.

 Shellharbour led by four points at quarter-time but an eight goals to none second term to the Lions ended the contest.

 Dave Nolan was best on ground for the Lions, while Josh Tier in his 150th Lions game, Dave Carter and Erin Franklin also played well.

 Mitch Bates, Michael Tope and Nathan McAndrew were standouts for Shellharbour.

Finally, Bomaderry Tigers ended a two game losing run with an impressive 120-point win over winless Kiama at Artie Smith Oval.

The Tigers lost narrowly to Norths and Shellharbour but were too strong for a depleted Kiama, winning 24.10 (154) to 3.6 (24).

In Saturday’s  round seven, the Lions host the Bulldogs in a mouth-watering match-up;  Kiama are away to Northern Districts and Bomaderry host Nowra. Shellharbour have the bye.

 AFL South Coast Seniors ladder: Wollongong Lions 8; Wollongong Bulldogs 6,  Northern Districts 6, Nowra 6, Bomaderry 6, Shellharbour 4; Kiama 0.