Australian Football

Match Report

Football "experts", fans and even the players themselves may have to revise expectations of the Western Bulldogs'  2015 season after they thrashed top side and previously undefeated Adelaide on Sunday at Docklands. The fierce, manic Dogs were dominant for the first three quarters, and led by as much as 75 points at the last change of ends before easing down to win by 57 against the shellshocked Crows.

The Dogs were switched on from the very start and gleaned the first goal via Ayce Cordy, who was assuming the number on truck role after Will Minson was surprisingly dropped for this match. Adelaide answered with a goal to Patrick Dangerfield after a free kick, but the Bulldogs took complete control after that, with runners continually streaming out of defence and creating scoring opportunities. This resulted in goals to Liam Picken, Luke Dahlhaus, Clay Smith and Jake Stringer (two), and the Dogs had jumped to a 33-point lead at quarter time.

Stringer kicked his third to start the second term but the Crows edged their way back into the match after that, kicking four goals to three for the remainder of the quarter to remain just within striking distance at half time, trailing at the long break by 34 points.

Adelaide was expected to come back strongly in the third term but amazingly, after a Josh Jenkins behind at the two-minute mark, it failed to score again for the entire quarter. The Western Bulldogs, on the other hand, were rampant. Stringer kicked three more majors to bring his total to six, and Stewart Crameri, Tom Boyd and Lin Jong added further goals to see the Dogs to a massive 75-point lead at the last change of ends.

Hamstring tightness saw Stringer rested in the last quarter and the tired Dogs dropped a gear or two, allowing the Crows to restore some respectability to the score. Adelaide added five goal for the term, three of those to Eddie Betts, while the Bulldogs could muster only two, but it was far too little, too late for the Crows and the Dogs coasted to a very impressive 57-point win.

Skipper Bob Murphy was a standout for the Dogs, with his 17 kicks ands eight handballs creating many forward moves. Stringer (six goals, 15 disposals) and Matthew Boyd (28 possessions) were also excellent. The Crows had few winners but Scott Thompson (38 touches and a goal) and Sam Jacobs (43 hitouts, 18 disposals) were good all day.

The Western Bulldogs, in fifth place with a 3-1 record will face a stern test against Sydney at the SCG next Saturday afternoon, while Adelaide (also 3-1) will look to return to the winners list in Sunday's showdown against Port Adelaide.

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 6; T. Boyd, Jong 2; Cordy, Picken, Dahlhaus, Smith, Macrae, Bontempelli, Crameri, Grant
Adelaide: Betts 4; Dangerfield 2; Thompson, Walker, Henderson, Jenkins

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Stringer, Murphy, Macrae, Jong, Talia, M. Boyd, Dahlhaus
Adelaide: Thompson, Ellis-Yolmen, Betts, Jaensch, Jacobs

BEST - THE AGE
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Stringer, Boyd, Dahlhaus, Picken, Talia, Jong, Johannisen
Adelaide: Jacobs, Jaensch, Betts, Thompson, Ellis-Yolmen.

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Jake Stringer (hip)
Adelaide: Rory Laird (concussion), Ellis-Yolmen (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Mitch Honeychurch replaced Jake Stringer in the third quarter
Adelaide: Jarryd Lyons replaced Rory Laid in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Deboy, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Sandy Roberts, Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley, Cameron Mooney