Australian Football

Match Report

The Western Bulldogs have given fans a glimpse of the future with a promising victory over an undermanned West Coast Eagles outfit at Docklands stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After an even first half, which the Bulldogs take a one-point buffer into the long break, the Bulldogs hit their straps in the third quarter, kicking five goals to the Eagles' three to lead by 14 points at the final change of ends. The Bulldogs then kicked the first three goals of the final term and looked like running away with the match.

The Eagles had other ideas, however, and the trend of the match abruptly changed, with goals Josh Hill, Brad Dalziell and Jack Darling cutting the lead back to 14 points at the 22-minute mark, which had Bulldogs' fans shifting nervously in their seats. But the Dogs' Dylan Addison had the final say with a snap goal that put the result beyond doubt at the 27-minute mark.

The win was set up by a mixture of youth and experience for the Bulldogs, with Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis all playing fine games, and Cooney and Griffen providing polish and poise at vital moments. The match will perhaps also go down in history as the game where the penny finally dropped for the enigmatic Jarad Grant. Grant's talent has never been doubted but his work ethic and intensity have been question in his time with the Dogs. On Sunday his intensity and work rate were excellent, and he had a hand in many more than the three goals that he kicked himself.

While the win must be taken in context, with the Eagles missing Nic Naitanui, Darren Glass, Luke Shuey, Andrew Embley, Shannon Hurn and Mark LeCras from their line-up, it must also be pointed out that the Bulldogs were without Shaun Higgins, Tom Williams, Jason Johannisen, Clay Smith, Nathan Hrovat and Easton Wood, all of whom are now arguably in the Dogs' best 22.

The loss virtually extinguished any hope West Coast had of making the finals, with the Eagles - who take on Gold Coast at home next Saturday - now three games away from eighth place on the ladder. The Bulldogs have now won five games for the season. While that is the same number of wins the Dogs had at the same time in 2012, Brendan McCartney's team is playing with far more authority and purpose than at any other stage during his tenure. The Dogs will have one of the toughest tests possible next Sunday when they take on the reigning premiers Sydney at Docklands.

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 4; Dickson, Grant 3; Addison 2; Boyd, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Murphy
West Coast: Hill, Kennedy 3; Cripps, Darling, Wellingham 2; Dalziell

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Dahlhaus, Murphy, Griffen, Minson, Wallis
West Coast: Priddis, Gaff, Mackenzie, Selwood, Kennedy, Wellingham

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Liberatore, Griffen, Cooney, Dahlhaus, Grant, Minson, Stevens
West Coast: Gaff, Selwood, Hutchings, Wellingham, Kennedy, Priddis

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
West Coast: Masten (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa replaced by Jackson Macrae in the fourth quarter
West Coast: Chris Masten replaced by Cale Morton in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Wenn, Foot, Fisher

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Tim Watson, Leigh Montagna, Cameron Ling