Australian Football

Match Report

The Western Bulldogs credentials as a bona fide premiership contender were further enhanced at Docklands Stadium when they overcame a tardy start and a late burst from the Eagles to pip West Coast by eight points on Sunday. In a high-pressure affair, the Eagles got off to the better start but were quickly reeled in by the Bulldogs, who gradually got on top over the course of the match to lead by 21 points midway through the final term. But three goals in a row saw West Coast close the gap to just three points before a late goal saw the Dogs clinch an impressive hard-fought win against another top-four contender.

A mark and goal to Jack Redpath got the Bulldogs going at the two-minute mark, but the Eagles looked the better side over the next five minutes, and goals to Elliot Yeo and ex-Dog Josh Hill gave them a seven-point lead. The Dogs responded with another goal-square mark and goal to Redpath but West Coast crept back out to a seven-point lead with a good mark and goal to Mark LeCras at the 10-minute mark. Defences tightened up after that and it wasn't the 19-minute mark that the next major was score, with Stringer on the end of a coast-to-coast goal that brought the Dogs back within three points. Each side added a major in time on and it was the Eagles by three at quarter time.  

Jake Stringer gave the Bulldogs the lead early in the second term with a wonderful banana goal from the boundary after a dubious free kick was paid against the Eagles for a 'deliberate out of bounds' handpass. Jack Darling put West Coast back ahead at the six-minute mark with a lovely long goal from an angle but the Bulldogs for right on top in general play after that. They couldn't convert their dominance into scoreboard pressure though, inaccurate kicking seeing them add 1.4 to nil for the remainder of the term to lead by just eight points at the long break. 

West Coast came out the stronger after half time, and majors to Yeo and LeCras had the Eagles ahead by four points midway through the third quarter. But the Bulldogs reset after that and got the game back on their own terms and this time, they were more accurate in front of goal, with majors to Lachie Hunter, Liam Picken, Tom Liberatore and Tom Campbell giving them a 19-point lead before Hill's second brought the Eagles' deficit back to 13 points at the last change of ends. 

The Dogs could have settled the result in the first 15 minutes of the final term but a long goal to Campbell was accompanied by misses from Marcus Bontempelli, Tory Dickson, Josh Dunkley and Matt Suckling, all from gettable shots. This put the Bulldogs 21 points clear but left the door ajar for West Coast and when the tide turned, the Eagles took full advantage, kicking three goals in five minutes to Mark Hutchings, Josh Kennedy and Chris Masten to get within three points and put the wind up the Bulldogs and their fans. But a brilliant passage of play saw the ball end up in the arms of Liberatore and his left-foot snap gave him his third goal and saw the Dogs home by eight points in a thrilling affair. 

Bontempelli, who took on the captaincy role after the late withdrawal of Easton Wood, led magnificently and his 30 possessions and nine tackles were crucial to the Bulldogs' win. Lachie Hunter (38 disposals and nine marks) also continued his fine season for the Dogs. For the Eagles, Matt Priddis (12 tackles, 27 touches) was his usual outstanding self. 

Next up for the Dogs is s trip to Adelaide to take on Port Power. They will be looking to get a third win in a row and break the win-loss run of 2-1-2-1-2-1-2 that has so far characterised the season. The Eagles, who slipped back to seventh with a 7-4 record after the loss, will return home to Subiaco on Saturday night to take on Adelaide (eighth, also 7-4) in a crucial match. 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore 3; Stringer, Campbell, Redpath 2; Hunter, Dunkley, Picken
West Coast: LeCras, Yeo, Hill, Darling 2; Hutchings, Kennedy, Masten

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Hunter, Macrae, Redpath, Boyd, Liberatore
West Coast: Priddis, Shuey, Hurn, Gaff, Redden

BEST - HERALD SUN
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Macrae, Redpath, Boyd, Roughead, Campbell
West Coast: Priddis, Hurn, Shuey, Gaff

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Wood (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Williams, McLean (ankle)
West Coast: McGovern (illness) replaced in selected side by Cole, Naitanui (nose)

UMPIRES: Donlon, Stevic, Stephens

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Dennis Cometti, Hamish McLachlan, Leigh Matthews, Andrew Welsh