Dogs cop thrashing by Eagles
WEST Coast have lengthened Western Bulldogs’ stay at the bottom of the AFL ladder with a crushing 51- point win at Etihad Stadium yesterday.
And they did so without Adam Simpson in the box, with the Eagles boss forced home to help care for a sick daughter.
With forward line coach Jaymie Graham taking the reins, West Coast triumphed 18.13 ( 121) to 9.16 ( 70).
It was the Eagles forwards that flew highest, led by livewire forward Liam Ryan who lit up the stadium with a series of eye- catching grabs and goals. The second- gamer kicked 3.3, with fellow new boy Daniel Venables kicking three and Jack Darling nabbing a four- goal haul.
On this evidence, the Bulldogs premiership hangover looks set to last another year.
The 2016 flag winners missed the finals last season, lost to GWS Giants by 82 points last week and now sit 0- 2 ahead of clashes with Essendon and Sydney at Etihad Stadium.
The Bulldogs looked disorganised in defence and were crippled by kicking errors, particularly when looking to rebound from their defensive 50. They went goalless for almost an hour between a pair of Josh Dunkley goals midway through the first and third terms.
In the meantime, West Coast piled on nine unanswered goals, most from Bulldogs turnovers.
Shannon Hurn was strong in defence, with a fit- again Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett monstering the Bulldogs in hitouts ( 53- 15), helped by a heavy knock to Jordan Roughead that ended the ruckman’s day.
After a maiden win of the season, Eagles now have backto- back chances to break their Optus Stadium duck against Geelong and Gold Coast.