SIX WINS ON THE TROT FOR DOGGIES
A FINAL-QUARTER blowout helped the undefeated Western Bulldogs continue their best start to a season in 75 years — six straight wins — against a spirited but outgunned Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday night.
Despite dominating possession (395-327) and centre clearances (17-7), the Dogs took until the final quarter to crack the Giants’ resistance by booting nine goals to three.
Their three-point threequarter-time lead blew out to 39 points at the finish — 15.14 (104) to 9.11 (65).
But the result came at a cost for the Dogs, with star midfielder Josh Dunkley (shoulder), Tim English (jaw/ concussion) — who copped a knee to the face from teammate Aaron Naughton in a sickening collision — and Lin Jong (hamstring) all injured.
GWS lost Nick Haynes and Xavier O’Halloran, both with shoulder injuries, in the bruising encounter.
The Bulldogs couldn’t end the contest earlier because they struggled to cope with the relentless pressure the Giants served up to the undefeated Dogs, despite GWS fielding nine players with fewer than 20 games’ experience.
The game was a sluggish, tight, high-pressure affair for the first three quarters and while the Bulldogs led for the majority, they never really took a stranglehold.
The margin failed to exceed 15 points until midway through the final term.
Risk-taking was well and truly on the backburner for the most part — a stark contrast to the kind of footy that was being produced in the opening month of the AFL season.
Instead of taking the game on and breaking the lines, both teams were tense and cautious.
Jack Macrae (40 disposals) led the way again for the Dogs in the middle and he got great support as usual from Adam Treloar (35), Josh Dunkey (29) and Marcus Bontempelli (26).