An electrifying 10 goal stretch across the second and third quarters has seen the Western Bulldogs return to the winners list on Saturday night, posting a 35-point win over St.Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
The Dogs were ruthless in putting the Saints to the sword after the home team seemed to stamp some authority on the contest in the early stages, but a Fergus Greene goal sparked a scoring frenzy that ended in a 103-68 victory.
Jason Johannisen responded to a quiet outing in Ballarat last weekend to be the Dogs best, bringing his trademark run and carry off of half back and finishing with a career-high 42 disposals, 12 rebound-50s and five inside-50s.
Josh Dunkley (34 disposals, seven tackles) continued his rich vein of form and Jack Macrae picked up another 36 disposals after shaking a Jack Steele tag; his 10 touches and three score inolvments in the second were keys to the Dogs' resurgence.
But the story of how a goalless opening term turned into a 15-goal barrage after quarter time came down to work rate. The Dogs simply out hustled their opponents all over the ground, and four third quarter goals from skipper Marcus Bontempelli was the icing on the cake.
Bontempelli was quiet in the first half but was there when it counted, his four majors were daggers, and a reminder of what a class player can do with minimal opportunity.
Caleb Daniel was instrumental in quarterback-like roll behind the ball, shifted down back to cover for Roarke Smith who left the game early with concussion, while Patrick Lipinski was a crucial link up man, picking up 22 touches at 86%.
In 2018 the Dogs have done their best work in second quarters, but it was the performance in the third term where things haven’t gone as well, that should most please coach Luke Beveridge.
The Bulldogs’ slammed on eight goals to five behinds to lock in their first win since round 15.
ST KILDA 4.2 7.4 7.9 9.14 (68)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.5 6.6 14.12 15.13 (103)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 4, Schache 3, Greene, Jong, Macrae, Hunter, Dickson, Lipinski, Wallis, Crozier
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen, Dunkley, Hunter, Daniel, Macrae, Bontempelli, Morris
