The Western Bulldogs will not only be looking to bounce back from a Round 1 loss this Sunday – they’ll also be hoping to make amends for a last-up loss to St Kilda. 

The Saints, who also lost their opening game of the 2020 season, got the better of the Dogs when they last met, in Round 18 last year.

The two teams have met at Marvel Stadium in 12 straight games, with each side winning six games.

Here’s a look at the last five times the Bulldogs and Saints have met:

2019 – Round 18 (Saints 116 defeated Bulldogs 89)

The Bulldogs were on their late-season march to the finals when they were stunned by an early St Kilda surge at Marvel Stadium.  An 11-goal first half was the Dogs’ undoing, with the 43-point half time deficit too much to overcome.  There were positives though – Bailey Dale booted five goals and Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae combined for 72 disposals and 15 clearances.

2018 – Round 20 (Bulldogs 103 defeated Saints 68)

A scintillating third quarter burst from the Dogs was the feature of this contest after just four points separated the teams at half time.  Marcus Bontempelli caught fire in the premiership quarter, booting four goals for the term – one of eight majors for the Bulldogs.  Jason Johannisen had a day out, collecting a career-high 42 disposals.

2017 – Round 10 (Bulldogs 90 defeated Saints 50)

The Bulldogs scored a comfortable victory, winning all four quarters on the back of a five-goal haul from Jake Stringer.  13 Bulldogs amassed 20 or more possessions in the game, led by Johannisen with 29, who also had eight rebound 50s and kicked a goal.

2016 – Round 18 (Saints 75 defeated Bulldogs 60)

An unforgettable night for the Bulldogs, for all the wrong reasons.  Not only were they beaten on the scoreboard, but the Dogs endured horrific injuries to Jack Redpath (torn ACL) and Mitch Wallis (broken leg) which left Marvel Stadium in a state of shock.  Scores were tied late in the third quarter, but St Kilda kicked the last two goals of the game to secure victory.

2016 – Round 2 (Bulldogs 93 defeated Saints 36)

The Dogs recorded their biggest win against St Kilda in 13 years, restricting them to just five goals for the evening.  Tom Boyd booted three goals and Lachie Hunter had a game-high 35 disposals as the Bulldogs led from start to finish.

The season has not resumed the way the Western Bulldogs wanted, as they crashed to a 39-point defeat to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday night.

Almost three months had passed between round one and round two due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Bulldogs started strongly.

But they were unable to sustain their early momentum, with the Saints latching onto the lead late in the first term before running out 14.4 (88) to 7.7 (49) victors.

MATCH CENTRE: Full match coverage, team stats, player stats and more. 

St Kilda’s Max King kicked the opening goal of the game, before Mitch Wallis and Jack Macrae replied to give the Bulldogs an advantage.

But a number of chances went begging for the Bulldogs, and the Saints then capitalized with five of the next six goals to lead by 23 points at the major break.

A bright spark of the second term for the Bulldogs was a goal to debutant Laitham Vandermeer, but the Saints had all the answers.

They increased their lead to 40 points at the final change, before both sides exchanged a pair of goals in the final period.

It was the Saints on top in most of the key statistical areas – including contested (128-115) and uncontested (209-205) possessions, clearances (39-34), marks (91-55) and tackles (56-50).

Midfielder Josh Dunkley was a clear standout for the Bulldogs around the contest, finishing with 28 disposals, eight tackles and a goal, while second-year player Bailey Smith stood tall with 29 disposals and six clearances.

Lin Jong impressed in his first AFL game since 2018, finishing with 17 touches. 

The result leaves the Bulldogs at the bottom of the AFL ladder after two rounds, ahead of a pivotal clash against the GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

MATCH DETAILS

ST KILDA                       3.1   7.3    12.4   14.4 (88)
WESTERN BULLDOGS    2.4   3.4    5.6     7.7 (49)

GOALS
St Kilda: Billings 3, Butler 2, King 2, Hannebery, Hind, Jones, Lonie, Marshall, Steele, Membrey
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Richards, Vandermeer, Wallis, Williams, Naughton, Dunkley

BEST
St Kilda: Billings, Butler, Jones, Ross, Steele, Hannebery
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Smith, Lipinski, Macrae 

INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

NEXT WEEK
Round 3, Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Friday June 19, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST