The Footscray Bulldogs have survived a late Northern Bullants scare to record a thrilling two-point win at VU Whitten Oval.

In a see-sawing affair, it was the Bulldogs who came away victorious 10.12 (72) to 10.10 (70) in their first win of the 2022 VFL season.

The hosts started on the back-foot, going into the first change trailing by eight points, before turning things around in the second.

Back-to-back goals from Lachie McNeil helped the Bulldogs swing momentum back in their favour, taking their own eight-point buffer into the main change, before the Bullants charged again.

With the Bullants holding a 13-point lead early in the last, the hosts had some work to do.

VFL-listed duo Jarrod Gilbee and Josh Chatfield combined with a goal each to get themselves within a point, before Riley Garcia slotted one himself to give the Dogs a five-point lead.

The Bulldogs peppered five of the next six behinds, when a late Bullants’ goal closed the gap to just two points.

But the Dogs were saved by the bell, with the siren sounding not long after.

In his first hit-out for the year, AFL-listed Bulldog Lachie McNeil starred with a bag of five goals to go with 21 disposals, while Buku Khamis (24 disposals, eight marks) was strong in defence.

Rhylee West led the stats sheet with 33 touches and 10 tackles, followed by captain Lachie Sullivan (29 touches, eight tackles) and Louis Butler (27 touches, nine marks).

The Bulldogs will look to continue their winning form when they face Richmond next Saturday afternoon.

FOOTSCRAY 2.2 5.6 7.7 10.12 (72)

NORTHERN BULLANTS 3.4 4.4 8.8 10.10 (70)

Goals: McNeil 5, Butler, Schache, Gilbee, Chatfield, Garcia