The Western Bulldogs have fallen 13-points short in a thriller at Marvel Stadium against Geelong on Friday night.
In a pulsating clash, the Bulldogs climbed their way back from 40-points down to be within a goal deep into the final quarter.
Despite the best efforts of the home side late, the Bulldogs couldn’t overrun a Jeremy Cameron-inspired Geelong side.
Tom Liberatore was enormous for the Bulldogs with 31 disposals and two goals through the midfield, while Bailey Dale (29 touches) and Jack Macrae (28) tried hard for the red, white and blue.
Geelong were out of the blocks early with a seven goal to one first term to catapult the side to a 33-point lead at the first change.
Five-straight goals to the Bulldogs brought the clash back to life with skipper Marcus Bontempelli leading the charge with a long range shot from outside 50.
Goals to Buku Khamis and Lachie McNeil prior to the main break narrowed the margin to four goals, before Liberatore and Cody Weightman goals early in the third kept the margin at two goals.
A Tim English snap with ten minutes remaining narrowed the margin to one goal, before a composed Cat outfit ran out 12.11 (83) to 10.10 (70) victors.
The Bulldogs have the bye next weekend before heading to Sydney to face the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.1 4.6 6.9 10.10 (70)
GEELONG 7.2 8.6 8.8 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Weightman 2, Liberatore 2, Naughton, English, Bontempelli, Khamis, McNeil, Dale
Geelong: Cameron 6, Hawkins 2, Duncan, Rohan, Close, Atkins,
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Macrae, Daniel, English, Dale
Geelong: Cameron, Duncan, Guthrie, De Koning, Selwood
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Geelong: Stewart (concussion)
