1. Grinding out the win
Trailing by three points at the main break, the Bulldogs needed to respond in the second-half and that they did.
After allowing the Hawks 18 inside-50s in the first quarter alone, the Dogs’ defenders were able to restrict that to just 16 after half-time, while booting seven goals to two.
Despite going down in the midfield battle with two less clearances and 15 less hit-outs, the Bulldogs were able to steady late and enjoy a gritty win.
2. 40k in the house to celebrate Bont
If there’s one certainty in life, it’s the fact that the Bulldogs’ faithful will show up and paint Marvel Stadium red, white and blue on a game-day.
With a record 40,119 fans in the house on Saturday afternoon – the Club’s biggest home-and-away crowd since round three, 2018 – the energy was electric under the roof.
There was plenty more to celebrate to, from the hard-fought win to the skipper’s 200th match.
Marcus Bontempelli, by his own admission might have had a quieter output than usual with 19 disposals and six tackles, but how he used the football went a long way.
3. Naughton firing up forward
For the fourth time this season, Aaron Naughton produced another multiple-goal performance with four majors from 15 touches and five marks.
It brings his season tally to 15 overall – backing up last week’s triple against Port Adelaide.
His career-best total is 51, which he achieved last season to claim the Bulldogs’ leading goalkicker award, and six in a single game which came against Adelaide in round 12, 2020.
He’s got a fair bit of ground to make up if he wants to catch current Coleman Medal leaders Charlie Curnow and Jeremy Cameron (30 goals apiece), but leads the Clubhouse ladder ahead of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (eight) and trio Tim English, Rory Lobb and Bailey Williams (six goals each).
