Inside the numbers

- The Bulldogs won the contested possessions (166-151), clearances (44-31) and inside 50s (56-46).

- North Melbourne were held to just 61 points for the game, exactly half of their season-to-date average score.

- The Dogs 434 total disposals was 16 below their season average of 450, while North Melbourne’s 355 was just seven below their average of 362.

Stat of the day

Lachie Hunter gathered a career-high 44 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency, gaining 660 metres with a retention rate of 71 per cent.

You can quote me on that

"I think it's a common theme and a common thread with us week to week now that we're right in the game and we just get a bit frustrated that we can't ice it."

"I keep talking about that as part of our maturation and where we're going and there's some young boys there who will continue to learn. 

"The constant with our players is the honesty of their performance and you couldn't fault that tonight."

- Luke Beveridge

“It was a pretty brutal contest, a bit like finals footy, which is a great lesson for our young team and all of the players. 

“It was a pretty low scoring affair, and I think if we had of taken some of our chances going forward and around the goals, it would have put a bit more scoreboard pressure on them.”

- Jack Macrae

Up next

The Dogs are back at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night to face the Adelaide Crows.