The Western Bulldogs have fallen agonisingly short to Geelong by four points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

The Cats led for all but five minutes of the game and threatened to blow the Bulldogs away at different stages, leading by as much as 26 points late in the third quarter. But Luke Beveridge’s men sensed the fatigue on the opposition and kept coming for the entire 120 minutes. They never stopped. 

The Dogs kicked the final three goals of the game and had all the momentum at the end, with Bailey Williams reducing the margin to under a kick with less than a minute left and Ed Richards streaming through the centre square when the siren sounded to confirm the 14.11 (95) to 14.7 (91) Geelong win. 

00:36

Composed Treloar sets up grandstand finish

Adam Treloar kicks a brilliant goal on the run to bring the Dogs right back.

Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and veteran star Tom Liberatore were the two clear standout players on Adelaide Oval, almost willing the Dogs to a memorable win on the road. 

With Patrick Dangerfield and Cam Guthrie missing from the Cats, Liberatore dictated terms at stoppage, amassing an unbelievable 19 clearances (equal No. 3 all-time) and 28 contested possessions (equal No. 4 all-time) in an inside masterclass that you can’t teach - finishing with 35 disposals, nine tackles and a goal. 

Bontempelli was almost as good, finishing with 35 touches, 14 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances and a goal in a dominant display that underlined his status as one of the best players in the land.

WESTERN BULLDOGS    2.1     6.3     11.5     14.7 (91)
GEELONG                       3.3     7.6     13.9    14.11 (95)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs:  Darcy 3, West 2, Weightman 2, Ugle-Hagan 2, Liberatore, Gallagher, Bontempelli, Williams, Treloar
Geelong: Stengle 4, Cameron 2, Bowes 2, O.Henry 2, Holmes, Z. Guthrie, Dempsey, Close

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Jones, Darcy, Treloar, Sanders
Geelong: Cameron, Miers, Stewart, Stanley, Bowes

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Geelong: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs:  Jack Macrae replaced Caleb Daniel in the third quarter
Geelong: Mark O’Connor replaced Jhye Clark in the fourth quarter

Crowd: 45,970 at Adelaide Oval