The Footscray Bulldogs emerged victorious over Box Hill in a top-of-the-table clash at Mission Whitten Oval on Sunday morning.

In the highly anticipated clash and thrilling contest, the ‘Scray clinched the hard-fought 10.13 (73) to 9.6 (60) win.

Despite the stakes in terms of ladder positioning, the opening quarter saw a cautious approach from both teams, with slow-tempo footy characterising the early exchanges.

It wasn't until the 19th minute mark that Trent Bianco broke the deadlock with a superb goal, leaving the Hawks goalless at quarter-time.

Footscray wasted no time asserting their authority in the second quarter, igniting a flurry of goals.

Dominic Bedendo, Trent Bianco, Jordan Croft, and Daniel Orgill all contributed on the score-board, surging Footscray into a commanding lead by halftime 5.9 (39) to 1.2 (8) as the Box Hill Hawks struggled to keep pace.

In a riveting twist, the third term witnessed a dramatic shift as the Hawks launched a spirited comeback.

Capitalising on turnovers, the visitors managed three consecutive goals to narrow the deficit to a mere 13 points by three-quarter time, igniting anticipation for a thrilling final term.

Thankfully, in a heart-stopping moment of brilliance, Anthony Scott stepped up in overtime of the final quarter, delivering the decisive blow with the game-winning goal which sealed a hard-fought victory for the Footscray Bulldogs.

Bianco demonstrated his versatility with two pivotal goals, 23 disposals, three marks, and five tackles, showcasing his impact across various facets of the game.

Cooper Craig-Peters surged into action in the latter half, with a goal, 25 disposals, 10 hit outs and seven clearances.

Meanwhile, Caleb Daniel proved to be a stalwart presence on the field, accumulating 28 disposals, eight marks and four tackles - providing invaluable support to the team.

With this hard-earned win, the Bulldogs preserve their unbeaten status and remain top of the Smithy’s VFL ladder, with a game in hand.

They will next face Richmond away on Sunday, determined to maintain their momentum and continue their winning streak.

Match Summary

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS: 1.3 5.9 6.10 10.13 (73)
BOX HILL HAWKS: 0.2 1.2 5.3 9.6 (60)

Goals: Bianco 2, Bedendo 2, Willoughby, Spicer, Scott, Orgill, Croft, Craig-Peters.