The Footscray Bulldogs have put in a spirited performance at Mission Whitten Oval but couldn’t hold off Sandringham in a hard-fought Round 4 contest.

In front of a strong Bulldogs contingent, Sandringham came out strong, building a 23-point lead by quarter-time and ultimately sustaining that buffer in the 10.11 (71) to 13.11 (89) result.

Luke Kennedy’s early goal helped settle the hosts, who began to slowly claw their way back into the match.

The second quarter saw a lift in intensity from Footscray. Caleb Poulter nailed a long-range goal, while majors from Connor Smith and Will Lewis kept the scoreboard ticking over.

By half-time, the Bulldogs had trimmed the margin and remained well within reach.

Momentum shifted again in the third quarter. Chan Hargraves and Ted Middleton both hit the scoreboard, and a late snap from Bailey Young cut the margin to just 14 points.

Footscray’s pressure began to tell, setting up a thrilling final quarter.

Poulter kicked his third goal midway through the fourth, bringing the Bulldogs within a straight kick. Two behinds followed as they pushed forward, but Sandringham absorbed the pressure and steadied late to seal a narrow win.

Jedd Busslinger led the way with 30 disposals and seven marks, showing poise across half-back. Lachie Jaques (22 disposals, eight marks) and Oskar Baker (24 disposals, six marks) were consistent contributors through the middle, linking up well in transition.

Poulter’s three-goal performance, along with five tackles, stood out, while Ryan Gardner added five tackles and eight hit outs. Lachlan Smith was tireless in the ruck, finishing with 26 hit outs and 17 disposals.

The 'Scray will aim to bounce back when it heads to Sydney on Sunday 27 April to face the GWS Giants.

Footscray: 1.2 4.4 8.7 10.11 (71)
Sandringham : 4.6 7.8 10.9 13.11 (89)

Goals: Poulter (3), Smith (2), Hargraves, Kennedy, Lewis, Middleton, Young.

Best: Jaques, Baker, C.Smith, Duryea, Poulter.