They kicked 0.5 in the first quarter and had 2.8 at halftime. Then in the third quarter they kick 6.2 to threaten the Lions. Efficiency going inside 50 and kicking for goal remain the No.1 and No.2 stats in football, and the Dogs failed again on both in the first half. – Herald Sun journalist Mark Robinson

He gave us some momentum, took us forward with the ball and we gained some advantage from his play. He has had an outstanding year. -Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge on Marcus Bontempelli

MATCH REPORT | LIONS DENY DOGS’ SECOND HALF SURGE

Jack Macrae collected a ridiculous 45 disposals and superstar Marcus Bontempelli almost single-handedly lifted his side in the second half.Bontempelli gathered 35, including 13 in a team-lifting third quarter. – AFL Media journalist Michael Whiting

The loss leaves the Dogs in 11th place a win and significant percentage behind the eighth placed Crows with a tough run home against top eight sides Essendon, GWS and Adelaide. – The Courier-Mail journalist Andrew Hamilton

IN THE ROOMS | MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

Despite the loss, the Dogs might have had the best two players on the ground. Jack Macrae has always been an accumulator and distributor of the football, but his work-rate in this game was enormous, with 12 clearances and seven tackles to go with his 45 possessions. And Marcus Bontempelli got better the long the match went, dragging the Dogs back into contention with an enormous third quarter. – The Age journalist Andrew Stafford