The good, the not so good, the exhilarating, the heartbreaking… we’ve taken a look at the Moments That Mattered during the AFL season.
From now until the full playing group returns for the start of pre-season on November 25, westernbulldogs.com.au will count down 19 moments that had a big impact in 2019.
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Cast your mind back to Round 16.
Under lights. Saturday night. Marvel Stadium.
Conditions couldn’t have been any more different to the previous week… in heavy rain at Adelaide Oval, a memorable win against Port Adelaide.
The ladder leaders.
A season-defining clash against Geelong.
The Bulldogs trailed until mid-way through the final quarter.
A Marcus Bontempelli goal gave them the lead. Two more goals, to Aaron Naughton – his fourth – and fellow young gun Bailey Smith, established a significant enough advantage.
Five last quarter goals from the Dogs outdid their three prior to the major break.
And even Luke Beveridge was philosophical about what the rest of the year might look like.
“We're not a bad side.”
"If we keep driving like we have been, there's no reason why we can't win most of them."
There were plenty of important wins across the season.
And this was one of the most important. It was textbook Bulldogs – prior to the free-wheeling, high-scoring Bulldogs in the month before the finals.
Jack Macrae (34 disposals), Lachie Hunter (32), Marcus Bontempelli (27) and Josh Dunkley (27) controlled the ball.
Aaron Naughton (nine marks, four goals) controlled the skies.
Jason Johannisen and Toby McLean provided the energy, and Sam Lloyd bobbed up with three goals.
It was a sign the Bulldogs were good enough to match it with the best.
Counting down the 2019 Moments That Mattered…
#15 THE ALL AUSTRALIANS
#16 THE RISING STAR
#17 THE FIGHTBACK
#18 THE DEBUTANTS
#19 THE MIGHT OF THOR
