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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Tense times.
After Carlton got the points – comfortably – earlier in the year, the ledger needed to be squared.
A little bit had changed between round five, when the Blues won by 44 points, and round 13.
The Blues had a new coach – David Teague.
And the Bulldogs desperately needed a win to reboot their season after the bye, on the back of six defeats in their previous eight games.
Early doors, the signs were good.
The Bulldogs kicked four of the first five goals. They opened up a five-goal advantage early in the second term, and went into half-time with a 21-point lead.
Tom Liberatore left the game early with a knee injury, but the Bulldogs carried on.
Then the Blues hit back. Five consecutive goals saw them claim the lead late in the third term.
What did the Bulldogs have in the tank?
Another brilliant burst to start the final term to open up a 34-point margin.
And the Blues?
Exactly the same.
They responded with five goals in less than half a quarter, cutting the deficit to just three points at the 28-minute mark of the last quarter as Charlie Curnow snagged his seventh.
There were nervous moments. But somehow, the Bulldogs found a way to hold on.
Counting down the 2019 Moments That Mattered…
#14 THE UPSET
#15 THE ALL AUSTRALIANS
#16 THE RISING STAR
#17 THE FIGHTBACK
#18 THE DEBUTANTS
#19 THE MIGHT OF THOR
