MATCH SUMMARY
Geelong has surged late to defeat a gallant Western Bulldogs by 44 points in a high-scoring game at GMHBA Stadium.
The Cats led for the entirety of the match and held off several challenges from the Bulldogs, with the final score not a true reflection of the overall contest.
The Bulldogs impressively stormed back into the game twice – in the second and third quarters – and got to within nine points when Mitch Wallis goaled at the start of the last term.
But Geelong kicked the last six goals, and finished with 21 majors from 28 scoring shots, to seal the win and keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
THE DEFINING MOMENTS
The Bulldogs were on the back foot when Geelong started brightly, but hung in during the early stages and turned the momentum in their favour before half time, but three straight goals from the Cats from the 26-minute mark gave them a handy half time buffer.
After a quiet first half, Marcus Bontempelli roared to life in the third term with two big six-pointers, as the Dogs kicked four of the last goals of that stanza to get to within 14 points.
Just as the Dogs were surging in the final quarter, Geelong seized back the advantage and never looked back, with Wallis’ set shot at the three-minute mark the final goal for the Bulldogs.
SHINING LIGHTS
Bailey Smith has continued to get better with every performance in Bulldogs colours this season, and the youngster turned in his most profitable game yet against the Cats. He won 28 disposals, bettering his previous best by five, and looked impressive both in tight and on the outside.
Toby McLean provided a spark for the Bulldogs, particularly early, in a dual role as a midfielder and forward.
Wallis toiled hard for the whole game and was the Bulldogs’ best player, finding plenty of the ball and booting two clutch goals at important times.
STATS SHEET
The Bulldogs finished the game with more disposals than the Cats (360-321), winning the uncontested possessions by 51 but losing the contested ball by 19.
The Dogs were strong in the clearances (winning that stat by nine), but were beaten in the air, with the Cats dragging in 22 contested marks to five.
The Bulldogs notably had 11 individual goalkickers for the afternoon.
MATCH DETAILS
GEELONG 6.2 11.4 15.6 21.7.133
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1 7.6 12.9 13.11.89
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Rohan 3, Fort 3, Duncan 3, Ablett 2, Dangerfield, Parfitt, Guthrie, Abbott, Miers, Constable
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Wallis 2, McLean, Trengove, Johannisen, Gowers, Hunter, Naughton, Lloyd, Liberatore, Richards
BEST
Geelong: Duncan, Dangerfield, Hawkins, Selwood, Stewart, Ablett
Western Bulldogs: Wallis, Macrae, Hunter, Smith, Bontempelli, McLean
Crowd: 31,373
UP NEXT
Round 10, Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, Saturday May 25, 2.10pm AEST
