MATCH SUMMARY
The Western Bulldogs have jumped to eighth on the AFL ladder with one round remaining in the home and away season, after a 61-point win over GWS in Sydney.
A scintillating second half set up the win, with the Dogs piling on 12 unanswered goals from late in the second term to run away with the game.
The Bulldogs, who lost ruckman Tim English to illness before the game, had gone 18 points behind in the first half as the free-wheeling GWS threatened to outrun the visitors, but they were quelled after the main break as the Dogs’ midfielders got on top.
The Bulldogs finished with 11 individual goalkickers (six multiples), led by Josh Schache with three.
Jack Macrae had a game-high 39 possessions – the 10th time in a row he has recorded 30 or more disposals.
If the Dogs can defeat Adelaide in Ballarat next week, they will secure their spot in the finals. 

THE DEFINING MOMENTS
Dogs out of the blocks: The Bulldogs knew the Giants would come out steaming after their loss last week, and the countered with a clinical first term.  The Dogs kicked seven goals – their highest tally in a quarter interstate since Round 23, 2015.
Giant response, Dogs steady: GWS countered well in the second stanza, kicking four straight goals to stretch out to an 18-point lead.  But just as they were looking ominous, the Bulldogs hit back with goals to Ed Richards and Pat Lipinski.
Goal rush: The Dogs went on a 21-goal streak last week against the Bombers, and they slammed on 12 against the Giants, 10 of those coming in the second half, to just five behinds. 

SHINING LIGHTS
It was the usual suspects in the midfield which ultimately swung the game in the Bulldogs favour – Macrae, Josh Dunkley, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter and Pat Lipinski were prolific, despite a clear advantage by the GWS in the ruck.
Lewis Young flew to Sydney as the emergency, and he was thrust into the action when English was a late out and Jackson Trengove moved into the ruck.  Young was unflappable in defence, finishing with 17 disposals and seven marks.
The Bulldogs running defenders also had a good afternoon, with Jason Johannisen (27 disposals), Matt Suckling (26) and Taylor Duryea (19) providing plenty of drive from the back half. 

STATS SHEET
The Giants finished with a clear advantage in the hitouts (61-32), but the Bulldogs won the clearances by one, the contested possessions by 21.
They also won the tackle count by 20, despite having more disposals overall.
The Bulldogs were also more efficient around the ground, finishing with 24 more inside 50s for the match, and four more marks inside 50.
Individually, Dunkley combined ball winning (31 disposals at 83% efficiency), hit the scoreboard with two goals and had a game-high 10 tackles.
Bontempelli had returning tagger Matt de Boer for company for the majority of the game, and still finished with 27 touches and seven tackles. 

MATCH DETAILS
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY       5.2          9.6          9.10        9.11 (65)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                     7.1          9.3          14.9        19.12 (126) 

GOALS
GWS:  Keeffe 2, Himmelberg 2, Greene 2, Kennedy, Whitfield, Tomlinson
Western Bulldogs:  Schache 3, Dickson 2, Dunkley 2, Naughton 2, Lloyd 2, Lipinski 2, Hunter, Richards, Smith, Duryea, Dale 

BEST
GWS:  Whitfield, Greene, Taranto, Williams, Haynes, Davis
Western Bulldogs:  Dunkley, Macrae, Bontempelli, Lipinski, Suckling, Johannisen

Official crowd: 10,139 at GIANTS Stadium 

NEXT WEEK
Round 23, Western Bulldogs v Adelaide, Sunday August 25, Mars Stadium, 1.10pm