The Bulldogs have recorded a narrow five-point defeat to Gold Coast in Mackay on Sunday night, in the first of two JLT Community Series pre-season games.
It was the Club’s first official hitout against opposition after a long summer pre-season, and despite being dominant on the possession and inside 50 count, it finished on the wrong end of the result.
A howling wind and greasy conditions made it difficult for both teams, with the Bulldogs sticking to the traditional four-man interchange throughout the game to simulate conditions they’ll face in the season proper.
The Dogs’ midfielders had no trouble finding the ball, with Jack Macrae (40 disposals), Caleb Daniel (32), Lachie Hunter (32), Marcus Bontempelli (30) and Tom Liberatore (27) the game’s five highest possession winners.
First-round draft pick Bailey Smith picked up nine disposals and kicked a goal after coming on in the second half, while fellow newcomer Will Hayes impressed with 15 disposals and seven marks.
Second year defender Aaron Naughton also caught the eye with 17 disposals and eight marks, while the experienced Mitch Wallis booted three majors and found the ball 23 times.
The Suns jumped out of the blocks quickest, booting the first four goals of the match with the aid of the breeze.
Matt Suckling broke the run of goals with a classy finish from a tight angle, before Billy Gowers ran into an open goal to reduce the deficit.
The Dogs made it four-straight of their own when Liberatore snapped truly and Wallis marked and goaled, before Will Powell restored Gold Coast’s lead at the main break.
WATCH: BAILEY SMITH’S FIRST GOAL AS A BULLDOG
It was goal-for-goal in the third as Wallis booted his second and Alex Sexton snapped a couple, with the Suns taking a 10-point lead into the last term.
Gold Coast kept their noses in front until the 23-minute mark of the final quarter, when Smith marked his first official appearance in Bulldogs colours with a dribble goal which put his side one point ahead.
Powell’s second goal with four minutes remaining was the last of the game and saw the Suns sneak home.
Next up for the Dogs in the JLT Community Series is a meeting with St Kilda at Mars Stadium in Ballarat next Sunday – their final hitout before the season proper arrives on March 23.
MATCH DETAILS
Gold Coast Suns 4.2 5.6 8.8 11.11.77
Western Bulldogs 2.3 4.7 6.10 10.12.72
GOALS
Gold Coast Suns: MacPherson 2, Burgess 2, Sexton 2, Powell 2, Rankine, Wright, Bowes
Western Bulldogs: Wallis 3, Suckling, Gowers, Liberatore, Richards, McLean, Hunter, Smith
BEST
Gold Coast: Fiorini, Miles, Harbrow, Martin, Ballard, Bowes, Powell
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Wallis, Hunter, Daniel, Liberatore, Naughton
Crowd: 2016 at Great Barrier Reef Arena (Mackay)