MATCH SUMMARY
The Western Bulldogs have emphatically locked in a spot in the 2019 AFL finals with a commanding 34-point win over Adelaide in Ballarat on Sunday.
The Bulldogs’ third straight win ensured they finished seventh on the ladder after the home and away season, setting up an elimination final clash with Greater Western Sydney.
The victory was the Bulldogs’ eighth out of 11 games since the mid-season bye, after starting the season with a 4-7 record.
Forward Bailey Dale was instrumental in the result, booting five goals as one of five multiple goalkickers, while Jack Macrae’s brilliant season continued with 36 disposals and a goal.
The Bulldogs kicked the first six goals of the game and never looked back, with the margin extending to 59 points during the last quarter before Adelaide kicked five of the last six goals.
THE DEFINING MOMENTS
Early Bulldog burst: The Dogs knew they’d have to start well against an Adelaide outfit with nothing to lose, and the opening 20 minutes was a Bulldog blitz. They booted the first six goals of the game and had 40 points on the board to nil before the Crows scored their first. It provided the perfect platform for which Adelaide could not recover.
Stemming the tide: Despite the blistering start, twice in the match the Bulldogs had to steady themselves in the face of the Crows’ ability to score quickly. Late in the first quarter and late in the second the Crows scored back-to-back goals to keep themselves in the contest, but both times the Dogs rebounded, and then some.
PRESS CONFERENCE: HEAR FROM LUKE BEVERIDGE AFTER THE GAME
SHINING LIGHTS
It’s hard to go past Bailey Dale. Since returning to the senior team the 23-year-old has been damaging in the forward half. In his last six games he’s kicked 20 goals, including two bags of five. His handful against the Crows also came with 17 disposals and six marks.
Marcus Bontempelli had Hugh Greenwood for company for most of the afternoon but, as he’s shown for most of the season, he still found a way to make his mark on the game. He finished with 31 disposals (16 contested), 10 tackles, seven clearances, six inside 50s and three goal assists.
The Bulldogs’ defensive running brigade was instrumental again, led by Matt Suckling’s equal season-high 29 disposals (at 93% efficiency). Jason Johannisen (26 possessions) and Hayden Crozier (20 touches and seven marks) were equally damaging.
STATS SHEET
With his 36 possessions against the Crows, Macrae finished with an impressive 736 disposals for the home and away season (at an average of 33), second only to Collingwood’s Adam Treloar (739). It was the 11th straight time Macrae has racked up 30 or more disposals.
Despite their dominance, the Bulldogs were on the wrong side of most of the team statistical categories, including clearances (41-46), contested possessions (157-143) and tackles (67-61). The Dogs finished with seven more inside 50s.
IN THE ROOMS: MATT SUCKLING SPEAKS TO BULLDOGS MEDIA
MATCH DETAILS
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.5 9.8 14.11 18.13 (121)
ADELAIDE CROWS 2.0 5.4 8.6 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dale 5, Lipinski 2, Lloyd 2, McLean 2, Schache 2, West, Bontempelli, English, Naughton, Macrae
Adelaide: Walker 4, Jones 2, Lynch 2, Knight 2, M.Crouch, Smith
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Bontempelli, Macrae, Dunkley, Hunter, Suckling, Johannisen
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Laird, Seedsman, Jones, Smith, Walker
Official crowd: 9560 at Mars Stadium, Ballarat
