What were the media saying after the Bulldogs’ 21-point win over the Bombers on Sunday afternoon?
The Age: Spirited Dogs back to winning ways (Daniel Cherny)
Marcus Bontempelli was dangerous as a tall target but it wasn’t as though he was hauling in pack mark after pack mark. Instead it was a revolving door of Dogs who chimed in.
Lachie Hunter, Toby McLean and Jack Macrae were typically prolific, while Luke Dahlhaus and Caleb Daniel made welcome returns to form. Jason Johannisen overcame a first quarter blunder in which he ran too far to provide plenty of run. He had an abundance of rebounding help too, with Matt Suckling, Bailey Williams and second-gamer Ed Richards all influential.
Bailey Dale and Josh Dunkley stood up near goal, Zaine Cordy was defiant deep in defence, and Mitch Honeychurch typified the Dogs’ superior commitment by absorbing heavy contact from the much bigger Mitch Brown to set up a goal for his side
BEST: Hunter, Macrae, McLean, Williams, Dahlhaus, Dunkley, Bontempelli, Cordy
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Herald Sun: Dogs’ rebuild under way (Sam Landsberger)
The jumpers were the same, but that was about it.
The Western Bulldogs got their bite back at Etihad Stadium.
The calendar said April 2018, but there was a hint of September 2016 about the Dogs’ pressure. They tackled with gusto, held the ball with uncontested possession and erected a brick wall across half-back.
Best: Hunter, Macrae, Dahlhaus, Williams, Bontempelli, Daniel, English.
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AFL Media: McLean joins elite company (Ben Guthrie)
Toby McLean and Gary Ablett jnr. That is the complete list of players who have had six or more score involvements in a single quarter this season.
McLean set the mark of six in the first quarter against Essendon on Sunday. The midfielder provided the spark for the Bulldogs early in the contest with his ability to find the ball. But his smother to prevent a certain goal in the second quarter was just as impactful.
It epitomised the Dogs' mindset in the game, a far cry from what they demonstrated last week against West Coast. McLean finished the game with 25 disposals, four inside 50s and two goals to be one of the Bulldogs' best players.
Cal Twomey’s Best: Hunter, Daniel, McLean, Williams, Dahlhaus, Macrae, Bontempelli
