What were the media saying after the Bulldogs’ 35-point win over St Kilda on Saturday?
AFL Media
A STUNNING four-goal third quarter from Marcus Bontempelli has led the Western Bulldogs to a comfortable 35-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
The Bulldogs were goalless in the opening term but piled on 14 goals in the following two quarters to record a 15.13 (103) to 9.14 (68) win.
Bontempelli, splitting his time between the centre square and the forward line, was one of the Bulldogs' best after half-time, finishing with 21 disposals and the four goals.
Others to star were the tireless Jack Macrae (36 disposals ) and Josh Dunkley (34), while Jason Johannisen's run-and-carry off halfback was extremely influential in the third term, amassing 42 touches and five inside-50s.
Best: Bontempelli, Johannisen, Dunkley, Hunter, Morris, Daniel
- Sarah Black
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Herald Sun
It has been a round of blockbusters, and while this contest didn’t quite have the gloss of some other games, the thrill made its way to Etihad Stadium.
“A real arm-wrestle,” Saints defensive coach Danny Frawley dubbed it on SEN, and it was the Dogs that flexed longest to arrest what had been a four-match losing streak by pushing the Saints’ forearm through the table.
Premiership quartet Jason Johannisen – who turned on a sublime night with 42 possessions – Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Lachie Hunter all had an impact, while Caleb Daniel proved influential as the Dogs surged in a vital eight-goal-to-none third quarter that marked a 73-point turnaround from quarter-time.
It was, after all, a special night for comebacks - in more ways than one as the Dogs had their day.
- Lauren Wood
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The Age
All of a sudden Jason Johannisen’s winding runs became as disruptive to the Saints’ plans as Carlisle’s marking had been to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs kicked six second-quarter goals to draw within a kick at half-time.
The comeback was timely too as the Saints – having already lost Josh Battle to concussion – suddenly had their only ruckman Tom Hickey on one leg after he suffered an injury in the second quarter.
It enabled Jordan Roughead and Jackson Trengove to push forward and keep Carlisle busy while their runners ran at the Saints, putting their back line under pressure.
(Nathan) Freeman was busy for the Saints in his first game but the Bulldogs, led by Jackson Macrae, carried the weight of numbers in the midfield with Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli and Toby McLean using the ball better than their counterparts.
Johannisen, who was best on ground, continued to shake the Saints, who could not catch him.
Best: Johannisen, Bontempelli, Macrae, Hunter, Dunkley, Roughead
- Peter Ryan
