IN THE end, one of the games of the season – full of goals, big moments and plenty of speed – could be boiled down to one thing. It was the Dogs versus Daniher, and the Dogs won the battle.
The Western Bulldogs' finals hopes were on the brink after their round 16 loss to Adelaide, but three successive wins since, including Sunday's 30-point victory over Essendon, have seen them jump back into the top-eight race.
A late flurry of goals saw the Dogs win 19.13 (127) to 13.19 (97).
Joe Daniher's equal career-best haul of six goals (which put him ahead in the Coleman Medal race with 53 for the season) and dominant aerial display wasn't enough for the Bombers, who were overcome by a Bulldogs unit that looked back to the fierce, fast and frenzied style that saw them rise to a premiership last year.
In what was billed as the game of the round and certainly lived up to the hype, there was little to separate the sides throughout the whole afternoon and when young Bomber Orazio Fantasia kicked a goal with four minutes to play in the final term, his side trailed by just six points.
But a free kick and resultant goal to Marcus Bontempelli two minutes later all but sealed the Dogs' win, and they kicked another three after that to blow open the margin. They may not be quite back to their best, but the signs are that they are coming.
Luke Beveridge's inspired move of Norm Smith medalist Jason Johannisen to attack reaped rewards, with the dashing Dog kicking four goals in a damaging game, while Shane Biggs (29 disposals, 11 marks) was excellent across half-back.
Tom Liberatore negated Essendon ball-winner Zach Merrett (who managed just 23 touches), while Bontempelli kicked two goals from 23 disposals and stood up when it mattered most as the Dogs leapfrogged the Bombers on the ladder to claim their 10th win of 2017.
Daniher was clearly the best Don – unstoppable in the air and dangerous at ground level. He took 11 marks from 18 touches and finished with 10 scoring shots (6.4). David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley were important again, while Darcy Parish, with more midfield time, had 29 disposals in a strong game.
Parish's goal in the opening 30 seconds, after reading the ball off the pack at the top of the square, started what was a frenetic and brilliant first quarter from both teams. The Bombers gained the early ascendancy, with Daniher's two majors steering them to a 19-point lead, and they played at their fast and free-flowing best.
The Dogs took a little longer to
The end-to-end and high-tempo footy continued unabated in the second quarter, with the Dogs maintaining their control but only holding a five-point lead at the main break.
Their ability to shut down the Bombers off half-back and force turnovers saw them create some chances, and with Merrett being well held by Liberatore, and Hurley taking longer than usual to work into the game, Essendon's load was spread on some of its lesser players.
The move of Bontempelli into the midfield from deep in attack, where he was being minded by Hurley, freed up the Essendon defender, and he was crucial late in the first half to keep the Bombers in touch. But nobody was doing that more than Daniher, whose four-first half goals made him the man most likely to whisk things away for the Western Bulldogs.
But the Dogs weren't going to let that happen. Daniher did kick the Bombers' first goal of the third quarter, but the Dogs responded with the next three.
Essendon challenged again, but the Dogs bit back, and their 19-point lead at the final change was an important and deserved buffer. History repeated in the final term, as John Worsfold's Bombers closed the gap to six points with minutes to
MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: Young defender Lewis Young hurt his right knee in the final term and required treatment in the rooms. He came back on and played out the rest of the afternoon.
Essendon: Lively small forward Orazio Fantasia needed medical treatment in the rooms after appearing to hurt an ankle while kicking a goal in the third term. But Fantasia returned and played out the game. Just before the three-quarter time siren, David Myers grabbed for his hamstring. He had some treatment in the fourth term and returned to the field.
NEXT UP
The Western Bulldogs will fancy their chances of a fourth-straight victory next week when they travel to the Gabba to take on the Brisbane Lions. Essendon plays Carlton on Saturday afternoon and will need to beat their arch rivals to keep their finals hopes alive.
More to come
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.4 8.9 15.10 19.13 (127)
ESSENDON 4.5 7.10 11.15 13.19 (97)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen 4, Dickson 3, Webb 2, Bontempelli 2, Murphy, Roughead, Suckling, Hunter, Liberatore, Cloke, Daniel, McLean
Essendon: Daniher 6, Fantasia 2, Zaharakis, Parish, Colyer, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hooker
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Biggs,
Essendon:
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Essendon: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hosking, Ryan, Mitchell
Official crowd: 48,754 at Etihad Stadium
