Herald Sun
Just like a final, there was pressure and mistakes in the two sides’ only home-and-away meeting for the season.
And just like a final, there was plenty of pace.
The Bulldogs had been frustrated, star playmaker Jason Johannisen said this week, by their apparent inability to recapture their blistering form of last year that delivered a premiership.
It looked to be making its way back at times.
The reigning premiers rediscovered their ball movement and were able to score heavily, ending with their highest total for the year.
Moving Johannisen forward looked genius when it mattered most, with the Norm Smith medallist — who has endured endless attention from opponents over the last two months — providing four goals at crucial
- Lauren Wood
The Age
But having been jumped, the Dogs steadied, and gradually pegged back the lead. Both sides were moving the ball at pace, but it was the reigning premiers clicking a little better.
A problem for much of the season, their forward line at last looked damaging.Tory Dickson has had a turbulent season but back in the side, appeared back to his crafty best.
Lukas Webb had been a late inclusion, yet he was an inspired one too, causing problems for the Dons' defence, while the shift of Jason Johannisen to half-forward was also looking like a masterstroke, the Norm Smith medallist seemingly reinvigorated.
- Daniel Cherny
ABC
The AFL premiers might be back to their best on the basis of the Western Bulldogs' 30-point run-and-gun win over Essendon on Sunday.
Luke Beveridge's side stood up in the match they simply had to win to keep their flag defence alive.
Jason Johannisen roared with four goals and Marcus Bontempelli showed his class in the 19.13 (127) to 13.19 (97) success.
The Bulldogs broke open the contest in the third term, kicking seven goals to outgun the Bombers in an old-fashioned shootout.
Yahoo 7/AAP
But the Bulldogs had more routes to goal, beginning with Johannisen.
In front of a crowd of 48,754 — the biggest to attend the fixture this century — the Dogs grand final hero began the contest in the forward line and sparked his side.
Lukas Webb, Tory Dickson and Johannisen kicked two early goals each as the Bulldogs reeled in an early deficit and began their assault.
The Dogs were playing with the run and dare absent for much of their premiership defence
AFL Media
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.
- Callum Twomey
