The Age

If there was a moment that typified the game for the Bulldogs, it came seven minutes into the final quarter. Having signed a five-year contract only days ago, Dogs speedster Jason Johannisen had steadily worked his way into the match after a difficult five weeks.

With the Dogs leading by 22 points he marked a kick from Tom Liberatore just inside the 50 metre arc, only to be smothered by Nick Graham. 

But Johannisen recovered, gathering a loose ball before guiding through the sealer. This was the Dogs on Sunday; not polished but resolute, and showing faint signs of the team that charged its way through last year's finals series.

- Daniel Cherny

AFL Media

Lewis Young, the 197cm defender (pick No.49 in last year's NAB AFL Draft), set to turn 19 on the 20th of December, looked right at home on the MCG in an assured performance, after a few mistakes early, in the first game of his AFL career.

Young, who became the 999th player to pull on a Bulldogs jumper, positioned himself well in defence and wasn't afraid to back himself in the air, taking six intercept marks and nine in total. 

Young's pack mark over Kreuzer in the third quarter was a nice highlight and the Bulldogs would have been rapt with his impact in Easton Wood's absence.

- Ben Guthrie

Herald Sun

The Dogs hunt for the ball and the man was at a better intensity to previous weeks and a couple of individuals were certainly helping to lift that.

Daniel was everywhere in the first half, his football intelligence with the ball in his hands shining out given how bad a lot of the others were.

Jack Macrae was also cruising around getting possessions at will but the game needed some class and Bontempelli once again put up his hand in the third term.

The Dogs superstar had 10 touches for the quarter, including a goal, with his every touch counting which is something a lot of the Carlton players couldn’t say.

- Scott Gullan