The Age
But it all came down to a pulsating final quarter, where the Giants desperately held on for the final five minutes after Jake Stringer snapped his third goal to reduce the margin to three points.
Tom Boyd shanked a late shot at goal from 45 metres out on a tight angle while Toby McLean missed a flying shot at goal late that would've handed the Bulldogs victory.
Best: Bontempelli, Daniel, McRae, McLean, Stringer, Dahlhaus.
- James Buckley
Herald Sun/Daily Telegraph
Marcus Bontempelli was again outstanding for the Bulldogs booting three important goals to go with his 22 possessions (14 contested) and seven tackles.
Luke Dahlhaus, Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel were also outstanding in the middle as the Dogs got back to their high pressure best of last year and shaded the contested footy 159-154.
The Bulldogs rebound off half-back was also outstanding. Jason Johannisen was enormous in the last quarter of the preliminary final and the Giants couldn’t stop him in Canberra either and along with Rob Murphy, Zaine Cordy and Easton Wood set up countless attacks with little containment from the GWS forwards.
Best: M.Bontempelli, J.Johannisen, C.Daniel, L.Dahlhaus, L.Jong, E.Wood, J.Macrae, L.Hunter, B.Murphy
- Neil Cordy
AFL Media
The Bulldogs were left to rue their missed opportunities after taking a nine-point lead to half-time despite dominating the second quarter.
While two goals each to Stringer and Marcus Bontempelli shifted the momentum of the game after quarter-time, a slew of missed shots gave the Giants a chance to regroup at the main break.
From there an arm-wrestle ensued in a game that was hard, fast and skilful as dew increasingly became a factor as the night wore on.
Luke Dahlhaus racked up 27 touches for the Dogs, while Jason Johannisen had 21 possessions and seven rebounds off defensive 50.
Best: Macrae, Bontempelli, Daniel, Johannisen, Hunter, Dahlhaus
- AAP
