What did the media pundits think of the Dogs’ performance against St. Kilda on the weekend?
westernbulldogs.com.au has compiled their take on how they saw the game.
Herald Sun
"This bloke might have six Brownlow Medal votes. If the Bulldogs are sexy, Jason Johannisen is the pin-up boy. His cut off handball, bounce and pass to Jake Stringer was the play of the weekend.
"If it had been Paddy Dangerfield, the drooling wouldn’t subside until Wednesday. He has always had the pace but has improved his game awareness, which gives him great confidence. Has 62 possessions in the first two weeks at 82 per cent efficiency."
- Mark Robinson
"That’s the beauty about these gung-ho Dogs, if it is not Stringer, or Jack Macrae, or Luke Dahlhaus, or Marcus Bontempell, another young gun will bob up, and at half time, Johannisen’s brilliance lit up what was a dour affair, at times.
"And for all the talk about how sexy Luke Beveridge’s men play, defensively they tightened the screws, keeping the Saints to only five goals in the 57-point win at Etihad Stadium."
- Jay Clark
The Age
"In 195 games at Etihad before this season, never before had the Dogs failed to keep a side to less 40 points. Now they've done it two weeks in a row.
"The Dogs have won 11 straight games at Etihad, a sample in which they have held their opposition to an average of 58.5 points. To last year's finals team they have added another ready-made player, with key defender Marcus Adams impressing judges with his early-season form.
"What makes things even better for the Dogs is their ability to turn defence into attack. St Kilda were frequently made to chase tail on the turnover on Saturday night, with captain Nick Riewoldt telling Channel Seven on Sunday that the Dogs "have the best attacking half-backs in the competition."
- Daniel Cherny
AFL Media
"Luke Beveridge's men did not hit the heights of their stunning round one win over Fremantle, but increased their lead at each break to record a convincing 13.15 (93) to 5.6 (36) win in Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt's 300th game.
"Defender Jason Johannisen (27 possessions, one goal and three goal assists) was electrifying for the Bulldogs in the back half, most memorably setting up a Jake Stringer goal late in the second term when he outpointed two Saints, who looked headed into attack, intercepting a handball and then exploding down the wing.
"Lachie Hunter (a game-high 35 possessions) and Jack Macrae (30) were prolific through the midfield, while Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd gave the Dogs plenty of drive off half-back.
"Dogs defenders Easton Wood, Marcus Adams and Dale Morris teamed well on the Saints tall forwards, while spearhead Tom Boyd continued his encouraging development with three goals."
- Nick Bowen
