Despite a fast start, the Western Bulldogs went down to Melbourne by 49-points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Dogs looked sharp in the early stages and were 17 points ahead when Marcus Bontempelli spun out of a pack and snapped a goal eight minutes into the contest.
But the Dees won the next term, turning their deficit into a 16-point lead by half-time.
The Bulldogs sit in 14th position on the ladder with a 4-7 record heading into the bye.
The numbers
Marcus Bontempelli was busy, collecting 24 disposals, five clearances and booting two goals.
Midfielder Jack Macrae added another 30-plus disposal game to his season. Lachie Hunter (32, four clearances) was also prolific.
You can quote me on that
“I think in the back half of this season I still believe there is no reason why we can’t pick it up and have a run at it (finals). There’s still a glimmer there, and people will say, what are you talking about, but that’s the way I think,” Senior Coach, Luke Beveridge.
“We went in with a plan to try and take it up to them. That first 15-20 minutes was pretty exciting, we just didn’t capitalise after that. Our destiny is in our hands, if we look after ourselves after the bye and come back with an appetite in the second half of the year, that’s going to be the best way forward,” Matthew Suckling.
VFL + VFLW
Footscray defeated Essendon by 11-points on Saturday night at Victoria University Whitten Oval.
In a tightly fought contest, two crucial final term goals from Fergus Greene kept the Bombers at bay.
Tom Campbell was again influential with 49 hitouts, six marks and four tackles. Defenders Shane Biggs (30 disposals, four tackles) and Lewis Young (20 disposals, eight marks) impressed in the back line, keeping the Bombers to one goal in both the first and third quarters.
Full VFL match report & Stats wrap
In the VFLW, the Western Bulldogs fell 36 points short in a match with the Northern Territory Thunder in Darwin.
Kirsten McLeod and Naomi Ferres kicked two goals each while Brooke Lochland, Bailey Hunt, Libby Birch and Emma Mackay were amongst the best for the Dogs.
Up Next
The Bulldogs have the bye this week before travelling to Adelaide to face Port on Thursday, June 14.
On Saturday, June 16, Footscray will face Coburg at Piranha Park while in the VFLW, the Bulldogs will play Williamstown at Henry Turner Reserve.
