A shot on goal after the siren by Geelong’s Harry Taylor almost spoiled the party, but it was the Western Bulldogs who hung on for a spirited two-point win over the Cats on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
In a see-sawing battle that saw the lead change hands almost a dozen times, the Dogs looked home - nine points up with 30-seconds to go, before Gary Ablett scored from a stoppage, trimming the margin to just three points.
But Taylor’s mark and shot on goal would ultimately float left, snapping a five-game losing streak for the home side as the Western Bulldogs triumphed 16.7 (103) to 15.11 (101) winners in front of 29,499 fans.
The Bulldogs now sit 5-9.
The Numbers
First year Dog Ed Richards inspired his side in the final term, booting two late majors, to finish with three for the match.
Stand-in skipper Marcus Bontempelli gathered 24 disposals and two goals while Toby McLean (25 possessions, five clearances, 11 tackles and one goal), Luke Dahlhaus (29 possessions and eight marks) and Josh Dunkley (27 possessions, seven tackles and two goals) were instrumental around the contest.
Josh Schache, Bailey Williams and Billy Gowers also kicked two goals each.
What they said:
“Along the way when you’re trying to establish yourself as an outfit that becomes a contender again, you look for those wins that create some cohesion and some strong memories of what you can do together,” Senior Coach, Luke Beveridge.
“I think we deserved that one. We had another game where we just kept hanging in and fighting back. I know the footy gods were looking down on us,” Marcus Bontempelli.
VFL + VFLW
Footscray have moved into the VFL top 8, following a 10.11 (71) to 10.5 (65) win over the Northern Blues at IKON Park on Saturday.
The ‘Scray trailed by four points at the final change, but rallied to win their fourth consecutive match.
Ruckman Jordan Roughead was influential – collecting 33 hit outs, five tackles and a goal, while Fletcher Roberts kicked three majors. Kieran Collins gathered 15 disposals and nine marks in just his third match back from injury.
In the VFLW, the Western Bulldogs were 22-point winners over Geelong in Ballarat on Sunday.
The victory is the Dogs’ third consecutive win as they ran out 4.4 (28) to 1.0 (6) winners. They sit 3-4 after eight rounds.
Bulldogs AFLW vice-captain Ellie Blackburn hit the scoreboard with one goal, while Mickayla Ward kicked two goals and Elise Muller finished with one.
Up Next
The Western Bulldogs host Hawthorn on Saturday night at 7.25pm at Etihad Stadium.
Footscray will take on the Box Hill Hawks in a curtain-raiser to the AFL match at 3.20pm at Etihad Stadium.
In the VFLW, the Western Bulldogs will face Melbourne University at Melbourne Uni Main Oval on Sunday at 2.30pm.
