THE WESTERN Bulldogs have strengthened their grip on third spot and sent an emphatic reminder to the rest of the competition that they too will figure in September, with an 88-point demolition of Hawthorn at Docklands on Saturday night.
The Dogs had it won before quarter time – leading by nearly 10 goals at the break – and kept the Hawks goalless for the first time since 1979 as the margin blew out to 84 points at half time.
Hawthorn matched the Dogs for goals in the second half to see the final scores read 19.19 (133) to 6.9 (45), but its finals aspirations were left in tatters with six wins from 14 games.
Ahead of Sunday's anticipated clash between undefeated sides Geelong and St Kilda, the Dogs turned on a running and tackling display that provided the most spectacular half of the year.
And while they will get deserved kudos for their attack, Brian Lake and Dale Morris did stellar jobs on Hawthorn twin towers Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin, with Franklin moved into defence later in the game.
Such was the influence of Lake, Morris, Ryan Hargrave and Jarrod Harbrow that, after two terms, the Hawks had 21 inside 50s for just four behinds.
Further evidence of the full-ground defensive pressure in that half saw the Dogs with 80 more possessions and 50 per cent more tackles.
The Hawks trudged from the field at half time with boos of their fans ringing in their ears, and one supporter standing near the race repeatedly pointing to his heart.
It should be remembered that while the Dogs were missing Daniel Giansiracusa, the Hawks were without premiership players Trent Croad, Cyril Rioli, Stuart Dew, Mark Williams and Clinton Young, and had several who were coming back from extended spells out of the game.
For the Dogs, Shaun Higgins, Scott Welsh and Brad Johnson all kicked three goals while the Hawks had Jordan Lewis kick three and Roughead two.
The amazing efficiency of the Dogs was demonstrated most clearly when considered that they only went inside their attacking arc 52 times, yet scored 38 times.
They had any number of terrific players – Ryan Griffen (31 touches), Adam Cooney (32), Ryan Hargrave (32), Matthew Boyd (35) and Daniel Cross (23) – but most could have been on that list.
For the Hawks, Lewis (23 touches) and Brad Sewell (29) worked hard, as did captain Sam Mitchell (26) and Luke Hodge (22).
After a shock loss to West Coast last week, Hawthorn was expected to hit this contest with more of the resilience that 2009 has often promised but rarely delivered.
The Hawks also had the knowledge of a 51-point victory in last year's qualifying final but, once the game started, that result seemed so much longer than 10 months ago.
By the 20-minute mark of the first quarter, Akermanis had kicked the Bulldogs' fifth goal to put them 32 points in front.
Little improved for the Hawks until the third term when after Higgins pushed his side 90 points ahead with four minutes expired, Roughead's first goal and two to Lewis gave Hawthorn supporters a few rare moments to savour.
The Hawks won the quarter as the Dogs took the foot well and truly off the pedal, reducing the margin to 74 points.
But any concern they would let the Hawks further erode the margin below the half-time outcome was dashed as Josh Hill – so often a contributor in the late stages of any game – added two goals while Boyd kicked his second and Johnson his third.
Western Bulldogs 9.6 13.10 15.14 19.19 (133)
Hawthorn 0.2 0.4 4.6 6.9 (45)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Johnson 3, Welsh 3, Higgins 3, Akermanis 2, Hill 2, Boyd 2, Gilbee, Hahn, Griffen, Minson
Hawthorn: Lewis 3, Roughead 2, Ladson
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Lake, Hargrave, Cooney, Morris, Higgins, Griffen
Hawthorn: Lewis, Sewell, Mitchell, Hodge, Bateman, Ellis
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Stevic, Grun
Official crowd: 36,827 at Docklands
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
