THE Western Bulldogs have continued the long haul back to finals contention, holding off a fast-finishing Gold Coast by 22 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs set up the victory with a superb first-half display of goalkicking, kicking 12.2 to set up a 34-point lead at the main break.

They led by as much as 49 points late in the third quarter and held on despite the Suns kicking five goals to one in the last term, winning 17.8 (110) to 13.10 (88).

While never seriously challenged, the Bulldogs looked to limp across the line against a Suns team full of running.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said the Queensland sunshine took it out of his players.

"I think the heat took its toll," he said.

“I think they (the Suns) are just used to heat, once they get a bit more experience, that heat is going to be a bit more of an advantage for them."

When the game was on the line, the Bulldogs' ball use was as good as it has been all season.

Captain Matthew Boyd (39 disposals, nine clearances) was brilliant in the middle, while Ryan Griffen (26 and three goals) was not far behind.

It was simply better conversion in the first half that built the huge lead.

The Suns had 15 scoring shots to 14 at the long break, had 30 inside 50s to 26, but found themselves virtually out of the game, trailing 12.2 to 5.10.

In the first quarter alone, Barry Hall - who returned with two goals before being substituted in the third quarter - Griffen, Adam Cooney and Ed Barlow all kicked goals outside 40m.

Meanwhile at the other end, Zac Smith, David Swallow, Dion Prestia (twice), Tom Lynch and Jared Brennan all missed very kickable shots.

Michael Rischitelli's second quarter blunder summed up the Suns' first-half performance when he won a centre clearance, spun around and kicked it 45m in the wrong direction, which ended up in a goal to Justin Sherman.

Captain Gary Ablett waged an enthralling duel with Liam Picken that ended with honours even.

After being kept relatively quiet for much of the day, Ablett exploded in the last quarter to finish with 24 disposals and two goals.

FIRST QUARTER

A strong breeze and missed shots cost the Gold Coast Suns a winning start at Metricon Stadium. The Suns had nine shots to the Bulldogs’ eight, with Dion Prestia and Jared Brennan among those who missed opportunities against the wind. The Bulldogs made them pay with goals to Daniel Giansiracusa, Barry Hall (two), Ryan Griffen, Ed Barlow and Adam Cooney. Danny Stanley and Tom Lynch had two goals for the Suns while Jared Brennan took a spectacular mark on the wing for the Suns late in the quarter.

Western Bulldogs 6.2 (38) Gold Coast Suns 2.7 (19).

SECOND QUARTER

Michael Rischitelli had five disposals for the quarter, but he had one early that he would probably rather forget. Rischitelli kicked the ball the wrong way from a clearance and Justin Sherman cheerfully capitalised, kicking one of the Bulldogs’ six goals for the quarter. Western Bulldogs dominated on the scoreboard, but the game remained even around the ground, with the home team having more inside 50’s and shots on goal. Late goals to the Bulldogs saw them go into the main break with a 34-point lead.

Western Bulldogs 12.2 (74) Gold Coast Suns 5.10 (40)

THIRD QUARTER

The Bulldogs maintained the status quo in the third quarter, opening with goals to Adam Cooney and Ryan Griffen before David Swallow replied with a major for the Suns. The teams traded goals from there, with Will Minson (Bulldogs), Lynch, Callan Ward and Swallow splitting the middle. The last goal to Swallow came from good running play by the Suns but the home team still faced a near-insurmountable task in the last quarter.

Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) Gold Coast Suns 8.10 (58)

FOURTH QUARTER

Gold Coast kicked two goals in the first three minutes of the last quarter and threatened to make a comeback. Nathan Bock kicked a rare goal following a 50m penalty in the 13th minute but the Suns had left their run too late. Ryan Griffen kicked his third not long after Bock’s goal to give the Bulldogs an unassailable 33-point lead. The Suns ensured they would win the quarter easily with the last two goals, including Josh Fraser’s second goal of the quarter and a long goal to Gary Ablett.

Western Bulldogs 17.8 (110) Gold Coast Suns 13.10 (88)

Influential players
The Bulldog midfield had a field day despite their late fade. Boyd (39 disposals, nine clearances) was terrific in tight, while Griffen (28 and three goals) used the ball well in space. Cooney showed some good signs with his 23 touches, six marks and three goals.

Despite his second quarter clanger, Rischitelli battled manfully for four quarters. He finished with 27 touches and four clearances. Jarrod Harbrow (25) made the odd mistake but had a fine match against his former team, while Nathan Bock was superb in defence, firstly on Barry Hall while he was on the field and then on a number of opponents in the final term.

What it means
While a win over the Suns will not be enough to convince critics or supporters their season has totally swung, there is no doubt a touch of the 'old Bulldogs' is back. Their ball use was clean, Hall returned strongly and Cooney continues to improve, so the signs are promising. The next month could determine their season, playing a number of teams vying for top eight positions.

Suns supporters have plenty of reason to smile despite the 22-point loss. It was undoubtedly one of their best four quarter performances for the season, with an even share of possession in the first half and a dominant last quarter enough to indicate they're not far away from their third win.

The next four

Western Bulldogs: Melbourne (Etihad Stadium), Carlton (Etihad Stadium), North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium), Sydney Swans (SCG)
Gold Coast: Fremantle (Patersons Stadium), Sydney Swans (Metricon Stadium), Richmond (Cazalys Stadium), Collingwood (Metricon Stadium)

Dream Team highlight

Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd was worth his $424,200 asking price, earning 136 points for his game. Ryan Griffen was not far behind with 126 while Daniel Cross had 121. Liam Picken's shutdown job on Gary Ablett netted him 95 points.

Gold Coast: Gary Ablett led the Suns with 118 points and defender Nathan Bock (107), fellow midfield dynamo David Swallow (100) also played well. Michael Rischitelli's kick in the wrong direction did not affect his total output - he had 98.

Key match up

Gary Ablett v Liam Picken. Picken followed the Suns superstar all day and rarely let Ablett out of his sights. Despite the Brownlow medallist finishing with 24 touches, Picken’s job was good enough to draw praise from his coach Rodney Eade. Ablett was influential in the last quarter, with six touches and a goal, while Picken had 16 disposals for the match.

Magic moment

Mercurial Gold Coast utility Jared Brennan added another highlight to his career when he took a spectacular first quarter mark. Playing in the forward line, Brennan soared on to the shoulder of Bulldogs second-gamer Jayden Schofield to pull down an absolute screamer. Unfortunately for Brennan, he missed the set shot, but the mark was enough to bring most of the 16,000 spectators to their feet.

Not so magic moment

Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli provided spectators with one of the more bizarre pieces of play in recent years early in the second quarter. After winning a centre clearance, Rischitelli proceeded to kick the ball 45m in the wrong direction. The resulting contest and goal to Justin Sherman left everyone a little bemused. Suns coach Guy McKenna made light of the incident in his post match press conference, saying it was hard enough playing 22 men let alone 23.

Western Bulldogs  6.2  12.2  16.7  17.8 (110)
Gold Coast Suns    2.7  5.10  8.10  13.10 (88)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Griffen 3, Cooney 3, Giansiracusa 3, Hall 2, Barlow 2, Minson, Jones, Sherman, Ward
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Ablett 2, Swallow 2, Fraser 2, Dixon, Stanley, Iles, Bock

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Griffen, Cooney, Barlow, Cross, Ward
Gold Coast: Bock, Rischitelli, Hutchins, Harbrow, Ablett, Swallow

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Barry Hall replaced by Christian Howard in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Nathan Krakouer replaced by Luke Russell in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Meredith, Ryan

Official crowd: 16,149 at Metricon Stadium