A look at three of the key takeaways from Saturday night’s big win against Richmond.
1. Dogs dominate key posts
There were key contributors across all lines against Richmond, but it’s fair to say the Bulldogs’ big men stood tall.
Yep, Aaron Naughton was superb with five goals and nine contested grabs.
But so was Tim English in the ruck, who is getting better with each game at the level.
In his second AFL match for the year, Jackson Trengove wore Tom Lynch like a glove, and held him goalless, while Easton Wood and Zaine Cordy also impressed.
The skipper clunked eight marks down back, while Cordy alternated between defence and the ruck to play an important role.
2. Daniel in All-Australian form
Caleb Daniel is elite.
That’s not just our opinion, it’s backed up by cold, hard facts – he’s in All-Australian form.
Against the Tigers, Daniel had 36 disposals, 10 rebound-50s and six tackles. He was huge across half back, as he has been all season.
In 2019, he’s averaging 29 disposals – with 23.6 effective – 6.7 rebound-50s, 14.9 pressure acts, 3.3 tackles and 4.9 score involvements per game.
He’s rated elite in each of those categories.
3. Four quarters
The Bulldogs have been competitive for large periods in 2019, without always getting the results.
But there have been periods in games where teams have ‘seized the momentum’ away from the Dogs, as vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli alluded to last week.
Saturday night was a different story.
Winners across all lines, and a full four-quarter performance.
The Bulldogs trailed at quarter time despite largely controlling general play, but from there claimed the lead and increased it at each interval.
And the goal-kicking? 15.9 is a pretty good day at the office – and the first time the Dogs have kicked more goals than behinds since the come-from-behind win against Hawthorn in round two.
