The Western Bulldogs have kickstarted their season with a four-goal win against the GWS Giants.
In a heated contest under the Friday night lights at Marvel Stadium, the Bulldogs kicked the first goal of the game and never trailed, running out 8.9 (57) to 4.9 (33) victors to claim their first win of 2020.
It adds another chapter to the burgeoning rivalry between the two western suburbs outfits.
The Giants set their sights on Marcus Bontempelli before the first bounce, but it was the Bulldogs who gained the early ascendancy with a fierce attack on the ball in a heated opening stanza.
Goals to Josh Dunkley and Bailey Smith got the Bulldogs going, with only missed opportunities in front of goal preventing them from leading by more than nine points at the first change.
DOGS DOWN GIANTS Full match coverage and stats
The hosts continued to control the game in the second term, holding the Giants goalless while adding two of their own.
Alex Keath slotted his first major in the red, white and blue – on the run from outside 50 – before Mitch Wallis nailed an important set shot nearing half-time to give his team a 20-point advantage.
Goals were exchanged in the third term, but the Bulldogs’ lead never slipped below that 20 points.
On the stroke of three-quarter time, the returning Tom Liberatore earned a free kick and kicked truly, as players came together from both sides to reignite the fire.
Fittingly, it was Bontempelli who had the final word – kicking the final goal of the game through an opportunistic toe poke – to put the final nail in the Giants’ coffer.
The Bulldogs had winners across every line.
In his first game for 2020, Toby McLean was arguably best afield at half time before finishing with 17 disposals. Fellow inclusions Liberatore (18 disposals) and Zaine Cordy also made telling contributions.
Jack Macrae was the Bulldogs’ leading ball-winner with 24 disposals, Bontempelli worked hard for 16 disposals, Tim English had a presence around the ground and Bailey Smith enhanced his credentials as one of the competition’s rising stars.
Defensively, Alex Keath was superb alongside Cordy in the key posts, while Caleb Daniel (23 disposals) and Jason Johannisen (20 disposals) were brilliant in driving the Bulldogs from defence into attack.
The Bulldogs will next travel north to face the Sydney Swans, at the SCG next Thursday night.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.5 4.6 7.8 8.9 (57)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.2 1.4 3.5 4.9 (33)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Smith, Keath, Wallis, Richards, Dale, Liberatore, Bontempelli
Greater Western Sydney: Perryman 2, Cameron, Finlayson
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Daniel, Liberatore, Keath, English, McLean, Dunkley
Greater Western Sydney: Perryman, Coniglio, Haynes, Hately, Corr
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly (calf) replaced in selected side by Hately, Whitfield (concussion)
