The Western Bulldogs have reinvigorated their top-four hopes with a 65-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium.

Barry Hall was too strong for Lions defender Daniel Merrett, booting six goals - taking his season’s tally to 43 - as the Bulldogs won their seventh game of the season, 7.19 (121) to 8.8 (56).

Daniel Cross (31 possessions), Matthew Boyd (31 in his 150th game) and Adam Cooney (30) were prolific ball-winners in the midfield for winners.

Without power forward Jonathan Brown, whose ongoing groin problems forced him to withdraw from their selected side, the Lions struggled in attack, with Dale Morris restricting Brendan Fevola to just two goals.

Fevola’s contribution included a number of dropped marks and much hand-waving at teammates, although his first major was a miraculous effort from deep in the forward pocket during the third quarter.

Aamon Buchanan finished with three goals for the Lions, while veteran Simon Black gathered 28 touches.

Stung by successive losses to Essendon and Collingwood, and having been urged by coach Rodney Eade to take more risks, the Bulldogs started full of running and were 29 points up at quarter time.

Fevola’s brilliant snap narrowed the margin to 15 shortly after the long break, before the home side rediscovered its form.

The Bulldogs piled on 10 goals to two during the remainder of the game.

And there was more good news Eade’s men, with Robert Murphy making an impressive return after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

Playing across half-back, his afternoon’s work including plenty of dash and a spectacular contested mark that denied the Lions a shot at goal.

But tall defender Tom Williams faces a couple of weeks on the sidelines after straining a hamstring.

The Bulldogs, who play West Coast in Perth next Sunday, are now just one win outside the top four.

The Lions, in contrast, have lost seven of their past eight games, their win-loss record slumping to 5-7.


Western Bulldogs   5.6  7.9  13.12   17.19 (121)
Brisbane Lions   1.1  5.2  6.4   8.8 (56)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Hall 6, Giansiracusa 3, Minson 2, Stack 2, Grant, Eagleton, Hill, Gilbee
Brisbane Lions: Buchanan 3, Fevola 2, Redden, Rischitelli, Staker

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Hall, Morris, Griffen, Cooney, Murphy, Boyd
Brisbane Lions: Black, Rischitelli, Rockliff, Banfield, Buchanan, Rich

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Williams (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions: Brown (groin) out, replaced in selected side by Selwood

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kamolins, Avon, McInerney

Official crowd: 30,831 at Etihad Stadium  

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.