THE WEST Coast Eagles have ended the Western Bulldogs’ unbeaten start to 2009 with a convincing 33-point victory at Subiaco Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles bounced back from their 97-point drubbing by St Kilda last week to lead at every break, running out 17.14 (116) to 12.11 (83) winners.

West Coast had 11 goal scorers for the day, with Quinten Lynch and Adam Hunter kicking three each, while Shaun Higgins had four goals for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs were stunned by a fast-starting Eagles’ line-up, with Hunter posting the opening goal with just 25 seconds on the clock.

Despite Ben Hudson taking the fight right up to Dean Cox, the Eagles midfield was on top with Brent Staker dominating the centre clearances. A brilliant right-foot snap on the run by Daniel Kerr stretched the home side’s early lead.

The Bulldogs steadied when free-kicks resulted in goals to Matthew Boyd and Shaun Higgins. When Higgins followed up minutes later with a brilliant running goal from 50 metres, the Bulldogs had hit the lead.

But the Eagles regained the ascendancy, and the home side rattled off four consecutive majors late in the quarter to take a 20-point lead at the first break.

The Eagles opened the second quarter with another early goal to Adam Selwood, but Ryan Griffen provided a quick response with a clever right-foot snap.

Griffen, Daniel Cross and Matthew Boyd began to nullify the Eagles’ runners, and when Jason Akermanis fed a hot ball to Brad Johnson, who kicked truly, the Bulldogs were back in business.

The game remained tight for the remainder of the quarter, but the Bulldogs again conceded a goal late in time-on to see the Eagles hold sway by 19 points at the long break.

To keep the pattern going, Lynch popped up with a goal for the home side in the opening minute of the third term as the Eagles threatened to run away with the game.

The quarter belonged to Kerr, who racked up 13 possessions, while straight kicking was all that was keeping the Bulldogs in the game as they posted four goals from five scoring shots, including another two to Higgins.

But West Coast was finding multiple avenues to goal, and the warm weather, coupled with the wide expanses of Subiaco Oval, appeared to be taking their toll on the Bulldog runners.

Trailing by 34 points at the final break, the Bulldogs appeared down and out when Matt Rosa opened the scoring for the Eagles.

But against the odds, the Bulldogs managed to find some run and a string of goals to Lindsay Gilbee, Brian Lake and Callan Ward put some pressure on the home side.

Cox, Kerr and Selwood stood up again as West Coast managed to stem the Bulldogs comeback, and veteran defender David Wirrpanda put the game beyond doubt with a running goal as time-on loomed.

West Coast had numerous good players throughout the day, led by Cox’s dominance in the ruck, while Selwood, Embley and Kerr out-gunned the Bulldogs’ midfield. Wirrpanda sparkled in his return to defence.

Boyd, Higgins, Dale Morris and Cross led the way for the Bulldogs. Daniel Hargrave worked hard in defence, and Hudson battled willingly all day.

The Bulldogs must now regroup to face Carlton next Sunday.

West Coast Eagles    6.4    8.7    14.11    17.14 (116)
Western Bulldogs      3.2    5.6    9.7        12.11 (83)

GOALS
West Coast Eagles: Hunter, Lynch 3, LeCras, McKinley 2, Embley, Hansen, Kerr, Rosa, Selwood, Staker, Wirrpanda
Western Bulldogs: Higgins 4, Boyd 2, Gilbee, Griffen, Hill, Johnson, Lake, Ward

BEST
West Coast Eagles: Cox, Kerr, Selwood, Priddis, Wirrpanda, Staker, Schofield
Western Bulldogs: Higgins, Boyd, Akermanis, Hargrave, Cross, Picken

INJURIES
West Coast Eagles: Chad Fletcher (groin) replaced in selected side by Ben McKinley
Western Bulldogs: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Sully, Hendrie

Official crowd: 37,758 at Subiaco Oval

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