THE 1954 premiership, and perhaps the odd finals win aside, the Western Bulldogs enjoyed one of their finest hours when they celebrated Brad Johnson’s 300th game with a memorable three-point win over Adelaide at Telstra Dome.
In a game scripted by the Gods the Dogs looked gone at the 25-minute mark of the final term when the Crows, after a titanic struggle, grabbed an eight-point lead courtesy of a Simon Goodwin goal.
Enter Johnson.
Having been well held by Nathan Basset all day the champion Bulldog produced a stunning five-minute burst of footy that netted three goals and steered his side to a memorable victory.
Nathan Bock had the chance to steal the match back with a set shot at the death but when it sailed wide Bulldog arms were raised in victory as players savoured a moment none are likely to forget.
Johnson ended the day with five goals to claim match-winning honours while former Crow Scott Welsh relished the chance to tackle his former teammates to produce four goals.
Daniel Giansiracusa added the icing with three goals in a nippy effort inside 50.
If Bulldog fans were worried about their defence going into the match the midfield did its best to allay fears with a dashing first quarter display.
With Adam Cooney, Nathan Eagleton and Ryan Griffen feeding off the in and under work of Daniel Cross, Scott West and Matthew Boyd, the Dogs ran the ball with ease through the corridor.
Giansiracusa and Welsh lapped up the midfield service to boot two goals apiece in the opening term as the Dogs jumped out to a handy 21-point lead at the first change.
When Robert Murphy goaled at the nine-minute mark of the second term to answer Tyson Edwards goal and restore a 20-point lead the Dogs seemingly had the Crows under control.
But suddenly the face of the game changed.
In a complete mirror image of the opening 40 minutes the Crows took control - both on the field and the scoreboard.
From the nine-minute mark of the second term to the four-minute mark of the third Adelaide kicked six unanswered goals to turn a 20-point deficit into a three-goal advantage.
Unable to curtail the likes of Richard Douglas, Jason Porpylzia, Andrew McLeod, Brent Reilly and Michael Doughty, the Dogs well-fed forwards were the ones suddenly starved for opportunities.
At the other end of host of Crows, including Douglas, Edwards and the dangerous Brett Burton, who was causing Ryan Hargrave all sorts of problems, cued up to get their names on the scoresheet.
Burton had four to his name midway through the third term as the Crows answered every time the Dogs tried to claw their way back into the match.
However, with Johnson’s milestone as a spur, the Dogs clawing paid dividends.
Four goals in eight minutes, including a brilliant mid-air volley from Giansiracusa, and two late goals to the milestone celebrant miraculously had the Dogs’ nose in front at the final change.
In one of the most extraordinary final quarters likely to be played this year – the lead changed four times in 20 minutes – the Dogs hung tough amid the backdrop of Johnson’s major milestone.
In scenes befitting a finals win jubilant Bulldog players ran to Johnson whose faced beamed his trademark smile.
It was a fitting end to a ripping game.
Western Bulldogs 5.4 6.9 13.9 19.12 (126)
Adelaide 2.1 7.8 12.13 18.15 (123)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Johnson 5, Welsh 4, Giansiracusa 3, Hill, Wight, Hahn, Eagleton, Murphy, Akermanis, Gilbee
Adelaide: Burton 5, Edwards 2, Douglas 2, Tippett 2, McGregor 2, Goodwin 2, McLeod, Reilly, Stevens.
BEST:
Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Eagleton, West, Akermanis, Welsh, Johnson, Hill, Griffen.
Adelaide: Burton, Reilly, Porplyzia, Goodwin, Stevens, Symes, Edwards.
Injuries:
Western Bulldogs: Eagleton (ankle)
Adelaide: B Reilly (wrist)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: J Schmitt D Sully S Wenn
Official crowd: 24,835 at Telstra Dome
