1. You shall not pass
When the Bulldogs have played good footy in 2020, their defensive unit has shone.
And so it was against Gold Coast, despite periods of the game when it looked like their resistance would be broken.
Alex Keath and Zaine Cordy were dependable as the key pillars, mid-sized Easton Wood, Bailey Williams and Hayden Crozier were strong in the air and oozed composure, while Caleb Daniel and Jason Johannisen provided explosive rebound.
In the second quarter the Bulldogs conceded 15 inside 50s and just had five of their own, but they conceded only one goal. It was critical in the final result.
2. Dazzling deeds at the death
In see-sawing, nerve-wracking games, four points can be won or lost by which team executes the best under pressure.
Against the Suns, several Dogs, young and old, stood up under enormous strain late in the game to get their team over the line.
Tom Liberatore was immense in the final term. He had eight touches, two tackles, two clearances and 15 pressure acts.
On several occasions, Bailey Williams kept his head to win crucial one-on-one battles in defence.
Laitham Vandermeer and Ed Richards each halved vital outnumber situations at different stages, and combined for the all-important first major of the last quarter.
And skipper Marcus Bontempelli drifted back to his defensive 50 to take the game-saving mark in the last minute.
Dying stages. 3 vs 1. Laith cracks in ??
— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) July 24, 2020
Relive the last two minutes: https://t.co/ugg7eJzGiB#MightyWest pic.twitter.com/HlzIXgrhfP
3. Passing the pressure test
Dogs’ coach Luke Beveridge has mentioned a few times lately that restrictions on group training sessions, combined with a compressed fixture, make scenario based training difficult to accomplish.
Crucially, it’s the tactical options late in close matches that the team hasn’t been able to practice this year, for situations like the young Bulldogs faced against the Suns.
Until Thursday night, they hadn’t needed to remember what they had previously only learned in the classroom. In each of their seven games to kick off the 2020 season, 24 points was the closest match they’ve played in.
You have to go back to Round 17 last year (the eight-point win over Melbourne) for the last time the Bulldogs have played in a game decided by under 10 points.
When the challenge came, despite some nervy moments, they passed the test.
