The Western Bulldogs have recorded their third straight loss, a 24-point defeat against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
The Bulldogs have come up empty-handed from a mid-season stretch against three of the competition’s 2020 premiership chances – Richmond, Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
On Saturday night, a period of dominance from the Lions late in the second quarter set up a match-winning lead, as it did in the third quarter of the previous match against the Power.
The Bulldogs fought the game out well, outscoring the Lions in the second half, but they never got close enough to seriously challenge for victory.
Eric Hipwood booted five goals for the winners, who dominated the clearance battle for large periods of the match.
Jack Macrae’s ball-winning purple patch continued, with the hard-working midfielder collecting a game-high 40 disposals and delivering the ball inside 50 on seven occasions.
It was the ninth time in his career Macrae has recorded 40 or more disposals, a feat even more meritorious against the Lions given the shortened AFL game time in 2020.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli (30 possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s) did his best to drag the Bulldogs back into the contest, while Easton Wood kept the dangerous Charlie Cameron goalless.
Mitch Wallis booted three goals for the third time this season, to take his tally to 16 goals for the year.
In the end, it was the clearance work of the Lions’ midfielders in the all-important middle section of the game which was the difference, with Lachie Neale (36 disposals), Dayne Zorko and Jarryd Lyons combining for 29 clearances.
After an even start to the game, back-to-back majors from the Bulldogs at the start of the second term saw them hit the lead, but a Hugh McCluggage goal at the 16-minute mark sparked a run of six straight goals for the home side.
The Dogs threatened to claw back the deficit a few times in the second half, but Brisbane kept them at arm’s length to maintain their spot in the top four.
The Bulldogs have an eight-day break to prepare for their next challenge, against the Adelaide Crows next Sunday at Metricon Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Brisbane Lions 3.4 9.8 13.10 14.12 (96)
Western Bulldogs 3.1 5.2 8.2 11.6 (72)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Hipwood 5, Ah Chee 2, McCluggage 2, Bailey 2, McStay, Neale, Robinson
Western Bulldogs: Wallis 3, Lloyd 2, Macrae, Lipinski, Bontempelli, Bruce, Dale, Naughton
BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Zorko, Hipwood, Lyons, Bailey, McCluggage
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Bontempelli, Wallis, Daniel, Williams
INJURIES
Brisbane: Cameron (knee)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
