The Western Bulldogs’ finals hopes have been given a shot in the arm with a thrilling two-point win over premiership fancy West Coast at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
The Dogs’ notched their most significant victory of the season – their second win against a top eight opponent in 2020 – and moved to ninth spot on the ladder with two games remaining.
A Marcus Bontempelli bomb with three minutes remaining in the last quarter - which crossed the line by the barest of margins - proved to be the winning goal in a low scoring and tense encounter.
The Bulldogs well and truly deserved their victory, overcoming a 22-point deficit at quarter time, eventually winning the inside 50 count by 45-27.
Bontempelli and ruckman Tim English each had big moments on the dying seconds, with English raking in two towering marks to defuse late Eagles surges.
Josh Dunkley played a massive role in the midfield and up forward, winning 22 disposals, kicking a goal, laying nine tackles (including five in the last quarter) and finishing with eight score involvements.
Jack Macrae’s incredible ball-winning season continued, with the midfielder collecting a game-high 29 touches and winning five clearances.
The Bulldogs finished with the top eight possession winners on the ground, who each won 20 or more disposals.
Mitch Wallis booted two crucial goals – the sixth time this season he’s kicked multiple goals – to take his 2020 tally to 22.
Toby McLean put in an excellent performance, restricting Eagles’ star midfielder Andrew Gaff to 15 possessions while collecting 20 himself, laying nine tackles and recording eight score involvements.
West Coast was missing some of their big-name stars, including Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn, Elliot Yeo and Nic Naitanui, who was withdrawn shortly before the first bounce.
And after missing some gettable chances in the opening term, it looked like the Eagles’ class would prove too much.
But the Bulldogs made some adjustments to their game style after quarter time, started to get on top in the clearances and dominated the territory battle.
Scores were level at half time, and the game became an arm-wrestle in the third team with each side managing one goal each.
The teams went goal-for-goal in the last term as the lead changed hands four times, with the Dogs finishing with their noses in front when the final siren rang.
MATCH CENTRE | All the player and team stats from the Bulldogs' win over West Coast.
MATCH DETAILS
Western Bulldogs 0.3 3.8 4.10 6.13 (49)
West Coast Eagles 4.1 4.2 5.3 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Wallis 2, Lloyd, Dunkley, Bontempelli
West Coast Eagles: Waterman 2, Kennedy 2, Ryan, Sheed, Cole
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Macrae, McLean, Daniel, Bontempelli, Hunter, Liberatore
West Coast: Redden, Duggan, Sheed, Jetta, Waterman, Cole
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
West Coast: Hutchings (hamstring)
