How did the media see the Bulldogs’ two-point win over Geelong on Friday night?

Herald Sun (Sam Landsberger)

But to put Friday night’s upset down to a weary Geelong would be disrespectful.

The Bulldogs broke an 11-match losing streak against Geelong, dating back to 2009, by recapturing their 2016 premiership mojo.

And for all the huff and puff about bringing in starting points, this was like a game out of what the AFL sees as the future.

Players held their positions and the game flowed as freely as a waterfall. There was no drowning congestion and Round 15 has now delivered two sparkling spectacles.

BEST: L.Dahlhaus, T.McLean, M.Bontempelli, J.Dunkley, E.Richards, P.Lipinski, B.Williams, J.Johannisen, B.Gowers, L.Hunter

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AFL Media (Nick Bowen)

There was no shortage of heroes for the Bulldogs in the final quarter.

Pocket dynamo Ed Richards kicked two early goals that put the Dogs back in front, while Billy Gowers then conjured a brilliant Jackie-Chan-like goal from mid-air that was reminiscent of Daniel Wells' goal against Fremantle in 2004.

Moments earlier, Mitch Wallis showed incredible composure to kick backwards to teammate Jason Johannisen and then burst clear inside the Dogs' forward 50 to take a pass 45m from goal.

Wallis' set shot fell short but Gowers took care of the rest, helping Wallis to bounce back from his costly late turnover last week that allowed North Melbourne to pinch a two-point win.

BEST: Dunkley, Dahlhaus, McLean, Bontempelli, Johannisen, Wallis

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The Age (Jon Pierik)

At a time when the state of the game continues to be a major discussion point, the manner in which Geelong and the Western Bulldogs did battle last night was refreshing. This was largely an end-to-end, free-flowing battle, with forwards remaining ahead of the ball.

There were goals aplenty, reinforced in that the Bulldogs had 58 points on the board by half-time. They had averaged 56 – for an entire game – in their previous five matches.

But when it was all said and done, the injury-hit Dogs had what they truly wanted – posting just their fifth win and one of the biggest upsets of the season. Their joy was palpable, for the win came after the shattering disappointment of the last-minute loss to North Melbourne and ended a 10-game losing streak to the Cats, their last victory having been in round 21, 2009.

BEST: Dunkley, Dahlhaus, Richards, Williams, McLean.