Marcus Bontempelli put on a show as the Western Bulldogs maintained their perfect start to 2021 with a 62-point win against the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium.

In his 150^th AFL match, the superstar midfielder was everywhere, collecting 33 disposals and kicking three goals to lead his side to a 17.16 (118) to 8.8 (56) victory.

Five consecutive wins makes this the Bulldogs’ best start to a season for 75 years.

Incredibly, the last time the Bulldogs achieved that feat was in 1946.

The Bulldogs were brilliant in the first half – kicking the first 11 goals of the game and conceding just one, to lead by 61 points at the major break.

But the Suns fought back, kicking six of the first seven goals of the third quarter to cut the margin back to 34 points.

It was Bontempelli who intervened at an important moment – collecting an errant handball, dodging opponents and snapping truly to break the Suns’ momentum just before three quarter time.

Four goals to one in the final term extended the margin beyond 60 points, as the Bulldogs maintained their spot on the top of the AFL ladder and boosted their percentage to 178.6 per cent.

Bontempelli had plenty of mates in a dominant midfield performance.

Jack Macrae (35 disposals, seven clearances) and Josh Dunkley (37 disposals , seven clearances, two goals) continued their prolific seasons, while Adam Treloar (26 disposals, one goal), Tom Liberatore (24 disposals, one goal) and Lachie Hunter (25 disposals, one goal) all enjoyed strong afternoons at the office.

Debutant ruckman Jordon Sweet showed plenty of promise, racking up 32 hit-outs, while Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce kicked a pair of goals each – Bruce’s second to ice the cake after the final siren.

Forward-turned-defender Bailey Dale recorded a career-high 27 disposals and nine marks to be influential behind the ball, with his game continuing to go from strength-to-strength.

Alex Keath (20 disposals, nine marks) and Taylor Duryea (16 disposals, 10 marks) also impressed as the Bulldogs’ back line conceded less than 60 points for the fourth time in five matches.

A shoulder injury to Bailey Williams saw medical sub Ben Cavarra brought into the game for the final term, while Pat Lipinski made his 50^th AFL appearance as a late inclusion for Laitham Vandermeer (back spasms).

The Bulldogs will head to Canberra in round six, to take on the GWS Giants at Manuka Oval.

WESTERN BULLDOGS                   4.1      11.4   13.9   17.16 (118)
GOLD COAST SUNS                       0.2      1.3      7.4      8.8 (56)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Bruce 2, Dunkley 2, Naughton 2, Treloar 2, English, Hunter, Liberatore, McNeil, Scott, Wood
Gold Coast Suns: Corbett 3, King 2, Lukosius, Rankine, Sexton 

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Macrae, Dunkley, Dale, Keath, Treloar, Liberatore
Gold Coast: Lukosius, Corbett, King, Ellis, Miller  

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (back spasms) replaced in selected side by Lipinski, Williams (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Ben Cavarra (replaced Williams)
Gold Coast: Sam Flanders (unused)