The Western Bulldogs have fought off a determined GWS Giants to claim a 39-point win and continue their perfect start to 2021.
Little separated the sides for the first three quarters, before the Bulldogs stepped up the intensity in the final term.
A nine-goal, last quarter burst saw the Bulldogs take the game away from the Giants to seal a 15.14 (104) to 9.11 (65) victory.
It was a tough contest for the first three quarters, with the margin eight points in the Bulldogs’ favour at quarter time, eight at half-time and just three at three-quarter time.
But from there the Bulldogs took control.
A string of consecutive goals to Jason Johannisen, Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar saw the Bulldogs kick away early in the final quarter.
Toby Greene’s fourth major halted the Bulldogs’ momentum – briefly – as they found another flourish at the end.
Bailey Dale capped off a good night at the office with two late goals, while medical sub Lachie McNeil and key forwards Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce also chipped in with two goals each.
The Bulldogs finished the night with an extra 14 clearances and 68 disposals.
Star midfielders Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar were prolific, racking up 40 disposals and 35 disposals respectively, plus six clearances each.
Tom Liberatore (27 disposals, two goals) and Marcus Bontempelli (26 disposals, one goal) also played important hands in the midfield – as did Josh Dunkley (29 disposals) before coming off with a shoulder injury.
The Bulldogs’ win came at a cost – with injuries to Dunkley, Jong (hamstring) and Tim English (head knock) ahead of a big Friday night clash against Richmond at the MCG next week.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.1 4.5 6.8 9.11 (65)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 5.7 6.11 15.14 (104)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 4, Taranto, Himmelberg, Stone, Hopper, Ward
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 2, McNeil 2, Liberatore 2, Dale 2, Naughton 2, Hunter, Johannisen, Bontempelli, Treloar, Macrae
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Ash, Taranto, Hopper, Cumming, Taylor
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Treloar, Dunkley, Dale
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (hamstring), O'Halloran (shoulder)
Western Bulldogs: Jong (hamstring), English (head), Dunkley (shoulder)
