The Western Bulldogs returned to the winners’ list on Saturday night, recording a comfortable 35-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Early signs would have made the Bulldogs’ faithful nervous - the Dogs were goalless in the opening term and trailed by 28 points early in the second quarter.
Led strongly by stand-in captain Marcus Bontempelli (four third term goals) and Jason Johannisen off half back, the Bulldogs kicked 14 goals to the Saints’ three after the first break to set up the win.
The numbers
The Dogs’ key movers got to work against the Saints.
Jackson Macrae (36 disposals) and Josh Dunkley (34 touches) were busy, while Jason Johannisen provided run and carry off half-back collecting a career high 42 touches and five inside-50s.
Bontempelli collected 22 disposals to go with his four goals and forward Josh Schache amassed a career high three goals.
You can quote me on that
Senior Coach, Luke Beveridge
“It was just a matter of staying composed, sticking to pre-match plans, and not throwing the baby out with the bath water, so we had a good conversation at quarter time around all of that.
“To our players’ credit, obviously we’ve been under a little bit of duress around consistently playing the four quarters, I don’t think it was intent that cost us, it was more the method, some of the Saints’ good play and I don’t think we’ve had a third quarter like that for a long time, so that was nice.”
Hayden Crozier
“It’s been a tough two months for us. The boys have never dropped their heads, we’ve been coming into the Club at the start of the week and really looking to improve our game.
“We’ve had patches where we’ve played a good half, a good three quarters and let ourselves down in one or two quarters.
“(I’m) extremely proud of the boys tonight.”
VFL + VFLW
The Scray moved back into the VFL top 8, defeating Frankston by 42-points at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday.
Led by co-captain Angus Monfries, who kicked four goals, Footscray took an advantage into every change.
Tim English amassed 32 hit outs and two goals while Shane Biggs collected 29 disposals, three tackles and two inside 50s off half back.
In the VFLW, the Western Bulldogs ended their six game winning streak.
The Southern Saints defeated the Bulldogs by 31-points at Henry Turner Reserve on Sunday.
The Bulldogs’ Jess Francke registered the first goal of the match, but it would be the Dogs’ last for the day as the Saints piled on six goals.
Up Next
The Western Bulldogs will return to Etihad Stadium to face North Melbourne on Sunday at 1.10pm.
Footscray will travel to Avalon Airport to take on North Melbourne at 2.30pm on Sunday and in the VFLW, the Western Bulldogs will look to get back on the winners’ list against Hawthorn at Box Hill City Oval at 2.00pm.
