The Western Bulldogs have consolidated second place on the AFL ladder with an impressive interstate win against West Coast.

For the second time in a month, the Dogs spent a week away from home in the lead-up to a Perth game but put in an incredible performance to bank the four points.

The win over the Eagles was the Club’s first in Western Australia since 2016.

The Bulldogs are still undefeated on the road in 2021, having beaten GWS, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and now West Coast.

The Dogs’ midfield was dominant throughout, with Jack Macrae (32 disposals), Bailey Smith (31), Marcus Bontempelli (29) and Lachie Hunter (27) the four highest disposal winners on the ground.

Bontempelli also kicked three goals, including a stunning snap from the boundary in the last quarter, while Aaron Naughton booted four majors.

The game was in the balance until early in the last quarter, before a six-goal run from the visitors put the result beyond doubt.

The Dogs led from the outset in soggy conditions, capitalising on their dominance in the middle, but wayward kicking saw them kick just two goals from 10 scoring shots in the first quarter.

They controlled the second term to take a 20-point lead into the main break, before the Eagles mounted a charge in the third quarter, aided by defender Ryan Gardner being subbed out of the game with a shoulder injury.

It took until the nine minute-mark of the last quarter for the first goal to be scored, which came from the boot of Macrae.

From there, the Bulldogs put the foot down with a late flurry of goals.

MATCH DETAILS
West Coast                         1.1          2.4          5.6          6.7 (43)
Western Bulldogs            2.8          4.12        7.15        13.20 (98)

GOALS
West Coast: Allen 2, Kennedy, Cripps, Gaff, Petruccelle
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Bontempelli 3, Smith 2, Weightman, Garcia, Macrae, McLean

BEST
West Coast: Naitanui, Sheppard, Hurn, Redden
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Smith, Naughton, Macrae, Hunter, Liberatore, Richards, Dale

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil 
Western Bulldogs: Gardner (shoulder), English (eye)

MEDICAL SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Nelson (unused)
Western Bulldogs: Wallis (replaced Gardner)

Crowd: No crowd permitted at Optus Stadium