1. Three more Dogs hurt, and two Blues
Injuries are threatening to derail the Bulldogs' promising start to the season. Last week their gallant effort against Hawthorn was overshadowed by a potentially career-ending knee injury to skipper Bob Murphy, and now they will be without fellow defensive dasher Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and possibly Matt Suckling (ankle) and Tom Boyd (right shoulder). In the third term the scintillating Johannisen rifled a goal on the run from inside the centre square but immediately grabbed his right thigh and limped off. Moments later Suckling hobbled off with a right ankle injury, but after considerable treatment in the rooms the ex-Hawk returned to the fray. Boyd sub-luxed his shoulder in a ruck duel in the last quarter. Meanwhile, experienced Blues Marc Murphy (cut head) and Dale Thomas (left knee and right ankle) were also in the wars.
2. Booked Jong did little wrong
When two big-bodied midfielders like Carlton's emerging superstar Patrick Cripps and Bulldog Lin Jong collide, there's a chance someone will come off second best. This time both did, albeit in different ways, with Jong being reported. Midway through the first term, Cripps, as always, had his head over the ball and had just taken possession when Jong arrived and collected him front-on. It appeared the act deserved to be penalised with a free kick but not a suspension. On Triple M, Wayne Schwass declared: "That'll be thrown out. Don't worry about that, Western Bulldogs fans." Cripps was momentarily stunned but played on without any lasting effect, although an inexplicable kicking clanger early in the second term might have suggested otherwise.
3. The Blues' Giant recruits
For the first time, Carlton selected all five players they received as part of the Troy Menzel trade – four ex-Giants in Andrew Phillips, Jed Lamb, Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner, along with former Crow Sam Kerridge. Plowman and Sumner were making their first appearances for the club and showed some promising signs. Plowman, who replaced veteran defender Michael Jamison, performed a superb stopping job on Dogs danger man Jake Stringer, keeping him scoreless. Sumner kicked two goals, showing mental toughness to slot the first after winning a free kick when he copped a coat-hanger from Joel Hamling in mid-air in the third term.
4. No captain-withdrawal symptoms yet for Dogs
It's too early to tell just how much the Bulldogs will miss Murphy, but against inferior opposition they continued their miserly, creative ways with Johannisen (until injured), Shane Biggs and Lachie Hunter providing run and delivery, while acting captain Dale Morris and ex-skipper Matthew Boyd martialled the troops. Morris also had a golden opportunity to kick his first goal in five years when he followed opponent Charlie Curnow downfield in the second term, but the 33-year-old's career tally remains anchored on three after missing a regulation snap from point-blank range. Understandably, Morris threw his hands to his head before making his way back to more familiar territory.
5. Old Lion makes immediate impact as new Dog
Former Brisbane Lions captain Jed Adcock's return to AFL footy couldn't have started any better, with the 30-year-old slotting a goal with his first kick in Bulldogs colours. Adcock, who was delisted by the Lions last year before finding a new home as a Dogs rookie, received a handball from Jake Stringer six minutes in and snapped truly from 25 metres. The Dogs have lost Murphy but they have gained an experienced campaigner with leadership qualities and nous.
