The Age
Against the Brisbane Lions, [the Dogs] dominated at ground level, smashing the home side 45 – 30 at the clearances and entering their attacking zone 64 times to 37.
So how was the result of this game so close? In the first quarter, the clearance differential was a whopping 17–4, and the Dogs shot out to a 28-point lead. The game looked set to be sealed early. But these Lions, still last on the ladder with four wins, are increasingly a different proposition, especially at home.
In the end, the Dogs didn't do much more than fall over the line, taking the game by 14 points after kicking six goals to two in the final quarter.
- Andrew Stafford
Herald Sun
Marcus Bontempelli had a good night that could have been great.
In the first, third and fourth quarters he marked the ball on the lead within the first twenty seconds and on each occasion he missed. Twice he hit the post. He also hit the post with another set shot in the second quarter to finish the night with 2.4.
Despite his inaccuracy, he just shaded teammate Jack Macrae as the best player on the ground.
His clean exits from centre clearances and constant threat when in the forward fifty were the difference between the two sides.
- Andrew Hamilton
AFL Media
Unlike their round five clash at Etihad Stadium – where the Lions coughed up a 38-point advantage before being over-run badly – the bottom-placed team wouldn't wilt.
Ryan Bastinac kicked back-to-back goals in the middle of the last term to give the home team the lead, but the Bulldogs steadied with the final three goals to Toby McLean, Marcus Bontempelli and Liam Picken.
They dominated play for much of the day, winning the inside 50 count by a whopping 64-37, and deserved to notch their fourth straight win.
Jack Macrae (32 disposals), Lachie Hunter (29) and McLean (28) helped the Bulldogs to dominate the midfield battle, while Bontempelli could have had a monster day if he brought his goal-kicking boots.
- Michael Whiting
Fox Footy
‘The Bont’ looked a dangerous threat from the first siren, starting the game at full-forward to have the first shot on goal for the game — although that did end up out on the full.
While he loomed large throughout the afternoon, it was during the final term with his side on the brink of the ultimate embarrassment where Bontempelli once again came to the floor.
He kicked two crucial goals — including a set-shot which edged his side slightly ahead at the 25-minute mark — to go with seven disposals, five score involvements and 57 Champion Data ranking points.
But perhaps Bontempelli’s biggest moment wasn’t a disposal, with the Bulldogs star producing a crucial smother on young Lion Jacob Allison to prevent a potential goal.
- Brayden May
