The Western Bulldogs have fallen two goals short against Carlton on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.
Closing the gap from 31 points at the main break to just 13 points with six and a half minutes to play, the Dogs had their chances to run over the Blues but just couldn’t convert when they needed to most in the 13.12 (90) to 16.6 (102) affair.
The visitors were hot out of the blocks with a seven-goal-to-three second term, but the Bulldogs were up for the challenge.
Looking refreshed and re-energised after half-time with their trademark ball movement and grit on display, things slowly fell into place for the Bulldogs as they edged closer.
Marcus Bontempelli (19 disposals, eight tackles) opened the final term with a monster captain’s mark and goal, before Mitch Hannan slotted his second from near the boundary line.
But that was ultimately the end of the Bulldogs’ run, leaving their comeback too late.
Tim English (24 disposals, six marks, 21 hit-outs and one goal) was impressive, while Adam Treloar was prolific with 31 touches and six clearances.
Vice-captain Jack Macrae (34 disposals, five clearances) found plenty of the footy.
The efforts of Josh Dunkley (26 possessions, eight tackles, six clearances) and Tom Liberatore (22 possessions, six tackles) also didn’t go unnoticed.
The Bulldogs will look to reset when they host Sydney in a week’s time.
MATCH DETAILS
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1 7.3 11.5 13.12 (90)
CARLTON 5.2 12.4 14.5 16.6 (102)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore 2, Scott 2, Hannan 2, English, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Naughton, Dale, Weightman, Bontempelli
Carlton: Curnow 5, McKay 4, Cripps 2, Silvagni 2, Kennedy, Owies, Fisher
BEST
Western Bulldogs: English, Macrae, Treloar, Liberatore, Bontempelli, Dunkley
Carlton: Cripps, Hewett, Curnow, McKay, Walsh, Kennedy, Fisher
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Crozier (TBC)
Carlton: McDonald (back)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: B.Williams (replaced H.Crozier)
Carlton: L.Plowman (replaced O.McDonald)
