The Western Bulldogs have kept their three-game winning streak alive in the West, recording an emphatic 101-point triumph over West Coast at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs were clinical against the luckless Eagles outfit, breaking the game open in the third quarter to run out 9.6 (60) to 25.11 (161) victors on Whadjuk Country in the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
The victory is the Bulldogs’ greatest winning margin over the Eagles, surpassing their previous record of 70 points in 1998.
With 16 different contributors on the scoreboard, the Dogs also equalled the all-time record for individual goalkickers in a single game.
Despite conceding the opening goal of the match, the Bulldogs were quick to respond with six of the next seven majors.
To the hosts’ credit, the Eagles stayed within reaching distance throughout the second term, but the second half was ultimately where the game was won.
Piling on eight goals to two before three quarter-time, the Bulldogs continued to control in the last, with precision kicking and elite decision-making key parts of their game.
The Dogs’ dominance at centre bounce and around the ground stoppages also contributed to their influence, topping the hit outs 23-44 and clearance count 31-41.
Returning ruck Tim English was prolific in his first game back since round five, registering 25 touches, eight clearances, 21 hit outs and a goal, while Adam Treloar (35 disposals, nine marks, four clearances, one goal) was impactful.
Aaron Naughton finished with four majors from 11 disposals, with unlikely goalkicker Alex Keath finding himself forward on two occasions to boot a career-high pair of goals.
Josh Dunkley (25 disposals, 12 marks, seven tackles, two goals) was impressive, as was Marcus Bontempelli (21 disposals, four marks, five clearances, one goal), who has kicked at least one major in every game he’s played this season.
Rhylee West made the most of his opportunities, while Lachie McNeil brought up the triple-figure margin with just 18 seconds to play.
Rebounding defenders Bailey Dale (28 disposals, one goal, 553 metres gained) and Caleb Daniel (26 disposals, four marks, 510 metres gained) were also important.
The Bulldogs will next turn their attention to Geelong on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.
WEST COAST 3.0 5.5 7.5 9.6 (60)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.3 10.7 18.9 25.11 (161)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 4, Cripps, Kennedy, Gaff, Kelly, Williams
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Weightman 2, Dunkley 2, West 2, McNeil 2, Williams 2, Keath 2, Treloar, Bontempelli, Khamis, English, Duryea, Liberatore, McComb, Scott, Dale
BEST
West Coast: Kelly, Redden, Darling, Hough, Gaff
Western Bulldogs: English, Dunkley, Treloar, Naughton, Liberatore, Dale, Macrae
INJURIES
West Coast: McGovern (back)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Josh Rotham (replaced Jeremy McGovern)
Western Bulldogs: Luke Cleary (unused)
