THE WESTERN Bulldogs have pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a remarkable 21-point victory over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night.

The reigning premiers were staring down the barrel of a third straight pre-season loss, trailing by 49 points late in the second term, before a 70-point turnaround got them home.

The tide turned dramatically after half-time as the Bulldogs stormed to a 4.13.12 (126) to 0.16.9 (105) win.

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They kicked nine goals to two in a final-quarter avalanche. 

One positive for Gold Coast was Gary Ablett's successful return following shoulder surgery, but it was washed away with a tidal wave of Bulldogs midfield dominance.

Ablett kicked the game's first goal and finished with 22 disposals and two goals in his first game since last July. 

Following losses to Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions, the Bulldogs again looked lacklustre during the first half before flicking a switch at the main break.

Matt Suckling kicked four goals, including three supergoals, while Jake Stringer kicked three of his four goals in a brilliant final term. 

The swarming midfield won the contest though, winning the disposals (436-384) and contested possessions (150-123). 

Tom Liberatore (28 disposals), Luke Dahlhaus (27) and Marcus Bontempelli (25), playing his first game of the pre-season, led the way. 

It turned into a horror night for the Suns, who were dominant early following their previous victories over the Lions and Essendon.

They kicked eight successive goals that spanned the first and second terms. 

Co-captain Tom Lynch was a colossus, kicking five first-half goals and adding a sixth to put his team momentarily back in front during the final quarter.

Aaron Hall had 36 disposals, while Michael Barlow (29) was also prolific.

To sour the night for the Suns, Steven May could come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel for his high hit on Dog Tom Boyd.

More to come...

GOLD COAST                                0.6.0    0.11.2     0.14.6     0.16.9      (105)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                 0.1.3     1.3.6       2.6.9     4.13.12     (126) 

SUPERGOALS
Gold Coast: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Suckling 3, Stringer

GOALS
Gold Coast: Lynch 6, Wright 2, Ablett 2, Ainsworth, Martin, Sexton, Miller, Swallow, Barlow
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 3, Picken 2, Hunter, Suckling, Crameri, Macrae, Dahlhaus, Liberatore, Jong, Bontempelli 

BEST 
Gold Coast: Sexton, Lynch, Barlow, Hall, Witts, Ablett
Western Bulldogs: Stringer, Dahlhaus, Jong, Wood, Liberatore, Biggs 

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Western Bulldogs: M.Boyd (head)  

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Nicholls, Mollison, Hay

Official crowd: 3007 at Metricon Stadium