The Bulldogs put on a football clinic against Essendon on Saturday night, strengthening their position in the top eight with an 18.19 (127) to 5.6 (36) win.

Read on for a deeper dive into some of the stats from the inaugural Marngrook at Marvel clash.

Biting and Roaring

Saturday’s 91-point victory was the Club’s third-highest winning margin against Essendon in VFL/AFL history, and the highest since Round 18, 2015.

The Bulldogs’ current average winning margin of 51.3 is the highest in the league, with Carlton (46.5) and Euro-Yroke (41.8) rounding out the podium.

Possessed to the Forty nines

Enough can’t be said about Bailey Dale’s monster performance against the Bombers.

The defender’s 49 disposals were the most by a Bulldog since Ryan Griffen and Jack Macrae’s shared 47, and the equal-eighth most by any player in the AFL era (1990 onwards).

Of those players who gathered at least 49 possessions in a match, all but one went on to poll Brownlow votes for their performance at season’s end.

Most disposals in a match since 1990

Family Matters

Bulldogs Father-son duo Tom and Tony Liberatore have moved into equal-ninth position for the most VFL/AFL games played by a father and son pairing.

The Libbas now sit equal with Essendon duo Tim and Jobe Watson on 527 combined appearances, with John and Josh Kennedy’s total (531) the next within reach.

Most VFL/AFL Games by a father and son pairing

• 664 - Fletchers (Ken, Dustin)
• 605 – Abletts (Gary, Gary Jr)
• 599 – Tucks (Michael, Shane)
• 589 – Clokes (David, Travis)
• 551 - Silvagnis (Sergio, Stephen)
• 546 - Murphys (John, Marc)
• 541 - Hawkinses (Jack, Tom)
• 531 - Kennedys (John, Josh)
• 527 - Watsons (Tim, Jobe)
• 527* - Liberatores (Tony, Tom)