The Western Bulldogs have fallen 14 points short to Geelong in a fierce contest at GMHBA Stadium.

The Bulldogs nearly completed the perfect comeback, levelling scores midway through the last quarter.

But the hosts were too strong in the 20.7 (127) to 16.17 (113) affair.

The Dogs will rue their missed opportunities in front of goal, finishing the evening with 17 behinds, which in the close contest proved costly.

Key Bulldogs hit the scoreboard, including Rhylee West and Ed Richards, the latter who booted a mammoth goal on the run from outside 50. But due to inaccuracy, even though the Dogs had more shots on goal, they only went into quarter-time with a three-point lead.

It was all Geelong in the second term as Jeremy Cameron's impact on the game grew. The rangy left footer kicked the first two of the quarter becoming the game's first multiple goal-scorer. His influence lifted Geelong, as the Cats began to dominate in the middle and inside 50s. The Cats added six unanswered goals, while the Dogs squandered the few opportunities they had forward.

Finally, with less than 30 seconds left before half-time, the Dogs got their first goal when Naughton soccered through his second – giving Dogs supporters a slight glimmer of hope heading into the main break.

The Dogs leaders lifted in the third term and they got the perfect start after the main break when Marcus Bontempelli delivered a centimetre perfect pass to Buku Khamis inside 50.

Tom Liberatore and Richards started to get their hands on the footy more, but with every step forward the Dogs took, Geelong had the answers.

Matt Kennedy, one of the recruits of the year, kicked two goals in quick succession and reduced the margin to 10 points, setting up a big final term.

Another Bulldogs goal, this time to Richards, reduced the margin to four points at the start of the fourth quarter, before last year's Rising Star Ollie Dempsey, who had a quiet night compared to his recent form, took a remarkable mark when he stayed down among a huge group of players and finished with a classy snap from the boundary.

With less than eight minutes remaining scores drew level with a Naughton goal and a James Harmes point tying the game. But just as Naughton had done moments before, a running goal gave the Cats some breathing space giving them back the lead

Geelong looked to seal the game when he kicked his second, but a third goal to Kennedy right before the siren reduced the margin again to 14 points.

GEELONG             5.1       11.4       16.5     20.7 (127)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             5.4       6.9       13.13     16.17 (113)

GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 6, Neale 5, Mannagh 2, Stengle, O.Henry, Blicavs, Atkins, Holmes, Dempsey, Stengle
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Kennedy 3, Khamis 2, Vandermeer 2, Richards 2, West, Davidson, English, Freijah

BEST
Geelong: Cameron, Holmes, Neale, Smith, Blicavs
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Kennedy, O’Donnell, Bontempelli, Lobb

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Ted Clohesy (replaced Oliver Henry in the fourth quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachie Bramble (replaced Luke Cleary in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 32,641 at GMHBA Stadium