A look at what was said in the media after the Western Bulldogs 44-point loss to Geelong on Saturday afternoon at GMHBA Stadium.

In the end the Dogs were brave but not in the same class with the bonus the impressive display from youngster Bailey Smith. - Scott Gullan, Herald Sun

But it was Marcus Bontempelli who was keeping his side in the game. The Bulldogs superstar was classy and clean when it counted, and exerted his influence on the game with two clutch long-range goals. For the first, Bontempelli burst from the centre stoppage, brushed off a challenge and steered the ball through with ease. For the second, he made a snap decision to throw it on the boot from outside 50 and watched it skid home. - Fox Sports

We need to keep dwelling on the things that are going ok and for periods of the game, we looked alright. I felt like we were composed enough to use the ball well going inside-50. It’s just a shame the blowout in the end. – Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge

The respective champions know how to impact a game when the game demands they do and it was Marcus Bontempelli who stood tall in the third quarter with two team lifting goals that kept the Bulldogs in the game, one from 60 metres off one step. – Peter Ryan, The Age

I think there were a couple reminders of where we need to get to, to match it with the best. There were certainly some really good patches in those first three quarters, we took it up to them, we took goals freely and we stopped in defence really well as well. Some positives to take away, but a little bit bitter that the margin blew out to eight goals. – Western Bulldogs midfielder, Mitch Wallis

Bailey Smith, I thought got us going again in that third quarter with some momentum. – Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge

Caleb Daniel was creative off half-back in the opening half, while Jack Macrae and Mitch Wallis (29 touches each) were typically industrious in the middle of the ground. – AFL Media’s Sarah Black