MATCH SUMMARY
The Western Bulldogs have notched their biggest win under coach Luke Beveridge – a 104-point drubbing of Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dogs went on a 21-goal streak after the Bombers kicked the first goal of the game in a ruthless performance in front of over 40,000 fans.
The lead ballooned out to 123 points during the last quarter before the Dons kicked the last three majors.
The victory was the biggest for the Bulldogs against Essendon in VFL/AFL history, the sixth highest winning margin ever for the Club, and its biggest victory since Round 1, 2006.
The Dogs now have 10 wins for the season and have kept their finals hopes alive with two matches remaining, starting with a trip to Sydney to take on the Giants next Sunday.
THE DEFINING MOMENT
The first half: The Bombers kicked a goal through Dylan Shiel with just 23 seconds elapsed in the game, and they looked energised and up for the contest. But the Bulldogs dominated the first quarter from there on the back of midfield domination, and they kicked the next six goals. Four more goals to nil in the second term extended the margin to a match-winning 54 points at the main break.
SHINING LIGHTS
The entire midfield was superb all night. Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae. Special mention to Macrae, who was tagged by Dylan Clarke and still managed 38 disposals and eight tackles.
Will Hayes has worked hard to win his place back in the senior Bulldog team, and he was excellent on his return, racking up 22 disposals (a career-high), taking seven marks and kicking two goals.
Tory Dickson and Toby McLean were hugely influential up forward. Their pressure was relentless, and was a big reason why the Bulldogs kicked a whopping 16 goals from turnovers. Dickson kicked three goals and affected five tackles, while McLean also booted three and picked up 22 disposals.
STATS SHEET
The Bulldogs had 124 more possessions than Essendon, and still managed to break even in the tackle count (66 apiece). They dominated most of the statistical categories, including inside 50s (+29), contested possessions (+36) and uncontested possessions (+92). The Dogs also recorded 57 more handball receives than their opponents.
The Bulldogs are renowned as a high possession team, and the usual suspects were prolific – Dunkley had 39 touches, Macrae 38, and Hunter 34. All up, 11 players in red, white and blue finished with 20 or more disposals.
Dunkley’s first quarter was a ripper in itself – he had 16 possessions (11 contested), five clearances and kicked a goal in a blistering start.
Dickson’s three goals took him to 22 for the season – his highest tally since 2016 – while Bailey Dale has now kicked 13 goals in his last four games.
MATCH DETAILS
ESSENDON 1.1 1.3 1.7 1.9 (33)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.3 10.3 16.6 21.11. (137)
GOALS
Essendon: Baguley 2, Shiel, McDonald-Tipungwuti
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 3, McLean 3, Dale 3, Schache 3, Naughton 2, Hayes 2, Smith, Dunkley, Johannisen, Lloyd, Macrae
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Redman, Heppell
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Hunter, McLean, Macrae, Dale, Smith, Bontempelli, Hayes
Official crowd: 41,816 at Marvel Stadium
NEXT WEEK
Round 22, GWS v Western Bulldogs, Sunday August 18, Giants Stadium, 3.20pm
