Western Bulldogs stun West Coast Eagles in second elimination final by 47 points at Subiaco Oval
THE Western Bulldogs have won their first interstate final, dumping West Coast out of the premiership race with an emphatic smash-and-grab at Subiaco Oval.
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THE Western Bulldogs weren’t ready to fade into the finals night.
Not ready to let a season-long spate of injuries consign them to the September scrap heap.
And certainly not ready to allow their Subiaco house of horrors end a campaign that had started with so much promise and could yet deliver in kind.
BEVERIDGE: ‘SOME OF OUR VERY BEST’
DOGS LEGEND: BEST WIN IN CLUB’S HISTORY
The first interstate finals win in Dogs history was dripping in grit, skill and bravery. It was a famous victory and the stuff of dreams at what had been a house of horrors for this side.
The Dogs’ run of seven consecutive first half goals knocked the stuffing out of the Eagles before a four goal to two third quarter killed the contest.
The Bulldogs led by 13 points at quarter-time, 24 at half time and 36 at the last change. They walked off the ground jubilant, with their 14.15 (99) to 7.10 (52) triumph setting up a semi-final clash with the loser of Friday night’s clash between Geelong and Hawthorn.
Coach Luke Beveridge went for a matchday run through Perth and then ordered his players to do the same on this monster of a ground.
The result was some of the most scintillating slingshot football we’ve seen this year as the Dogs went fast and central with a high-risk, high-reward brand that stunned West Coast.
Beveridge gambled at the selection table with five returnees, four of them from injury, and then gambled with a game plan that came up royal flush.
An Eagles forward press expecting slow, long, down-the-line balls was instead greeted by a frenzied, aggressive approach that through caution to the wind.
They swarmed all over ground ball in the back 50m, exchanged handballs and then went fast right through the heart of Subiaco Oval and feasted on a glut of over-the-back goals via 11 different goalkickers.
Without the ball, the Dogs’ full-ground defensive zone snapped back into position like a rat trap. The Dogs pressed up, ran at the ball-carrier and an Eagles side feted for their scoring power was dysfunctional by the 10 minute mark of the third quarter.
When Jack Darling went to play on from 15m directly in front and was caught cold, the Eagles were officially rattled. When that same player took short steps at a mark in the last quarter it was beyond words for the home side.
For the Dogs, Liam Picken set the tone with a huge first quarter that featured goals, contested marks, game-breaking possessions and his teammates quickly followed his lead.
Caleb Daniel was immense. The brilliant youngster, who missed out on this weeks Rising Star award, was a picture of composure in a hectic setting. The helmet-wearing mini-man was virtually faultless in possession, kicked two goals and set up another handful.
Luke Dahlhaus was a two-way ball of energy, Tory Dickson played like it was 2015 and Matthew Boyd swooped on just about every ground ball in the back 50m.
Tom Boyd took a step forward and his presence inside 50m created opportunities for his teammates.
Easton Wood (ankle), Jordan Roughead (calf), Tom Liberatore (ankle) and Jack Macrae (hamstring) not only got through, but contributed.
The win was made all the more remarkable by yet another injury, this time a game-ending shoulder to Lin Jong early in the second quarter that reduced the youngster to tears on the bench.
But it was tears of joy at the final siren.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.15 (99)
WEST COAST EAGLES 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley 2, Dickson 2, Picken 2, Daniel, Bontempelli, Stringer, Hunter, Smith, Dahlhaus, Liberatore, Roughead
West Coast Eagles: Darling 2, Kennedy 2, Hill, LeCras, Brown
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Daniel, Dahlhaus, Picken, Hunter, Boyd, Hamling, Dickson, Macrae
West Coast Eagles: Gaff, Shuey, Hutchings, Schofield
VOTES
3 Caleb Daniel
In a word, stunning. If he wasted a possession we missed it. Had it plenty, kicked two and set up a handful of others.
2 Luke Dahlhaus
A ball of energy that forced the ball forward, but also defended with ferocity. Nine tackles. A driving force.
1 Liam Picken
Set the tone in a first quarter that featured goals, contested marks and a brief silencing of Andrew Gaff.
Originally published as Western Bulldogs stun West Coast Eagles in second elimination final by 47 points at Subiaco Oval
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