Western Bulldogs improve in win over Carlton but still a long way to go to make finals

WHAT did we learn from two hours of mistake-riddled football? Did the Western Bulldogs improve? Yes. Are they back? More evidence is needed.

Marcus Bontempelli weaves through traffic. Picture: Michael Klein

MORE questions than answers.

That’s the best way to sum up two hours of mistake-riddled football at the MCG which ended with a Western Bulldogs victory.

Are the reigning premiers back in town? That may be a slight exaggeration.

Improvement? Yes.

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Assisted by an ordinary opponent? Yes.

How do all those recruiters who let Caleb Daniel get to No.46 in the draft feel? Ordinary.

Did Jason Johannisen enjoy playing for the first time in months? Yes.

Have the Bulldogs found a talent in first-gamer Lewis Young? Yes

Marcus Bontempelli celebrates after kicking a goal.

Is Marcus Bontempelli one of the best “moments” players in the competition? Yes.

Could they do with Liam Jones still being on their list? Yes.

Did too many Carlton players wear long sleeves (suggesting they didn’t like the cold)? Yes, eight in fact.

In a nutshell Carlton actually played the Bulldogs back into form.

If the Dogs were playing a top eight team in the opening 10 minutes they would have been six goals down.

Instead the Blues only got the opening three goals and then proceeded to give the Bulldogs their two goals of the term through skill errors.

It became a common theme over the next hour or so.

The Bulldogs kicked eight of the nine goals scored from midway through the opening quarter to midway through the third.

Lewis Young takes a big mark on debut. Picture: Michael Klein

And they did it without their best forward in Jake Stringer who did his hamstring early in the second quarter.

There were signs of something in between periods of turnover after turnover from each side.

The Dogs hunt for the ball and the man was at a better intensity to previous weeks and a couple of individuals were certainly helping to lift that.

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Daniel was everywhere in the first half, his football intelligence with the ball in his hands shining out given how bad a lot of the others were.

Jack Macrae was also cruising around getting possessions at will but the game needed some class and Bontempelli once again put up his hand in the third term.

The Dogs superstar had 10 touches for the quarter, including a goal, with his every touch counting which is something a lot of the Carlton players couldn’t say.

But probably the most exciting news for the reigning premiers was the form of Johannisen.

His dash was back which was illustrated early in the final quarter when he crept forward, had a shot smothered but then buttered up and nailed the goal from 40 metres.

The Blues hadn’t really gone a tough tag on him like other teams with Jed Lamb only showing some interest in the Norm Smith Medallist.

There will be plenty of interest for the Rising Star judges when they assess this week’s nomination given the performance of Young at centre half-back.

The 18-year-old, who was the Dogs third pick at No.49 in last year’s national draft, was asked to play Easton Wood’s role and did it perfectly with some impressive intercept marks.

He actually finished with nine marks which led his side.

Jason Johannisen and Bailey Dale celebrate a goal.

Carlton looked like a young team who were starting to run out of steam and their afternoon was encapsulated by Levi Casboult midway through the final quarter.

The Blues had rallied a bit when he marked 15 metres out from goal directly in front.

Now we all know the problems he’s had in the past with his goal kicking but like his side, Casboult has improved dramatically this season . . . he hit the post.

That was the end of the ball game with the Dogs registering their much-needed eighth win of the season which threw up another question.

Can Luke Beveridge’s team be a factor in the finals again?

Ahhhhh. More evidence required.

VOTES

3. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

2. Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)

1. Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)

BEST

BULLDOGS: M.Bontempelli, C.Daniel, J.Macrae, B.Dale, L.Young, M.Wallis, J.Johannisen

CARLTON: B.Gibbs, C.Curnow, M.Wright, L.Jones, S.Kerridge