Western Bulldogs’ season back on track after consecutive wins
There was a black cloud hovering over Whitten Oval three weeks ago but the Western Bulldogs have found some clear skies after back-to-back wins, ironically in the last place you’d think.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
That black cloud that hovers over teams who stink it up early in the season had planted itself at the Whitten Oval three weeks ago.
A bad loss to Carlton — remember they lost to the Gold Coast at home in Round 3 — had some serious questions being asked but the Western Bulldogs have found some clear skies, ironically in the last place you’d think.
Ballarat produced a typically dark and gloomy afternoon but there was an increased brightness about Luke Beveridge’s team who were too strong for a disappointing Brisbane.
MALTHOUSE: ‘ORDINARY’ TIGERS A SHADOW OF FLAG CHAMPS
NEW TRICKS: HOW CATS GOT DAHLHAUS SMILING AGAIN
The Dogs backed up an emphatic defeat of Richmond last week with an inspired second half that propelled them back into the top eight.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge believes his team has finally found a consistent level of performance which puts them in good shape to take on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium next week.
“Even in our early wins we didn’t play consistent four quarters,” he said.
“The last two weeks we’ve been strong so I think we’ve discovered some consistency, we haven’t rediscovered it because I don’t think it was really there.
“We will definitely go down to Sleepy Hollow with a head of steam and a belief that we can challenge them.”
It was an old-fashioned team effort with some obvious cream rising to the top when it mattered including superstar Marcus Bontempelli and new hero Aaron Naughton.
Naughton was unsighted in the opening half but turned the game in the third quarter while Bontempelli’s cleanness on a dirty day continually shone out.
The Bulldogs workers had a field day in the conditions with Josh Dunkley, who has taken Tom Liberatore’s spot in the centre square, enormous with 36 disposals which included 24 contested possessions, eight tackles, nine clearances and a goal.
Lachie Hunter (32 possessions) and Jack Macrae (28) were everywhere while Bontempelli had 25 classy touches.
The run from defence which was a feature back in the glory days of 2016 was back with Jason Johannisen playing his best game of the season while nothing got past the likes of Mason Wood and Hayden Crozier.
Brisbane dominated for patches early in the game but they had too many passengers with the likes of Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner both scoreless from just eight touches each.
Mitch Robinson tried hard with three goals and 11 tackles while Lachie Neale had 30 possessions and Dayne Zorko 28 touches including two goals.
HOMETOWN HERO
Hugh McCluggage was big news this week given he was coming back to the town where he’d finished his schooling.
The Warrnambool boy moved to Ballarat in Year 11 to attend Clarendon College where he became best mates with a Horsham kid named Jarrod Berry.
A couple of years later they both ended up being drafted to Brisbane.
McCluggage certainly celebrated his return with a dominate opening quarter, collecting 14 possessions, three clearances, four inside 50s and three tackles.
He then kicked a brilliant goal in the second quarter before his production dried up with just two touches in the third term.
Berry kicked the final goal of the first quarter but that was about it for him and he spent time off the ground in the final quarter after copping a head knock.
DELAYED TAKEOFF
Talk about coming back to earth with a thud.
Aaron “Air” Naughton was the talk of the football world last week after taking nine contested marks in a best-on-ground performance against Richmond.
He failed to touch the ball in the first quarter and didn’t announce himself on the game until the final seconds of the second quarter when he nailed a set shot from deep in the pocket to give the Dogs the halftime lead.
It certainly sparked him into action with Naughton the dominant forward on the ground — 9 touches, four marks and a goal — in the third quarter with his second goal coming at the 12-minute mark through a quick-thinking snap. He then kicked the sealer with four minutes remaining in the final term.
Beveridge said the ability to bounce back after a poor start showed the mental strength of his new prized asset.
“He’s got a strong will,” he said.
“It was a tough day for forwards, it’s wet and difficult to handle the ball cleanly and his first one went straight through the mits so he was probably semi-dirty on himself.
“I think what it says about him is that he has got a pretty even temperament and he’s enjoying his footy.
“Over the last couple of weeks we feel like when we take it forward we can score and the lads are complimenting each other with the patterns they’re running.
“But he (Naughton) has had a really significant second half.”
His counterpart at the other end, Eric Hipwood, was having an interesting afternoon with five behinds his total for the opening half before nailing the Lions first goal of the third quarter from a set shot.
LIONS SKIN
A Queensland team playing in Ballarat had long-sleeved jumpers written all over it.
Not these Lions. It turns out a football department edict early in Chris Fagan’s tenure determined there would be no long-sleeve jumpers provided ever.
The Bulldogs don’t have such a rule with Marcus Bontempelli ending up being the only player on the ground to go with the longer garment, although he went with the half-sleeve.
Interestingly, Naughton did the warm-up in the long-sleeves before deciding to ditch it just a minute before the opening bounce.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.1 7.4 11.12 13.14 (92)
BRISBANE 4.4 6.8 8.9 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Richards 2, Lloyd 2, Hayes, Wallis, Bontempelli, Macrae, Suckling, Dunkley
Brisbane: Robinson 3, Hipwood 2, Zorko 2, Neale, Berry, McCluggage, McStay
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Bontempelli, Naughton, Macrae, Hunter, Trengrove, Johannisen
Brisbane: Robinson, Neale, McCluggage, Hipwood, Zorko
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: English (soreness) replaced by Roberts
Brisbane: Bailey (left hamstring), Berry (right eye)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hosking, Findlay, Dore
Official crowd: 9039 at Mars Stadium
Scott Gullan’s votes: 3. Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs), 2. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) 1. Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett have been reluctant to reveal many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Four Cats sign on as flag trio remain without deals
Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.