Western Bulldogs win thriller over Geelong after Harry Taylor misses after the siren at Etihad Stadium

GEELONG’S post-bye hoodoo came back to haunt it after Harry Taylor’s kick after the siren sails wide, in turn breaking the Western Bulldogs’ Cats hoodoo and reminding everyone, the game’s alright.

Ed Richards celebrates a goal in the fourth quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

GEELONG jetted to the Gold Coast for last week’s bye in desperate search of a circuit-breaker.

For six years the Cats have slept through the snooze alarm after a week off and coach Chris Scott hoped some sun and a surf would revitalise his line-up.

But while the Cats might’ve flown home tanned they were burnt by the Western Bulldogs.

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Well, in the end they burnt themselves. Trailing by nine points with 31 seconds remaining, Gary Ablett sent shivers down Bulldog spines by snapping a goal out of a stoppage.

After last week’s heartbreak, the Dogs then started 15 players in their defensive half and still, Mitch Duncan guided the ball into Harry Taylor’s hands for a kick after the siren.

With a gang of about 15 jumping Bulldogs on the mark, Taylor shanked his set-shot and Dogs coach Luke Beveridge let out a roar of relief.

Harry Taylor misses after the siren.

Tom Boyd and Luke Dahlhaus the Western Bulldogs’ win.

Last week it was roars of disbelief as his team imploded against North Melbourne.

Since 2011 the Cats are 1-9 after a bye, with that sole victory courtesy of Hawk Isaac Smith’s sprayed set-shot after the final siren in a final.

But to put Friday night’s upset down to a weary Geelong would be disrespectful.

The Bulldogs broke an 11-match losing streak against Geelong, dating back to 2009, by recapturing their 2016 premiership mojo.

And for all the huff and puff about bringing in starting points, this was like a game out of what the AFL sees as the future.

Players held their positions and the game flowed as freely as a waterfall. There was no drowning congestion and Round 15 has now delivered two sparkling spectacles.

Ed Richards and Lachie Hunter celebrate a goal.

One of the last-quarter heroes was Ed Richards – the redhead secured after trading Jake Stringer. Richards beat Jake Kolodjashnij one-on-one and then soccered through a goal from about 30m.

Geelong’s Tim Kelly kicked an instant reply with one of his 19 disposals in the last quarter and then it was Richards again, this time snapping on the outside of the boot from a stoppage.

There was redemption for Mitch Wallis, who started brightly after last week’s gloom, and then thought his way through a tricky situation in the last quarter.

Wallis ran hard to generate an uncontested mark about 50m from goal and his entry led to a Jackie Chan-style snap by Billy Gowers for the Dogs’ final goal of the match.

Free agent Luke Dahlhaus (29 disposals) played his best game in about 12 months while Josh Dunkley franked Beveridge’s prediction he was an inside midfielder in the making with 27 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances and two goals.

Ablett had it 30 times although at times it was as if gravity now has a slightly stiffer pull on his legs.

Lin Jong is helped from the ground after injuring his shoulder.

Billy Gowers grabs his ankle after failing awkwardly. Picture: Michael Klein

In the first half the Bulldogs bench resembled a scene out of ER.

The Dogs lost Matthew Suckling (Achilles) minutes before the game and then replacement Lin Jong, wearing Shane Biggs’ No.24 because Jong’s jumper wasn’t at the ground, broke his collarbone minutes into the game.

Then Gowers (ankle), Dahlhaus (nose), Jackson Trengove and Hayden Crozier all received treatment, although played on.

The Cats absorbed a three-goal punch in five minutes after halftime and then kicked 3.2 in their own five-minute burst.

A 24-point deficit was suddenly four points and then when Tom Hawkins kicked his third the Cats snatched the lead.

In the midst of Geelong’s charge was a Patrick Dangerfield screamer at half-forward and, in the eighth lead change, he then kicked Geelong clear with a goal after the three quarter-time siren.

Patrick Dangerfield drops what would have been a huge mark. Picture: Michael Klein

Quinton Narkle and Tim Kelly celebrate a goal.

Dangerfield’s four games against the Dogs wearing the hoops have now generated 137 disposals, 10 goals and, from his first three games, a maximum nine Brownlow votes.

Josh Schache seems to play his best game every week. In 2015 recruiters likened Schache’s set-shot action to a fluent golf swing and he sweetly struck a goal from 50m in the first quarter.

The return of defensive pillars Dale Morris and Marcus Adams have steeled the Dogs. For the first time this season they have balance.

And with Sydney (SCG), Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) and Melbourne to come, suddenly Geelong’s season is off balance.

BEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS: L.Dahlhaus, T.McLean, M.Bontempelli, J.Dunkley, E.Richards, P.Lipinski, B.Williams, J.Johannisen, B.Gowers, L.Hunter

GEELONG: J.Selwood, P.Dangerfield, T.Kelly, M.Duncan, D.Hawkins, T.Stewart, R.Stanley

VOTES

3. Joel Selwood (Geelong)

2. Luke Dahlhaus (Bulldogs)

1. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

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