AFL Round 10 Western Bulldogs v Essendon: Bailey Dale and the Dogs embarrass Bombers
Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale did whatever he liked against an embarrassing Essendon on Saturday night – and, in a 91-point demolition, he wasn’t the only one.
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Dashing defender Bailey Dale led a stern Western Bulldogs statement over Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Dale collected a club-record 49 disposals as the Bulldogs announced themselves as a true premiership contender.
The severe case of leather poisoning surpasses the previous Bulldogs’ best of 47 from Ryan Griffin – also against Essendon – back in 2012.
“They beat us around the ball, their midfield beat our midfield group, our forwards were doing a lot of chasing” Bombers coach Brad Scott said.
“Evidence in Bailey Dale has the ball a lot but with almost 30 handball receives because they’re winning the ball and giving it to him.
“We had a couple of plans for him, clearly both of them didn’t work and then we went to play an even number forward line and try and attack him, that didn’t work either.
“If I coached (Dale) I would want the ball in his hands, you know, he was a problem all night, the match-ups we had for him didn’t work.”
Bailey Dale was an absolute ball magnet, racking up 49 disposals against the Bombers! 🧲#AFLDogsDonspic.twitter.com/DUmpgNXUe1
— AFL (@AFL) May 17, 2025
There was no shortage of records for Luke Beveridge’s men, as they also registered their highest first-quarter score against the Bombers since 2006.
The Bulldogs balanced their fineness in the front half with fight in the back half – keeping the Bombers goalless until the 16-minute mark of the second term.
Midfielders Ed Richards, Matthew Kennedy and Tom Liberatore all dined out with a combined 92 disposals and four goals.
Rhylee West also matched his career-best night in front of goal with four majors.
The Bulldogs’ 91-point win over a team on equal points reaffirms their status among the contenders and enhances the enormity of the clash with Geelong on Thursday.
OUCH, ARTY
It wasn’t a completely perfect night for Western Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are likely to face the Cats without small forward Arty Jones after he was substituted out of the match with a hamstring injury.
Jones was applying forward pressure when he pulled up lame in the second term.
The Bulldogs immediately subbed Jones out and injected Lachie Bramble into the game.
A MARVELLOUS RECORD
There’s no place like home.
Western Bulldogs is building a fortress in a shared backyard, winning its past nine matches at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs, who have played at seven different venues this year, travel only twice and have a further nine matches scheduled under the roof in their run home.
“We were well aware of their strengths and, as I said, it was a bit like trying to keep mice under the blanket there for a while,” Scott said.
“Because if ‘Bont’ (Marcus Bontempelli) didn’t get you, (Ed) Richards gets you, ‘Libba’ (Tom Liberatore) gets you, (Bailey) Dale gets you – they’re a good team and that’s where we aspire to be.
“I make no apologies for trying to attack the game rather than trying to hold up and not get beaten by a big margin.
“We got beaten by a bigger margin because we did that, but you know, we’ve got to use this as an opportunity to practice against the best teams to bridge the gap to where we want to be.”
RUCK CRAFT
Hit-outs to advantage can come in various forms.
Western Bulldog Tim English showed that in his side’s fierce first quarter, with a clever and perfectly executed tap to Tom Liberatore.
English launched for a mark and fell to the ground on the edge of the goal line.
English – on his knees and unable to get boot to ball – intelligently tapped it through his legs to a readily waiting Liberatore.
Liberatore gathered cleanly and kicked through the Bulldogs’ seventh first-quarter goal.
Some quick thinking from Tim English results in a goal for Tom Liberatore! 👀#AFLDogsDonspic.twitter.com/drvuLR9Slr
— AFL (@AFL) May 17, 2025
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO …
Western Bulldog Laitham Vandermeer pinched an early-goal with some of his finest work.
Vandermeer won a crucial one-on-one with Essendon defender Mason Redman and assisted Lachie McNeil in a first-quarter goal.
He was quickly awarded a free kick for an off-the-ball incident and ensured the Bulldogs a second goal in as many kicks.
The Marvel Stadium crowd awaited a replay and were shown a perfectly timed drop to the ground by Vandermeer after a return tap in the guts by Redman.
Vandermeer saw the funny side, caught giggling at the big screen as the ball was thrown up.
SCOREBOARD
WESTERN BULLDOGS 7.3 10.8 14.11 18.19 (127)
ESSENDON 0.3 1.3 2.5 4.4 5.6 (36)
GOALS
Bulldogs: West 4, Khamis 3, Bontempelli 2, Richards 2, Kennedy, McNeil, Vandermeer, Liberatore, Naughton, Davidson, Williams
Bombers: Wright, Duursma, Martin, Perkins, Durham
BEST
Bulldogs: Dale, Richards, Liberatore, Kennedy, Sanders
Bombers: Roberts, Redman, Martin
INJURIES
Bulldogs: A Jones (h’string)
Bombers: nil.
47, 266 at Marvel Stadium
TYLER LEWIS VOTES
3 Bailey Dale (WB)
2 Tom Liberatore (WB)
1 Ed Richards (WB)
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