AFL 2021 Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: Luke Beveridge sends ominous warning to competition after Dogs’ convincing win over Crows

After another classy win from the top-of-the-table Bulldogs, coach Luke Beveridge sent out a message that will serve as a warning to the competition.

Bailey Smith looks to clear in front of Paul Seedsman. Picture: Michael Klein

In an ominous warning to the rest of the competition, Luke Beveridge believes the top-of-the-table Western Bulldogs are still finding out how good they can be following Saturday’s 49-point thumping of Adelaide.

In blustery conditions in Ballarat, the Bulldogs were a class above the Crows in a comfortable 15.15 (105) to 8.8 (56) win.

Sterner challenges will come as the Dogs continue to gain late-season momentum, but Beveridge was pleased to have gathered more intelligence ahead of a premiership assault.

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Josh Bruce celebrates a goal with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Picture: Getty Images

“We’re emerging as a team … it’s not static,” Beveridge said.

“I know there is some dialogue around settling your team and having your best players playing here and there.

“But ultimately with injury tolls, form lines and a group who is still gaining experience at the level as well, you’re not afforded the luxury of being too settled.

“I’m really grateful for our players’ flexibility and adaptability and our coaches and staff … it’s been a big team effort to weather the storm a little bit.”

The Dogs kicked against a strong wind first but led by 12 points at quarter-time then made better use of the breeze than Adelaide to open a 35-point halftime lead that set up their 15th win of the season.

Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel starred across half-back, which pleased Beveridge even though it didn’t fit his ideal blueprint for winning an AFL match.

“I’ve always said that you don’t want to win games through the productivity of your half-back flankers because it’s not the recipe,” he said.

“But particularly on windy days, when you’re setting up your structural aspect differently each quarter, your half-backs absolutely come into it.

“Both those boys made really important contributions.”

Josh Bruce, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Jason Johannisen kicked two goals each as the competition’s top-ranked attack passed the 100-point mark for the eighth time this season.

Even so, Beveridge felt his forward line lacked fluency, but conceded he was pleased with a spread of 12 goalkickers.

Another positive for Beveridge was the form of forward-turned-defender Josh Schache, who was strong in the air in his second game down back and helped quell the influence of Taylor Walker, who had one kick to half-time before bobbing up with two goals in the final term.

Beveridge’s side remains equal on points with fellow minor premiership aspirants Geelong, but the win increased the percentage gap between the rivals with three rounds to go in the home-and-away season.

Asked whether claiming the minor premiership formed part of his group’s motivation, the coach played a straight bat.

“We’re just keeping our head in the game … I don’t really want to talk about that because if I do I’ll be quoted,” he said.

“There’s three games left and it’s still really tight. We play Essendon, then Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in the last round.

“If we can just keep fronting up with the same motivation, the same willingness to contribute in our area and inspire each other then we’ll be ok.

“And whatever happens from there will take care of itself.”

GOOD TOSS TO WIN

With a strong wind blowing to the city end of the venue that is more exposed to the elements than most, it was one of the few occasions where winning the toss was actually significant.

Sloane did just that and kicked with the wind, but after his side booted the first two goals of the day, through Elliott Himmelberg and Tom Lynch, the Bulldogs finished the opening term strongly to lead by 12 points at quarter-time.

BEEP BEEP

With fans locked out of the match due to Covid restrictions, some enterprising Dogs supporters watched the game from cars parked up against the boundary fence at the city end. Car horns were enthusiastically tooted following goals in the second term as the Dogs took over use of the wind and made their move.

Thanks to the Ballarat Bulldog fans behind the fence. Car horns were the sweet music of victory! #AFLDogsCrows

— sheridansofasia (@sheridansofasia) July 31, 2021

Well done to the @westernbulldogs Ballarat faithful that got right into #retroround and parked the cars around the ground, tooted the horns for every goal, and most likely had a beer or two too 🔴⚪🔵 #afldogscrows

— Leonie Wainwright (@leoniew27) July 31, 2021

Car horns = @westernbulldogs#afldogscrows

— Gary MacLean (@Beasa71) July 31, 2021

Where the Dogs were able to run the ball effectively into the breeze, the Crows broke down in transition from defence to attack, managing to go inside 50 on just five occasions to the Bulldogs’ 19.

Luke Beveridge’s men didn’t take full advantage, but a four-goals-to-one quarter put them up by 35 points at the main break.

Fans watch from behind a fence during the round 19 AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Crows at Mars Stadium Picture: Getty Images

WINDBLOWN

Adelaide needed to make inroads into that margin with the wind in the third term, but the Dogs restricted them to just one goal, Himmelberg with his second.

In a sign of just how difficult it was to score against the breeze, Johannisen punched a low, hard ball from a set shot at the other end that swung wildly from left to right but squeezed through for his side’s only major of the quarter that maintained a 35-point advantage at the last change.

TOO LATE, TEX

Josh Schache helped keep Taylor Walker to just one kick in the first half, but the former skipper bobbed up with two goals in the final term.

Lachie Murphy made it back-to-back majors after Walker’s first, but the Dogs quickly reasserted their control.

Marcus Bontempelli didn’t have his usual influence, but he booted a superb goal from long range as his side rattled home with four goals in a row to improve to a 15-4 record.

“Unfortunately, we played a side that had just a little bit too much class for us in and around the contest,” Matthew Nicks said.

“I thought we brought some great energy early.

“We had the advantage of going with that strong wind first and had our opportunities, but probably didn’t capitalise.

“They capitalised on all of our mistakes.”

SCOREBOARD

BULLDOGS 5.3 9.9 10.11 15.15 (105)

CROWS 3.3 4.4 5.6 8.8 (56)

PHELAN’S BEST

BULLDOGS: Dale, Smith, Daniel, Macrae, Liberatore, Johannisen, Schache. CROWS: Sloane, Seedsman, Doedee, Keays, Smith, Laird.

GOALS

BULLDOGS: Bruce 2, Ugle-Hagan 2, Johannisen 2, Daniel, English, Dale, Weightman, Garcia, Hunter, Liberatore, Naughton, Bontempelli. CROWS: Himmelberg 2, Walker 2, Rowe, Lynch, Fogarty, Murphy.

INJURIES

BULLDOGS: Scott (knee). CROWS: Jones (thigh), Himmelberg (knee).

UMPIRES

Fisher, O’Gorman, Meredith

MARS STADIUM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JASON PHELAN’S VOTES

3 B Dale (WB)

2 B Smith (WB)

1 C Daniel (WB)

Originally published as AFL 2021 Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: Luke Beveridge sends ominous warning to competition after Dogs’ convincing win over Crows