Western Bulldogs show glimpses of the future despite 44-point loss to Port Adelaide in Ballarat

FROM the debut of Fergus Greene to the form of first-year key position player Aaron Naughton and the excitement around Ed Richards, there was a bit to like about the injury-hit Bulldogs but in the end they were overrun by Port Adelaide in Ballarat.

Western Bulldogs players leave the field after the loss to Port Adelaide. Picture: Michael Klein

WE don’t talk about the Western Bulldogs in the same way we do Carlton, whose president admits to only watching the kids.

That’s the price Bevo pays for winning a flag out of turn, maybe, or perhaps it’s because, aside from Saturday night, the Blues have been that bad.

MATCH CENTRE: SUPERCOACH SCORES FROM DOGS v PORT

AS IT HAPPENED: LIGHTING FOR DOGS GAME SLAMMED

But before bounce-down on Sunday the Blues were only three wins and nine percentage points adrift of the Bulldogs.

A day after Brendon Bolton’s green shoots sprouted on the Gold Coast, what would Luke Beveridge’s saplings show in arctic conditions you wouldn’t expect to spark growth.

There was rain and hail. It was 4.4 degrees at the opening bounce.

Ed Richards showed glimpses during the loss to the Power. Picture: Michael Klein

If Peter Gordon was getting his Mark LoGiudice on on Sunday, he would have seen moments that gave him hope, despite the ugly grind that ensued and the 5.4 Bulldogs scorecard.

Fergus Greene, a 20-year-old forward from Bendigo, played his first game, the seventh Dogs debutant of the season.

In the opening term 16-gamer Ed Richards delivered a beautiful ball to a leading Greene who took a ripper mark.

Greene protected the ball with a twist of his body, marking under close attention, he gave it off on that occasion but in the second quarter he kicked his first goal with just his second AFL kick after taking another grab to keep the Dogs in it.

Fergus Greene celebrates kicking his first AFL goal on debut.

The impressive Richards, who hasn’t been out of the side since getting the nod in Round 3, had a quiet day by his standards, but at times his class and nous shone.

Pat Lipinski is a virtual first-year player and had 14 touches and three tackles on Sunday.

He hit up Josh Schache for a goal late in the third in a set play of the future.

Defender Brad Lynch was in for his fifth game on the trot. He backed himself on the goal line to clear rather than concede, showing poise and confidence to start another Bulldogs forward attack.

West Australian Aaron Naughton played his 13th game and is a keeper.

Of the other new boys Billy Gowers was out injured after playing 17 games while Kieran Collins (one game) was in the news last week by dint of his and Roarke Smitch’s car crash.

Aaron Naughton impressed again. .Picture: Michael Klein

There were some ordinary sights. Jason Johannisen was playing across half forward and not doing much late in the second term when he had the chance to get in the game on the wing. But he didn’t attack the contest and the ball was easily won by Port. You can imagine what the runner said when he made it out to the Norm Smith medallist.

Terry Wallace didn’t miss him on 3BA radio: “He finds it hard because he’s not tough.”

It was icy at North Ballarat but there was a touch of green to be seen.

The summer sun can’t come soon enough.

ELIZA SEWELL’S BEST PLAYERS

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Macrae, Crozier, Trengove, Hunter, Dunkley, McLean,

PORT ADELAIDE: Polec, Dixon, Wingard, Ebert, Wines, Lienert

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