AFL Friday night: Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57) defeat GWS Giants 4.9 (33)

A brutal affair between two AFL rivals resulted in one player being left seeing stars and ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

The GIants imploded against the Dogs.

Even before the opening bounce, the mind games between the GWS Giants and Western Bulldogs had begun.

Nick Haynes, not Stephen Coniglio, attended the coin toss in an attempt to rattle Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli.

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Then as the two sides went to their opening spots the push and shove got underway as serial tagging pest Matt de Boer went straight at Bontempelli.

Spotfires broke out all over the ground and after Josh Dunkley got the Dogs underway with the opening goal of the game, the brutal nature of the contest continued.

The Giants get into Marcus Bontempelli right from the get go. 👀#AFLDogsGiants pic.twitter.com/VruvUgqiBo

— AFL (@AFL) June 19, 2020

But as the heat continued to be raised, it was the Dogs who responded better to the intensity as they rebounded from an awful showing last weekend to get back into the winner’s column.

Giants superstar Lachie Whitfield came off second best when Dogs forward Aaron Naughton charged through a pack and collected his head with his shoulder. Whitfield was ruled out of the game after the quarter time break.

The hit from Naughton is sure to be looked at by the match review panel, but many on social media believe he has no case to answer.

“Not for me. At the end of the day the ball is at Naughton’s feet at the time where he comes into contact with Whitfield,” Wayne Carey said on Channel 7.

“Whitfield comes back with courage but Naughton is entitled to protect himself. His arms are tucked in, the elbows aren’t out. The ball is at his feet and he just runs through the footy. At the end of the day it’s unfortunate Whitfield won’t come back on.”

Lachie Whitfield headed to the rooms after this clash with Aaron Naughton.#AFLDogsGiants pic.twitter.com/mDASDkeE3Z

— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 19, 2020

Naughton runs in a straight line towards the footy as your tought as a forward/footballer, never broke off his line enough said. Please stop saying his in trouble. Whitfield had of ran straight line different story he tried to turn his body away. Play on #greatfooty #tough ##

— Brendan Fevola (@BrendanFevola25) June 19, 2020

Look at Naughton/Whitfield again, Naughton shouldn't get suspended. Never deviated from the line of the ball, kept eyes on the footy, and, if anything, braced for a flash of orange coming at him. Unfortunate for Whitfield, but not a week. #AFLDogsGiants

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) June 19, 2020

Surely Naughton isn’t getting suspended or fined #AFLDogsGiants

— Josh Lloyd (@redrock_bball) June 19, 2020

The contest remained wide open as the Dogs continued to shot themselves in the foot in front of goal and the brutality of the game went to a new level as every single player on the ground came to blows.

A fight broke out at three quarter time 😱😱😱

(watch #AFLDogsGiants on 7) pic.twitter.com/M4miVwfVw1

— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 19, 2020

Let’s go!!!!! Clear the benches! YESSSSSS!!!!!

— Mason Cox (@masonsixtencox) June 19, 2020

But in the final term the Giants couldn’t overcome the deficit and the Bulldogs went on to record their first victory of the season as the Giants also fall to 1-2.