‘All too familiar’: Adam Treloar dejected over latest injury disaster

Another Marcus Bontempelli masterclass has helped the Western Bulldogs over their GWS rivals but the victory has come at a cost.

Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar.

Another Marcus Bontempelli masterclass and two clutch goals by Aaron Naughton have helped the Western Bulldogs see off a fast-finishing Giants outfit in a game where Adam Treloar suffered a fresh injury setback.

Trailing by 33 points at the final change, the Giants launched an unlikely comeback, booting four unanswered goals to reduce the Dogs’ lead to eight points.

But two strong marks and goals to Naughton helped the Bulldogs seal a 15-point win, 13.8 (86) to 10.11 (71), despite Treloar being subbed out with a hamstring injury.

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The Bulldogs were dealt a shocking blow midway through the third term when Treloar limped off the field with another hamstring injury.

Treloar was despondent as he came off the ground and sat on the bench, where he was subbed off for McNeill.

“We’ve seen that movie before, Treloar in mid-flight, hamstring – and he knew immediately what had happened. It’s an all too familiar feeling for Adam Treloar,” Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan said.

Adam Treloar has suffered a hamstring injury.

The Bulldogs began the last quarter with a 33-point lead — but that was cut to 27 within the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter when Xavier O’Halloran kicked the Giants’ first goal since the second term.

And the Giants launched a stunning comeback, with Green continuing his colossal game with two goals, before Harry Himmelberg nailed a running goal to make it four straight Giants goal and reduce the Bulldogs’ lead to nine points.

“What a turn of events in Canberra, how quickly it’s turned,” Channel 7’s Alister Nicholson said.

But when the Dogs desperately needed a hero, Aaron Naughton stepped up.

The star Dogs forward took a huge pack mark and converted to give the Dogs breathing space, before he converted another opportunity minutes later to seal the Bulldogs’ victory.

Tom Green playing some sort of game. That's three straight Giants goals now.

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Bontempelli led the way for the Bulldogs, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier wet-weather players.

With players fumbling and sliding everywhere, Bontempelli showed incredible cleanliness and precision by foot, while he was just as tough at the coalface.

It was a Bontempelli blinder. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

At halftime, Bontempelli had one goal from 20 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances and five inside 50s.

“It‘s a full game of football in a half … He’s playing a blinder,” Johnson told Fox Footy.

“The true talent comes to the fore in wet conditions and he’s just clean, he’s precise. He’s playing a game of football that I think will go down as one of his best ever.

“The reason I think he’ll rate his own personal game high is because of the conditions. Yeah he’s played some super games and some big games for the Bulldogs, but in these conditions we‘re seeing the true talent of Marcus Bontempelli.”

Bontempelli wasn’t as influential in the second half yet still finished with a stunning statsline: 32 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 14 clearances, seven score involvements, 561m gained and a whopping 164 ranking points.

The injury to Treloar was one of the only negatives on the night for the Bulldogs who prevailed over their arch rivals.

Originally published as ‘All too familiar’: Adam Treloar dejected over latest injury disaster