AFL 2023: News and fallout from Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants
GWS has set up a return to finals footy with a big comeback in Ballarat, and the result is just the start of the Bulldogs’ bad news after a serious injury to a key player.
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Another supreme captain’s performance from Toby Greene has given the Giants’ finals hopes a major boost with a five-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium.
Greene’s five-goal haul led a comeback from 29 points down at halftime to win their seventh straight game and move the team to fifth on the ladder.
Coach Luke Beveridge said the Dogs were “numb” after surrending a five-goal lead and losing key defender Josh Bruce to a serious knee injury.
Bruce fell awkwardly on his right knee in the third term, immediately clutching at it as he fell to the ground.
There are fears he has suffered his second ACL after tearing the ACL in his left knee in 2021.
Bruce was helped off by trainers, clearly in pain and was unable to put any pressure on the knee as he went off the ground.
The injury was compounded with the Bulldogs already using their sub after fellow defender Alex Keath went off with concussion.
It’s now likely both will miss next week’s clash against Richmond, but the losses could be eased by the return of Liam Jones.
“I’d rather not speculate (on if it is an ACL),” Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
“Our medical staff will give an update after they’ve done a full assessment after scans.
“Obviously, it is a serious enough injury to not finish the game.
“We think Liam Jones might be available, we’ve got to work out whether or not that happens,” Beveridge said.
“James O’Donnell was an emergency today and he can play key back.
“But we’re going to need one or two to come in and fill those roles.”
The Giants pounced on the Dogs’ injury crisis, kicking nine goals to four after halftime to stun the strong pro-Bulldogs crowd in Ballarat.
Jake Riccardi added three goals of his own to put GWS on the verge of making the finals for the first time since 2021.
“We’re trying to process it, everyone’s a bit numb,” Beveridge said.
“Credit to them (GWS) to come over the top in the end.
“It was the one that got away.
“(It was) one of our best halves for the year.
“We took nine marks inside 50 in the first quarter and we were well on top.
“(If we kicked) those set shots in the second quarter we are not sitting here worrying about the loss.
“We didn’t capitalise on our opportunities.”
The Bulldogs should remain in the eight after the other games this weekend but face a tough four week test to qualify for the finals, starting with Richmond on Friday.
“We’ve got to think positively,” Beveridge said.
“We’ve got four games to go and our destiny is well and truly in our hands.”
Early on it was all the Bulldogs.
Kicking against the breeze in the first quarter, the Bulldogs stunned a flat GWS outfit, dominating in the midfield and putting vital goals on the scoreboard.
Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Dale combined for 25 disposals with the Dogs having almost double the Giants’ contested possessions and keeping GWS to fewer than five clearances and hitouts.
The Bulldogs kicked the first three goals, including the first goal of the game to Bailey Smith in his 100th game, to lead by 14 points at the first break.
GWS fought back early in the second term, keeping the Bulldogs at bay with the breeze, but it wouldn’t last as the home team kicked away to a 29-point lead at halftime.
Tim English kicked two goals for the Dogs in the first half.
After halftime the tsunami of the Giants got the best of the Bulldogs.
Toby Greene showed why he is one of the most dangerous forwards of the game, putting on a clinic with the breeze.
With the Giants running rampant through the middle, Greene was able to find plenty of space throughout the quarter, kicking three goals to guide the team back into the contest.
The Giants kept their run going in the final term, keeping the Bulldogs to just one goal in the final term with the breeze.
Riccardi kicked his third in the middle of the term to reduce the margin to two points before a miss to Callan Ward got the margin to one.
When Greene snapped his fifth goal with just under six minutes remaining, the Giants had the lead for the first time in three quarters.
Brent Daniels, with a drop punt from the boundary line, gave the Giants an 11-point lead.
A goal to Bailey Dale gave the Dogs some hope but GWS held on to secure a famous win for the club in Adam Kingsley’s first season as coach.
The Giants are now a game clear inside the top eight and face Sydney in a derby next week.
The Bulldogs will count the cost of this one as their finals chances come under threat with a big game against Richmond next week.
LOBB DOWN BACK?
The Rory Lobb in defence experiment might only last a half after he was beaten convincingly by Jake Riccardi. After the injuries to Josh Bruce and Alex Keath, Lobb spent time down back in the second half. Riccardi kicked two goals with Lobb at times looking out of his depth against the GWS forward.
“I thought Lobby did okay when he went back,” Beveridge said.
“He’s unlikely to go back (next week).
“We want him to resume and assume the role he started with today, forming the partnership with Tim (English).
“I thought he had a pretty good first part of the game, as a forward, he competed and he clearly created some opportunities.”
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
The Giants have no fear of a venue this season. The win was their ninth at a different venue, which might just be a record in the AFL. The team has won at their home grounds, the Showgrounds and Manuka Oval, as well as Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval, the SCG, GMHBA Stadium, Bellerive Oval, Traeger Park and now Mars Stadium. An incredible record.
SCOREBOARD
GWS GIANTS: 1.3, 2.5, 8.7, 11.12 (78)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.5, 6.10, 9.10, 10.13 (73)
JONES’ BEST
GWS: Greene, Riccardi, Whitfield, Coniglio, Briggs.
Bulldogs: English, Dale, Liberatore, Treloar, Bontempelli.
GOALS
GWS: Greene 5, Riccardi 3, Kelly, Brown, Daniel.
Bulldogs: English 2, Treloar 2, Dale, Johannisen, Smith, West, Weightman, Naughton.
INJURIES
GWS: Nil
Bulldogs: Keath (concussion), Bruce (knee)
Umpires: Foot, Fisher, O’Gorman, Meredith
Venue: Mars Stadium
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Jones’ votes:
3. Toby Greene (GWS)
2. Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
1. Tim English (WB)
Originally published as AFL 2023: News and fallout from Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants
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