Western Bulldogs smash Essendon by 93 points as Bombers suffer more injury pain

The Dogs yet again feasted on the carcass of vulnerable opposition — and the Bombers suffered another soft-tissue injury to a key player. Glenn McFarlane unpacks a rather predictable night.

Glenn McFarlane and Brayden May

4 min read

July 26, 2025 - 7:36AM

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‘Flat-track Bullies’ or ‘finals wildcard capable of a streak through September’? It’s time for the Western Bulldogs to choose their own adventure in 2025, starting on Thursday night.

No team feasts on the carcass of vulnerable opposition such as Essendon with as much relish as Luke Beveridge’s side.

And when you have a double-headed monster of Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy, who kicked 13 goals between them against the Bombers on Friday night, it can get very messy.

Add this 93-point win over Essendon to the 91-point flogging in round 10, and that makes it a collective 184 points this season.

Yet the troubling flipside to that is that no finals contender this year has looked as beatable against the current top eight sides as the same Bulldogs outfit.

13 goals between these two! Picture: Michael Klein

That must change at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night against Greater Western Sydney if the Bulldogs want to qualify for the finals, let alone be considered a serious contender.

Having started this round outside the top eight by a game, the Bulldogs did what they had to do against the Bombers with minimum effort or fuss.

But Beveridge knows the Bulldogs desperately need a scalp. Now.

Leading into this round, they were 1-8 against teams in the top eight, with their losses coming against Collingwood (-6), Fremantle (-16), Brisbane (-21), Gold Coast (-10), Geelong (-14), Hawthorn (-22), Adelaide (-11) and Brisbane (-10).

None of them were thrashing, mind you, but no one hands out premiership points for honourable losses.

You only get respect, and the points, when you win!

Bontempelli makes it FOUR goals in a row for the Bulldogs to start this one ðŸ”¥

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ðŸ”¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/euUw1sODaK pic.twitter.com/vREgfdSWms
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 25, 2025

That sole top eight win came against the Giants (+32) in Canberra way back in round 7, and Thursday night’s round 21 opener will provide an opportunity to make a statement.

That was never going to be the case against the Bombers, who have now lost eight games in a row, with their last win coming back in May, with Brad Scott’s team losing another key player, with Jordan Ridley subbed out with a hamstring.

Scott was extremely frustrated with yet another star going down with a soft-tissue injury.

“The player we can probably least afford to lose in defence, we lost,” Scott said.

“He’s got a hamstring strain most certainly.

“When he feels his hamstring, I think it’s pretty obvious. No point sugar coating.

“It’s incredibly frustrating, devastating. All the words you can possibly think of.

“There are plenty of examples of players across the competition who have had to fight setback after setback.

“We rate him so highly, he’s so important to our club.”

Jordan Ridley has been subbed out of the game with hamstring tightness.#AFLDonsDogs pic.twitter.com/sVwUXchEp5
— AFL (@AFL) July 25, 2025

The Dogs have touched up teams well below them, smashing Essendon twice, St Kilda twice (+71 and +72), Port Adelaide (+90) and Richmond (+79).

Tom Liberatore looked sore when he was subbed out of the game during the third term, but the Bulldogs said during the game that it was only a tactical sub.

This was a shootout at one end and almost a famine at the other; with the biggest interest coming in the head to head ‘battle’ between teammates Naughton or Darcy.

In the end, Naughton kicked a career-best seven – the same number of majors as the Bombers kicked – while Darcy kicked six, and could have had seven if Rhylee West had not taken advantage late in the game to kick his third major.

It was the usual suspects who dominated for the Bulldogs, including the newly re-signed Marcus Bontempelli – fresh from being named the second best Bulldog of all-time – who had 35 disposals and kicked two goals.

His chance at a third major after the final siren landed just short but the Bulldogs had a night to fill their boots.

Now it’s time for them to get a scalp ...

Tom Liberatore (left) speaks with teammates after being subbed out at the last change. Picture: Getty Images

RESTING LIBBA

There might have been a few concerns when Dogs star Tom Liberatore went down the race in the third quarter after limping from the ground, but he quickly returned to the field. Liberatore limped off and went to the rooms after being pushed in a marking contest by Archie Perkins. He was subbed at three-quarter-time in a decision which the Dogs said was tactically. It’s almost the perfect preparation for a huge clash against GWS on Thursday night.

DON IS GOOD FOR BEVO

The Bombers will be pleased to see the back of Luke Beveridge’s side. In two games this season, the Bombers have had a combined losing margin of 184 points. The scoreline including the Round 10 meeting reads 40.30 (270) to 12.14 (86).

MCMAHON’S STREAK

In just his second AFL game, Liam McMahon continued a goalkicking streak which continues back to last year. The Essendon mid-season draftee has now kicked two or more goals in 31 straight games at either VFL or AFL level for the Bombers and Carlton’s state league side. With a list crunch coming at Essendon, and SSP selection Tom Edwards who plays a similar role already signed despite a long-term knee injury, Essendon list boss Matt Rosa may have a decision to make.

DRIED UP DONS

Essendon was held goalless in the second term and in the process reached an unwanted milestone for the first time in 107 years. For the first time since 1918, the Bombers have gone six straight VFL/AFL games which has included a goalless quarter.

Jordan Ridley contends with Aaron Naughton in the opening half.

SOFT TISSUE ISSUES, AGAIN

Essendon defender Jordan Ridley was subbed out of the game in the second quarter with hamstring tightness and now there will be a nervous wait given his recent history. Ridley has played just 19 games in the last two years. Oskar Smartt who replaced Ridley finished with heavy strapping on his quad after a knock in a marking contest.