Western Bulldogs defeat Adelaide Crows by 15 points at Etihad Stadium
THE Western Bulldogs ultimately edged out a remarkably efficient Adelaide in another absolute belter between these modern-day beauties.
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BEVO’S boys are back.
The magic mojo restored.
The system trumping selection, with that electric ball movement dominating despite the absence of three key halfback creators.
The Western Bulldogs ultimately edged a remarkably efficient Adelaide in another absolute belter between these modern-day beauties on Saturday night.
The final margin was 15 points, the Bulldogs delivering themselves a fun slice of redemption for last year’s heartbreaking finals loss to the Crows.
Admittedly, the Dogs were only really stifled last week.
But this was every bit as pulsating as that September special and entering the contest you wondered if that North Melbourne loss last week would deny a repeat.
There wasn’t a patch where the tempo dropped below exhilarating and just about every contest was met with players believing the next possession chain could lead to a goal within seconds.
A Bailey Dale behind should have iced the game with just two minutes remaining.
But from the kick out, Crows captain Taylor Walker marked the ball in the middle and hoofed it long into the forward line, where Eddie Betts was waiting.
The result was Josh Jenkins’ eighth goal — a career-best haul — and a three-point margin.
But this time the Dogs would hold their nerve.
Dale would set up Marcus Bontempelli for a set-shot which did ice the game with a clutch goal.
Bontempelli missed his moment last September but he took it last night — and was mobbed by every single teammate bar one.
That one was Dale Morris, who calmly stayed stationed at full-back with that unshakable concentration which turned Betts invisible all night.
The Bontempelli goal celebration showed how much the Dogs wanted to beat the mob which broke their young hearts, and to do it in such classic style only added to the joy.
After Bontempelli took his moment, Dale would take another on the siren to deliver a 15-point margin and a 5-2 record after a generous run of Etihad Stadium games to start the season.
The challenge for coach Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs now is to win without that roof, starting at the MCG — where they need to know how to win — against Melbourne next week.
Before Bontempelli it was the Jake Stringer show every single time the Crows charged.
A 36-point lead was twice whittled under a goal and Stringer’s brave and ballsy four-goal performance kept blunting Adelaide’s adrenaline.
Stringer stuffed socks in the mouths of his critics. Selfish? More like super selfless.
Stringer set up three gimme goals for teammates and battled on bravely after suffering a corkie so bad he spent halftime trying to cycle through it.
The best assist came when he spiked a ball headed for a behind across goal and straight onto Caleb Daniel’s boot on the goal line.
Jenkins kept the Crows alive at the other end, his aerial work as clean as soap.
The big fella slotted three majors in the third quarter as the Crows amazingly pinged through 6.0 from just six entries.
Jenkins picked up the slack left by beaten captain Taylor Walker, who’s hands were as slippery as soap until that late grab.
The Crouch brothers were terrific in the second quarter, mainly younger brother Matt.
There was another brilliant defensive performance from kid Jake Lever and wildcard forward Tom Lynch again looked dangerous wherever he roamed.
But too many of the Crows were crippled. Rory Sloane’s output dipped, Scott Thompson finished with only 16 disposals and the ball, simply, failed to penetrate the forward line enough to threaten.
Adelaide lost the final inside 50 count of 68-37 which told the story, the wave of numbers winning out.
Injured Dogs speedster Jason Johannisen said before the game players were told in last week’s game review their ball movement was too safe last week.
Well, it was evident minutes into the first quarter last night that had been remedied and the Crows would again match them.
In last year’s elimination final the critical moment came when Walker outmarked Fletcher Roberts on the MCG wing and streamed forward to find Charlie Cameron, who kicked the Dogs out of September.
Last night Walker again outmarked Roberts on the wing, but this time his kick was smothered, Liam Picken marked 50m out and handballed to Jake Stringer.
That sore and by now fatigued Stringer went bang from 55m and a four-goal lead was restored, the 100-point rule eventually holding sway despite the series of heart-stopping moments to follow.
It’s worth stating again. Selfish Stringer? Forget about it.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.3 9.7 14.11 18.15 (123)
ADELAIDE 2.3 6.5 12.5 17.6 (108)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Dickson 3, Redpath 3, Daniel 2, Dale 2, Bontempelli 2, Liberatore, Wallis
Adelaide: Jenkins 8, Lynch 3, Cameron 2, Jacobs, Atkins, Sloane, Walker
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Stringer, Wallis, Wood, Liberatore, Morris, Dahlhaus, Campbell
Adelaide: Jenkins, Lynch, M Crouch, Atkins, Cameron
Originally published as Western Bulldogs defeat Adelaide Crows by 15 points at Etihad Stadium
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