AFL Round 18 Western Bulldogs v Carlton: All analysis and news from Marvel Stadium thriller

In his 200th game, Patrick Cripps did his best to get the Blues back into the game late on Saturday. But far too much damage had been done – and it might linger for a while yet.

Chris Cavanagh and Dane Heverin

5 min read

July 13, 2024 - 11:04PM

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The Western Bulldogs had been mocked as being like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you are going to get.

A week after having their colours lowered in a horror 48-point loss to Port Adelaide, Luke Beveridge’s side left a much sweeter taste in the mouths of fans at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

A 14-point triumph over top-two side Carlton officially kept their Bulldogs’ season alive.

But who would know if it’s another sugar-hit or the start of a charge to September?

Given the powerful performance against the Blues, it’s somewhat baffling that the Bulldogs don’t sit in a much better position at round 18 as far as finals are concerned.

In a game played with September-like intensity, the Bulldogs were more than up for the fight as they showed just what they are capable of.

Prime midfield mover Adam Treloar was a late out with a calf complaint and bookends Aaron Naughton and Liam Jones were on the sidelines against a close to full-strength Carlton side.

However, the Bulldogs looked every bit one of the competition’s best outfits as they beat up the Blues across the ground.

The fact that they haven’t won more than two games in a row this season is hard to believe.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan celebrates one of his four goals against the Blues. Picture: Mark Stewart

Carlton’s much-heralded midfield was made to look second-rate at times as the home side’s onball brigade did some damage winning clearance and territory.

Early in the match, the forward line let them down, with 11 inside-50s in the first quarter failing to yield a single goal.

The wall of Jacob Weitering was a key problem, with the Carlton defender recording six intercept marks by the six-minute-mark of the second term.

But Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (four goals) stepped up to provide a stronger contest after that, small forward Rylee West (four goals) was in everything and Bailey Dale (31 disposals, one goal) was at his rebounding best from the back half.

Also down back, Rory Lobb continues to impress in his new role and battled well against Harry McKay, while Buku Khamis played one of his better games opposed to Charlie Curnow.

McKay looked the most dangerous forward on the ground at half-time with 3.2 to his name, but was held scoreless and logged just one disposal after the main break.

Harvey Gallagher takes a Patrick Cripps elbow to the face. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The difference in the end was in the clinches, though.

The Bulldogs scored 7.8 (50) to 4.6 (30) from stoppages – a week after the “stinging” loss to the Power where they lost the scores by stoppages by 20 points.

Marcus Bontempelli (eight clearances), Ed Richards (five) and Tom Liberatore (three) were up for the fight.

The Bulldogs still have a mountain to climb.

They have a trip down the highway to face an in-form Geelong next Saturday night, ahead of matches against Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, North Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney to round out the season.

However, Saturday’s win was certainly a step in the right direction – and showed that Beveridge’s team is good enough to conquer any challenge if it puts its mind to it.

For Carlton, it wasn’t the party the Blues would have hoped for to celebrate captain Patrick Cripps’ 200th game.

The Blues looked a side out of petrol tickets as they suffered a second-straight loss.

As good as Weitering was early, there are still questions over a defence which conceded 100-plus points for a fifth time this season.

The Bulldogs kicked 93 points in the final three quarters – after heading to the first change with just 0.7 (7) on the scoreboard.

That said, it’s hard to maintain momentum throughout a season and there’s plenty of time to rediscover some for the Blues.

They face 17th-placed North Melbourne next week and have to travel outside of Melbourne just once in the final six rounds

The Blues looked a side out of petrol tickets. Picture: Mark Stewart

Match report: Dogs spoil Cripps’ party

– Dane Heverin

The Western Bulldogs spoiled Patrick Cripps’ 200th game party with a 14-point victory inspired by Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s best game of the season.

Ugle-Hagan relished being his side’s focal point up forward in the absence of Aaron Naughton with four goals and a game-high 13 score involvements.

His finest moment came in the final term when he burst clear of a forward 50 stoppage reminiscent of his captain Marcus Bontempelli to snap a goal which turned out to be the final goal of the game.

It halted Carlton’s momentum after majors to Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps narrowed the margin to 11 points.

Cripps tried his best to will his side over the line with a mammoth 10-disposal last quarter but the Blues were left to a rue the wastefulness of Curnow – who kicked 3.7, including slamming one into the post from two metres out as he kicked three behinds in the final quarter while the Blues attempted a comeback.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan booted four goals in the win. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Carlton was playing catch-up after a lapse led to it conceding seven goals in the second quarter for a second straight week.

The Bulldogs blew early chances, booting 0.7 to quarter time, but the tide turned as the game was played largely on their terms.

The ball was pinned in the Bulldogs forward half as they suffocated Carlton who struggled to move the ball with any fluency.

The Blues had more of the ball –- 361-336 disposals – but the Dogs had more inside 50s as Carlton’s defenders kicked backwards and shuffled sideways until they were eventually forced to kick down the line into the Dogs trap.

Carlton opting to share the ruck duties between Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet meant they had a height advantage more often than not – but the Bulldogs were deadly at the fall of the ball.

Bailey Dale mopped up and charged forward at will off half back with a game-high 31 disposals, while, up forward, Rhylee West continually found himself in dangerous positions to boot at an equal career-high four goals.

Patrick Cripps did his best to get Carlton back into the game. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Bontempelli was pivotal with eight clearances, including four centre clearances, and a classy goal to kick them into gear in the second term, despite receiving heavy attention from tagger Alex Cincotta – who moved to Dale after half-time.

In defence, Buku Khamis led the Bulldogs for intercept possessions with eight as he toiled hard against Charlie Curnow, while recast defender Rory Lobb improved as the game went on in his battle with Harry McKay, who kicked three goals.

At the other end, Jacob Weitering was a shining light for the Blues with the most intercept possessions (12), and contested marks (five) on the ground.

Cripps’ milestone moments

Cripps kicked two trademark goals to celebrate his 200th game but his second, in the final quarter, was unable to spark a comeback.

Cripps’ strong mark and resulting set shot goal brought the Carlton crowd to life as well as pegging the margin back to 11 points but the Dogs hit back despite his team-high 28 disposals and game-high 11 clearances.

In the second quarter, he kicked a trademark on the run goal from 50 metres out to add one to the highlights reel.

Bailey Dale did as he pleased in the first half. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Tom Liberatore tackles Tom De Koning. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Carlton’s ruck dilemma

After Tom De Koning played through a rolled ankle in Carlton’s loss to the Giants, Marc Pittonet was brought in to shoulder majority of the ruck load.

The Blues have only won two of the seven games this year in which they have deployed the ruck duo with their forward pressure suffering again for the presence of an extra tall in the attacking mix.

The problem was compounded by livewire Zac Williams being subbed off in the second quarter with hamstring awareness as the Dogs swarmed the fall of the ball around the ground.