The Western Bulldogs have kicked off their 2018 pre-season with a win over Hawthorn to the tune of 22 points at Ballarat's Mars Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A crowd of just over 4,500 were treated to a pre-season game that had a bit of feeling to it, as both sides went into this match boasting teams that were just about full-strength.
As football fans, we know that pre-season games don't amount to much, but watching what the Bulldogs did restored a little glimmer of hope that season 2017 was just a mere aberration, rather than a sign of things to come. Hawthorn fans shouldn't despair either as their side looked very promising as well. Like the Dogs, the Hawks missed the finals in 2017 – the first time they have done so since 2009.
Looking at this Hawthorn team and under the brilliance of Alastair Clarkson, one would have to suggest that this team will find a way back to the finals sooner rather than later. However under the Bulldogs' assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa, who took control of the squad for the day, looked very good for the most part of this contest.
The first quarter of this match was a real goal-feast and an exciting start to the contest. After Josh Dunkley, wearing Matthew Boyd's old number five on the back, kicked the first goal of the day, goals came from either end with such relative ease. In 2017, the Bulldogs were the worst team in the league in scoring, often botching very simple kicks in front of goal. In the opening quarter, they kicked six goals straight and at times, it was very pleasing to watch them hit targets consistently.
Josh Dunkley added a second before quarter time, Mitch Honeychurch and Bailey Dale continued to look very dangerous up forward as they did in their game time in 2017, whilst Jack Macrae enjoyed spending a bit of time up forward, kicking a pair of majors before quarter time, sending the Bulldogs up by four points.
However, one person that struggled mightily up forward was the captain Easton Wood, who I'd say was put there to experiment than anything else. Wood didn't touch the footy until late in the second term, which had many commentators questioning the move. Sure it hadn't really worked out (Wood ended up with just seven disposals), but that's what the JLT pre-season games are really all about – trialling some new things and getting your game plan sorted before round one.
The second quarter was perhaps the worst of the four quarters that the Doggies produced, kicking 1.3 from nine inside 50 entries. In truth, the Dogs weren't horrible in the second term, they got enough of the footy/ They had 14 more disposals than the Hawks. They did have a few plays where they probably should've got more than a goal for the quarter. The Hawks made them pay for their errors inside 50, kicking 3.3 and headed into half-time eight point leaders.
Hawthorn had kicked two of the first three goals of the quarter, through an inexperienced Oliver Hanrahan and veteran fringe player Ryan Schoenmakers. Caleb Daniel kicked the Doggies' only goal for the term, walking into a open goal. It became a little bit of a scrap, before Isaac Smith kicked a goal on the half-time buzzer to give the Hawks a little bit of breathing space at the main break.
It was short-lived however, as the Dogs took control from the second half. They kicked 5.5 from 18 inside 50 entries to Hawthorn's two goals and five of the first six goals of the quarter. Easton Wood got on the end of one for a badly-needed captain's goal and recruits Jackson Trengove and Josh Schache kicked their first goals as Bulldogs to give them back the lead.
Liam Picken added another goal to the Dogs before being struck in the head by Josh Dunkley's hip in a bit of friendly fire – leading to Picken being stretchered off the ground, but with a tough nut like him, you just know he won't be down for long. Tom Liberatore added a 12th goal on the board to send the Dogs up by 18 points midway through the third term, before the Hawks quelled the Dogs momentarily, before things began getting out of hand. A late Jarryd Roughead goal, put the Hawks only two goals down heading into the final term.
Josh Dunkley added his third goal a couple of minutes into the final term, before Honeychurch added another one to send them 26-points ahead. The Hawks had opportunities to close the gap, but they never seriously threatened, Tom Mitchell the only player in Brown and Gold that could get the ball between the big sticks in the final quarter.
A 50-metre penalty conceded by James Sicily sealed the Dogs' win late, as Bailey Dale kicked home his second of the day and ensured a 22-point victory to the Bulldogs in their home away from home in Ballarat.
Entering his third season, Dunkley was very good up forward. Having been criticised for his kicking in his debut season, Dunkley kicked 3.1 from 17 disposals and four marks, and also added seven tackles to his name as well. Marcus Bontempelli – the reigning dual-club best and fairest winner – again played with such class and poise, recording 25 disposals, seven inside 50s and five marks, could've easily have had a couple of goals to his name if it had not been for some ordinary kicking at goal. Tom Liberatore (18 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and a goal) continued his good form in the pre-season with a solid display.
Bailey Williams could be one to watch in season 2018. Also entering his third season, the rebounding defender from South Australia recorded 24 disposals, eight marks and eight rebound 50s for the game and could form a very strong tandem with new recruit Hayden Crozier, who had himself a fine game in his first match in Bulldog colours, recording 20 disposals, six rebound 50s and five marks. Shane Biggs was also very handy in defence with a team-high 28 disposals, seven marks and six rebound 50s, as was Marcus Adams, who recorded 20 disposals, seven marks and four rebound 50s.
Of the other new recruits that played on Saturday, Jackson Trengove looked very handy as a versatile swingman, he played a bit in the ruck, a bit up forward and a small portion in defence (12 disposals, four marks, four clearances and 13 hitouts). I think he'll play round one. Aaron Naughton showed why the Dogs were so keen to take him with their first pick in the draft last year. The Western Australian recorded 13 disposals, five marks and two rebound 50s and hardly looked out of place throughout the game and Josh Schache only played a half of footy and found himself rotating between ruck and forward.
Tom Mitchell was – once again – Hawthorn's best player, recording a game-high 30 disposals, along with 10 clearances, seven inside 50s, six marks and a goal. How he records these numbers with such regularity can be ridiculous at times. James Sicily was perhaps the next best player. Reinvented as a defender with big results in 2017, Sicily recorded 24 disposals, eight rebound 50s and six marks in his first game since inheriting the number six guernsey that was vacated by the retiring Josh Gibson.
Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust were very dangerous up forward, but they were both very off with their kicking. Breust kicked 1.3 from 14 disposals and eight tackles, whilst Hawthorn captain Roughead kicked 2.4 from 12 disposals, four marks and four tackles. Ryan Schoenmakers was more efficient up forward, kicking three goals from 11 disposals and four marks. Everytime he kicked for goal, it looked very sweet off the boot.
Hawthorn's new off-season recruit Jarman Impey looked great running with the footy at times, but as he so often does, he tends to drift in and out of the game – such is his inconsistency. When he's on, he can play some electric footy, but when he's not, he disappears out of sight. Stats-wise Impey had 15 disposals and six inside 50s in his first game since crossing over from Port Adelaide. Another recruit worth mentioning is former Box Hill captain David Mirra, who is rookie listed for this season. Whilst he only played in the fourth quarter, Mirra showed his composure with the footy in hand and could be somewhat of a wildcard for the Hawks in season 2018.
Western Bulldogs 6.0 7.3 12.8 15.10.100
Hawthorn 5.2 8.5 10.8 11.12.78
Goals
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley 3, Honeychurch 2, Macrae 2, Dale 2, Daniel, Wood, Trengove, Schache, Picken, Liberatore
Hawthorn: Schoenmakers 3, Roughead 2, Gunston, Pittonet, Breust, Hanrahan, Smith, Mitchell
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Bontempelli, Williams, Biggs, Crozier, Macrae, Liberatore
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Sicily, Schoenmakers, Roughead, O'Meara, Breust