Western Bulldogs 4.1 7.6 12.9 13.11.89
Geelong 6.2 11.4 15.6 21.7.133
Goals
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Walis 2, McLean, Trengove, Johannisen, Naughton, Lloyd, Gowers, Hunter, Liberatore, Richards
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Rohan 3, Fort 3, Duncan 3, Ablett 2, Dangerfield, Parfitt, Guthrie, Abbott, Miers, Constable
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Wallis, Macrae, Smith, Hunter, Trengove, McLean
Geelong: Duncan, Stewart, Rohan, Fort, Hawkins, Dangerfield, Parfitt
It took them until the fourth quarter to run away with it, but Geelong have continued their winning ways in 2019, taking care of the Western Bulldogs by 44 points at Kardinia Park on Saturday evening – ensuring that the Bulldogs' woes down in Geelong continue on for another year at least.
Whilst disappointing with the loss, this was one of those games where the margin doesn't actually reflect how the Bulldogs played. The Cats are proving to be amongst one of the best sides in the competition so far in 2019 and the Bulldogs were stubborn enough to stick around and make it a contest for three out of the four quarters. The game itself was quite fast-paced and end-to-end stuff. It was quite good to watch considering a few games have been considerably low-scoring in recent weeks.
The Cats got the fast start with the opening two goals to Gary Rohan, who has been flying in his new colours since coming over from Sydney in the off-season. But the Bulldogs did pretty well to prevent it from being a blow out from there, with it being more of a shootout than anything else – both sides kicking a further four goals each. Geelong led from start to finish, but the Bulldogs got close a couple of times. The second quarter saw them get within five points late in the piece, before three quick goals to Geelong gave them a 22-point cushion at the main break. Very disappointing considering the Bulldogs were 19 points down midway through the quarter. Goals to Sam Lloyd and Aaron Naughton brought it back to five. Before Geelong flexed some of their muscle and kicked three goals in quick succession.
The third quarter was interesting, because it was a tale of two halves. The first half was predominantly controlled by the Cats. They kicked three of the first four goals of the match to take a game-high lead of 32 points at the 15-minute mark of the term, before the Bulldogs responded with a run of their own in the second half of the third quarter – kicking four of the next five goals.
Marcus Bontempelli contributes to two of these goals – both of them beauties from long range. After Mitch Wallis kicks a good goal from a tight angle to reduce it to 27, The Bont follows up with an almighty charge down the centre and bombs home his first from 50 metres. After Ed Richards and Cameron Guthrie exchange goals, the Bont was on the end of some good handpassing under pressure and unloads a cracking goal from inside the centre square – a fitting tribute to the career of Tom Boyd, who will be forever known for that goal in the Grand Final from a similar distance.
That kick put the Bulldogs 14 points down and remarkably, the game was still on. Things got very interesting when Mitch Wallis got the first goal of the fourth quarter. That brought the margin to single digits for the first time since late in the second quarter. Unfortunately, that's where all the good things ended for the Bulldogs, as Geelong kicked the next six goals to run away with the win.
The Dogs had a couple of chances to get back into it in the last quarter. Ed Richards had an easy shot on goal – 30 metres out with not much angle, but he sprays it. Whilst the Dogs kicked more goals than behinds on Saturday, Geelong's efficiency in front of goals was incredible. They had 50 inside 50 entries and generated 28 scoring opportunities – 21 of those being goals. Right now they're firming as the premiership favourites.
I have no doubt that the Western Bulldogs were genuinely beaten by the better side on the day. I'll agree that the umpires weren't the greatest, but the truth is they will make mistakes every game and miss calls every game. You can definitely argue they cost us a goal or two, but they weren't the root cause of the loss. Whilst the Dogs were good, they just weren't good enough for long enough against the ladder leaders.
Leading The Way
Mitch Wallis I reckon played his best game for the Dogs on Saturday. Splitting his time between playing forward and in the middle, Wallis had himself a game to remember, recording 29 disposals, nine clearances, four marks and two goals. On a day where Marcus Bontempelli didn't get a lot of the footy, Josh Dunkley had 21 and Tom Liberatore had 16 touches, Wallis' influence in the middle was massive. Jack Macrae (29 disposals, six clearances, eight tackles and four inside 50s) was also huge in the middle.
Gotta talk about Bailey Smith. The 2018 Draft Class has shown plenty this year. Sam Walsh and Connor Rozee are perhaps the best two players in the class – Bailey Smith would be rounding out the top three right now. He had a career-best 28 disposals, along with five clearances, three inside 50s and three tackles. I might sound like a broken record, but every game he plays, he gets better by the week – the thought of seeing this kid develop in five years is going to be exciting to watch.
Toby McLean was perhaps the most dangerous forward on the day, booting 1.2 from 22 disposals and five marks. I thought his presenting was good and he was lively around the ground. Lachie Hunter (26 disposals, six marks, four rebound 50s, four inside 50s and a goal) had a typical performance – typical in the sense that he worked his backside off around the ground, whilst Jackson Trengove battled on in the ruck (24 hitouts, 18 disposals, three clearances, six tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) as he took the brunt of the duties for the second week in a row.
The Opposition
The Cats have all the bases covered – their forwards, their mids and their backs – stars on every line.
In the middle, Patrick Dangerfield (23 disposals, five clearances, four marks and one goal) usually has a field day against the Bulldogs, but on this day, he was fine without starring, but his ankle injury late in the game will warrant some questions during the week. Mitch Duncan (25 disposals, 11 marks, six inside 50s and three goals) was unquestionably best Cat on the ground for mine. Always overlooked when the likes of Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett all shine. Brandan Parfitt (18 disposals, six tackles, five inside 50s and one goal) had a fine game.
Darcy Fort came into the side before the weekend for his debut. When Rhys Stanley was a late withdrawal from the side, it meant he and Ryan Abbott (Who was the late inclusion) had to share the duties. In game one, I thought Fort's game was very good. Splitting between a key forward and ruck, Fort kicked three goals from nine disposals, and three contested marks. Also up forward, Gary Rohan (Three goals from 14 disposals and seven marks) continued his great start to the year and Tom Hawkins (Four goals from 10 disposals and four marks) also proved a handful.
Tom Stewart – has unquestionably thousands upon thousands of fans. Add another one in myself after Saturday. After earning a spot in the All-Australian team last year, Stewart just continued to thrive in defence. He had 22 disposals and eight rebound 50s at 100 percent efficiency as well as six marks – one of them a mark of the year contender over Tom Liberatore. And to add it all off, he gave off a cheeky grin after he landed the mark. He also had some hairstyling advice for Bailey Smith during the last quarter – I like it. But in all seriousness, it looks like he'll be in amongst the contenders for a spot in the All Australian back six once again in 2019.