The Western Bulldogs have won successive games for the first time since round 20 last year, pipping a gallant Gold Coast by nine points in a wind-affected nail-biter at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium.
In front of a vocal crowd of 6833, the Bulldogs – who have now joined the SUNS at 3-4 – overcame a sluggish start and trailed at every change before outlasting the visitors, winning 11.15 (81) to 10.12 (72).
The SUNS led 17 minutes into the last quarter, and were within a straight kick in time-on, but the weight of Bulldog possession in the final term, when they amassed a club-record 24 inside 50s, ensured the home side remained in sight of the top eight.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was both proud and relieved.
"The boys persisted and some of the younger guys were able to pick themselves up and hang in there," Beveridge said post-match.
"It was great to see the last quarter (where) some of our inside mids, the next tier of influential players like Toby (McLean), Jack Macrae and Caleb (Daniel) and Luke Dahlhaus and ‘Wally’ (Mitch Wallis), really had an effect on the game.
"So I’m really happy with today. We’ll get a lot out of today.
"Gold Coast’s pressure was really good and we missed too many tackles in the first quarter.
"We had more intent after that, which is a bit of a disappointment (because) we should have started the game that way."
Gold Coast counterpart Stuart Dew lamented missed opportunities early and the last-quarter fadeout.
"We came in at half-time and could have been more in front. We should have," Dew said.
"Our method and effort for three quarters, we were really proud of, then we let ourselves down in the last quarter.
"Credit to the Bulldogs, when the game was on the line, they cranked it up, both contested and uncontested. Up until then, we thought we’d matched their uncontested game, which we had focused on early, but we couldn’t go with them in the end."
The breezy conditions aside, it was always going to be a challenging outing for both clubs given their considerable loss of leadership – Gold Coast captains Tom Lynch and Steven May and Bulldogs counterpart Easton Wood were all been ruled out early in the week, and the leadership curse continued when Dogs vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli was a late withdrawal with hip soreness.
Stand-in skippers David Swallow and Lachie Hunter led teams that took a considerable time to adjust to a strong, tricky wind with more than the usual quota of kicks sailing out of bounds on the full, missing targets or being smothered.
It was the SUNS who acclimatised first, building a three-goal lead early in the second term.
To the frustration of Dogs fans, early in the second
The Bulldogs didn't help their cause either by trailing in the tackles 22-9 by the first change.
The SUNS should have been five goals clear in the second term but squandered two golden opportunities.
That was the cue for Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen to prove the game-changer.
Switched forward, Johannisen created havoc with his speed and energy, piloting the Dogs to a decisive four-goal burst in as many minutes, including two to youngster Patrick Lipinski, to hit the front.
The SUNS, who led the inside 50 count 37-27 at halftime, responded with the next three goals to lead by nine points early in the third term before the teams went almost goal for goal as the lead changed 10 times in total.
The Dogs had the first 13 inside 50s of the last quarter for just three behinds, before Tim English goaled after receiving a dubious free kick to put his team a goal up.
Soon after, teammate Jack Macrae was blindsided by the sun and SUN Aaron Young, who won a holding-the-ball free and capitalized tom level the scores midway through the term.
Dogs goals followed to Billy Gowers and defender Bailey Williams before Jack Martin gave the SUNS a chance, only for the Bulldogs to keep the ball in their forward half in the dying stages.
Macrae was brilliant for the Dogs with 40 possessions and Hunter led from the front with 34 while Luke Dahlhaus and Toby McLean were also prolific with 31 apiece, while the SUNS were well served by the likes of dominant ruckman Jarrod Witts, midfielders Touk Miller and Jack Martin, and livewire Ben Ainsworth.
In the absence of May, Rory Thompson stepped up, while at the other end Sam Day and debutant Brayden Crossley did their best to replace the irreplaceable Lynch.
It was a gutsy effort by the SUNS given their outs and the fact they were playing at a sixth different venue this season as a result of the Commonwealth Games.
MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli was a late withdrawal with hip soreness and could return next week.
Gold Coast: Matt Rosa left the field early in the third quarter with a shoulder problem, which received strapping before he returned to play out the game.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will aim for three in a row when they host Brisbane at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night, while the SUNS will be hoping to upset Melbourne at the Gabba.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 5.5 8.7 11.15 (81)
GOLD COAST 2.6 5.9 8.10 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Lipinski 2, Gowers 2, Dunkley, Johannisen, Jong, Honeychurch, Macrae, English, Williams
Gold Coast: Day 2, Young 2, Martin 2, Ballard, Crossley, Sexton, Miller
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Johannisen, Hunter, Dahlhaus, Naughton
Gold Coast: Miller, Ainsworth, Martin, Harbrow, Witts
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli (hip, replaced in selected side by Honeychurch)
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Fleer, Gianfagna
Official crowd: 6833 at Mars Stadium
