By Michael Whiting
The Western Bulldogs have continued the long haul back to finals contention, holding off a fast-finishing Gold Coast SUNS by 22 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Bulldogs set up the victory with a superb first-half display of goalkicking, kicking 12.2 to set up a 34-point lead at the main break.
They led by as much as 49 points late in the third quarter and held on despite the GC SUNS kicking five goals to one in the last term, winning 17.8 (110) to 13.10 (88).
While never seriously challenged, the Bulldogs looked to limp across the line against a GC SUNS team full of running.
But when the game was on the line, the Bulldogs' ball use was as good as it has been all season.
Captain Matthew Boyd (39 disposals, nine clearances) was brilliant in the middle, while Ryan Griffen (26 and three goals) was not far behind.
It was simply better conversion in the first half that built the huge lead.
The GC SUNS had 15 scoring shots to 14 at the long break, had 30 inside 50s to 26, but found themselves virtually out of the game, trailing 12.2 to 5.10.
In the first quarter alone, Barry Hall - who returned with two goals before being substituted in the third quarter - Griffen, Adam Cooney and Ed Barlow all kicked goals outside 40m.
Meanwhile at the other end, Zac Smith, David Swallow, Dion Prestia (twice), Tom Lynch and Jared Brennan all missed very kickable shots.
Michael Rischitelli's second quarter blunder summed up the GC SUNS first-half performance when he won a centre clearance, spun around and kicked it 45m in the wrong direction, which ended up in a goal to Justin Sherman.
Captain Gary Ablett waged an enthralling duel with Liam Picken that ended with honours even.
After being kept relatively quiet for much of the day, Ablett exploded in the last quarter to finish with 24 disposals and two goals.
FIRST QUARTER
A strong breeze and missed shots cost the Gold Coast SUNS a winning start at Metricon Stadium. The GC SUNS had nine shots to the Bulldogs’ eight, with Dion Prestia and Jared Brennan among those who missed opportunities against the wind. The Bulldogs made them pay with goals to Daniel Giansiracusa, Barry Hall (two), Ryan Griffen, Ed Barlow and Adam Cooney. Danny Stanley and Tom Lynch had two goals for the GC SUNS while Jared Brennan took a spectacular mark on the wing for the GC SUNS late in the quarter.
Western Bulldogs 6.2 (38) Gold Coast SUNS 2.7 (19).
SECOND QUARTER
Michael Rischitelli had five disposals for the quarter, but he had one early that he would probably rather forget. Rischitelli kicked the ball the wrong way from a clearance and Justin Sherman cheerfully capitalised, kicking one of the Bulldogs’ six goals for the quarter. Western Bulldogs dominated on the scoreboard, but the game remained even around the ground, with the home team having more inside 50’s and shots on goal. Late goals to the Bulldogs saw them go into the main break with a 34-point lead.
Western Bulldogs 12.2 (74) Gold Coast SUNS 5.10 (40)
THIRD QUARTER
The Bulldogs maintained the status quo in the third quarter, opening with goals to Adam Cooney and Ryan Griffen before David Swallow replied with a major for the GC SUNS. The teams traded goals from there, with Will Minson (Bulldogs), Lynch, Callan Ward and Swallow splitting the middle. The last goal to Swallow came from good running play by the GC SUNS but the home team still faced a near-insurmountable task in the last quarter.
Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) Gold Coast SUNS 8.10 (58)
FOURTH QUARTER
Gold Coast kicked two goals in the first three minutes of the last quarter and threatened to make a comeback. Nathan Bock kicked a rare goal following a 50m penalty in the 13th minute but the GC SUNS had left their run too late. Ryan Griffen kicked his third not long after Bock’s goal to give the Bulldogs an unassailable 33-point lead. The GC SUNS ensured they would win the quarter easily with the last two goals, including Josh Fraser’s second goal of the quarter and a long goal to Gary Ablett.
Western Bulldogs 17.8 (110) Gold Coast SUNS 13.10 (88)
Western Bulldogs 6.2 12.2 16.7 17.8 (110)
Gold Coast SUNS 2.7 5.10 8.10 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Griffen 3, Cooney 3, Giansiracusa 3, Hall 2, Barlow 2, Minson, Jones, Sherman, Ward
Gold Coast SUNS: Lynch 3, Ablett 2, Swallow 2, Fraser 2, Dixon, Stanley, Iles, Bock
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Griffen, Cooney, Barlow, Cross, Ward
Gold Coast SUNS: Bock, Rischitelli, Hutchins, Harbrow, Ablett, Swallow
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Gold Coast SUNS: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Barry Hall replaced by Christian Howard in the third quarter
Gold Coast SUNS: Nathan Krakouer replaced by Luke Russell in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kennedy, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 16,149 at Metricon Stadium
