A slick and ruthless Western Bulldogs combination tonight strode to an emphatic 101-point victory over the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium.
After a competitive first half, the Eagles could maintain their first half pressure as the Bulldogs kicked 15 goals to four as they won 25.16 (161) to 9.6 (60).
Aside from Tim Kelly was a trojan in the middle with 38 possessions and Jack Darling, who kicked four goals, the Eagles struggled to match it with the skilful Dogs who consistently applied manic pressure.
They carried too much fire-power through the midfield and with 68 inside 50 entries against 37 and 20 marks forward of the arc compared to eight the defence was always under pressure.
The Bulldogs were more efficient from the outset, created more run from behind the ball and led by 32 points at the main break.
Their highly regarded midfield of Adam Treloar, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli consistently pumped them inside 50 and they generally found scoring a little easier.
Again the endeavour of the Eagles could not be questioned to half-time with Kelly and Jack Redden leading the charge.
The were strong around the contest and while the inside 50 count was heavily weighted in the Bulldogs favour, the Eagles were highly competitive.
Darling kicked three first half goals and pressure from players like Jamie Cripps and Samo Petrevski-Seton was first class.
Down back Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Harry Edwards consistently destroyed the ball in the air before McGovern was subbed out with a back injury in the middle of the second quarter.
Unfortunately, as has been the case for much of the season, the Eagles conceded a rush of goals in the third quarter as the Dogs asserted control.
It started in the middle where Tim English proved too big and strong for the Eagles developing ruckmen, Callum Jamieson and Bailey Williams, and they were then too clean and precise at ground level.
An eight-goal third term saw the visitors lead 18.9 to 7.5 at the last change and they carried that momentum forward.
Details
Western Bulldogs 6.3 10.7 18.9 25.11 161
West Coast Eagles 3.0 5.5 7.5 9.6 60
Goals – Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4; Weightman, Dunkley, Keath, McNeil, West, Williams 2; Bontempelli, English, Dale, Duryea, Liberatore, McComb, Khamis, Treloar, Scott. West Coast Eagles: Darling 4; Gaff, Kelly, Williams, Kennedy, Cripps.
Best – Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Treloar, English, Dale, Macrae, Daniel. West Coast Eagles: Kelly, Darling, Edwards, Barrass, Hough.
Injuries: J McGovern (back) replaced in second quarter by J Rotham.
Attendance: 31,838
