Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge will be searching for answers after St Kilda comprehensively outplayed them to the tune of 39 points at Marvel Stadium.
In the season’s first primetime Sunday night clash, the Saints lead by 23 points at half-time and didn’t stop from that point on.
More worryingly for the Dogs, St Kilda appeared to pick apart their defensive structure far too easily on multiple occasions throughout the contest.
“It was extremely disappointing from the Western Bulldogs besides the first 10 minutes,” Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney told AFL Nation.
Here's everything you need to know!
The talking point
Where are the Western Bulldogs at right now? That’s the main question emanating out of their second consecutive heavy defeat this season.
After their 52-point hammering at the hands of Collingwood in Round 1, the Dogs have had months to stew over that defeat and respond but their response on Sunday was meek at best.
Friday night against their fierce rivals GWS Giants suddenly looms as an early-season crunch clash.
The stars
Much has been made of St Kilda’s new recruits such as Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder and Brad Hill but the added firepower in the middle stands to benefit a number of other Saints midfielders.
One of those is Jack Billings, who was superb. If kicking three goals while rotating through the middle wasn’t impressive enough, he had the ball on 24 occasions.
He’ll be one to watch this year.
The debutant:
It was a dirty night for the Dogs but one positive they can take out of it was the debut of Laitham Vandermeer, who didn’t look out of place at senior level.
A solid night was highlighted by a goal in the second term.
A goal on debut for Laith Vandermeer!
— AFL (@AFL) June 14, 2020
How about the smile beforehand too?#AFLSaintsDogs pic.twitter.com/88iB70nlme
FULL SCORE
St Kilda:3.1 / 7.3 / 12.4 / 14.4 (88) Western Bulldogs: 2.4 / 3.4 / 5.6 / 7.7 (49)
GOALS
St Kilda: Billings 3, Butler 2, King 2, Lonie, Hannebery, Hind, Jones, Marshall, Membrey, Steele
Western Bulldogs: Naughton, Vandermeer, Dunkley, Macrae, Richards, Wallis, Williams
BEST
St Kilda: Jones, Gresham, Billings, Steele, Clark, Butler Western Bulldogs: Smith, Dunkley, Bontempelli, Lipinski
Reports: Nil
Injuries:
St Kilda: Nil Western Bulldogs: Nil