The Western Bulldogs have done just enough to hold off a plucky Gold Coast side on Saturday afternoon, recording a 19-point win in what might go down as the best game so far to be played at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
Whenever the Dogs were challenged, they responded, a big credit to Luke Beveridge’s side that was in desperate need of a win to keep in touch with the top eight.
However, that’s not to say the Suns won’t have gained any new fans from the clash. Coming off big upsets against Sydney and Fremantle, Stuart Dew’s side was looking for three big scalps in as many weeks.
While they didn’t come away with the win, there was plenty to like. Gold Coast sides of old would have crumbled when the pressure was on, but this team kept the Bulldogs honest.
Even when five goals down midway through the third term the Suns found a way to keep in the game, led by Joel Jeffrey and Ben Ainsworth combining for eight goals in an electric forward line performance.
However, that duo ultimately wasn’t enough to drag the Suns over the line, with the Bulldogs midfielders simply too dominant in the contest.
“They were made to earn it, they were pushed right to the final siren the Western Bulldogs,” Andy Maher said in commentary for AFL Nation.
Gerard Whateley added: “I would say that’s the best AFL game that’s been played in Ballarat, it was a beauty.”
Bailey Smith (34 disposals, 565 metres gained), Marcus Bontempelli, (three goals, 24 disposals), Josh Dunkley (22 disposals six marks), Jack Macrae (34 disposals, 10 clearances) and Adam Treloar (26 disposals, six tackles) were all among the best players on the ground as the Dogs’ on-ball unit once again flexed their muscles.
Bont gets the kind bounce and boots the Dogs' fourth straight!#AFLDeadly | #AFLDogsSuns pic.twitter.com/3MPCHJNvk2
— AFL (@AFL) May 21, 2022
While the win isn’t enough to get the Bulldogs back into the eight, Beveridge will sleep tonight in the knowledge his side has won back-to-back games for the first time this year, with the chance to make it three against a depleted West Coast outfit next week.
Meanwhile, in Saturday afternoon’s other clash, Geelong broke Port Adelaide’s four-game win streak to salute at GMHBA Stadium.
After starting the season with five straight losses Ken Hinkley famously declared his club would win the next five.
At half-time of Saturday’s clash, he would have been optimistic of living out that prophecy as the Power entered the main break with a one-point lead.
However, they couldn’t bring it to fruition, kicking just two goals in the second half as Geelong surged to a 35-point win.
It's party time in Geelong as Hawkins snaps a beauty 😺#AFLDeadly | #AFLCatsPower pic.twitter.com/Sv0E37UzY8
— AFL (@AFL) May 21, 2022
The headlines will now turn to Geelong star Paddy Dangerfield, who was subbed off in the fourth quarter with a tight calf.
Dangerfield did not train during the week after recovering from the flu, however Chris Scott’s decision to play his superstar might have backfired.
The Brownlow Medallist has failed to display his dominant best throughout much of 2022 and that trend continued on Saturday, recording just 18 disposals with little influence over the contest.