A CONTROVERSIAL late goal to superstar Marcus Bontempelli has helped the Western Bulldogs keep their AFL finals hopes alive with a heart-stopping two-point win over West Coast.
The Bulldogs overcame a slow start in a scrappy encounter that featured comical passages of play from both sides at times as neither managed any great fluency of ball movement.
Luke Beveridge’s men dominated the contested game during the second and third quarters but were almost left to rue a horror night in front of goal before they prevailed 6.13 (49) to 7.5 (47).
Bontempelli stepped up to put them in front at Metricon Stadium with little more than three minutes left.
The Bulldogs captain’s set shot from 50m may have been touched on the line by Jeremy McGovern, but was called a goal.
It was then ruled there was insufficient evidence to overturn the goal umpire’s decision on review.
Young ruckman Tim English took two important marks for the Bulldogs in the dying stages but gave away a free kick to Jack Darling in a ruck contest that could have let West Coast snatch victory.
Darling’s 50m shot faded agonisingly wide for the Eagles.
McGovern ended the match nursing a sore thumb while West Coast lost tagger Mark Hutchings to a hamstring injury.
The setbacks came after star ruckman Nic Naitanui was a late withdrawal with a back injury.
Early in the match, the Eagles punished the Bulldogs for their poor skills and led by 22 points at quarter-time.
The Dogs hit back after the break, dominating stoppages, contested possession and field position to set up a 23-11 advantage inside-50s.
But scores were level at halftime with the Dogs’ accuracy in front of goal letting them down.
It looked like it might come back to haunt them when Eagles forward Liam Ryan kept a cool head to set up Tom Cole for a goal late in the final term before Bontempelli stepped up.
Bontempelli, Bailey Smith, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae were all influential for the Bulldogs around the contest.
Caleb Daniel (25 touches) showed off his neat skills and Mitch Wallis kicked two important goals.
Jack Redden stood up for West Coast in the absence of injured midfielders Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo, while Jake Waterman and returning spearhead Josh Kennedy kicked two goals each.
The Bulldogs, who are ninth on percentage behind Greater Western Sydney, take on Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval next Sunday, while the Eagles have just four days to prepare for a clash with fellow finals contenders St Kilda at the Gabba.
(C) AAP 2020
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.3 3.8 4.10 6.13 (49)
WEST COAST 4.1 4.2 5.3 7.5 (47)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: M Wallis 2 J Dunkley M Bontempelli R Smith S Lloyd. West Coast: J Kennedy 2 J Waterman 2 D Sheed L Ryan T Cole.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Ray Chamberlain, John Howorth.
Official Crowd: 532 at Metricon Stadium.
