Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli starred to help his side firm up a spot in the AFL’s top four with an 11-point win over a stubborn Gold Coast.
The Suns battled bravely against their more fancied opponents but the class of Bontempelli (36 disposals) and the Bulldogs midfield steered the visitors to a 14.6 (90) to 11.13 (79) victory in front of 8244 fans at Metricon Stadium.
Last year’s No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan excited Bulldogs fans in his second AFL game, scoring three goals to spearhead the team’s attack.
A typically combative performance from Touk Miller (38 disposals) and three goals each to Ben Ainsworth, Alex Sexton and Nick Holman kept the Suns in striking distance for most of the match, while Brayden Fiorini (32 disposals) Jeremy Sharp (30 disposals) also impressed.
Bailey Smith (33 disposals), Jackson Macrae (31) and Bailey Dale (30) all provided plenty of drive to back up the hard-running efforts of their captain Bontempelli.
The Suns jumped the Western Bulldogs early, scoring the first three goals of the game to race out to a five-point quarter-time lead, despite the visitors dominating centre clearances (5-1) and inside 50s (17-10).
Holman was a surprise avenue to goal for the Suns with three majors in the opening term, but the Bulldogs were able to keep in touch thanks to Ugle-Hagan’s debut AFL goal from a set shot 45m out on a tight angle.
Ugle-Hagan opened the scoring in the second quarter to start a four-goal run for the visitors and from there the Western Bulldogs took the ascendancy, with Bontempelli leading the way with 13 disposals for the quarter.
Gold Coast arrested the Bulldogs’ charge through goals to Ainsworth and Sexton, but the visitors looked comfortable as they jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead.
The Suns stayed within striking distance for most of the second half with Miller and Sexton leading the charge, but the class of the Bulldogs kept them in front for the win.
Western Bulldog Josh Dunkley (21 disposals) was solid in his first match since round six after a shoulder reconstruction.
The win keeps the Bulldogs’ undefeated streak in interstate games intact and further entrenches them in the top four, pushing them to the top of the ladder.
Gold Coast faces another top-four team in Melbourne next week, while the Western Bulldogs take on Adelaide.
(C) AAP 2021
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 8.4 11.5 14.6 (90)
GOLD COAST 4.1 6.5 8.7 11.13 (79)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: J Ugle-Hagan 3 C Weightman 2 J Johannissen 2 J Macrae 2 A Naughton C Daniel J Bruce L McNeil T English. Gold Coast: A Sexton 3 B Ainsworth 3 N Holman 3 B King 2. Umpires: Nicholas Foot, Alex Whetton, Cameron Dore.
Official Crowd: 8,244 at Metricon Stadium.
