The Western Bulldogs have climbed to within reach of the top eight after overcoming wayward finishing and a stuttering GIANTS to win an arm-wrestle by 27 points at ENGIE Stadium.
The Bulldogs gradually edged ahead without quite putting the GIANTS away until Aaron Naughton kicked truly from a tough angle for the sealer in an 8.22 (70) to 6.7 (43) triumph on Saturday night.
The visitors dominated the territory in wet and wild conditions but were at risk of paying the price for their inaccuracy until the dying stages in a match where seven shots slammed into the post.
Ed Richards (27 disposals, 10 clearances) and Adam Treloar (35, seven) were immense in the Dogs’ midfield, while skipper Marcus Bontempelli (18, 6) was restricted by Callan Ward’s close checking until unleashed in the final term.
Bulldogs recruit James Harmes booted two critical goals while also bolstering the midfield with 18 disposals in arguably his best game for his new club.
Sam Darcy gave more than just glimpses of his budding talents even as heavy rain came down, the 208cm forward-ruck booting two goals while helping to stretch the GIANTS defence.
While players from both sides regularly mishandled the ball in greasy conditions, Rhylee West had the most trouble in front of goal and finished with 1.4.
But West’s only major came in the most bizarre circumstances as GIANTS’ midfielder Ward booted the ball the wrong way and into the Dogs’ forward’s lap 30m out and directly in front of goal.
The Dogs now have a 5-5 record, as well as the second-best percentage in the competition, as they have brush off a slow start to the season to move within striking distance of the top eight.
After winning their first five matches of the season, the GIANTS have now lost four of their past five to slump to a 6-4 record and are at real risk of ending round 10 out of the top eight.
GIANTS spearhead Jesse Hogan kept his side in the contest with three goals and seven marks in his milestone match, and skipper Toby Greene added three, but the Dogs ultimately had more options in attack.
The hosts shared the ball around their defence with Lachie Whitfield (31 disposals), Harry Himmelberg (30) and Nick Haynes (25) racking up the possessions, but moving it forward with their usual speed proved difficult against the Dogs’ full-field defence.
Tom Green (29 disposals, seven clearances) and Stephen Coniglio (22, five) battled hard in the GIANTS midfield but the Dogs’ ability to win the clearances 47-37 was a clearer indication of the game.
GIANTS 2.1 4.4 4.7 6.7 (43)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.5 4.9 5.15 8.22 (70)
GOALS
GIANTS: Hogan 3, Greene 3
Western Bulldogs: Harmes 2, Darcy 2, Ugle-Hagan, Vandermeer, West, Naughton
BEST
GIANTS: Green, Coniglio, Greene, Hogan, Whitfield
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Treloar, Harmes, Naughton, Macrae, Williams, Darcy
INJURIES
GIANTS: Jones (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Conor Stone (replaced Darcy Jones in the first quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Caleb Daniel (replaced Riley Garcia in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 7,747 at Engie Stadium
