THE Bulldogs got their bite back, with a 24-point win over the GIANTS at Marvel Stadium.
If a winless start to the year heading into Friday night's bout with the GIANTS have raised questions about the true potential of Luke Beveridge's side this season, their convincing four-goal victory at Marvel Stadium went some way to answering them.
DOGS DOWN GIANTS: Full match coverage and stats
The Bulldogs physically dominated a GIANTS side that had embarrassed them last September, building the foundations for their 8.9 (57) to 4.9 (33) win on the back of fierce, hard-nosed footy that at times lacked polish but was never without effort and intensity.
It was the type of reaction Beveridge would have been demanding after last week's disappointing defeat to the Saints, as Jack Macrae (25 disposals, seven tackles) and Caleb Daniel (23 disposals, six marks) stood tall amid a frantic battle to lead the Dogs home.
If the soul-searching was brutal at the Bulldogs this week, the spotlight will turn just as sharply to Leon Cameron's side as last year's Grand Finalists were out-worked and out-fought for a second consecutive week after last Sunday's loss to the Kangaroos.
Despite missing Toby Greene and Josh Kelly through injury, and having lost Lachie Whitfield to concussion in the first quarter following a bruising blow from Aaron Naughton, there was no excuse for the brutal manner in which the visitors were dismantled.
Harry Perryman (23 disposals, two goals) and Stephen Coniglio (24 disposals) fought valiantly, but the damage was done early as the Bulldogs scrapped to a 20-point lead at half-time and retained that advantage comfortably throughout the second half.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.5 4.6 7.8 8.9 (57)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.2 1.4 3.5 4.9 (33)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Smith, Keath, Wallis, Richards, Dale, Liberatore, Bontempelli
Greater Western Sydney: Perryman 2, Cameron, Finlayson
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Daniel, Liberatore, Keath, English, McLean, Dunkley
Greater Western Sydney: Perryman, Coniglio, Haynes, Hately, Corr
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly (calf) replaced in selected side by Hately, Whitfield (concussion)
