Another Marcus Bontempelli masterclass and two clutch objectives by Aaron Naughton have helped the Western Bulldogs see off a fast-finishing Giants outfit in a sport the place Adam Treloar suffered a recent harm setback.
Trailing by 33 factors on the ultimate change, the Giants launched an unlikely comeback, booting 4 unanswered objectives to cut back the Dogs’ result in eight factors.
But two sturdy marks and objectives to Naughton helped the Bulldogs seal a 15-point win, 13.8 (86) to 10.11 (71), regardless of Treloar being subbed out with a hamstring harm.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The Bulldogs have been dealt a stunning blow halfway by way of the third time period when Treloar limped off the sector with one other hamstring harm.
Treloar was despondent as he got here off the bottom and sat on the bench, the place he was subbed off for McNeill.
“We’ve seen that movie before, Treloar in mid-flight, hamstring – and he knew immediately what had happened. It’s an all too familiar feeling for Adam Treloar,” Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan mentioned.
The Bulldogs started the final quarter with a 33-point lead — however that was minimize to 27 inside the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter when Xavier O’Halloran kicked the Giants’ first purpose because the second time period.
And the Giants launched a surprising comeback, with Green persevering with his colossal sport with two objectives, earlier than Harry Himmelberg nailed a operating purpose to make it 4 straight Giants purpose and cut back the Bulldogs’ result in 9 factors.
“What a turn of events in Canberra, how quickly it’s turned,” Channel 7’s Alister Nicholson mentioned.
But when the Dogs desperately wanted a hero, Aaron Naughton stepped up.
The star Dogs ahead took an enormous pack mark and transformed to present the Dogs respiration house, earlier than he transformed one other alternative minutes later to seal the Bulldogs’ victory.
Bontempelli led the way in which for the Bulldogs, establishing himself as one of many league’s premier wet-weather gamers.
With gamers fumbling and sliding in every single place, Bontempelli confirmed unbelievable cleanliness and precision by foot, whereas he was simply as powerful on the coalface.
At halftime, Bontempelli had one purpose from 20 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 5 inside 50s.
“It‘s a full game of football in a half … He’s playing a blinder,” Johnson advised Fox Footy.
“The true talent comes to the fore in wet conditions and he’s just clean, he’s precise. He’s playing a game of football that I think will go down as one of his best ever.
“The reason I think he’ll rate his own personal game high is because of the conditions. Yeah he’s played some super games and some big games for the Bulldogs, but in these conditions we‘re seeing the true talent of Marcus Bontempelli.”
Bontempelli wasn’t as influential within the second half but nonetheless completed with a surprising statsline: 32 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 14 clearances, seven rating involvements, 561m gained and a whopping 164 rating factors.
The harm to Treloar was one of many solely negatives on the evening for the Bulldogs who prevailed over their arch rivals.
Originally printed as ‘All too familiar’: Adam Treloar dejected over newest harm catastrophe
Source: www.news.com.au
