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Bontempelli stars, Dogs down Eagles in AFL

3 minute read

The Western Bulldogs have flexed their premiership muscle with a comprehensive victory over West Coast in Perth.

Bulldogs coach LUKE BEVERIDGE.
Bulldogs coach LUKE BEVERIDGE. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli has put West Coast to the sword for the second time this year to lead his side to a 55-point AFL win at an empty Optus Stadium.

Bontempelli tallied 29 disposals, 10 clearances, and three goals in the 13.20 (98) to 6.7 (43) win on Sunday.

The Eagles trailed by 21 points at three-quarter time, but the Bulldogs slammed home the first six goals of the final term - including three to Aaron Naughton - to turn it into a demolition.

Bontempelli suffered a late scare when he grabbed at his right shoulder after crashing to the turf in a spoiling attempt, but Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge allayed any injury fears.

"You hold your breath a bit, especially on those late ones, but I think he's just got a stinger and he'll be ok," Beveridge said.

"It was another brilliant performance by him. He's been unbelievable.

"He just leads the way through stealth, and off the field, we know what sort of character he is."

Bontempelli starred with 30 disposals and three goals when the Bulldogs beat West Coast in round two.

Sunday's result improved the Bulldogs' record to 11-3, while West Coast dropped to 8-6 and lost 5.3 per cent.

West Coast's underdone midfield was destroyed 44-29 in the clearance battle despite the dominance of Nic Naitanui in the ruck.

Naitanui, up against Tim English, tallied 20 disposals, 39 hitouts and eight clearances.

But the returning duo of Luke Shuey (20 possessions) and Tim Kelly (14 disposals) - and the likes of Andrew Gaff, Jack Redden, and Dom Sheed - couldn't capitalise at ground level.

In contrast, the Bulldogs had Bontempelli, Jack Macrae (32 disposals, one goal), Bailey Smith (31 disposals, two goals), and Lachie Hunter (27 disposals) starring.

Eagles goalsneak Liam Ryan could be suspended for a high bump that caught Jason Johannisen in the jaw.

The win came at a cost for the Bulldogs after defender Ryan Gardner was subbed off in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

Gardner, who only returned to the senior side in round 12, immediately grabbed at his right shoulder after putting his body on the line in a heavy clash of bodies with Josh Kennedy.

"It's exactly the same incident as when he hurt his shoulder earlier in the year and he had surgery, but it's the other side this time," Beveridge said.

"We don't know the extent of it yet, but it appears somewhere along that collarbone area - whether it's his AC joint or his SC joint - there's some kind of damage.

"I'd imagine he's going to miss some weeks. I don't know if he's going to need surgery. It just shows his courage. He went there again and got cleaned up, unfortunately."

The Bulldogs had 2.12 to their name early in the second quarter before a Bontempelli goal kick-started a more efficient run.

Their six-goal blitz in the final term - which included an amazing Bontempelli goal from the pocket - was so brutal that Eagles coach Adam Simpson put his face mask over his eyes at one point.

"Was it after Bont's goal?" Simpson said.

"You could have picked 40 times when I put that over my eyes today. I'm sure that will get some laughs from people, but maybe not here."

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