WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.10.6 (75) def HAWTHORN 2.8.8 (74)
IT’S a good day for supporters of the Western Bulldogs after the club last night overcame league powerhouse Hawthorn in a close contest at Etihad Stadium and, in doing so, snapped a 14 game losing streak.
Watching the Hawks take the lead in the last quarter on the back of a Jarryd Roughead supergoal, it was hard to escape the idea that the inevitable was about to happen in spite of the Bulldogs’ best endeavours. And two quick goals by Lance Franklin minutes later just reinforced that feeling.
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But then the unexpected happened, and with less than 10 minutes of play available the Bulldogs clawed their way back from a 14 point deficit to earn an improbable and well-earned victory.
For Hawthorn, Franklin at times looked like he would single-handedly win the game for them: 17 disposals, 6 marks, four goals a 60m supergoal and that Underbelly handle-bar moustache made for a compelling performance that few players other than Buddy could conjure up.
Last night, however, it was not enough.
The comeback was delivered with a goal by Luke Dahlhaus, a nine-point supergoal by Clay Smith and then the winning point by Liam Jones who hit the goal-post. The Hawks had an opportunity towards the end to regain the lead, most notably a missed set shot by Jordan Lewis, but the Bulldogs’ toughness and ball-control denied them at the end.
It’s been a while since we have seen a Western Bulldogs team capable of overcoming that sort of momentum, but that’s just what happened and the club got there with excellent performances across the board from players such as Will Minson, Clay Smith, Koby Stevens, Brett Goodes and Liam Jones. Matthew Boyd, Ryan Griffen, and Tom Liberatore provided strong direction and real power in their midfield on the night as well.
But the highlight performance of the night for the Western Bulldogs came from 18 year old Jake Stringer.
After entering the game for the first time in the third quarter, the 5th overall pick of the 2012 National Draft delivered a solid gold “moment” when he won his own ball, evaded Hawthorn superstar Sam Mitchell and then deftly slotted the ball through for a goal with his first kick in the AFL.
Stringer would subsequently leave the game in the fourth quarter after he rolled his ankle, but he showed enough for the Bulldogs faithful to now be completely devoted to the possibilities that he gives the club.
Beating Hawthorn was a rare treat for the Bulldogs and one that now provides them with confidence as they prepare for the proper season.
“It was good for (the players) to get a win and think their way through it against a high quality club who are probably a little bit behind us in their preparation and work,” said Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney after the game.
“They wanted to hang in there; that was a good sign, because we haven’t been able to do that for a while now.”
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Apologists for the Hawks will point out the absences from their playing list (Luke Hodge, Cyril Rioli, Brian Lake, Brendan Whitecross and Grant Birchall to name a few) but ultimately there was enough talent on the field for them to win and certainly so against a team that last year won just five games. After three NAB Cup matches the Hawks, incidentally, remain winless.
We’re not going to crown this moment as the start of an era for the Western Bulldogs nor the end of one for Hawthorn. It is what it is: a NAB Cup game that was decided by a single point but from which the Bulldogs can gain some optimism for the season ahead.
Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson put it perfectly into context in his post-match presser.
“It’s early on. We were a bit rusty tonight. We need to get better, but it’s fortunate for us we’ve still got three our four weeks to get ourselves right prior to round one,” said Clarkson.
We agree entirely.
Here are the AFL’s match highlights: