An eight-goal opening quarter has set up the Western Bulldogs’ decisive 45-point win over the GIANTS on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
Mitch Wallis and Will Minson were instrumental around the stoppages as the defiant Bulldogs hunted the ball and the man in the first quarter, kicking seven consecutive goals to set up a match-winning lead of 37 points at the first break.
The GIANTS challenged the Bulldogs briefly with two quick goals at the start of the third quarter to draw within 23 points but a banana goal from Koby Stevens stopped the GIANTS' momentum and put any concerns they might give up another half-time lead to rest.
The Bulldogs kicked 16.17 (113) to the GIANTS 11.2 (68), and had they had not missed four gettable set shots in the second and third quarters, the margin would have been even greater.
Wallis was the catalyst with 12 first-quarter disposals but he received great support from Robert Murphy, Easton Wood and Jason Johannisen off half-back who all moved the ball quickly inside 50.
Wallis was best on ground with 36 disposals and Wood was also excellent, not only taking half-a-dozen intercept marks in the first three quarters but providing run and rebound off half-back.
And after a week in which he twice faced the VFL Tribunal over a charge of making contact with an umpire, Minson put the controversy behind him to dominate the ruck.
Minson finished with 12 disposals, 17 hit-outs and two goals in his first senior game in five weeks but it was his ability to negate Mumford's physical presence that made him such a key part of the Dogs' victory.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Minson's presence in negating the influence of Shane Mumford was "crucial" in the Bulldogs' win.
"I thought he was very good. He really gave us a presence in there. I thought him and 'Roughy' (Jordan Roughead) worked really well together," he said.
"Probably for the first time this year we exerted some kind of not dominance but definitely our mids could feed off that a little bit.
"So between the two of them I thought they worked really well and 'Minno' coming in was terrific for us."
Former GIANT Tom Boyd, under pressure to perform with both the Bulldogs' leading goalkicker Jake Stringer a late withdrawal due to illness and Stewart Crameri missing, marked and kicked a goal early to set the tone.
Beveridge said Boyd was keen to play against his former club and was impressive.
An inspired Matthew Boyd also returned to his uncompromising best for the Bulldogs with 11 touches in the third quarter, determined to ensure their was no repeat of the post half-time fade-out that occurred against St Kilda three weeks earlie
The GIANTS finished with 64 fewer disposals than the Bulldogs.
Toby Greene and Heath Shaw, in his 200th game, battled hard for the GIANTS but they played like the young team they still remain.
Disappointed GIANTS coach Leon Cameron said the midfield was outplayed as they conceded 63 inside 50s to 41.
"We had a reality check today, whether it's the first quarter, the second or the third if you're not on and if you don't tackle hard and you don't put your head over the footy sides will beat you regardless, doesn't matter where you are," Cameron said.
Time will tell whether the result was just a blip for the GIANTS or a sign they might tire.
For the Bulldogs it was a signal that their minor slump was just that.
With seven changes they arrived with a new energy and desperation, returning to their early-season form.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 8.1 10.5 13.12 16.17 (113)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 5.0 7.0 11.2 (68)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 4, Dahlhaus 2, Minson 2, Picken 2, T. Boyd, Wallis, Johannisen, Stevens, Grant, Murphy,
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Greene 2, Stewart 2, Treloar, Scully, McCarthy, Griffen
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Wallis, M. Boyd, Wood, Minson, Dahlhaus, Dickson, Murphy
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Whitfield, Shaw, Greene
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (ill) replaced in selected side by Jong
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli replaced by Shane Biggs in the fourth quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Adam Kennedy replaced by Josh Kelly in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Chamberlain, McInerney
Official crowd: 16,395 at Etihad Stadium
