A BRILLIANT eight-goal opening quarter has set up the Western Bulldogs’ decisive 45-point win over arch-enemy Greater Western Sydney 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.

Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney

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.

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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 Shane Mumford in 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.

Will provides the way for Dogs midfield

"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.

He was too good for Aidan Corr and when he didn't mark he brought the ball to ground. He received good support from Tory Dickson who chimed in with four goals.

Beveridge said Boyd was keen to play against his former club and was impressive. 

Giants 'couldn't handle Dogs' pressure', says Cameron

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 earlier.

By contrast former Bulldogs' skipper Ryan Griffen had just two first-quarter touches, the boos ringing around the ground every time he went near the football.

The sound was heard infrequently with Griffen finishing the game with just 10 disposals and a consolation goal that allowed Bulldogs fans to make their feelings towards his decision to leave the club clear.

The war has just begun

The 28-year-old ended the game playing deep forward, and at times looking the lost Bulldog he was depicted as by the Giants in a cheeky graphic released soon after he joined the club in October.

Griffen's performance symbolised an uncharacteristically underwhelming start from the in-form Giants as they only managed 79 disposals to the Giants’ 105.

They finished with 64 fewer disposals than the Bulldogs.

Griffen was not alone with Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith all quiet.


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.

Koby Stevens locks Tom Scully up in a tackle on Saturday. Picture: AFL Media

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, Bontempelli (adductor)
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli (adductor) 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