THE WESTERN Bulldogs have pulled off a remarkable and controversial comeback against Hawthorn on Sunday, storming home from five goals down at the final change to secure a stunning 19-point victory at the MCG.

Contentious free kicks against James Worpel and James Sicily proved crucial in the Hawks' downfall, handing the Bulldogs critical late goals that secured their brave win.

Worpel was penalised for being in the centre circle, leading to Jack Macrae drawing the Dogs level with just five minutes remaining, before Sicily was adjudged to have shoved Josh Schache directly in front of goal from the restart to complete the comeback.

The decisions left Hawthorn fans furious, while Dogs supporters were delirious as the side's nine-goal final quarter legitimised their finals ambitions and sealed an incredible 16.10 (106) to 13.9 (87) victory.

DOGS STUN HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

Schache had starred throughout the match and proved inspirational in the Dogs' win, kicking four goals from 15 disposals and five marks in a game-changing display.

Tory Dickson and Billy Gowers each kicked three goals, including influential majors in the final term, while Macrae stood tall in the last quarter to finish with 36 disposals.

He was one of nine Dogs to win more than 20 touches, as Luke Beveridge's side outscored the Hawks by 49 points in the final term to help the side improve to 2-0 on the season.

Tom Scully was scratchy in his return from exactly a year out of the game due to a fractured fibula and a syndesmosis injury, winning 15 disposals for the match.

Instead, it was Jaeger O'Meara (30 disposals, one goal) and Jack Gunston (16 disposals, four goals) who were Hawthorn's best, helping them set up a 30-point lead.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH Alastair Clarkson refuses to blame free kicks for loss

But it wasn't enough, as the Dogs finished with the wind in their sails in a thrilling contest.

Hawthorn had started the match undeterred by the driving rain that lashed Melbourne all weekend, kicking four of the first five goals thanks to some slick work in transition.

But the territorial dominance of the Bulldogs soon helped them settle.

'MONUMENTAL WIN' Beveridge praises player perseverance

They reduced the margin to just four points at the first interval, soon gaining complete control of the contest – if not the scoreboard.

A combination of the soggy track and the wet footy had turned the match into a war of attrition in the second term, with both sides going more than 20 minutes without registering a single score.

GAMEBREAKER Schache steps up in staggering performance

That was perhaps more of an indictment on the Dogs, who won the inside 50 count 23-4 for the quarter but failed to take full toll and allowed Hawthorn to remain within touching distance.

Paul Puopolo's clever goal with fewer than 20 seconds remaining in the half, his second for the match, helped cut the Dogs' lead to just four points at the main change.

Overcoming such an onslaught with relatively few dents in the armour proved crucial for Clarkson's side, who looked to put the Dogs to the sword after the break.

A seven-goal third quarter completely swung the momentum of the game, as the Hawks gave their opponents a lesson in making the most of their chances.

But as quick as the tide flowed Hawthorn's way, it favoured the Western Bulldogs. An exhilarating nine-goal final term sealed a crazy finish and an extraordinary victory.

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Important duo Liam Shiels and Shaun Burgoyne both tweaked hamstrings during the match. Shiels failed to return to the field after pulling up sore in the third term, while Burgoyne came from the field under duress in the last quarter.

Western Bulldogs: The Dogs chose to 'rest' Bailey Williams, despite this being just the second game of the season. His absence from the selected side was the only noteworthy concern on the injury front for Luke Beveridge's team. 

NEXT UP
Hawthorn is back at the MCG next Sunday afternoon to face North Melbourne, while the Western Bulldogs head across town to Marvel Stadium to take on Gold Coast.

HAWTHORN               4.2       5.3       12.7     13.9 (87)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.4       5.7       7.7       16.10 (106)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 2, Puopolo 2, Breust, Smith, O'Meara, Cousins, Henderson
Western Bulldogs: Schache 4, Dickson 3, Gowers 3, McLean 2, Naughton, Wallis, Macrae, Liberatore

BEST
Hawthorn: Gunston, O'Meara, Worpel, Breust, Sicily, Henderson
Western Bulldogs: Schache, Suckling, Macrae, Hunter, Bontempelli, Liberatore 

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Shiels (hamstring), Burgoyne (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Williams (rested) replaced in selected side by Young

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Mollison, Power

Official crowd: 39,368 at the MCG