DURING the second half of 2019 the Western Bulldogs had plenty of bark, and the bite to match it. 

However, when Greater Western Sydney physically challenged the visitors in Saturday's elimination final at Giants Stadium, they wilted.



It was a disappointing end to a season that took a while to get going, but when it did, Luke Beveridge's team looked as impressive as any side in the League. 

The Giants came with a clear plan to belt, bump, harass and disrupt the Dogs, and they didn't care if they were entrenched in a contest, or if the footy was nowhere to be seen.

The men in orange were fierce hunters and played finals footy the way it must be played if a club is to be taken seriously in September. 

After Saturday's display, the Giants are premiership contenders once again.

GIANTS v BULLDOGS Full match coverage and stats

Not surprisingly, Shane Mumford was the leader with his ultra-aggressive style, while Matt de Boer made Marcus Bontempelli's day a nightmare with his close checking, and the pair's teammates all joined in. 

Bontempelli and a host of other Bulldogs were knocked to the ground countless times behind play, and it unsettled the team that entered the finals in rare form and looked the side most capable of success from the bottom half of the top eight.

The important statistics were damning for the Bulldogs, and they were lucky the home side failed to take its countless opportunities in the first half, or the contest would have been over before the long break. 

The Giants smashed the Dogs in contested ball (167-125) and clearances (47-35).

They racked up an incredible 76 inside 50s while keeping the Dogs to just 37.

Once they got a sniff that the opposition wasn't willing to engage anymore, the Giants only found more hunger.

To the Bulldogs' credit, they came back a couple of times either side of half-time.

Unfortunately, their lack of hardness was encapsulated by a third-quarter play that was also their final yelp.

With a 50/50 ball to be won on the Giants' 50m arc, Dogs defender Hayden Crozier – who has had an outstanding year across half back - meekly went to ground, leaving Jeremy Finlayson to cleverly slot his third goal and give his side a 17-point lead. 

It was the first of eight consecutive GWS goals.

The contest was over.

Looking ahead to 2020, the Dogs' lack of physicality in defence is an area that must be addressed, especially in the key positions, and with some salary cap room to move, a tall backman with some size should be at the top of the shopping list.

Finlayson, Jeremy Cameron and Harry Himmelberg kicked 7.7 between them on Saturday and were a consistent threat.

Harry Himmelberg celebrates a goal against the Dogs. 

There is plenty to work with for Beveridge next season, and the lessons learned from a more committed Giants' outfit will surely serve as some fuel ahead of what looms to be an important summer for the Dogs.

They failed to back up after 2016's historic flag, and must ensure they don't drop away again.