THE WESTERN Bulldogs' pain has continued unabated, this time in front of loyal home fans at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The dysfunctional Dogs forward line became easy pickings for West Coast as the visitors strolled to a 51-point win.
Brilliantly led by skipper Shannon Hurn, the Eagles rebounded with telling effect and they preyed on the home team's untidy work with the ball.
Efficient West Coast blew open the contest with a six-goal-to-nil second quarter and never released the iron grip to cruise to a 18.15 (121) to 9.16 (70) win.
What was more galling for Bulldog supporters was the teamwork unravelled after a promising opening quarter when they trailed by just two points.
Sure, it's early days into the new season, but it looks like the 2016 premier will require a significant rebuild to get close to being as competitive as those heady days.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge lamented his side's skill errors and said that in the second quarter they "went off the reservation".
"It's a disappointing one. Last week we had three and half write-off quarters and this week just one, so that's a step in the right direction," he said.
"As far as the energy and hunger is concerned, it's not consistent. I can't say the boys aren't trying, but unfortunately there's a discrepancy between what we're doing and other teams are doing."
A lack of viable forward options came back to bite the Dogs, just like last week when they fell to an 82-point rout by the Giants in Sydney.
Billy Gowers, at 187cm and in his second senior game, showed promise as the main forward target with Josh Dunkley in a rare plus from the dismal afternoon.
Goals from Gowers and Lachie Hunter early in the last term marked the first time the Bulldogs managed back-to-back majors. And the game was long gone.
West Coast, in contrast, had multiple choices up forward, led by Jack Darling and Scott Lycett who unnerved the Bulldogs backmen every time a high ball entered their zone.
The Eagles took more than 20 marks inside their forward 50. And they were dangerous at ground level too with lively second-gamer Liam Ryan bagging three goals.
Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v West Coast
WATCH: Ryan flies high
Ryan was joined by fellow speedster Willie Rioli for the first time in the Eagles' forward line, with a host of the famous Rioli clan, including cousins Cyril and Daniel watching on from the stands.
Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli and Richmond Daniel Rioli watch their cousin in action. Picture: Getty Images
West Coast's stand-in coach Jaymie Graham, who found out late on Saturday night that Adam Simpson was flying home for family reasons, was particularly satisfied with the intensity of his players at the contest.
"We had a strong focus on contested possession and we know that's where the Bulldogs are very good," Graham said.
"There's a lot of hype about them getting back to their best in that area and plus-28 contested possessions really got us going.
"The most pleasing part for the whole club is the fact that the players really stood up in Simmo's absence, our leaders the likes of Shannon Hurn, Luke Shuey, Mark LeCras as a forward, Nic (Naitanui) in the ruck. Simmo would be proud of how they led. And all our young boys had an impact and brought energy which is really exciting for the club."
While the Bulldogs matched the Eagles on the scoreboard in the last quarter, it was small consolation for being so comprehensively outplayed in the middle two terms.
The home team couldn't find a goal for nearly two quarters, bereft from 18 minutes in the first terms until 14 minutes in the third.
West Coast's second-quarter dominance came without warning after such an even opening term.
The Bulldogs had the first goal through Hunter and more than matched the Eagles for endeavour at the contests.
But the Dogs paid a high price for costly turnovers and an inability to stop the Eagles at the stoppages.
And did West Coast make them pay for butchering the ball to split open the game with the six-goal second term.
Goals from Ryan and Jake Waterman, allowed to run unchecked into the goalsquare, underlined how the Bulldogs' defence was peeled open by the Eagles' quick rebound.
The Dogs just couldn't take a trick. Even Bailey Dale's snapshot inside the last 10 seconds of the half appeared to have crossed the goalline, but was judged a behind after a score review.
A late goal in the barren second term would have at least given the outplayed Dogs a boost heading into the long break. Alas, there would be no way back.
WATCH: Ryan puts on a show
MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Looks like the Eagles can head home with everyone intact after the interchange bench was used exclusively for rotations, such as the underdone Nic Naitanui.
Western Bulldogs: Lin Jong was felled by friendly fire from Tim English in his first game back after a knee reconstruction. He was helped to the bench with a cut above the right eye, but returned after half-time. Ruckman Jordan Roughead came off after a heavy clash early in the third term and didn't reappear for the rest of the game.
WATCH: Friendly fire fells Jong
NEXT UP
The Western Bulldogs have another Etihad Stadium Sunday appointment, this time against co-tenants Essendon. West Coast also has the full week's rest before a home Sunday twilight contest against Geelong.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 3.6 5.13 9.16 (70)
WEST COAST 3.5 9.9 12.10 18.13 (121)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Macrae 3, Dunkley 2, Hunter 2, Bontempelli, Gowers
West Coast: Darling 4, Ryan 3, Venables 3, Waterman 2, LeCras 2, Lycett 2, Gaff, Cripps
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Hunter, McLean
West Coast: Hurn, Darling, Venables, Jetta, McGovern, Lycett, Ryan
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Roughead (concussion)
West Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brown, Findlay, Ryan
Official crowd: 22,868 at Etihad Stadium
