THE WESTERN Bulldogs have vaulted back up the ladder with a comfortable 48-point win over an injury-depleted Gold Coast at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns.
The Bulldogs led at every change on Saturday night to continue their unbeaten record in far north Queensland, with the 15.17 (107) to 8.11 (59) result moving them past the Sydney Swans and Geelong and into third spot.
But it might have come at a significant cost, with star forward Jake Stringer suffering a suspected shoulder injury after copping a heavy bump from Gold Coast enforcer Steven May.
Stringer briefly emerged from the change rooms after going off in the third quarter but didn't make it back onto the field.
The midfield was the key battleground and it was there the Suns were simply blown away, having lost their three best onballers - Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli and Dion Prestia - last week to major injuries.
Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast
Their stand-ins battled manfully, but the Bulldogs' top-tier players gorged on clearances (36-26) and contested ball (132-115) and victory for them never looked in doubt.
Koby Stevens (34 disposals, seven clearances) was their leading possession getter while Mitch Wallis and Clay Smith kicked three goals.
Tom Boyd also made an encouraging return from a club-imposed suspension, and was mobbed by teammates when he kicked a monster 50m set-shot goal to start the third quarter.
Prestia injury worse than first thought
Tom Lynch, expected to succeed Ablett next season as Suns captain, booted three goals.
Aided by a strong breeze, the Bulldogs kicked six goals in the first term - Smith and Stevens both grabbing two apiece - and were 42 points ahead at the long break.
The Suns struggled to break their defensive shackles, scoring just five goals after quarter-time.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the early prognosis is an AC joint injury for Stringer, but not a serious one.
"We're not sure yet. We'll X-ray him just to make sure and get some confirmation on Monday," Beveridge said.
"It was just two players going for the ball and Jake's come off second best.
"He's a bit flat, a bit sore, but it doesn't seem like it's a really bad one."
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade admitted his side was "belted" in midfield but did what they could to compete.
"You've got your best five midfielders out, the game's won and lost in the midfield," Eade said.
"We were always going to struggle there against a top-four team.
"I thought we fought it out really well considering we didn't have much run in the side."
Stringer briefly emerged from the change rooms after going off in the third quarter but didn't make it back onto the field.
The midfield was the key battleground and it was there the Suns were simply blown away, having lost their three best onballers - Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli and Dion Prestia - last week to major injuries.
Koby Stevens is running riot! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLDogsSuns https://t.co/mVKvsoYkCC
— AFL (@AFL) July 16, 2016
Their stand-ins battled manfully, but the Bulldogs' top-tier players gorged on clearances (36-26) and contested ball (132-115) and victory for them never looked in doubt.
Koby Stevens (34 disposals, seven clearances) was their leading possession getter while Mitch Wallis and Clay Smith kicked three goals.
Tom Boyd also made an encouraging return from a club-imposed suspension, and was mobbed by teammates when he kicked a monster 50m set-shot goal to start the third quarter.
Tom Lynch, expected to succeed Ablett next season as Suns captain, booted three goals.
Aided by a strong breeze, the Bulldogs kicked six goals in the first term - Smith and Stevens both grabbing two apiece - and were 42 points ahead at the long break.
The Suns struggled to break their defensive shackles, scoring just five goals after quarter-time.
Jake Stringer came off with what looks to be a shoulder injury after landing heavily. #AFLDogsSuns https://t.co/X7ujWfAnqP
— AFL (@AFL) July 16, 2016
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.5 11.9 12.5 15.17 (107)
GOLD COAST 3.2 5.3 6.8 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Smith 3, Wallis 3, Picken 2, Stevens 2, Stringer, Redpath, Jong, Boyd, Dickson
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Ah Chee 2, Matera 2, Davis
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Wood, Stevens, Biggs, Bontempelli, Smith, Macrae, Hunter
Gold Coast: Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Miller, Ah Chee, Shaw
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: DeBoy, McInerney, Mollison
Crowd: 8,509 at Cazaly's Stadium