In a result that will surely resonate throughout the club for the remainder of the season, the Kangaroos led by 32 points at three-quarter-time before going down 19.6 (120) to 18.11 (119) in front of the smallest crowd ever for an AFL match at Manuka of just 7,222 fans.
But those fans that did brave a wet and windy day witnessed a classic with the Bulldogs pinching the game with 27 seconds left – thanks to one of the strangest winning goals imaginable.
After Mitch Hahn had kicked the ball long into the goalsquare, the ball spilled behind the pack with Brad Johnson all alone in the square.
However Johnson stumbled twice as he attempted to soccer the ball through for the winning goal, before eventually getting his boot to the ball to win the game for his side.
It was the only time the Bulldogs led for the entire game and at one stage they trailed by 40 points late in the second term.
And at that stage about the only notable incident in the game had been a shocking leg injury to veteran field umpire Gavin Dore, who just a week after celebrating his 300th game was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
Skipper Adam Simpson led by example once again for the Roos with 33 disposals and eight grabs, while Brent Harvey scored four goals and Daniel Motlop three before injuring a shoulder late in the match.
Shannon Grant was his usual busy self with 25 disposals and two goals.
The Roos looked to have the game won at half-time when they led by 35 points after an eight goal second term against the wind as the Dogs’ defence simply capitulated at times.
And when the Roos steadied – through the brilliance of Harvey, whose goal on the run after four bounces in the third term was simply breathtaking – after an early rally by the Dogs in the second half, the game looked even more comfortable for Dean Laidley’s side.
But in the final term the Roos simply stopped to a walk as the Bulldog midfielders ran all over their tiring counterparts.
Players such as Robert Murphy, who had endured an error-ridden first half, dominated in the final quarter as the Dogs kicked three goals in two minutes – one of them a great snap by new cult hero Cam Faulkner – to give themselves a chance early in the final term.
The Roos only goal of the final term went to Simpson but a great goal on the run from the boundary line by Johnson at the 18 minute mark reduced the margin to nine points and when Murphy goaled a minute later it set up a thrilling finish for the sparse crowd.
Kangaroos: 6.3 14.7 17.8 18.11 (119)
Western Bulldogs: 4.2 9.2 12.6 19.6 (120)
Goals: Kangaroos: Harvey 4, Motlop 3, Rawlings 2, Grant 2, Harris, McKernan, Petrie, Firrito, J Clayton, Sinclair, Simpson
Bulldogs: Darcy 3, Faulkner 3, Giansiracusa 2, Murphy 2, Johnson 2, Rawlings 2, West, Power, Bowden, Harrison, Street
Best: Kangaroos: Simpson, Grant, Harvey, Watt, Rawlings
Bulldogs: Darcy, West, Faulkner, Johnson, Grant, Murphy, Giansiracusa
Injuries: Kangaroos: Corey Jones (bruised knee), Motlop (shoulder).
Reports: Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd (Bulldogs) reported by field umpire Matt Stevic for rough play against Brent Harvey in the final quarter.
Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, Dore
Crowd: 7,222 at Manuka Oval
