A new look Dogs battled rain, some amazing bad umpiring decisions early on, and the outlandish parochialism of certain of Channel 7’s commentary team to once again towel the Crows on their home turf.

For the past three weeks, teams have lined up one-on-one against us in order to combat Plough’s rotations throughout the game. They reckoned they had us figured out, and perhaps they did. But there’s nothing Plough loves more than a challenge and so the Dogs took the field against the Crows with a new structure; a new plan.

Although it was hard to see on the Telly, the Dogs lined up with Chris Grant at centre half forward in a Whitten Oval interpretation of Pagan’s Paddock. This was the tactic which was to win them the match in an explosive second quarter during which Grant, in a splendid little cameo performance, kicked 5 goals.

However, Chris was ably supported by the whole team who adapted to the slippery conditions instantly and very well, and by several individual players who chipped in with brilliant little cameos of their own.

Matthew Croft, once again, started the game in the forward line, kicking three goals in the first term, in a burst which would have had red, White and Blue loungerooms across the nation echoing with the call " He’ll kick 12 at this rate."

That quarter saw Daniel "Guido" Giansiracusa join the ranks of those who have kicked a goal with their first kick in league footy. He finished with two for the night and displayed a level of flair and self-confidence not often seen in 19-year-old debutantes.

Both teams played that opening term as if it was a dry day, marking strongly and handling the ball well, although the Crows kept over using the ball rather than kicking it long, or off the ground. It would be interesting to see how many times the Dogs soccered the ball, or cleverly headed it towards the boundary line in order to gain yardage in defence as compared to the Crows. Johnno in particular was fantastic in this regard, recognising early on that this was not a night for running with the ball.

Then came the second quarter and at last, after being all things to all men in every position on the ground for so long, Chris was allowed to stay at centre half forward and play his own game. He kicked 5 goals.

At last we had the chance to see this splendid beast in his natural habitat. He destroyed his opponents with his great marking and kicking on goal. He was the tall, marking, contest generating, focal point we all yearn for. How wonderful it would be to see him line up in that position every week.

Johnno, Huddo, Smith and Browny, so often our goal kicking go-to-men this season, were given other roles in this game, and it wasn’t until late in the piece that they were allowed to roam free up forward. Combining to kick a total of 7 goals in the Bulldogs second highest tally for the season.

But it wasn’t all about goal kicking. The midfield led by Darce, Westy, Garlick and Libba embarrassed the Crows much vaunted running brigade who played all night as if the ground was dry, over using the ball more often than not, and turning it over in the process.

The Dogs are now set up for another road trip, this time only as far as Geelong, next Saturday. A win there should see them cemented in the eight at the mid season break.

Goals
Western Bulldogs: Grant 6, Croft 3, Hudson 3, Giansiracusa 2, Smith 2, Brown 2, Contessa
Adelaide: Edwards 3, Stevens 3, Welsh 2, Beinke 2, McLeod, Johnson, Vardy, Marsh

Best:
Western Bulldogs: Grant, West, Darcy, Smith, Johnson, Liberatore
Adelaide: Mcleod, Bickley, Johnson, Marsh, Goodwin, Smart

Injuries:
Western Bulldogs: Harrison (hip), Garlick (blurred vision)
Adelaide: Burton (sprained ankle)

Umpires: Kennedy, Rosebury, Schmitt
Crowd: 38,829 at Football Park