The Kangaroos have edged their way into the eight after staging an incredible comeback at Telstra Dome on Saturday, where they beat the hapless Western Bulldogs by 11 points.

In the second consecutive week of heartbreak for the Dogs - winless since round one – the Roos recovered from a 37-point deficit with brilliant second half effort to win 24.12 (156) to 22.13 (145).

The Dogs led the Crows by 23 points at three quarter time in Adelaide last week only to go down by 16 points, and their fate was re-lived again on Saturday.

In what was an amazing turn of events, the Dogs had a 37-point lead 21 minutes into the third term and appeared poised to give their opponents a belting. But their hard-earned advantage was cut to two points at the last change after the resurgent Roos kicked six unanswered goals in nine minutes.

The experienced Adam Simpson, Anthony Stevens and Brent Harvey fought brilliantly in the midfield all day, but it was the previously out of form key forward Digby Morrell who was the inspiration in attack and finished with four goals.

Morrell had only a kick and handball to his name at half-time and was relegated to the bench in the third quarter. But with Saverio Rocca in dreadful touch, Morrell ignited his side by taking three strong marks, each of which he converted to goals during time-on in the third term.

The indefatigable Simpson cut the difference to 19 points 25 minutes in. Young Bulldog Lindsay Gilbee had a chance to kick a much needed steadier minutes later, but kicked out of bounds on the full. It got worse for the Dogs when experienced defender Steven Kretiuk gave away a 50 metre penalty by slinging Leigh Harding to the ground after he’d taken a mark. Harding was duly ushered to the goal line where he kicked the easy goal.

Morrell kicked the next two and closed the gap to just two points.

The Roos snatched the lead four minutes into the last quarter when Corey Jones kicked his third major for the game after marking in the goal square. With his team now dominating in the middle and kicking long into attack, Harding made it an 11-point buffer minutes later.

A Jordan McMahon goal steadied his side momentarily, but it was too late for his side.

It rained goals in the first quarter, as both sides played an unaccountable, free-wheeling style of football.

Glenn Archer lined up in the forward line for his side, and kicked three opening term goals, while at the other end, Brad Johnson booted three for the Doggies.

The Dogs small forward line, made up of Simon Garlick, Brad Johnson, Nathan Brown, Brian Harris and the taller Patrick Bowden were kicking most of their goals on the run, while their loftier Kangaroo counterparts – Rocca, Drew Petrie, Harding, Shannon Watt and Archer – were nailing their many set shots.

It was a shootout before the Dogs strung together a couple of goals to work to a 13 point lead at the 25 minute mark, but McMahon made a dreadful error at the beginning of time on, and the Kangas pegged two back.

Facing his opponents’ goals, McMahon dished out a floating handpass that evaded his teammates and fell into the arms of Brent Harvey who made no such error. Archer kicked his third 31 and a half minutes in, and the Roos were down by just two points at the first change.

The Dogs ignited in the second term – kicking five straight goals and working to a 34-point advantage. Luke Darcy was devastating in the ruck, and was dictating play before the less experienced Leigh Brown helped direct the Roos to the win in the gripping final term.

Bulldog star Nathan Brown hurt his shoulder in the first term and was unable to continue.


WESTERN BULLDOGS: 7.2, 14.7, 19.13, 22.13 (145)
KANGAROOS: 7.0, 10.4, 19.5, 24.12 (156)

GOALS: BULLDOGS: Johnson 4, Garlick 3, Smith, Gilbee, Giansiracusa, Brown, Birss 2, Bowden, Harrison, McMahon, Hargrave, Dimattina 1.
Kangaroos: Morrell 4, Archer, Jones, Harvey, Harding 3, Brown 2, Harris, Simpson, Stevens, Petrie, Rocca, King 1.
BEST: BULLDOGS: Johnson, West, Giansiracusa, Darcy, Garlick, Hargrave.
Kangaroos: Simpson, Harvey, King, Stevens, Morrell, Sinclair, Makepeace.
INJURIES: Bulldogs: Brown (shoulder). Kangaroos: Rawlings (hamstring).
CHANGES: Nil.
REPORTS: Nil.
UMPIRES: Sheehan, Rowston, Jeffery
CROWD: 24,682 at Telstra Dome.