The Doggies 16.8 (104) defeated the Blues 12.7 (79) by 25 points to inflict Carlton’s second loss in a row in front of a crowd of 26,041.
An inspired third term from the Bulldogs set up the victory after the first half was a highly entertaining an evenly fought contest.
Midfielder and newly appointed deputy vice-captain Mitch Hahn was crucial during the first-half while big man Luke Darcy became a key focal point up forward when he shifted from the ruck and helped turn the game in the second half.
Bulldogs’ dynamos Rohan Smith, Brad Johnson and Robert Murphy were at their ultra-consistent best for the day, while youngsters Jordan McMahon and Matthew Boyd continued their development with solid games.
Key Bulldogs’ forward and boom recruit Jade Rawlings kicked four goals – his best effort since round one against West Coast when he booted seven goals – in a solid display.
Another new Bulldog, former ex-Docker Steven Koops, was also a fine performer in just his second game for the club after he suffered a broken jaw in the opening round of the season which came on top of an elbow injury during the pre-season.
Man-mountain Will Minson also showed some promising signs in the ruck in his first AFL game.
Classy Blue Matthew Lappin continued his outstanding season and was among his side’s best, along with midfielder Nick Stevens.
Lappin finished the match with 26 disposals – the most of any player for the match.
Defenders David Teague and Glen Bowyer also battled hard, while Brendan Fevola was the Blues’ leading goalkicker with three majors.
After blowing last week’s match against Richmond by scoring 10.22, the Bulldogs’ decision to introduce fines for missed shots at training during the week obviously paid dividends.
Coach Peter Rohde said his team’s much improved conversion rate – kicking 16.8 – was a telling factor behind the victory.
“We certainly kicked a lot better today. We converted our opportunities and we probably generated our opportunities for shots at goal from better spots as well, which contributed (to the win),” Rohde said.
“We kicked the ball deeper into our forward 50 and under those conditions it was a fair bit easier to kick the goals. That helps.
“But (with) conversion, you’re only one bad performance away from having the monkey on your back, so we’ll keep at it consistently.”
The Bulldogs started the match in red-hot form, chalking up three goals by the six-minute mark.
Hahn was particularly influential during this period and for the remainder of the term, when he nailed two majors and played a hand in Brad Johnson’s first.
The visitors gained a 20-point lead until Carlton’s Heath Scotland opened his side’s account at the nine-minute mark.
Carlton got right back into the contest when it slammed home three in three minutes – including two from Lance Whitnall – midway through the term to reduce the margin back to just two points.
But the Bulldogs added a further three goals to one and took a 14-point advantage into the first change.
Carlton turned it on in the second term, when it booted four goals to zip – including two from Fevola – to hit the front by 10 points at the 10-minute mark.
But Hahn’s third and two from Rawlings, which gave him three to half-time, resulted in the Doggies regaining a one-point lead at half-time.
The lead changed hands once again when the Blues posted the first two goals of the second half, courtesy of Fevola’s third and Brad Fisher’s second.
Carlton gained an 11-point lead – its greatest lead for the match – before the Bulldogs set up their win with an outstanding period of football.
The Dogs posted six unanswered goals and headed into the final term with a 25-point lead.
Matthew Robbins, who spent the first half on the interchange, started the Bulldogs goal spree with two in a row, while ruckman Darcy added two in succession.
And continuing the trend for the third time of the match, Rawlings kicked truly with the last goal of the quarter, to claim four at three quarter-time.
With 28 goals scored entering the final term, interestingly, neither team was able to manage another major which enabled the Bulldogs to claim their first victory since their epic one-point win over the Kangaroos in round six at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Carlton coach Denis Pagan said he was frustrated, not angry, with his players’ performance.
He added that the loss of ruckman Barnaby French, who did not take part in the second half after he was taken to hospital due to a back injury, was critical in the wash-up.
“Our field kicking was pretty ordinary to say the least,” Pagan said in his post-match media conference.
“Our second quarter was good. Barnaby French was really doing a job for us. He hurt himself and they really took over in the midfield then.”
“I suppose that coupled with our ineffective disposal and decision-making was really costly in the finish.”
Carlton: 5.1 10.4 12.4 12.7 (79)
Western Bulldogs: 7.3 10.5 16.5 16.8 (104)
Goals: Carlton: Fevola 3, Fisher 2, Scotland 2, Whitnall 2, Davies, Deluca, French
Western Bulldogs: Rawlings 4, Hahn 3, Darcy 2, Johnson 2, Robbins 2, Bowden, Eagleton, Smith
Best: Carlton: Lappin, Stevens, Teague, Bowyer, Houlihan
Western Bulldogs: Smith, Darcy, Hahn, Koops, Johnson, R.Murphy, Rawlings
Injuries: Carlton: French (back)
Western Bulldogs: None
Reports: None
Umpires: Davis, Coates, Nicholls
Crowd: 26,041 at Optus Oval
