Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli celebrates a goal during his side’s clash with Carlton at Marvel Stadium.Credit:Getty Images
The Bulldogs played an awe-inspiring half an hour of football,booting eight consecutive goals. Just as he had in a similarly epic matchagainst West Coast in round two,Marcus Bontempelli hauled his men on his shoulders,dominating in the midfield and up forward where he,Josh Bruce and Aaron Naughton ran riot. Caleb Daniel also lifted heroically in the last quarter,however this was a team-wide effort from the Dogs.
They should probably have been further ahead at quarter-time,having won the territorial battle and regularly found loose men forward of the ball.
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But after Bruce put his side two goals ahead 70 seconds into the second term,the Blues surged. Part of the narrative heading into the game had been about how the Dogs’ defence would be vulnerable against Harry McKay,but it was the Blues’ small forwards who did the damage,with Eddie Betts continuing his resurgence,complemented by Matt Owies and David Cuningham.
Carlton headed to half-time with a two-goal lead before McKay took charge. Alex Keath had fought gamely to that point but McKay’s aerial presence was too much to handle. When he lined up for his fifth goal at the 24-minute mark of the third term,he had a chance to put his side more than five goals ahead. But he missed,and Luke Beveridge’s men saw the doggy door was still open.
Symbolism of just how dramatically the match had swung came late in the final term when Keath leapt on to McKay’s back to take a screamer on the wing.
Josh Bruce attempts a kick under pressure from Carlton star Jacob Weitering.Credit:Getty Images