Bulldogs Win Cliffhanger

Janet Linn, reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval, Perth

Led by star players Jason Akermanis, Adam Cooney and Nathan Eagleton, the Western Bulldogs found the way to victory after playing well below capacity for three and a half quarters at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. Although the Fremantle Dockers mounted a serious challenge and led by 18 points halfway through the final quarter, ultimately it was the Bulldogs’ class and steadiness under pressure that won them the four points. They remain third on the AFL Ladder with 30 points (undefeated with one draw) behind Geelong and Hawthorn (also undefeated) on 32 points. The disappointing loss has deflated Fremantle Dockers’ hopes of reviving their season and staying in the race for the Final Eight. In spite of losing recent games by slim margins, they have now won only one game out of eight and are sitting in third last position on the Ladder. The burning question is how they can overcome their tendency to fade out after establishing potentially match-winning leads week after week.

Perth turned on a perfect autumn afternoon to host Mark Harvey’s first game as coach against the Western Bulldogs and Chris Tarrant’s 200th game of AFL football. The first quarter was an entertaining affair with Fremantle looking sharp early and posting the first goal through Rhys Palmer. The Dockers’ pressure and ferocious attack on the football, particularly in the forward area, caused uncharacteristic errors by the normally skillful Bulldogs. Heath Black’s inclusion had an immediate impact on the Fremantle midfield.  Assisted by Peter Bell and Garrick Ibbotson, he provided forwards Dean Solomon, Matthew Pavlich and Chris Tarrant with multiple scoring opportunities. In spite of looking rattled and out of sorts, the Bulldogs stayed in touch with some individual moments of brilliance from Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Scott Welsh and Jason Akermanis. At the end of a fiercely contested quarter of football, only one point separated the two teams.
 
Jason Akermanis imposed himself on the game in the second quarter, scoring a goal early and running rampant across the center. Will Minson goaled after outmaneuvring his opponent in the square and the Bulldogs took a 13 point lead. The Dockers steadied with a goal by David Mundy but Michael Johnson and Aaron Sandilands missed easy chances. The middle period of this quarter was tight and competitive, but the skills of both teams fell away and play became messy with multiple turnovers and fumbles. The standard of play improved when Fremantle’s Tarrant took a good mark followed by an accurate shot on goal. Nathan Eagleton replied quickly for the Bulldogs. Tarrant was prominent again soon after, getting the ball to Pavlich just as the siren sounded. The skipper’s goal put the Dockers one point up at the half time break. Hometown fans had every reason to be optimistic about what was to come with the half-time statistics showing Fremantle well ahead in the possession count and in control in the midfield through Peter Bell and Heath Black.

Fremantle were first into attack after half time and the Bulldogs had trouble clearing the ball out of their defensive area. A sparking passage of play from the Dockers saw the ball moved from Kepler Bradley to Ibbotson to Pavlich who marked then played on and goaled to give the Dockers an eight point lead. At the seven minute mark, Tarrant soccered an opportunistic goal on the edge of a marking contest and the margin increased to 14 points. An undisciplined indiscretion by Fremantle backman Steven Dodd turned the tide of the quarter. The resultant free kick gave Robert Murphy a shot on goal against the run of play and the Bulldogs were back in the hunt. Docker Brett Peake scored a magnificent goal on the run before Bulldog captain Brad Johnson, who had been well held for two quarters, showed some inspiration of his own. After pulling down a definite Mark of the Year contender he capitalized to close the margin to six points. A good pack mark by Ryan Crowley set up Fremantle’s next goal but the Western Bulldogs kept coming with an immediate reply from Eagleton. Peake set Subiaco Oval alight with a second blistering run into goal and suddenly the margin was 17 points. A bad miss to Tarrant was wasteful for the Dockers after an excellent passage of play through the corridor but his point made it an even three goal margin at three quarter time. With the Bulldogs playing under par, the Dockers looked poised to salvage their flagging season but would the 18 point margin be enough?

Fremantle wasted an early opportunity in the fourth quarter but Daniel Giansiracusa nailed the first goal to bring the Bulldogs within twelve points. The Bulldog challenge continued unabated for the first eight minutes with Cooney, Eagleton, Johnson and Akermanis rising to the occasion. When Murphy and Akermanis combined to produce another six pointer for the visitors, only one goal separated the two teams. Just as Dockers’ fans began to fear a fadeout, a free kick was awarded to forward Chris Tarrant in the left full forward pocket. The angle was acute but a wonderful kick resulted in a goal and fans erupted with the traditional “Freo, Freo” chant. The margin increased to three goals when Jeff Farmer scored and the Dockers looked on target to win their second match of the season. Not to be denied, the Western Bulldogs rebounded and goaled through the elusive Giansiracusa. Fremantle were unfazed and attacked quickly. Bell and Tarrant got the ball to captain Pavlich who took a strong mark and drilled a magnificent goal. When Adam Cooney answered with two consecutive goals, it was clear that the Bulldogs were not going to lie down. The game was up for grabs and the Bulldogs moved into top gear. Their class and experience began to show. With six minutes remaining the mercurial Akermanis passed to Scott Welsh who goaled to put the Bulldogs one point ahead. Brad Johnson missed two shots on goal to extend the lead to three points. Fremantle players were desperate but the Bulldogs manned up and exerted enormous pressure in their forward attacking zone. The less experienced Dockers made errors that turned the ball over and prevented them from moving the ball into their attacking zone. It was an intense final five minutes but the verdict was clear. When it counted the Bulldogs had the skills, the know how and the poise under fire. The Dockers were left to wonder how the game slipped through their fingers when it was there for the taking.

Round 9 is the Indigenous Round. Fremantle will travel to Melbourne to play a much improved Carlton. The Bulldogs will play North Melbourne in a twilight game on Sunday at the Telstra Dome.

Scores

Western Bulldogs 6.3   9.4   11.8   17.12   (114)

Fremantle        6.2   9.5   14.8   17.9    (111)

Goals

Western Bulldogs 
J Akermanis, R Murphy 3; A Cooney, D Giansiracusa, S Welsh 2; 
B Johnson, M Hahn, N Eagleton, B Hudson, W Minson

Fremantle 
M Pavlich, C Tarrant 4; B Peake 2; D Solomon, R Palmer, R Crowley, 
D Mundy, K Bradley, J Farmer, G Ibbotson

Best

Western Bulldogs Akermanis, Cooney, Eagleton, Giansiracusa, Murphy

Fremantle        Bell, Black, Pavlich, Tarrant, Peake, Palmer

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