CARLTON has fallen short against the Western Bulldogs in a hotly contested game at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

It was a tough battle under the roof at Marvel Stadium, as a determined Bulldogs outfit got the better of the Blues. 

A see-saw of a game early, the Western Bulldogs chipped away in front of goal, eventually taking the lead at the main break.

From there, the Blue struggled to sustain their control, with the Dogs answering goals almost immediately. 

In his 200th game, Patrick Cripps was the best afield, finishing with 28 disposals, 13 contested possessions and two goals, while Jacob Weitering was a stalwart in defence, finishing the game with 13 intercept possessions. 

Quarter one 

The Western Bulldogs started with the better of the possession, finding open players in transition and moving the ball well. Jacob Weitering stood strong against the repeated inside 50 entries from the Dogs, finishing the term with four intercept marks. Blake Acres spoiled a goal for the Dogs, then ran the length of the field to provide forward pressure, resulting in a Matt Owies goal, getting the Blues on the scoreboard. Owies added a second shortly after as Carlton started to find their rhythm. Ollie and Elijah Hollands were instrumental in moving the ball between the arcs, while Harry McKay provided a solid target in the forward 50. Two of Carlton’s goals came from defensive chains, starting with Weitering intercepts and elite running through the middle. The Western Bulldogs weren’t able to make the most of their opportunities, scoring seven behinds from seven attempts, rendering them goalless and leaving Carlton 15 points ahead at the first change.

Quarter two 

It was a more even quarter under the roof, as the Dogs kicked the first three goals of the term, showing renewed intensity. McKay did everything in his power to provide strong leads in the forward 50, resulting in two more goals off his boot. Ollie Hollands was willing to put his body on the line in the defensive 50, providing a goal-saving tackle, while Jordan Boyd and Nic Newman were finding quality options on the rebound. The skipper gave Marvel Stadium what they were waiting for, with Patrick Cripps delivering a streaming goal on the run that brought the crowd to their feet. A free kick to Charlie Curnow from 65 meters out was the perfect opportunity for him to wheel and go, kicking his first major for the game. The Blues were doing damage from their set-shot kicking, but the Dogs delivered their best work when the Sherrin hit the floor. Zac Williams was unfortunately subbed out of the game due to hamstring tightness, creating an opportunity for Matt Kennedy to make an impact. However, a late goal from the Western Bulldogs allowed them to secure a three-point lead at halftime.

Quarter three 

Western Bulldogs’ Rhylee West kicked his second goal in a matter of seconds from the opening centre bounce, setting up what was a comprehensive quarter for his side. Alex Cincotta was sent to trail Bailey Dale, attempting to quell the defender’s influence after he put together an impressive first half.  It was Adam Saad who gave the Blues their first chance of the term, delivering a bullet pass through the corridor to Cripps who set up an uncontested mark for Curnow, kicking truly for his second goal. The speed behind the Dogs’ transition footy left the Blues’ defenders scrambling to get behind the ball, not able to utilise their intercept game as they had earlier. A goal to Cincotta was a reward for the effort he’d been putting on Dale (holding him to four disposals), but an instant response from the Western Bulldogs extended their lead. Sam Walsh was doing everything through the middle of the ground, and an impressive chain through the middle resulted in an Elijah Hollands goal, but the Dogs again delivered an instant response, leading by 10 points as the third quarter drew to a close. 

Quarter four 

The Bulldogs carried their intensity into the final term, slotting the opening two majors of the quarter. Cripps battled to get his team over the line, slotting a handy captain’s goal, along with one on the run from Curnow. The Dogs were able to sustain a pressure factor of over 200 throughout the last term, cutting off the Blues’ run through the middle. Despite leading the clearances and inside 50s, Carlton wasn’t able to convert, with four final-term behinds halting their comeback. Controlling the ball into the dying minutes, the Western Bulldogs stormed home with a 14-point victory. 

WESTERN BULLDOGS   0.7    7.9    11.14    14.16 (100)
CARLTON                      3.4    7.6    10.10    12.14 (86)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 3, McKay 3, Owies 2, Cripps 2, Cincotta, E.Hollands

BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Newman, Weitering, McKay, Acres

SUBSTITUTION 
Carlton: Matthew Kennedy, replaced Zac Williams in the second quarter

Crowd: 45,387 at Marvel Stadium