The Western Bulldogs have bounced back from an early deficit to consign Carlton to a dreaded 0-3 start, prevailing 12.11 (83) to 11.9 (75) at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Sam Darcy and James O’Donnell (two goals each) booted integral fourth-quarter majors to put the Dogs in a winning position after trailing by four goals in the early going.
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It was an early story of inefficiency for the Bulldogs, who recorded 16 inside-50s for just four behinds in the first quarter. The Blues booted four unanswered majors from 12 entries.
It took 19 entries for the Bulldogs to notch their first goal of the night through swingman James O’Donnell, but they started to swing the pendulum their way in the second term.
The Blues copped an early injury blow, with speedster Zac Williams subbed out in the second term due to Achilles soreness, with the club cautiously ‘taking no risks’ with his health.
In need of scoring in the absence of Harry McKay, it was unlikely performances from Brodie Kemp (five goals) and Lewis Young (two) alongside Charlie Curnow (three) in key attack for the Blues, who were lethal off turnover on Friday night.
“The thing that stood out for me was their first-gives … There was no dump-kicking forward, they’re prepared to trust their teammate with that first handball,” former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told the Fox Footy broadcast at half-time.
“That’s been energising the rest of their offence.”
But it was the Dogs, who won more consistently at stoppages, who overran the Blues in the third and fourth quarters to stage a scintillating comeback triumph.
And after reportedly skipping out on last week’s centenary celebration game against Collingwood, in a sight Dogs fans will be glad to see, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was sighted at Marvel Stadium supporting his teammates.
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3. UNDERMANNED DOGS PROVE CREDENTIALS
Write off Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs at your own peril.
Despite being without several key stars to start the season, including Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar missing from their midfield, they just continue to find a way, overrunning Carlton in the second half on Friday night.
Luke Beveridge’s 2-1 side needs to be taken more seriously in 2025 as a real finals threat. Especially when you consider they’re not at full strength yet, and for their sake, here’s hoping that’s sooner rather than later.
The Dogs only just fell to Collingwood last week too, so Beveridge’s troops aren’t far off from being undefeated right now despite being widely tipped to slide down the ladder and miss finals.
It comes with Beveridge’s future uncertain, with the long-time Dogs coach uncontracted beyond this season. You can clearly see when a team stops playing for its coach, and that’s clearly not the case with this mob currently.
Indeed, this was a vintage Beveridge coaching performance and no doubt a particularly satisfying win for the red, white and blue faithful.
In a brilliant breakout showing, mature-aged draftee Sam Davidson well and truly delivered on the big stage — gathering a game-high 31 disposals, 10 marks, 606 metres gained and seven score involvements — in just his third league outing.
“He was just brilliant,” Beveridge told Fox Footy post-game.
2. ‘JUST WHAT CARLTON NEEDED’: KEMP SHINES IN CAREER-BEST OUTING
With Harry McKay sidelined for the Blues, Brodie Kemp stepped up for them in attack and then some.
Kemp starred with a career-best and game-high five goals to perfectly compliment Charlie Curnow, who returned to form with three goals after a quiet first showing last week in his return from knee surgery, up forward.
Even if Carlton didn’t get the four points, it’s found something up forward with Kemp, who got rewarded on the scoreboard by working hard and leading well all night.
It’s a promising takeaway for Michael Voss’ side and reason for optimism despite falling into a 0-3 hole to start the season.
“Just what Carlton needed and boy they really needed it,” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson said after Kemp’s fourth goal late in the third term.
Former Demons skipper Garry Lyon noted after Kemp’s fourth goal that all six of his marks had been uncontested.
“This is Kemp, this is what he does. If you’re watching this and you want to be a forward, keep coming at the footy,” Lyon continued.
Curnow also had some big moments and moved much better than last week, with Lyon praising the “formidable” star forward’s ability to be creative on the fly.
The dual Coleman medallist’s second goal was particularly impressive, marking outside 50m and faking Liam Jones on the mark before launching a long-range floating goal.
“Shades of Stephen Kernahan as he kicks his second!,” Hudson exclaimed.
“Carlton fans rejoice because the No. 30 is back in business.”
1. DARCY vs. WEITERING BATTLE THRILLS
After Sam Darcy’s dominant four-goal display against Collingwood last week playing on Darcy Moore, the emerging Bulldogs superstar forward had his hands full again in a matchup with Jacob Weitering.
Footy fans were treated to another good old fashioned key forward v key defender battle, with both Darcy and Weitering having their moments. Weitering did a great job nullifying Darcy early and halted the Dogs prodigy from playing his usual run-and-leap game with smart body work off the ball.
But after being held goalless at half-time with just six disposals, Darcy found a way to work himself back into the game with two majors in the second half including the go-ahead goal in the fourth term when the Dogs were charging.
Darcy’s capacity to lift in big moments in the second half exemplified the Dogs performance as a whole in many ways.
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley heaped praise on Weitering at half-time for his tactics in containing the young star.
“Weitering has stayed deep, so whenever Darcy has gone up he’s handed him over to (Jack) Silvagni,” Buckley told Fox Footy.
“Weitering has gone with the motto of trying to keep Darcy away from contest as much as possible, he hasn’t given him an inch and there’s been a lot of body work across the ball.
“You wouldn’t see it on your TV screens, but Weitering’s body work on Darcy has been extreme and hasn’t allowed him to have any time and space to think, let alone move.
“That makes it really hard to play the role … you’ve got to give credit to team defence but also to Weitering and the work he’s doing off ball.”
Getting extra focus and playing on some of the game’s best defenders is something Darcy, 21, is going to have to get used to now that the 208cm unicorn has become the main focal point of Luke Beveridge’s attack.
That ability to overcome a slow start would be particularly encouraging for Beveridge, with Darcy finishing with 17 touches from his two goals plus eight marks.
“It’s distracting, no doubt about it,” triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said of Weitering’s lockdown role on Darcy.
“A young forward trying to make his way in the game as much as we know he’s going to be a superstar, that’s hard.
“It’s bloody annoying how those big defenders keep grappling with you and can take your eye off the ball.”
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