The Western Bulldogs have overcome a star-studded injury list and a spirited North Melbourne outfit to open up their 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 16-point win at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dogs headed into the game without inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf), newly-minted All-Australian Adam Treloar (calf), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Cody Weightman (knee), Liam Jones (hamstring) and Jason Johannisen (hamstring).
And they lost another soldier late in the game when Luke Cleary was knocked out cold in a sickening collision with North defender Jackson Archer as both players had only eyes for the loose ball on the Kangaroos’ half-forward line.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every AFL match this Saturday LIVE. Catch all the action in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Following a very lengthy delay, Cleary was stretchered from the ground to a warm round of applause from the crowd after each one of his teammates went over to him while he was on the medi-cab.
With the one-two punch of Bontempelli and Treloar missing from the midfield, the likes of Ed Richards (30 disposals and one goal), Tom Liberatore (28 touches) and new recruit Matthew Kennedy (23) stood tall and filled the void as the Dogs ran out 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97) winners.
Bailey Dale was also fantastic with 29 possessions and two goals from defence, while Nick Larkey kicked five goals for the Kangaroos as the Bulldogs extended their winning streak against North to eight games.
North Melbourne’s effort and desire couldn’t be questioned, but frustratingly for their long-suffering supporters, they missed a real opportunity to pinch an early win against an undermanned opponent and they finished another game behind their opposition in a familiar scenario which was hoped to be a thing of the past.
The Kangaroos took huge advantages in clearances (27-14), centre clearances (9-3) and contested possessions (74-58) into half-time, but despite all of that, they still trailed the Dogs for inside 50s (23-29) and fell 21 points behind early in the third quarter.
North were their own worst enemies as their poor disposal forward of centre undid all their good work at the coal face and the Bulldogs burnt them on the counter with far superior efficiency in attack.
However, the Roos would not go away as their grit and determination got them back within seven points at three-quarter time. But that proved to be the last big shot they would fire as the Bulldogs made a blistering start to the final term, stretching their lead back out to four goals in the blink of an eye.
THE 3-2-1 (what we learned) …
3. ‘SICKENING’ HEAD CLASH, JAW INJURY WORSEN DOGS’ HORROR TOLL
The Western Bulldogs’ shocking injury toll worsened when defender Luke Cleary was involved in a “sickening” head clash in the waning moments on Saturday night.
No replays were shown on the Fox Footy broadcast, demonstrating the high severity of the incident, which saw Cleary’s head come into heavy incidental contact with the knee of North Melbourne’s Jackson Archer.
“That’s sickening,” former Hawks sharpshooter Ben Dixon said in reaction. “That was a big contest.”
Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton added: “I love it how some blokes are so willful, but you had to sum that up (if you’re) young Jackson Archer and know you’re always going to be not able to get there at the right time.
“I thought that could have been career-ending stuff.”
Dixon also said: “It was commitment from all players in that contest. Eyes on the ball the whole way.”
Dual AFLW All-Australian Ruby Schleicher noted: “There is a real silence over the stadium. Quite eerie. You just hate seeing contests like that and nothing in it from other side.”
Post-match, gun Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards called it a “scary” scene.
“He looked in not a great way, so hopefully he’s alright, we’ll get around him next week,” he told Fox Footy.
“Pretty scary stuff towards the end, but hopefully he’s OK.”
Cleary will be placed in the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols and miss at least next Friday night’s clash with Collingwood.
It came after fellow defender James O’Donnell was substituted out with a jaw injury, while key-position backman Rory Lobb was affected by a ribs ailment.
The Dogs are already missing skipper Bontempelli (calf), All-Australian midfielder Adam Treloar (calf), key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, small forward Cody Weightman (knee), key defender Liam Jones (hamstring) and rebounder Jason Johannisen (hamstring).
2. POSITIVE SIGNS FOR ‘ENERGETIC’ ROOS AS MIDS SHOW UP
The Roos ultimately fell short against the Bulldogs, but there were positive signs after quarter-time.
“I think it was just the intent behind the way they wanted to play. They looked more likely in defence and in offence, they were moving the ball with more certainty,” dual AFLW All-Australian Ruby Schleicher said on the Fox Footy broadcast at half-time.
“They didn’t look like they were second-guessing with ball in hand, compared to the first quarter (when) they didn’t look like they knew where to go.
“But still a question mark in their game-plan is the kick — that next kick that just sets up the layer into the forward 50, and that is that little element that they need to fix up.”
Down just seven points at the final change, the Roos’ engine room was getting contributions from all around with Luke Davies-Uniacke limited to a quieter-than-usual night.
“You can feel the energy from North Melbourne’s end, it really is the midfield that is driving this,” Schleicher said.
“Now, the last two years, in the North Melbourne wins, Luke Davies-Uniacke has averaged 30 disposals and eight clearances. He’s only had 14 and one goal today (to three-quarter-time), but Harry Sheezel has had 24, Jy Simpkin 24 and a goal, Tom Powell 22 disposals.
“So, their other midfielders are really lifting, and they’re carrying this team through.”
The Roos finished plus-six for centre clearances and plus-six for total clearances, with Sheezel (31 disposals) and Simpkin (30 and a goal) doing the heavy-lifting.
1. EMERGING STAR FILLS BONT VOID
With superstar skipper Marcus Bontempelli sidelined, emerging star Ed Richards stepped up to the plate in his absence and put forth a starring effort.
The 25-year-old notched with a team-high 30 disposals, seven clearances, 608 metres gained, four goal assists, a whopping 11 score involvements, eight inside-50s and a long-range goal culminating in a truly holistic performance.
“In the absence of ‘Bont’, we asked who was going to step up — Ed Richards had 12 disposals and kicked a goal in the first quarter; he was on fire,” former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon told Fox Footy at half-time.
Dual AFLW All-Australian Ruby Schleicher added: “That goal was beautiful. But we know what he does, he just sets up so much of the play, he’s so speedy, also clean at ground level, but it’s the defensive efforts as well.
“He had so much energy, he can play off half-back, run through the middle, but I think we really saw in 2024 the way he can shift the Western Bulldogs’ midfield, and he’s bringing that form into this year.”
Post-match, Richards spoke of the way the Dogs were continually able to string together threatening scoring chains to progressively wear the Roos down.
“Yeah, I think so (something we went to work on). We were pretty good at it last year, being able to transition the ball. We got some great talent in our back end; Bailey Dale was complicit in that tonight, he was really good, Lachie Bramble — those boys really kickstart our movement,” Richards told Fox Footy.
“It is promising. I think a lot of people wrote us off when Bont went down, so it’s good that we were able to stand up and show people that we’ve got good depth, we’ve got some good young talent. We’re ready to go this year.”
Relive foxfooty.com.au’s coverage of Bulldogs-Roos below!
Discussion about this post