The Bulldogs take the game by 36 points but were far from convincing, and the second half was one that Luke Beveridge would not be at all happy with. But it was enough to get the win.
REPORT: BULLDOGS COP ANOTHER INJURY BLOW IN WIN
Carlton showed something in the second half, refusing to concede, and fighting the game out. But their poor first half meant that the game was already out of reach.
Final score
Bulldogs 13.7 (85)
Carlton 7.7 (49)
Round 4 continues with a Saturday night clash as the Carlton Blues take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Join us live on The Roar from 7:25pm (AEST) tonight for all the action.
It’s a clash between the high-flying Bulldogs and the winless Carlton. On form so far this season, you’d expect an easy win to the Bulldogs. But as we know, sport can be unpredictable, and the potential for upsets is very real.
The Bulldogs enjoyed big wins in the first two rounds this season before going down fighting to three-peat champions Hawthorn last week. The Bulldogs were unlucky not to pull off the result against the Hawks, but lost no admirers as they showed themselves capable of matching it with the best.
But tragedy was to befall the Bulldogs in the final moments, as veteran defender Bob Murphy went down with a potentially career-ending knee injury. Former Brisbane Lions captain Jed Adcock comes in to take his place.
With Murphy out of the side, it will fall to the likes of Marcus Adams and Dale Morris to tighten up the defence. But much of the attention will be at the other end of the ground, where the exciting Marcus Bontempelli and Jake Stringer continue to impress. And will this be the week where Tom Boyd begins to justify his enormous price tag?
Boyd has attracted plenty of interest since being traded from GWS Giants. And he’s one of five former Giants to be playing tonight, with all four of the ex-Giants players traded to Carlton during last year’s trade period in action.
Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner make their Carlton debuts tonight, joining ruckman Andrew Phillips and small forward Jed Lamb.
Times have been tough for Carlton, well beaten in all three games so far this year. But one bright light for the Blues has been the performance of top draft pick Jacob Weitering, who has slotted seamlessly into footy at AFL level and takes his place at centre-half-back tonight. And another No.1 pick, ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, is always one to watch.
On form, it would take a brave person to tip the Blues tonight. They have some quality in their line-up, but their forward line lacks the potency to kick a winning score. And the Bulldogs will be keen to return to the winning list and show themselves to be genuine premiership contenders.
Prediction – Western Bulldogs by 36 points.
Join us live on The Roar from 7:25pm AEST tonight as we bring you the action. Post your thoughts on the game and keep up with everything that happens as the match unfolds.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I think that's the point mds, "the game was already out of reach" at half time. I think the Doggies put their collective queue in the rack at half time, in the knowledge they had Carlton's measure. When JJ went off and then Suckling with injuries, Beveridge looked like he ordered a defensive swamp. We regularly had 1 or 2 players in the forward half and were too tired and complacent to run the ball out of our back half with our customary zing. Credit to Carlton for seizing this opportunity to not throw in the towel, but gee it was an ugly, boring, ho-hum game to watch. I went with two Carlton supporters who were angry and depressed with their side. You'd have to be an extreme optimist to take heart from that performance. For Carlton, Weitering was impressive, Plowman was serviceable and Phillips and showed some promise. But their stars - Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps and Kreuzer were all completely absent. Cripps picked up his performance in the second half, but it was too late then.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Tom Boyd's an interesting one. As we know, a number 1 draft pick who only played one year at GWS before going over to the Bulldogs on a 7-year Buddy-like contract. But unlike Buddy, he hasn't won a game off his own boot yet. And while the Bulldogs have become a successful club while he's been there, he hasn't made much of a contribution to it - certainly not yet justifying his status as the highest-paid player at the Bulldogs. We all remember the intrigue about trade period, which ended up in Boyd joining the Bulldogs in exchange for Ryan Griffen and pick 6. So far the Giants look to have come out on top - Griffen hasn't set the world on fire for the Giants but he's done OK. And the draft pick that went the Giants' way picked up Caleb Marchbank, who looks to have a solid future as a defender but got injured a couple of weeks ago. But if Tom Boyd can stand and deliver some bags of goals, that assessment changes.
Max Cutmhbert
Guest
No future in Tom Boyd
mds1970
Roar Guru
And so the Bulldogs take the game by 36 points. Far from convincing, and the second half was one that Luke Beveridge would not be at all happy with. But it was enough to get the win. Carlton showed something in the second half, refusing to concede and fighting the game out. But their poor first half meant that the game was already out of reach. Thanks for joining us tonight on The Roar. There's plenty of footy action to come this weekend. I'm off to Canberra tomorrow to see my beloved Giants take on Port Adelaide. Thank you, and good night.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Lachie Hunter was prolific around the ground to finish with 33 possessions; with Shane Biggs getting 32. Kade Simpson and Sam Kerridge were Carlton's best with 26 apiece.
mds1970
Roar Guru
And my pre-game prediction of the Bulldogs winning by 36 points was exactly right. Should have put some money on.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The Bulldogs take the points, but would be far from happy. Injuries would be a concern - Johannisen's ankle and Boyd's shoulder could see them out of action for quite a while. But after looking so good early, they were unable to do anything in the final quarter and were forced into running down the clock as the run in their legs slowed and the Blues were putting them under so much more pressure than early. For Carlton, the search for the opening win of the season continues. But at least they showed something tonight. There's still plenty to be concerned about - the turnovers cost them dearly, and there's still little potency up forward. Seven goals is a poor attacking return. But the pressure they put the Bulldogs under in the final quarter would have been encouraging. Not a game that reached any great heights. But the Bulldogs, although far from convincing, got the job done.
mds1970
Roar Guru
And the final siren sounds. It's all over. FINAL SCORE Carlton 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 13.7 (85)
mds1970
Roar Guru
24 minutes 4th quarter Carlton 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 13.7 (85) Lin Jong over the top handballs to Lachie Hunter, who is taken high 30 metres from home. Takes plenty of time as he goes back to have his set shot, and makes no mistake with the kick to take the lead out to 36 points.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Ball out of bounds on the wing. Bulldogs' second quarter has won this game; but they'd be far from happy with how they've finished this game. Injuries hurt, and they've got no bench now; but once Carlton put them under some genuine pressure they've struggled to handle it. Carlton would be cursing their terrible first half. They've shown after half time that they're good enough to compete with one of the competition's high-flyers; but it was too much ground for them to be a chance to make up. They've salvaged something out of this, but could have done so much more had they been closer.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Five minute warning. This will be a short quarter.
mds1970
Roar Guru
17 minutes 4th quarter Carlton 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 12.7 (79) Stringer on the lead, Hunter goes to him. He's on a very tight angle, 35 out. Runs around, the ball goes off hands for a behind. And that's the Bulldogs' first score of the quarter.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Curnow from just outside the 50 goes to Dylan Buckley on the lead. One touch, but can't hold the mark; and he would have been within kicking range. A chance gone begging for the Blues. They have lifted in this last quarter.
mds1970
Roar Guru
And Tom Boyd's done his shoulder. He's off.
mds1970
Roar Guru
13 minutes into the last, and the Bulldogs have not scored this quarter. Still 29 points up, but have barely looked like getting anywhere near the scoring zone. Carlton are desperately attacking every possession and denying the Bulldogs easy use of the ball - where was this in the second quarter?
mds1970
Roar Guru
Dale Thomas from the flank, Kreuzer leads and marks 45 out. But his kick doesn't make the distance and the Bulldogs clear.
mds1970
Roar Guru
9 minutes 4th quarter Carlton 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 12.6 (78) Curnow to Daisy Thomas on the 50. Thomas goes short and finds Sumner 30 metres from home. A big chance to kick his 2nd, and his kick looks good. It's back to 29 points and the Bulldogs have slowed to a walk. Good fightback by Carlton from what was a very bleak situation earlier tonight.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Carlton have lifted in this last quarter, while the Bulldogs have slowed to a walk. The Bulldogs will win this game, but the way they've faded from late in the third would be disappointing for them.
mds1970
Roar Guru
6 minutes 4th quarter Carlton 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 12.6 (78) Carlton in attack again. Phillips is smothered. Ball rebounds to Cripps who has a quick snap and misses.
mds1970
Roar Guru
3 minutes 4th quarter Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 12.6 (78) Gibbs goes inside 50 and finds Matthew Kreuzer on the lead. The resting ruckman doing some good forward work there. But it's not a good kick, and goes through for a behind.