The Western Bulldogs’ premiership defence is alive – just.
But while a 15-point victory over a tremendously plucky Brisbane Lions sends them temporarily into the top eight, with three very difficult matches to come they will know they have to up the ante to so much as make it into the finals, never mind contend once more for the flag.
After a scrappy start, it was the Dogs who burst out of the blocks with a four-goal run late in the first quarter to turn the game their way.
Dominating out of the centre and dangerous up forward, with Marcus Bontempelli starring and Jack Macrae not far behind, it was all red, white and blue as the visitors stormed out to a 30-point lead midway through the second term.
And then, almost instantaneously, the match turned.
It began with Dayne Zorko, quiet early, putting through a couple of goals to get the Gabba crowd, silent thus far, up and about.
And with youngsters Alex Witherden and Jacob Allison shining and Daniel Rich’s lethal left foot given free reign by some loose checking from the Bulldogs’ forwards, the margin was whittled down.
First to twelve points at the main break, and then, to the delight of the home ground and underdog-lovers around the country, to an unlikely Lions lead as the wooden spoon favourites banged on six goals in a row to steamroll past the lethargic Bulldogs.
Josh Walker was marking everything, Rich and Witherden were starring across half-back, and even more worryingly, the Dogs’ chances at steadying were repeatedly spurned by woeful kicking for goal, with Bontempelli and Jack Redpath serial offenders.
But the wise old heads of the Dogs were able to prevail in the last quarter, though not without a scare, as the Lions briefly relinquished the lead, then snatched it back again courtesy of a Ryan Bastinac space.
The Dogs always looked like they had an extra gear, however, slamming on the last three goals of the match to secure a very unconvincing, but even more important, away win – their second win in Queensland in three weeks.
So, what does this tell us? Well, the Lions, despite the loss, are looking more and more like a side to watch in the future under the calm leadership of Chris Fagan.
The youngsters, with the exception of the injured Cedric Cox (ankle), all showed sparks or, in the case of Witherden and Allison, veritable bushfires of talent, while Dayne Beams, Tom Rockliff and Rich were all tremendous in midfield.
For the Dogs, well, with GWS, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn to come, they have their work cut out for them to slide into the finals.
Three wins gets them in no matter what, but with the logjam in the middle of the ladder growing by the day, even a single loss could leave them at risk of being the first side since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss the finals after winning the premiership the year before.
The match got off to an odd start with news that Bulldogs skipper and “travelling emergency” Robert Murphy would in fact be playing after all, with Jason Johannisen a late withdrawal after a back injury.
Macca
Guest
AD – If I said congratulations on you finally stopping smoking would you think I was having a go at you for smoking in the first place? Was I being a smart ar $e? Yes. Was the topic Carlton? No. Was the appropriate response from Mattyb to talk about Carlton? No.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
But it was still entirely - Ugh. Nah. Can't do this, have your fun.
Macca
Guest
AD - I hate to tell you but the topic of that sentence isn't Carlton. The sentence was in fact congratulating him for finally not talking about Carlton and focusing on his own team, like I and others suggested he do over on the summary of the Carlton game I referenced.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
And again, I didn’t raise the blues – Mattyb just seems to prefer to talk about them than his own team for some reason. You're joking right? On this thread, Matty was talking about the Bulldogs. His team. Then, yesterday morning, you said: "Congratulations after only 13 hours and 7 posts on the blues game ( the first during the bulldogs game) you finally remembered your team won." I'm not stup!d. You intentionally raised the Blues. On a thread that happened to do with them. That's a tad bit hypocritical, yeah? But sure, have your fun. Just don't act surprised when people get annoyed. You make it a tad bit hard to ignore your arguments ;)
Macca
Guest
AD - "You can’t deny that you provoke him, Macca." Who is denying it? Of course I provoke him and I have repeatedly stated that I will stop as soon as he stops posting the same rubbish over and over on every Carlton related thread so us Carlton supporters can "happily discuss the blues"- until that happens I will continue to have my fun. And again, I didn't raise the blues - Mattyb just seems to prefer to talk about them than his own team for some reason.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'm just laughing at the mental image of two grown men furiously typing away on their devices, arguing about largely nothing of relevance. Constantly. You can't deny that you provoke him, Macca. This article had nothing to do with Carlton and Matty was happily discussing the Bulldogs with another forum user. Then you came on and sarcastically berated him, thus setting off this argument. By the way, there's not such thing as a "wrong opinion". There's wrong facts, but opinions are never wrong. Just subjective. I'm with Paul though - trying to talk sense into you two is like me trying to explain algebra to my baby cousins. It just ain't going to work.
Macca
Guest
I'll see how long that "giving up arguing" lasts PaulD, the temptation will get too much for you before too long, you can't help yourself, which is something we have in common.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I did say to AD only last night to ignore you two and now look at me. Anyways, can only agree and It is the main reason why I've given up arguing with you. Like trying to scrub Uluru with a toothbrush. Impervious doesn't even begin to describe it. Carry on...
Macca
Guest
PaulD- "I suspect you both secretly derive a lot of enjoyment from your little spats" It's no secret with me, I have repeatedly explicitly stated that getting to talk about Carlton and show up Mattyb's !d!ocy is a win-win for me. What Mattyb gets out of it is beyond me though. And I don't complain that Mattyb keeps replying, I complain that he doesn't reply, I ask him questions about his opinion and he can't answer, which means he doesn't learn from his mistakes and we get the same wrong opinion repeated.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You two are the biggest pair of melonheads going around Both keep complaining that the other won't stop replying to your posts - one of you needs to be the bigger man and just ignore the other But I suspect you both secretly derive a lot of enjoyment from your little spats
Macca
Guest
Wrong again Mattyb - I congratulated on finally commenting in your own team and you immediately mentioned Carlton, I asked why you need joy in your own team and you mentioned Carlton - you really need to seek help about that chip.
Mattyb
Guest
Macca,you raised the blues. Anyway,have the last word and we will be done. I will let you know when I think the Blues are heading in the right direction,your policing and begging for approval doesn't really do it for me.
Macca
Guest
Mattyb - every Carlton supporter on here had the blues finishing bottom 3 and giving the spoon a shake so that prediction isn't much to write homeboy about. As for finals next year who predicted that? From memory we have been talking 2019. And I asked you last week which rejects shouldn't have played this week? Smedts yes, but if Cripps, Curnow, Cuningham, McKay, Byrne etc etc come back I doubt he will be getting a game. And this article is about the doggies, so why did you raise the blues? That chip on your shoulder will lead to back problems if it isn't removed!
Mattyb
Guest
Mark,it seems the reigning premiers have moved back into the eight. Our future looks very rosey. Sounds like we're not your second team and I approve of that. Better clubs to patronise going around these days.
Mark
Guest
About the Dogs struggling to beat the team on the bottom of the ladder.
Mattyb
Guest
Stringer should be back soon also.
Mattyb
Guest
Ladder tells a different story. That team of tragic rejects you blokes picked to play finals next year might want to get a wiggle on. You've been talking up the blues for years and they havnt gone anywhere. Looks like I was spot on saying you blokes would give yet another wooden spoon a shake. Anyway,this is an article about the Doggies.
berrlins
Roar Pro
Webb wasn't so great I agree and there are other youngster who have developed faster, particularly with Bevo Playing Bontempelli forward more and more with Redpath I don't see the need for Cloke to stay in the side if they can replace him with Dickson who's always handy for a few goals a game.
I ate pies
Guest
Because Mic is salty, and Australians hate a winner.
Macca
Guest
You are entitled to your opinion not matter how illogical, wrongheaded and just plain ridiculous it is - the bigger question is why you spend more time discussing the blues and berating others for finding happiness in their team than you do discussing your own team and finding happiness in that- that is truly sad and tragic