THE WESTERN Bulldogs outclassed a gallant Brisbane Lions side by 53 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, but the clash has come with an injury cost for both sides.

Exciting pup Jake Stringer booted three majors and Koby Stevens dominated as the Dogs kicked their highest score of the season and cruised to a 17.18 (120) to 10.7 (67) triumph, lifting them back into second spot on the ladder. 

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But recruit Matt Suckling is in doubt to face North Melbourne next Friday night after tweaking the medial ligament in his reconstructed right knee and re-injuring the rolled ankle he hurt against Carlton last week.

Meanwhile, the Lions could also pay a heavy price, with Tom Cutler (dislocated elbow) and Allen Christensen (concussion) spending most of the match on the sidelines.

Suckling landed awkwardly after backing courageously into a marking contest against Josh Schache in the first quarter and couldn't put weight on his leg as he was helped down to the rooms.

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The dangerous left-footer eased fears of serious damage when he returned briefly in the second quarter, although Suckling didn't reappear after half-time with the Dogs leading by 34 points.

However, Suckling won't be sidelined long term, in a huge relief for a side still reeling from a season-ending knee injury to skipper Robert Murphy and a long-term hamstring suffered by fellow half-back Jason Johannisen.

"We'll see how (Suckling) comes up. He might be in doubt for next Friday night, but there's no significant structural damage – he's just going to be sore in the knee and the ankle," coach Luke Beveridge said.

The Lions could pay a heavier price, with Tom Cutler (dislocated elbow) set for a stint on the sidelines and Allen Christensen unable to play after half-time after failing a concussion test.

Suckling's absence didn't stop the Dogs getting the job done in an uninspiring clash, with Beveridge's side setting up their fourth win of 2016 thanks to a six-goal-to-two second term.

The triumph continued the Dogs' love-affair with the fast track under the Etihad Stadium roof, where they've now won 13 of the past 14 matches.

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Coming-off an uplifting Q-Clash victory, the visitors simply couldn't apply any scoreboard pressure after kicking the opening two majors of the match through Ryan Lester and Tom Rockliff.

Justin Leppitsch's side was intent on stifling the Dogs and looked dangerous early spreading on the rebound as the home side spurned some simple chances. 

The Dogs peppered the goals early and dominated inside 50s (20-5) in the opening term, however they booted six behinds in a row as the Lions absorbed the pressure and made them pay on the rebound.

But the spell was snapped when Luke Dahlhaus soccered from the goal square, and suddenly the home side came alive.

Stringer, who went goalless last week for the first time since round 13 last year, and Toby McLean, pushed the Dogs ahead by 11 points at the first change.

Under the sheer weight of ball going deep inside the Lions' defensive 50, the dam wall had to break – and it did.

It was almost all one-way traffic in the second stanza, with Marcus Bontempelli and Stringer – who bowled over three opponents before snapping a brilliant second goal - thriving on their side's midfield dominance.

But to the Lions' credit, they kept coming and avoided a blowout after trailing by 54 points in the third quarter. 

Koby Stevens (34 possessions) continued his purple patch of form for the Dogs, while Mitch Wallis (33, one goal), Jack Macrae (25), Lachie Hunter (32) and evergreen veteran Matthew Boyd (31) were also outstanding for the Dogs.

The Lions had just Dayne Zorko and Lester (two goals each) kick more than a solitary major, while Mitch Robinson (27 touches), Rockliff (26), Pearce Hanley (20) and key defender Daniel Merrett found plenty of the ball.

However, the Lions' coach lamented his experienced engine room being beaten up around the ball – losing contested possessions by a whopping 51 and the inside 50 count by 40.

"Minus 51, you'd have to go back to the record books to find a worse one than that for us, I would've thought," Leppitsch said after the match.

"But that's the game – stoppage scores, clearances (-19), contested possessions – game over."

Tom Liberatore and Luke Dahlhaus celebrate a goal next to dejected Lion Tom Rockliff. Photo: AFL Media

WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.6   9.8      13.11   17.18   (120)                  
BRISBANE LIONS              2.1   4.4      7.5      10.7     (67)          

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 3, Bontempelli 2, Dahlhaus 2, McLean 2, Liberatore 2, Dickson 2, Campbell, Jong, Wallis, Roughead
Brisbane Lions: Lester 2, Zorko 2, Rockliff, Hanley, Schache, Rich, Walker, Bewick

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Stevens, Wallis, Boyd, Dahlhaus, McLean, Hunter, Stringer
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Rockliff, Robinson, Hanley, Martin, Bastinac

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Suckling (right knee)
Brisbane Lions: Cutler (suspected dislocated elbow), Christensen (concussion)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Brown, Pannell

Official crowd: TBC at Etihad Stadium