In an amazing game – which resembled basketball at times such was the frequency of the scoring – the Eagles overcame a 34 point deficit after just 20 minutes of the match to break the hearts of the home fans with a 22.12 (144) to 20.17 (137) win.
And it was Ashley Sampi, who had enjoyed just one kick to three-quarter-time, who was the hero for the visitors with two final term goals, including the decisive one with just 70 seconds remaining as the Bulldogs trailed by two points.
It was the second successive season the young goalsneak had denied the Bulldogs a victory after his goal after the final siren at Subiaco last year saw the Eagles sneak a draw.
Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Chad Fletcher and ruckman Michael Gardiner played key roles in the Eagles’ effort.
All four dominated at different stages of the game with Cousins’ ten-possession last quarter ultimately proving the difference between the two sides.
Boom recruit Rawlings enjoyed a great debut with seven goals but will still kicking himself for several costly misses, including in the final term from just 30 metres out directly in front when the Dogs led by four points at the 14 minute mark.
And Rawlings was not the only Bulldog to waste goal-scoring chances with Scott West undermining a typically fine performance with his wastefulness in front of goal – finishing with 1.4 while Patrick Bowden somehow managed three ‘posters’.
And with goals being scored at will by both sides, such misses proved vital in the context of the game.
The match also heralded the return of the Bulldogs’ favourite son Chris Grant after a year out with a knee injury and after having little impact in the first three terms, he was back to his best in a gripping final term in halting several Eagles’ attacks.
However two last quarter goals each from Sampi and Phil Matera, who ended the day with five, swung the game the Eagles’ way as Cousins continually forced the ball forward.
After trailing by 34 points after just 20 minutes, when the Dogs kicked seven goals to one with Rawlings kicking three first term goals, it was the Eagles who appeared to be coasting when they led by 20 points shortly after half-time.
But in a crazy game, in which both sides took turns to dominate, the Dogs looked in control when Ben Harrison goaled on the run at the 16 minute mark to put the home side ten points up.
Then four goals in five minutes appeared to have won the game for West Coast until Rawlings’ seventh and a mark and goal from giant ruckman Peter Street cut the margin to two points with just under three minutes left.
But after the Dogs’ fans had screamed for a holding the man free in front of goal to no avail, came the crucial piece of play with a contested ball in the middle of the ground accidentally rebounding into the path of Chad Morrison off the boot of Luke Darcy.
Morrison then handballed to Sampi, who found himself in acres of space, and his running goal from 50 metres finished off a brave Bulldogs side, who it must be said still look shaky in defence although their new-look forward line - with Rawlings as the focus - looks capable of troubling most sides.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 7.2, 11.6, 16.11, 20.17 (137)
WEST COAST EAGLES:5.5, 11.8, 15.10, 22.12 (144)
GOALS: Bulldogs: Rawlings 7, Hahn 3, Murphy 2, Darcy 2, Johnson, Bowden, West, Cooney, Harrison, Street.
West Coast: Matera 5, Judd 4, Gardiner 3, Embley 2, Sampi 2, McDougall, Cox, Braun, Fletcher, Chick, Adkins.
BEST: Bulldogs: Rawlings, West, Smith, Robbins, Murphy, Johnson.
West Coast: Cousins, Gardiner, Fletcher, Judd, Morrison, Matera.
INJURIES: Bulldogs:. Nil.
West Coast: Banfield (knee).
REPORTS: Nil.
UMPIRES: Stevic, Rowe, Schmitt.
CROWD: 18,841 at Telstra Dome.
