THE WESTERN Bulldogs have continued their winning streak, beating Essendon by 30 points in their round four clash at Telstra Dome.
The Bulldogs kicked 19.14 (128) to Essendon's 14.14 (98).
The Bulldogs jumped out of the blocks in the clash between two of the speediest sides in the AFL.
Ryan Griffen continued his rich vein of form with an impressive start out of the middle and had a hand in several of the Bulldogs’ early goals.
The Bulldogs burned the Bombers from the start and led by four goals at the first break.
But in a role reversal from last week’s comeback win over St Kilda, the Dogs faded in the second term as the Dons banged home six goals.
Jason Akermanis was dangerous early, while Brad Johnson made his presence felt in the midfield. Johnson had been moved up the ground after a quiet night up forward against the Saints last week and the move looked to be paying off early on.
But Johnson’s influence waned and he soon returned to familiar territory near the big sticks.
Exciting youngster Josh Hill took a while to get going but got better as the game went on, while Geelong recruit Tim Callan worked hard in defence.
Daniel Cross helped make up for the absence of Scott West in the middle, getting in and under and finishing with 26 disposals.
The Bombers came back hard in the second quarter, thanks largely to their pacy midfielders and Dustin Fletcher off half back.
But just when it looked like Essendon would regain the lead, Jason Akermanis showed some vintage form by slamming home a goal from outside 50.
The Bombers continued to press, but the Dogs held firm, with another goal to Jarrod Harbrow at the 25-minute mark and two more to Adam Cooney and Scott Welsh before half time to keep the lead.
The Dogs started well in the third quarter, with Brian Lake taking a mark in the goalsquare and kicking just his 10th goal in his 101st match.
But the Bombers surged again, thanks largely to McVeigh, who was playing as a key forward. He was making life hell for Dale Morris, who had towelled up one of the game’s premier forwards Nick Riewoldt just seven days earlier.
The third term was one of the most exciting seen so far in 2008. Exquisite pace and skills were shown by both sides but it was Essendon who capitalised on their opportunities, producing a seven-goal quarter to take a 10-point lead into the final break.
Frustrations for the Bulldogs were illustrated in the third term when a Ryan Griffen goal was touched on the line by the long arms of Dustin Fletcher, possibly the only man in the AFL capable of getting a hand to the ball.
The Bombers suffered early in the final term when McVeigh and Sam Lonergan left the field with hamstring injuries and the Bulldogs took full advantage.
It was an arm wrestle until Will Minson kicked a goal from a checkside kick to score the first goal of the final term.
Minson was a big factor in the Bulldogs fightback, pushing the ball forward as far as he could by hand or foot at every opportunity and kicking two goals himself.
Essendon was goalless in the final term and the Dogs kicked six to bring home the four points.
The Bulldogs have now won the first four games of the season and will be looking to extend their streak when they host Richmond at the Telstra Dome next week.
Essendon 1.2 7.7 14.12 14.14 (98)
Western Bulldogs 4.3 10.6 13.8 19.14 (128)
GOALS
Essendon: Stanton 3, McVeigh 2, Hille 2, Davey 2, Winderlich, Lovett, Lovett-Murray, Reimers, Laycock
Western Bulldogs: Welsh 3, Akermanis 2, Minson 2, Griffen 2, Harbrow 2, Giansiracusa 2, Cooney, Johnson, Hahn, Eagleton, Lake, Murphy
BEST
Essendon: McVeigh, Fletcher, Stanton, Davey, Hille
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis, Griffen, Cross, Minson, Lake, Cooney
INJURIES
Essendon: Lonergan (hamstring), McVeigh (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Head, McLaren
Official crowd: 47,641 at Telstra Dome
