Remaining year’s No.1 draft purchase Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Marcus Bontempelli starred to help the Western Bulldogs entrench themselves in the AFL high four with an 11-point win over a stubborn Gold Waft.
The Suns battled bravely against their extra fancied opponents however the mosey-ahead of Ugle-Hagan (three targets) and class of Bontempelli (36 disposals) informed as the visitors scored a 14.6 (90) to 11.13 (79) victory in front of 8244 fans at Metricon Stadium.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge praised Ugle-Hagan’s efforts on Saturday, and, despite no longer scoring a purpose, in a losing effort against Sydney most interesting week.
“In the occasion you might maybe maybe presumably imagine what he’s been thru over nonetheless many months from the originate of most interesting year thru till now, the full publicity that is been on his doorstep and the interrupted preparation …,” Beveridge said.
“Off the help of a terribly honest correct expertise for him, even even though we dropped the game, correct to exit (on Saturday) and obtain a sense of what AFL footy is like, for him to strategy help out and contain some serious moments.
“His game changed into as soon as reasonably instrumental in us having a margin on the finish.”
A in overall combative efficiency from Touk Miller (38 disposals) and three targets each to Ben Ainsworth, Alex Sexton and Gash Holman saved the Suns in striking distance for tons of of the match, while Brayden Fiorini (32 disposals) and Jeremy Enthralling (30 disposals) moreover impressed.
Gold Waft coach Stuart Dew said despite the loss, he changed into as soon as happy with the hassle of his physique of workers to stick stop to quality opposition.
“Sliding doorways stuff; or no longer it is a fine line between win-loss,” Dew said.
“Execution we can assign training, effort and intent we opinion changed into as soon as outstanding by and broad for tons of of the evening.”
Bailey Smith (33 disposals), Jackson Macrae (31) and Bailey Dale (30) all offered tons of power to help up the onerous-running efforts of their captain Bontempelli.
The Suns jumped the Western Bulldogs early, scoring the foremost three targets of the game to speed out to a 5-point quarter-time lead, despite the visitors dominating centre clearances (5-1) and inside 50s (17-10).
Holman changed into as soon as a surprise avenue to purpose for the Suns with three majors in the opening term, however the Bulldogs were in a position to assign in touch thanks to Ugle-Hagan’s debut AFL purpose from a space shot 45m out on an authority attitude.
Ugle-Hagan opened the scoring in the 2nd quarter to originate a four-purpose move for the visitors and from there the Western Bulldogs took the ascendancy, with Bontempelli leading the trend with 13 disposals for the quarter.
Gold Waft arrested the Bulldogs’ price thru targets to Ainsworth and Sexton, however the visitors looked cushy as they jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead.
The Suns stayed within striking distance for tons of of the 2nd half with Miller and Sexton leading the price, however the class of the Bulldogs saved them in front for the win.
Western Bulldog Josh Dunkley (21 disposals) changed into as soon as stable in his first match since round six after a shoulder reconstruction.
Gold Waft face one other high-four physique of workers in Melbourne subsequent week, while the Western Bulldogs desire on Adelaide.
