KANGAROOS 0.1.1 0.3.3 0.3.5 1.4.10 (43)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: Nine-point goals: L Gilbee. Goals: M Boyd N Eagleton P Street J Akermanis S Welsh S Tiller. Kangaroos: Nine-point goals: D Petrie. Goals: L Adams 2 D Petrie M Campbell.
Best: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney S West N Eagleton D Cross B Lake. Kangaroos: S Thompson A Simpson D Petrie D Pratt M Firrito.
Umpires: L Farmer M Head G Fila.
Crowd: 8,256 at TIO Stadium, Darwin.
THE Western Bulldogs regained some of the bite they lacked last year with a spirited 11-point victory over the Kangaroos in Darwin last night.
However, the long trip north was not a total loss for the Kangaroos, with full-forward Nathan Thompson escaping unscathed in his first match in nearly 12 months and his side showing glimpses of the form that earned it three finals appearances last year.
The match opened up into a free-flowing affair in the final term and the 8256 people at TIO Stadium enjoyed the contest as the Kangaroos fought back.
A nine-point super goal to Drew Petrie followed by a goal to former rookie Matt Campbell cut the margin to four points, giving the Kangaroos a sniff of victory that looked unlikely at the last break.
Lindsay Gilbee ended the Roos' momentum with a super goal late in the quarter and put the match beyond doubt.
The game began under dark clouds, but rain that threatened to fall for most of the day stayed away and the match was played in warm, humid conditions.
Bulldogs forward Shaun Higgins was the only late withdrawal with a tight back and mercurial Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells was an early casualty with a groin injury.
Thompson failed to bother the statisticians in either of his first two quarters back from knee surgery, but flew for two contested marks and played most of the opening half.
The Bulldogs finished the first quarter ahead by five points with goals to Matthew Boyd and Jason Akermanis. Daniel Cross collected 10 early touches and Adam Cooney nine and both looked dangerous.
Lachlan Hansen was among the Roos best players in a scrappy opening half and won plenty of the ball across half-back.
Former Adelaide ruckman Ben Hudson made a good start with his new club and had the better of Kangaroo ruckman David Hale. Hudson, who could not reach a contract agreement with the Crows last year, has settled in well at Whitten Oval and gave new coach Rodney Eade reason to be pleased last night.
Tempers boiled when Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson came to grips with Daniel Pratt near the middle of the ground, while new Bulldog (and former Crow) Scott Welsh stayed close to goal. Burly Roo defender Josh Gibson started on Welsh, who had just one handball and one kick in the first half.
Midfielders Scott West and Boyd lifted the tempo in the second quarter and helped the Bulldogs build on their early dominance in the middle.
Brian Lake, who changed his name from Harris over the summer, gave Thompson little room to express himself and the Kangaroos struggled to find a path to goal. Aaron Edwards took four marks in the first half and seems to have benefited from a summer in the gym — like most of the Bulldogs who are heavier than last year.
Petrie goaled late in the term, but the Bulldogs answered quickly with a goal to Nathan Eagleton, who received a clever pass from Robert Murphy. The latter was kept quiet in the opening term by former teammate Sam Power, but worked into the game in the second quarter.
A late goal to Leigh Adams drew the Roos within four points before the siren sounded on the shortened 15-minute quarter.
Thompson broke through for his first kick seven minutes into the third term, while the Bulldogs' midfield brigade of Cooney, Cross, West and Akermanis was racking up disposals almost at will.
When Akermanis was bowled over by Leigh Harding close to the boundary line the large Bulldog fan base at the ground roared its disapproval.
Seconds later the Dogs fans were cheering wildly as Welsh kicked his first goal, putting the Bulldogs 13 points ahead at the final break.
Cooney finished with a game-high 26 touches and was the dominant player on the ground. Cross, Lake and Akermanis also made strong starts to the year.
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