JASON Akermanis produced a contender for goal of the year at the MCG yesterday against his old side as the Western Bulldogs strengthened their hold on a top-four spot with a 63-point victory.

The Brownlow medallist and triple premiership player's rich vein of form continued against the Brisbane Lions in a match that failed to live up to its pre-game hype, but underlined the Bulldogs' wealth of young talent.

In the first game played between the two clubs at the MCG, Akermanis had a blistering third term, kicking two of his three goals as the Dogs turned a 20-point half-time advantage into a 35-point lead at the final break.

Before the margin blew out to more than 10 goals the Lions fought back with three goals in a row and got within 23 points early in the final term.

Farren Ray answered for the Bulldogs with a left-foot snap that stretched the margin back out to 29 points before Akermanis kicked his third goal, a freakish right-footer from just inside the 50-metre arc while hugging the boundary.

It put the result beyond doubt after the Lions managed to stay in touch on the scoreboard for most of the afternoon, despite being comprehensively beaten in general play.

Former Adelaide forward Scott Welsh kicked the first of his five goals five minutes into the game after a poor kick-in was intercepted by Akermanis, who chipped the ball to Welsh.

At the other end, Brian Lake was struggling to find his rhythm alongside Lions forward Jonathan Brown, who kicked two goals in the opening term.

Lake eventually got on top of the Lion, while Ben Hudson again proved his move to Melbourne agrees with the ruckman.

Hudson's 17 hit-outs and seven clearances set up the Bulldogs runners, who made the most of every opportunity.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the in-form Travis Johnstone was forced from the ground with hamstring tightness and had little impact when he did return.

Brisbane's narrow lead at the first break masked several concerns for coach Leigh Matthews, but the Bulldogs had their own worries when Ryan Griffen was forced off with a corked thigh.

Griffen returned late in the second term and was among his side's best players, finishing with 25 disposals, seven marks and four tackles.

The cracks started appearing for the Lions as the rain began tumbling.

Adam Cooney, who finished with 37 touches in a best-on-ground performance, found himself in space and chipped a clever kick to Robert Murphy, who passed to skipper Brad Johnson seven minutes into the second term.

Johnson's goal pushed his side out to a 10-point lead before Dylan Addison's left-foot snap split two Brisbane defenders in the goal square and bounced through for the Bulldogs' fifth major.

With premiership players Simon Black and Luke Power's influence around the ball being negated, the Bulldogs' young midfield brigade began taking control.

Daniel Cross, who started on Black, had 18 touches including seven contested possessions, while Matthew Boyd again proved hard work can take a former rookie a long way — in his case the engine room of a potential grand finalist.

As opportunities dried up for Brown and the other Lions forwards, the Bulldogs forwards began turning over the scoreboard.

Murphy, returning from a one-week suspension, burst off the edge of the centre square to drill his second goal in two minutes.

After half-time the Akermanis and Cooney show kicked into top gear and the stars were well supported by Nathan Eagleton, Ryan Hargrave and Johnson, who finished with three goals.

The Bulldogs dominated through quick ball movement and their ability to win the ball in tight and in the air was far superior to the Lions, who kicked five goals to 12 after half-time.

Rhan Hooper and Anthony Corrie chipped in with early goals for the visitors at the start of the last term, but the Dogs continued to apply pressure.

Mitch Hahn's ferocious tackle on Joel Macdonald — one of six Hahn laid for the day — was followed up two minutes later with a goal on the run, stretching the margin to 45 points.

Daniel Giansiracusa left the ground under the blood rule after copping a boot in the head, but it was one of few down-sides for the bristling Bulldogs.

After Welsh slotted his fourth goal it seemed the Dogs could do no wrong, as Macdonald's frustration boiled over and he was penalised for kicking the ball over the fence. Welsh received a free kick and slotted his fifth goal.

The win gave coach Rodney Eade even more reason to believe his side is building towards a bright future.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.6 7.12 12.15 19.17 (131)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.2 5.4 8.4 10.8 (68)

GOALS Western Bulldogs: Welsh 5, Johnson 3, Akermanis 3, Murphy 2, Cooney 2, Ray, Hahn, Ward, Addison. Brisbane Lions: Brown 3, Hooper 2, Adcock, Brennan, Corrie, Black, Drummond.

BEST Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Boyd, Akermanis, Hahn, Griffen, Hudson, Eagleton.

Brisbane Lions: Power, Drummond, Stiller, Adcock, Brown.

INJURIES Western Bulldogs: Griffen (corked thigh). Brisbane Lions: Johnstone (hamstring tightness). Rischitelli (hip) replaced in selected side by Polkinghorne.

UMPIRES Donlon, Stevic, McInerney.

CROWD 39,320 at MCG.

THE UPSHOT The Western Bulldogs seemed scarcely tested yesterday, able to turn up the power against their top-eight opponent at will. They have launched headlong into the second half of the season looking increasingly ominous — and they already looked ominous.

TALKING POINT Jason Akermanis showed some of his special magic in his three-goal performance. In his first match in Melbourne against his former club, Aka kicked two remarkable goals, one from close to the boundary at the start of the third quarter and a long bomb that bounced through in the fourth.

HOT AND COLD The Dogs' Adam Cooney seemed to be running free for much of the time. He finished with 37 possessions and made Brisbane's celebrated midfielders look shabby. Lions coach Leigh Matthews later described Cooney as a "top-notcher" who was coming into his own.

After a series of good performances, Lion Travis Johnstone barely touched the ball, getting just 11 possessions and having little influence in the Lions' lacklustre midfield. Johnstone appeared to suffer tightness in a hamstring, kicking regularly on his non-preferred side and leaving the ground at one point for treatment.