IT WAS just two years ago that West Coast — on its way to the 2006 premiership — brutally bundled the Western Bulldogs out of the finals, handing the young Dogs a lesson about what it takes to be a true contender in this competition. Last night, with an emphatic 60-point win over their one-time nemesis, the Bulldogs showed just how much the fortunes of these two clubs have changed of late.

The Bulldogs absorbed all the pressure and pain the Eagles could throw at them in the opening half before splitting the game wide open with eight goals to one in an impressive third quarter. Holding a 20-point buffer at half-time, the Bulldogs went on the attack early in the third quarter. Their midfield lifted the tempo and the forwards took advantage of excellent delivery into the attacking zone.

The Bulldogs were wasteful in front of goal in the early minutes of the third quarter but the weight of supply was just too much for the undermanned Eagles, who lost Shannon Hurn and Adam Hunter to leg injuries and had to play out the match with 20 fit men.

When Jason Akermanis kicked his third goal of the night from the pocket to extend the lead to 29 points, the floodgates were on the verge of opening. When Scott Welsh kicked his second goal for the night at the 10-minute mark, the flood started and the contest was all but over.

This match is going to have its ultimate conclusion during the week. Daniel Kerr, Brent Staker, Will Minson and Matthew Boyd will find themselves waiting on the results of the match review panel tomorrow evening. These two teams have a long and chequered history of tension and last night will add just another chapter to the story.

The niggle started before the first bounce when Beau Waters and Hurn decided to let Akermanis know he was in for a rough night. With Akermanis forced to apologise to Eagles midfielder Michael Braun during the week over unsubstantiated drug claims, it appeared the Eagles had decided he would be forced to eat more humble pie. But that is the problem with best laid plans. They have a way of falling apart and the Bulldogs forward had the last laugh, finishing with four goals.

At the opening bounce, Boyd showed Kerr he would be given little room to move, forcing the star midfielder to the ground. Kerr got plenty of attention last night and despite his strong start his frustrations eventually got the better of him.

The early tension in the match was always going to boil over. The opening minutes were played at a frenetic pace, with the David Wirrpanda scoring the opening goal within 30 seconds but the Bulldogs answered a minute later when the brilliant Adam Cooney intercepted a defensive handball from Hunter and ran into an open goal.

The tension boiled over at the 10-minute mark when, deep in defence, Kerr appeared to headbutt Scott West after the veteran Bulldog arrived late for a bump. Seconds later Staker appeared to strike Robert Murphy and an ugly melee erupted.

After that some of the tension appeared to ease — although Kerr was a frustrated malcontent from then — and the match found a more sustainable pace. The first half provided an excellent contest. The Bulldogs had the upper hand with more success around the clearances and more drives into their scoring zone. Murphy was shaping up the best player on the ground, his three goals in the first half displaying all his talent and class. Cooney was strong in the middle of the ground, Daniel Cross his usual dependable self, Brian Lake again solid in defence and Mitch Hahn chipping in for two important early goals.

The Eagles were getting some drive from Kerr while Ben McKinley and Chad Jones showed the Eagles have forwards who can cause difficulties for the defence, and Tyson Stenglein was working hard.

But with their cleaner skills and more avenues to goal, the Bulldogs were rarely troubled and ran out comfortable winners.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 7.3 11.6 19.10 20.14 (134)
WEST COAST 4.1 8.3 9.4 11.8 (74)

GOALS Western Bulldogs: Murphy 4, Akermanis 4, Cooney 2, Hahn 2, Welsh 2, Giansiracusa 2, Wight, Addison, Eagleton, Gilbee. West Coast: Jones 3, McKinley 2, Lynch 2, Braun, Kerr, Wirrpanda, Kennedy.

 BEST Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Cooney, Cross, Boyd, Akermanis, Wight, Griffen. West Coast: Waters, Jones, Kennedy, Cox, Embley, Selwood, Kerr.

INJURIES West Coast: Hurn (corked calf), Hunter (knee).

REPORTS West Coast: Staker by field umpire Mollison for striking Murphy (Western Bulldogs) in the first quarter.

UMPIRES James, Meredith, Mollison.

THE UPSHOT Peter Sumich said that if his side lost to the Bulldogs the club would have to immediately start rebuilding. It will be interesting to see just who gets the chop.

TALKING POINT After using his blog this week on the Western Bulldogs website to again bring up his claims against Michael Braun for allegedly taking performance-enhancing drugs — although this time he admitted he was wrong and was wearing egg on his face — Jason Akermanis received plenty of attention from the Eagles but answered with four goals.

HOT AND COLD Simply, the Western Bulldogs are hot. They were unfazed by last week's draw with Richmond and outran the Eagles all night. What is cold is the Eagles' midfield. Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr do plenty, but without Chris Judd and Ben Cousins they are not a patch on their former glory days.