Blog log from R3 of 2023: Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane

Ashcroft roves at half forward but Richards catches him HTB to prevent the first score. (Q1 0:56)
Rayner tries to baulk around Jones on the wing but coughs it up, the Bulldogs swarm with Smith speeding away for a pass to the pocket for Ugle-Hagan for the first goal. (Q1 3:03)
Rayner’s centering kick from deep in defence to CHB is tapped down, Treloar receives from Smith but misses from 45m. (Q1 7:25)
Liam Jones gives Daniher a few steps but Coleman sees it and tumbles a quick wobbler to 40m on a slight angle for Joe to mark and miss. (Q1 10:48)
Baker passes to Scott 40m out on the flank on the end of a rebound across the centre where Bontempelli was involved twice. Scott doesn’t score. (Q1 14:55)
Lobb pressures Bruce to kick to trouble in midfield, Brisbane swarms and Fort hits Daniher 30m out on the flank… another miss. (Q1 17:01)
Lobb feeds Arthur Jones who has a few steps to measure a difficult snap across the body from a tight angle 35m out… rams into the near goalpost. (Q1 17:56)
Crozier holds Neale to concede an obvious free at a stoppage 25m out on the flank. Neale steers through the goal to level the scores. (Q1 20:40)
Neale hits the hard lead of Cameron 35m out near the boundary, nothing Johannisen could do there. Charlie shanks for no score. (Q1 23:23)
The Lions switch from a stoppage on the outer wing to members side, Berry on the end of a handball chain and passes to Cameron 45m out on the flank just before QT. Charlie misses. (Q1 26:20)
Not much goalmouth action in this one but both teams are running hard both ways, making it a hardfought affair with not much space or time for anyone in possession. (Qtr Time)
Gunston receives from Neale and snaps wide from near the hotspot off the right. (Q2 0:38)
McCarthy rises high over a pack in the pocket but can’t mark, crumb falls behind for Cameron who baulks and goals from 10m. (Q2 1:35)
Payne intercepts a long kick by Bontempelli to the Dogs goalsquare but his rebound kick is poor, Lobb eventually goals from near the hotspot. (Q2 4:04)
Macrae gives outside to Baker deep in the pocket 25m out, man on his hammer is McCluggage but Baker delivers a lovely right-foot step and goals off his left! (Q2 6:05)
Andrews is pinged for a late bump on Ugle-Hagan on the boundary 20m out, pretty soft but it was there. JUH screws in another one for the Bulldogs. (Q2 7:52)
Ashcroft hits the chest of Hipwood near the boundary 30m out from a stoppage on the HFF. Hipwood screws it too far for a behind. (Q2 13:50)
Johannisen passes to Naughton 40m out on the flank who misses the lot. (Q2 19:49)
Naughton gets a contact free on Berry 30m out on the flank but sprays it again, OOTF as the crowd hoots. (Q2 21:05)
McCluggage sends a rather hopeful kick inside 50 from the wing, shallow to 45m on a slight angle, but McInerney makes it look good by beating Lobb to mark. Oscar misses. (Q2 24:05)
Gunston marks at true CHF but tugs the set shot left. (Q2 28:52)
Macrae passes very short to Williams just inside 50m on the flank in the seconds before HT. Williams shoots as the siren blows… and misses. (Q2 31:06)
Repeat inside 50s for the Bulldogs with the Bont involved yet again, Baker goes long from the HFF to the square where Ugle-Hagan marks over the pack for his third goal. (Q3 4:49)
Ashcroft engineers the next centre clearance, Neale kicks from the wing to Gunston who beats Bruce to mark 30m out on a slight angle, he goals. (Q3 6:18)
Gunston marks a Zorko pass 45m out on the flank and cops a Bruce boot to the back of the left quad… but he gets up and slams through his second goal in a row! (Q3 10:33)
Ugle-Hagan boots his fourth goal from a contact free on Joyce 20m out on the flank, bit of a block before the ball arrived which was a bit soft but hey, it’s the Bulldogs! (Q3 15:48)
Another marking contest deep in attack for the Doggies and what ho, it’s another soft contact free against Payne on Naughton, he converts from the top of the square. (Q3 16:53)
That free was for a jumper tug, automatic free if the umpie sees it I suppose. (Q3 17:49)
Gunston kicks his third goal of the quarter from the HFF. More goals this quarter, even if neither side has been able to make a move. (Q3 19:33)
Lobb dives in front of Joyce to mark a Baker kick in the pocket 20m out, he goals off the left. (Q3 21:03)
Bontempelli launches a very long kick from 60m on a slight angle but it flies just wide, disappointing the home fans who wanted to bow down. (Q3 22:16)
Rayner plays on to advantage from a free near the hotspot to run into the open goal. (Q3 23:14)
Dunkley gets a free and 50m penalty after a hit by Scott to put him at half forward but passes to Bailey on the HFF, who doesn’t score. (Q4 2:15)
Daniher grabs the ball out of ruck 20m out on the flank but rolls it across the face. (Q4 2:45)
Answerth goes back with the flight on the wing to cause a spillage, Daniher gets a chance on the HFF but shoots wide. (Q4 12:18)
Halfway through Q4 and it’s still tight as a fish. This will come down to a few moments. (Q4 14:13)
Botrh sides have overloaded the midfield with bodies zoming up from the flanks and left spares in defence. That is a recipe for the low scoring in this one. (Q4 16:18)
Daniel feeds Williams for a long snap from the HFF that flies wide left. (Q4 20:32)
Scott gives away 50m at half back for timewasting, Andrews goes quickly to the pocket where Bruce is out of position and concedes a free to Hipwood 20m out. The Eel goals. (Q4 21:17)
5:11 to go and the Lions are a kick behind. The margin has been thereabouts ever since the Dogs put on three in a row in Q2. (Q4 22:18)
Bontempelli engineers a clearance from the wing, Naughton takes a big pack mark on the HFF and goes quick to the square where Williams marks in front of Ashcroft and goals! (Q4 24:43)
Answerth feeds Neale for a flying snap from 45m on a slight angle… across the face. (Q4 26:01)
Wilmot intercepts the rebound kick after that kick in and goes long to the pocket but English marks in relief. 2:30 to go, it’s the Bulldogs’ game to lose now. (Q4 27:03)
Coleman roves on the HBF but Naughton catches him HTB, red hot decision that one. Naughton drains the clock by lining up for goal, his kick is short and rushed. (Q4 29:01)
Richards intercepts the speculative kick in to the centre and the Dogs are home, tempo footy now. (Q4 29:14)
Liberatore passes to Ugle-Hagan who had been left alone at the hotspot, siren sounds and he lines up for number five… take that nuffies! (Q4 30:19)