THE Western Bulldogs have secured a NAB Cup semi-final berth with a crushing 57-point win over Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
A six-goal performance from prized recruit Barry Hall helped lift the Bulldogs to a 1.15.12 (111) to 7.12 (54) victory.
Playing in his first match since his last for Sydney in round 13 last year, Hall stamped his authority on the contest in the opening stanza, booting four goals on ex-Kangaroo Josh Gibson.
The 33-year-old benefited from quality supply from a midfield that was well led by stand-captain Matthew Boyd who racked up a game-high 30 possessions.
Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen and Daniel Giansiracusa were also influential while rookie Brodie Moles was a busy contributor.
Josh Hill and Robert Murphy booted two majors apiece while Brian Lake restricted star forward Lance Franklin to just one goal.
For the Hawks, skipper Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Garry Moss won plenty of the football while rookies Kayler-Thomson and Carl Peterson showed some good signs.
Hall’s first major - a snap over his right shoulder from 30m out - came after less than two minutes of action.
He then converted a set shot after a superb pass from Boyd before Hill slotted one home to give the Dogs an early break.
The Hawks finally got on the board through Jarryd Roughead but a further two majors from Hall saw the Bulldogs go into quarter-time with a 22-point lead.
It appeared to be a matter of how far for the Dogs after the margin blew out to 31 points early in the second term.
But the Hawks lifted their rating and responded with three of the next four majors to remain within striking distance before Hall kicked his fifth at the 23-minute mark to give the Bulldogs a 24-point advantage at half-time.
Any hopes Hawthorn had of pulling off a come-from-behind win were quashed in the third quarter with the Dogs slamming on seven goals to two to establish a match-winning 55-point lead at the final change.
With the result well and truly beyond doubt both sides went through the motions in a lacklustre final stanza.
The Bulldogs will now face the winner of Saturday night's clash between West Coast and Port Adelaide.
HAWTHORN: 1.5, 4.7, 6.8, 7.12 (54)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 5.3, 8.7, 15.9, 1.15.12 (111)
SUPER GOALS: HAWTHORN: Nil
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Boyd
GOALS: HAWTHORN: Roughead 2, Morton 2, Breust, Hodge, Franklin.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Hall 6, Hill 2, Murphy 2, Moles, Giansiracusa, Cross, Cooney, Higgins
BEST: HAWTHORN: Mitchell, Lewis, Kayler-Thomson, Moss, Peterson, Sewell
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Hall, Boyd, Cooney, Griffen, Giansiracusa, Moles, Lake, Hill, Murphy
INJURIES: HAWTHORN: TBC
WESTERN BULLDOGS: TBC
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 17,222 at ETIHAD STADIUM
THE Western Bulldogs have booked their place in the second round of the NAB Cup with a hard-fought eight-point win over Brisbane in slippery conditions at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
The Bulldogs trailed by 19 points at half-time but took control of the contest in the third term before running out 1.5.14 (53) to 1.5.6 (45) winners.
Daniel Cross was a busy contributor with 21 possessions, Matthew Boyd collected 16 disposals, Adam Cooney was instrumental in the fight back while Andrejs Everitt booted two goals.
Justin Sherman starred for the Lions with three goals, including a super goal while former Sydney premiership player Amon Buchanan was impressive in the midfield in his first match for the club.
Star recruit Brendan Fevola managed just one goal but Brisbane coach Michael Voss would have been pleased with his attitude.
The Lions started brightly, winning more of the contested football and having the first six entries inside 50 of the contest.
A major from Fevola with his first kick as a Lion and a super goal from Sherman after the Dogs gave away a 50m penalty was their reward for their hard work.
They were the only goals in what was a scrappy opening stanza as Brisbane went into quarter-time with a 14-point lead.
The Dogs lifted their work rate and finally got their first goal of the match at the six-minute mark of the second term with Everitt slotting one home.
Despite matching the Lions at the stoppages the Bulldogs found themselves trailing by 19 points at the main break after youngster Jesse O’Brien converted a set shot and Sherman dribbled home his second.
A spray from Dogs coach Rodney Eade at half-time did the trick with the Western Bulldogs completely dominating the third term.
They won the clearances 9-3, inside 50 count 15-5, kept Brisbane scoreless and kicked three unanswered goals to establish a five-point lead at three-quarter time.
The Dogs should have been further in front at the final change but they were wasteful in front of goal, booting six behinds for the quarter.
Everitt’s second gave the Bulldogs some breathing space before Brisbane hit back almost immediately through Sherman.
The defining moment of the match came with just five minutes left on the clock. The Western Bulldogs were gifted a 50m penalty after a Lions interchange infringement which resulted in a super goal to Ryan Griffen.
Brisbane utility Jared Brennan kicked truly shortly after to give his side a glimmer of hope but the Dogs held firm in the dying stages.
The Western Bulldogs will now face Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on February 26 while the Lions will play on the NAB Challenge circuit.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 0.0.4, 0.1.8, 0.4.14, 1.5.14 (53)
BRISBANE LIONS: 1.1.3, 1.3.6, 1.3.6, 1.5.6 (45)
SUPER GOALS: WESTERN BULLDOGS: Griffen
BRISBANE LIONS: Sherman
GOALS: WESTERN BULLDOGS: Everitt 2, Cooney, Roughead, Jones
BRISBANE LIONS: Sherman 2, Fevola, O'Brien, Brennan
BEST: WESTERN BULLDOGS: Cross, Boyd, Cooney, Hudson
BRISBANE LIONS: Sherman, Buchanan, Rockliff
INJURIES: WESTERN BULLDOGS: Nil
BRISBANE LIONS: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Chris Donlon (1), Mathew Nicholls (15), Luke Farmer(4)
CROWD: TBC at MANUKA OVAL
WESTERN BULLDOGS recruit Barry Hall won't be able to join his teammates in full pre-season training for a few weeks after undergoing ankle surgery.
The 32-year-old, who joined the Bulldogs during trade week after walking out on Sydney in July, underwent an ankle arthroscopy last Thursday and is still on crutches.
Dogs coach Rodney Eade said Hall would be on a modified training program.
"He can start cross-training next Friday so he'll be doing boxing which obviously he's very good at, and bike and swim," Eade said.
"He'll start walking in a fortnight and then he can start jogging and running maybe in three weeks."
Eade believes the former Swans spearhead won't suffer as a result of his delayed start to pre-season training.
"He probably should have had the op probably when he finished his footy in mid-year, but he didn't, but it really hasn't put him behind," he said.
"He's done a fair bit of fitness work, he's done a fair bit of weights as well, so he's not going to lose a lot in that period of time, so he'll be fine."
Hall is one of the 13 Bulldogs that have undergone surgery in recent times. Of the other 12, only Sam Reid and Stephen Tiller, who both had major groin surgery, are likely to miss the start of the NAB Cup.
Meanwhile, delisted Carlton utility Jake Edwards was among the 28 players involved in Western Bulldogs training at Whitten Oval on Tuesday.
Eade said the 21-year-old, who managed to play just five games in his four seasons with the Blues, was a chance to be added to the club's list.
"We're looking for some taller forwards and defenders and he played his last 10 games last year at the Bullants in defence and did very well so he's certainly in the mix, whether it's senior list or rookie list," Eade said.
Edwards has strong links to the Bulldogs with his father Allan, grandfather Arthur and great-grandfather Frank Aked Sr having all played in the red, white and blue.
However, Eade said the club wouldn't be swayed by Edwards' family connection to the Dogs when it comes time to determine whether or not to pick him up.
"We're not into that emotion and it's a nice story if it works out but certainly that's not going to be the reason if we take him," he said.
The Western Bulldogs have picks 15, 31, 63, 76, 86 and 92 in this month's national draft. The last two will be used to elevate tagger Liam Picken and tall defender James Mulligan to the senior list.
They also have five open spots on their rookie list.after axing Henry White, John Shaw and Chris Ogle.
WESTERN BULLDOGS veteran Jason Akermanis has ended speculation about his playing future by signing a new one-year deal with the Bulldogs.
The 32-year-old, who finished the season undecided about whether to play on, said he was looking forward to his 16th season in the AFL.
"I am just excited to go again for another 12 months, it's a real bonus," Akermanis said.
"You are retired for a long time and I still feel I can play a valuable role for the team up forward and at times on the ball."
The 2001 Brownlow Medallist and three-time premiership player will be on a reduced pay packet in 2010 but he said money wasn't an issue.
"Football has never been about the money, it has been about the thrill and enjoyment of winning, that is the most important thing for me," he said.
"I believe that this team has a lot of success in front of it and despite the fact that it is such a hard game, I still have the passion to play AFL."
"I want to help the club take that next step."
Dogs football operations manager James Fantasia said Akermanis still had plenty to offer the club.
"He has a wealth of experience and still has the ability to turn a game off his own boot," Fantasia said.
"Jason has also developed into a fantastic mentor for our young players which is important as we continue to develop our group."
Taken in the 1994 national draft as a zone selection by the Brisbane Bears, Akermanis has played a total of 316 games and kicked 419 goals.
He made his debut for the Western Bulldogs in 2007 and has booted 112 goals in 68 matches.
TonyK
Cibbuano
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