The Dogs Stun The Cats
Last updated: Jul 3, 2018, 5:37AM | Published: Jul 2, 2018, 7:16AM
The Western Bulldogs put an end to a five-game losing streak, as they inflicted Geelong's seventh straight post-bye defeat. The Dogs got home by 2 points, as Harry Taylor missed a shot after the siren at Etihad Stadium on Friday Night.
Billy Gowers goaled to put the Dogs 11 points ahead with 10 minutes to play, and Geelong squandered two chances to trail by 9 points with 30 seconds left. Gary Ablett then brilliantly kicked a goal to cut the margin to 3, before Harry Taylor marked 40 metres out on a slight angle. He would miss, of course, and the Cats would lose in a heartbreaker.
It was a close contest all the way through, with the Cats leading by one point at quarter-time, the Dogs by six at half-time and the Cats by two at the final break.
Ed Richards booted two crucial goals in the fourth quarter before Billy Gowers finished a brilliant acrobatic effort to give the Dogs an edge.
Billy Gowers, take a bow!#AFLDogsCats pic.twitter.com/HjoZ5mCKLx
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2018
It was truly a team effort from a Dogs side with average games played of only 65 each, the lowest by far in the AFL, according to Stats Insider Data. Their more experienced players led the way, with Marcus Bontempelli had 24 disposals and two goals, Toby McLean 25 possessions, five clearances, 11 tackles and one goal, Josh Dunkley 27 possessions, seven tackles and two goals, and Luke Dahlhaus had 29 possessions.
The Stats Insider Model saw twelve changes in the In-Play Win Probability in an enthralling first half, before six more in the second half.
The Dogs were 82 percent favourites before Ablett's goal to trim the lead to 3 points, but they held on as Harry Taylor became Harry Failure.
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