Jamarra Ugle-Hagan lit up Marvel Stadium tonight, finishing with five goals, including the first and the last of the match, as the Western Bulldogs broke through for their first victory of the season, upsetting Brisbane 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53) in a 14-point victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
The margin didn't get beyond a Dogs third-quarter lead of 15 points, and it was tense right up until the final siren, with Eric Hipwood cutting the gap to two with five minutes remaining.
Aaron Naughton had two crucial moments late – soaring high to pluck the ball before getting it in deep to Bailey Williams, extending the margin back out to eight, and a key rundown tackle on Keidean Coleman.
The first half of the game was more stagnant than it should have been; both sides are capable of freewheeling, fast-flowing footy, but the respective full-ground defences made that impossible.
It was messy all round, with forwards unable to capitalise on opportunities, and defenders struggling to clear the ball effectively with poor skills.
Marcus Bontempelli was the star early as the Dogs came out full of fire after a lacklustre opening two weeks. The skipper was determined to set the tone, whether that was intercepting a Lions forward entry or having multiple involvements in a passage of play, finishing with 10 disposals at the first break and 28 for the match.
The Lions showed patches of promise, but were well-beaten at centre clearances and gave away a number of free kicks inside their defensive 50.
Slowly but surely the Dogs had kicked four consecutive goals across the second and third quarters before Jack Gunston finally saluted for Brisbane's third, fourth and fifth majors, having gone into half-time with 2.9 (17) in the bank.
Gunston's strong form was important given the struggles Joe Daniher had in front of goal, particularly early, missing two straightforward shots and attempting to pass off – but turning over – a third. He finished with 0.4 for the night.
Lachie Neale found plenty of the footy, while Brandon Starcevich was steady in an under-the-pump defence.
Proud Ugle-Hagan stands tall
A week after Ugle-Hagan was subjected to horrific racial abuse, the rising young Dog produced the first goal of the game, following a turnover caused by debutant Arthur Jones. Ugle-Hagan's celebration produced an image of the ages, echoing Nicky Winmar's famous action by lifting his jumper and pointing at his skin with pride. Ugle-Hagan had taken a day off during the week, and it proved to be just the reset he needed, kicking five goals from nine touches.
Remember me?
Last year's Western Bulldogs best and fairest winner Josh Dunkley stood shoulder to shoulder with former skipper Bontempelli at the opening bounce, decked out in his new Brisbane uniform. While he was treated to a chorus of boos for most of his first term, he settled to produce a steady performance against his former side. Occasionally going head-to-head with best mate Adam Treloar, Dunkley recorded 23 disposals and six tackles.
Lions fail to capitalise
The result continues Brisbane's topsy-turvy start to the year, having been well beaten by Port Adelaide but blasting Melbourne out of the water (until the lights went out late in that game). Expected to feature at the pointy end of the season once again after shaking the finals loss monkey off the back last year, Brisbane's backline struggled to counter the Bulldogs' forwards, and its delivery inside 50 did no favours to its forwards against the tall Dogs.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 4.3 8.4 10.7 (67)
BRISBANE 1.3 2.7 6.8 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 5, Lobb 2, Baker, Naughton, Williams
Brisbane: Gunston 3, Neale, Cameron, Rayner, Hipwood
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Ugle-Hagan, Macrae, English, Daniel
Brisbane: Neale, Ashcroft, Starcevich, Dunkley, Gunston, Andrews
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Bruce (hand)
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Robbie McComb (replaced Rory Lobb in the fourth quarter)
Brisbane: Noah Answerth (replaced Darcy Fort in the third quarter)
Crowd: 23,665 at Marvel Stadium
