Player Ratings - Elimination Final

The Western Bulldogs kept their season alive last Sunday, recording an impressive 49-point win in their Elimination Final clash against Essendon.

Taking a three-point lead at half time, the Bulldogs powered away in the second half, kicking eight goals to none in the second half to coast through to a Semi Final encounter against Brisbane.

1. Adam Treloar

Worked hard to get himself into the game, particularly in the second half. Only went at 67% disposal efficiency, but it’s worth considering the conditions we’re trying. Laid five tackles (three

inside 50) to go along with his 28 disposals. A much-needed return to form - 7

2. Lewis Young

Battled hard again as a makeshift ruckman, and did a fine job once again, working with Tim English in what was a much more recognised ruck partnership this week (two ruckman, do you say?). His 18 hitouts may have only been combined with the eight disposals, two kicks and zero marks, but it was his ability to wear down Sam Draper that was his big contribution of the day. Also saw his defensive traits come to the fore again, with his 10 one-percenters a team-high - 7

4. Marcus Bontempelli

It was a slow start in the first term, recording just the two disposals, but flicked the switch from there, picking up nine touches on the second term alone to finish with 23 for the game. While the Bulldogs looked like fumbling every ball that game their way, Bontempelli was decidedly clean at the stoppages, and his teammates followed suit. Another positive return to form - 8

5. Josh Dunkley

Was barely sighted in the first half, but the Bulldogs made the crucial move at half time to change Dunkley’s role, pitting him against Darcy Parish, the man who with 24 first-half touches was effectively keeping Essendon in the contest. Parish still had 12 touches in the second half, but his impact had been greatly diminished in a major win for the Bulldogs - 6

6. Bailey Smith

His decision-making needs improvement over the summer, but for the time being he continues to be an important member of the Best 22. Understood to a tee what was required in the conditions, with 16 kicks from his 20 disposals, gaining 555m and booting a late goal to cap off the game - 7

7. Lachie Hunter

He always been an outside player, but regularly put his body on the line for his team, rarely shirking a contest all afternoon. Finished with 24 disposals for the afternoon, but was at his best when the game was up for grabs in the third term, picking up 13 of them in the quarter alone, to go with five tackles for the match - 8

10. Easton Wood

Spoke about his experience needing to be a factor in the finals series, even if the very best of Easton Wood has come and gone. Played on Jake Stringer for most of the match, and even though the former Bulldog booted two goals, they were just two of nine disposals, and two marks for the match. Wood won the battle hands down, and it went a long way to securing victory - 8

11. Jackson Macrae

Found the footy at will once again. Powered away in the second half to finish with a game-high 36

disposals, breaking the record for the most disposals ever record by a Bulldog. In addition to that,

he also picked up a team-high eight clearances- 8

Jackson Macrae led the way with a game-high 36 disposals against Essendon. Source: Getty Images

13. Josh Schache

A eleventh-hour reprieve after being named as the Medical Sub before ultimately replacing Jason Johannisen in the final 22. In conditions that didn’t suit him at all, he was excellent, floating between attack and defence, taking five marks and kicking 2.0 from 12 disposals, redeeming himself for a quiet final in 2019. Hard to see him coming out of the side now - 8

15. Taylor Duryea

Was back to his reliable best at the weekend, recording a team-high eight intercepts from his 18 disposals. His most notable contribution was the one-two combination with Roarke Smith that helped set up Schache’s third-quarter goal. And to think he only cost us a fourth-round draft pick - 8

19. Cody Weightman

Set the tone with a desperate smother on Dylan Shiel in the opening minutes, and maintained the intensity throughout the afternoon, regularly forcing Essendon opponents into rushed decisions. But it was his impact on the scoreboard that has captured the headlines. In what was a very close affair for three quarters, Weightman had four of the game’s 12 goals, and in such a low-scoring affair, it was a match-winning hand - 9

21. Tom Liberatore

Three more games like that, and the Bulldogs win their third flag. It’s a big call, but he has games

that include 35 disposals (17 contested), eight tackles, eight inside 50s, seven clearances, and a team-high 26 pressure acts, the Bulldogs just aren’t losing. The conditions were tailor-made for Liberatore, but it was still an immense showing - 9

23. Laitham Vandermeer

Didn’t win a whole heap of the ball, but impacted most times he went near it. Set up a goal for Mitch Hannan, kicking another one in the last term, and only an errant kick prevented him from getting another one, but earned his chance with a strong tackle on Laverne. The quintessential low-possession, high-impact game that the Bulldogs need from Vandermeer - 6

29. Mitch Hannan

Relieved of his auxiliary ruck duties, producing one of his best games for the club. Kicked 2.2 (his two misses were sharp chances), four tackles and a team-high seven score involvements. - 7

Mitch Hannan was a very influential contributor, playing a hand in seven of the Bulldogs 20 scores. Source: Getty Images

31. Bailey Dale

The reputation of being an All-Australian did little to influence his on-field output, collecting just the 19 disposals, but with 17 of those being kicks, he gained 702 metres at 84% efficiency. Regularly the man to be clearing the ball out of the back half, it’s been an extraordinary season for him – 8

33. Aaron Naughton

Quiet in the first term, he responded in kind to be the dominant key forward on the ground. Kicked an amazing goal from distance on the non-preferred right from the boundary line in the second term and grew into the game from there, taking a game-high four contested marks and adding a further two goals in the last term to kill off the contest. Extra credit for taking those marks against Jordan Ridley; one of the best one-on-one defenders in the competition – 9

34. Bailey Williams

Only had the 13 disposals, but recorded seven intercepts and two intercept marks in that, proving himself solid as ever in defence. Wasn’t always perfect in his disposal, but it was still a job well done keeping the Essendon forwards out in any case, and the conditions weren’t conducive for clean football in any case – 6

35. Caleb Daniel

Won just the 17 disposals and went at 53% efficiency. Even considering the conditions, his reputation would leave you thinking he should be using the ball better than that. The good news is that such a game is a rarity for him, and it hasn’t cost the Bulldogs, so you’d be expecting a return to form next week – 6

37. Roarke Smith

Given the task of quelling the influence of Andrew McGrath, and did it with minimal fuss. McGrath picked up 15 disposals while Smith collected 14 of his own, and took a crucial intercept mark deep in defence early in the last term to thwart an early chance for Essendon to get back into the game. If he plays a similar role this week, it might be to keep Hugh McCluggage under wraps, so no pressure, Roarke – 7

42. Alex Keath

In Round 21, without Keath, Peter Wright kicked 7.0. Against Keath in an Elimination final, Wright had seven handpasses, sure, but no kicks and no score. People will point to the stark contrast in conditions, but given how he has performed against a range of opponents at differing grounds this year, that is pretty disrespectful to the importance of Keath, who yet again showed just how necessary he is to this Premiership quest – 9

43. Ryan Gardner

Another who was given a late reprieve with Zaine Cordy falling ill the morning of the game. In his first senior outing for two months, Gardner excelled, regularly repelling the attacks launched by Essendon. He had a team-high eight spoils and two intercept marks, and all of his possessions came from intercepts. The Bombers have developed a reputation for being a high-scoring side in 2021, so for Gardner to be part of a backline that shipped just four goals for the match and none after half time is a major feather in his cap - 8

44. Tim English

Looked to make a real statement early, launching at the ball and clunked a number of strong marks. Faded a bit as the wet weather set in, but still worked hard and spent a lot more time in the ruck this week, recording 15 hitouts and 16 disposals - 6