Player Ratings - Round 18

The Western Bulldogs returned to winning ways this week, grinding out a crucial 11-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium.

Against a Suns side that has improved vastly since our last encounter against them, the win did much for the Bulldogs, including maintaining a perfect interstate record for Season 2021, and go one step closer to secure that all-important top-two spot.

4. Marcus Bontempelli

While his 36 disposals was almost a career-best, his 15 clangers was easily the most he's ever had in a match. Went with a more brute force approach this week - something we rarely see from Bontempelli, often running through the stoppage and past 5-6 opponents before kicking long. His nine clearances and five tackles was further evidence of some of the grunt work he displayed, even though he looked to be carrying a shoulder injury through the match. Not his cleanest game, but still one that could carry vital Brownlow votes - 8

5. Josh Dunkley

Started like he never left, working his way up to 16 disposals to half time alone. The lack of match fitness told in the second half, finishing with 21 by the end of the night, along with a team-high seven tackles and four clearances from 75% game time. The real objective would've been getting him through the match in one piece, so job done in that regard. He'll be keen to build match fitness as we approach the finals - 7

It was great to see Josh Dunkley getting back into the swing of things. Source: Getty Images

6. Bailey Smith

Dare we say it, is the wheel starting to turn? That's three good games in the past month now, and with finals on the horizon, it's a good time to start hitting some sound form. His 33 disposals was second in the team only to Bontempelli, and there was also nine clearances and 426m gained in that display as well. Was a bit aimless with his kicking at times, but this was an important performance - 8

7. Lachie Hunter

Personally, I thought that this was easily his best game of the season, but it's hard to pinpoint why. There's no specific stat that can be pointed to that will categorically prove his value to the team. 27 disposals, six marks, three score involvements and tracking at 77% efficiency is all good on it's own, but it's his ability to constantly be an outlet for his teammates going forward which is most crucial - 8

9. Hayden Crozier

Back in the side after a fortnight-long stint in the VFL, and I'm not sure he did quite enough to consolidate his place in the side. He took two intercept marks, but only had three intercept possessions in total, and finished up with just ten touches for the match. Also had a couple of questionable moments in the air where he failed to impact the contest, and saw it result in Gold Coast goals - 4

11. Jackson Macrae

Back to his ball-winning best this week, with another 31 disposals and eight clearances. But he also managed to drift forward to help himself to two rare goals in the second term. Laid just one tackle for the game, but this was a good return to form - 8

12. Zaine Cordy

Where do we start? It felt like every time any Gold Coast player took a mark inside 50, Cordy would be trailing him by at least a few metres. It's not the first time this season that we've pointed out how opposition forwards regularly appear to gain several crucial metres of separation on Cordy, and it's a real concern that 97 games into his career, and these issues are still featuring on a regular basis. Managed just the four disposals either side of a period in the third term where he required attention for an injured arm; those numbers aren't a big factor in his rating, but those defensive numbers certainly are - 3

15. Taylor Duryea

Did all the right things as you would expect, clearing the danger area of countless occasions and normally hitting a target. Was useful between the arcs with three rebounds and four inside 50s, all the while gaining 445m with his 18 disposals - 7

17. Josh Bruce

Struggling a little bit of late, with just four goals in the past four weeks. Kicked one at a crucial stage in the third term to keep the Suns at arms length, but it was his only goal for the game in his 14-disposals, three-mark display. Still, as quiet as he has been, this month has still been far better than anything he put together last season - 5

19. Cody Weightman

Oh man, I couldn't tell you how much I would hate this guy if he played for the opposition. Fortunately, he plays for us, so I don't need to worry too much about that. His constant pressure and harassing, his ability to draw free kicks, his goal-sense, and his propensity to chirp to opponents and umpires alike give off the impression that he would be a very annoying opponent to deal with. Great for us, though. 2.0 from nine disposals, both goals being kicked at important times in the second half - 7

20. Ed Richards

Like Crozier, there were a few Bulldogs who allowed the Suns an easy goal thanks to their inability to kill the aerial contest - Richards was one of them, failing to properly spoil the ball in the third term. Aside from that he wasn't terrible; he went at 68% efficiency with his 19 disposals and gained 315 metres. He has been out of the game for a while, so it may take him a bit of time to really get into the swing of things. Still, much like Bruce, his form this year far exceeds last year - 6

22. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

A game-high 3.0 and a game-high four marks inside-50 in an 11-point win suggests that you've had a pretty big impact on proceedings. This was the sort of performance Bulldogs fans have been waiting patiently for Ugle-Hagan to produce. More than the way he converted his three difficult chances on goal, his ability to be involved in the play and in scoring chains was very promising. No doubt benefited from having an extra key forward down there to stretch the defence - 8

With three goals in an 11-point win, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was crucial to the Bulldogs victory. Source: Getty Images

30. Lachlan McNeil

Back in the side after being the Medical Sub last week and toiling in the VFL for several weeks before that. Kicked the first goal for the Bulldogs with the first of his 12 disposals, but didn't have much of an impact outside of that - 3

31. Bailey Dale

Did his job really well off the back flank, winning 30 disposals (including 20 kicks) and 742 metres gained. Also managed eight rebounds and went at 76% efficiency. It all led to just three score involvements, but he has a perfect understanding of when and how to take the game on - 8

33. Aaron Naughton

Unusually quiet by his standards, with just four marks from nine disposals. He did, however, kick an important goal early in the last term that just about put the Bulldogs out of sight - 3

34. Bailey Williams

Carried out his job fairly effectively, recording 14 disposals at 81% efficiency with 357 metres gained. Would probably like to be winning more of the football than that, but he continues to be such a reliable member of the back six - 6

35. Caleb Daniel

Still playing a role further up the wing, but it’s done nothing to diminish his impact on the contest. He only had seven kicks out of his 23 disposals, so its hardly a surprise to see him walk away with a 95% efficiency rate, but he also had seven score involvements, including two goal assists and a crucial major of his own right on the quarter time siren - 8

37. Roarke Smith

His two largest impacts on the game won’t be found in the stats column. The first was being yet another Bulldog guilty of mistiming a spoil and costing a goal as a result in the opening term. The second getting a fingertip onto a goal-bound effort on the line in the third term. Hardly sighted, otherwise - 3

38. Riley Garcia

The Bulldogs have been busy trying to find players that can play as a small pressure forward this year, and Garcia seems to be the man capable of filling that role. Was regularly involved in the play and constantly harassing his opponents; his 22 pressure acts was joint-second among all Bulldogs. He also managed 16 disposals and a goal assist - 8

39. Jason Johannisen

Had an impact offensively, kicking a couple of goals. It’s an outcome that you’ll take most weeks from a guy that is pretty clearly playing out of position, but continues to, at the very least, make a solid fist of things up there. Eight score involvements and six marks from his 14 disposals- 7

42. Alex Keath

I don’t even want to think about where we might be without this guy. A game-high five intercept marks and a team-high 10 intercept possessions as he not only kept Ben King out of the game, but thwarted several other promising Gold Coast attacks as well. There will be major problems if he goes down before the season is out - 9

44. Tim English

A career-high 37 hitouts from him, even if the Suns ruck stocks have been virtually depleted this year. He also had six clearances and a goal from his 14 disposals, but strangely, failed to take a mark - 7