Player Ratings - Round 2

An early contender for Match of the Season was fought to the bitter end on Sunday, with the Western Bulldogs holding on in an absolute thriller against West Coast.

The match had just about everything, from bags of goals, lead changes, momentum shifts, high-scores and a close finish, but it was the Bulldogs who saluted their fans at home for the first time in 581 days. But which players stood out most of all?

1. Adam Treloar

Spent the majority of the last quarter in the middle of the ground, and contributed enormously. Registered nine disposals in the final term, and finished with 25 for the match. Also involved himself in plenty of positive Bulldogs moves, with eight score involvements - 7

3. Mitch Wallis

Had more of an impact this week, but unfortunately failed to make the most of his opportunities, with a dropped mark in the goalsquare and an effort snap killing off crucial momentum in the third term, and failed to make the distance with an effort in the last term. He was decent, otherwise, but his role in the side is to convert those opportunities. Still goalless after two games - 5

4. Marcus Bontempelli

Oh, wow. Set the tone with five clearances in the opening 15 minutes of the match, and finished his afternoon with 30 disposals at 93% efficiency, 14 score involvements, seven inside-50s, six marks, two goal assists, and three goals of his own, including the match-sealer inside the last minute of the game. The literal definition of a captain's game. I have no choice; if this doesn't get a 10, then no one will this season - 10

Oh Captain, My Captain. Source: AFL.com.au

5. Josh Dunkley

Is truly thriving in a more midfield-dominated role, and is once again showing the form we saw from him in the back-half of 2019. 25 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances are numbers that we just expect from him these days, and it was topped off with an opportunistic snap in the third term when the Eagles were on top - 9

6. Bailey Smith

Not as damaging as last week, but still contributed. 25 disposals and eight score involvements was certainly useful, but recorded just seven kicks, which undoubtedly limited his overall impact on proceedings as he gained just 174 metres for the afternoon. Certainly got Bulldogs fans off their seats on several occasions as he burst down the wing, but it just didn't carry last week's magic - 7

7. Lachie Hunter

Like Smith, wasn't quite at his best this week, but the positive is that he still had an impact. 21 possessions is quite low by his standards, but it included six score involvements and two goal assists, showing that he doesn't need massive possession numbers to help out the team - 6

8. Stefan Martin

Wasn't able to combine with English to such great effect this week, as Nic Naitanui was dominant throughout the match. But battled hard, and earned his paycheck with an important intercept mark late in the last term. Six clangers - 5

11. Jackson Macrae

Couldn't have done any more, but handing out two 10s at this stage of the season I think would undermine its value, so I can't hand out a perfect score for Macrae. But I'm sure he'll find solace in the 41-disposal, 14-score involvement, nine-clearance, eight-inside-50 outing that he enjoyed at the weekend. We're still keeping track of how many more disposals he needs to crack into the top-10 all time leading possession-winners for the Bulldogs; he's now just 441 adrift - 9

15. Taylor Duryea

Continues to do what he does best - remaining a calming influence on the rest of the defence. Did his bit with 22 disposals, seven marks, six intercepts and five defensive rebounds. Will continue to be underrated, but equally important - 8

17. Josh Bruce

Remember how excited we all were when we prized Josh Bruce from St Kilda? Well, it's taken him over a year, but it looks as though he's finally arrived. It's only the second time he's kicked more than two goals in a match since arriving, but he's looking far more threatening than he did at any point last year. Put the exclamation mark on his 3.0 performance with a massive last quarter goal, and with North Melbourne up next - a club he historically has a prolific record against - there's an opportunity to set a platform for a big season - 8

21. Tom Liberatore

With dad Tony in the stands, son Tom thrived on-field in game 150, producing quintessential Liberatore performance; one of endeavour and skill. He's always been the type of player who just has a habit of winning the contested ball at crucial stages, and did so again on several occasions during a frenetic last term, which contributed to his 26 possessions. Also won nine clearances and had eight score involvements - 8

The name "Liberatore" continues to endaer itself to the Bulldogs faithful. Source: Getty Images

23. Laitham Vandermeer

10 disposals. Seven score involvements. That alone tells you all you need to know. Vandermeer didn't have the biggest game, but when he did get on the ball, he contributed. Missed a couple of opportunities from set shots in the second term, but more than made up for it. Directly set up goals for Bontempelli either side of half time, and assisted a third goal late in the game for Naughton. Also gave us the opportunity to trawl up his secondary nickname of "Clutch" with his blistering run and goal to put the Bulldogs in front late. Great energy as always - 7

27. Patrick Lipinski

Little quieter this week, accruing just the 20 disposals, although he did hit a target with 17 of them. Given the midfield depth the Bulldogs possess, he's always one that is likely to fly under the radar, but will continue to improve. Smothered a Tim Kelly attempt on goal during the last term when the Eagles had the momentum - 6

28. Anthony Scott

Was fairly quiet, but rarely will you see a second-gamer dominate in such a high-octane setting. Will be much better for the experience, but it just wasn't his game - 2

30. Lachlan McNeil

Much more involved in the game compared to last week. Didn't look anywhere near as rushed when on the ball, and it was his anticipation that led to Vandermeer's goal in the last quarter, with his anticipation helping to instigate a swift Bulldogs counter-attack - 4

31. Bailey Dale

This transition into defence is looking even more the goods with each passing week. He's not a genuine one-on-one defender, but his aerial prowess allows him to drift in and effect marking contests across half back. His three intercept marks and eight intercept possessions were both team-highs, and he went at 82% efficiency with his 17 disposals - 8

33. Aaron Naughton

Looked nervous up forward early, with some inaccurate goal-kicking and indecisive forward play, but came up trumps in the last quarter with two massive goals, including one that put the Bulldogs in front for good with his third goal of the game. Four marks inside-50 (a team-high eight for the match) highlighted his ability to keep Jeremy McGovern occupied - McGovern finished with 0 intercept marks. Also, for all of the critics that highlight Naughton's struggles in front of goal, he has a set shot conversion rate of 65% since the start of last year - an elite record, according to Champion Data - 8

34. Bailey Williams

It was terribly unfair on him to have to combat against key forwards much superior in size to him, but he got on with the job, and never stopped trying. His reward was a contest against a player much more his size (but still dangerous) in Liam Ryan in the dying minutes. On his own against three Eagles opponents, he won the contest, and it set up Bontempelli's sealer. A deserved highlight for an underrated star - 8

35. Caleb Daniel

Did kick the first goal on the game, and finished the match with 26 disposals, but wasn't at his absolute best. Missed a few targets that you would expect him to hit, with one of his six clangers including a horror turnover that gifted Jermaine Jones a goal from 10 metres out. The positive also is that his lack of height wasn't greatly exploited by the Eagles tall forwards - 6

42. Alex Keath

Was solid in his 50th game. Did the basics right with his seven one-percenters, six intercepts and six spoils all helping, and used the ball pretty well in his 14-disposal game, but was stretched on numerous occasions with the Eagles height up forward. Harsh on him as he probably could've done with more help, but with the Kennedy, Darling and Allen combining for nine goals, it's hard to justify a big score - 6

43. Ryan Gardner

See above. Can't be faulted for any lack of effort or any glaring errors, but being able to keep everything out was always going to be a tough ask. Did his best in the contests that he did manage to get involved in, with nine one-percenters and eight spoils. Deserves credit for his manning of the mark in the last term, getting his fingertips onto a goal-bound effort from Jamie Cripps - a goal would've seen the Eagles out to a game-high 18-point lead - 7

44. Tim English

Was fairly quiet, actually. Got his hands to the ball in several marking contests, but it didn't stick like it has done in the past. Kicked an early goal and took a pair of intercept marks, but things just didn't click for the Bulldogs ruckmen today - 4