Top 20 Home-and-Away Wins of the Beveridge Era: 20-11

The Western Bulldogs celebrate more than finals qualification against the GWS Giants in Round 24.

Senior Coach Luke Beveridge also celebrated a milestone of his own, leading the club for the 229th time; a club record.

Beveridge has achieved a significant amount in his time as coach of the club, most notably leading the club to the ultimate success in 2016, while also making the 2021 Grand Final as well. He is the only Bulldogs coach to reach more than 100 wins, and no Bulldogs coach had been involved in more finals wins.

So to celebrate, we wanted to recognise some of the best performances of his career. Obviously, the seven finals wins he has achieved would likely fill up our top 10, so we wanted to set ourselves a challenge and restrict things to just wins during the home-and-away season, so here we go!

20. Round 21, 2018  - North Melbourn 12.13.85 def by Western Bulldogs 13.14.92

It had been a difficult season for the Western Bulldogs, who had just six wins to their name as they entered the final month of the season. North Melbourne, meanwhile, were on the cusp of the eight, and had it all to play for when the two sides met at Marvel Stadium.

Having already accounted for the Bulldogs earlier in the season, it looked as though North were heading for another victory early in this match, when they skipped away to a 28-point lead at half time.

But in Dale Morris’ 250th game, the Bulldogs played an inspired third term, booting eight goals to two in the quarter to claim the lead.

The final term was a lot more cagey, with each side kicking one goal each but it was enough to see the Bulldogs put a major dent in North Melbourne’s finals chances. Tory Dickson booted three goals, while Marcus Bontempelli kicked two goals from 35 disposals, but the highlight of the day came from Morris himself, who halved a crucial contest while outnumbered two-to-one in the final term, to halt a crucial North Melbourne attack.

The Western Bulldogs secured victory for Dale Morris in his 250th game. Source: Getty Images

19. Round 14, 2021 – Geelong 12.11.83 def Western Bulldogs 11.12.78

The Western Bulldogs had proven themselves to be one of the competition’s best during the 2021 Season, but their terrific form clashed with a hoodoo that they been stuck with for almost 20 years – a clash against Geelong at Kardinia Park.

In a tense match featuring two top-four sides, the match ebbed and flowed and the lead changed several times, before Toby McLean dribbled through a major in his first game of the season, to give the Bulldogs the lead with a few minutes remaining.

However, there was to be a late twist, as Gary Rohan marked from 45m with seconds left, and eventually booted through the winning goal after the siren. The goal saw the Bulldogs fall short by just five points in one of the most even games of the season, but it left Bulldogs fans in no doubt that this was a team that could be a serious Premiership contender in Season 2021.

18. North Melbourne 5.8.38 def by Western Bulldogs 25.17.167, Round 3, 2021

Goals, goals and even more goals.

In a Good Friday encounter under the roof at Marvel Stadium, the Western Bulldogs sent a swift warning to the rest of the competition that they were going to be a serious threat in 2021.

The main story of the day was Josh Bruce, who become the first Bulldog since Simon Beasly to boot 10 goals in a game, bookending the perfect day with three goals in the opening term, followed by another four in the last.

The truth is that the Bulldogs had winners all over the park that day, crushing North Melbourne in every facet of the match, winning by a club record margin of 128 points.

Josh Bruce celebrates his 10th goal in the 2021 Good Friday Match. Source: Getty Images

17. Western Bulldogs 14.13.97 def West Coast Eagles 14.3.87, Round 1, 2015

Despite everything that has happened in the last 10 years, Luke Beveridge’s very first game in charge remains one of his most memorable even to this day.

Following a summer where the club lost its captain, coach, CEO, and numerous experienced stars, very few gave the Bulldogs a chance of amounting to anything in 2015. Little did anyone know the journey that Beveridge would take us all on, and it started with a win over eventual Grand Finalists in West Coast.

Twice during the game the Bulldogs trailed by as much as 15 points, but they continued to rally, with a crucial goal to new signing Tom Boyd giving the Bulldogs the lead halfway during the final term, and from there they managed to hold on for an emotional 10-point win.

16. Round 15, 2015 – Western Bulldogs 14.10.94 def Gold Coast Suns 11.7.73

For three quarters, this looked like one Bulldogs fans would prefer to forget.

In windy conditions in Cairns, the Bulldogs struggled desperately to adjust to the conditions, and had been outplayed by the Suns for large portions of the game; at one stage in the third term, the Suns’ lead had ballooned out to 37 points.

The Bulldogs gained the ascendancy late in the term, but could only manage a string of behinds, and still trailed by 26 points at the final change.

But as the Bulldogs continued to push, the goals started to flow. Marcus Bontempelli and Jake Stringer each kicked two in the final term, and the Bulldogs as a team rattled on 10 final-quarter goals, to take home a comfortable 22-point win in one of the most thrilling comebacks in Luke Beveridge’s tenure.

The Western Bulldogs walk off victorious after a stirring comeback against Gold Coast. Source: Getty Images

15. Round 12, 2024 – Collingwood 12.10.82 def by Western Bulldogs 15.10.100

A recent performance, but a worthy addition to the list, the Western Bulldogs met Collingwood earlier this year at a time where the reigning premiers were beginning to recover from a slow start to the season, and were only percentage outside the Top 4.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile were starting to build into some nice form of their own, but had yet to frank it with a big scalp.

But after having conceded three goals in the opening seven minutes, the Bulldogs were immediately caught on the back foot, and the chances of pulling off a win against the Magpies were looking increasingly unlikely. Despite the Bulldogs settling and refusing to give up the fight, they still trailed Collingwood by 11 points at three quarter time.

But Marcus Bontempelli – a name that has already featured rather frequently on this list, came to the rescue again, producing a terrific final term to help claw the Bulldogs over the line, as they booted five goals to none in a dominant fourth quarter. It was also a coming-of-age performance from Sam Darcy, who overcame a dreadful start to kick three vital goals in front of a hostile Magpie crowd.

14. Round 21, 2019 – Essendon 4.9.33 def by Western Bulldogs 21.11.137

Smith. Naughton. Dickson. McLean. Dickson. Dunkley. McLean. Dickson. Dale. Naughton. McLean. Dale. Dale. Hayes. Schache. Johannisen. Schache. Lloyd. Schache. Hayes. Macrae.

In a game the Bulldogs had to win to keep their finals hopes alive, they piled on 21 consecutive goals, while the Bombers had just one goal to their name with five minutes left in the match.

Will Hayes celebrates one of the Bulldogs' 21 consecutive goals. Source: Getty Images

13. Round 16, 2019 – Western Bulldogs 10.11.71 def Geelong 7.13.55

The Western Bulldogs took a while to really establish themselves as a competitive team during the first half of 2019, but by the time they faced Geelong in Round 16, they were starting to hit their straps. But against a side that they had struggled against historically, this would be a big challenge.

The Cats started strongly, quickly registering six scores before the Bulldogs even hit the scoreboard themselves. But the Bulldogs recovered well, and over the course of the next three quarters, slowly chipped away at Geelong’s lead. It wouldn’t be until 12 minutes into the final term that the Bulldogs would gain the lead for the first time in the night, but once they did, they never let go.

In a low-scoring goal, young star Aaron Naughton played a crucial hand up forward, kicking 4.1 and proving himself to be the best player on the ground. He was ably assisted by Sam Lloyd, who kicked three goals of his own.

12. Round 15, 2018 – Western Bulldogs 15.13.103 def Geelong 15.11.101

Almost exactly one year prior, the Bulldogs and the Cats faced off under the Marvel Stadium roof once again, but this time, a much more entertaining shootout would ensue.

The Bulldogs had struggled throughout most of 2018, and had lost their previous five games, while Geelong were pushing for yet another Top 4 berth.

Coming off a heartbreaking loss to North Melbourne the week prior, the Bulldogs brought a heat early and matched Geelong for most of the first half, trailing by one point at quarter time and going into the main break with a six-point lead.

What was most impressive about the display was that it was the Bulldogs young brigade who were making things happen. Players like Josh Dunkley, Ed Richards and Bailey Williams were proving to be key pieces in the display, and when the Bulldogs jumped the Cats early in the second half, they had built up a 24-point lead.

But as expected, Geelong came again, and did so in such a rush that they managed to reclaim the lead at three-quarter time, with the Bulldogs needing to rally again.

Two instinctive snaps from Richards and a Jackie Chan-style goal from Billy Gowers provided the spark that the Bulldogs needed to wrestle back the lead, but Geelong came late. Gary Ablett gave the Cats a chance with a late goal, and then Harry Taylor took a mark with seconds to go to give himself the opportunity to win the game after the siren. But his kick went horribly askew, and it gave the Bulldogs a memorable two-point win.

The Western Bulldogs celebrate victory after Harry Taylor's post-siren miss. Source: Getty Images

11. Round 20, 2024 – Geelong 7.6.48 def by Western Bulldogs 13.17.95

A hattrick of Geelong games to wrap up Part 1 of this series.

The Western Bulldogs just don’t win in Geelong. They had done so in the final round the previous year, but Geelong’s season was over, and several of its stars had been rested. Prior to that game the last time the Bulldogs had defeated Geelong in Geelong was back in 2003.

As a result, many expected that normal transmission would resume for Geelong, a side with Top 4 ambitions once again. But the Bulldogs had other ideas in muddy conditions, and jumped the Cats early, becoming the first team to keep Geelong goalless in the opening term at Kardinia Park since Chris Scott took over as coach.

Only inaccurate kicking prevented the Bulldogs from extending their lead in the second and third term, but always had the Cats at arms length throughout the match, and they eventually cashed in during the final term, booting five goals to none to take out a 47-point win; Geelong's heaviest defeat at Kardinia Park in 18 years.