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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Scott Heinrich

AFL 2021 round 18: Western Bulldogs shade plucky Suns – as it happened

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (centre)
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (centre) showed glimpses of his enormous potential in Western Bulldogs’ win over Gold Coast in round 18 of the AFL season. Photograph: Glenn Hunt/AAP

Summary

It might not have been pretty or entirely convincing, but the Bulldogs did enough to see off a brave Gold Coast team and return to the top of the ladder. They will stay there only if Melbourne lose to Hawthorn tonight.

Though the margin was narrow, the Bulldogs will take this victory and move on as they continue their push towards the business end of the season. Their top-end talent all stood up when it mattered - Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Smith were influential - but the story of the game is the arrival of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. The No 1 draft pick left behind his innocuous debut to stamp himself as a player of the future, kicking three goals and taking five marks in an assured performance.

Though beaten, the Suns were not disgraced. They were well served by Touk Miller, the game’s leading possession getter with 38, and young guns Noah Anderson and Jack Lukosius. Coming into this game on the back of successive victories, getting to within two goals of one of the flag favourites speaks well of their development.

Updated

FT: Western Bulldogs 14-6 (90) beat Gold Coast 11-13 (79)

The Suns were gallant and made the Bulldogs work all day for this one, but class told in the end and with four points in the bag the Dogs return to the top of the ladder. For a few hours at least.

Updated

Q4: 6 seconds remaining: Gold Coast 11-13 (79) vs Western Bulldogs 14-6 (90) Suns goal! King has the last word with the game as good as over, taking a strong contested mark and kicking truly in the last meaningful action of the match.

Q4: 1 min remaining: Gold Coast 10-13 (73) vs Western Bulldogs 14-6 (90) Ainsworth misses with his shot on the run and the last rites are now being read, save for a nice mark in the pocket by Corbett ... and another behind for the Suns.

Q4: 2 mins remaining: Gold Coast 10-11 (71) vs Western Bulldogs 14-6 (90) Dogs goal! That hurts the Suns. And that is the game. Bontempelli is instrumental again before Weightman marks inside-50 and shows maturity beyond his years, calmly slotting his set shot to hammer a nail in the Suns’ coffin.

Q4: 3 mins remaining: Gold Coast 10-11 (71) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) Oh boy. Another big moment that doesn’t work out for the Suns. King looks to have taken a strong contested mark on the boundary but is ruled to have juggled the ball over the line while taking it. Throw-in. Throw-up for Suns fans.

Q4: 4 mins remaining: Gold Coast 10-11 (71) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) The Suns rush forward again and again the ball ends up with Sexton, who closes in on goal and looks set to make it very interesting ... but his shot on the run cannons into the goalpost. Big moment with the Suns coming hard.

Q4: 6 mins remaining: Gold Coast 10-10 (70) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) Suns goal! Ooh, that’s made it interesting. Sexton strolls into an open goal after a good entry by Rowell and dribbles it through to get the Suns to within three straight kicks. At the very least they are making the Dogs work for this one.

Q4: 7 mins remaining: Gold Coast 9-10 (64) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) Suns goal! King drops forward after some nice contested work in the middle of the ground, winning an obstruction free that Williams is unimpressed with. But no matter, the big Sun now has a shot from directly in front thanks to a 50m penalty. Can’t miss that one and he doesn’t.

Q4: 10 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-10 (58) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) They won’t lie down. But the Suns can’t do it with behinds. Anderson’s kick on the run looks good off the boot but, yep, misses to the left. And then Sexton follows suit, his snap missing to the right. They get an A for effort today, the Suns.

Q4: 13 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-8 (56) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) Sexton looks all set to have a crack on goal but is run down in another win for the Dogs. They’re trying, the Suns, against all odds but look bereft of answers against a very good side. They’ll need the next one or this could get a bit ugly.

Q4: 15 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-8 (56) vs Western Bulldogs 13-6 (84) Dogs goal! The puff looks to have gone out of the Suns as the Dogs work the ball to Naughton, who does the rest from about 40m out. And now King looks to be moving gingerly after taking a knock in a marking contest.

Q4: 17 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-8 (56) vs Western Bulldogs 12-6 (78) Dogs goal! The Bulldogs work the ball forward with speed and purpose and the Suns get done on the transition as JJ marks inside-50 and converts his set shot. A two-goal play there. The Suns have it all to do.

Q4: 19 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-8 (56) vs Western Bulldogs 11-5 (71) Oh the margins! An early inside-50 for the Suns and Lukosius looks to have drilled a big goal from range, but the ball clips the post padding for a behind only. That would’ve made things interesting.

3QT: Gold Coast 8-7 (55) vs Western Bulldogs 11-5 (71)

The Dogs keep threatening to kick away but the Suns keep coming back. They are brave, no doubt, but if the Bulldogs cash in on their inside-50 dominance (46-27) they just might kick away in the final term. We shall see.

Q3: 1 min remaining: Gold Coast 8-7 (55) vs Western Bulldogs 11-5 (71) Great tackle by Flanders on Keath - nothing lousy or stupid about it - and King is the beneficiary, marking strongly and making a good fist of his difficult set shot. But not good enough. A behind. The Suns need goals.

Q3: 2 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-6 (54) vs Western Bulldogs 11-5 (71) Dogs goal! Even more cruel for the brave Suns as Weightman wins a holding free - and didn’t he give the umpire every look at it - before drilling his set shot to give the Bulldogs some breathing space.

Q3: 3 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-6 (54) vs Western Bulldogs 10-5 (65) Tough luck for the Suns as Atkins’s shot on goal looks to have done enough but a Bulldogs fingernail forces a score review ... and it’s umpire’s call. A behind.

Q3: 5 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-5 (53) vs Western Bulldogs 10-5 (65) Dogs goal! But that is much better from the Bulldogs as JU-H takes a strong contested mark and converts with a big, booming snap that he didn’t exactly flush but works all the same. That’s three now for the second gamer.

Q3: 6 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-5 (53) vs Western Bulldogs 9-5 (59) Bontempelli is again clean in the clinches, releasing Weightman with a low pass that the youngster looks to take flush to the ground. But the umpire isn’t convinced. And the look on Weightman’s face is priceless! Bruce then misses everything from a tough set shot. Not getting bang for their forward bucks this quarter, the Doggies.

Q3: 9 mins remaining: Gold Coast 8-5 (53) vs Western Bulldogs 9-5 (59) Suns goal! Gold Coast get behind the Dogs again as Keath leaves his man and Sexton capitalises, snapping truly under heavy pressure in an instant reply by the Suns. The game is more of as scrap now, much more on Gold Coast’s terms.

Q3: 10 mins remaining: Gold Coast 7-5 (47) vs Western Bulldogs 9-5 (59) Dogs goal! Dale slips a tackle or two and sprints across centre wing, going long to the top of the goalsquare. Bruce can’t take the grab but he can get boot on ball as the footy dribbles through for six points. Kind of needed that, the Bulldogs. The Suns have been good this quarter.

Updated

Q3: 11 mins remaining: Gold Coast 7-5 (47) vs Western Bulldogs 8-5 (53) Good work by Dunkley to keep the ball in play and work the Dogs out of their defensive 50. Lovely ball movement sees Weightman on the end of a chain of passes but there will be no shot on goal with Lemmens awarded a free in the marking contest.

Q3: 13 mins remaining: Gold Coast 7-5 (47) vs Western Bulldogs 8-5 (53) The Bont wins a free and sends the ball forward but Gold Coast have it covered and now opt to possess the ball across half-back. Lots of touches but no progress and Weightman pounces before Bruce marks strongly. But he fails to make the Suns pay as his set shot is pulled to the left.

Q3: 17 mins remaining: Gold Coast 7-5 (47) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52) Suns goal! Lemmens butchers at attempted kick out of trouble deep in defence but the Dogs can’t capitalise and Gold Coast win back the ball. Miller then goes deep from outside 50 and Ainsworth - very impressive today - marks strongly overhead before converting his set shot. Just the start the Suns wanted.

Q3: 19 mins remaining: Gold Coast 6-5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52) Welcome back for the second half. The Suns will need to do everything right from hereon. But it’s the Dogs with the early inside-50. Nothing doing. Yet.

Richmond fans, look away...

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin will not play again this AFL season after suffering significant kidney damage.

The triple Norm Smith medallist was taken to hospital after coming off second best in a collision with Brisbane hard nut Mitch Robinson in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 20-point win over the Lions on Friday night.

Richmond doctor Greg Hickey said he expected Martin to make a full recovery, but the 30-year-old will remain in a Gold Coast hospital for a number of days.

“Dustin stayed the night in hospital for observation and has been seen by a urologist this morning. He is feeling good and remains stable,” Hickey said. “Given the delicate nature of the injury and recovery timeline, he will not play football again this season.”

Tigers football performance manager Tim Livingstone said Martin’s health remained the club’s priority.

“We are incredibly disappointed that Dustin will spend some time on the sidelines but we are focused on his immediate well-being right now,” Livingstone said. “Dustin is in great hands with the medical and support staff around him and we will support him however we can throughout his recovery.”

The Tigers of old returned on Friday, snapping a four-game losing streak in Jack Riewoldt’s 300th game.

But Martin’s injury takes the shine off one of Richmond’s best performances of the year, which takes them to 8-9 and back inside the top eight.

- with thanks to AAP

Lots of chat BTL about the Saints-Power game today. Good win by Port, but where are they really at? Genuine premiership contenders or not?

HT: Gold Coast 6-5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52)

The Bulldogs were much more efficient inside 50 in that quarter, kicking five goals to Gold Coast’s two to take a deserved lead into the long break. The Dogs started getting on top in the contest and looked comfortably superior at times. It took some dogged resistance by the Suns to claw their way back after the Bulldogs kicked four straight. While there is less than two goals in it, the key indicators are pointing the way of the Dogs.

Q2: 1 min remaining: Gold Coast 6-5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52) Nice work by Atkins to evade his direct opponent and release King, who marks 25m out but makes a mess of his set shot as the ball hits the post. Anderson then has a crack but the strong breeze carries the footy across the face. Good finish to the quarter by Gold Coast but it’s goals they need.

Q2: 4 mins remaining: Gold Coast 6-3 (39) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52) Suns goal! They just won’t go away, the Suns. Good work again by Rowell to release Sexton, who gets onto his right and snaps truly from about 40m out from goal.

Q2: 5 mins remaining: Gold Coast 5-3 (33) vs Western Bulldogs 8-4 (52) Dogs goal! Take a bow, Tim English. Big tackle by the Dogs ruckman to pin Burgess and his set shot is a beauty, sailing through the big sticks from almost 50 out.

Q2: 6 mins remaining: Gold Coast 5-3 (33) vs Western Bulldogs 7-4 (46) Suns goal! Rankine bombs the ball long and it’s like shelling peas for Keath, who positions to advantage and sends the ball back the other way. But the Suns soon win back the ball and make a much-needed impression on the scoreboard as King brings the footy to ground before Ainsworth snaps truly from a sharp angle.

Q2: 9 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-3 (27) vs Western Bulldogs 7-3 (45) Dogs goal! Flanders spills a straightforward chance at half-forward - what would Homer say? - and the Dogs clear away from the resultant stoppage, with some brutal brilliance from Bontempelli paving the way for JJ to kick an easy goal on the run from 20 metres out. Dominant by the Dogs. Concerning passage of play from a Suns perspective.

Q2: 11 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-3 (27) vs Western Bulldogs 6-3 (39) Nice mark by Corbett but his set shot is a tough one, from about 40m out on a tight angle, and his attempt fades across the face of the goal. Not much happening forward of the ball for the Suns right now.

Q2: 13 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-2 (26) vs Western Bulldogs 6-3 (39) Dogs goal! The Suns are under heavy weather and Macrae kicks another, swooping on a turnover brought by a fine Weightman tackle. Four on the spin for the Bulldogs, who are now getting full value for their forward entries unlike in the first quarter.

Q2: 15 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 5-3 (33) Dogs goal! Rankine runs through the mark, incurring a 50-metre penalty and putting Keath from half-back to half-forward. Nice release by Daniel in heavy traffic to release Macrae, who snaps off a step to notch another for the Dogs. That’s three in a row.

Q2: 16 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 4-2 (26) Dogs goal! The Bont dishes out a big don’t argue to set up JU-H, who marks with confidence and kicks with even more - drilling his set shot from just outside 5o to put the Bulldogs in front. That was seriously good execution from a young man who is now up and away.

Q2: 19 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 3-2 (20) Back for the second quarter. It’s quite windy at Metricon but is “all over the place” according to Alastair Lynch.

QT: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 3-2 (20)

Dogs goal! Right on the siren! The Bulldogs rush the ball forward with time running out. Bailey Smith spins out of trouble and palms off to Daniel, who bananas off a step to get his side within a kick of the Suns. A bit cruel on Gold Coast, who were really good in the opening term. They possessed the ball when they needed, were tough in the contest and delivered the ball with precision to their forwards. But though outpointed, the Dogs clawed their way back at opportune moments to make it a five-point ball game at the first break.

Q1: 1 min remaining: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 2-2 (14) The Bont to Smith to English to Naughton - this looks more like the Dogs. But Bruce has company, lots of it, in a forward-pocket pack and the Suns nullify the threat before English has a crack from a throw-in and only just misses.

Q1: 1 min remaining: Gold Coast 4-1 (25) vs Western Bulldogs 2-1 (13) The Suns win the ball out of the middle again and Sexton takes a nice contested mark. But he fluffs his set shot from 50 out as Gold Coast miss for the first time today.

Q1: 3 mins remaining: Gold Coast 4-0 (24) vs Western Bulldogs 2-1 (13) Suns goal! Huge work in the contest by Rowell and now the Suns are away again. They go fast, direct and long into the forward-50 and it’s that man Holman again, who takes a nice chest mark in traffic before going back and splitting the uprights for his third.

Q1: 5 mins remaining: Gold Coast 3-0 (18) vs Western Bulldogs 2-1 (13) Dogs goal! A big moment for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who rises high for a nice overhead mark before kicking truly from range and a tight angle for his first major in league footy. Looking at that, it’s easy to see why he’s so highly rated. The first of many, no doubt.

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Gold Coast 3-0 (18) vs Western Bulldogs 1-1 (7) Dogs goal! It’s a chaos ball at the top of the square and the Suns defenders look to be handling it okay until Powell almost takes McNeil’s head off with an innocent but extremely high tackle. The Dogs are away. They did need to get moving.

Q1: 9 mins remaining: Gold Coast 3-0 (18) vs Western Bulldogs 0-1 (1) Good defensive pressure by the Suns and now Atkins gets involved across half-back as Gold Coast extinguish another forward entry by the Bulldogs. Keen to see what Atkins does today. He’s been anonymous since crossing from the Crows.

Q1: 11 mins remaining: Gold Coast 3-0 (18) vs Western Bulldogs 0-1 (1) Suns goal! Holman again! Sharp, crisp ball movement again from the Suns leaves the Bulldogs exposed defensively and Holman pounces on a loose ball over the top before kicking another through an open goal. Atkins on for Ellis. The ex-Tiger did a hammie and is toast. Not a great 10 minutes for the Doggies.

Updated

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Gold Coast 2-0 (12) vs Western Bulldogs 0-1 (1) Suns goal! Rowell and Anderson combine to work the ball out of congestion before a long ball forward is contested - badly - by two Bulldogs defenders, leaving Holman to crumb the ball and snap another for the Suns. Nice start by the home team.

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Gold Coast 1-0 (6) vs Western Bulldogs 0-0 (0) The Bulldogs go long and deep and Naughton looks reasonably placed at the back of a two-v-one but he can’t take the mark. The ball spills behind all and sundry for a behind. Ellis retreats to the rooms for treatment. Keep you posted.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Gold Coast 1-0 (6) vs Western Bulldogs 0-0 (0) Suns goal! The Suns chip the ball around across half-back and it works as Ainsworth finds room at half-forward before dropping deeper and taking a nice mark in space. His set shot is a ripper and the Suns are away. Nice possession football by Gold Coast. Is that their plan today? Keep it away from the Dogs? On this evidence, go right ahead!

Updated

Q1: 17 mins remaining: Gold Coast 0-0 (0) vs Western Bulldogs 0-0 (0) Another inside-50 for the Dogs. Bruce spills a gettable chance behind his direct opponent before JU-H collects the crumbs. His kick is smothered but at least he’s got his hands on the footy. The numero uno draftee will be keen to show up after a forgettable debut last week.

Q1: 19 mins remaining: Gold Coast 0-0 (0) vs Western Bulldogs 0-0 (0) And we’re away at the (new) home of football. Early ruck win for English and Smith sends the Bulldogs inside 50. But Collins takes a timely mark and rebounds for the Suns.

Not long now...

When we talk about the umpires it’s usually in critical terms. But credit where it’s due. Raise your bat with pride, Alex Whetton. What a thankless task the whistleblowers of the AFL perform. We are not as grateful, or as understanding, as we should be.

Too soon?

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but here is the latest on the AFL’s bid to stay one step ahead of Covid-19.

It’s not as bad as it could be. It could get worse. Let us hope it doesn’t.

No late team changes

Gold Coast

B: Wil Powell, Sam Collins, Sean Lemmens
HB: Jack Lukosius, Charlie Ballard, Jack Bowes
C: Brandon Ellis, Touk Miller, Jeremy Sharp
HF: Alex Sexton, Chris Burgess, Nick Holman
F: Izak Rankine, Ben King, Ben Ainsworth
FOLL: Caleb Graham, Matt Rowell, David Swallow
I/C: Noah Anderson, Josh Corbett, Brayden Fiorini, Sam Flanders
Sub: Rory Atkins

Western Bulldogs

B: Caleb Daniel, Alex Keath, Bailey Williams
HB: Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Bailey Dale
C: Jack Macrae, Bailey Smith, Ed Richards
HF: Jason Johannisen, Aaron Naughton, Cody Weightman
F: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Josh Bruce, Lachie Hunter
FOLL: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Marcus Bontempelli
I/C: Hayden Crozier, Lachlan McNeil, Roarke Smith, Riley Garcia
Sub: Anthony Scott

A hearty welcome back to Josh Dunkley.

Preamble

The show must go on. Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this round 18 clash between Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium. In the current climate, it’s something of an oddity for the “home” side to actually be playing at home.

We’re also lucky there is a round of games on at all. Australia’s worsening Covid-19 situation has now touched the AFL, but with players and staff from eight clubs who attended exposure sites returning negative test results it was confirmed this afternoon that round 18 would proceed.

All of which is good news for these two teams. The Bulldogs are at the pointy end of the ladder and can further their top-two claims while a victory for Gold Coast would do their unlikely top-eight ambitions no harm whatsoever. One would think the Bulldogs is a bridge too far for the improving Suns, but stranger things have happened. Either way, let’s just be thankful the game is happening.

Looking forward to this one, and to your company. If you’d like to get involved, you know the drill.

Updated

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