Blog log from R1 of 2026: Western Bulldogs vs Western Sydney

Callaghan snaps the first goal of Q2 after Bontempelli had slaughtered him in Q1 to help the Bulldogs to an early lead. (Q2 1:53)
West passes to the flank for Naughton to mark in front of Laverde 40m out, the set shot is a peach for his first goal. (Q2 6:05)
Liberatore’s blind handball causes a turnover in the centre but Brown’s snap from 30m is limp and cut off by Khamis. (Q2 9:16)
Darcy beats Riccardi in ruck to tumble through a goal from 20m on a slight angle. (Q2 11:45)
Bontempelli roves a poor rebound kick by Himmelberg on outer wing and passes inboard for Davidson 40m out on a slight angle, who converts. (Q2 13:42)
Gruzewski marks in a pack 40m out on the flank but nicks the far left post with the set shot. (Q2 18:34)
Davidson roves Naughton’s contest to a long Baker speculator to a pack 40m out on a slight angle, he jinks onto his left boot and curls in a lovely finish off a step. (Q2 19:30)
Bontempelli marks over Callaghan in the square from Naughton’s pass for his third goal. Bulldogs in scoreboard control, albeit not in general play. (Q2 21:44)
Naughton juggles the mark in front of Laverde from Kennedy’s centre clearance kick to 45m in front. His set shot is another peach. (Q2 23:15)
Callaghan marks a short Stringer pass at true CHF and sails through a long strong diamond, post-height! (Q2 26:39)
Bontempelli soccers from the centre towards CHF at the opening contest, Fonti gives away a red hot HTB free just inside true CHB but Williams misses. (Q3 0:43)
Sanders gives behind a pack 45m out on a slight angle to Liberatore who snaps the goal off the left. (Q3 1:55)
Centre clearance Liberatore, albeit off half back this time, Naughton takes the pack mark 35m out for another one for the Dogs. (Q3 3:34)
Naughton marks again in front of Laverde 35m out from Richards’ short pass, and goals again. (Q3 5:19)
Bontempelli again involved out of the centre, Idun gets caught in possession and drops it, Williams gives a Joe the Goose special for Darcy. (Q3 6:34)
Greene receives from Rowston and grubbers through a goal from 35m in front. (Q3 11:31)
Bontempelli hooks to the right from a set shot from outside true CHF. (Q3 13:45)
Brown soccers a crumb across the face to the right from 10m out. (Q3 15:48)
O’Donnell is penalised for a soft hold on Greene 40m out on the flank, Doggie fans bay for him then woof when he misses near side left. (Q3 16:49)
Dale passes from outside CHF to Baker 40m out on a slight angle, who tries a J-curve set shot that curls in nicely. (Q3 19:20)
Lewis passes to Naughton 25m out in the pocket after yet another Bullies centre clearance, who misses near side left. (Q3 21:20)
Rowston roves and goals from 20m. (Q3 22:19)
Thomas’ chase forces a turnover on outer wing, Stringer passes to the fat side for Gothard to mark 40m out on a slight angle but he misses to the left. (Q3 29:38)
Williams misses a set shot from 45m on the flank on the 3QT siren. (Q3 31:56)
Darcy leaps in front of Buckley to clunk a mark from a high Bontempelli inside 50 kick to the hotspot, he converts to kick off Q4 junk time. (3 Qtr Time)
Greene marks an Ash pass just inside true CHF and shoots to the left. (Q4 3:19)
Gothard catches Liberatore HTB who was trying to scuttle away from a stoppage in defence. He lines up from 45m in the corridor, but shanks for no score. (Q4 4:56)
Freijah wins back a footy he had turned over in midfield, then receives for the pass to the pocket for Naughton for his fifth goal. (Q4 6:00)
Kennedy bounces through a goal off his left from 30m. (Q4 9:02)
Naughton gets a holding free on Buckley for number six from 20m. (Q4 10:00)
Coniglio sharks a Hynes handball, baulks Bontempelli and shoots for a nice goal from 35m. (Q4 10:00)
Bramble joins the party with a snap goal. (Q4 15:44)
Dale roves English’s hit out from the centre that rolls all the way through CHF to 40m, pivots and misses to the right. (Q4 15:44)
Fonti gives away a contact free to Darcy 40m out on a slight angle, who misses to the right. (Q4 21:55)