The Western Bulldogs have denied the GWS Giants a fairytale start to their inaugural AFL season with a hard-fought six-point victory in the opening NAB Cup clash at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday night.
Having led by 13 points at the interval, the Bulldogs looked home midway through the second stanza after opening up a three-goal lead.
But the plucky Giants rallied with consecutive goals and came agonisingly close to levelling the scores on the siren before the visitors held on for a 0.5.5 (35) to 1.3.2 (29) win.
Young-gun Zephaniah Skinner (two goals and 11 touches) starred in the forward line while Matthew Boyd (17 disposals) and Daniel Giansiracusa (14) were everywhere for the 'Dogs.
It was a courageous start from the Giants, led by Rhys Palmer (one goal, 10 touches) and veteran Luke Power (six), while former Bulldog Callan Ward landed a super goal and earned six possessions in a strong debut for his new club.
It was a modest debut for former NRL star Israel Folau, who managed three touches but failed to get a kick and was substituted in the seventh minute of the second half by coach Kevin Sheedy.
The Bulldogs dominated the early territory and possession but had to wait until the seventh minute for their first major when Skinner swooped on a loose ball and kicked a running goal from 25m out.
Will Minson doubled the visitors' advantage moments later with a set shot from an acute angle after taking a strong contested mark.
A 50m penalty saw the Giants make a rare trip into Bulldogs territory.
Promising young-gun Curtly Hampton was awarded a subsequent free kick and calmly slotted the Giants' first goal in the 15th minute.
But the Bulldogs had the final say of the opening half when Skinner kicked his second from 49m.
Ward stuck the first blow of the second stanza with the first super goal of the contest five minutes in to cut the deficit to six points.
After a brief arm wrestle the visitors pulled away with consecutive goals to Daniel Cross and Matthew Panos to open up a three-goal lead.
But the Giants refused to go away, closing within a goal on the back of majors to Jonathan Giles and Rhys Palmer.
And when Phil Davis won the ball in front of goal the Giants looked set to steal a draw, but he was unable to hit an open Hampton with a handball just seconds before the siren sounded.
GWS GIANTS: 0.1.1, 1.3.2 (29)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 0.3.2, 0.5.5 (35)
SUPER GOALS: GWS GIANTS: Ward,
SUPER GOALS: WESTERN BULLDOGS: Nil
GOALS: GWS GIANTS: Hampton, Giles, Palmer
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Skinner 2, Minson, Cross, Panos
BEST: GWS GIANTS: Palmer, Power, Ward, Giles, Davis,
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Skinner, Boyd, Giansiracusa, Skinner,
INJURIES: GWS GIANTS: Nil
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Grun, Ryan, Harris