The Western Bulldogs reaffirmed their top-four credentials and exposed a huge gap in class and commitment between themselves and the next tier with a comprehensive 63-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Saturday.
The Dogs' 19.17 (131) to 10.8 (68) victory maintained the club's perfect record of triple-figure scores in every match this season and will have them primed for their next big assignment against Collingwood at the Dome next Sunday.
Allowed to run free for the afternoon, Adam Cooney collected a career-best 37 disposals in a four-quarter, best-afield performance that will surely trim a point or two from his Brownlow odds.
Matthew Boyd was not far behind in terms of effectiveness and numbers (32 possessions) while Scott Welsh top-scored for the winners with five goals including a freebie from the goalsquare in the final term when Joel Macdonald kicked the ball into the fence in frustration after Welsh had crumbed his fourth.
Jonathan Brown played a lone hand up forward for the Lions in drizzling conditions which didn't suit, with 22 disposals, 12 marks and three goals, though Luke Power was the visitors' best with 33 touches.
Simon Black managed 29 possessions but his effectiveness was limited by the close attention of Daniel Cross, while Travis Johnstone couldn’t shake Dale Morris or the effects of a niggling hamstring.
The Bulldogs totally dominated the opening term in terms of disposals, 120-87, clearances, 13-4, and inside 50s, 18-10, but trailed where it matters, on the scoreboard.
They were indecisive and indirect and lacked the focal point the Lions had in Brown who scored two of his team's three first-quarter goals from nine possessions and five powerful grabs.
Brown was left in the cold in the second quarter, however, as the Dogs got some continuity going to score five goals for the term to the Lions' two including two in a minute from Robert Murphy, both the result of quick, direct centre clearances.
After a quiet first-half, Jason Akermanis announced himself in the third quarter with eight touches and one of the Bulldogs' five goals for the term which enabled them to open up a 35-point lead at the final change.
That's pretty much how it worked for the Bulldogs - if it wasn't Aker it was Welsh, Nathan Eagleton, Mitch Hahn, Will Minson, Ryan Hargrave or Ryan Griffin bobbing up at the right time - none of them match-winners, just honest contributors.
A seven-goal final term showed the Bulldogs were not only prepared to run the match right out but more than capable of doing it.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.6, 7.12, 12.15, 19.17 (131)
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.2, 5.4, 8.4, 10.8 (68)
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Welsh 5, Akermanis 3, Johnson 3, Murphy 2, Cooney 2, Addison, Ray, Ward, Hahn
Brisbane Lions: Brown 3, Hooper 2, Brennan, Black, Drummond, Adcock, Corrie
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Boyd, Murphy, Eagleton, Griffin, Akermanis
Brisbane Lions: Power, Brown, Adcock, Stiller, Sherman, Drummond
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: Griffen (corked thigh)
Brisbane Lions: Johnstone (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Rischitelli (knee) replaced in Brisbane's selected side by Polkinghorne
UMPIRES: Donlon, Stevic, McInerney
CROWD: 39,320 at the MCG
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)
2. Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
1. Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)