Bulldogs get scalp as Lions premiership captain faces nervous MRO wait
The incident was just one moment in a high-scoring game that saw goal after goal go in the final 10 minutes, with the Bulldogs desperately trying to finish after falling behind by 26 points midway through the third quarter.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli excelled in multiple roles, including the deep forward role for a patch in the final quarter; Vice-captain Ed Richards took over at center to create multiple scoring opportunities for his team.
Marcus Bontempelli played multiple roles against the Lions.Credit: AFL Pictures
Even ruckman Tim English recovered from a low moment, conceding a centre-back goal to rival Darcy Fort deep in the final quarter. But English was intact. He scored a goal himself after a brave instinctive run allowed him to mark 15 meters from goal.
Bulldogs coach Beveridge may have gone overboard when he sang a song (if you want to call it that) during a television interview in the chambers after the game. But he refused to get carried away with the five-point lead. He conceded that struggling on just a flat patch was a sign that disappointments in 2025 could be avoided.
“We have a confidence that we are not that far away from the better teams last year,” Beveridge said. “Tonight was proof that we can close the gap.”
The Bulldogs’ only victory against a top-eight team in 2025 was against the Giants, but they pushed every team. The largest losing margin in the nine defeats was just 22 points.
They also deserved the win as their mistakes in the first three quarters could have been costly; The Lions will also rue some missed chances in the final quarter.
Here I am: Ed Richards provided plenty of early drive at the Gabba.Credit: AFL Pictures
The Bulldogs, who had spent the summer working to defend better and stay in contention, still conceded 106 points but Beveridge was pleased with his observations, given his assessment that the new rules made defending more difficult than ever.
They also showed courage to avoid scoring in desperate final minutes, but the stoppage rule will come under scrutiny after the referee failed to award a 50-metre penalty to Joel Freijah after the Lions’ Dayne Zorko took an uncontested mark on the run in front of him.
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Rory Lobb put in a great performance in his 200th game, while Michael Sellwood, Lachie Jacques and Connor Budarick put in good defensive performances in their first game for the Bulldogs.
“We’ve worked really hard on the disciplines of competition and defense, but it’s important that I don’t dwell in the past and that we all live in the present and move forward,” Beveridge said. “Based on what we achieved last year, in a relevant sense, [the win] “It is important for us.”
The Bulldogs now travel home to play the Giants, who showed they are in good form by beating Hawthorn at home.
They aim to start the season with two wins for the first time since 2021, when they made the grand final.
If you do, Beveridge might persuade punters to spend 99 cents to download “Tooth ‘n’ Nail,” a song he wrote with Andrew Kidman.
“I think our supporters should download this and see if it resonates with them, because it keeps playing over and over in my head,” Beveridge said.
That’s a better result than last year’s tune, called close but no cigar, which played like a broken record to Bulldogs fans in 2026.
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