AFL

Marcus masterclass: Bont inspires as Dogs thump Giants

Mar 14, 2026

A dominant performance from Marcus Bontempelli has inspired the Western Bulldogs as they extended their hot season start with an 81-point demolition of bitter rivals GWS.

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The champion midfielder's brilliance was on display from the opening minutes and the Giants had no answers as he kicked three goals from 33 damaging disposals.

Backing up last week's win over reigning premiers Brisbane, the Bulldogs were tougher, cleaner and more efficient throughout, with a run of six unanswered second-quarter goals setting up the 21.8.134 to 7.11.53 victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs extended the margin at every change, from 16 points at quarter time to 38 at half-time and 58 at three-quarter time.

Tom Liberatore (29 possessions, six clearances) and Matthew Kennedy (27 and seven) were influential in the engine room, while Ed Richards (19 and six) also did his bit in his 150th game.

With the Bulldogs obliterating GWS around stoppages, the Giants were unable to contain tall forward duo Aaron Naughton (six goals) and Sam Darcy (four goals).

Skipper Toby Greene worked hard for the Giants, winning 26 disposals as a starting midfielder, and Lachie Ash racked up 31 touches, but GWS never looked up for the fight.

There were few positives for the Giants, though Finn Callaghan showed no signs of rust after missing training with soreness during the week, kicking two goals and winning 27 disposals.

A sickening head clash in an aerial contest in the Bulldogs' forward 50 left three players feeling worse for wear, with Dogs debutant Will Lewis and Giants defenders Harry Himmelberg and Jayden Laverde all coming to the bench as a result.

The Giants can ill-afford to lose any more players to injury, with a handful of key players already on the sidelines.

Co-captain Tom Green (ACL) has been ruled out for 2026, Josh Kelly (hip) is expected to miss most of 2026, and star defender Sam Taylor (hamstring) is still at least six weeks away.

Tagger Toby Bedford (hamstring) and forward Aaron Cadman (pelvis) are also unlikely to be seen before the Giants' round-four bye.

Luke Beveridge's side managed just two wins from 11 matches against top-eight teams in 2025, but with wins against the Lions and Giants to start 2026, the Bulldogs have already taken two scalps from last year's finalists.