Bulldogs run over Lions in Canberra

Star recruit Brendan Fevola kicked just one goal in his debut AFL match for Brisbane
as the Lions were narrowly beaten by the Western Bulldogs in their opening round NAB
Cup match.
Canberra's Manuka Oval was soaked following two days of rain, which cleared for the
match, but the slippery conditions still made for a scrappy, low-scoring game.
The Dogs recovered from a slow start to triumph 1.5.14 (53) to 1.5.6 (45) in front
of a crowd of 3,707.
Fevola, traded away by Carlton in frustration at his poor off-field behaviour,
kicked the first, and his only, goal of the match within minutes of the start.
Joined by other mature recruits Brent Staker and Amon Buchanan, the Lions' forwards
helped move play down from the midfield to dominate the first half of the match.
The Lions led 1.3.6 (33) to 0.1.8 (14) at the long break.
Playing without skipper Brad Johnson and former Sydney captain Barry Hall, the
Bulldogs' first-half game was lacklustre and far from the standard that took them
within a whisker of last season's grand final.
But in the second half the sun came out and the Bulldogs lifted their game.
Helped by dryer conditions and the dominance of their on-ballers, particularly Adam
Cooney, the Bulldogs gained momentum and kept the Lions scoreless in the third term
to take a five-point lead by the last change.
Strong performances from stand-in captain Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross and
Matthew Boyd and goals from debutants Liam Jones and Jordan Roughead helped them
take control.
The Bulldogs' class and composure again showed in the final term as they ground
their way to a hard-fought win in a highly physical match.
One concern for the Dogs was classy youngster Shaun Higgins, who left the ground
cradling his arm.