Bulldogs flog Carlton, vying for fourth

The Western Bulldogs blew open the race for the AFL top four by thrashing Carlton by
68 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
The clash between the fifth and sixth-placed teams was expected to be a tight
affair, but the Bulldogs' superior skill, organisation and finishing shone out in
their 20.6 (126) to 8.10 (58) win.
The Doggies showed signs of their very best with a six-goal term in the second
quarter and then Barry Hall hit a purple patch in the third quarter with three
goals, all from strong marks on the lead.
Hall finished with six goals, equalling his best haul for his third club.
Brian Lake was again superb in defence despite spending the first few minutes of the
game in attack and midfielders Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen and Matthew Boyd hurt
Carlton with their combined run and kicking power.
The Bulldogs' win took their win-loss record to 9-6 and kept them in fifth spot, but
they closed the gap on fourth-placed Fremantle to one game with seven rounds
remaining.
Fremantle's shock defeat to lowly Richmond on Saturday night meant the battle for
fourth spot and the double chance is far from over.
The Bulldogs and Fremantle play at Etihad Stadium in round 17.
Carlton, meanwhile, have an 8-7 record and are a game and percentage behind the
Bulldogs after a loss in which they turned the ball over regularly and had no bite
in attack.
The Blues had the chance to claim an early advantage when they booted the opening
goal of the game, but wasted a handful of chances and went to the first break with
1.5, 15 points down.
The Bulldogs offered no such generosity in the second quarter, as Shaun Higgins
kicked a beauty from the flank, Griffen sped away from Paul Bowers for another and
Jarrod Harbrow gifted a goal to Brad Johnson with a great pass after three bounces.
When Boyd goaled after intercepting Andrew Carrazzo's handball, the Doggies led by
40 points just before half-time.
Rodney Eade's side added another six goals in the third quarter and had three
figures on the board when Jarrad Grant burned off Kade Simpson and ran into an open
goal.
Carlton's horror day was capped in the last quarter when defenders Bret Thornton and
Dennis Armfield barrelled into each other and allowed Higgins to kick the simplest
of goals.
Hall's haul took his season tally to 54, four behind Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, who
booted five goals in the win over the Dockers.
Griffen and Boyd booted two goals apiece, along with Robert Murphy from half-back.
The Bulldogs' defence was again impressive, as Lake cut off Carlton attacks and
finished with 28 disposals, while Dale Morris kept Eddie Betts goalless and out of
the game.
Carlton's onballers got enough of the ball without using it nearly as well, but
skipper Chris Judd and half-back Andrew Walker were two of their better players.
The Bulldogs play lowly Port Adelaide on Saturday night, while Carlton host Sydney
at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.