Dogs revival cops reality check

The Bulldogs were smashed by 65 points. Source: News Corp Australia

THE Western Bulldogs' ambitions for a strong revival in 2014 received a reality check as a hungry and polished West Coast opened the season in style.

Missing skipper Ryan Griffen, the Bulldogs were beaten at their own contested game as they were belted by 65 points at Patersons Stadium.

Essendon recruit Stewart Crameri kicked two goals but couldn't provide the strong focal point the Bulldogs need him to be, finding most of his ball away from dangerous areas in his first appearance for his new club.

LIVE HQ: EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE AND STAT FROM THE MATCH

Shaun Higgins, making his latest comeback from injury, provided better news with an encouraging return.

Robert Murphy and Lachie Hunter of the Bulldogs celebrate a goal in Murphy's 250th match. Source: Getty Images

Finishing with 23 touches and two goals, Higgins played on after requiring treatment late in the second term when he copped a knee to the head from a flying Nic Naitanui.

Youngster Jack Macrae also stood up, finishing with 31 possessions and two goals.

All-Australian ruckman Will Minson was overwhelmed by the Eagles' formidable three-pronged ruck battery, with Naitanui, Dean Cox and Callum Sinclair all complementing their on-ball work with time in attack.

Jack Darling of the Eagles is congratulated after kicking a goal. Source: Getty Images

For a Bulldogs outfit that under Brendan McCartney likes to hang its hat on a quality in-and-under game, there was a sorry set of numbers to underpin the match-defining 39-point deficit at the major break.

The Eagles smashed the Bulldogs 89-64 in the contested possession count in the first half, with clearance star Tom Liberatore kept on a tight leash by Scott Selwood and Matt Priddis.

Liberatore was held to just nine touches in the first half as a deep West Coast midfield rotation assumed control.

He battled on strongly in the second half as the Bulldogs rejigged their on-ball set-up but the damage had been done.

The visitors so often attempted to handball their way out of trouble when confronted by an effective Eagles zone.

Eagle Sharrod Wellingham is caught by Jason Johannisen. Source: News Corp Australia

The Dogs had 24 more handballs than kicks for the opening half as they struggled to penetrate, with just four scoring shots a miserable return.

Robert Murphy got a couple of consolation goals to mark his 250th match after moving forward in the second half, but it failed to stem the bleeding as the relentless Eagles continued to extend the margin.

The biggest ovation for the evening was reserved for departed Eagles icon John Worsfold, who completed an emotional lap of honour at half-time to mark the end of his 24 years at the club as a player and coach.

The future looks bright under rookie coach Adam Simpson, who maintained the tradition of all of his predecessors at the club by winning his first game in charge.

West Coast's towering forward set-up should continue to provide plenty of match-up headaches, and while some of the big men didn't make it count, the midfielders hit the scoreboard to complement Mark LeCras' five-goal haul.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson addresses the team. Source: News Corp Australia

Luke Shuey's second goal, a stunning volley out of mid air from the top of the goal square in the third quarter, provided the exclamation mark as the Eagles ensured a marathon opening round ended the way it started - with a WA team making a statement.

BEST

Eagles: LeCras, Cox, Rosa, Mackenzie, Priddis, Selwood, Darling.

Bulldogs: Macrae, Morris, Murphy, Boyd, Liberatore, Dahlhaus.

VOTES

3- LeCras

2- Cox

1- Rosa

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