Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson has produced a stunning last-quarter burst to notch a career-best six-goal haul in a see-sawing AFL win over Adelaide.
The 20.11 (131) to 17.12 (114) victory in front of 17,159 fans at Etihad Stadium in Adam Cooney’s 200th game, gave the Bulldogs three wins from their past four matches and seven so far this season, just one fewer than the Crows.
Along with Dickson’s six, big man Tom Campbell kicked four majors for the Dogs while young midfielder Tom Liberatore amassed 30 disposals to continue his fine season.
The Bulldogs led for much of the day, bursting to a three-goal lead at quarter-time after kicking three goals in four minutes late in the term.
But the Crows lifted the pressure in the second and third quarters.
You might like
They kicked two quick goals late in the first half to cut the margin to five points.
Then, after the Dogs again skipped 17 points clear early in the third term, Adelaide put on a run of six unanswered goals in 18 minutes to build a 22-point lead.
They dominated the midfield for the quarter, taking the ball inside their attacking 50m arc 18 times to the Dogs’ eight for the term.
Bernie Vince, Richard Douglas and Patrick Dangerfield all had a big quarter, with 24 disposals and nine clearances between them for the term, as Adelaide’s hard work in the packs and hard running gave them the ascendancy.
Stay informed, daily
But the Bulldogs kept themselves in touch with goals to Dickson and Campbell late in the term to make the gap nine points at the last change.
It took just three minutes of the final quarter for the Dogs to hit the front, Cooney setting up Daniel Giansiracusa for a major then kicking one himself.
The Crows hit back with goals to Tom Lynch and Ian Callinan to take a seven-point lead.
But Dickson answered with three goals in six minutes, from a clever left-foot snap, a free kick and a mark.
And Mitch Wallis and Koby Stevens quickly made it five in a row and a four-goal lead for the resurgent Bulldogs early in time-on to seal victory.
Ruckman Will Minson was a key for the Dogs, with his tapwork particularly influential in the last-term surge.
Vince and Douglas were two of the Crows’ best, while Andy Otten and Ian Callinan were dangerous up forward with three goals each.
