The Bulldogs’ flag hopes are over after being comprehensively beaten by Hawthorn on Friday night.
And there aren’t a lot of pretty scores for the Dogs players from the game.
Every Western Bulldogs player rated out of 10 from the elimination final loss to Hawthorn.
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1. Adam Treloar
Kicked an opening-quarter goal. Worked hard in the second half to finish with 28 touches and six clearances. 6
2. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
A final to forget. Yet strangely, started the game on the bench, despite Hawthorn’s undersized defence. Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown said: “I can’t understand why Luke Beveridge did that. He’s tried a few tricks early and Jamarra hasn’t been able to have an impact on the game whatsoever. For a forward, he wants to impose himself on the game … Now he looks like his head is not in the game.” Didn’t touch the ball in the first term. Finished with 0.1 from four touches. 1
3. Cody Weightman
Not for the first time, was well beaten by Blake Hardwick. Applied decent defensive pressure (six tackles), but kicked just 0.1 from seven disposals. 3
4. Marcus Bontempelli
Manned up by Conor Nash at the first bounce and started strong, but then just one disposal in the second term. Gerard Healy pondered on AFL Nation: “You just feel like there’s got to be something wrong with the Bont.” Tried to put his team on his back at the start of fourth term with a couple of big plays, including a goal. 6
7. Rory Lobb
Can hold his head high. Went to Mabior Chol and clearly had the better of him. Fox Footy’s Brad Johnson said: “His positioning … his marking ability defensively have been excellent.” Finished with 13 disposals and six intercept marks. 8
10. Sam Darcy
It’s scary to think this guy is just 21 years old and just 28 games into his career. Kicked a brilliant goal in the first term, using his size to grab the ball out of the ruck then snap truly from 45m out. Ruck work was crafty and was just as good following up at ground level — and was even brilliant at getting back to intercept mark. Went missing in the second half though when Hawthorn got on top. 7
11. Jack Macrae
Started as the sub and came on in the third quarter. Immediately got to work to finish with seven touches. 5
12. Harvey Gallagher
Started promisingly with four touches in the first quarter, but hardly sighted across the next two. Subbed out late in the third term. 3
15. Taylor Duryea
Rotated through those Hawks small forwards. Finished with 11 touches. 4
18. James O’Donnell
Mainly manned up on Calsher Dear and was well beaten. 4
19. Liam Jones
Played mainly on Jack Gunston. Beat his man, but didn’t have the offensive output he was after with just six touches and four marks. 4
20. Ed Richards
Felt like something good was going to happen whenever he was near the footy early. Explosive start, setting up Aaron Naughton for the first goal of the game with excellent run and carry. Finished with 23 touches and 13 contested possessions, but went at 40 per cent by foot. 6
21. Tom Liberatore
Went to Jai Newcombe at the first bounce. Typically busy at the coalface with 25 disposals, 14 contested possessions and seven clearances. 6
22. James Harmes
Brought into the team during the week, but had just eight disposals. 4
23. Laitham Vandermeer
Lined up at half-forward on Karl Amon at the first bounce. Kicked one goal from 11 disposals. 5
27. Joel Freijah
Can be proud of his debut final. Spent a fair bit of time on Jack Ginnivan early. Tried to give the Dogs run from behind, finishing with 19 disposals, seven marks, six intercepts and four score involvements. 7
29. Lachie Bramble
Started on a wing next to Massimo D’Ambrosio. Had 19 touches and nearly 500m gained. 5
30. Lachie McNeil
Rotated between wing and a high half-back role. Just the 10 touches. 4
31. Bailey Dale
Rotated through several Hawks small forwards. Finished with 20 disposals and five rebound 50s, but didn’t have his usual high drive and impact. 5
33. Aaron Naughton
Played with more confidence and authority than what we’ve seen in recent weeks. Kicked the first goal of the game off his right boot and finished with three for the night — but off limited touches. 5
34. Bailey Williams
Kicked a telling goal in the second term, nailing a 50m bomb from a standing start. He’s now kicked at least one goal from each of his past five matches. Finished with 22 disposals and seven intercepts. 6
35. Caleb Daniel
Had a team-high five score involvements to go with 23 touches and six marks. 5
44. Tim English
Had a somewhat slow start, but kicked a set-shot goal thanks to a questionable free kick. Overall was well beaten by big-bodied opponent Lloyd Meek. 4
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