Dogs post timely AFL win, but Murphy hurt

Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy suffered a hamstring injury late in their 40-point AFL win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

Murphy came off with only a few minutes left on Saturday as the Bulldogs dominated to prevail 13.12 (90) to 7.8 (50).

The Bulldogs badly needed a win after losing three of their past four matches, while the Saints were poor and blew a chance to break into the top eight.

Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer was best afield with five goals.

St Kilda looked the more likely team early, dominating the possessions 130-92 and taking 46 marks to 17.

But Stringer kicked his second just before quarter time and the Dogs led by a point.

Defenders Jake Carlisle, Nathan Brown and Sam Gilbert were working well, but Stringer was “on” and he kicked the Bulldogs’ first four goals.

After the Saints kicked the opening goal of the second term to regain the lead briefly, the Bulldogs kicked the next three and steadily took control.

They took a 16-point lead into the main break and Gilbert went onto Stringer, who spent some time in defence during the third quarter.

A brief flurry from St Kilds reduced the margin to nine points early in the third, but the Bulldogs’ workrate lifted.

They kicked five goals to two and a disastrous mistake just before three-quarter time gave Stringer his fifth.

Saints key forward Paddy McCartin dropped a sitter of a mark in front of goal, with the ball bouncing off his chest.

The Bulldogs went coast-to-coast and Stringer marked and goalled for a decisive 12-point turnaround.

It meant that instead of the Saints being 22 points down at the last change and having a sniff, they were 34 behind and well on the back foot.

Jason Johannisen’s goal three minutes into the last quarter gave the Bulldogs a 40-point break and the game was over.

Clay Smith was a late withdrawal with a calf muscle injury and ruckman Jordan Roughead took his place.

It was Roughead’s first game of the season after recovering from a serious hamstring injury.

His late inclusion meant four changes for the Bulldogs, which included key forward Travis Cloke’s omission.

The Saints were without veteran forward Nick Riewoldt because of bone bruising on a knee.

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