A best-on-ground performance from Shaun Higgins has the classy Western Bulldog primed for a round one AFL return.
Higgins, who has not played since round three last year due to a navicular fracture in his foot, continued his progress to a comeback with the standout 33-possession showing for the Dogs in their practice match win over Carlton on Friday at Visy Park.
The Bulldogs broke away early in the game with a 32-point lead at quarter-time, with Higgins a key player in their dominance. The Blues hit back with a four-goal-to-one second term before a tighter second half, but the Bulldogs prevailed by 17 points.
They won 12.11 (83) to 9.12 (66) in their final competitive hit-out of the pre-season, with the Dogs to hold an intra-club next week ahead of their round one meeting with West Coast on March 23.
The Blues lost Brock McLean in the first term, with the midfielder hobbling off the field and heading to the club's headquarters for medical attention.
Although he played no further part in the game, the club said he was fine and had only suffered a knock, and was not going to be risked in the practice match.
The Blues expect him to be fit to play against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium next Sunday for the Blues' season-opener.
Higgins will take confidence out of the showing. He set up the play from half-back and also moved forward to use his damaging possession and poise, with the 26-year-old appearing in strong physical shape.
Higgins was supported by Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney, who kicked three goals from 21 disposals, including several vintage Cooney moments where he created space and time for himself and delivered the ball with precision.
Koby Stevens (20 disposals), Jack Macrae (25 and 10 tackles) and Lin Jong (19) were younger Bulldogs to show encouraging signs.
And after sitting out the first half Tom Liberatore had 20 disposals in the second half, including an amazing 16 touches in the third term alone when he controlled the clearances.
The Blues started the contest off the pace (the Bulldogs had 52 more disposals in the opening term), but they came into the game in the second quarter and were better thereafter.
Second-year forward Troy Menzel, who appears set for a more permanent role in the club's attack this season with his crafty left foot and goal smarts, supplied two majors.
Kade Simpson led the Blues with 29 disposals, with Mitch Robinson (17 and two goals), Ed Curnow (23) and Zach Tuohy (18) also solid contributors. New recruit Dale Thomas had 17 disposals but not a significant impact.
Carlton will be buoyed by what they saw before the clash with the Dogs, however, with big man Lachie Henderson playing for the Northern Blues against Footscray in the preceding VFL practice match.
Henderson, who had leg surgery in January, looked underdone but competed well in attack and is expected to be available for round one after getting through the contest unscathed.
The Bulldogs' prized No.4 draft pick from last year, Marcus Bontempelli, also played in the earlier game in his first appearance in his new club colours, and was involved in some creative passages of play.
CARLTON 1.2 5.7 7.10 9.12 (66)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.4 7.6 11.8 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Carlton: Waite 3, Menzel 2, Robinson 2, Garlett, Kreuzer
Western Bulldogs: Cooney 3, Giansiracusa 3, Cordy, Campbell, Dickson, Hunter, Macrae, Stevens
BEST
Carlton: Simpson, Robinson, Curnow, Thomas, Kreuzer, Waite
Western Bulldogs: Higgins, Cooney, Macrae, Goodes, Stevens, Hunter, Giansiracusa
INJURIES
Carlton: McLean (leg)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
REPORTS
TBC
Umpires: Donlon, Mitchell, Mollison
Official crowd: 4,000 approx at Visy Park
