THE WESTERN Bulldogs woke from their slumber after halftime to see off a determined Gold Coast SUNS unit by 38 points in Saturday night's AFL clash at Darwin's TIO Stadium.

The SUNS went into the long break with a deserved three-point lead afterdominating crucial periods of the first half.

But Gold Coast's wayward return of 2.9 came back to haunt them, with the Bulldogs booting seven goals to two in the second half to set up the 9.18 (72) to 4.10 (34) win in front of 8724 fans.

Suns skipper Gary Ablett, who played the majority of the game acrosshalf-back, looked bothered by a leg injury as he attempted to shake off a tight tag from Liam Picken.

Ablett also copped a physical battering from several of Picken'steammates, with the Bulldogs using every opportunity to target the 28-year-old, who finished with 29 possessions.

League convert Karmichael Hunt tallied 16 first-half possessions beforefading, while upgraded rookie Kyal Horsley continued his bright start to his career with another busy effort.

Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Boyd, defender Brian Lake and 150-gamemilestone man Ryan Griffen were influential in the result, while late inclusion Zephaniah Skinner booted a memorable 50m goal off just onestep in the final quarter.

Since losing their opening three games of the season, the Bulldogs havewon four of their past five to get back within striking distance of the top-eight.

The Dogs' victims have included Melbourne, GWS, North Melbourne and Gold Coast, but a true test of their top-eight credentials will come over the next fortnight when they take on Geelong and Sydney (SCG).

The SUNS are yet to win a game this season, but led North Melbourne andFremantle at half-time, and Essendon and GWS at three-quarter time before being overrun.

Gold Coast SUNS midfielder Harley Bennell looked the worse for wear in theopening quarter after copping an off-the-ball bump from the Bulldogs' Dylan Addison.

Although the bump didn't appear overly malicious, it was well off theball and Addison faces a nervous wait to see whether the match review panel decides to lay any charges.

Bennell returned to the fray after several minutes, and booted a crucial goal in the second quarter as the SUNS entered the long break with a slender lead.

But the game was blown open in the third quarter as the Bulldogs creatednumerous opportunities up forward.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.3 2.6 6.12 9.18 (72)
GOLD COAST 1.5 2.9 3.10 4.10 (34)

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Jones, Giansiracusa, Dahlhaus, Cordy, Grant,
Higgins, Picken, Skinner
Gold Coast: Lynch, Bennell, Prestia, Smith

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Lake, Griffen, Boyd, Cross, Wallis, Liberatore, Picken
Gold Coast: Stanley, Ablett, Caddy, Horsley, Iles, Shaw, Prestia

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Zephaniah Skinner replaced Ayce Cordy at
three-quarter-time.
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton replaced Seb Tape in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Hay, Wenn, Ryan, Fleer

Official crowd: TBC at TIO Stadium.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.

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Karmichael Hunt says the arrival of the annual Rugby League Origin period has steeled his desire to help steer the SUNS to the finals in coming years so he can again experience big time football.

Hunt showed his immunity to pressure last weekend and was among only a handful of SUNS players coach Guy McKenna could walk away from the loss to GWS with their heads held high.

He said he loved playing Origin during his career in rugby league because it was played at an intensity that home and away club football could not match.

A taste of September action for the SUNS remains one of the few missing achievements in his remarkable career and Hunt said a finals appearance would be the closest match to his league representative experiences.

He said in any code, premierships had to be the pinnacle but that doesn't mean he wouldn't love to see the AFL re-introduce rep footy and believes it can be just as successful as it is in rugby league.

'Personally, I think winning a premiership with your team mates is at the very top but they are not that easy to do,'' he said.

'Rep footy gives everyone a chance to experience a truly big game with all the fanfare and crowds that come with them.'

And finals and rep footy are played at an intensity that just isn't matched by home and away matches, they are the ultimate test.''

But he insists it would only work if the coaches supported the concept as they do in league where club's consider it a source of pride if they produce representative level players.

'If they did I'd do everything in my power to get a game,'' he said.

'There is no reason why State footy can't work, it would just take total commitment.

'It won't work if the best players aren't involved.'

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