AFL LIVE: Mystery surrounds Bulldogs star as Crows dominate Marvel blockbuster

The Western Bulldogs remain one of the great riddles of season 2026, but there is a danger they will be remembered as one of the great disappointments.

A strong start meant they won their opening four games, and were the last team to experience a loss. They then dropped their next four to serious premiership contenders Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney and Fremantle, not helped by injury, particularly to Tim English – their only legitimate frontline ruckman.

However, entering Thursday night’s clash against Adelaide, they were again in good form. Or so it appeared, having won four (against Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Collingwood and Hawthorn) of their past five games. But dig slightly deeper and those victories were by a combined 15 points, and none more than the six against the Hawks in round 13.

That’s why this clash at Marvel against the resurgent Crows was important. It provided the opportunity to not only embolden their own finals, even, dare we say, premiership hopes, but also give the wider football world reason to believe they’re serious challengers.

Instead, this was a night where the Dogs were a disappointment, slumping to a 57-point loss, with coach Luke Beveridge bemoaning they were “second rate”. Put simply, they were blown away in the first term, trailing by 41 points by the first break against an opponent resembling a smooth-moving cheetah desperate for a kill.

The Crows were super efficient, booting nine goals from only 17 inside-50s for the term. At one point, they had eight goals from 12 entries, exposing the Dogs’ lack of size.

Led by brilliant skipper Jordan Dawson, arguably the league’s best captain in a season when he has endured family tragedy, the Crows did as they pleased in the opening stanza. They won contested ball 45-33, and dominated in space with a 67-36 advantage in uncontested ball.

Dawson had three goals in the first term, and finished with the third-highest ranking ever for a quarter, while rival captain Marcus Bontempelli failed to have an impact.

“This is a mauling but, I tell you what, it is special to watch.”

For Dawson, this was surely one of the best games of his 166-game career. He finished best afield with 32 disposals, three goals, and five inside 50s, burning Matt Kennedy who had been sent to him.

“He is class, he is a warrior – we knew two or three years ago he was an outstanding leader,” coach Matthew Nicks said.

In the pre-game, Dawson opened up to Hamish McLachlan on Seven about the impact of his brother Jaryd’s death in April.

“It’s been a bloody tough time obviously, for myself and my family,” Dawson ex