Footscray has moved back into the VFL top four after a 24-point win over Werribee Tigers at the Victoria University Whitten Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs have enjoyed the two meetings against their western suburbs foes this season, beating them comprehensively in round two and repeating the dose seven weeks later.
It is no mean feat for the Bulldogs to complete the double against Werribee, who entered Saturday’s game on the back of a six-game winning streak.
Footscray opened up an eight-point break at quarter-time and managed to extend the lead at every change.
Anthony Bruhn had a day out in the Bulldogs forward line with four goals, but it was the Dogs defence, led by Kieran Collins, Matthew Boyd and Fletcher Roberts, that stifled the Tigers attack.
Footscray, last year’s premiers, are just a game and a half off the summit after the three teams above them on the ladder all got beaten in a round of upsets.
The Bulldogs will face third-last Collingwood next up at Victoria Park on Sunday at 11.45am.
The Magpies take good form into the game, having upset second-placed Port Melbourne last start.
In the women’s VFL, VU Western Spurs have been dumped from top spot after losing to second-placed Diamond Creek by 23 points at Plenty War Memorial Park.
The Spurs were on the back foot all day after conceding four-goals-to-one in the opening term.
They never gave up, closing to within two goals at three-quarter time, but they ran out of petrol in the last term.
Harriet Cordner was best-on-ground for the Spurs, while Alyssa Mifsud and Jessica Francke snared two goals apiece. The third-placed Spurs will host lowly Cranbourne at Henry Turner Reserve on Saturday.
Lance Jenkinson
