‘It’s a bitter pill’: The key fourth-quarter moment that cost the Dogs dearly in knockout final thriller

September 6, 2026 — 1:10am

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Adelaide: The Western Bulldogs were brave, they were willing, but just lacked that touch of class that the competition’s top-shelf contenders possess.

In a nutshell, the Bulldogs’ 22-point elimination final loss to Adelaide was a microcosm of their 2026 season.

Their evening couldn’t have begun more horribly when defender Michael Sellwood was concussed by a stray football during the warm-up.

Their backline was summarily rejigged, their midfield – piloted brilliantly by Ed Richards and Joel Freijah – had a huge say in proceedings, but it was ultimately their forward efficiency (or lack thereof) that cost them a semi-final berth.

The Dogs chalked up repeat entry after repeat entry, especially early, with the Crows hemmed inside their defensive-50 at the river end. But the visitors just couldn’t make Adelaide pay – not early when they had all the ascendancy, and not at the start of the final term when they looked as though they had discovered a second wind to roll over the Crows.

In the end, it was a familiar finish for Luke Beveridge and his Bulldogs.

“We unfortunately lacked a bit of polish,” Beveridge said.

“We couldn’t convert or complete some of our prime opportunities at different times.

“On the flipside, we were giving........

© The Sydney Morning Herald