Essendon fights off persistent Western Bulldogs side by 31 points at Etihad Stadium Courtenay Dempsey celebrates a goal during the Bombers' 31-point victory over the Western Bulldogs. WESTERN Bulldogs supporters might just storm AFL House tomorrow if Nathan Hrovat misses this week's Rising Star nomination. Last night they went home seething with fury after the pint-sized onballer was dudded the goal which might have earnt the Dogs their season's fifth win. The stakes might not have been as high as Tony Liberatore's preliminary final goal-that-wasn't, but it must have felt like that last night. A Bulldogs side which had worked so hard to overcome clear discrepancies in talent and polish was on the verge of something special. Already having overcome a Jake Melksham goal kicked a clear metre over the boundary line, they were two goals down and charging half-way through the final term. Then came the game-changer from which they would not recover. Tom Liberatore's perfectly executed chase-down tackle on Brendon Goddard was rewarded and in an instant Luke Dahlhaus had flicked the ball to a surging Hrovat. Without breaking stride he kicked truly from 35 metres, and the Dogs were finally within a goal. Yet despite the advantage rule being introduced for moments like this, the umpire brought back the decision. Not one person in the 32,500-strong crowd had the faintest idea. In the commentary box St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt hit the bulls-eye: "That is the decision of someone who doesn't understand the game." And with that, the Dogs' chances were gone. Jason Winderlich kicked one of the goals of the round - and celebrated accordingly. Minutes later, after a costly Dahlhaus set-shot miss and some Essendon class in the closing minutes, the Dogs would taste defeat yet again, this time by 31 points. That defeat would have tasted terrible, for the Dogs had displayed more heart, had more possessions, more clearances and more inside 50s. Hrovat's 25 touches were surely good enough for that Rising Star nod, Tom Liberatore racked up another 11 clearances, and Dahlhaus's three goals were a return to form. The ultimate reflection that the Dogs were on song - even forgotten forward Jarrad Grant was excellent with 19 touches and some nice passages of play. But for all the moral outrage and angry calls to talkback last night, the reality was that Essendon kept the Dogs at arms length for much of the afternoon. They had 11 more scoring shots, class from the likes of Jason Winderlich (four goals, 23 touches), and enough key position stars to make Dogs fans weep. Essendon coach, James Hird, denies his side 'got out of jail', saying he believed the Bombers were the better side. First they kicked six goals to start the game, then showed enough poise to rebound after a mid-game stretch in which they allowed the Dogs six of seven majors. Jobe Watson might have been absent, but Brent Stanton, Brendon Goddard and Dyson Heppell all had 27-plus touches and one goal or more. Courtney Dempsey's rebound off halfback and three goals cut the Dogs to ribbons, and Jake Melksham had the better of Ryan Griffen. They could be content, too, that in a season where Essendon is being pitched as the evil empire, at least the anger from the Etihad fans were reserved for the men formerly-in-white. The Dogs can get angry, or they can get even. Because as much as they battled away yesterday, the lack of even a bail-out option from half-forward was as costly as that pair of umpiring decisions. And the club which has those talls stockpiled is Essendon. They can ask nicely about acquiring Scott Gumbleton again, as they did last year. Or they can get on the front foot with a Godfather offer to Gumbleton and Stewart Crameri, another Bomber forward they have in their sights. The issue for Western Bulldogs fans is despite the green shoots of regeneration so obviously on offer yesterday, still few tall poppies to be cut down. Consider those who will likely retire in the next two seasons: Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney, Robert Murphy, Dale Morris, Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross and Brett Goodes. Yesterday the kids were on show again - Hrovat, Michael Talia, Clay Smith, Lachie Hunter and Liberatore. But this list needs something radical, and that is hauling in a big fish to plant in the goalsquare so the youngsters selected in the draft have someone to kick to. As much as the Dogs were robbed last night, this will not cost them a Grand Final berth like those agonising decisions of before. But the Bulldogs responded by kicking six of the next seven goals to cut the margin to 10 points at the 18-minute mark of the second quarter. Two snaps from long range put the Bombers 23 points ahead at halftime after both sides kicked three goals in the second term. Small forwards Luke Dahlhaus and Daniel Giansiracusa kicked two goals each as the Bulldogs outscored the Bombers six goals to four in the third term to trail by 13 points at the final change. While Dahlhaus booted three second-half goals, his miss from 20 metres out at the 18-minute mark of the final term was a blow to the home side's hopes. The Bulldogs were also hurt by a controversial disallowed goal for play-on advantage in the last quarter. Three late goals blew out the margin for the Bombers who were well-served by midfielder Dyson Heppell while Adam Cooney and Tom Liberatore were busy for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs will travel to Launceston to play Hawthorn on Saturday while Greater Western Sydney host Essendon on the same day.