Hot Dogs host desperate Lions in blockbuster... and only one can ...

The red-hot Western Bulldogs can climb into the top eight but must avoid stumbling against a Brisbane side still fighting to keep its season alive.

The Bulldogs (6-6, 121.3%) have won three of their last four games, including last week’s comeback over Collingwood, and sit as one of the form sides of the competition.

The Lions (4-6-1, 111.6%) are coming off their bye and a disappointing loss to Hawthorn, needing to bank wins quickly if they’re going to play finals.

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Tonight’s loser is almost certainly out of the finals race. If beaten, Brisbane would need to win eight of its last 11 games to have a realistic chance of playing finals, while the Bulldogs would need to win seven of 11.

The match gets underway at 7:40pm from Marvel Stadium.

Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo, or via Hubbl from 6:30pm.

MATCH UPDATES

The subs for tonight’s clash are Buku Khamis (Bulldogs) and Noah Answerth (Lions).

The Bulldogs drew first blood after Adam Treloar’s snap got a freakish bounce to go over the head of Lachie Neale for the first goal of the game.

The Lions booted their first after a botched Bailey Dale kickout saw Josh Dunkley intercept and convert the set shot.

The Dogs threw young defender James O’Donnell forward in order to try and combat Lions defender Harris Andrews.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is set to be a crucial player tonight in the absence of Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy and started the night with a bang, taking a strong contested mark before kicking his first.

There’s a fair bit of tension in this one early! Tom Liberatore has given away two free kicks off the ball in his return from concussion.

The Dogs got their third of the night from some fantastic counter-attacking play which saw captain Marcus Bontempelli hit the scoreboard.

“Freedom football from the Western Bulldogs.” Brian Taylor said on Channel 7.

Lions spearhead Joe Daniher kicked a goal for the highlight reel, shrugging two Bulldogs defenders to execute a superb snap from the boundary line.

Two quick goals from the Lions either side of Ugle-Hagan’s second saw Brisbane take a three point lead into the first change.

The Bulldogs were far more efficient in the forward half, kicking a goal from 57% of inside 50s, whereas the Bulldogs were operating at just 20%.

The Lions got the first two goals of the second term through Daniher and Morris as they ramped up the pressure around the contest.

Jarrod Berry, who has been tasked of running around with Bontempelli, proved he can also be an offensive weapon as well as he extended the Lions’ lead to 20 points.

Hipwood was on fire in the first half, booting four majors as one of the most dangerous players on the ground.

And the pain was only getting greater for the Bulldogs, as Lions champion Lachie Neale beat the half time siren to open up a 33 point lead at the main break.

“That is a slaughter,” Garry Lyon said of the first half on Fox Footy. Buzzer beater sums up Lions ‘slaughter’ as hot Dogs in all sorts - LIVE AFL

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