The Bulldogs, who are firmly in the conversation as premiership favourites, had minimal trouble cruising past the Blues on Saturday, winning by 80 points to remain poised on top of the ladder.
They turned the pressure up as the game went on, tightening the screws in the second half by not allowing a goal and running away with a huge win.
The loaded Bulldogs got huge displays from Lance Oswald, Shannon Emmett, Matt O’Kane, Matt Shannon and Adrian Crestani, while five players kicked multiple goals led by Connor Hargreaves’ three.
Tom Hislop and Blake Jorgensen were the only goal-kickers for the Blues, with Luke Jackson and Kyle Saunders two of the standouts.
The Blues are 5-6, but while they remain sixth on the table are three wins back from fifth, showing a clear separation between the league’s tiers.
Elsewhere, Rennie needed a huge final quarter to see off a spirited effort from Blighty in a 24-point win.
The Redeyes, in the midst of a struggling season, were within three points of the Hoppers at half-time and just one point down at the final break, but the Hoppers lifted with 4.6 to 1.1 in the last to claim the four points.
Cam Sudholz looked the goods up forward and kicked four goals, while Jack Welsh remained in red-hot form in another best-on-ground display.
Dean Bigger, Jarryd Fountain, and Jack Kennedy were also good for Rennie, while Lachie MacDonald, Brett Napier and Judd Barnes were huge for Blighty.
Yarroweyah came up with a big win to keep its finals chances alive, too strong for Katunga in a 35-point win.
The Hoppers got huge performances up forward with Andy Jones (seven) and Coleby Hellyer-Maud (six) slotting 13 big ones between them.
There were also twin powers up forward for the Swans with Dylan Sidebottom and Oliver Small kicking five and four respectively.
The Hoppers are ninth on the ladder, one game and seven per cent back from eighth.
Waaia kept rolling towards a top four finish with an 87-point shellacking of Mathoura.
It made it three wins in a row after its only loss of the season, running away with the huge win via 13 goals to one in the first half.
Mark Meyland kicked seven goals, while Charlie Burrows managed four, with Jesse Trower, Todd Davies, Dylan Cornick and Ash Thompson all starring.
Josh Flynn slotted three for Mathoura, with Jake Ellery, Earl Handy, John McGowan and Amos Farrell doing what they could.
Jerilderie ended the round eighth on the ladder after professionally taking care of business against Tocumwal in a 123-point win.
The Demons did not allow a goal in either the second or third quarters while kicking 14 of their own, running away for their biggest win since round 17 in 2017, where they beat Mathoura by 124 points.
Jordon Anthony was the star with 10 goals with Peter Cochrane, Brad Parker and Grant Smith helping out, while Glenn Braybon, Alex Saraikin and Sam Jenkins battled for the Bloods.
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