Any hopes of a Bendigo upset evaporated quickly as the Dogs dominated through midfield and inside the forward 50m arc in the first term under the Queen Elizabeth Oval lights.

After an impressive hit-out against Essendon on Good Friday, Gold went into this match confident of a strong showing.

It was not to be as the Dogs went on to win by 166 points.

By quarter-time the Dogs led 58-7 as a classy midfield led by the likes of Brett Goodes, Mitch Wallis, Brent Prismall continually pumped the ball forward.

Footscray's superior strength and skill was to the fore in the opening term blitz.

Gold's only goal in the first quarter was scored by captain Steven Stroobants.

Stung by Aussie Jones' words at the quarter-time huddle, Bendigo lifted its defensive pressure and run in the second.

A far more spirited effort by Bendigo in the opening 20 minutes was rewarded with goals by Alex Pollock and Jake Aarts.

Footscray then seized control.

Western Bulldogs senior coach Brendan McCartney watched the match unfold and would have been pleased with the efforts of the Footscray team.

The run in the second included captain Lukas  Markovic being on the end of a flukey bounce in Barnard Street end goal square and making no mistake.

Bendigo Gold's Liam Byrne scored the team's fourth goal when freed at a centre bounce. Byrne was awarded a 50m penalty and was on target.

By half-time the Dogs led 109-28.

It was more of the same in the third.

Kyneton's Jack Redpath was on the end of a handball to the goalsquare and kicked the Bulldogs first goal of the half in the sixth minute.

Footscray hit the 20-goal mark in the 15th minute when Todd Finco roved a marking contest and goaled.

The Dogs scored seven unanswered goals in 24  minutes before Daniel Toman snapped the streak in the 30th minute.

Footscray kicked off the last term with a goal in less than 90 seconds through Alex Greenwood on the run.

The Dogs reached the 200 mark when Goodes goaled.

Gold's goals were kicked by Tyrone Downie and another by Stroobants when he intercepted a defensive pass.

Jase Perkins kicked an equal team high fifth goal for the Dogs.

A few minutes later and the siren sounded.

Final score: Footscray Bulldogs 33.16 (214) d Bendigo Gold 7.6 (48).

Leading goalkickers for the Footscray Bulldogs were Jason Johannisen and Jase Perkins, five; Christian Elliott, four; Darcy Fort, Jack Redpath and Jason Tutt on three apiece.

Gold plays Port Melbourne in the Borough next Saturday.