The Bulldogs had the momentum in the first half, lost it in the third quarter and then regained it in the last to win a pulsating contest by 13 points, 17.10 (112) to 15.9 (99), at Mitchell Park.

While the result won’t change the perception that the Mean Machine are the red-hot favourites to win a sixth flag in a row, unlike last year the rest of the competition now has evidence that Bridgewater can be beaten.

“We were switched on right from the start and played the style of footy we’re capable of,” Bulldogs coach Paul Grayling said.

“We realised we had to earn a bit of respect back after last week (loss to Mitiamo) and really lift our work-rate and keep the pressure on them, which we did.”

The Bulldogs opened a 29-point buffer at half-time when they led 8.9 to 4.4.

But Bridgewater was always going to mount a revival and it came in the third quarter when the Mean Machine slammed on nine goals to two to lead by 16 points at the final change.

And that momentum looked like carrying on when Bridgewater kicked the first goal of the last quarter.

But the Bulldogs rallied and piled on seven of the last eight goals of the match to pull off the upset.

“We slipped for a bit in the third quarter and they smashed us in the clearances,” said Grayling, who kicked two goals.

“We knew they were always going to come at us and we would have liked to have absorbed it better than we did, but we persisted and were able to respond in the last quarter.

“It’s obviously great for us to get the win and also shows everyone else that they can be rolled.”

Two of the Bulldogs new midfield recruits in Danko Bzenic (two goals) and Jake Anderson were Pyramid Hill’s best players.

Paddy Monaghan was dynamite up forward with a haul of five goals, while Liam Bartels and Bryden Morison were also strong performers for the Bulldogs in what was, overall, a team effort.

The loss was Bridgewater’s first since it was beaten by Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in the wet by 12 points in round 14 of the 2013 season.

The Mean Machine had won their previous 28 games by an average of 84 points.

“Full credit to Pyramid Hill... they were hungrier than us today and we didn’t flick on the switch early enough,” said Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins, who didn’t play after straining a calf on Thursday night.

“It was brave of the boys after our start to fight their way back and get into a winning position, but they spent quite a few tickets doing it.

“It’s obviously disappointing when you hear another side singing their song. We know there’s things in our game that weren’t good enough and reasons why there was the result that we’ll work on going forward.”

Captain Darren Clutton, who started in defence before pushing forward and kicking four goals, was the best for Bridgewater.

Zeb Broadbent, Marc Lindsay and Deon Jones were others to rally for the Mean Machine in what was just the club’s eighth loss in its 96 games since its premiership reign began in 2010.

In his first game back in the seniors from a knee injury, Bridgewater full-forward Alex Collins suffered a groin injury.

Bridgewater’s 28 wins in a row were the most in the LVFL since Calivil United won 44 on the trot in what was a streak also ended by Pyramid Hill in 2006.

• For the first time since the opening three rounds of the 2011 season - the last year it played finals - Mitiamo has won three games in a row.

The improved Superoos proved too strong for Marong by 36 points, winning 14.13 (97) to 8.13 (61) at Marong.

The Superoos held a nine-point advantage at half-time, before adding 10 goals to five after the break to improve to 3-2.

 “The quality that has come into Mitiamo, once we can string it all together we’re going to be a handy team,” Superoos assistant coach Simon Collis said.

The Superoos were plagued by inaccuracy in the first half when they had a wasteful 4.9 on the board.

But they were able to straighten up in the second half when they kicked 10.4.

In his first game for the Superoos after recovering from a fractured foot, Collis kicked three goals to be among nine goalkickers for Mitiamo.

Highly-rated midfielder Doug Thomas was again superb for the Superoos, while Terry Reeves continued his impressive output. Captain Dylan Clohesy and in-form ruckman Michael I’Anson were also prominent.

Marong, now 2-2, was best served by veteran Brett Rogers, Callum Williamson, defender Josh Griffin and Thomas Jackson, who kicked three of the Panthers’ eight goals.

• As well as all teams having a loss after five rounds with Bridgewater’s defeat, all teams also now have a win after Newbridge opened its 2015 account at the expense of YCW.

In a game that had been up for grabs at three quarter-time, the Maroons kicked five goals to two in the final term to win by 23 points, 12.11 (83) to 9.6 (60), at Terry O’Shea Riverside Park.

“It was a bit scrappy at times, but the boys worked through it and we were able to get over the top of them,” Newbridge coach Matt Dillon said.

The Maroons squandered a lot of their hard work early when they kicked 3.9 in the first half.

But they found their radar in the second half with a far more efficient return of 9.2.

“It obviously makes a big difference when you take your chances like that,” Dillon said.

“We’re still working on our use of the ball. It was a bit better today, but we still cost ourselves some goals with some poor turnovers.

“But work-rate and pressure was our main theme today and it was the best it has been this year in terms of a four-quarter effort.”

Lachlan Ford led the way through the midfield for the Maroons, while Angus Fortune gave plenty of drive in the ruck, with others to play well including Austin Fithall (two goals), Justin McEwan and Billy Price (two goals). David Carroll kicked four goals.

Cohen Kekich bagged five of YCW’s nine goals to be among the Eagles’ best, along with Mitch Collins (two goals), Nick Waterson and veteran Steve Turner.

• Bears-Lagoon Serpentine  improved to 3-1 with a 68-point win over Inglewood.

The Bears prevailed 22.18 (150) to 12.10 (82) at Inglewood’s Just Trees Central Vic Oval, which included kicking 10 goals in the final term.

“I was happy with the overall team performance today. Inglewood is a much improved team and we identified this as a danger game, so to come away with the four points was pleasing,” Bears’ co-coach Mick Ring said.

Ruckman Sam Stavenuiter (four goals), Brayden Scott, Trevor Johnson and Daniel Christmas (five goals) led the better players for the Bears. 

Inglewood - which kicked nine of its 12 goals after half-time - was best served by Ben Conley, Shane Harris (four goals), Patrick Hartney and Adam Filippi.