Australian Football

Match Report

A solid win over an improving Melbourne at the MCG has given the Western Bulldogs their sixth win of the season and kept them in the hunt for a place in the top four at the end of the season. In an even performance, the Dogs one all four quarters to run out victors by 32 points. However, the win came at a cost with defender Matthew Boyd and key forward Jack Redpath both incurring one-match suspensions for on-field indiscretions during the match. This means the Bulldogs will face third-placed GWS next Sunday without five of its regular back six, with Bob Murphy, Jason Johannisen, Matt Suckling and Marcus Adams already missing through injury.

Melbourne drew first blood when Jack Viney marked and goaled within the first two minutes of the match but the Bulldogs got on top after that, with goals to Redpath, Liam Picken and Redpath again going them a 14-point break after 10 minutes. First-year player Christian Petracca pulled one back for the Demons at the 16-minute mark but the Dogs closed out the quarter with majors to Tory Dickson and Jake Stringer to lead by 21 points at the first end-change. 

Stringer added a second goal early in the second term, but Melbourne hot back through Ben Kennedy and Jeff Garlett to cut the margin to 16 points after seven minutes. The next 12 minutes saw heaven side score just one goal, and the Dogs led by 15 points going into time on but Jack Redpath's third had them back out to a lead of 22 points at the long break. 

The Demons had a couple of chances in attack early in the third term but could conjure only two behinds. The next three goals went the way of the Bulldogs, with Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis and Bailey Dale scoring one each as the lead was stretched to six goals. Melbourne hot back with two of the next three, but the Bulldogs were still comfortably ahead by an 31 points at three-quarter time. 

Any lingering doubts about the result were put to rest in the first 10 minutes of the final quarter, as the Dogs added 2.2 to nil, a goal each going to Stringer and Dickson to take the margin out to a game-high 45 points. The scoring opened up a bit after that, with the Demons registering three of the last five goals but the result was never in doubt as the Bulldogs eased down to win by 31 points. 

For the second week running, Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli had a personal record number of possessions, collecting the ball 33 times in a best-on-ground performance, while Liberatore laid an equal AFL record 19 tackles. For Melbourne, Jack Viney was best, with 16 tackles of his own and 25 disposals. 

The Dogs will travel to Western Sydney to take on the Giants next Sunday, and the winner of that match will be firmly entrenched in the top four. Melbourne, ninth with a 4-4 record, will host the Brisbane Lions at the MCG, and the Demons should record their fifth win of the season in that encounter. 

GOALS
Melbourne: Watts 3; Kennedy, Garlett 2; Viney, Petracca, Oliver, McDonald, Hogan
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 5; Redpath 3; Picken, Dickson 2; McLean, Liberatore, Wallis, Dale, Hunter

BEST - HERALDSUN.COM.AU
Melbourne: Viney, Tyson, McDonald, Stretch, Jetta, Jones
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Hunter, Liberatore, Stringer, Dahlhaus, Macrae, Morris, Picken

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Melbourne: Viney, Tyson, Stretch, Kennedy, McDonald
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Hunter, Dahlhaus, Boyd, Picken, Stringer

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (corked calf), Roberts (head), Roughead (shoulder)

REPORTS: Bernie Vince reported for rough conduct

UMPIRES: Schmitt, Findlay, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Leigh Matthews, Nick Maxwell