Despite a fast start and some wins in key statistical categories, the Western Bulldogs have gone down to Melbourne by 49-points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Dogs looked sharp and brought the pressure early, booting the first three of the game, and looking well in control of the match before the Demons settled and started to get on top.
In-form Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn dominated the hitouts and was probably the Demons’ best, but the Dogs midfielders won the clearance battle (47-28), sharking the big man sometimes at will to give the home team first use.
It was a similar story with tackles (tied), they matched it with the League’s best contested possession team for most of the match, and broke Melbourne’s historic run of 18 straight first quarter wins, but it was Dogs’ inability to stem the bleeding when the Dees got a run on that did the damage.
After kicking the first three, Melbourne kicked 15 goals to four, including runs of four, three, four and three straight, despite Easton Wood and Dale Morris winning more than their share of battles.
The Dogs’ day was further soured by an apparent hamstring injury suffered by Tory Dickson in the final five minutes of the opening term.
Marcus Bontempelli (24 disposals, five clearances) kicked two goals and was the Dogs’ most potent forward, while Jack Macrae added another 30-plus disposal game to his season and Lachie Hunter (32, four clearances) was again prolific.
But it was the big Melbourne forwards and their scoring firepower that assured the Demons a big win in the end, with Jesse Hogan kicking five and Tom McDonald, four.
The Bulldogs have the bye next week before travelling to Adelaide to face Port on Thursday, June 14.
Western Bulldogs 3.3 4.6 6.8 7.9 (51)
Melbourne 2.1 7.4 11.7 15.9 (99)
Best: Bontempelli, Suckling Hunter, Wood, Macrae
Disposals: Hunter 32, Macrae 31, Suckling 25, Bontempelli, Johannisen, McLean 24
Goals: Bontempelli 2, Schache, Roughead, Honeychurch, Gowers, Suckling
