MATCH SUMMARY
The Western Bulldogs have squared the ledger with their eighth win of the season – a narrow eight-point victory over Melbourne.
The Dogs have now won three straight games after the bye, and four of their last five.
In a tightly fought, low-scoring match, the Bulldogs broke away in the last quarter with three straight goals, and held on in the final stages.
Toby McLean played no further part in the match after quarter time with a hamstring injury, while Marcus Bontempelli played on bravely in the second half after hurting his ankle.
Josh Dunkley’s incredible season continued, with his 39 disposals, two goals and 15 tackles a match-winning performance.

THE DEFINING MOMENTS
Just one point separated the teams at half time, and the Bulldogs attacked the third term with vigour. They dominated territory and won the inside 50 count 18-10, but missed opportunities kept the Demons in the contest. The Dogs managed just 1.8 for the quarter, while Melbourne kicked one of their own.
Bailey Fritch levelled the scores with a left foot snap early in the last term, but the Bulldogs responded with a brilliant burst which included goals to Dunkley, Lachie Hunter (a brilliant checkside snap from the boundary) and Bailey Smith.  Despite a late charge from the Demons, it was enough to secure the four points.

SHINING LIGHTS
It’s hard not to go past Josh Dunkley. From the opening bounce he asserted his influence on the match, and her didn’t let up until the final siren.  He had 12 disposals to quarter time, and by the main break he had 22, nine tackles and four clearances.  By three-quarter-time he had racked up 36 touches, 11 clear of the next best player on the ground.
If there was one player who deserved huge plaudits for his efforts against Melbourne, it was defender Taylor Duryea.  His ability to read the play, stop opposition forward attacks and surge the Dogs’ forward was critical, and his efficiency by hand and foot was elite.  It was arguably the best game of his 126-game career to date.
Lachie Hunter owned his wing, Jack Macrae found plenty of the ball again while keeping Clayton Oliver to 17 disposals, and Sam Lloyd kicked multiple goals for the 10th time this season.

STATS SHEET
Dunkley’s haul of 39 disposals was the second-best tally of his career, and the fourth time in his last six games he has amassed over 30 possessions.
Duryea won 31 possessions – a career high – and more impressively he went at 90% efficiency.  He also took a game-high 13 marks.
Dunkley’s 15 tackles was a career-high, and eight better than any other player on the ground, and his 24 contested possessions was nine more than the next best.
The Bulldogs dominated on the outside, winning the uncontested possessions by 79, the marks by 34 and the marks inside 50 by eight (16-8).
The Dogs lost the clearances by 12, but their pressure around the ground was excellent – the had 15 more tackles and won the inside 50 count by four.

MATCH DETAILS
WESTERN BULLDOGS​     3.3          6.5          7.13        10.14 (74)
MELBOURNE                      3.2          6.4          7.7          9.12 (66) 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs:  Lloyd 2, R. Smith 2, Dunkley 2, Richards, Schache, Hunter, B. Smith
Melbourne:  Petty 3, Fritch 2, Hunt, Lewis, Petracca, Dunkley

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Hunter, Duryea, Macrae, Lloyd, Bontempelli
Melbourne: Gawn, Viney, Salem, May, Petty, Harmes 

Official crowd: 26,871 at Marvel Stadium 

NEXT WEEK
Round 18, St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs, Sunday July 21, Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm.