May 16 hasn't been the kindest of dates to the Western Bulldogs. The Dogs have played 12 matches on the date since joining the league in 1925 and only come away with the four points in four of those matches.
Incredibly, all four of those wins have come against Melbourne. Here's a look at those four victories, which spanned a period of 56 years from 1953 to 2009.
1953
The Bulldogs were a team on the rise in 1953. Captain-coached by Charlie Sutton (who incidentally made his VFL debut today in 1942), Footscray had won two out of three games heading into this match at the MCG, and were looking to make it three from four.
They did so easily, blowing the Demons away in the first half. By half time the Dogs were 48 points and the margin would have been greater had they kicked straight. The score at the long break was 6.15 to 0.3.
Melbourne did manage to score four goals in the second half but the Dogs were always in control, winning in the end by 45 points 9.21.75 to 4.6.30. Roger Duffy kicked four goals for the Bulldogs, equalling the tally of the Demons' entire team.
16 months later, the Bulldogs and Demons would meet again at the MCG, with Charlie Sutton leading the Dogs to their first VFL premiership.
1970
Seventeen years later on May 16, it was Melbourne's turn to take the trip to Footscray, but the outcome was the same. The match was an even affair for three quarters, but the Dogs came home with the wind and a wet sail to turn a seven-point three-quarter time deficit into a 22-point win.
George Bisset and Charlie Pagnoccolo kicked three goals each for Footscray, while David Thorpe (26 kicks), David Darcy (20 disposals and two goals) and Bernie Quinlan (20 possessions) were also dominant.
1987
After another 17-year break, the Dogs and Melbourne crossed paths at the MCG once more. The Demons were on their way to their first finals series in 23 years in 1987, but they were no match for Footscray on this day.
The Dogs set up the win with dominant second and third quarters, kicking nine goals to two to forge a six-goal lead. The Demons made up some ground in the final term, but Footscray went on to win comfortably by 24 points.
Veteran full forward Simon Beasley kicked five goals, while Brian Royal kicked four, as well as picking up 23 touches. Royal's efforts weren't enough to get him a Brownlow vote, though. Peter Foster (20 disposals, two goals) received three, and Tony Liberatore (22 possessions, three tackles) got two.
2009
The next May 16 meeting of the Dogs and Demons was in 2009. 22 years had passed since the previous one, but by the end of the match, the result was again the same - a Bulldogs win.
This match was the closest of the four games played on the date, with two late Melbourne goals reducing a 19-point Bulldogs lead to just seven points, setting up a tense final few minutes. The Dogs held firm, though, consolidating their place in the top four.
Matthew Boyd was the star, gathering 33 possessions and kicking an important last-quarter goal, while Daniel Giansiracusa and Lindsay Gilbee each had 28 possessions. Jason Akermanis was the Dogs' leading goalkicker, booting four in his 299th AFL game.
