The final match of the weekend’s AFL action sees the winless Melbourne Demons host the winless Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Join us for live scores and a blog of the all the action from 4.40pm AEST.
Both the Dees and the Dogs entered the new campaign with new coaches, but pre-seasons of optimism have quickly been replaced by widespread pessimism.
The Demons have been poor on each occasion this season. Losses to Brisbane (41 points), West Coast (108 points) and Richmond (59 points) were all by bigger margins than perhaps expected.
And in the case of the Brisbane and Richmond matches, Mark Neeld’s men would’ve gone into the game confident of victory.
It seems Melbourne may finally be hitting rock bottom after five seasons of rebuilding that began all the way back in 2007.
For today’s clash the Dees regain key midfielder Brent Moloney, while Colin Sylvia and Liam Jurrah remain injured.
Joining Moloney as an ‘in’ is Joel Macdonald, who will slot into the Dees feeble defence. Co-captain Jack Grimes is suspended and Stefan Martin is axed.
The Western Bulldogs enter this game with their confidence in tatters.
In the opening two rounds of the AFL they were quite good – they matched it with West Coast for three quarters before going down by 49 points and followed that up with an inspiring 18-point loss to Adelaide at AAMI.
Last week, however, the Dogs lost to St Kilda by 64 points after only amassing 5.10.40 at their favourite, home track of Etihad Stadium.
Brendan McCartney has made three changes to the line-up for today’s clash. Key defender Brian Lake (suspension), impressive youngster Clay Smith (soreness) and second-year player Tom Liberatore (dropped) are the omissions.
Patrick Veszpremi, Justin Shermin and Mitch Wallis come into the team.
Defenders Dale Morris, Lindsay Gilbee and Tom Williams weren’t considered for selection because of injury.
Today I’m tipping the Dees. I think both teams are travelling ordinary but Melbourne play the MCG better than any other ground in the country and they Dees have troubled the Dogs a few times in recent seasons (remembering that at the time the Dogs were premiership challengers and Dees were wooden spoon contenders).
I’ve got hardly any confidence but I’ll tip Melbourne to win this game by 15 points.
Which team gets their first win of 2012? Find out at 4.40pm AEST as we wrap up round four with action from the MCG and if you’re watching or following along, join in the conversation below.
Justin Cinque
Expert
FULL TIME Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.10.88 Class prevails as they say. Dogs are now 1-3. Far from impressive today but their class told. Dahlhaus was very good. Cooney kicked a couple. They won this at the clearances. Melbourne 0-4 and season done. They played for four quarters today. They need to be better at the stoppages. Mark Neeld can work on that. They need to work on their disposal too. There were good signs today. THey kept Boyd quiet, Rivers was good. Moloney and Davey showed good signs and Watts is slowly getting better. It wasn't pretty but it was a close game of football. The Dogs win and they can build off that. The Dees were at a season high but fail to deliver once more. Dogs by 21 in the wet.
Justin Cinque
Expert
FULL TIME Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.10.88 DOGS WIN!! SEASON ALIVE
Justin Cinque
Expert
56 seconds to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.10.88 Dahlhaus snap misses.
Justin Cinque
Expert
56 seconds to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.9.87 Vesz sends the Dogs fwd. Gia long ball misses the lot.
Justin Cinque
Expert
2 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.9.87 Throw-in HF for the Dees. Melbourne good today. Dogs methodical but far from impressive. Winning ugly!
Justin Cinque
Expert
2:18 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.9.87 Moloney won the clearance but the Dees have too much to do. Jones I50. Watts couldn't mark it. Free to the Dees at HB but it doesn't now. Morton on the wing. Moloney wrapped up. HTB at HF.
Justin Cinque
Expert
3:16 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 13.9.87 Now there's an in the back free to the Dogs at 40. Wallis lining up for the Dogs to seal it. He runs in and goals. Dogs home!! Wallis seals it!!
Justin Cinque
Expert
4:16to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Jones kick was poor to HF. Dogs again slow it down. Dees need to man up here. Time still there. Have the Dogs started to ice it too early. Grant at HB. Dees need to flood fwd here. Dogs wasting valuable time. Tapscott won it on the wing. Poor kick by young McDonald. Dogs away now. LOng ball fwd. Dees from D. Dogs have numbers. Should win now.
Justin Cinque
Expert
6:07 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Bate's kick smothered. Shermin in the middle. Tackled. HTB in the middle. Dees with all the run here. Bate at 85. Long ball I50. Addison did it well. Djerrkura running on the wing. Grant dropped the mark at HF. Dees with a chance. Dunn gave away the free when Melbourne won the ball. Dogs go back. Slow it down.
Justin Cinque
Expert
7:30 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.13.67 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Another fwd stoppage for Melbourne. THey must goal here. Jones to FF. Dunn hits the stick. SHould've goalled.
Justin Cinque
Expert
7:55 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.12.66 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Garland's shot misses. Morton has lifted. This is why they took him high.
Justin Cinque
Expert
8_09 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Stoppage at HF. Morton goes I50. Davey couldn't handle on it. Bail from 50 to the pocket. Throw-in for Melbourne.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Bounce on the wing after the Dogs won the clearance. Dogs dominanace at the clearances the difference I reckon.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Nathan Jones of Melb won a free on the wing. Long ball to HF. HOWE. Big mark. Long ball I50. Throw-in. HOWE again. He's like the Birdman.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Cooney kicks out on the full. Bartrim at FB. 33,5k in at the ground, in the rain. Wallis at HF. Morton marks in D. Dees need to go now. Morton to Jamar. Stoppage at HB for the Dees.
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 From the stoppage, the Dogs go fwd. Wallis to Cross. Poor pass. Stoppage I50 for the Dogs. Both teams tired. WHo wants it more?
Justin Cinque
Expert
10 to go Q4 Melbourne 9.11.65 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Guess what Dees fans?? MORTON SNAPS AND GOALS FROM 40, OFF ONE STEP DEES ALIVE
Justin Cinque
Expert
12 to go Q4 Melbourne 8.11.59 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Throw-in 40 for Melbourne. Must goal NOW
Justin Cinque
Expert
12 to go Q4 Melbourne 8.11.59 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Austin won it for the Dogs. Dees win it at HF. Long ball I50. Dunn dropped the contested mark. Throw-in 50 for the Dees. Time still there for Melbourne.
Justin Cinque
Expert
12 to go Q4 Melbourne 8.11.59 Western Bulldogs 12.9.81 Dees go fwd off HB. Ball bounces I50. Watts off the deck. Murphy saved it. Long ball out of D. Bad bounce kills the Dees. Now Gia gives away the free. Dees at HB. Need the next one now.