Western Bulldogs will be out for their fourth win of the season when they meet Melbourne at the MCG tonight. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 7.40pm AEST.
Wins against St Kilda and Port Adelaide were positives in a good month for the Western Bulldogs, who showed signs of improvement in their performance before being dominated by an in-form Richmond side last week.
This is a danger game for the Dogs as Melbourne showed signs of improvement last week under interim coach Neil Craig in a spirited 35-point loss to St Kilda.
It has been tipped as a winnable game for Melbourne who will need to show the same endeavour as last week if they are to beat the Bulldogs.
The lowlight of the game against the Saints was Melbourne ruckman Jake Spencer’s negligent bump on Ben McEvoy, as he was one of Melbourne’s best players last week and he will be missed for the three weeks he is suspended.
Who’s hot?
Averaging 35 disposals in his last four matches including a career high 40-disposal effort against Port Adelaide in Darwin, it has to be Ryan Griffen.
Often overlooked by over clubs who tend to tag Adam Cooney or Matthew Boyd, Griffen has relished his role as the Bulldogs’ outside player and is truly one of the elite players in the game right now.
Matthew Boyd can also be considered in this category after averaging just a tick over 34 disposals a game in his last three matches.
Nathan Jones has been Melbourne’s best contributor all year, and at this rate you would expect him to win the Demon’s best and fairest in a cakewalk.
His last two games before the St Kilda game were against quality sides Collingwood and Hawthorn where he averaged 29 disposals against the pair – expect the same output from the ever reliable Jones in this one.
Last time they met
They last met in Round 4, 2012 with the Bulldogs running out 21-point winners in a tough contest, Adam Cooney picked up the three votes from that contest.
The Bulldogs have been dominant in recent matches against Melbourne winning the past six matches. Melbourne’s last win was in round 19, 2007.
While Melbourne will show more improvement under Neill Craig again this week, it’s hard to see Melbourne’s young midfielders being able to match it with the Bulldogs star midfielders, with bigger bodies expect Ryan Griffen, Matthew Boyd and Adam Cooney to all beat their opponents.
The Bulldogs will want a better return in front of goal this week; they kicked just eight goals against the Tigers last week and have only kicked more than 100 points on two occasions this year (against Brisbane and St Kilda).
Melbourne has managed the feat only once, in their win over GWS Giants, which remains their only win of 2013 to date.
The Bulldogs are ranked 16th and the Demons 18th for inside 50s in 2013. So don’t expect this to be the greatest spectacle on Earth.
Prediction: Bulldogs by 28
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
The prelim against Adelaide springs to mind. When they lifted Libba Snr. When they thought he had kicked it only to be disappointed with a point. History is a cruel mistress.
Minz
Guest
Poor old Dogs - wish they'd managed one in the 90s when they deserved one, but it'll be a while before they contend.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
No worries mate, think I picked the game of the round :)
Connor
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the coverage!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Team stats: Demons won the disposals 345-340, the marks 94-58, the tackles 80-78, inside 50's 55-51, frees 24-16, but were smashed in the clearances 48-37. My question for all you Roarers: Where do the Dogs go from here? I hope you enjoyed this blog from wherever you are, I'm Brent Ford thanks for your company.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Sing it loud Connor the boys earnt that one for sure.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
My talking points for the game was the fact that the Melbourne talls were able to cause a headache for the Bulldogs defence. Watts, Fitzpatrick and Dawes were brilliant and it was probably the best game that Jack Watts has played. He finished with 4 goals, 15 disposals, 9 marks and 3 tackles so credit where it is due. The Demon's defence looked much better with the added addition of Frawley, he had 8 marks and 20 disposals. Terlich was brilliant with 24 touches and 8 marks and 5 tackles. Older players Davey, Sylvia and Rodan all played good games tonight and played their role. For the dogs it doesn't get any better than Libba he is the future of the club and he showed why with 36 touches. Cooney and Griffen both managed to kick 3 goals but didn't do enough early in the game to keep the dogs in it. Outside of that they need more from their big forwards in Cordy, Dickson and Stringer they kicked just 3 between them for the game. The Demons came out hard in this game and sometimes you just can't let a team have such a good start.
Connor
Roar Rookie
Woohoo! Nearly threw it away there boys, but a win's a win! It's a Grand Old Flag!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Leading Possession Winners: Libba 36, Griffen 31, Boyd 27, Jones 26, Terlich 24, Macrae 22. Goal Scorers: Demons: 4 Watts, 3 Dawes, 2 Howe, 2 Fitzpatrick, Rodan, Blease, Gawn, Jones. Dogs: 3 Cooney, 3 Gia, 3 Griffen, 2 Cordy, Dahlhaus, Dickson, Macrae, Minson.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Winners! Great resolve from the Demons.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
A 9 goal last quarter isn't enough for the Dogs who are gallant in defeat, as the Melbourne Demons song rings over the MCG.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Siren!!! Siren!! The Demons win! The Demons win! Don't tell me! The Demons walk away from it 3 point winners. They were 44 points up and the Dogs just kept coming and coming, this was a well deserved win from the Demons. Still can't believe it.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 0:55 Sylvia with the clearance he goes long the ball is there! No with a wicked spin it just misses! 3 points the difference. 15.10.100 - 15.13.103 to the Demons.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 1:11 Boyd with anothert clearance and Watts with a big mark! 1:30 going he kicks long and we will have a ball up with 1:11 remaining.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 1:43 remaining The demons up the forward pressure they can't get it through for a point and Watts takes a saving mark 70 out from the Dogs goal. They find Dawes in the centre square but he turns it over to Griffen. Murphy goes long to Cordy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Way No way!!! Cordy goes back it swings it swing it swings!! 2 points the difference!! 15.10.100 - 15.12.102 to the Demons.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 3:50 Talia takes a saving mark Johan fumbles and Fitzy pounces he finds Dawes who can't get it back to him ball up 70 from Melbourne's goal. Howe thumps it forward Jones slips over and Cooney takes off! Dogs 14.10.94 - Demons 15.12.102
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 4:34 Free kick off a Melbourne players foot Hunter 48 out tightest angle across the face! Minson!!!! takes a mark in the square! What is going on, he kicks from point blank range and it is just 8 points the difference!!! Flood the backline Craigy Do it!!!! Dogs 14.10.94 - Demons 15.12.102
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 5:38 Thrown in inside the dogs 50 Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyy!!! Snap from the pocket don't tell me! Don't do it!! The dogs are coming they are coming!! Dogs 13.10.88 - Demons 15.12.102
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - 5.55 Great tackle from Nicholson as it was the dogs with all the running again, he finds Howe who finds Dawes!! Yes! No! He is gone holding the ball and the dogs are away from now as Smith is taken high. Dogs 12.10.82 - Demons 15.12.102
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Qtr 4 - '7 Cooney streaming into 30 metres out and the Dogs are coming with a rush! Look out guys look out!! Goal Goal Goal!!! Dogs 12.10.82 - Demons 15.12.102