MELBOURNE has fought off a spirited Western Bulldogs to record a 24-point win in round one to regain the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.
The Bulldogs' 6.10 (46) to 3.4 (22) loss was compounded by what appears to be a serious knee injury to star key forward Izzy Huntington.
Melbourne's experience, smarts and skills were on show as players combined beautifully, carving up Whitten Oval with a series of short, smart kicks and effortlessly creating a loose player forward, running at 74 per cent disposal efficiency in the first quarter.
The heavily undermanned Dogs defence – missing Katie Lynch, Ellyse Gamble, Hannah Scott and Sarah Hartwig, with Issy Grant and Richelle Cranston drafted in – struggled to stand up under the weight of entries, as the Dees' midfield (particularly Eden Zanker and Tyla Hanks) took control of the match.
Huntington brought up her team's first goal – coming in the second quarter – in fierce fashion, chasing down Karen Paxman and wrapping her in a powerful tackle, before converting the resultant free kick.
But devastation struck not two minutes later, the Bulldog falling to the ground and clutching her right knee after trying to turn around. She has previously torn the ACL in both knees.
The Dogs came out full of fire after half-time, winning it from the contest with recruit Elle Bennetts having a serious impact at stoppages, and getting the ball inside 50 quickly.
But it was big-name recruit Tayla Harris who broke the spirited Bulldog comeback, pouncing on a loose footy out the back of a pack to push the margin back out to 17 points at the tail end of the third term.
The ball lived in Melbourne's forward 50 for most of the final quarter, before Kate Hore sealed the game with her second snap.
Dogs debutant Elizabeth Snell suffered a knock to her ribs, while Cranston finished the game with a lower leg injury in a dirty night for the hosts.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.1 1.1 3.4 3.4 (22)
MELBOURNE 3.0 4.6 5.8 6.10 (46)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Huntington, Toogood, Blackburn
Melbourne: Hore 2, Sherriff, Gay, Zanker, Harris
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Bennetts, Fitzgerald, Lamb, Lochland
Melbourne: Zanker, Hanks, Birch, Lampard, Hore, Mithen
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Huntington (knee), Snell (ribs), Cranston (lower leg)
Melbourne: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Sarah Hartwig (AFL health and safety protocols) replaced in the selected side by Gemma Lagioia
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2,571 at VU Whitten Oval
