Round 11

Saturday, June 2, 1.45pm

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium

First quarter: Western Bulldogs 3.3 (21) to Melbourne 2.1 (13)

The first score of the day came via Tom McDonald – a behind at the two-minute mark – but the Dogs soon got the early jump.

The home side opened with three unanswered goals to lead by 19 points entering time-on.

T.McDonald finally secured Melbourne’s first at the 22-minute mark, and when Nathan Jones, playing his 250^th game, followed up soon after, the Demons trailed by eight points at the first break.

It meant that Melbourne’s streak of 18 consecutive quarters won had come to an end – although it was still the second best recorded in VFL/AFL history, behind Geelong’s 21 quarters won in 2010.

Moreover, both sides had some injury concerns early on, with Jake Lever (knee) and Jake Melksham (ankle) unable to complete the term. Lever headed straight to the rooms, as Melksham attempted to complete some run throughs on the boundary line, before he too went down the race. For the Bulldogs, Tory Dickson (hamstring) also came from the field.

Second quarter: Melbourne 7.4 (46) to Western Bulldogs 4.6 (30)

Both teams were dealt a blow entering the second term, when Lever and Dickson were ruled out for the rest of the game. But there was some good news for the Demons, when Melksham was back out on the field.

Still, the Dees had further concerns early on, when Tim Smith headed to the rooms with a neck problem. But he was back in the action midway through the term, although he also battled with what appeared to be an ankle issue by half-time.

Melbourne upped the ante in the second quarter, hitting the front for the first time, after Alex Neal-Bullen opened the term and T.McDonald landed his second.

Although Billy Gowers put the Dogs back in front at the 11-minute mark, it proved to be their only major for the term, as Melbourne booted five goals for the quarter. In fact, the Demons kicked seven of the last eight goals before the main change.

At half-time, Melbourne led by 16 points, as McDonald had three goals and Jesse Hogan had two. The leading ball-winners at the long break were Jordan Lewis and Angus Brayshaw for the Demons, and Lachie Hunter and Toby McLean for the Dogs, who all had 17 disposals each.

Third quarter: Melbourne 11.7 (73) to Western Bulldogs 6.8 (44)

The Bulldogs started the second half strongly, when Marcus Bontempelli became his side’s first multiple goalkicker, just 36 seconds in.

His second pegged the margin back to 10 points, before Melbourne hit back with four in a row to gain a 35-point lead.

Hogan kicked his third, as Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch and Mitch Hannan got on the board.

And it was Hogan’s third, which capped off a stunning piece of play. It stated on the half-back boundary line, when Jake Melksham swept a brilliant kick in the centre of the ground, finding Angus Brayshaw, who in turn went long and found the key forward, who ran in and kicked truly. It typified Melbourne's style of play under coach Simon Goodwin. 

The Dogs secured one more goal in time-on, via Jordan Roughead, and at three quarter-time, Melbourne led by 29 points.

Final quarter: Melbourne 15.10 (100) d Western Bulldogs 7.9 (51)

Any thought of a Bulldog comeback was quickly thwarted, when Hogan landed his fourth to start the final term.

And when T.McDonald added his fourth and Brayshaw opened his account, the game was well and truly over.    

Matt Suckling booted the Dogs’ only goal for the term at the 22-minute mark, but when Hogan bobbed up with his fifth and landed a behind after the final siren, Melbourne won by 49 points. 

Brayshaw, who had a career-best 37 disposals last round, went better against the Bulldogs, finishing with 39 touches. Clayton Oliver also had a career-best 37 touches. For the Bulldogs, Hunter had a team-high 32 touches. 

The win was Melbourne’s sixth in a row – its best effort since 2006 and its most recent finals appearance.