THE WESTERN Bulldogs took another step in their mid-season resurrection on Friday night, with a commanding 64-point victory over a disappointing Melbourne making it three wins on the trot.
The 19.13 (127) to 8.15 (63) thumping in front of 29,516 fans at Etihad Stadium was the Bulldogs' sixth of the season and moved them to within half a game of the top eight.
In what was an at-times flat contest punctuated by a trio of spectacular highlights, Rodney Eade's men had too many match-winners and too much class.
After an even start to the match, the Bulldogs grabbed control with five straight goals from the 14-minute mark of the first quarter to the five-minute mark of the second, opening a 24-point half-time break.
One of those goals was a brilliant soccer-style effort from Adam Cooney in the opening quarter.
The Brownlow medallist, in his best match of the season after battling a persistent knee complaint, ran onto an errant Daniel Cross pass and hacked the bouncing ball out of mid-air and straight through the middle.
With Melbourne desperate for a strong start to the second half, goals to Daniel Giansiracusa and Liam Picken in the first three minutes put the Bulldogs six goals clear.
Ricky Petterd tried to lift the Demons with a monstrous mark of the year contender and goal at the six-minute mark, but when the Bulldogs answered almost immediately through Ryan Griffen and Giansiracusa, the Bulldogs had a match-winning 40-point lead.
The game became a procession in the final quarter as the Bulldogs piled on six goals to one, and Jarrad Grant joined the highlights reel with a brilliant jump and grab over Demons defender Colin Garland.
Influential players
Hard-nut Jack Trengove (27 possessions, one goal) was Melbourne's best player, while Petterd's two goals and 18 possessions, combined with his crowd-pleasing mark, made his performance one of the best of his young career.
Etihad blues
The Demons' listless display added to their dreadful form at Etihad Stadium under Dean Bailey.
The fourth-year coach is still yet to taste success at the venue, with his team's losing streak at the ground now stretching to 11.
The young team has yet to break 100 points in all 11 defeats.
In another troubling stat for Bailey, the 10-goal loss continued Melbourne's trend of either winning or losing big in 2011.
The Demons have been involved in eight matches this season with a final margin greater than 40 points, winning three and losing five.
What it means
Melbourne could surrender its spot in the top eight to Essendon or North Melbourne by the end of this round, and has a bye next week followed by a 'home' match against Port Adelaide in Darwin.
Remember that kerfuffle earlier in the year about Richmond putting a finals spot in jeopardy by selling a game to Darwin?
Bailey will be crossing his fingers that his men can put in a better show than the Tigers in the difficult northern conditions.
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Melbourne: Petterd's 109 points was the Demons' best, followed by Trengove with 101.
Next four
Melbourne: A rest for the Demons next week, then they're off to Darwin to play Port Adelaide, followed by tough assignments against Hawthorn (MCG) and Geelong (SS).
What the coach said
Dean Bailey (Melbourne)
"Today was more about execution and skill … and in most games that is really going to be the element. We really coughed the ball up too many times. Until we can fix that it doesn't matter if we play here, or at the 'G, or wherever.''
Quarter by quarter
First quarter
Melbourne held sway in the first half of the term. The Demons were cleaner around the stoppages, and the likes of Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie and Nathan Jones won plenty of the ball. Ricky Petterd was a lively target forward and kicked the opening goal of the match. Barry Hall was an influential target for the Bulldogs in their forward line and presented plenty of problems for James Frawley. The Bulldogs stars took control late, and goals to Adam Cooney from a freakish soccer and Lindsay Gilbee gave them a two-goal lead at the break.
Second quarter
The Bulldogs took control of the clearances, winning the vital statistic 15-6 for the term after Melbourne had recorded four more clearances in the first quarter. Ryan Griffen and Callan Ward dominated as the Bulldogs opened the term with two goals, one after a 50-metre penalty to Ward and another coming after a questionable free kick to Shaun Higgins. After Melbourne hit back with goals to Trengove and Jeremy Howe, the Bulldogs steadied with late goals to Daniel Giansiracusa and Hall to extend their lead to 24 points at the main break.
Third quarter
The quarter belonged to the Bulldogs, who kicked five goals to three. Giansiracusa got his side off to the ideal start when he goaled within 30 seconds of the resumption, and the Dogs were soon out to a six-goal advantage. The quarter will be remembered for Petterd's mark of the year contender when he stood on the head of Tom Williams. Petterd’s resultant goal gave the Demons some spark, but with every challenge they mounted, the Bulldogs hit back.
Fourth quarter
The Demons got the perfect start with Watts' running onto a loose ball and kicking a goal from the square within the first minute of the term, but it was Melbourne’s last hurrah. The Bulldogs kicked the remaining six goals of the match, the first of them coming after Giansiracusa won a free kick and was then gifted a 50-metre penalty by Jared Rivers. Jarrad Grant took the night's second most spectacular mark and finished off with a goal to help extend the lead to 46 points, and the Dogs added three more goals before the siren ended the Dees’ misery.
Western Bulldogs 4.5 8.9 13.10 19.13 (127)
Melbourne 2.4 4.9 7.13 8.15 (63)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 4, Hall 3, Griffen 2, Higgins 2, Dahlhaus 2, Ward 2, Gilbee, Cooney, Picken, Grant
Melbourne: Petterd 2, Howe 2, Watts 2, Trengove, Sylvia
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Cooney, Ward, Giansiracusa, Picken, Higgins
Melbourne: Trengove, Petterd, Howe, Moloney
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Ed Barlow (dislocated finger) replaced by Sam Reid in the fourth quarter.
Melbourne: Jamie Bennell replaced by Sam Blease in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Rosebury, Mollison
Official crowd: 29,516 at Etihad Stadium.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.
