First quarter: Melbourne 4.2 (26) to Western Bulldogs 0.1 (1)
The Bulldogs got the first score of the match – 55 seconds in – when Mitch Honeychurch kicked a behind.
But from that point, Melbourne dominated the rest of the term on the scoreboard. And to make matters worse for the Dogs, Lin Jong looked as if he suffered a serious knee injury.
The Demons kicked four 4.2, with goals to Dom Tyson, Christian Petracca, Jeff Garlett and Jack Watts.
At quarter-time, Melbourne led by 25 points.
Clayton Oliver and Jordan Lewis had nine disposals each for the Dees, as Lachie Hunter had 11 for the Dogs.
Second quarter: Melbourne 8.6 (54) to Western Bulldogs 3.3 (21)
Goals were hard to come by in the first half of the second term. But like the opening term, the Bulldogs landed the first score – a behind to Luke Dahlhaus at the four-minute mark – before Melbourne booted the next 1.3.
And when James Harmes secured the first goal of the second quarter, at the 17-minute mark, Melbourne was up by 33 points.
The Bulldogs finally registered their first, 19 minutes in, when Caleb Daniel kicked truly. But when Mitch Hannan squeezed through a goal at the 24-minute mark and Tom Bugg followed up immediately – after gaining a free, without the ball going back to the centre square – Melbourne was up by 40 points.
The Dogs replied with back-to-back goals at the 26 and 27-minute mark, pegging the deficit back to 27 points. But when Jack Watts threaded through a beautiful set-shot goal after the half-time siren, Melbourne took a 33-point lead into the main break.
Oliver had 16 disposals by the long change, with three Bulldogs – Matt Suckling, Hunter and Marcus Bontempelli – claiming 17.
Third quarter: Melbourne 14.7 (91) to Western Bulldogs 6.5 (41)
Having kicked the last goal of the first half, Watts made it consecutive majors when he started the second half with his third.
It was the first of five majors for the Demons, as the Bulldogs kicked three for the term.
On three occasions, Melbourne led by 44 points, before Tom McDonald kicked a fine goal after the three quarter-time siren to give the red and blue a 50-point lead.
Christian Salem and Jake Melksham opened their account, as Garlett and Bugg booted their second for the match.
Lewis had 25 disposals by the final change, as Suckling, Tom Liberatore and Bontempelli had 21 each for the Dogs.
Final quarter: Melbourne 17.11 (113) d Western Bulldogs 8.8 (56)
Bulldog Liam Picken opened the final term, before Mitch Hannan bobbed up with his second to register Melbourne’s first in the last quarter.
Tory Dickson kicked the Dogs’ second at the 17-minute mark, with T.McDonald notching up his second in time-on.
And when Alex Neal-Bullen became Melbourne’s 11th goalkicker, the Demons produced their biggest win of the season by 57 points.
Melbourne has now won seven games for the season and have moved to fifth on the ladder.
Lewis finished with 31 disposals, as Liberatore had 29.
