First quarter: Western Bulldogs 4.1 (25) to Melbourne 1.3 (9)
The Demons got off to a fine start when Cam Pedersen marked strongly and converted three minutes into the match.But the pendulum soon started to swing, when first-gamer Mitch Honeychurch landed the Bulldogs’ opening goal.
By the first change, the Dogs had four in a row and 16-point advantage.
Second quarter: Western Bulldogs 7.4 (46) to Melbourne 3.4 (22)
The Dogs continued their domination in second term, adding the first three goals to make it seven in a row.
By the 11-minute mark, after Jake Stringer kicked his third for the match, the Dogs led by 37 points and were in complete control.
It wasn’t until big man Max Gawn ended the drought and kicked Melbourne’s first for the term at the 19-minute mark that the red and blue breathed some life back into the match. And when Jack Watts followed up soon after, the margin was reduced to 24 points at half-time.
Third quarter: Melbourne 10.5 (65) to Western Bulldogs 10.4 (64)
The Demons started the second half in fine form, booting three in a row – courtesy of Jack Grimes, Chris Dawes and Mark Jamar – to reduce the deficit back to just six points.
But Bulldog skipper Matthew Boyd ended Melbourne’s five-goal streak, as the Dogs kicked three of the next four goals.
But when Jack Viney, Bernie Vince and Dawes (his second) answered with three in succession, Melbourne was back in front by the narrowest of margins at three quarter-time.
Final quarter: Western Bulldogs 14.7 (91) d Melbourne 13.7 (85)
The final term was an absolute nail-biter – and a see-sawing finish.
Neville Jetta put the Demons up by a goal when he kicked the first of the final term, but the Dogs hit back with two in a row to gain a seven-point lead. Melbourne responded again, when Jamar added his third and Grimes kicked his second – a beauty from the pocket – putting the Demons back in front by a goal.
But when youngster Marcus Bontempelli kicked back-to-back goals for the Dogs, they were up by a goal and able to hang on for a six-point victory.
