THE WESTERN Bulldogs have snapped athree-game losing streak with a 16-point win over Melbourne in a tight tusslein front of 36,326 fans at the MCG on Saturday night.
With scores level at the 19-minute mark,Melbourne's Matt Jones missed two crucial shots on goal which could have handedthe Demons their second consecutive win.
But it wasn't to be, the Bulldogsrunning out winners 15.9 (99) to 12.11 (83) after forward Stewart Cramerikicked two goals in the final five minutes - one of which came from acontroversial in-the-back free kick against Lynden Dunn - to put the resultbeyond doubt.
Jason Tutt then put the icing on thecake with 10 seconds to play.
Melbourne was left to rue its missedopportunities after having 13 more inside 50s than the Bulldogs.
But the Demons didn't take their chanceswith Jones, James Frawley, Christian Salem and Jay Kennedy-Harris all missingcrucial opportunities in front of goal in the final term.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos said the finalquarter was a lesson in composure for his young side.
"We're still developingobviously," Roos said after the match.
"The Bulldogs, in terms of where theywere, they're about two-and-a-half years with Brendan and we're seven games inand that probably showed tonight.
"At crucial times in the game they justdid those little things a bit better than we did and in the end that really wasthe difference. It was a terrific game, a combative game but it just shows theBulldogs' development at this stage is a bit ahead of our development."
The Bulldogs’ pressure was immense, with theteam registering a club record 108 tackles.
Young pup Tom Liberatore was instrumentalfor the Bulldogs with 27 disposals, 14 tackles, two goals and eight clearances,while skipper Ryan Griffen led the side for pressure acts, laying 15 tackles.
Coach Brendan McCartney was full of praisefor the pair .
"It's a good effort," McCartneysaid.
"There was a bit of a chat atthree-quarter time reminding them that there was enough experience out on theground that know the MCG … that understand enough about the game, they knowwhat the game needs.
“But we also had some youth out there withsome legs that might help us and it played out pretty well."
Adam Cooney, Jason Johannisen and LukeDahlhaus were also solid contributors for the Bulldogs.
The win however was soured for theBulldogs, with forward Liam Jones facing a nervous wait ahead of Monday's MatchReview Panel's findings, after his bump on Demon Dean Terlich left theMelbourne defender motionless on the wing for several minutes during the thirdquarter.
Terlich was substituted out withconcussion after Jones' shoulder made contact with his head, heightening thefocus on the bump after Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead collected Swan Ben McGlynnon Friday night.
Melbourne midfielder Daniel Cross wasprolific against his former side finishing the game with 23 disposals, fivetackles and a goal.
However it was recruit Dom Tyson who wasbest on ground for the Demons.
Much has been made of Melbourne'sdecision to trade its No.2 draft pick (Josh Kelly) to Greater Western Sydneyfor Tyson but on Saturday night he proved his worth.
The midfielder had 27 touches, amatch-high 11 clearances and kicked two goals and was a shining light in theloss.
The Demons dominated time in forwardhalf in the first term with 13 inside 50s to eight, but it was the Bulldogs wholooked more dangerous in attack, kicking three goals to the Demons' two to takea six-point lead into quarter-time.
It was a costly second term for theBulldogs, who relinquished their advantage to just one point at half-time afterholding a 15-point lead early in the quarter.
The Demons continued their dominance inthe midfield registering five more centre clearances than the Bulldogs (7-2),with Cross, Tyson and Nathan Jones supplying forwards Chris Dawes and CamPederson with opportunities in attack.
Meanwhile up the other end, the Bulldogsforward line began to come undone with injuries to Tory Dickson and TomWilliams.
Dickson was substituted out late in thesecond quarter after injuring his shoulder in the opening term when he wastackled into the turf.
But no sooner had veteran DanielGiansiracusa taken off the green vest, the Bulldogs' forward line was dealtanother blow with Williams hobbling off the ground with a right calf injury.
Williams returned to the field in thethird term with his calf heavily strapped and despite clearly being hinderedmanaged to kick a career-best three goals.
With both teams desperate to recordtheir third win of the season, the contest heated up in a see-sawing thirdquarter.
Livewire Jay Kennedy-Harris sparked theDemons early in the third term, outmaneuvering his older opponent Bob Murphy,to put his side in front by five points for the first time.
The lead then changed a further fourtimes with both sides trading goals, but it was the Demons who went into thefinal break with the ascendency with Frawley giving Melbourne a five-pointadvantage.
The Bulldogs took back the lead early inthe final term but were unable to wrestle the game away from the Demons whocontrolled most of the play in their forward 50.
But Melbourne didn't take its chances,and the Bulldogs made them pay, registering their third win of the season asthey head into the bye.
MELBOURNE 2.2 5.5 10.6 12.11 (83)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 5.7 9.7 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Melbourne: Kennedy-Harris2, Frawley 2, Tyson 2, Dawes, Cross, Pedersen, Jamar, Vince, Salem
Western Bulldogs: Crameri 4, Williams 3, Liberatore 2, Tutt 2, Cooney, Griffen, Minson,Giansiracusa
BEST
Melbourne: Cross,Tyson, Vince, N.Jones, McDonald, Viney,
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Dahlhaus, Cooney, Crameri, Johannisen, Williams,
INJURIES
Melbourne: Frawley(right thigh), Terlich (concussion)
Western Bulldogs: Dickson (left shoulder), Williams (right calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: ChristianSalem replaced Dean Terlich in the third quarter.
Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa replaced Tory Dickson in the second quarter.
Reports:Nil
Umpires: Fleer,Stevic, Stephens
Official crowd: 36,326 at the MCG.
