Match

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 14 Jul 2018

Pre Game

00:00
Since 2014, Melbourne has won the inside 50 count by only one per game against the Western Bulldogs, the third-best differential recorded by any side and one of five sides to be averaging more.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:48
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
04:16
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
05:27
The Bulldogs have been poor by foot in the early stages of this match, kicking at just 27 per cent efficiency. Last week the Bulldogs recorded the second-highest kicking efficiency for the round, kicking at over 75 per cent.
06:13
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
07:45
Angus Brayshaw has started on fire, winning seven disposals in the opening eight minutes. Brayshaw is enjoying a breakout season, recording career-highs in disposals, contested possessions, inside 50s and clearances.
08:30
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
10:41
The Bulldogs are controlling the stoppages, winning eight of the first nine clearances. This dominance comes despite the Bulldogs only winning two hit-outs. They have kicked one goal from this source.
11:46
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)
13:24
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
13:36
The Demons are making the most of their forward 50 entries, kicking four scores from their seven entries at 57 per cent conversion. Last week Melbourne scored on 47 per cent of their inside 50s, up on their season average of 45 per cent.
17:46
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)
18:30
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
20:31
The Demons are losing the inside battle, trailing in tackles by seven, groundballs by seven and hard ball gets by eight. They are capitalising on the turnovers of the Bulldogs, with two of their three goals being sourced from turnovers.
22:06
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Schache)
25:48
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
26:18
The Dogs are extending their differential in contested possessions, now leading the count by 16. This is their third-largest differential in a quarter this year, and are three off their season-best.
27:30
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
29:09
The Dogs enter the first-break with a narrow lead on the back of a brilliant performance in the clearances. They lead clearances 14 to five, handing Melbourne their equal third-worst differential in a quarter this season.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:56
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
02:05
The Demons have generated an inside 50 from 27 per cent oftheir defensive 50 chains this season, ranked No.1. They are at 33 per cent today.
03:17
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
04:34
Bulldogs Interchange - Josh Schache off due to an injury.
06:15
The Bulldogs are opting to handball as much as possible, leading handball receives by 35 and have a kick-to-handball ratio of 0.76. In contrast the Demons have a ratio of 1.39, resulting in a lead of 13 in marks.
06:33
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
08:52
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)
10:19
The Bulldogs are on top in the territory battle this quarter, leading inside 50s 10 to three and are enjoying 60 per cent of the play being held in their attacking-half of the ground.
11:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Schache)
13:05
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
13:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
14:10
Melbourne has leveled up the clearances this quarter, and are starting to make an impact on the scoreboard from this source. Their four clearances this term has resulted in 13 points on the scoreboard.
15:23
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
16:07
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
17:46
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
19:34
Marcus Adams has taken a game-high four intercept marks, all coming in the defensive-half for the Bulldogs. He grabbed a career-high 7 intercept marks in round 14 earlier this season.
20:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
21:37
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Schache)
22:53
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bernie Vince)
23:59
Christian Salem has been the chief rebounder off half-back for Melbourne this afternoon. He has won a game-high seven rebound 50s, and leads his side in metres gained with 311. His 12 disposals are at an impressive 83 per cent efficiency.
24:03
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
26:15
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
28:21
The Demons have had 11 less inside 50s compared to their opponents approaching half-time. This is their second lowest first-half differential in 2018, with their lowest coming in the Queen's Birthday match where they trailed by 15 at half-time.
28:58
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
28:59
The Bulldogs have dominated the territory battle in the opening half but have been unable to capitalise on this dominance on the scoreboard. Their scores per inside 50 is at 34 per cent, compared to 63 per cent for the Demons.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:25
The Bulldogs recorded 58 more handballs than the Demons in the opening half. This is the fourth-highest handball differential in a first-half this season.
01:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Dale Morris)
04:33
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Patrick Lipinski)
05:13
The Bulldogs have been outscored by 197 points in third quarters this season, ranked 18th.
06:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
07:28
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
08:33
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
08:59
After a slow start, the Demons are dominating at the stoppages and it is reflective on the scoreboard. The Demons have kicked 5.3 (33) sourced from stoppages compared to 1.3 (9) for the Bulldogs. Brayshaw and Gawn have nine score involvements apiece.
12:03
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
13:18
Three of the four goals for Melbourne this quarter have been sourced from centre-bounces. The Demons are the highest-scoring team from this source this year with their season tally now up to 40 goals, 10 more than any other club.
15:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
16:34
The Dees are scoring heavily from defensive-half intercepts. They have kicked 4.1 (25) from this source and zone, compared to just the solitary behind for the Bulldogs from their respective defensive-half.
16:55
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
18:41
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
18:54
The horror third-quarter season trend continues for the Bulldogs as the Dees pile on seven unanswered goals in less than 15 minutes of football. Max Gawn is dominating the ruck with 12 hit-outs to advantage, 11 more than the next best player.
20:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
22:04
The Demons have gone inside 50 10 times this quarter for a remarkable eight goals. This is the complete opposite from last week for the Dees, where they scored a goal from just under 17 per cent of their inside 50s.
23:48
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)
28:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
31:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Schache)
31:42
The Demons kicked eight goals to three in the third quarter on the back of a stellar effort from Max Gawn and Angus Brayshaw. Gawn won seven hit-outs to advantage in the third term, whilst Brayshaw won 12 disposals, three clearances and three inside 50s.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:42
The Bulldogs have only won seven times in their history (spanning back to 1925) when facing a greater three-quarter time margin. They will need to improve their kicking efficiency, currently at a low 53 per cent.
01:42
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
04:11
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
05:07
Michael Hibberd has recorded 76 uncontested possessions in the defensive 50 this season, ranked No.1 at Melbourne and 10 more than the next best player. He has won nine in his defensive-half today.
09:31
Western Bulldogs has scored from 40 per cent of their inside 50 entries this season, ranked 17th. They have been poor in this stat again tonight, scoring 18 times from their 51 entries (35 per cent).
12:19
Bulldogs Interchange - Billy Gowers off due to an injury.
13:27
The return of Jack Macrae has been a positive for the Bulldogs. He has amassed a game-high 32 disposals, a game-high eight tackles whilst also leading the clearances for the Dogs with five.
14:48
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)
18:12
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
19:38
The Demons have grabbed 20 intercept marks this evening, their second-highest tally this year and well up on their season average of 14.7. Jordan Lewis has been the most prolific interceptor today, winning nine intercept possessions.
21:44
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
22:50
Alex Neal-Bullen has forced the opposition to commit 59 turnovers as a result of his pressure acts this season (ranked seventh in the competition). He has applied 30 pressure acts today, the second-most behind Clayton Oliver with 37.
23:09
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
24:37
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
28:56
The Demons record their largest winning margin against the Bulldogs at the M.C.G. since 2006. They dominated the scores from stoppages by 38 points, and booted an impressive five goals from centre-bounces.