Match

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 24 Jul 2021

Pre Game

00:00
The Bulldogs were outscored by 34 points from intercept possessions against the Demons in Round 11 – their second-worst differential this season.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
03:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
04:04
Clayton Oliver has had a fast start, recording five disposals and three contested possessions already. He is averaging 10.5 pre-clearance contested possessions – ranked No.1 in the AFL.
05:14
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
06:22
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
07:06
Marcus Bontempelli gets the Bulldogs' first goal with a snap from a stoppage. Last time he finished with 30 disposals, 13 contested possessions and an equal season-high eight tackles against Melbourne in Round 11.
10:45
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Viney)
11:21
Melbourne has started strongly around the contest, leading contested possessions 22-14 and clearances 6-3. Since Round 15, it has won the contested possession count by 17.3 per game – ranked No.1 in the AFL.
12:16
Demons Interchange - Steven May off due to an injury.
12:53
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
16:49
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
17:40
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Hannan)
18:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
20:05
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
21:32
Josh Bruce will be relieved to kick truly from a set shot, 40 metres out on a tight angle. Since Round 15, he has recorded a shot at goal accuracy of 28.6% – the worst percentage of the top-20 in the AFL for shots at goal.
26:28
Clayton Oliver has had a massive quarter, leading the match for disposals (14), contested possessions (9), and score involvements (4).
27:54
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tim English)
31:23
The Bulldogs won inside 50s that quarter 15-12 and take a 10 point lead into quarter time. They have led at quarter time in 13 games this season – ranked No.1 in the competition.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
01:29
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
03:23
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
05:09
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
12:42
This quarter's been very even in the contest, with contested possessions equal at 15-15 and the Demons leading clearances 5-4. Clayton Oliver has five contested possessions for the quarter.
16:06
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
18:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
22:46
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
23:53
Ben Brown kicks his second behind from just his second disposal for the match. This year he has won 5.6% of one-on-one contests he has been involved in – the lowest percentage of his career.
27:22
Demons Interchange - Jake Lever off due to the blood rule.
28:04
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Hannan)
28:29
Mitch Hannan breaks a 21-minute goal drought from both sides. The Bulldogs have kicked 2.2 from nine inside 50s this quarter.
31:21
The Bulldogs have been superior by foot this quarter, leading kicking efficiency 65% - 48%. All of Taylor Duryea's kicks this quarter have been effective.
33:17
In a slippery, low-scoring affair, the Bulldogs' accuracy is what's setting them apart. The Bulldogs have kicked just two behinds (with another two rushed behinds), whereas Ben Brown has kicked 0.2, as well as three other Demons with 0.1.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:53
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
02:03
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
03:49
A strong start to the second half from the Demons thanks to two goals from centre clearances. They also lead contested possessions 11-0 this quarter.
07:28
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
11:26
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
12:24
The last five minutes have belonged to the Bulldogs, recording seven consecutive inside 50s and booting two goals straight. In that time Marcus Bontempelli has had six disposals.
13:54
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
15:54
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jayden Hunt)
17:41
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
18:49
Bulldogs Interchange - Ed Richards and is possibly out for the game.
19:55
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
22:45
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
24:40
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
27:12
The Bulldogs have been able to match one of Melbourne's strengths, with both teams recording 10 intercept marks. Taylor Duryea has three and Josh Schache has taken two playing a new role in defence.
27:58
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
29:33
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Viney)
30:28
The Demons have been able to close the gap through scoring from stoppages, outscoring the Bulldogs 24-6 from this source this quarter. Max Gawn has three clearances and three score involvements for the quarter.
32:23
The Bulldogs have recorded a score from 22.5% of their intercept possessions this season – the highest percentage of any side, but tonight they are tracking at just 16%.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
04:03
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)
05:15
The Bulldogs should be well placed to win from here, having outscored their opponents by a total of 212 points in final quarters this year – ranked No.1 and more than double of any other side.
10:16
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
10:35
Melbourne kicks the first goal of the quarter on the back of some great work from Jack Viney, who set up Pickett for the goal. Viney currently leads tackles for the match with eight.
13:47
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
14:16
The Demons have now kicked the last three goals with another major to Ben Brown. They have recorded seven of the last eight inside 50s.
17:49
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
18:56
The Bulldogs get one back against the run of play through a Bontempelli goal that came from a forward 50 stoppage. The Bulldogs have outscored Melbourne 38-14 from chains that started in the forward 50.
19:29
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)
21:36
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Hannan)
23:35
The Bulldogs have had an electric last five minutes, booting three goals straight from four inside 50s.
24:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
26:17
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
30:50
Clayton Oliver was tremendous for the Demons, recording game-highs for disposals (38), contested possessions (25), as well as eight clearances and six score involvements.