Pre Game
00:00
The Bulldogs conceded 45 points from centre bounce clearances against the Demons in the Grand Final, which is the equal-most they have conceded in any match from that source since 2010.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:28
The first centre bounce clearance of the game has gone the way of the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were ranked second for centre bounce clearance differential last season but only ranked ninth in scoring differential from this source.
02:35
The first goal of the game to the Demons came from their first forward half entry after the Bulldogs had the first three inside 50 entries. Last season, the Bulldogs were ranked No.1 at converting inside 50 entries into scores.
04:01
Bulldogs Interchange - Mitch Hannan off due to an injury.
04:51
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
05:08
The two early goals to Melbourne have followed intercepts in the midfield. Only four of the first ten kicks for the Bulldogs have been effective resulting in early turnover opportunities for the Demons.
08:41
Three early goals from turnovers for the Demons who averaged 54 points per game from this source in 2021. Melbourne has now kicked 19 of the last 20 goals in its games against Western Bulldogs.
09:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
10:33
Five different players have attended centre bounces so far for the Bulldogs, but renowned stoppage specialist Tom Liberatore has not been one of these players.
11:05
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
12:20
Melbourne has an early 18-8 lead in post-clearance contested possessions. The Demons were the No.1 ranked team last season for contested possession differential.
14:16
Melbourne currently has a forward half kicking efficiency of 85 percent. The Bulldogs have a forward half kicking efficiency of only 44 percent.
15:11
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
15:15
Demons Interchange - Christian Salem off due to an injury.
16:13
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
17:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)
18:09
In 2021, Melbourne conceded a score from only 34.9 percent of opposition inside 50s (ranked No.1 by a long margin). Tonight the Bulldogs have only the two scores from their eight inside 50 entries with the Demon defence starting strongly.
18:27
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
20:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
20:47
Ben Brown averaged 5.3 score involvements per game in 2021 with a season-high of eight in the Grand Final. The former Roo has already been involved in six scores tonight.
21:39
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jake Bowey)
22:08
Melbourne has now scored 3.1.19 from set shots at goal, and a somewhat wasteful 1.4.10 from attempts in general play.
23:31
Last season the Bulldogs were the No.1 ranked team at converting forward half intercepts into scores. At this point, the Demons lead 8-5 in forward half intercepts and 13-1 in points scored from this source.
25:58
Melbourne has an early 13-3 lead in spoils and 3-1 lead in smothers, with the last smother by Steven May generating another turnover.
26:53
The first goal to the Bulldogs was sourced from a clearance in the defensive half. Western Bulldogs lead 8-6 in clearances and this was the first goal of the night to either team from a stoppage.
29:37
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
29:41
A handy late goal to Cody Weightman prevented the quarter-time scores tonight from being a replica of the Grand Final (29-8). Tom Liberatore did not attend a centre bounce in the opening quarter with the speed of Adam Treloar (five attendances) a notable shift.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:15
With the Demons missing a number of premiership defenders tonight, Angus Brayshaw was used exclusively in the back half during the first term. Last season he spent only 10 percent of game time in defence.
00:28
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
00:53
Three goals in a row to the Bulldogs who have now edged out to a lead of 11-6 in clearances and also lead 12-2 in points scored from stoppages.
01:38
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
05:04
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
05:28
Melbourne has recorded a kicking efficiency this term of 17 percent compared to Western Bulldogs 78 percent, and it was designated kicker Bailey Dale who threaded the last goal.
06:59
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
07:08
The eerie similarities with the Grand Final continue with three early second-quarter goals to the Bulldogs featuring a strong contribution from Aaron Naughton. The Bulldogs now lead 7-2 in centre bounce clearances.
08:22
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)
09:16
After providing the assist on the goal to Bailey Dale, Adam Treloar has made it six goals in a row to the Bulldogs. Treloar has a team-high five score involvements.
10:01
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
10:53
Western Bulldogs now lead 19-1 in points scored from centre bounce clearances. Melbourne scored 45 points from this source in the Grand Final.
12:12
Western Bulldogs lead 12-1 in marks this term with the Demons kicking efficiency languishing at just 29 percent. The Bulldogs have played on from 67 percent of these marks which is more than double the usual rate.
12:24
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Hannan)
14:00
A dominant 17-7 advantage in clearances to the Bulldogs has been converted into a 31-2 lead in points scored from this source. The last clearance by Clayton Oliver ended a run of ten consecutive clearances to the Bulldogs.
15:46
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
15:58
Ben Brown kicked the only goal for Melbourne in the second quarter of the Grand Final last year. Brown has ended a run of eight goals to the Bulldogs with the Demons first goal of this term.
20:25
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
22:08
Tim English has done well so far to negate the impact of Max Gawn. While Melbourne leads 4-2 in hit-outs to advantage, English has won four clearances (Gawn zero).
24:47
Melbourne took a competition-high 19.4 intercept marks per game last season. Despite its No.1 interceptor in Jake Lever being absent tonight, the Demons currently lead 10-6 in this count.
25:51
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
26:14
Melbourne is continuing to convert its set shots (5.1.31) with the goal to Christian Petracca the toughest so far, and it now leads 32-20 in points scored from midfield turnovers.
28:36
James Jordon has won a game-high eight intercepts. This is already a career-high for the young Demon, with a previous best of six.
31:19
Christian Petracca is replicating his Grand Final performance, with a game-high 465 metres gained (200 metres more than any teammate), from his game-high 20 disposals.
32:04
A powerful second quarter from the Bulldogs who used a streak of ten consecutive clearances to gain control of the game. Western Bulldogs lead clearances 23-13 and points scored from stoppages 31-3.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:45
Tim English won six clearances in the first half for the Bulldogs. This already equals a career-high for the young Dog ruck.
01:22
The Demons outscored their opposition by 10.1 points per game from clearances in 2021 (ranked second). Tonight Melbourne trails 3-31 in points scored from this source.
02:13
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
02:34
Bulldogs Interchange - Marcus Bontempelli off due to an injury.
03:37
Melbourne has a 9-4 edge in forward 50 marks with five of these taken by Ben Brown, which is his best return as a Demon.
05:21
While the Bulldogs have an 18-9 lead in pre-clearance ground balls, the Demons lead 50-33 in post-clearance ground balls.
06:24
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
06:58
Melbourne has started the third term with 88 percent kicking efficiency resulting in a 9-2 advantage in marks including two in the forward 50 that have been converted into goals.
09:14
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)
10:10
Melbourne won the contested possession differential by 11.9 per game last season (ranked No.1). The Demons currently have a 90-77 edge in this count with post-clearance ground balls the main difference.
11:49
The Bulldogs launched 21.9 percent of their score from forward 50 chains in 2021, which was the highest percentage in the league. Tonight the Bulldogs have just one score from six chains starting in this zone.
12:20
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
12:43
Bulldogs Interchange - Marcus Bontempelli off due to an injury.
14:08
Marcus Bontempelli averaged a career-high 26.7 disposals, 544 metres gained and 7.4 score involvements in 2021. The star Bulldog captain has had just the 12 disposals tonight and is currently off the ground with an injury being assessed.
14:58
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
15:18
Five goals in a row to the Demons with Fritsch and Brown sharing the first three goals this term, just as they did when the Demons started their goal streak in the third quarter of the Grand Final.
16:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Luke Jackson)
17:13
While the Bulldogs lead the clearances 5-3 this term, the Demons have scored 12-0 from this source with the goal to Jackson the first of the night to Melbourne from a centre bounce clearance.
21:04
Bulldogs Interchange - Tim English off due to an injury.
22:59
Melbourne has controlled the aerial contests tonight, leading 11-3 in contested marks, 34-18 in spoils, and 11-5 in forward 50 marks.
25:08
In the third term. the Bulldogs lead 7-1 in forward half intercepts but they have not scored from any of these chances. Last season the Bulldogs were ranked No.1 at converting these opportunities into scores.
25:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
26:38
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
27:58
Melbourne regained some control in the third term with a 32-19 edge in marks including 5-0 contested marks and 5-1 forward 50 marks. While both teams had 14 inside 50 entries, the Bulldogs only retained possession from 14 percent of these entries (Demons retained 64 percent of their forward 50 entries).
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Luke Jackson)
02:02
The last time that the Bulldogs trailed the Demons by 16 points at three-quarter time was in Round 8, 1966, when they kicked six unanswered goals in the final quarter to win.
02:47
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
03:37
A great start to the final quarter for the Bulldogs with the Bontempelli goal. These two teams were not surprisingly the best teams in the final quarter of games last season.
06:25
Aaron Naughton grabbed 27 contested marks inside 50 during the 2021 regular season, which was ranked equal-second in the AFL. His first such mark tonight resulted in his fourth goal of the game. Naughton kicked four goals in total across three games opposed to Melbourne last season.
09:56
Last season Melbourne was able to stick 64.9 percent of its tackle attempts (ranked second). Tonight the Demons have a tackle efficiency of only 51 percent with the Bulldogs often able to release handballs under physical pressure.
11:09
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
11:42
A terrific long-range goal from Max Gawn is the second of the night to the Demons from beyond the 50 metre arc. Melbourne has scored 4.6.30 from shots at goal in the 40-50 metre range compared to Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 from the same range.
13:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
13:58
Jack Macrae averaged a career-high 33.8 disposals last season, which was ranked second in the AFL. The prolific Bulldog has a game-high 33 disposals tonight in addition to ten clearances.
16:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
17:42
Melbourne leads 52-37 in midfield intercepts and 46-27 in points scored from these opportunities following the last goal to James Harmes.
19:29
Last season the Bulldogs averaged 12.6 points per game from chains started in the defensive 50. Tonight the Bulldogs have scored only one point from such chains with the defensive system of the Demons making ball movement difficult.
23:06
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
24:00
Bailey Smith has recorded a game-high 11 tackles and 33 disposals for the Bulldogs in a more central midfield role tonight (attending 14 centre bounces).
24:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Toby Bedford)
25:05
Melbourne leads 32-17 in shots at goal with a number of attempts tonight failing to register a score. This aligns with the Demons retaining possession from 65 percent of inside 50 entries while the Bulldogs have retained possession from only 40 percent of their forward 50 entries.
26:25
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
26:33
Another powerful performance from Christian Petracca tonight who leads all players for contested possessions (15), metres gained (859), and score involvements (12).
27:56
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)
29:54
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
31:43
A good win for the reigning premiers who dominated post-clearance ground balls (75-55) as well as contested marks (16-6). The Demons were also far more effective at generating midfield intercepts (55-41) and their advantage at scoring from these (53-27) was equal to the final margin.