Match

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 18 Mar 2023

Pre Game

00:00

In 2022, Melbourne conceded a mark from 14.9% of its opponents' kicks into the forward 50 - ranked No.1 defensively.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:51

Jake Lever has started well for the Demons with two intercept marks within the first two minutes.

02:19

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)

04:19

69% of the play so far has occurred in Melbourne's forward half with the Demons recording four inside 50s to one.

06:01

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)

06:59

All five defensive 50 chains for the Bulldogs have been intercepted by the Demons for a return of 1.0 (6).

08:27

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

10:00

Melbourne has transitioned the ball well early with four of six defensive half chains resulting in an inside 50. Both of the Demons' goals have come from a defensive half chain.

12:40

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)

14:26

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)

15:01

The Bulldogs have won the first possession at a stoppage one more time than the Demons but have failed to convert this into a clearance advantage, amassing just three clearances to the Demons' six.

19:35

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

20:59

Marcus Bontempelli has started well with a game-high 10 disposals, four contested possessions, and two clearances.

22:50

Bulldogs Interchange - Alex Keath off due to an injury.

23:04

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)

24:19

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)

25:37

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)

26:35

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom Sparrow)

26:44

It is a turnover game early with both teams scoring two goals from intercepted possessions. There has been just one point scored from a clearance.

28:08

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

29:18

The Bulldogs looked to move the ball quickly that quarter, playing on from 32% of marks compared to 17% for the Demons.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:14

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)

01:38

Bailey Williams' first goal of the game is also the first goal from a stoppage clearance.

03:35

The Bulldogs are starting the gain the ascendency at the stoppages, winning five more contested possessions and four more clearances this quarter.

04:12

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

05:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)

06:39

The Western Bulldogs have recorded all six inside 50s this quarter with the Demons unable to transition the ball.

08:29

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)

10:31

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

11:15

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

11:38

Jason Johannisen's first goal is also the Bulldogs' first goal from a kick-in. Both teams have scored one goal from this source.

13:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

16:25

Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver have combined to win eight of Melbourne's 13 clearances.

16:58

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)

19:06

Jake Lever has taken four intercept marks - no other Demons player has taken more than one.

19:40

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)

20:14

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

20:54

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)

21:24

Melbourne has scored 2.2 (14) from chains starting in their defensive half.

23:02

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)

25:40

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)

25:49

Charlie Spargo has had a productive quarter with a team-high six disposals, three inside 50s and 2.0 (12).

27:05

Bulldogs Interchange - Liam Jones off due to an injury.

28:01

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)

28:39

Melbourne has gained the ascendancy in the time-on period this quarter, scoring 4.0 (24) to 0.1 (1) for the Bulldogs.

29:43

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)

31:14

The Demons have won the last six clearances of the game and now lead the clearance count by two.

34:45

Melbourne increased the pressure that quarter, recording a pressure factor of 202 compared to 184 for the Bulldogs. The AFL average is 180.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:06

Liam Jones has been subbed out of the game and replaced by Toby McLean.

01:55

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Brodie Grundy)

05:51

Both teams are struggling to maintain the ball this quarter with the Bulldogs committing eight turnovers and the Demons committing five.

06:35

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)

07:12

29% of Melbourne's defensive 50 chains have resulted in an inside 50 for a return of 4.1 (25). By comparison, the Bulldogs have converted 20% of defensive 50 chains for a return of 1.1 (7).

08:25

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Oskar Baker)

09:17

Oskar Baker kicks a goal against his former side, breaking a run of six straight goals by the Demons. Baker played 15 games for the Demons and kicked four goals.

10:58

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kade Chandler)

14:06

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

14:39

Aaron Naughton has been the target inside 50 on 10 occasions - six more than the next-best Bulldogs player. Naughton has taken three marks inside 50 for a return of 1.2 (8).

18:13

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)

18:38

The Bulldogs have scored 2.2 (14) from stoppage clearances.

19:20

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)

20:34

Melbourne has scored two goals from 13 centre-bounce clearances.

22:20

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ed Langdon)

23:30

Jake Lever has registered 10 intercept possessions - four more than any other teammate.

25:09

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)

25:48

Jack Macrae has had a productive quarter for the Bulldogs with eight disposals, three contested possessions, and three score involvements.

27:30

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kade Chandler)

29:43

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)

31:36

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kade Chandler)

31:39

Melbourne has dominated the time-on period of each quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 8.3 (51) to 2.3 (15).

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:54

Bailey Laurie has been subbed out of the game and replaced by Jake Melksham.

01:58

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)

02:38

Melbourne continues to transition the ball well from their defensive 50, scoring the first goal of the last quarter from this source. The Demons have scored 6.1 (37) from defensive 50 chains.

04:29

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)

07:52

67% of the play this quarter has occurred in Melbourne's forward half with the Demons recording five inside 50s to two.

08:34

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

10:22

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

10:49

The Bulldogs have scored 5.8 (38) from turnovers.

12:51

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)

15:16

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Brodie Grundy)

15:39

In 20 ruck contests between Brodie Grundy and Tim English, the Demons have won the first possession two more times, won the clearance three more times, and outscored the Bulldogs 2.1 (13) to 0.1 (1).

18:56

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)

19:14

Ben Brown has been the target inside 50 on a team-high eight occasions for a return of four marks inside 50 and 4.1 (25).

22:22

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

23:33

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

25:02

Bulldogs Interchange - Adam Treloar off due to an injury.

25:11

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)

28:06

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)

28:10

Despite winning 16 more contested possessions and five more clearances, the Bulldogs ended up amassing 977 metres less than Melbourne.