Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs — Rd 22 2025 Commentary@endsection
Match

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 10 Aug 2025

Pre Game

00:00
Melbourne has won its last three matches against the Bulldogs by an average winning margin of 40 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:10
The Bulldogs have started hot, recording four inside 50s in the first 90 seconds of play.
02:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)
03:20
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
05:22
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
05:34
Aaron Naughton boots the first goal of the match from a mark and set shot. Naughton and Sam Darcy are the first pair of teammates to both kick five-plus goals in back-to-back games since Daniel Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown in 2008.
07:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
08:42
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
09:23
The Bulldogs have been dominating territory early, leading inside 50s 10-3, but have scored just 1.3 from these entries.
10:38
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
11:49
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)
12:19
Tim English adds to the wayward accuracy so far for the Bulldogs. It is out of character for them, as before today they had recorded a shot at goal accuracy of 53.9% this season – ranked No.1 in the competition.
14:11
The Bulldogs have started on top around stoppages, leading clearances 6-1. Marcus Bontempelli leads the way with two.
14:13
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
15:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Kennedy)
17:51
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
19:09
The Bulldogs lead contested possessions 24-17, continuing on from last week where they led the count by 51 against GWS – their second-best differential ever.
19:13
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
19:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
21:53
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
23:28
Bailey Dale has been finding the ball at will, recording 14 disposals this quarter - six more than the next best player.
26:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan Bramble)
27:39
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
28:47
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jai Culley)
28:56
Melbourne convert a goal from just its fifth clearance win of the match. Over the last four weeks, Melbourne has scored from 30.5% of its clearances – ranked No.1 in the competition.
30:12
The Bulldogs had more control that quarter, including winning clearances 11-6, disposals 118-89 and inside 50s 19-13, but take just a two point lead into quarter time.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
03:37
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
03:59
Once again, Aaron Naughton kicks the first goal of the quarter from a mark and set shot. He now has 2.1 for the match.
04:46
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
07:47
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Laitham Vandermeer)
07:55
Christian Petracca has had a quiet start to the game, recording just three disposals to this point. He averages 26.3 disposals against the Bulldogs over his career – his highest average against any opponent.
09:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
10:28
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
10:51
Bayley Fritsch converts from a great kick inside 50 and assist from Kysaiah Pickett. Pickett leads score involvements for the Demons with five.
11:56
The Bulldogs have outscored the Demons by eight and seven points in the first ten minutes of the first and second quarter respectively. They have a knack for starting quarters well, having outscored their opponents by an average of 10.2 points per game in the first 10 minutes of quarters – ranked No.1 in the competition.
12:32
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan McNeil)
14:42
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Caleb Poulter)
14:53
Demons Interchange - Caleb Windsor off due to an injury.
16:08
Melbourne has managed to match the Bulldogs around stoppage this quarter, with clearances even at 4-4. Ed Langdon has two of these.
17:54
The Bulldogs have had superior ball movement, creating nine scores from their defensive half chains, compared to Melbourne's four.
18:51
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rory Lobb)
24:21
The Bulldogs lead inside 50s by five this quarter but again have been wasteful in front of goal, booting 2.4. Joel Freijah has kicked 0.2 for the match - one of eight Bulldogs that have kicked a behind and no goals for the match.
27:48
Ed Richards has been huge this match, leading disposals (20), contested possessions (12) and clearances (6) for the match.
28:36
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Harrison Petty)
29:37
What has separated the sides to this point has been points scored from turnovers, with the Bulldogs leading this 35-15.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:49
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
00:59
From the three quarters today, Aaron Naughton has kicked the first goal in each one - all from a mark and set shot.
03:04
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
04:31
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
07:53
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kade Chandler)
10:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)
10:28
The Bulldogs have the ascendancy at stoppage this quarter, leading clearances 6-2.
10:42
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
10:59
Bayley Fritsch gets on the end of a fast chain that started in Melbourne's defensive half. He's now the leading goalkicker for the Demons with 2.2.
12:47
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
13:30
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
13:50
The Demons currently have some momentum, recording the last three inside 50s as well as the last three scores.
14:10
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)
17:24
Melbourne's effort and pressure has really lifted since half time, leading the pressure factor 177-150 this quarter. Harvey Langford has eight pressure acts already this term.
18:05
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
20:01
The Bulldogs continue to win clearances this quarter, leading the count 11-3, but have only managed to convert these to seven points.
20:19
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Harrison Petty)
22:35
The Demons are running hot, booting four of the last five goals.
22:46
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
24:02
Melbourne has been super efficient going forward this quarter, scoring eight times from 11 inside 50s.
25:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
26:07
Sam Darcy kicks his second goal from a chain created by a turnover in the Bulldogs' forward half. The Demons are on top in scores from turnover this quarter, leading 32-12.
30:53
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
32:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
33:11
Christian Petracca runs into an open goal to make it seven of the last nine goals to the Demons.
34:27
The Demons finish that quarter scoring 31 points from defensive half - their best return from this zone in a term since 2022.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
03:06
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Luke Cleary)
04:13
The Bulldogs have started strongly around the contest this term, leading contested possessions 7-1. Ed Richards has two already and 15 for the match.
05:27
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)
06:37
The Bulldogs are on top in clearances yet again, leading the count 4-1 this quarter and 38-20 for the match.
06:52
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
08:22
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Harrison Petty)
08:48
Harrison Petty kicks his second goal to take the lead back for the Demons. They have led for just 11 of 98 minutes in this match.
11:14
Bulldogs Interchange - Laitham Vandermeer and is possibly out for the game.
11:51
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)
13:27
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Riley Garcia)
14:25
The Bulldogs have snatched the momentum back in this game, leading inside 50s 8-3 this quarter and booting four of the last five goals. Ed Richards has kicked two goals straight this quarter.
14:59
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Harvey Langford)
17:27
The Demons have turned things around at stoppages this quarter, leading clearances 7-5. More importantly, they have managed to outscore the Bulldogs 12-7 from this source.
19:20
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Blake Howes)
19:33
Blake Howes boots his first ever goal at AFL level to take back the lead for the Demons. There has now been seven lead changes since the 20 minute mark of the third quarter.
21:16
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
22:39
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
22:59
Naughton kicks his fifth goal from a snap in general play. He has now bagged at least five goals three weeks in a row.
24:15
Demons Interchange - Caleb Windsor and is possibly out for the game.
24:38
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
26:04
Demons Interchange - Daniel Turner off due to an injury.
29:50
Ed Richards has been massive this term, leading clearances (3), score involvements (5) and booting two goals straight.
30:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
32:06
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Daniel Turner)
34:50
Max Gawn was impressive in a losing side, posting team-highs for contested possessions (14) and clearances (5), along with 23 disposals and eight score involvements.