Summary
Credit to the Western Bulldogs for a hard earned four points secured in difficult conditions at a windy Gold Coast. The win sends them up to seventh on the ladder and gives them a decent look at the finals with four rounds remaining.
The contest was even in three of the four quarters, but immediately after half-time the Dogs burst out of the blocks to kick six straight, demonstrating the only consistent clean ball movement from either side for the day. Marcus Bontempelli excelled, moving like a Rolls Royce away from stoppages to deliver inside-50, while Mitch Wallis starred up forward with a career-best four goals. The rest of the midfield was typically busy, despite losing the ruck duel to Preuss. But even then Beveridge managed to turn a negative to a positive, switching Bruce and English at half-time and focussing on sharking the Melbourne tap. In the space of a vital couple of minutes Bruce clunked a powerful intercept mark at full back, then set his side in motion, a move ending with English kicking the goal at full forward.
Melbourne were architects of their own demise. They wasted numerous opportunities in front of goal, committed a number of atrocious skill errors, and failed to manage the game at crucial moments, either to ram home their advantage or stem the bleeding. After three straight wins they have been brought down to earth with a thump and reminded admirers why they have been outside the eight for most of the season. Weideman again impressed in the forward line, while May and Lever dovetailed beautifully down back, but the transition from end to end left a lot to be desired.
The Demons’ run home features only one opponent currently ahead of them on the ladder, so they’re still a good chance for the finals, but they need to find a way to dig themselves out of holes in matches like this, and find a gameplan that doesn’t expose their poor field kicking.
Thank you for joining me today. Scott is on deck tomorrow for the Lions v Saints.
Western Bulldogs 12.8 (80) beat Melbourne Demons 7.10 (52)
Western Bulldogs into the eight. Melbourne Demons out of it.
Ben Cavarra puts the final nail in the coffin for the @westernbulldogs ⚰️#AFLDogsDees pic.twitter.com/Y2zLooP0yB
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2020
Updated
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Bulldogs 12.7 (79) v Demons 7.10 (52) - The Bulldogs richly deserve their victory for their third quarter effort and four quarter graft, but this has been far from an intimidating performance. I think we have learned more about Melbourne in defeat, who have failed to dispel the view they are downhill skiers.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Bulldogs 12.6 (78) v Demons 7.10 (52) - Deary me, that was awful from Lockhart. Melbourne won the vital centre bounce and controlled possession on the inside until Lockhart presented on the run to drive the ball deep into attack. Instead, the ball just dribbles off his boot and the Dogs can rebound. The latest in a long line of coach killers from Demons.
Salt is rubbed into the wound when Melbourne fluff their lines coming out of defence and from the wallop to the top of the square Cavarra crumbs and stabs the clinching goal.
Updated
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Bulldogs 11.6 (72) v Demons 7.10 (52) - Another chance goes by the wayside. Majestic mark from Fritsch just inside 50, but his set shot starts just inside the left upright and misses for a point to the right!
The forward pressure locks the ball in for a passage though and after Oliver wins the clearance he slams the ball onto his boot and it bobbles out the back for Spargo to dribble into an open goal.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Bulldogs 11.6 (72) v Demons 6.9 (45) - It is a scrappy old slugfest again with Melbourne unable to string any chains of possession together and the Bulldogs happy to commit bodies to every contest and slow the game down. The Demons just aren’t skilful enough with ball in hand to take advantage of the conditions.
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Bulldogs 11.6 (72) v Demons 6.9 (45) - Melbourne in Q4 are not as clean rebounding with the wind as the Bulldogs were in Q3. They’ve had glimpses, but it hasn’t paid off, and now they’re getting a little ragged trying to force the issue. The Doggies are soaking up all the pressure and making good decisions advancing the ball whenever they can.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Bulldogs 11.5 (71) v Demons 6.9 (45) - The Dogs could do with a response, and they get it, from Bontempelli, who has been streaking out of centre bounces all day long. This time he eats up the turf by foot then drills inside 50 to the advantage of Wallis. The small forward has performed well today, and he does outstanding here, using his body to hold off Hibberd’s close attention while still extending his arms to take the mark. Unfazed, he strides back and kicks the settling goal, his fourth of the day.
Career-high 4️⃣ goals for Wally.
— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 22, 2020
🌟🌟🌟#AFLDogsDees #MightyWest pic.twitter.com/E1tuw04XcP
Updated
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Bulldogs 10.5 (65) v Demons 6.9 (45) - Weideman marks again! This time a tough contested grab, and the big forward plays on, centring to the top of the square, but the Dogs smuggle clear. The pressure is unrelenting though, and the ball is soon back in the hot zone from Salem, and it’s McDonald this time who clunks the mark! He doesn’t miss from 20m, and the wind-assisted comeback could be back on.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Bulldogs 10.5 (65) v Demons 5.9 (39) - I think Viney must have been reading, and he responds immediately to my criticism! A very brave mark, running back with the flight in the centre square, is quickly lumped forward, to the advantage of the leading Weideman, who marks. He can’t convert though, and another chance goes begging.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Bulldogs 10.5 (65) v Demons 5.8 (38) - Errors everywhere for a series of ugly phases after the Bulldogs claim the opening clearance. Viney is especially guilty, first fumbling a handball receive, then splitting two possible targets inbound with an awful kick. This all suits the Bulldogs, who will be happy with a low-scoring scrappy end to this clash.
Confirming the news from earlier, Sparrow is out for the day with his left arm in a sling. Looks like an AC joint-type injury.
Considering the scoreline, the team stats are pretty even, aside form the Bulldogs boasting 50-more uncontested possessions - a reflection of their superior ball use rebounding out of their defensive 50 in that third quarter.
The move to switch Bruce and English paid dividends handsomely. Credit to Beveridge.
📊 3/4 time stats
— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 22, 2020
Disposals: Macrae 23, Smith 22, Hunter 21, Bontempelli 18
Goals: Wallis 3, Bontempelli, English, Liberatore, McLean, Smith, Vandermeer#AFLDogsDees #MightyWest
Updated
3QT: Bulldogs 10.5 (65) v Demons 5.8 (38)
That was decisive. A scruffy couple of quarters with no clear winner has turned into a procession for the Bulldogs. Melbourne have shot themselves in the foot repeatedly, and if they can tidy up their work around the 50m arc, and maximise the wind, they’re not out of it. But if they don’t claw their way back, and ultimately miss the finals, that quarter will feature heavily in the postseason review.
Q3: 3 mins remaining: Bulldogs 10.4 (64) v Demons 5.8 (38) - That is an 11-point miss from Melksham. The Dogs make it six goals in a row, going coast to coast at speed yet again, ending this time with big English taking the mark at the back of a contest. The ruck-cum-forward then very neatly guides through the goal from a narrow angle.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Bulldogs 9.4 (58) v Demons 5.8 (38) - Still Melbourne press, dominating territory and inside-50s over the last five or so minutes, but they are aimless, scrappy deliveries that the Dogs are swallowing effortlessly. However, they can’t make more than one clearing kick in a row with Lever and May alert with the high defensive press.
Eventually, one inside-50 scrimmage results in a high tackle on Melksham - but yet again Melbourne can’t punish on the scoreboard.
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Bulldogs 9.4 (58) v Demons 5.7 (37) - After Fritsch misses an impossible set shot Melbourne lock the ball in well, but they can’t transition from inside to outside with any purpose. They keep hustling though, Viney especially busy, and his kick from centre wing finds Oliver on the lead a long way from goal. He sets it up to the top of the square but the Dogs defence stands firm.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Bulldogs 9.4 (58) v Demons 5.6 (36) - Make that five in a row! Again Melbourne have decent territory but a wobbler inside-50 is picked off and returned with interest, ending with Wallis snapping neatly on his left from point-blank range. The ball movement this quarter from the Bulldogs has been outstanding.
Meanwhile, Sparrow has left the field clutching his shoulder.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Bulldogs 8.4 (52) v Demons 5.6 (36) - Add to the list of Simon Goodwin coach killers a Melksham 50m penalty for encroaching on centre wing. Williams jogs to the new mark, 40m out, and with the wind behind him steers through a fourth goal in a row from the Bulldogs.
Melbourne are in quicksand, and they only have themselves to blame.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Bulldogs 7.4 (46) v Demons 5.6 (36) - Melbourne should kick a goal straight back but not for the first time today butcher a golden opportunity. Sparrow is the culprit on this occasion, steadying and kicking straight, but clipping the attempted smother when he needn’t have taken such a risk. In the build-up Petracca did magnificently to craft the opening.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Bulldogs 7.4 (46) v Demons 5.5 (35) - It’s a costly miss from Fritsch, as is Melbourne’s inability to convert the subsequent territorial advantage into clean footy. The Bulldogs scrap hard for a footing, then they break at speed, showing those trademark fast hands, enabling Smith to find space and kick unerringly on the run from 40m with the wind.
This is a serious momentum shift.
A @westernbulldogs chain of handballs, topped off with a Bailey Smith goal 💯#AFLDogsDees pic.twitter.com/elp5Nr1oVu
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2020
Updated
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Bulldogs 6.4 (40) v Demons 5.5 (35) - Melbourne break forward and Fritsch has a look from 30m... and he misses everything!
Melbourne staff: how much sunscreen do you need?
— Ethan (@ethanmeldrum_) August 22, 2020
Clayton Oliver: yes pic.twitter.com/PEKvBLSUUl
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Bulldogs 6.4 (40) v Demons 5.5 (35) - Speaking of Bruce, he plucks a pack mark out of the swirling breeze to repel a dangerous Demon attack to the top of the square. The rebound, from right to left, goes from coast to coast, until Bontempelli finds Wallis in space and the Napoleon Dynamite lookalike caresses the set shot through from 30m. Easily the best ball movement of the day so far from the Dogs.
Melbourne up against it to remain in touch now. The Bulldogs have the wind at their backs and their tails up.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Bulldogs 5.4 (34) v Demons 5.5 (35) - The Bulldogs win another centre clearance, then they’re clean by hand until they get within range and go to foot, at which point Melbourne’s back line again repels the Bulldogs forwards. They lock the ball in dangerous territory though and after another stoppage win the ball comes out to Bontempelli who whacks a super goal with his left boot from a standing start - the wind in his favour on that occasion.
Notably, Bruce has replaced English at the centre bounce - a clip for both from Beveridge perhaps after below-par halves.
The news story at half-time is all about Nathan Jones. The Demon veteran was a very late withdrawal with a quad injury. Melbourne insist it’s minor, but it doesn’t stop speculation about Jones’ future with the 32-year-old out of contract at the end of the season.
I am normally not so disposed towards footy commentators (why do they insist on calling the game like it’s a horse race on the radio?) but that bon mot was perfectly timed.
That was a funny half to pick apart. Clearly the wind is a major factor, but the skill level with ball in hand from both sides was poor.
The Bulldogs executed a handful of textbook centre clearances enabling Bontempelli to stream forward at speed, but for little return. The Dogs have 23 inside-50s - many of them at speed - for just four goals. That is part down to the dominance of Lever and May at the back for Melbourne, that pair reading the ball better off the boot and winning the aerial contest so far.
Preuss is dominating in the ruck, but his hitouts to hitout advantage ratio (that I don’t have to hand) must be ugly.
Goals 👉 Weideman (2), Melksham, Oliver + Fritsch
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 22, 2020
Top Disposals 👉 Langdon (13), Petracca (12), Viney (12) + Salem (12)#GoDees #AFLDogsDees
📊 From the stats sheet
— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 22, 2020
Disposals: Macrae 18, Hunter 16, Bontempelli 15, Smith 14
Goals: McLean, Wallis, Liberatore, Vandermeer#AFLDogsDees #MightyWest pic.twitter.com/afQXIBeWh3
Half-time: Bulldogs 4.4 (28) v Demons 5.5 (35)
Bontempelli gets free - yet again - after the centre bounce, but his delivery inside-50 is read much better by May, who, along with Lever, has dominated the battle with Bruce and Naughton.
And there goes the siren.
The footwork of Tom Liberatore 🕺#AFLDogsDees pic.twitter.com/v9cCIY14ij
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2020
Q2: 1 min remaining: Bulldogs 4.4 (28) v Demons 5.5 (35) - Clean exit from the clearance from Melbourne and Viney hammers it long for Fritsch to take an excellet contested mark, judging the flight superbly in the wind. That was only the start of something special. The set shot, 35m out on an angle, into the teeth of the gale, threads the needle. Melbourne over a goal clear, and a passage of play to remember from Fritsch.
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Bulldogs 4.4 (28) v Demons 4.5 (29) - Well played by Langdon. Melbourne opt for some patient footy for a change and when the ball goes inside-50 the Bulldogs are hurried with their clearance. The spiraling kick lands with Langdon, who hares off at pace before hitting Fritsch lace-out. The set-shot is weak and wide but from the stoppage Melbourne scrap hard to keep the ball alive until Oliver emerges from traffic to snap right-footed for another change of lead.
Updated
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Bulldogs 4.4 (28) v Demons 3.5 (23) - The Dogs almost make it two in a minute but from a standing start Bontempelli can’t make the distance with a 35m snap on his left foot after Naughton did well to bring the ball to ground.
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Bulldogs 4.4 (28) v Demons 3.5 (23) - The Bulldogs return to the front! The attack is slow down the fat side, the left, but Hunter bides his time, finds Bruce, then the ball to the hot spot goes to ground and Liberatore is alter to find the pill and kick the goal.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 3.5 (23) - Both teams are willing, and both are clearly trying to execute sound strategies, but this is a messy old affair. The Bulldogs keep overpossessing by hand, Melbourne missing targets by foot, with the wind turning every bouncing ball into a rolling top-spinning googly.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 3.5 (23) - It is turnover city on the Gold Coast, both sides missing targets by hand and foot, sometimes through skill errors, others just dumb footy. The wind must be causing havoc at ground level.
Melbourne build up a head of steam but can’t pick the pass on the arc, the Bulldogs go the other way and find Hunter out the back, but he doesn’t make the ground from 40m on an angle on the run. The Demons then peel off the move of the match so far, nailing a series of excellent long precise kicks to go coast to coast until Melksham leathers the Sherrin from range and watches it catch the breeze, sail over the marking contest in the goalsquare and bounce through for a Melbourne lead.
Q2: 10 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 2.5 (17) - McDonald misses another mark! This time leaning back to a wobbly bomb from Preuss that slips through his fingers. Both sides leaving plenty of points on the ground in this scrappy game.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 2.4 (16) - Melbourne are growing into this game now and McDonald has a good look at a mark on a long fast lead but he can’t complete the grab. It maintains the Demons’ territorial dominance of the quarter though, the ball locked in the Dogs’ defensive 50 with bodies all over the Sherrin like seagulls scrapping over a chip.
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 2.4 (16) - Melbourne enjoy some rare territorial dominance after Salem shows some nifty footwork in midfield. After penning the Dogs in for a couple of minutes Viney creates chaos with a hack inside-50, then Spargo shows great vision to square to Melksham’s advantage. The former Bomber should kick a simple goal from 25m out in front, but unforgivably gets too close to the man on the mark and he only registers a behind. That is a coach killer.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Bulldogs 3.4 (22) v Demons 2.3 (15) - And the Dogs hit straight back. Preuss wins the tap but flicks it straight to Hunter, who hands it off to Bontempelli for yet another inside-50. This time the speed of attack undoes the Melbourne defence and Vandermeer kicks the goal.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Bulldogs 2.4 (16) v Demons 2.3 (15) - The Dogs come away with the first clearance of the quarter which leads to repeat inside-50s from Bontempelli but the Demons back line does well to spoil on both occasions. Following the second there’s a free-kick to Melbourne that sees then travel coast-to-coast at speed. Hannan does superbly to rescue an attack that was in danger of going astray, and his good work gives Weideman time to size things up from 45m out on the run and use the wind to his advantage to kick his second goal. Classic rebound footy.
Footy from the top drawer, courtesy of @melbournefc 👌#AFLDogsDees pic.twitter.com/aoT15RDGuN
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2020
Updated
Headline stat from the opening quarter is the Dogs leading the inside-50s 13-5. They also lead most of the individual metrics.
📊 1/4 time stats
— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 22, 2020
Disposals: Hunter 10, Macrae 9, Smith 8
Goals: McLean, Wallis#AFLDogsDees #MightyWest pic.twitter.com/9dKtbdp1qS
The Metricon Stadium surface isn’t helping matters either.
Metricon's centre square looking like Dan Andrews' face. Bit worn after a lot of stress over the past few months. #AFLDogsDees
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) August 22, 2020
QT: Bulldogs 2.4 (16) v Demons 1.3 (9)
A scrappy error-strewn quarter ends with the Bulldogs the dominant side on the ground but with only a slender advantage on the scoreboard.
A 'hack-trick' of shanks eventually results in a Toby McLean goal for the @westernbulldogs 🤪#AFLDogsDees pic.twitter.com/Wgxjk0OcNC
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2020
Updated
Q1: 1 min remaining: Bulldogs 2.4 (16) v Demons 1.3 (9) - What is Petracca doing!? He signposts a massive switch from left to right across the 50m arc in gusty conditions, and it’s no surprise when Hunter picks off the interception. He feeds his skipper with a neat kick but Bontempelli really struggles with the set shot such are the conditions.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Bulldogs 2.3 (15) v Demons 1.3 (9) - This match is developing into attack vs counterattack. The Bulldogs continue to dominate territory and are winning the inside battle, but once they spread their skills are sorely letting them down. This time Richards does superbly to engineer space but his kick is a shocker. From the turnover Melbourne go coast to coast but Melksham misses a tough set shot.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Bulldogs 2.3 (15) v Demons 1.2 (8) - Despite a lack of possession Melbourne are almost a point off the lead. The Bulldogs can’t intercept the ball inside 50 and from the crumbs Pickett snaps against the right-hand upright for the second time today.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Bulldogs 2.3 (15) v Demons 1.1 (7) - Melbourne are unable to generate any momentum out of the centre despite getting first hands on the footy on a couple of occasions. Instead the Doggies muscle the ball forward until it’s time to to do something decisive. Initially Naughton tries his luck from range but the wind prevents it from making the journey, then Lipinski misses with a left-footed snap across his body after terrific clearance work from Liberatore. All Western Bulldogs.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Bulldogs 2.2 (14) v Demons 1.1 (7) - Terrific contested mark from Wallis - Hawkins-like - holding off one Demon then diving to claim the mark in front of another. He goes back and kicks the set shot from 30m out on an angle.
It wasn’t a textbook passage of play. The ball in dispute on centre wing, the Dogs with more bodies at the ruck, hacked forward, and the drop favoured their man. The Bulldogs deservedly lead.
Q1: 8 mins remaining: Bulldogs 1.2 (8) v Demons 1.1 (7) - The game is being played on the Bulldogs’ terms so far, with most of the play taking place in Melbourne’s defensive 50. The Doggies haven’t been clean in possession though and the Demons look threatening on the rebound, once they’re able to clear their lines.
It is a quarter of skill errors so far though.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Bulldogs 1.2 (8) v Demons 1.0 (6) - Melbourne again almost got out the back, through Pickett this time, but his snap across his body struck the post. Both sides then absolutely butcher the footy with turnover after turnover in a series of very ugly footy. It ends well for the Dogs though with Bontempelli sharking an awful Hibbered clanger, scrubbing it to Macrae, who handballed smartly for Toby McLean to kick neatly on the run and put his side ahead.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Bulldogs 0.2 (2) v Demons 1.0 (6) - Couple of behinds from the Bulldogs, the second of which from a Hunter set shot demonstrating the stiff breeze at Metricon Stadium. That wind is also the cause of repeat stoppages, hindering the free movement of the Sherrin in these early exchanges.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Bulldogs 0.0 (0) v Demons 1.0 (6) - Melbourne have improved since Sam Weideman returned to the 22 and the big forward is to the fore early on. Nothing flash this time, escaping out the back after the Bulldogs failed to clear their lines, over-handballing in possession then ball-watching in transition.
The early exchanges looked to he beading the Bulldogs’ way - and Derm’s prophecy almost came true - when Bontempelli delivered inside-50 but Naughton couldn’t time his leap and the Dees escaped.
Opening Bounce!
Here we go at Metricon Stadium. Who will be in the eight four quarters from now?
Gday Jonathan and all. Colder than a warlock's nipple in Melbourne - bitter wind, wet, not a hint of blue sky - I'm envious of the players being somewhere other than Victoria today!
Likewise! Lockdown + slate grey skies do not a happy blogger make. Let’s hope for a good game to keep us distracted.
Late change klaxon!
And it’s a big one for Melbourne: Out goes Jones, in comes Hannan.
We have a late change. 🚨
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 22, 2020
Nathan Jones (quad) has been replaced in the side by Mitch Hannan. #GoDees pic.twitter.com/OpjUJhAMMH
I'll keep you company Jonathon since noone else seems to have joined in yet.
Favourite Doggies player is Jason Johanissen because he wears his heart on his sleeve. Favourite Dee is Kossy Pickett - come home to Port!!
Thanks Jude!
JJ is one of the nicest footballers of any code I have ever interviewed. Incredibly patient and easygoing during a busy grand final week.
Melbourne join the fray, accompanied by Pat Bentar’s stone cold belter: All Fired Up. The Dees are in their familiar red and blue guernsey and white shorts.
Out jog the Dogs, top to toe in blue, Bailey Smith’s outrageous mullet dancing in the breeze like a bushel of wheat.
It’s sunny and mild on the Gold Coast today, but play could be disrupted by a brisk westerly.
Check out those goal posts.. 😳
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 22, 2020
Kicking will be tricky today! 💨#GoDees pic.twitter.com/yR6uyWwWBK
RoCo has weighed into the great grand final debate. It has to be the Gabba, right?
For my two cents, not before time too. The MCG stranglehold (accompanied often by a sense of entitlement) on a supposedly national competition is not a good look.
Dermott Brereton (my favourite footy analyst) has just suggested Marcus Bontempelli is the best kick inside-50 in the competition and that Melbourne’s key strategic play has to be denying the Bulldogs skipper that opportunity. Is he right on either/both count?
The Demons wouldn’t be the first side to put plenty of time into the skilful onballer, and they bat so deep in midfield they could afford to roll a range of players on and off the Bont at different phases. But are the Doggies such a one-trick pony?
This is a nice read form Maurice Brosnan on how the state of the world right now is going to impact the flow of Irish footballers into the AFL system.
The #freetheflag movement has gained momentum this week with the AFL drawing attention to the matter after failing to reach agreement with the company responsible for licensing the Aboriginal flag on items of clothing.
Here’s a good primer on the issue from last year.
And here’s Nathan Jones, nailing his colours to the mast.
A special touch from Jonesy. 🖤💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZwZjnuZnnT
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 21, 2020
Demons XXII
Melbourne have the luxury of naming an unchanged squad. On the downside that means the Demons are still without Max Gawn in the ruck, but otherwise they enjoy a reasonable bill of health considering the state of play around the competition.
B: J.Lockhart, S.May, J.Lever
HB: C.Salem, A.Tomlinson, M.Hibberd
C: E.Langdon, J.Viney, J.Harmes
HF: N.Jones, S.Weideman, C.Petracca
F: K.Pickett, T.McDonald, B.Fritsch
FOLL: B.Preuss, J.Melksham, C.Oliver
I/C: C.Spargo, A.Brayshaw, A.vandenBerg, T.Sparrow
Kaartdijin Kura Yey Boodja – knowledge of the past + present land that we stand on. 👣
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 14, 2020
Neville Jetta shares the meaning behind our 2020 Indigenous guernsey. 💫
📝: https://t.co/pcGcx39z1S pic.twitter.com/AMIpoqvqHF
Bulldogs XXII
Western Bulldogs are bolstered by the return from injury of Norm Smith Medalist Jason Johannisen, while target man Josh Bruce comes back in after a week’s rest. Hayden Crozier and Laitham Vandermeer also join the 22 with Beveridge enjoying close to a fully fit list.
B: E.Wood, A.Keath, C.Daniel
HB: B.Williams, R.Gardner, H.Crozier
C: B.Smith, J.Macrae, L.Hunter
HF: T.McLean, J.Bruce, M.Wallis
F: T.Liberatore, A.Naughton, B.Cavarra
FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli, J.Dunkley
I/C: E.Richards, L.Vandermeer, P.Lipinski, J.Johannisen
IN: H.Crozier, J.Bruce, L.Vandermeer, J.Johannisen
OUT: B.Dale, S.Lloyd (both omitted), R.West (injured), R.Smith (managed)
The @westernbulldogs' 2020 Indigenous guernsey, first unveiled last year, was created by renowned Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson
— AFL (@AFL) August 21, 2020
The personal story of Brett Goodes is the inspiration and told through themes of family, culture and club. pic.twitter.com/MLzsNZV3S5
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Western Bulldogs v Melbourne in round 13 of this increasingly exciting AFL season. We’re underway at Metricon Stadium around 1.45pm.
It is bitterly cold here in Melbourne this afternoon, but it is hotting up in the race for the top-eight on the AFL ladder, and in a couple of hours from now either of these Victorian rivals could be sitting in one of the precious finals places with just one month of the home-and-away season remaining.
The Demons are the side in possession courtesy of their imposing percentage, but they are one of four teams on six wins, a list featuring Carlton, GWS and the Bulldogs. That quartet (along with Essendon, who should not yet be ruled out) are probably competing for just one postseason opportunity, unless Collingwood - only a draw better off than the Dees - continue to slide backwards.
After an underwhelming start to the season Simon Goodwin brings his side into this contest cherry ripe. The Demons turned in their best performance of 2020 last time out, dismantling the Pies at the Gabba. It was the latest demonstration of Christian Petracca’s impressive rise through the ranks and the value of Sam Weideman to Melbourne’s forward set-up. The pair of top-ten draftees have been instrumental in their side’s run of three straight victories, each achieved with totals of at least 88 points. No mean feat in such a low-scoring campaign.
However, Collingwood were dreadful last week, and the two victories before that were against the two poorest teams in the competition. Today should provide a much more accurate barometer of where the Dees are at.
Luke Beveridge has the cattle at his disposal to expect a much higher ladder placing, but his Doggies have failed to rise to the occasion when faced with the stiffest opposition. Their six wins have all come to sides outside the top-eight, and their average losing margin is almost 37 points, with most defeats confirmed well before the final siren. Put simply, they concede way too many goals.
After his bag against the Crows last week Aaron Naughton will be the centre of attention for the Bulldogs. Still only 20, and drafted as a key defender, the Peel Thunder product doesn’t trouble the stats sheet often in a game, but if he turns in another 6.1 performance from eight disposals and six marks - like he did against Adelaide - he will have done his job, and then some.
Right, time for a brew. I’ll be back in a short while with line-ups and some more news from around the competition. If you want to get in touch at any point, you can reach me on Twitter or email, and we should be open below the line too.
Sometimes I love the commentators. "The Fritsch magnet!! Gold