Six months on from their grand remaining victory, the Melbourne Demons have backed up with a 26-point win over their rivals the Western Bulldogs on the MCG.
Similar to the grand remaining, the rematch was a sequence of momentum swings, with one aspect kicking a string of targets earlier than the opposition answered with their very own burst.
The Bulldogs got here near getting a measure of revenge, attending to inside 4 factors in a fierce remaining quarter, earlier than the Demons steadied to get the job achieved on an evening the place they unveiled the premiership flag earlier than their supporters.
Ben Brown kicked three for the Demons whereas Aaron Naughton booted 4 in a dropping trigger for the Bulldogs.
It was as fierce and quick as anticipated as the 2 sides went at one another underneath lights.
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The Bulldogs have been threatening early however they might not make it pay, and after absorbing stress, the Demons hit again.
Clayton Oliver kicked to the hotspot, it went over the again and Ed Langdon wheeled and snapped the primary objective of the season.
Melbourne appeared to jump-start their sport — the Dees discovered Ben Brown who marked inside 50 and goaled. That was two, and Jack Viney added a 3rd by the nine-minute mark.
They’d the prospect to roll over the Bulldogs, however Brown and Bailey Fritsch missed probabilities.
The Demons have been smashing their rivals on the centre clearances, and so they had the clear benefit. In time on, Jake Bowey kicked one other, and the champions have been in management.
It took till the twenty seventh minute for Hayden Crozier as well the Bulldogs’ first, after which with the final motion of the primary quarter, Marcus Bontempelli kicked to the hotspot, and a free kick was given for a push on Cody Weightman.
He transformed to depart the Canine 15 factors down on the first break.
The second quarter confirmed the momentum was again with the Bulldogs. Full-forward Aaron Naughton caught fireplace, kicking his first inside 30 seconds of the restart.
By the point he booted his third on the 10-minute mark, the Bulldogs have been in entrance.
They saved going, and when Mitch Hannan scored a couple of minutes later, they’d kicked eight in a row.
The Demons wanted a reply and obtained one from Ben Brown, after which in time-on, Christian Petracca nailed a set shot from the boundary deep within the left ahead pocket.
It was a nine-point result in the Bulldogs at half-time.
Brown was proving an important marking goal up ahead and kicked a superb curling objective early within the third, then Bailey Fritsch added one other to place his staff again in entrance.
The issue for the Bulldogs was the sight of Marcus Bontempelli limping off with a twisted ankle — the skipper got here again strapped up, however didn’t look totally proper.
Melbourne upped the ante once more, with Fritsch making the most of a Bulldogs slip-up to kick his second, after which Luke Jackson added one other to place the Demons 13 clear.
They’d an opportunity to place an enormous hole between them and the Bulldogs, however missed probabilities to depart it at 15 factors going into the ultimate change.
A proppy Bontempelli gave his staff hope with a pleasant snap early within the remaining time period. Then the Bulldogs discovered Naughton, who kicked really from a set shot to get the lead all the way down to 4 factors.
However Max Gawn drew a roar from the MCG crowd when he ran spherical on the arc to kick one throughout his physique from exterior 50 to place his staff 10 factors clear.
Each groups have been determined to get the following, and it proved to be Melbourne — the Demons took benefit of an intercept and went lengthy inside 50, the place James Harmes outmarked three opponents earlier than kicking his staff’s twelfth of the evening.
Adam Treloar grabbed a comfort objective in time-on, however Kysaiah Pickett completed off the evening with a significant for the Demons.
Norm Smith Medallist Petracca was as soon as once more best-on-ground, with 38 disposals, eight marks, 9 clearances and two targets.
Look again at how the sport unfolded in our weblog.
Dwell updates
By Dean Bilton
That is it from me
So the season is up and working, however not a lot has modified. The Demons are nonetheless glorious, the Bulldogs are nonetheless trying to find the solutions that may take them that subsequent step. However you’d think about each of those groups will likely be there when the whips are cracking late, and we’ll be capable of use this sport as a reference level on the finish of the season if and after they meet once more.
We have got heaps extra coming from this sport – refresh this web page for Andrew McGarry’s match report shortly, and look out for evaluation tomorrow morning. And that is only the start for season 2022. For those who love AFL footy, you may need to keep near ABC Sport all season lengthy. Thanks for becoming a member of me tonight, I am going to see you once more quickly.
By Dean Bilton
The important thing males
- Christian Petracca 38 disposals, two targets, 9 clearances, 11 inside-50s, 16 contested possessions
- Clayton Oliver 32 disposals, six clearances, 15 contested possessions
- Bailey Smith 33 disposals, eight clearances, 5 inside-50s, 11 tackles
- Aaron Naughton 4 targets, six marks, three inside-50s, seven rating involvements
By Dean Bilton
FT: MELBOURNE WINS! Melbourne 14.13 (97) defeats Western Bulldogs 11.5 (71)
Melbourne too good. It did not have the identical obscene outburst, however in lots of ways in which was the grand remaining performed over again. Melbourne began nicely, the Canine hit again onerous within the second, after which the Demons simply floor them down and held them off all the way in which to the ultimate whistle.
Christian Petracca will take the Brownlow votes with 38 disposals and two targets, however it actually was an entire staff effort from Melbourne. Their defence simply completely suffocated the Bulldogs for big stretches of that sport, and that is one thing that is not going to go away all season.
By Dean Bilton
NAILS IT! PICKETT FINISHES THEM OFF!
One other evening to recollect for Melbourne. They’ve despatched a message tonight, this has been mighty spectacular.
By Dean Bilton
2′: Heeeeere’s Kossie. Demons win it again at half-forward and spot up Pickett, all on his personal inside 50. Hasn’t seen a lot of the footy, however an opportunity for a objective right here.
By Dean Bilton
TRELOAR GETS ONE BACK
Hacked ahead out of the center, Bontempelli is clear by hand and releases Treloar. A tidy end from 50 out.
By Dean Bilton
PETRACCA SEALS IT! OF COURSE HE DOES!
Fantastic faucet over the again from Jackson, and Petracca solely wants one step to snap really. 37 disposals and two targets, he is a freak.
By Dean Bilton
3′: Gawn plucks one out of the ruck and bombs ahead. It is taken out for a boundary throw in deep in Melbourne assault, proper the place they need it.
By Dean Bilton
3′: He misses. However at 20 factors, it seems to be too far gone for the Bulldogs.
By Dean Bilton
4′: One other Canine likelihood goes begging as Schache borks on his proper, and Bedford streams out of defence. Petracca, to Oliver, again to Bedford who saved on working. To ice the sport…
By Dean Bilton
5′: Sensible, good, good Melbourne soccer ends with Neal-Bullen lacking a sitter from 25m out. It began with an enormous tackled from Hunt in defence, and three handballs later it ought to have been a sure objective. 19 factors now.
By Dean Bilton
6′: That ain’t it. Macrae laces out Angus Brayshaw. There is not any approach by for the Bulldogs.
By Dean Bilton
6′: A stalemate on the wing, however the Bulldogs are urgent. Want to seek out an choice inside 50.
By Dean Bilton
8′: Lastly they discover a approach ahead, however Steven Might beasts Naughton within the contest and takes the mark. Large win for the massive defender.
By Dean Bilton
8′: English wins the clearance, however Hunt intercepts. Demons attempt to take the sting out of it however English intercepts on the wing. Nowhere to go although, Melbourne nicely arrange.
By Dean Bilton
HARMES SLOTS IT! IT’S TOUGH FOR THE DOGS NOW!
It is a three-goal sport now, and the Dees have responded after the Bulldogs sizzling begin. Eight minutes to play, Bulldogs want one thing particular from right here.
By Dean Bilton
10′: Canine attempt to be exact popping out, however they flip it over! Melbourne numbers in every single place, and Harmes takes the mark on the high of the sq.. Large objective arising…
By Dean Bilton
10′: Petracca dishes off and the Dees fly ahead, Langdon loooong inside 50 in direction of Spargo… punched by for a rushed behind. 12 level sport.
By Dean Bilton
11′: Entry is poor. Bailey Dale chops it off. Canine to attempt once more.
By Dean Bilton
12′: Macrae spills the mark, after which slides in on Bedford! Free kick, contact under the knees. Melbourne to launch once more.