Western Bulldogs V Melbourne – Demons Down in the Dumps

Liam Chambers

Dogs get early jump on the Dees

It’s no secret that we’ve struggled with form over the back half of the season and this round we were again up against a side that is hitting its stride at the right time. We have a talented team with some great young players, but the footy year is almost over and, possibly with it, our finals aspirations. But having said that, never say never until it’s mathematically impossible.

Cody Weightman had a few chances to kick the first goal, but then ended up supplying the ball for Aaron Naughton to provide the opener. Weightman did get one for himself when he marked in the pocket and banana kicked the set shot. It didn’t get any better when Bailey Williams marked just inside the arc and converted to give the Dogs a twenty two point lead.

With Melbourne under intense pressure, the margin could have been greater, with the Bulldogs hitting the post on two occasions. The Dees had few chances and unfortunately we were unable to take advantage when they were presented.

It took almost twenty minutes, but Melbourne finally got on the scoreboard when Bailey Fritsch marked 30m out and made sure of the set shot. After the goal the Dees had more inside 50 incursions, but the Bulldogs kept the pressure up and denied them more scoring opportunities.

Up the other end, Marcus Bontempelli was able to launch from 40m and just clear the goal line.

Melbourne back in the game

It was a disappointing first quarter for the Demons and they needed an early goal to settle things.

When the chips are down though, skipper Max Gawn steps up and takes the initiative. His contested mark was perfect, and the set shot cleanly taken. It was a brief respite however, as Adam Treloar restored the quarter time advantage with his 30m snap in front of goal.

Kysaiah Pickett is sometimes inconsistent in his brilliance, but his set shot from the pocket was pure poetry and it was back to eighteen points. Unfortunately another brilliantly inconsistent player, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took a contested mark and kicked the 30m set shot.

The second term was looking like a much more even contest when Tom Sparrow kicked his around the corner set shot from the pocket to make it three goals each for the quarter. Then a 45m running kick from Bailey Fritsch found the target and clawed the Dees deficit back to sixteen points.

Dees suffer some outrageous fortune

With Melbourne only trailing by three goals at the start of the second half, fans would have been confident of staying in touch with the dominant Dogs. In fact Bailey Fritsch had an early chance to reduce the margin further but the kick just failed to make the distance.

Then thirty seconds later Cody Weightman had his second goal off a running inside 50 kick. Adam Treloar also had his second when he kicked an around corner set shot from the pocket a minute later and the Bulldogs were thirty points ahead. Another minute and Jamarra Ugle Hagan too had his second goal from point blank range, courtesy of an inside 50 infringement.

By now the match was in grave danger of slipping from Melbourne’s grasp and with it our finals hopes. Then Tom Sparrow kicked his second to claim a desperately needed goal for the Demons.

Continuing the theme of the third quarter, Marcus Bontempelli marked on the edge of the square and kicked his second of the night with an around the corner set shot. When all the luck goes to one side, it seems unfair but Caleb Poulter’s kick from outside the 50m arc bounced perfectly for the midfielder and the advantage was out to forty one points for the hosts.

After taking a battering all term, Trent Rivers goal from a mark and play on was a welcome reprieve. Then when Jacob van Rooyen successfully executed his set shot from the pocket, fans began to wonder if a comeback was indeed possible.

But we were left to wonder no longer when a decision by the review board deemed the ball had skimmed the upright on the way through. It was a cruel blow but pretty much par for the course on a night of cruel blows.

Is Melbourne’s fate sealed?

The Dees started the final term thirty eight points down; not a margin to gladden the hearts of the faithful. It would take a monumental effort to overcome such a deficit and seemed highly improbable against a team who had played so well all night. Damage limitation was a priority and everything after that would be a bonus.

The quarter was only one minute old when Ed Richards kicked a goal from 20m in front; it now appeared that even damage limitation wasn’t an option.

Earlier, the Dogs kicked a goal when they were gifted an extremely lucky bounce but when Jack Viney’s kick landed the ball right in the middle of the square it somehow managed to avoid the goal line totally. Where’s the luck? Up the other end Aaron Naughton marked at the top of the goal square and kicked his second.

Taj Woewodin may have only scored two goals in his Melbourne AFL career but his third was perfect and left a nice gap between sherrin and post. Kysaiah Pickett has scored a few more than three but his latest was again first class. After an end to end transition by Melbourne, Kozzie was the last link in the chain when he launched from just outside 50 to bounce it over the line.

With less than ten minutes to play and thirty seven points down, the game was now out of reach for the Demons but Sam Darcy’s mark in the pocket and subsequent successful set shot on goal was still painful. Tim English’s late goal only served rub salt into the wounds but thankfully that was the last for the Bulldogs.

A victory would have kept Melbourne in contention, but now the final three games are a must win and we must also hope that other results go in our favour.

On top of that, it looks like Steven May is out for at least one match, which is not great for him or the Dees. Despite the odds though, again never say never.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!