Melbourne mauls Bulldogs

Melbourne 18.11 (119) def. Western Bulldogs   9.14 (68)

Melbourne have cemented themselves at third on the AFL ladder after dismantling a disappointing Western Bulldogs today at the MCG by 51 points.

After leading by seven points at quarter time, the Demons preceded to kick eight goals to one in the second and third quarters to put the game beyond doubt by the final change.

The win was soured by two hamstring injuries to key players. 2004 Norm Smith Medalist Byron Pickett was taken straight off the ground by two trainers after pulling up short just minutes into the second quarter, while Aaron Davey succumbed to injury while chasing Farren Ray halfway through the last quarter.

With Pickett missing from early on, and Brad Green suspended, it was 250 gamer Adem Yze who stepped up in the breach. Yze amassed 26 touches, and five vital goals to help his team to success.

Yze was assisted by hard working midfielders Brock McLean, James McDonald and Clint Bartram while Daniel Ward played one of his best games of his career in the back half as he racked up 32 touches.

For the Bulldogs, Daniel Cross was clearly the best player as he collected 32 touches and kicked two early goals. Adam Cooney – who had recently been down on form – showed glimpses of his best as he managed 22 disposals.

With the third and fourth best attacks in the league playing against each other, the 36,466 people that attended the home of football today would have expected a free running affair. The first quarter delivered exactly that.

Melbourne gained first blood thanks to a David Neitz mark and goal in the third minute of play but the Bulldogs hit back just two minutes later courtesy of Bulldogs stand-in captain Brad Johnson to square the ledger.

However, the Demons skipped away, kicking the next two goals in two minutes. First Simon Godfrey kicked long from inside the centre square, the ball cleared the pack and bounced through and then Yze got on the board with his first as Melbourne looked to have no ill effects from their long trip back from Perth last weekend.

Cross kicked his first at the 10 minute mark to half the margin but Aaron Davey roved a pack at an electric pace to send the margin back out to two goals.

Bulldogs goalsneak Matthew Robbins hammered one home at the 16 minute mark but this was cancelled out when McLean kicked truly just on time on as Melbourne held a 14 point lead.

From here, the Bulldogs stepped on the pedal, kicking the last three goals of the quarter to have all the running going into the first break. Rohan Smith goaled to stem the lead, and Cross kicked his second to see the margin back to a point. When Farren Ray slotted one, the Dogs had the lead, and ended with a seven-point lead at the break.

The second quarter started as a direct replica of the first with Neitz marking and goaling after two minutes. It was not until the 10-minute mark that McLean grabbed his second that there was another major as Melbourne started to grab the ascendancy.

At the 14 minute mark, Ben Holland grabbed a ball from a boundary throw in and slammed it on his right boot to kick the Demons further clear and when Yze kicked his second, the margin was 16 points at half time and the miserly Demons defence had kept the Dogs goalless for the quarter.

Neitz kicked his third of the game at the start of the third quarter and Davey snagged a second to see the margin extending by the minute. It wasn’t until the 17 minute mark that Bulldogs legend Chris Grant kicked truly to reduce the deficit to 19 points but this was matched by a goal to quiet Russell Robertson, and Yze’s third on the run.

McLean and Cameron Bruce both had chances to extend the damage but both missed as Melbourne held a 33-point lead at the final change.

With the tricolours on the lookout for early goals, they got off to the worst possible start with Clint Bartram goaling in the first minute of the final term. The final quarter was tight and it took 10 more minutes for another goal, this time to Bulldogs ruck Will Minson.

From the ensuing centre bounce, the ball found its way to Nathan Eagleton, and when he goaled on the run, the margin was 25 points and the Doggies had a sniff.

However Melbourne steadied to kick the last four goals of the match, thanks to Yze, Robertson, Matthew Bate, and a sealer from Yze after the siren as he booted his fifth as the Dees ran out winners by 51 points.

Melbourne should continue their good form next week as they tackle bottom placed Carlton at the Telstra Dome on Saturday afternoon, while the Bulldogs will have to pick up the pieces and play Richmond at the MCG at the same time.

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