By Emma QuayleMay 10, 2014, 10:46 p.m.
Western Bulldogs emerge victorious in a war of attrition against Melbourne, winning by 16 points.
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs AFL MCG , round 8 , Robert Murphy kicks in front of Jay Kennedy-Harris Photo: Pat Scala
Bulldog Robert Murphy kicks ahead as Demon Jay Kennedy-Harris gives chase. Photo: Pat Scala
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 5.7 9.7 15.9 (99)MELBOURNE 2.2 5.5 10.6 12.11 (83) Goals: Western Bulldogs: S Crameri 4 T Williams 3 J Tutt 2 T Liberatore 2 A Cooney D Giansiracusa R Griffen W Minson. Melbourne: D Tyson 2 J Frawley 2 J Kennedy-Harris 2 B Vince C Dawes C Pedersen C Salem D Cross M Jamar. BEST Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Griffen, Crameri, Cooney, Williams, Dahlhaus, Wood, Johannissen Melbourne: Tyson, Cross, Watts, Jones, Dawes, Viney, Howe, Bail, Vince, Jetta, Kennedy-Harris Umpires: Matt Stevic, Craig Fleer, Andrew Stephens. Official Crowd: 36,326 at the MCG.
It had been a little while since either Melbourne or the Western Bulldogs had the chance to be these things: more proactive, more aggressive, more creative. To be the team that showed the other team how it wanted the game to be played. That there were 20 ball-ups and 11 throw ins in the first 15 minutes suggested both sides had to suss the other one out, before it tried anything else. That there were almost as many clangers indicated they had other things to sort out, too.
It was the story of the first half. When the Western Bulldogs had half chances, they took most of them. Or many, at least. Adam Cooney had about half a metre in which to move when he slid the games first goal through from beside the boundary. All Stewart Crameri had to do was stay standing when he grabbed the ball a few metres from the goal square midway through the first term: in his desperation to tackle, Lynden Dunn actually spun his snapping opponent in line with the goals.
Later, they were able to hold onto their (narrow) half-time lead because Lachie Hunter urged a handball just past the 50-metre line, breaking a long run of Melbourne inside 50s and placing it at the feet of Tom Williams, who picked the ball up, turned and kicked quickly through the goals.
The problem for the Dogs was that they didnt make enough of their easier, more definite opportunities. Kicking was a problem for both sides early, but where the Bulldogs made some horrible mistakes, and the Demons were running at 55 per cent efficiency for a while, their worst mistakes were made with their last kicks, not quite finding who or what they wanted moving inside 50.
They kept kicking and, with time, they sorted themselves out. Around the ball, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Daniel Cross began to dig more balls out, often through a quick kick themselves. Almost everyone ran harder, finding more space. Almost everyone started to find their (much clearer) teammates. In Chris Dawes, they had someone to aim for. But if he wasnt there the Demons were willing to flick the ball back, and around, until they were open. They played with patience.
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