SUMMARY
The Western Bulldogs have made a habit of pushing quality, finals-calibre sides this season, and will go into Sunday's clash against Melbourne as warm favourites. The Bulldogs are playing inspired football and almost overran an unbeaten Fremantle last weekend, before Michael Walters and Matthew Pavlich intervened. The Demons are coming off a dismal performance against Hawthorn, going down by 105 points. The Demons have now lost to the Dockers (68 points), the Sydney Swans (38 points) and the Hawks in the past three weeks. Melbourne coach Paul Roos will be expecting a better effort against the Dogs.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday May 24, 3.20pm AEST
PAST FIVE TIMES
R15, 2014, Western Bulldogs 14.7 (91) d Melbourne 13.7 (85) at Etihad Stadium
R8, 2014, Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99) d Melbourne 12.11 (83) at the MCG
R23, 2013, Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) d Melbourne 13.9 (87) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2013, Melbourne 15.13 (103) d Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) at the MCG
R4, 2012, Western Bulldogs 13.10 (88) d Melbourne 9.13 (67) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Western Bulldogs young gun Marcus Bontempelli collected three Brownlow votes in his side's win over the Demons the past time the sides met, gathering 17 disposals and kicking two goals.
2. The Bulldogs are ranked 18th in the competition for total hit-outs in 2015, with an average of just 30.9 per game. The Demons are 12th with 38.7 per game.
3. The Western Bulldogs have dominated Melbourne recently, winning nine of 10 matches since 2008. The past four contests have been decided by an average margin of 11 points.
4. The Bulldogs remain the No.1 tackling side in the AFL in 2015, averaging 75.4 per game. Melbourne is ranked fourth in the competition, averaging 72.1 tackles per game.
5. The Demons kick the ball less than any other side and are ranked 18th in the AFL with just 189.3 per game. The Bulldogs, in contrast, are 12th with 198.3 per game.
6. Luke Dahlhaus is the fifth-highest ranked small/medium forward in the competition in the Official AFL Player Ratings. Melbourne's Jeff Garlett is the 25th-ranked player at that position.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Ayce Cordy. Experienced teammate Will Minson can't force his way into the senior team, but if the Bulldogs get belted in the ruck division like they did against the Dockers then things could change quickly. Fremantle big man Aaron Sandilands had 50 hit-outs, while Cordy managed just three. Even though Cordy offers an option up forward, the Dogs can't keep giving the opposition an advantage like they did against the Dockers.
PREDICTION: Western Bulldogs by 22 points
