First quarter: Western Bulldogs 4.1 (25) to Melbourne 3.4 (22)

Melbourne had more scoring shots in the opening term – seven to five – but trailed by three points at the first change.  

Jake Melksham, Jeff Garlett and Tom McDonald registered majors for the red and blue.

For the Bulldogs, Mitch Wallis booted two, with Lachie Hunter and Josh Schache kicking one each.

But the Dogs had the edge in several key areas, including clearances (14 to five) and stoppages (10 to one).

Bulldog duo Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae were dominant with 11 disposals each, while Clayton Oliver had the most touches for the Demons with 10.

Second quarter: Melbourne 6.9 (45) to Western Bulldogs 6.6 (42)

Melbourne regained the lead early in the second term, and by the 16-minute mark, had three in a row and a 15-point lead.

Jesse Hogan got the ball rolling, before Charlie Spargo and Alex Neal-Bullen, playing his 50th game, kicked truly.

It wasn’t until time-on when the Dogs opened their second quarter account.

Schache’s second came at the 21-minute mark and when Jason Johannisen backed up soon after, the Bulldogs cut the margin back three points at half-time.

Oliver and Angus Brayshaw had 16 possessions each by the long break.

Macrae (23 disposals by half-time) and Hunter (21) continued to shine for the Dogs.

Third quarter: Melbourne 14.9 (93) to Western Bulldogs 9.9 (63)

The see-sawing contest continued early in the second half, when Patrick Lipinski put the Bulldogs back in front by four points at the four-minute mark.

But when the fifth lead change occurred soon after, it was hard to see it changing again.

At the six-minute mark, Melbourne turned the game on its head with a stunning seven goals in a row, breaking away to a 38-point lead at the 18-minute mark.

Hogan kicked two during this period to have three by the final break, while Garlett, T.McDonald and Neal-Bullen added their second each. Oliver and Mitch Hannan, who was a late replacement for the injured Jack Viney (toe), got on the board.

Bulldog Mitch Wallis ended Melbourne’s streak with his third major in time-on, but when Spargo bobbed up with his second, the Demons were back out to a 38-point lead.

The Dogs landed the last goal of the term, via Toby McLean, pegging the margin back to 30 points at three quarter-time.

Final quarter: Melbourne 18.11 (119) d Western Bulldogs 10.9 (69)

Scoring dried up early in the final term, with just two behinds posted, from Hannan and T.McDonald.

It wasn’t until Jordan Lewis converted from a set-shot at the 14-minute mark that the first major of the final term was secured. And when Hogan booted his fourth at the 18-minute mark, Melbourne was up by 44 points.

The Dogs put through their only goal of the final term at the 21-minute mark, courtesy of Johannisen, who kicked his second.

But the Demons answered yet again, when T.McDonald nailed his third and Christian Petracca became Melbourne’s 10th goalkicker. In the end, the red and blue won by 50 points.

Brayshaw had 39 disposals, Oliver had 34 and ruckman Max Gawn was outstanding yet again. For the Dogs, Hunter finished with 35 touches, Macrae had 33 and Josh Dunkley had 30 possessions.

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