MELBOURNE has finished its home-and-away season in defeat, falling to the Western Bulldogs in a nail-biting clash at the MCG.
The Dees hosted the Dogs for the Saturday afternoon match with the final result sealed at 12.15 (87) to 16.12 (108).Â
Melbourne will now be forced to wait on results from the Saturday night matches between Geelong and Richmond, and Adelaide versus GWS, to find out its finals position.
Wins to the favourites in those games - the Cats and Crows - would push the Demons down to seventh and a meeting with Carlton in the wildcard round.
Max Gawn (28 disposals, 59 hitouts, 10 clearances) was Melbourne's best on a lamentable day, while Kysaiah Pickett (26 disposals, seven clearances, one goal) and Harrison Petty (17 disposals, 11 marks, three goals) also did their best to drag the Demons back into the picture.
In a subdued atmosphere that reflected the sometimes-dizzying ramifications of a result either way, a Dogs side guaranteed of a game next week kicked the first three goals, and five of the first seven, to grab a hold of the contest.
But a Demons outfit with more on the line was always bound to respond. Indeed, having slipped 20 points behind right after quarter-time, Melbourne finally found a sense of urgency in the second term.
But while the intensity lifted, the scoreboard hardly shifted. Instead, the Dogs were resolute at one end to ensure the Dees' efforts didn't reflect in the margin being whittled down. They then released the shackles soon after, kicking clear to get a deserved reward for their resilience.Â
Even when the Demons kicked three goals in three minutes to give themselves the unlikeliest of late chances to solidify their place in the top six, the Dogs stepped up to finally seal the deal and make both sides' path to September clearer.
Injury chaos with September implications
Saturday wasn't just significant for ladder positions, it also had ramifications on who might be playing next week and beyond. In a chaotic two-minute stretch in the third term, first it was Western Bulldogs spearhead Aaron Naughton who tweaked his ankle and limped gingerly from the field. He didn't return. Shortly after, Melbourne youngster Matt Jefferson looked to jar his knee in an awkward landing and also came from the field. Earlier, important Dees defender Daniel Turner had required two trainers to carry him from the ground after appearing to injure his knee. However, fortunately, he returned and looked unincumbered as he played out the remainder of the contest.
MELBOURNEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.2Â Â Â Â 5.6Â Â Â 7.12Â Â Â Â 12.15 (87)
WESTERN BULLDOGSÂ Â Â 5.4Â Â Â Â 7.5Â Â Â 10.9Â Â Â Â 16.12 (108)
GOALS
Melbourne:Â Petty 3, McDonald 2, Fritsch 2, Langdon, Pickett, Windsor, Chandler, Langford
Western Bulldogs:Â Jones 3, Naughton 2, Hynes 2, Kennedy 2, Bontempelli 2, Freijah, Weightman, Richards, West, Gardner
BEST
Melbourne:Â Gawn, Petty, Pickett, Bowey, Steele
Western Bulldogs:Â Richards, Bontempelli, Kennedy, Freijah, West
INJURIES
Melbourne:Â Jefferson (Knee)
Western Bulldogs:Â Naughton (Ankle)
Crowd:Â 44,258 at the MCG
