AFL 2015: Melbourne defeats Western Bulldogs by 39 points at MCG in Round 8

MELBOURNE caused a major upset at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, defeating the more-fancied yet disappointing Western Bulldogs.

AFL Rd 8 - Melbourne v Western Bulldogs

AS Jesse Hogan walked in to kick his third goal of the day at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, his equivalent for the Western Bulldogs was making his way to the bench.

When Tom Boyd arrived there he was handed the red substitute’s vest - one handball was the sum of his work for the afternoon.

That snapshot of the two great white hope’s from the respective teams said a lot about the state of the game.

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The heavily favoured Western Bulldogs had failed to show up while Melbourne, who were coming off a 105-point flogging the previous week, had accepted the opportunity of being given a sniff.

And they took it with both hands, out-working and out-hustling a flat looking Bulldogs to register their third win of the season.

Jeremy Howe took another spectacular grab. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Paul Roos’ team found their mojo in the second quarter with a six-goal run and refused to let it go.

While there were some anxious moments early in the last term - the Dogs got within seven points - the Demons steadied thanks to some Jeff Garlett brilliance and then ran over the hapless Dogs kicking the final five goals of the game.

Garlett couldn’t help but get in on the act.

Carlton’s woes have dominated the weekend since their latest capitulation so what better way to rub salt into the wounds of his former club by kicking the match-winner for Melbourne.

Garlett’s extraordinary banana goal from 35m out up against the fence in the members’ pocket at the seven-minute mark of the final quarter killed off the Dogs.

Fittingly, Bernie Vince delivered the last rites and his match-up with rising Dogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli also said a lot about the contest.

The former Crow kicked two last quarter goals, the first after dragging down Bontempelli for holding the ball, and finished with 26 disposals compared to his opponent’s 12.

There were many heroes to emerge as the Demons belief returned with hard nut Aaron Vandenberg (29 possessions) again impressing while captain Nathan Jones lifted after a slow start (28 touches) to be inspirational.

The often maligned Cameron Pederson kicked three goals to share the honours with Hogan while ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick was impressive playing as a back pocket.

Apart from some flashes of Jake Stringer magic in the third quarter, the Dogs battled to play with the freedom and excitement that had been their calling card this season.

Tom Boyd was subbed off with just one handball. Picture: Michael Klein

The issue early in proceedings had been a failure to capitalise on their domination.

At the eight-minute mark of the second quarter the inside 50m count was 25-9 yet the Dogs lead was just one point.

The biggest culprit was Stringer who missed three gettable set shots and the problem for his team was eventually tide was going to turn.

Three minutes later it started.

Ben Newton goaled courtesy of a free-kick in the goal square to kick-start a six goal Melbourne run which saw their lead blossom to 33 points early in the third quarter.

The Demons homework was paying off with the unheralded Matt Jones keeping Dogs skipper Bob Murphy in check while Vince was doing a number on Bontempelli.

By this time Dogs coach Luke Beveridge had seen enough and the magnets had got thrown around.

Full-back Jordan Roughead was moved into the ruck with Ayce Cordy going forward to replace Boyd who’d been taken off.

Also in the centre square was Matthew Boyd, moved from half-back, while half-forward Stewart Crameri and hard nut Liam Picken were also inserted.

Angus Brayshaw was influential in the final term. Picture: Michael Klein

While it wasn’t those moves specifically that worked, as a team the Dogs willed themselves back into the contest by kicking five of the last six goals of the third term.

And then when Liam Picken snapped truly after Luke Dahlhaus easily out-muscled Jack Watts, the Dogs were within seven.

That was as close as they got.

A brilliant Hogan handball set up a Pedersen goal at the five-minute mark before Garlett produced his magic.

The final nail came at the 15-minute mark when Vince refused to let Bontempelli waltz around him, winning a free-kick for holding ball and then drilling the tough set shot.

One of the highlights of a impressive day at the office for Melbourne was the regulation Jeremy Howe mark-of-the-year candidate in the third quarter.

As for Watts, he only had 14 possessions in his return from the VFL although he did a couple of classy acts at crucial times in the second half.

MELBOURNE 15.13 (103)

WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.10 (64)

GOALS

Melbourne: Hogan 3, Pedersen 3, Toumpas 2, Vince 2, Howe, N. Jones, Newton, M. Jones, Garlett

Western Bulldogs: Stringer 2, Dahlhaus, Jong, Wallis, Wood, Hunter, Dale, Picken

Official crowd: 29,381 at the MCG

Originally published as AFL 2015: Melbourne defeats Western Bulldogs by 39 points at MCG in Round 8