Truth behind ‘ridiculous’ AFL rivalry between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs

There’s no love lost between last year’s AFL grand finalists but the reason behind their bitter rivalry has raised eyebrows in the footy world.

The rivalry between Melbourne and the Bulldogs is more unusual than most.

The AFL season kicks off tonight with the grand final rematch between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, and one of the most unusual football feuds has reared its head in the build-up this week.

There is no love lost between the two teams, but the fuel behind the rivalry isn’t what you might expect.

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After their dominant preliminary final win over Port Adelaide last year, video leaked of the Bulldogs celebrating in the rooms by singing Freed From Desire, by Italian pop singer Gala.

The following week, Melbourne blew the Bulldogs away in the second half to win by a whopping 74 points and claim their first premiership since 1954.

The Demons marked their drought-breaking triumph by forming an impromptu mosh pit and also singing Freed From Desire in the middle of the field, which reportedly didn’t go down too well with Bulldogs players.

Now Dogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has admitted some of his teammates were “upset” by the Demons choosing to sing the very same song they had celebrated with the week before.

“I think they were just celebrating their first win in a long time and everyone treats that differently,” Bontempelli told The Age.

“They are free to do what they want, they won (and) we lost, you have to sit there and just cop it because that’s the way it goes.

“I am sure it was the case of others (teammates) being upset by it, but it’s hard to know what’s the game and what is not. It all just feels like it’s the same after losing one.

“It is what it is, there can’t be any more to it. I think it does give a bit of an extra spur to round one.

“There is always more to a game of football, especially when it comes to a friendly rivalry sense, and that happens off the back of most grand finals but especially our two teams.”

But many of the other key protagonists in the AFL’s emerging rivalry say Melbourne meant no disrespect and Desire-gate has been blown out of proportion.

“I sing it in the car all the time, it’s on the radio,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin said this week.

“Certainly there was no disrespect to the Western Bulldogs one bit. It was part of a 50-song playlist with a lot of celebration that was going on.”

Melbourne was just too good in last year’s AFL grand final. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The celebrations kicked on in the middle of Optus Stadium. Photo by Michael Klein

Both the Bulldogs and Demons were at the same nightclub in Perth in the aftermath of the grand final, where some players crossed paths and the double-up in song choice was discussed.

“We settled it (at) that nightclub in Perth,” Melbourne star Clayton Oliver said.

“A few other things happened that night but we won’t talk about that.”

Bontempelli’s comments have sparked heated debate among AFL pundits, with many arguing the Bulldogs are kidding themselves if they think one song can spur them to grand final redemption in 2022.

“If they’re talking about the post-game, it was one of 20 songs,” Melbourne legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“Now, they (Melbourne) probably were being smart-alecs and included it in the playlist. Is it enough to drive you forward to redemption? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s going to matter one bit to what happens on Wednesday night.

“What’s going to motivate you more? The fact you gave up 16 goals when you were 19 points up in a grand final? Or Freed From Desire?

Marcus Bontempelli says some of his teammates were upset by the Dees singing Freed From Desire. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“If that’s going to help you half an inch or half a per cent, grab a hold of it. I don’t know that it will. I think there’s enough motivating factors for the Western Bulldogs.

“The rivalry is real. I love the build-up, I love the theatre, I love the drama around it. I just don’t know whether a song can fuel the sort of vitriol and driven passion for redemption that some are suggesting.

“The rivalry is real and it is borne out of what happens on field. I love the theatre and the drama of a song driving it.”

“It sounds a bit ridiculous,” St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said of the Bulldogs’ bitterness regarding the song saga.

“They felt like the Melbourne players were rubbing their nose in it. A lack of humility and rubbing their nose in it.

“I hope a little bit Melbourne were rubbing their nose in it, because we’re living in the age where players hug after the game and everyone’s mates. This is great, we love this.

The Dogs will be out for revenge in the Round 1 Grand Final rematch. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“You can never get truly even. So find your motivation where you need it. If it’s a song, I’d be surprised because the sting of losing a grand final is real and that stays with you.

“The only way you really get one back is if they meet again in a grand final and you knock them off.”

Jonathan Brown added: “Yes you can use it as motivation. The team you play in the grand final, I think there’s extra spice to it.”

Can't wait for the the Dees and Dogs to be in their pre-game huddles, the siren signifying one minute until the first bounce sounds, the players start walking to their starting positions...

And then the joker on the PA plays Freed From Desire as the lead-in song.

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) March 14, 2022

Sports journalist James Mottershead tweeted: “The last two years has been weird, but an AFL rivalry born over ‘Freed From Desire by Gala’ just about tops it.

“The irony is the only way the feud over Freed From Desire ends is if the Dogs are freed from desire as claiming the song as theirs.”

The Bulldogs will get their chance for revenge when the AFL season kicks off at the MCG at 7.10pm (AEDT) and the next chapter in this unusual rivalry is written.