Finals-chasing Bulldogs hold off spirited Demons in AFL
Anna Harrington |
The Western Bulldogs have withstood Melbourne’s spirited response to coach Simon Goodwin’s sacking to claim a crucial six-point win in their bid to play finals.
The Bulldogs’ finals hopes appeared in peril when Melbourne chased down a 21-point deficit to lead by 10 at three-quarter time.
But Luke Beveridge’s charges found an extra gear in the final term to prevail 15.15 (105) to 15.9 (99) in front of 34,733 fans at the MCG.
The Bulldogs (52 points) sit ninth, four points behind Gold Coast, Hawthorn and GWS, with home games against West Coast and Fremantle to come.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs led by five at quarter-time, 10 at half-time and 21 early in the third term.
But Jake Melksham put Melbourne in front late in the third quarter – a seven-goal term for the Demons.
Sam Darcy restored the Bulldogs’ lead briefly before Gawn stood tall to put the Demons in front, then Christian Petracca extended the three-quarter time margin to 10.
The final quarter proved an arm wrestle with five lead changes, but the Bulldogs won out.
Ed Richards had 20 disposals and six clearances to half-time and finished with 31 and 14, while kicking two crucial final-quarter goals.
Marcus Bontempelli (33 disposals, seven clearances) and Bailey Dale (29 disposals) were also crucial.
With Darcy well held by veteran Demon Tom McDonald, Aaron Naughton (five goals) led the charge in attack.
Demons skipper Max Gawn (42 hitouts, 23 disposals) was superb all day, while Clayton Oliver (27 disposals) was busy.
Melbourne youngster Caleb Windsor (hamstring) limped off late while Bulldog Laitham Vandermeer was benched after a heavy landing.
The Dees’ first game under caretaker coach Troy Chaplin underlined some of the quality in their ranks.
Injured defender Jake Lever stressed his commitment to Melbourne on Sunday and believed an incoming coach would be excited by their list.
Sydney premiership coach John Longmire ruled himself out of pursuing the vacant head coach role and Nathan Buckley and Adam Simpson loom as the frontrunners.
Demons football boss Alan Richardson, who expects to remain in his role, told ABC radio that Melbourne had not spoken to Buckley.
While Melbourne will focus on games against Hawthorn and Collingwood, Lever also wants to get to the bottom of how Goodwin’s sacking leaked before most players were told.
“Because you’ve got to understand that there’s things that might be privy to leadership group and people high up in the football club for a reason, you don’t want that sort of stuff getting out,” he told Triple M radio.
“And when it did get out when we were mid-leadership Zoom it was the sort of question where you look back and go ‘jeez’.”
AAP
