Melbourne has returned to the top of the ladder and reaffirmed its premiership credentials with a convincing 28-point win over the Western Bulldogs to open the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Playing inside an empty Docklands stadium in Melbourne, the Demons executed their defensive plan to a tee and produced a blistering start, piling on six first-quarter goals to lay the groundwork for a 13.9 (87) to 8.11 (59) victory on Friday night.

Clayton Oliver (32 disposals) and Christian Petracca (24 disposals) led an even performance in the Demons’ engine room, which spread the workload and outclassed the vaunted Bulldogs midfield.

Bayley Fritsch and Tom McDonald kicked three goals apiece, while key defenders Steven May and Jake Lever combined to keep dangerous Bulldogs forwards Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce quiet for most of the night.

The resounding victory was the perfect way for the Demons to bounce back from a shock loss to Adelaide six days earlier and sent them back to the top of the ladder, one win clear of the Bulldogs.

It came after the blockbuster clash almost had to be postponed as a result of Victoria’s latest coronavirus outbreak.

The match was played in front of no spectators and only got the green light on Friday morning after all Melbourne players and staff received negative COVID-19 test results.

The match was played without spectators due to Melbourne’s lockdown.(

AScott Barbour

)

The Bulldogs had been through a similar scare earlier in the week.

Both sides took 9-1 win-loss records into the contest and the Demons burst out of the blocks, with James Harmes kicking the opening goal inside 20 seconds.

Their 6.5 (41) return was almost double the previous highest first-quarter score against the Bulldogs this season, resulting in the home side’s first quarter-time deficit of 2021.

The 27-point margin came largely off the back of the Demons’ pressure and sound defensive structure in the front half, which caused a raft of Bulldogs turnovers.

The night got worse for the Bulldogs when debutant Riley Garcia was substituted out of the match because of a head knock.

Quick goals to Bruce and Tim English cut the margin in the second term but Melbourne managed to keep the match on its terms and the Bulldogs at arm’s length.

Sam Weideman had been quiet for most of the night but bobbed up to kick two goals in time-on of the third quarter, putting the Demons 35 points clear.

Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli inked a bumper new four-year contract during the week and managed 30 disposals, but lacked his usual influence.

Jack Macrae (36 disposals) was one of the Bulldogs’ best and Taylor Duryea kept Dees livewire Kysaiah Pickett quiet.

Bruce finished with three goals, with two of them coming in the final term when the match was over.

AAP



Source link