MELBOURNE fended off a surging Western Bulldogs outfit in Ballarat on Saturday, as the Bulldogs fell short of landing its first major blow at its new second home at Eureka Stadium.
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Putting in a lamentable NAB Challenge opening half that indicated a clear gulf in experience between the two sides, the Bulldogs finally sprung to life in in the latter stages to kick seven consecutive goals and pull back the margin to nine points.
However, a Jack Watts mark and goal in the square in time-on settled the Demons' nerves, as they held on for a 0.10.9 (69) to 0.9.8 (62) victory.
At one stage in the third quarter the Dees led by as much as 51 points and with a strong breeze at their back, threatened to embarrass the Bulldogs' in their Ballarat debut.
The run and carry from Melbourne in the opening half was something the red and blue faithful had not seen for years, as they moved the ball with ease.
Playing a near full-strength side in front of a crowd of just over 5000, Melbourne was in utter control against a side boasting six debutantes.
The new-look forward line comprising of future gun Jesse Hogan (one goal) and Carlton recruit Jeff Garlett (two goals) was wreaking havoc, with pocket rocket Jay Kennedy-Harris (two goals) also among the action.
Out of nowhere, however, the Western Bulldogs clicked into gear in the third term.
Jarrad Grant slotted one from 40 metres, Marcus Bontompelli produced a classic roving snap that showed he is a massive prospect for the future and former North Ballarat Rooster Brett Goodes took advantage of a Melbourne turnover to find the big sticks.
A contentious 50m penalty to Ayce Cordy at the 20-minute mark of the last quarter saw the margin cut back to nine points, before Watts kicked the sealer for Melbourne.
Jake Stringer then snuck one through from the boundary, but it was too little, too late for the Dogs.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos said his side's ball movement early on was exemplary, but was left scratching his head when it all fell away in the latter stages.
"Pre-season games are always hard because you are trying to work on yourself as much as you can," Roos said.
"You know in the back of players minds that we've already had three or four injuries during the break and you can't help but think about that when the games is at eight (goals) to one or nine to one, or whatever it was."
Roos went on to heap praise on the forward line.
"It (the forward line) was good early and pretty dangerous," he said.
"(Sam) Frost we think adds a lot of speed down there, he's probably a more natural defender.
"Obviously Jeff (Garlett), we know what a quality player he is. We think if we can get the ball with a little bit more speed as we did in the first half, we've got some dangerous players.
"Jay Kennedy-Harris had a really good first half as well."
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was pleased with how his side fought out the contest, especially when facing a one-sided scoreboard.
"We learnt a couple of things today about ourselves and adjustments we may need to make from time to time," Beveridge said.
"We had to make some. They dominated on the scoreboard and in possession, there's no doubt about that.
"So we needed to change a couple of things, which credit to the boys they did really, really well."
Melbourne will play Essendon in the final round of the NAB Challenge, while the Bulldogs will meet Collingwood.
SUPERGOALS
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Cordy 2, Grant, Bontempelli, Goodes, Minson, Boyd, Jong
Melbourne: Garlett 2, Kennedy-Harris 2, Cross, Hogan, Dawes, Jones, Frost, Watts
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Honeychurch, Boyd, Bontempelli, Goodes, Minson, Stringer
Melbourne: Kennedy-Harris, Garlett, Jones, Grimes, Cross, Salem, Lumumba
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Melbourne: Aaron vandenBerg (head)
Reports: Nil