Sweet win ... Jack Watts celebrates with teammates after kicking a goal. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited
Melbourne have triumphed for just the second time this season with a three-point win over the Western Bulldogs who kicked the last seven goals of the match to almost snatch victory.
| 3.5 (23) | Q1 | 2.2 (14) |
| 8.8 (56) | Q2 | 4.6 (30) |
| 12.12 (84) | Q3 | 6.9 (45) |
| 15.13 (103) | Q4 | 15.10 (100) |
Jack Watts 4 | Adam Cooney 3 |
Chris Dawes 3 | Daniel Giansiracusa 3 |
Jack Fitzpatrick 2 | Ryan Griffen 3 |
Jeremy Howe 2 | Ayce Cordy 2 |
Sam Blease 1 | Luke Dahlhaus 1 |
Max Gawn 1 | Tory Dickson 1 |
Nathan Jones 1 | Jackson Macrae 1 |
David Rodan 1 | Will Minson 1 |
The Demons won the round-14 encounter 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100) to improve their record to 2-11 as interim coach Neil Craig broke through for his first win in his second game in charge following the sacking of Mark Neeld.
Former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts booted a career-best four goals for the Demons and also played a key role in defence in the tense final stages before a crowd of 21,217 at the MCG.
Melbourne's only other victory this season was against bottom side Greater Western Sydney in round four.
Key forwards Watts and Chris Dawes kicked seven goals between them for the Demons while Daniel Giansiracusa, Adam Cooney and Ryan Griffen booted three each for the fast-finishing Bulldogs (3-10).
Melbourne led by nine points at quarter-time and a five-goal burst to the Bulldogs' two in the second term extended the margin to 26 points at the main break.
Jeremy Howe took two spectacular high marks, one over teammate Dawes in the opening term and another over two Bulldogs' defenders early in the second quarter.
Melbourne's pace was a big factor as David Rodan and Sam Blease surged clear to kick goals on the run in the home side's four-goal third term as the Bulldogs found themselves trailing by 39 points at three-quarter time.
The Bulldogs scored the first two goals of the final term but steadying goals from Dawes and Watts, followed by a second major to Howe on his 23rd birthday, gave the Demons a comfortable 44-point margin at the 15-minute mark.
However the Bulldogs wouldn't give up and slammed on seven consecutive goals, inspired by hard-working midfielder Tom Liberatore.
Re-live the Demons drought-breaking win over the Bulldogs in our AFL Match Centre, featuring all the stats and SuperCoach scores.
The Bulldogs face a trip to Canberra to play Greater Western Sydney on July while Melbourne host Sydney at the MCG the following day.
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