Round 1, 2023
Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
Saturday 18 March
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 48,103
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | ||
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 9.4 | 13.8 | 17.13.115 | |
| Western Bulldogs | 2.4 | 5.9 | 8.10 | 9.11 | 65 |
Melbourne win by 50 points
Goalkickers: Ben Brown 4, Kysaiah Pickett 4, Max Gawn 2, Charlie Spargo 2, Kade Chandler 1, Brodie Grundy 1, Jake Melksham 1, Alex Neal-Bullen 1
Brownlow votes:
3 - Christian Petracca
2 - Kysaiah Pickett
1 - Ben Brown
Coaches votes:
9 - Jake Lever
9 - Kysaiah Pickett
5 - Christian Petracca
5 - Max Gawn
2 - Clayton Oliver
Milestones:
First game
Bailey Laurie
Judd McVee
First MFC game
Brodie Grundy
Lachie Hunter
The Demons opened their season with a strong win, coming back from an 11 point deficit in the second quarter to kick five goals in 10 minutes before half time and take control of the game.
Even without injured regulars Bayley Fritsch, Steven May, Christian Salem and Jack Viney, Melbourne was able to keep the Bulldogs at arms' length. Four goals to one in the last quarter pushed the margin to 50 points, their biggest opening round win since 1994.
At three quarter time Jake Melksham replaced first gamer Bailey Laurie,
Best were Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Kysaiah Pickett. Pickett was suspended for two weeks for rough conduct after a bump during the second quarter.
Lists
Tribunal
Links
Demonblog review