Crameri, Dogs deny gritty Demons

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HUMILIATED last weekend, hero this time ... football's fluctuating fortunes were starkly illustrated by Stewart Crameri's contrasting experiences.

Crameri iced the win for the Western Bulldogs with two late goals to break open a tense struggle against Melbourne at the MCG last night.

Three times Essendon's leading goalkicker, he hardly had a sniff against his former teammates down the road at the Docklands seven days earlier.

It was the steadiness and awareness under extreme pressure from the likes of Crameri that ensured the Bulldogs wouldn't let slip a third close contest in a row.

The lead swapped nine times, five times in the desperate third quarter, as players threw themselves at the ball and ball carrier with ferocious endeavour during the constant momentum shifts of an engrossing struggle.

Nathan Jones is brought to ground by Bulldogs star Tom Liberatore and tagger Liam Picken. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The Dogs, beaten by nine points by Adelaide and eight points by the Bombers in the previous two rounds, found plenty of bite and grit when this one looked like being snatched from them too by this emerging young Melbourne outfit.

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The Bulldogs were reduced to only two fit options on the interchange bench as early as late in the second quarter. It again emphasised the fighting spirit that delivered the 16 points victory.

No sooner was forward Tory Dickson subbed out with an injured left shoulder at 22 minutes, tall forward Tom Williams hobbled off with a right calf injury just two minutes later.

Tom Williams is helped from the ground after hurting his calf. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Williams did return after half-time with the lower right leg heavily strapped below the knee. He played deep forward and was restricted in movement, despite goalling from a free kick that survived a review when Demon backmen Lynden Dunn and Tom McDonald claimed to have touched the low shot.

And he continued to play his part by adding another with a hurried left foot snapshot from a tight angle for a vital goal that regained the lead early in the last quarter.

Melbourne was brave in defeat, right in the hunt for back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two seasons until Crameri's late double snuffed out the challenge.

The midfield duels were intriguing in themselves — the Dogs mix of youth and experience such as Tom Liberatore and captain Ryan Griffen against Demon hard nut Nathan Jones and skilled left footer Dom Tyson who answered his critics with a fine performance, particularly in the crucial clearances.

Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson jumps over Demon Mark Jamar. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

And Demon youngster Jack Viney was in the spotlight for all the right reasons, collecting 21 possessions in another developing role in the midfield group.

While Viney eased into the contest after such an emotionally draining week of AFL tribunal and Appeals Board hearings, he drew rousing cheers with a holding free kick against Dogs defender Shaun Higgins late in the first quarter.

Viney couldn't convert from the set shot 30m out, pulling the kick to the left. But he had plenty of energy left to go again and again with what teammate Jeremy Howe aptly described as his "pit bull'' style.

Demon Jay Kennedy-Harris celebrates one of his two goals. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Dogs key forward Liam Jones will come under match review panel scrutiny for a high bump on Demon defender Dean Terlich in the third quarter.

Terlich lay prone on the turf being treated by trainers after the heavy blow to the head and sub Christian Salem replaced him five minutes later.

Melbourne loaded its forward setup with tall targets Chris Dawes, James Frawley, Cam Pedersen, even Jack Watts, with the speedy Jay Kennedy-Harris and experienced Shannon Byrnes on crumbing duties.

The height inside the forward 50 was a gamble with the greasy ball, despite the rain stopping well before the opening bounce.

But the Demons quartet were moving targets and posed problems for the Bulldogs backline. Dawes, Frawley and Pedersen contributed goals in the first half and Watts set free teammates with his quick hands and clean disposal.

Frawley and a running Matt Jones missed critical shots late in the last quarter. But it was the Bulldogs coolness in the crisis in those frantic final few minutes that eased them over the line.

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