Melbourne Demons defeat Western Bulldogs in low-scoring match

The Melbourne Demons secured a 17-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at Mission Whitten Oval, a win that largely guarantees the Demons a top-four finish. Melbourne currently holds third place, maintaining a significant advantage over the Gold Coast Suns and the Bulldogs heading into the final round.

In a low-scoring affair played in wet and slippery conditions, Melbourne winger Alyssa Bannan stood out with two goals. The Bulldogs' five-game winning streak has ended, and the loss has dropped them out of the top four into fifth place.

Both teams faced significant injury concerns during the match. The Bulldogs confirmed that co-captain and star midfielder Isabelle Pritchard suffered a knee injury, ending her participation before the three-quarter time mark. Melbourne also lost defender Sinead Goldrick to a hamstring injury and Shelley Health-Barker to a concussion during the third quarter.