Western Bulldogs beat Melbourne Demons 93‑90 in a dramatic finish

The Western Bulldogs defeated the Melbourne Demons 93‑90 at Marvel Stadium, securing a late victory thanks to Joel Freijah’s set shot with four minutes left. Melbourne’s 20‑year‑old midfielder Harvey Langford dropped a potential match‑winning mark inside 20 metres in the final seconds, allowing the Bulldogs to reclaim the lead.

The Bulldogs, bolstered by strong midfield performances from Ed Richards (30 disposals, three goals) and Marcus Bontempelli (29 disposals, two goals), held on after a back‑and‑forth fourth quarter. Melbourne’s coach Steven King emphasised that the loss was not solely Langford’s fault, citing broader issues with transition play and defensive intensity. Both teams also dealt with injuries: Bulldogs defender Luke Cleary suffered concussion, and Demons defender Jake Lever was ruled out with a head knock.

The win moved the Bulldogs to ninth place on the ladder, one win behind the Demons, who remain sixth.