Western Bulldogs

Rising Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett has been placed on report for an ugly bump on Western Bulldogs gun Bailey Smith. During the second quarter of Saturday ...

[a class action was lodged in the Victorian Supreme](https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-premiership-hero-max-rooke-leading-new-legal-action-against-afl-for-life-altering-injuries-c-10033771) Court by Margalit Injury Lawyers on behalf of more than 60 former AFL players. But it was in the midfield where the Bulldogs were overwhelmed by their opponents despite Jack Macrae (33 disposals), Adam Treloar (32) and Tom Liberatore (32) winning plenty of the ball. Pickett ended up being the most influential player on the ground with four goals and a number of telling touches in the 50-point win. [AFL](https://7news.com.au/sport/afl) clash, Pickett launched into Smith with a huge hit after the Bulldogs superstar had kicked the ball forward. [Melbourne](https://7news.com.au/sport/melbourne-demons) star Kysaiah Pickett has been placed on report for an ugly bump on [Western Bulldogs](https://7news.com.au/sport/western-bulldogs) gun Bailey Smith. Bulldogs players came charging in to remonstrate with Pickett after the incident and the young Demon could have another case to answer with photographers capturing what looked like another high hit - this time on Jackson Macrae.

MELBOURNE showed its desire to get back in flag contention with a powerful 17.13 (115) to 9.11 (65) win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday ...

Their tall stocks also received a hit when returning defender Liam Jones was substituted out of the game with a neck knock in the second term. There will be an early focus on the bump after Pickett's hip-and-shoulder on Bulldog Smith in the second term. Pickett kicked four goals from 19 disposals in the win, with his speed, class and smarts the main show in a night full of storylines. Fortunately, Smith bounced straight back up and continued to play on but Pickett's decision to bump will likely come with consequences from the Match Review Officer after he was immediately placed on report. The Dogs kept challenging, with Jack Macrae's clever snap bringing them back within 15 points late in the quarter. Christian Petracca had some explosive moments in his 30-disposal game while Clayton Oliver worked into things and finished with nine clearances.

Melbourne has made a strong start to their 2023 campaign, taking down a re-tooled Bulldogs outfit by 50 points in Saturday night's blockbuster.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs will be seeking to put together a bounce back performance against St Kilda next week. For the Bulldogs, it is a disappointing start to a season for which they have premiership hopes, looking disjointed as they were plagued by kicking inefficiency all night. [marred by the cloud of the MRO](https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/03/18/watch-kysaiah-pickett-in-hot-water-after-huge-late-hit-on-bailey-smith/), with the livewire forward being reported for a late hit on Bulldogs star midfielder Bailey Smith. The much-discussed Max Gawn/Brodie Grundy dynamic proved to be effective, kicking three goals between them as they took control of the ruck battle, albeit with Gawn doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. However, signs of a burst from Melbourne began to show late in the second term, the Demons getting out to a 19-point lead courtesy of a Max Gawn major just before the main break. While the Bulldogs threw enough punches of their own to keep themselves in the contest throughout the third quarter, by the time the final period came around they had nothing left, allowing the Dees to further flex their muscles.

The Dees once again blasted past the Dogs with some scintillating footy, running out 50-point winners in Round One of the 2023 AFL season.

– I reckon with time, he could become to the Dogs what Tom Atkins is to Geelong, but you’d have to insert him in where the action is, and I am not sure the Dogs have the space. Of course, when only 14 of your 27 touches are effective, and seven of those 27 touches go directly to the opposition, there is a strong argument that he needs to become better with his decision-making. The smalls know where the footy is going and move to position to crumb his contests. There were a couple of horrible turnovers in the back half that were completely out of character for for him. I was surprised he didn’t tangle himself into a knot like he got caught in one of the Scooby Gang’s traps. When you compare what he did to the work of Petracca, it quickly becomes apparent that Treloar is a player who is nice to have running around for your team, whereas Petracca is irreplaceable. His ability to read the footy in the air and bring teammates into the game once the ball hits the deck can turn Melbourne from a good team to a very good one, very quickly. that is a great way to keep your name at the front of mind for Simon Goodwin. In one instance early in the third, it looked to be a foregone conclusion that the Dogs were going to clear their defensive fifty. The Dogs had just nine as a team!) and had 11 score assists in one of the best games you’ll see from a small forward. And I am not glorifying the brutal nature of some aspects of the game – again, no. It may not be a popular opinion, but from the moment Kysaiah Pickett put Bailey Smith on his backside, the momentum in the game swung toward the Dees.

After paying the ultimate price on grand final day two years ago, the Western Bulldogs were punished again as the Demons bolted away in the second half to ...

The former Blue copped a knock to the neck in the second quarter, and was in clear discomfort as he was helped off the field, appearing to favour his left side. He was subbed out at half-time and sent for scans on his neck, though the Dogs are hopeful the injury is minor. After a year out of the game for his non-compliance with the league’s vaccination policy, Liam Jones’s first game back in the red, white and blue was shortlived. Lachie Hunter, a member of the Dogs’ 2016 premiership team, learned that when his first touch was resoundingly jeered by the Dogs faithful. We’ve just got to be better and more consistent through the different stages.” Pickett was among the best players on the field after playing a pivotal role with four goals and 19 possessions in close to a career-best performance. We have to give the opposition credit. We’ve got to build confidence and belief in the boys who didn’t have the best nights. The ruck combination of Gawn and Brodie Grundy passed its first test with flying colours. “If there’s any doubt on any of them they won’t play,” Goodwin said of the premiership quartet. Though Smith was not hurt by the bump, the grading for an intentional high hit with low impact would result in a one-match ban for Pickett. He’s an important player to us and we’d like to have him out there next week.”

But they couldn't quite light up the MCG like their teammate Kysaiah Pickett, with the electrifying small forward producing a brilliant, at times combative, ...

Their tall stocks also received a hit when returning defender Liam Jones was substituted out of the game with a neck knock in the second term. There will be an early focus on the bump after Pickett's hip-and-shoulder on Bulldog Smith in the second term. Pickett kicked four goals from 19 disposals in the win, with his speed, class and smarts the main show in a night full of storylines. Fortunately, Smith bounced straight back up and continued to play on but Pickett's decision to bump will likely come with consequences from the Match Review Officer after he was immediately placed on report. The Dogs kept challenging, with Jack Macrae's clever snap bringing them back within 15 points late in the quarter. Christian Petracca had some explosive moments in his 30-disposal game while Clayton Oliver worked into things and finished with nine clearances.