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Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL Round 11 Tips - Dees to deliver against lost Dogs
Melbourne Demons are predicted to continue their impressive 2026 form in AFL Round 11 against the struggling Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. The Demons, under Steven King, have rebounded from a poor 2025 to a 7-3 record, fueled by elite pressure, fitness, and diversified attack, with stars like Bailey Fritsch and Kozzie Pickett leading the way. In contrast, the Bulldogs have slumped due to injuries and poor clearance work, raising concerns over their depth. The key recommendation is to back Melbourne head-to-head, especially with Fritsch and Pickett to kick multiple goals.
- The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, 24th May, with the bounce at 3:15 PM (AEDT)
- Can the Bulldogs break form slump?
- Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bet
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons, Round 11 2026 - Expert Prediction
- Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons, Round 11 2026 - Expert Prediction
- Head to Head Stats
- Western Bulldogs Form Analysis
- Melbourne Demons Form Analysis
- Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons Team List & News
- Western Bulldogs Team News
- Melbourne Demons Team News
- Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11 FAQ’s
Melbourne will continue their 2026 resurgence under Steven King with a win against the out-of-sorts Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in the final match of AFL Round 11.
After finishing 14th in 2025, the Demons have been the surprise packets this season and come in with a 7-3 win-loss record, while the Bulldogs have lost five of their past six and sit at 5-5.
The Demons have built their record around pressure and repeat contest work, wearing teams down physically with their ability to run games out strongly. Melbourne’s midfield dominance after half-time against Hawthorn was led by Max Gawn, Tom Sparrow and Jack Steele, and the Demons look capable of gaining ascendancy in similar fashion here.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are battling badly around the contest and clearance, struggling to handle pressure around stoppages, while their inability to control territory and transition has become a major issue during the past month.
That shapes as a dangerous formula against Melbourne and the ruck battle looms as a major advantage for the Demons, regardless of whether Tim English returns for the Bulldogs.
Melbourne’s variety in attack also looks difficult for the Bulldogs to contain with the Demons averaging over 100 points per game and consistently finding multiple avenues to goal. The Bulldogs defence is stretched for depth and Melbourne should create plenty of scoring opportunities. Take the Dees in the head to head with Bailey Fritsch and Kozzie Pickett on for multiple goals.
- Melbourne have now won six of their past eight matches and are averaging over 100 points per game this season
- The Bulldogs have lost four of their past five and have scored 75 points or fewer in five of their past six matches.
- Bailey Fritsch has kicked 2+ goals in his past two matches against the Bulldogs
- Kozzie Pickett has booted nine goals in his past four games.
Head to Head Stats
The Western Bulldogs have won the past two meetings between the two sides and were six-point winners in Round 22 at the MCG last season, which was the most recent clash. They have also won their past two at Marvel Stadium against Melbourne by 51 and 100 points respectively.
Standout player performances in recent head-to-head meetings have come from:
- Marcus Bontempelli (Dogs) – 33 disposals in each of his past two against the Demons
- Bailey Dale (Dogs) – 30+ disposals in each of his past two against the Demons
- Adam Treloar (Dogs) – 30+ disposals in each of his past three against Melbourne
- Aaron Naughton (Dogs) – seven goals from his past two matches against Melbourne
- Bailey Fritsch (Demons) – 2+ goals in his past two matches against the Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs Form Analysis
The Bulldogs flew out of the blocks in 2026 with four straight wins before injuries began to take their toll, leading to a four-game losing streak. They snapped that run with a two-point win over Port Adelaide a fortnight ago but went down to lowly Carlton by 12 points last weekend.
They were smashed by the Blues in the clearances and contested possessions in a very un-Bulldogs-like performance. The Dogs generated just 38 inside 50s to Carlton’s 55 in the 9.8 (62) to 10.14 (74) scoreline, with concerns beginning to pile up at Whitten Oval.
Luke Beveridge said post-match that the Bulldogs were “overwhelmed” around ground-ball contests and struggled to generate fluency from stoppage. He also conceded the side is currently relying too heavily on its usual stars to carry the contested load.
Aaron Naughton booted 3.3 from limited opportunities, while Bailey Dale had 31 disposals. Marcus Bontempelli (24 disposals) and Ed Richards (19 disposals) were slightly down on their usual output.
Bontempelli has had 25+ disposals in three of the past four matches and has kicked six goals during that stretch, but there appears to be an over-reliance on the skipper in a side that lacks depth outside of its core star players.
After regularly kicking big scores in 2025 and during the early rounds of 2026, the Bulldogs have now posted fewer than 75 points in five of their past six matches.
Melbourne Demons Form Analysis
Melbourne sit at 7-3 and have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Steven King. Apart from a shock Gather Round loss to Essendon, Demons fans would be delighted with the season so far, highlighted by a two-point win over Brisbane at the MCG and last weekend’s 39-point victory over Hawthorn.
The Demons overwhelmed the Hawks with pressure, intensity and contest work, while also making the most of their opportunities in the 18.12 (120) to 12.9 (81) victory.
Steven King praised Melbourne’s ability to “hunt” and outwork Hawthorn around the ball, while the Demons again showcased their ability to run over opposition sides as the game wore on. Melbourne have become one of the better second-half teams in the competition, using fitness, pressure and contested work to gradually take control.
A major feature of Melbourne’s improvement under King has been scoring power. The Demons are averaging over 100 points per game this season and have reached triple figures in seven of their 10 matches. King has openly stated he wants Melbourne to become a “box office” side that attacks the game aggressively and challenges opponents with speed and scoring.
Melbourne have found far greater variety in attack this season. Harrison Petty booted three goals against Hawthorn after being swung forward, while Jacob van Rooyen and Kozzie Pickett were among six Demons to kick multiple goals.
Pickett has kicked nine goals from his past four matches, while van Rooyen has nine from his past three. Tom Sparrow had a team-high 27 disposals against Hawthorn, while Jack Steele gathered 26. Steele has had 25+ disposals in three of his past four matches.
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons Team List & News
Western Bulldogs Team News
James O’Donnell returns in defence, while Adam Treloar has been named on the extended bench. Bailey Williams and Jedd Busslinger are both out injured.
Melbourne Demons Team News
Caleb Windsor, Jack Henderson and Andy Moniz-Wakefield all return to the extended squad.
| Western Bulldogs | POS | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| L. Cleary, B. Khamis, M. Sellwood | B | J. Bowey, D. Turner, J. Lever |
| C. Budarick, J. O’Donnell, B. Dale | HB | B. Howes, H. Petty, C. Jiath |
| J. Freijah, M. Bontempelli, L. Jaques | C | E. Langdon, H. Langford, K. Tholstrup |
| R. Sanders, J. Croft, A. Jones | HF | K. Pickett, M. Jefferson, P. Cross |
| W. Lewis, A. Naughton, R. West | F | K. Chandler, J. van Rooyen, B. Fritsch |
| R. Lobb, M. Kennedy, E. Richards | FOLL | M. Gawn, J. Steele, T. Sparrow |
| O. Baker, L. Bramble, N. Coffield, S. Davidson, L. McNeil | I/C | C. Windsor, B. Laurie, T. Rivers, M. Heath, J. Henderson |
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11 FAQ’s
How to watch Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11?
You can watch the Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.
How to buy tickets to Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11?
To buy tickets to the Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Demons AFL 2026 Round 11 game check the AFL website or the official Western Bulldogs site.
Verdict
Melbourne in the head to head with Fritsch and Pickett among the multiple goalkickers
Melbourne Demons
Win
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