Not a whole lot went right for the Western Bulldogs in 2014, as far as the win-loss column went. 

We all know how the end of that year panned out, and what followed two years later, but at the time, victories, and flashes of brilliance from emerging youngsters, were things to be savoured.

The Dogs had scraped together four wins from their first 14 games when they faced Melbourne at Docklands on July 29, smarting from a 12-goal loss to Port Adelaide the weekend before. 

The Demons too were playing for pride in a disappointing season for them, but the two teams played out a classic in front of nearly 25,000 fans.

Back then, Lachie Hunter was running around in the number 26 in just his second year, and a youngster by the name of Marcus Bontempelli was playing his eighth game of senior footy.

The Bulldogs got out of the blocks nicely, kicking four of the first five goals, including one for debutant Mitch Honeychurch with his first kick in the AFL.

A productive second quarter saw the lead extend to 24 points by half time, but Melbourne emerged with a seven-goal third term to snatch the advantage with 30 minutes to play. 

When the match ticked into time-on in the last quarter, scores were level.  Jack Grimes then put the Demons in front with a goal at the 22-minute mark. 

Enter Bontempelli. 

With under six minutes left the 18-year-old pounced on a loose ball and snapped brilliantly to tie the scores once more, then produced an amazing match-winning six-pointer. 

Deep in the forward pocket, Bontempelli made multiple efforts to wrench the ball free of Demons defenders, eventually gathered, broke a tackle, faked to pass in board, then snapped over his left shoulder from the boundary line to float through what was arguably the goal of the year.

It was to be the last score of the game, as the Bulldogs held on to celebrate a memorable victory. 

MATCH DETAILS

Western Bulldogs            4.1          7.4          10.4        14.7 (91)
Melbourne                         1.3          3.4          10.5        13.7 (85) 

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Bontempelli 2, Crameri 2, Boyd, Dahlhaus, Higgins, Hunter, Minson, Honeychurch,
Melbourne: Jamar 3, Dawes 2, Grimes 2, Gawn, Jetta, Pedersen, Vince, Viney, Watts. 

LEADING DISPOSALS

Western Bulldogs: Boyd 32, Stevens 23, Dahlhaus 22, Murphy 21, Higgins 20, Wallis 18.
Melbourne: Vince 24, Howe 23, Jones 23, Frawley 22, Grimes 20, Garland 20.