The happiest man in Jakarta watching the Mighty Dees thump the Blues by 109 points – results like Sunday’s don’t come along all that often for the Melbourne Football Club.
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
Results like Sunday’s don’t come along all that often for the Melbourne Football Club. You have to go back to 2004 to see another one. ‘See’ being the operative word as yours truly had just left Australia to work in the UK and hence I never saw the game. Go back further to the next one and it is now 1993 and where was I? Yep, playing cricket in the UK. The last game I saw live where the Dees won by at least 100 points was in 1991 and I remember it clearly. Princes Park against the Roys and Darren Bennett kicked 8. So on Sunday I was the happiest man in Jakarta watching the Mighty Dees thump the Blues by 109 points!
After a relatively tight first quarter the boys never released the pressure and 22 goals to 4 in the last 3 quarters is about as convincing a win that you can get. I think it is now something like 14 quarters in a row we have won and I am hoping this signals that the game lapses that have haunted us of late is now a thing of the past. I think most AFL supporters would agree that watching the Dees play at the moment we would have to be one of the most exciting teams to watch when on song. High scoring, relentless pressure, contested ball beasts, attacking mindset, there is a lot to like about us.
I know people are saying we have had an easy run but I say that is crap. You can only beat who you play and we have done that convincingly and there are no easy games in the AFL. Look at Geelong and Hawthorn on the weekend? When you win by 109 points you have quite a few goalkickers and so it was on Sunday. 13 individual goalkickers with Melksham with 5, TMac and ANB each with 4 the main contributors. The spread of scoring options available at the moment is a headache for opposition coaches and adds to the excitement of watching our boys play. Other players to impress include Gawn who dominated Kruezer with 44 hitouts and 2 goals, Brayshaw with 24 possessions to go with 11 tackles, Jones had the ball 31 times and Lever had arguably his best game for the club hauling in 8 marks and 27 disposals in what really was a day for the ages for the Mighty Demons.
This week we head up to the Alice to take on the Crows. What better way to shut up the knockers by knocking off Adelaide. We beat them last year away from home and with a growing injury list I see us winning on Sunday to make it 5 in a row and remain firm in the top 4!
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Round 9)
Melksham 5
T.MacDonald 4
Jones 3
Lever 2
Brayshaw 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADER BOARD
Oliver 22
Hogan 21
Gawn 18
Petracca 12
Jones 11
T.MacDonald 9
Melksham 9
Salem 7
Garlett 5
Brayshaw 5
Hibberd 4
Harmes 4
Hannan 3
Lever 2
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Round 9)
Lever 5
Brayshaw 4
Neal Bullen 3
Fritsch 2
Oliver 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADER BOARD
Oliver 27
Hogan 26
Petracca 15
Salem 14
Tyson 10
Fritsch 9
Brayshaw 8
Harmes 6
Neal Bullen 6
Lever 6
Hannan 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Spargo 1
No change at the top in the Lukey Tapscott with Melksham getting maximum votes in by far his best game of his career. Oliver snuck in for 1 vote in the ANB Rising Star (mainly on the back of playing the game with a broken hand) and takes a 1 vote lead over Hogan.
Go Dees!
Round 9 – Carlton Vs Melbourne – Melbourne Ditch The Blues
by Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Not me ump – I didn’t overstep!
Welcome back Jack
Four games undefeated! I think I saw a brief smile cross over Simon Goodwin’s face but it could have been the lighting. Still, there was plenty to smile about in today’s game. A winning margin of 109 points and Melbourne playing more convincingly like a team than they have for a long time. Hope is in the ascendancy and thoughts of playing finals footy is now more tangible for the supporters.
The first quarter initially looked like a low scoring affair but once Jake Melksham got the Dee’s first after ten minutes, the Blues Jed Lamb then the Demon’s Bayley Fritsch quickly added to the tally. Again Melbourne were dominating play but not adding much to the scoresheet.
Tom McDonald seem to sum up Melbourne’s opening quarter when he put his footy brain on hold to play on after a brilliant intercepted mark in front of goal. Luckily Tom seemed to realise the error of his ways and his game for the rest of the match was nearly flawless. Carlton went ahead for the only time in the game when Harry McKay got his first goal. Tom McDonald replied a minute later and all was forgiven. Harry McKay scored his second with a little help from Max Gawn (it’s just his generous nature) right on the siren. Scores: 19-22.
Welcome back Jack Viney, who opened the scoring in the second quarter for the Demons. When Christian Petracca marked the ball in front of goal a couple of minutes later he wanted to pass it on to one of his team mates but Tom McDonald made sure Christian took the kick himself, which he duly slotted between the uprights. It was the best decision he could have made as his relief in scoring was palpable. Then Tom kicked back to back goals before the Blues tried to claw their way back in with Zac Fisher kicking their first of the quarter. You got the feeling that this was Melbourne’s day when Alex Neal-Bullen and Jake Melksham both scored with 90 seconds of each other. The Blues Patrick Cripps then scored only for Tom M to get his fourth two minutes later. Half time scores: 64-33.
The third quarter just seemed like a goal every two minutes from the Dees. First Melksham, then Fritsch, Melksham again, Alex Neal-Bullen, Max Gawn, Neal-Bullen again before the Blues finally got one with Jed Lamb scoring his second. James Harmes cancelled out that effort two minutes later then co-captain Nathan Jones added his name late in the quarter. Marc Murphy got a consolation goal just before the siren but the Dees were well ahead at 114-48.
Like last week, Melbourne started the last quarter determined to build on their percentage. Goals from Mitch Hannan & Jake Melksham (fifth) was followed up by Max Gawn’s second before Hannan scored again. A trio of goals from Neal-Bullen, Charlie Spargo and Clayton Oliver had the Demon fans in raptures as the lead stretched to over 100 points. Finally Jesse Hogan decided he might as well add his name as every other Melbourne player was scoring and he didn’t want to feel left out. With the final score at 109-50, the Dees had recorded their biggest ever win over the Blues.
Round 10 will see Melbourne travelling to the Northern Territory where we’ll take on the mighty Crows. If we keep playing like we have in the last five rounds, I wouldn’t bet against us upsetting Adelaide.
CARLTON 3.1 5.3 7.6 7.8 (50)
MELBOURNE 3.4 10.4 18.6 25.9 (159)
GOALS
Carlton: McKay 2, Lamb 2, Fisher, Murphy, Cripps
Melbourne: Melksham 5, T. McDonald 4, Neal-Bullen 4, Fritsch 2, Hannan 2, Viney, Petracca, Gawn, Harmes, Jones, Gawn, Oliver, Hogan
Cricket, convincing winners and bruise free footballers no more!
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
The game on Saturday night reminded me of watching a game of cricket. A star studded batting line up against an inferior bowling attack hurtling down half volley after half volley only seeing it scream off the middle of the bat straight to a fielder. No run. It certainly felt like that for 3 quarters where the Dees were on pace for a record inside 50 count yet to only lead by 22 points deep into the 3rd. The flood gates finally opened in the last and the batsman finally found the gaps and in the end we ran out convincing winners by 69 points over the Suns.
83 inside 50s is a lot! Well only Norf have equalled it! I really enjoy watching our attacking game style and we will not lose many games with those sort of numbers. Yes some will say 21.20 is a below average return on those stats but some people are never happy. It was also another game where we didn’t have our all too common “mid game lapse” and we have now won 3 on the trot. I walked away with a lot of positives Saturday night (and probably more beers than I should have!).
Other positives on the night were TMac with 5 goals, Harmes with a career high 33 touches, Salem in a good patch of form had the ball 27 times and slotted 2 goals, Oliver (as always) with 29 (and 11 tackles). Hogan is now one of the most dangerous forwards in the league in the way he covers so much ground and he finished with 3 goals and 22 possessions. Gawn with 41 hitouts and Fritsch, who is looking like one of the shrewd draft picks of the year, had a career high 26 touches in a dominant display by the Mighty Dees.
This Sunday we front up against the Blues. Of late there has not been much love lost between the 2 sides. From Robinson calling us “bruise free footballers”, Hogan and Lewis getting rubbed out and theories that the Blues “exaggerated” the injuries caused in the incidents at the tribunal, to Oliver getting a mouthful from a fan over the fence there is sure to be no love lost on the weekend. The Dees will win though. Enough said.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 8)
T.MacDonald 5
Harmes 4
Oliver 3
Gawn 2
Salem 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 22
Hogan 21
Gawn 18
Petracca 12
Jones 8
Salem 7
Garlett 5
T.MacDonald 5
Melksham 4
Hibberd 4
Brayshaw 4
Harmes 4
Hannan 3
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Hogan 26
Oliver 26
Petracca 15
Salem 14
Tyson 10
Fritsch 7
Harmes 6
Hannan 4
Brayshaw 4
Neal Bullen 3
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Lever 1
Spargo 1
ANB RISING STAR (Rnd 8)
Harmes 5
Oliver 4
Salem 3
Fritsch 2
Hogan 1
Oliver has taken over the lead in the Lukey Tapscott and draws equal with Hogan in the ANB Rising Star. Hogan can probably count himself unlucky not to get votes in the “Tapscott” I just felt all his goals came when the game was probably over and that a few others were more deserving.
The pleasing thing was that I could have included another 5 in the votes such was our dominance so don’t worry Jesse… I still do love you!
Go Dees!
Round 8 – Gold Coast Suns Vs Melbourne and the Dees Reduce The Sun’s Glare
by Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Another week another win. I could get used to this. The good news is we’re winning the games we should be winning which was not always the case in previous seasons. Carlton next week should be a win and then we have 3 tough rounds which will be the real test. I’m savoring the good times for now. Long may they last.
The game got off to a flying start and before I had time to pour myself a glass, the Suns had scored the first goal courtesy of Jack Martin. Despite controlling the majority of the play the Dees could only manage three behinds in the first ten minutes before young gun Charlie Spargo kicked Melbourne’s opener. Tom McDonald scored a minute later after some great play from captain Nathan Jones. Aaron Young evened it up for the Suns with another in the sixteenth minute before Tom added his second five minutes later thanks to a wayward kick from Jack Martin.
Martin made amends three minutes later though when he scored again for the Suns. Though the scores were fairly even, the Dees were getting much more of the ball and Alex Neal-Bullen added his name to the score sheet to make it four for Melbourne. That was to be the last goal of the opening quarter and despite the Sun’s Alex Sexton’s best effort on the siren, the scores remained 23-29.
The Demons superior play went unrewarded and it was the Suns again who scored the first goal with Steven May slotting home followed by Alex Sexton two minutes later. It was a frustrating quarter for Demon’s fans who could only watch their team dominate play but fall behind to Gold Coast on the score board. Never fear though as Tom McDonald made it three from three on the stroke of seventeen minutes. Mitch Hannan then scored his first of the day swiftly followed by Tom again with his fourth. The Dees wrapped up the first half with Christian Salem kicking his first. Half time scores were 37-59.
Just to show he’s mortal, Tom McDonald scored his only behind of the day. Neal-Bullen got his second goal almost immediately to increase the Dee’s margin to 29 points. Sam Day hit back for the Suns but Max Gawn scored a minute later to cancel out the advantage. If Max isn’t careful people are going to expect a goal in every game he plays; not just dominating hitouts and marking efficiently. Next goal came from the brilliant Tom McDonald who notched up his fifth for the afternoon equaling his previous best when he kicked five against the Eagles last season; still brings a tear to my eye.
The Suns had their own high scorer in Jack Martin though, who got his third to keep Gold Coast’s hopes alive. Hopes which were further boosted when Nick Holman and Aaron Hall made it three unanswered goals in the latter half of the quarter. The Dees finally regained the initiative when Michael Hibberd got his only goal. Then Charlie Spargo added his second to ensure Melbourne finished the quarter with an increased margin taking the scores to 63-95.
It was looking very positive for Melbourne as the last quarter started and with back to back goals from Salem and Brayshaw (27 and 24 disposals respectively) the Dees could now focus on building up their all important percentage. It was all Melbourne when Mitch Hannan got his second.
In case you were wondering where Jesse Hogan was all afternoon, wonder no longer as the great man stepped up to slot home his first of the day. Actually Jesse had covered an enormous amount of the ground contributing greatly to the Dee’s success in all quarters; he just decided to save his best till last. Jake “Milkshake” Melksham didn’t want to be left out and kicked one home.
The Sun’s Sam Day got a consolation after Mitch Hannan had scored his second but Jesse was just warming up and went on to score back to back goals in two minutes. The best player for the Suns, Jack Martin scored his fourth just before the final siren but it was a bitter sweet goal. The Demons were the eventual winners by a margin of 69 points. Final scores were 146-77.
We’re back at the MCG next week to play Carlton. Let’s keep the momentum going!
GOLD COAST: 3.5 – 5.7 – 9.9 – 11.11 (77)
MELBOURNE: 4.5 – 8.11 – 13.17 – 21.20 (146)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Martin 4, Day 2, Young, May, Sexton, Holman, Hall
Melbourne: T. McDonald 5, Hannan 3, Hogan 3, Neal-Bullen 2, Spargo 2, Salem 2, Gawn, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Melksham
Jakarta Demons supporters group doubles in membership as James Massola joins to watch the Dees take on the Saints.
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
This week was a momentous day for the Jakarta Demons supporters group. We doubled our membership size as The Age, SMH and Canberra Times SEA foreign correspondent James Massola joined me to watch the Dees take on the Saints. Then in, what can now only be described as a flood, I bumped into David Yates FH* #521 on Tuesday! Sadly, David was only in Jakarta for a few days, but to meet two mad Dees fans in the space of a few days was fantastic.
What was also fantastic was to top off the the last few days with a win against the Saints. It was the first time this year that we probably played a full game. Whilst I have read some comments on social media that people were disappointed that we didn’t win by more and I can see their point. But if that is the worst thing you can say after the weekend, I will take that every week!! The Dees led at every change and extended their lead to finally win by 39 points and head back to positive in the win/loss ratio.
Melbourne had clear winners across the ground which was pleasing. Brayshaw played arguably his best game for the club with 32 touches and a goal, Gawn was dominate with 34 hit outs (many to advantage), Oliver just gets better and better – he had the ball 36 times, Hogan won plenty of the ball himself and kicked 3, Hibberd was good as were Jones, Tyson and Fritsch.
All in all Melbourne did what they needed to do and that was win. And win is what we should do again on Saturday. We are back up in BrisVegas to play the Suns. The Suns are travelling better than many pundits predicted this year but this is a game that we must win and we will.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 7)
OLIVER 5
BRAYSHAW 4
HOGAN 3
HIBBERD 2
GAWN 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT (after Rnd 7)
Hogan 21
Oliver 19
Gawn 16
Petracca 12
Jones 8
Salem 6
Garlett 5
Melksham 4
Hibberd 4
Brayshaw 4
Hannan 3
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR (Rnd 7)
OLIVER 5
BRAYSHAW 4
HOGAN 3
TYSON 2
FRITSCH 1
ANB RISING STAR (after Rnd 7)
Hogan 25
Oliver 22
Petracca 15
Salem 11
Tyson 10
Fritsch 5
Hannan 4
Brayshaw 4
Neal Bullen 3
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Harmes 1
Lever 1
Spargo 1
This week was hard trying to fit blokes into the votes but I went with Oliver as my BOG. Hogan can probably count himself unlucky not to get 4 votes but regardless he still holds his lead in both awards.
Go Dees
* FH – Foundation Hero
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