Round 20 – Melbourne Vs Gold Coast Suns – Dees Strike Gold
By Liam Chambers
On paper this was a game that was never seriously going to test Melbourne. The one thing the players and fans have come to realise this season though is to never take anything for granted. The Suns had a win against an under preforming Swans in Round 18 so the Demons were best advised to leave nothing to chance.
Happily, Melbourne came out firing and the first goal went to captain Nathan Jones. Jonesy has waited 12 long years for the Dees to again finish in the top eight and so far 2018 is shaping up as their best chance. We did ourselves a huge favour with the size of the win against Gold Coast boosting our percentage to 132.8. With several sides snapping at our heels that superior percentage will be hugely important once the dust settles after Round 23.
The Dees have been guilty in the past of capitulating to teams they should have been assured of beating. This season they mostly overcome that handicap with the exception of our 2-point loss to St Kilda. Our critics have yet to be convinced that we deserve to be in the top eight; the ninety-six-point margin against the Suns probably won’t have changed too many minds either. Having said that though, I was very impressed by how we continue to gel as a team, with the possible exception of comeback kid Aaron VandenBerg. I don’t think he got the memo about passing the ball to other players who may have a better chance of scoring. Of the nine goals delivered by the Dees in the first quarter, seven were by individual players, with Alex Neal-Bullen and Charlie Spargo both scoring two each.
It’s good to see Jesse Hogan moving more freely and back to his winning ways. His four goals against the Suns brings his tally to forty-six for the season. He’s still in contention to win the Coleman Medal so come on Jesse and get a triple hat trick against the Swans in Round 21. Melbourne didn’t have it all their own way however and the Suns pushed back somewhat in the third limiting the Dees to just two goals for the quarter. Only Jesse and Jeff Garlett managed to put the sherrin between the big sticks. Garlett’s goal came after some nice team work from the Dees, culminating in an unselfish pass from Jesse Hogan, allowing Jeff to walk in the goal. We came home strong in the fourth quarter, giving the fans plenty to celebrate.
Anyway, all of that is irrelevant unless we win at least one of the final three games. We face the Swans next which won’t be easy after their comeback game against Collingwood. Don’t believe the Buddy is injured story. He looked fairly fit after kicking six goals against the Pies. A tactical move by the Coach to throw the Magpies off? We’ll have to be on our best form and show no mercy. Go the Dees!!!
MELBOURNE 9.3 14.6 16.12 21.17 (143)
GOLD COAST 1.0 4.2 5.4 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 4, Harmes 3, Spargo 2, Oliver 2, Garlett 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Jones 2, Petracca 2, Salem, Brayshaw
Gold Coast: Sexton 5, Holman, Rischitelli
Any one growing up playing junior footy would know how as you progressed through the age groups you tended to play the same sides year in year out; with just the players getting a year older.
by Darren Spence
Invariably there was always one side; one side that you thumped every year you played them. For the mighty St. Damians Junior Football Club it was Park Orchards. Wearing the Collingwood colours and being a very new suburb back in the late 70s and early 80s, they were the whipping boys back in the day; sometimes not being able to fill a full team. Every year the long drive out to their home ground you knew it was going to be a certain win.
Now there is no disrespect whatsoever towards the Gold Coast by comparing the Suns to the hapless Park Orchards of the 70s however, they too are a relatively new club on the scene and have been decimated by injuries of late. The Mighty Dees have capitalised on this and been quick to go in for the kill and on Sunday at the home of football we inflicted our second belting of the season over the Gold Coast Suns.
I wrote last week that if we ever could maintain the intensity/domination we show quite often in glimpses/quarters of matches for a full game then the 190 record would be in trouble. Well at quarter time it did! A brilliant 9 goal opening start put the game beyond reach and it really was a matter of how far after that. Could we get our 2nd 100 point win for the first time ever? Alas Fritsch spoilt the party with a miss on the siren but who really is going to complain about a 96 point win? Our score line was very similar to the early game in the season. 146 and 143 and in both games it could have been more as our kicking let us down. We now stand well clear on top of the goal scoring ladder; a far cry from just a few years ago when 10 goals a game was cause for some level of celebration!
Oliver….again was fantastic and arguably BOG. He played up forward more this week and will add further danger to opposition coaches as we already have a large spread of potential goal kickers in our side. Brayshaw also had plenty of the ball with 27 touches, Hogan has started finding form again and his multiple efforts were outstanding – he got 4 goals as a reward. Garlett was dangerous, Salem was great, Tyson, Jones, Harmes, Neal Bullen, Petracca and Gawn also deserve mentions in what was a huge win for the Demons.
Back to whipping boys. This week it is the Swans. A side that certainly has had the wood over us of late. This is an early final for us. Win and we are almost certainly in the 8 come September, lose and the pressure will mount once again. We will get home.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 20)
OLIVER 5
SALEM 4
HOGAN 3
BRAYSHAW 2
GARLETT 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 54
Gawn 36
Hogan 32
Brayshaw 31
Jones 17
Petracca 16
T.MacDonald 16
Melksham 15
Viney 11
Salem 11
Harmes 9
Lever 6
Jetta 6
Fritsch 6
Garlett 6
Hibberd 4
Neal Bullen 4
Hannan 3
Bugg 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 20)
OLIVER 5
SALEM 4
HOGAN 3
BRAYSHAW 2
HARMES 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 65
Brayshaw 41
Hogan 40
Petracca 23
Salem 22
Fritsch 19
Viney 16
Harmes 16
Neal Bullen 12
Tyson 11
Lever 10
Hannan 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
Clarry now has an unassailable lead in both awards. A quieter game by Gawn seeing him miss out on votes and a vote getting game by Hogan has seen the minor placing races tighten up.
Go Dees!!
The MFC are joining with Breast Cancer Network Australia again for the 2018 Field of Women event this Sunday August 12 at our Round 21 match against Sydney. MFC members get a special price for the honour of standing on the hallowed turf of the MCG and being part of the pink lady, showing support to all those affected by breast cancer.
Here are the event details and here is the link for Demons members to book.
Field of Women 2018 Information
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and the Melbourne Football Club each year host a Pink Lady match and every four years the Field of Women. You are invited to “Stand with me at the ‘G” before this Sunday’s match at the MCG. There is special reduced price ticketing for MFC members with adult member upgrade tickets to participate in Field of Women only $34 with 100% of these proceeds donated to BCNA.
Field of Women is a really special event that enables anyone to stand in support of Australians affected by breast cancer. Many people come along to participate as breast cancer survivors or as friends and family of those that have been diagnosed, others in remembrance of a loved one and others just to be a part of something really special and memorable at a Melbourne Football club home match.
In 2018 BCNA aims to have 18,235 people stand to form the shape of our Pink Lady on the MCG to represent the number of Australians expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Field of Women will form a key event in Breast Cancer Network Australia’s 20th anniversary year of supporting Australians affected by breast cancer. This year’s event will precede the Round 21 AFL match between Melbourne and the Sydney Swans and will also have a range of family friendly activities and include free entry for children under 15.
Field of Women 2018 acts as both a major awareness piece for early detection, breast screening and the support BCNA can provide all Australians affected by breast cancer.
This event is also a major fundraiser to enable BCNA to continue to provide and grow our services. Breast cancer has a ripple effect in our local communities and every day in 2018, fifty Australians will be diagnosed with breast cancer and it remains the number one diagnosed cancer in Australian women. (148 men will also be diagnosed this year.)
We need to mobilise these eighteen thousand people to stand shoulder to shoulder on the hallowed MCG to achieve our goal and you can help us by joining us with family and friends on August 12.
Member Upgrade Tickets or General Admission Tickets may be purchased here. More information is available from here .
Who is Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA)?
BCNA provide a wide and growing range of services to Australians affected by breast cancer. All of our resources and support services are provide free of charge including our telephone help line, the ‘My journey kit’ that is supplied to every woman diagnosed with breast cancer and the ‘My Care Kit’ that includes a post-surgery bra supplied by Berlei to outline a few of our key support services. We also provide many other resources, support and information forums to Australians affected by breast cancer all over Australia (which includes supporting family and friends of those diagnosed) as well as a telephone helpline 1800 500 258 and moderated online support network.
and vale my friend Liz Butterworth
Round 19 – Adelaide Crows Vs Melbourne – Something To Crow About
by Liam Chambers
Admit it, the thirty two minutes and thirty one seconds of the last quarter was almost certainly the longest of your life. I know they were for me. Visions of last week’s game kept forcing their way into my consciousness no matter how hard I tried to ignore, suppress and block them. When Eddie Betts hit the post with just under two minutes to go I almost wept with relief. Then, with Alex Neal-Bullen’s goal sixty seconds later, the realisation that we had won was almost sublime; I may even have had an out of body experience.
The Dees won the game with an almost perfect display of football in the third quarter (eerily similar to last week). Suddenly we were winning after trailing the Crows for the first half. Goals from Jordan Lewis (brilliant in his 300th AFL game), Jake Melksham (again pivotal), Bayley Fritsch (rising legend), Jay Kennedy Harris (starting to really get into his stride), Tom McDonald (quickly gaining on Jesse as top scorer), Jeff Garlett (cementing his place after his sojourn at Casey) and Jesse Hogan (apart from his knee, hip and ankle, he’s in fine fettle). Maybe a week off for Jesse next week to give himself a chance to fully recover?
Undoubtedly the win against Adelaide was essential. If we’d lost, then the chances of recovery would have been minimal. The psychological blow would almost certainly have been fatal. To lose again in the last quarter with a commanding lead would have been devastating for players and fans alike. The Crows played as good as they have all season. Remember they beat Geelong only two weeks ago at the same venue. It was a great win, in a very hostile environment. The concern is that the Crows were able to get so close but I believe we did learn from last week and managed to look convincing in the end.
Again, I’m amazed at the depth of talent at Melbourne. Once we learn how to consistently play like we did in the third quarter then we won’t have to fear any opposition. Clayton Oliver again showed his brilliance and the news that Angus Brayshaw has signed for four more years is hugely encouraging. A lot of other teams have shown a keen interest in signing the talented midfielder. Max Gawn showed how important he is to player morale. He is able to inspire and has the great gift of communication though his theatrical fall may not have impressed too many fans. Surely we can forgive him that one indiscretion though and maybe he really did lose his balance.
Next week we play the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG. Just because they lost to Carlton this week doesn’t mean it’ll be a given that we secure another four points. The Suns beat the Sydney Swans last week. Sydney may be on the wane with an injured Buddy Franklin but we undermine either side at our peril. For the moment though, I for one will cherish this week’s result and the grand old flag.
ADELAIDE 4.4 6.8 7.10 10.17 (77)
MELBOURNE 3.1 5.7 12.11 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Adelaide: Greenwood 2, Betts 2, Seedsman, Gibbs, Murphy, Atkins, Gallucci, Walker
Melbourne: T. McDonald 3, Lewis 2, Melksham 2, Fritsch 2, Kennedy Harris, Jetta, Hogan, Neal-Bullen.
Melbourne is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.
by Darren Spence
Yes I changed the famous line said by Forrest Gump but I think it is perfectly apt to describe our form fluctuations from one quarter to the next. The score worm on Saturday night looked like Kingda Ka. Now those who are unfamiliar with this…google it….It’s a roller coaster with a 416 foot drop!
The signs were ominous early on the weekend. A parochial home crowd and the Crows jumping out to a 20 point lead in the first quarter and again in the second, it wasn’t really until after half time that the Dees turned on the after burners.
Nine of the next 10 goals was another dominant display by the Dees who do appear unstoppable at times. It’s not the first time we have seen this this season. Hopefully it won’t be the last. God help any team we play if we can somehow maintain that dominance for a full game. That 190 point record margin would definitely be in danger! But as we have come to know…it doesn’t last… and once again we were staring down the barrel of losing another close one. Thank God it rained! It probably was the main thing that got us over the line. After the game I decided I am going to start a petition. A petition that we play in the Royal Blue jumpers every week. Our away form this year is as good as anyones and as the final bell rang it was “It’s a Grand Old Flag” reverberating through the Adelaide Oval, much to the chagrin of the Crows faithful as the Mighty Dees got the chocolates by 13 points.
Oliver again was probably BOG. The kid is phenomenal. Clarry and big Max were really the 2 main catalysts of our dominance through the middle of the game. Oliver finished with 31 touches, many of them from Gawn’s 66 hit outs. I saw a stat this week that Maxy has more hit outs to advantage this year than any other CLUB! Wow! Let that sink in for a minute. Nibbler played arguably his best game for the club with 22 touches, 12 tackles and the match winning goal. Lewis was great in his 300th game, Brayshaw, Petracca, TMac, Jones and Harmes were all brilliant in a game that was a must win and win we did.
This week we are up against the Suns. We can’t drop this game can we? There are certainly precedents here but we won’t.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 19)
OLIVER 5
GAWN 4
NEAL BULLEN 3
TMAC 2
PETRACCA 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 49
Brayshaw 29
Hogan 27
Gawn 27
Jones 17
Melksham 14
Petracca 14
T.MacDonald 11
Viney 11
Salem 7
Lever 6
Jetta 6
Fritsch 6
Garlett 5
Harmes 5
Hibberd 4
Hannan 3
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 19)
OLIVER 5
NEAL BULLEN 4
PETRACCA 3
BRAYSHAW 2
HARMES 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 60
Brayshaw 39
Hogan 34
Fritsch 19
Petracca 18
Viney 16
Salem 15
Tyson 11
Lever 10
Harmes 10
Neal Bullen 7
Hannan 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
The bookies are no longer taking bets on Oliver to win on either award. The only real interest now is for the minor placings which remain a close run race.
Go Dees!!
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