Round 10 – Waalitj Marawar V Narrm

Liam Chambers

Eagles boosted by the home crowd

The hosts looked inspired early as Jake Waterman took a contested mark deep in the left pocket, then slotted the 50m set shot. Cabel Windsor returned the favour a few minutes later, when he was spot on with his own set shot from 50m.

A loose ball in the square then allowed Jack Darling to volley the ball from directly in front to put his side seven points ahead. Unfortunately Darling’s shin collided with Jake Lever’s head, forcing the key defender to leave the ground before eventually being subbed out of the game.

It was better news for Narrm when Kysaiah Pickett was taken high and awarded a free kick in front of goal. His 40m shot was on target, making it a one point game. Not for long though, as former Demon Jayden Hunt took a diving mark inside 50 and slotted the set shot.

Almost immediately, Waalitj Marawar was another goal up as Harley Reid grabbed the ball after the bounce, then tore up the field, sprinting and bouncing, while leaving Christian Petracca in his wake. His driving kick from just inside the arc sailed through.

There were no more goals before quarter time, but worryingly for Narrm, their opponents looked to be playing their best game of the season so far, with the home crowd cheering them on; drowning out the small cohort of Demon fans.

Narrm manage to stay in touch

Statistically, Waalitj Marawar was dominating Narrm in all the key areas and showing no sign of relenting, as the second term got underway.

Liam Ryan, returning from injury, showed he’s lost none of his good form, marking and scoring from 30m in front. The lead was now out to twenty one points. Another veteran, Jack Darling, was also showing good form when he marked and slotted his second of the afternoon.

Arresting their rivals momentum was debutant Shane McAdam, who marked in the square before immediately turning and kicking the sherrin across the goal line. It was back to back majors when Narrm won the hitout, then got the ball to Kade Chandler, who launched from just inside 50.

Narrm had three in a row when Ben Brown snapped form the boundary and watched as the ball bounced across the line. The big key forward even surprised himself with that amazing effort.

The margin was back to ten points and Demon fans would have been forgiven for thinking their side had turned the footy tide and it would be an easy sprint to the finish line. Sadly, a few minutes later Ryan Maric managed to take a mark just to the right of goal and the lead was stretched back out to seventeen points.

Then the hero of round 9, Christian Petracca, was infringed as he went for the ball in front of goal. His 30m set shot was cleanly taken.

No rest in the west as Demons continue to struggle for momentum

Waalitj Marawar’s thirteen point half time lead was quickly extended to twenty four, as first Jake Waterman snapped a 20m kick, then Reuben Ginbey grabbed the ball from the air, before running on to also snap from 20m.

Finally though, Narrm was able to score from a turnover, when Alex Neal-Bullen found himself on the receiving end of a mistake in defence and he punished the Eagles with a scorching 40m bullet. Bailey Fritsch was having a quiet game but was still able to take a contested mark, before going back to score form 40m.

Jake Waterman continued to build on his Coleman aspirations when he marked, then kicked around the corner for his hat trick. Straight after the bounce, the Waalitj was back inside 50 and Jack Darling was waiting near the top of the square. He also slotted his hat trick.

The margin was back out to twenty three points. Bailey Fritsch got his second of the term when he took contested mark deep in the pocket, then converted the difficult shot with ease.

Narrm was still struggling to find some consistent momentum as, to add further to the mountain of woes, their early efficiency in front of goal had now seemingly deserted them.

Then tragically, just before three quarter time, Harley Reid again strong armed a path towards goal, giving his side an eighteen point lead just before the siren sounded.

No exciting finish for the visitors

Fourth quarters have been a mixed bag for Narrm this season, but fans would have been hoping for a rerun of last weeks’ juggernaut.

The omens were not good though, as Jake Waterman quickly took yet another contested mark on the edge of the square and built on his already impressive tally.

Bailey Fritsch kept the dream alive briefly, with his contested mark and conversion from 50m. Narrm continued to hang on but were unable to make further gains on the scoreboard.

Then Jake Waterman popped up again to snatch another strong mark and drilled his 40m set shot. It only got worse for Narrm when Liam Ryan took a diving mark just inside the arc, then went back to make sure of his shot.

As the minutes continued to tick down, so did the last hopes of a momentous Demon comeback.

Then Jamie Cripps dribbled the ball across the line, in what seemed like an unnecessarily cruel pierce to the heart of the visiting fans and those of us watching around the country.

We undoubtably underestimated our rivals, who always raise their game at home, and we have to admit we lacked the desperation to raise our own game when challenged.

Next round we’re back at the MCG to face St Kilda. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating. There are no easy games.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 9 – Carlton V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

The Blues launch operation warp speed

After last week’s thriller against Geelong, the Dees were again facing an inform side vying for a top four position. Fans were expecting another tight game with an abundance of goals.

However, the first score of the game didn’t come until the nine minute mark when Sam Walsh took a hand pass and snapped an around the corner from 40m to put Carlton in front.
A couple of minutes later, the hosts were two ahead when Marc Pittonet slotted a 45m set shot.  Next up was Jack Martin, who marked the ball less than 10m from goal.
The Blues had their tails up and Melbourne was struggling to counter the attacks.

The situation was beginning to look precarious for the Dees when Harry McKay ran out to take a contested mark. He went back and easily converted his 50m set shot. To add to the bleak atmosphere, the rain had set in, further dampening the spirits of the Demon faithful.

Towards the end of the term, Melbourne at last started to put some pressure on Carlton’s defence but was unable to penetrate the Blue fortress. Then, in another cruel blow and against the run of play, Tom De Koning took a difficult contested mark, despite the wet conditions. He drilled the 45m kick and extended the margin to thirty points at quarter time.

The Dees claw back some momentum

When play resumed, Carlton also resumed control, keeping their guests goalless and pointless in the process. When Matthew Owies marked and hit the target from 35m out, Melbourne’s outlook was bleaker than the weather.

That was until Christian Petracca juggled a difficult mark in front of goal and converted from 35m, finally putting his side on the scoreboard. A few minutes later and Petracca had another shot on goal, making sure that his 30m set shot shaved another six points off the Blues’ lead.

Tracca’s goals had an electrifying affect on his team mates, and they were suddenly hell bent on taking the game to Carlton.

Paddy Cripps spoiled the festivities however, when he brought the Dees momentum to a shuddering halt, after collecting the ground ball from a stoppage and snapping from the top of the square. 
Another party pooper, Matthew Owies, kicked his second from a 45m set shot and pushed the margin out to a game high of thirty seven points.

Just as the situation was looking its bleakest for Melbourne, Daniel Turner became the recipient of a down field free kick when Alex Neal-Bullen was struck after he kick the ball. Turner cut the lead back to thirty one points, with his coolly taken set shot from the 50m arc.

Melbourne get themselves back in the game

The Demons have recovered from greater half time deficits in the past, but Carlton seemed in particularly good form, and the wet conditions were not conducive to a high scoring game.

Melbourne’s task only increased in difficulty, when twenty seconds after the bounce, Charlie Curnow collected the ball and curled it through, again putting Carlton thirty seven points in front.

After the bounce, Max Gawn won the hitout and sent the ball inside 50, where Kysaiah Pickett received a hand pass and launched the ball forward and across the line. Could this finally be the catalyst that truly turned the tables for Melbourne?

Alas, no. Matthew Owies kicked his hat trick by snapping round the corner from the top of the square and returning the margin to thirty seven.

By now, the rain had all but stopped and three goals had been scored in less than two minutes.

Still the Demons were undaunted, continuing to pressure their opponents and creating chances on goal. Unfortunately though, they were unable to capitalise. Then another stoppage and the unstoppable Petracca fought his way through to escape the pack, snapping his third of the night.

But, yet again Carlton had the right of reply. Charlie Curnow found himself alone in front of goal as the ball dropped behind the group of players inside 50. Easy pickings for the leading Coleman contender.

Though Melbourne struggled to lower the deficit, conversely, Carlton was unable to extend their lead beyond the magical number thirty seven.

Bailey Fritsch had earlier missed a relatively easy shot but was deadly accurate when given a second chance. Finally the margin was under thirty points for the first time since midway through the second quarter. It was further reduced, and Christian Petracca’s status was officially upgraded to Superhero, when the Midfielder snapped his fourth goal from just outside the square.

So close and yet so far

With only twenty two points now dividing the sides, Melbourne fans had good reason for optimism at the start of the final term. However, that optimism was severely tested when George Hewitt kicked the opener for Carlton with a 35m snap.

By the halfway mark, the Dees had only managed to kick a couple of minor points before Jacob van Rooyen revived his team with a 20m set shot in front of goal. The Blues were defending fiercely but the feel of the game had changed, and Melbourne wasn’t holding anything back.

Several more opportunities for the visitors in front of goal were to no avail, but then an act of sheer heroic desperation finally netted another major. Jack Viney never gives up and his lunging slapback of the sherrin on the behind line was pounced on by Caleb Windsor, who then soccered the ball across the line. After an agonisingly long review, the goal was awarded, and the Dees’ belief was sky high.

With no time to spare, Melbourne pushed the ball back inside 50, where Viney picked out Tracca in the pocket. The around the corner kick was his fifth goal and had the Demons within seven points of their opponents.

With less than a minute to go, Max Gawn marked just inside the arc. He quickly took the set shot, which sailed high, long and finally across the goal line. Unfortunately, with only forty seconds left on the clock, the courageous Dees couldn’t complete what would have been a comeback for the ages.

Next round is against West Coast in Perth. The Eagles are a long way from their recent best and are very beatable on their previously impervious home ground, but they still have a few surprises up their sleeves and Melbourne won’t be taking anything for granted.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 7 – Richmond V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Opening quarter fails to reflect the fighting Anzac spirit

With games against Geelong and Carlton looming, Melbourne could ill afford a loss to the lowly Tigers, in what’s proving to be a highly competitive top six this season.

It was the perfect start for the Dees though. Having won the bounce, Jacob van Rooyen marked inside 50 and converted the 45m set shot.

After the goal, Richmond played some good footy, pressuring the Demons and keeping the ball in their forward half. They failed to fully capitalise on their momentum though and Melbourne retained the lead.

Up the other end, the Dees were off target, as they racked up three minor scores in a row. Richmond finally got reward for effort when Mykelti Lefau was on the receiving end of a hand pass, just outside the square. He was able to skate around Melbourne’s defence and slot from three metres in front.

It was even steven at nine points apiece and it looked to stay that way as the seconds ticked down to quarter time. Then Bailey Fritsch was held just inside 50 and awarded a free kick. He nailed the 48m set shot; not even distracted by a melee between Jack Viney and Marlion Pickett being conducted a few metres away on his left hand side.

Overly cautious sides unable to be separated

After a low scoring first term, Dusty Martin outmaneuvered the Dees’ defence to mark the ball 20m from goal. Martin swiveled round and snapped to again level the scores. Melbourne were finding their opponents more formidable than expected and Richmond’s defence was holding firm in the face of some strong pressure from the Dees.

At the halfway mark of Q2, neither side had found a way to put some daylight between themselves and their rivals. Then finally Melbourne was able to mount a strong challenge through the centre with Christian Petracca taking a hand pass and kicking the ball 55m to find Daniel Turner in the pocket. The young forward marked and ran on, kicking from inside the square to celebrate his first goal as an AFL player.

There was much rejoicing, but what potentially promised to be the start of a Melbourne tsunami, was tragically cut short when Maurice Rioli marked directly in front and slotted his 30m set shot, turning the momentum tide back in favour of Richmond.

Still, it looked to all even again at the end of the quarter, but then Dylan Grimes marked directly in front of goal just before the siren. His kick missed the main target; the defender steering his shot to the right, but his effort put his side ahead by a single point going into the main break.

Melbourne’s class finally reveals itself

After half time, play resumed in the same fashion with neither side showing any great ambition to take the reins and break on through.

Some form of catalyst was required. Then, as has happened so many times before, Captain Max Gawn answered the call. His mark on the behind line allowed him to snap an around the corner set shot kick, reclaiming the lead for Melbourne.

A minute later, Daniel Turner took a diving mark deep in the pocket. His subsequent 50m kick sailed high and long before dropping behind the goal line. Now the Dees were playing with a greater sense of purpose and eventually Turner again marked just inside the 50m line. Again his set shot was spot on, and he had his hat trick.

Star player and new Dad Kysaiah Pickett, made it four in a row for the Demons when he collected the ground ball in the pocket, ran around and snapped the goal.

Just as Melbourne looked to be running away with the game, up popped Maurice Rioli to again stem the Dees’ momentum. The high scoring medium forward marked 30m out, fumbled briefly, then turned, ran and kicked from the top of the square.

Richmond started to build on their new found belief but their accuracy on front of goal continued to let them down and the Demons were able to ride out the storm.

To add to the Tigers’ woes, Cabel Windsor took a brilliantly opportunistic intercept mark just before the siren. His 25m set shot was successful and Melbourne was ahead by twenty three points.

The Dees gallop to the finish line

Despite the hiccup at the end of term three, the Tigers continued to charge forward at the start of the final quarter, with Shai Bolton marking and converting from the pocket.

Bailey Fritsch was having none of it though, snapping his second goal from a 40m running kick on his non preferred side. After the bounce, the ball was back in Melbourne’s forward 50 where Kozzie Pickett marked it just inside the arc. His 45m set shot was successful and the Dees were pulling away at a rate of knots. Next up, it was another debut goal when Bailey Laurie kicked a right foot banana from the edge of the square.

Melbourne was thirty eighty points in front when Laurie slotted his second in a row via an around the corner kick from the pocket. Christian Petracca was having another solid game with twenty two disposals and twelve clearances when he awarded a free kick after being held. His 45m set shot was on target and the Dees had an unassailable lead.

We may be enjoying our top four spot on the ladder but Round 8’s showdown with table toppers the Cats will be anything but comfortable. Geelong haven’t put a foot wrong so far this year, but every cat has a bad day and Melbourne has the depth of talent to punish any complacency from the undisputed league leaders.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!