Round 6 – Melbourne V Fremantle

We Won!

Liam Chambers

Melbourne wind back the clock

From the start, there was a desperation to the Demon’s team that’s been missing since their opening game. The players were running, chasing and tackling hard.

The first goal came against the run of play, after Andrew Brayshaw was awarded a free kick directly in front. His 50m shot was accurate and the Dockers were on the board.

When Kozzie Pickett is in form, he doesn’t miss much and his snap from 40m was spot on. The second Melbourne goal came quickly when Ed Langdon’s kick inside 50 found Harrison Petty, who ran out to mark the ball. He made no mistake with the set shot and it was back to back for the Dees.

Demon fans had to rub their eyes to make sure they were awake when Trent Rivers took a contested mark and ran inside 50 before launching from 45m to make it three in a row for Melbourne. The Dees were applying intense pressure on Freo and tackling hard whenever their opponents got the ball.

Shai Bolton showed that he’s a real asset to his new club when he marked in the pocket, before making the difficult 45m set shot look easy. Then Murphy Reid pulled the Dockers level when his snap from 40m went through. By now the initial euphoria had worn off for Melbourne fans, and for a few minutes Fremantle looked to have the upper hand.

But wait, Petty marks the ball on the 50m arc, then goes back to have a kick. Surely not, but the big fellow takes his time before running up and striking perfectly from 55m, taking back the lead for his side. Melbourne won the centre bounce and Jack Viney hammered it straight inside 50, where Jake Melksham was deemed to be held. He just missed to the right, possibly not helped by the gash on his right knee.

The Demons had the momentum now, and the pressure on their opponents was sky high. Also impressive was how accurate their kicking and marking was, allowing them to work up the ball up the ground. They eventually got it inside 50 again, where Christian Petracca collected the tapped down ball, before snapping around the corner from the pocket. The Demons were back out to a two goal lead.

Unfortunately, just before quarter time, Josh Treacy was able to get in behind our defence and mark the ball near the top of the square, before running on and tapping it through for a goal.

Undeterred, the Dees won the hitout and Petracca’s hand pass to Viney saw the midfielder running and side stepping his way inside 50, then launching from 40m to widen the gap to eleven points.

Dees up and down but finish the half strongly

Melbourne couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second term. Kade Chandler’s kick from 60m out would have been looking for a mark, but instead it bounced just outside the square and then flipped its way across the goal line.

A couple of minutes later and Sean Darcy took his first disposal, an uncontested mark 30m in front of goal. He went back and converted, bringing the margin back to eleven.

It was a case of right place, right time for Kade Chandler when Luke Ryan couldn’t quite mark the sherrin. Chandler pounced swiftly, grabbing the ball as it fell, then turning and tapping it across the line. Everything was flowing smoothly as the Dees transitioned the ball from one end of the ground to the other, culminating in Harrison Petty marking the sherrin on the edge of the square. As Kozzie Pickett ran towards the top of the goal square, Petty hand passed to the small forward, gifting him his hat trick for the afternoon.

Once again we won the hitout and Viney and Pickett combined to get the ball inside 50, where Kozzie’s 40m snap gave him back to back goals and Melbourne a twenty nine point buffer. A mistake in defence gave Murphy Reid a chance to claw one back for Freo but luckily he sprayed it to the right.

It was a case of second time unlucky when Jye Amiss was awarded a free kick for a down field foul. His 20m set shot was successful and the margin was reduced to twenty two points. Suddenly it was the Dockers who had the momentum and they were pushing forward at a rate of knots. When Jeremy Sharp received the ball on the edge of the arc, he launched from 49m to make it a sixteen point game.

Encouragingly, the Dees were still prepared to take on Fremantle and kept up the pressure on their rivals. Earlier in the quarter, Chandler scored a lucky goal when the ball bounced fortuitously; now Shai Bolton had an even luckier goal, when his chip from the pocket bounced over two players, landing in the goal square and then bounced at exactly the correct angle to cross the line.
From twenty nine points, it was now back to ten and Melbourne were on the back foot.

Then Kozzie took one of the marks of the year so far when he used Petty’s back as a ladder to grab Harvey Langford’s kick from 70m out on the wing. Pickett converted with ease to claim his fourth of the afternoon. Harrison Petty has struggled to score in recent times but today he was in fine form and his third goal was possibly his easiest, but also required quick thinking, as he soccered through ball from the top of the square.

Melbourne hold firm while Fremantle rue some missed opportunities

It was more of the same from Melbourne at the start of the second half. The Umpire was a little concerned that Fremantle might fall further behind, so gave two glaringly obvious holding the ball incidents the benefit of the doubt. It worked, and the Dockers were able to move the ball out of their defensive 50 and down the ground to where Oscar McDonald was waiting to take an uncontested mark.

The former Demon had previously only scored three goals in his eighty eight game AFL career, but in the tradition of ex Melbourne footballers playing against their old team, he went back and easily slotted the 40m set shot. The next five minutes was intense, as Freo fought to make the most of their new found momentum but a series of errors and fumbles on both sides went largely unpunished.

Then, following an impressive transition by the Dees, Kozzie Pickett produced yet another piece of magic with his contested mark 40m from goal. He ran on, showing Josh Draper a clean pair of heels, before slamming the sherrin into the stand to notch up his fifth of the match. With the advantage back out to twenty points, Melbourne went hunting for more goals.

The Dockers didn’t want to go in at three quarter time trailing by any more than the current margin and when Shai Bolton marked in the pocket and converted the 35m kick, he made his side’s mission a little less difficult. Harvey Langford pushed Melbourne’s advantage back out to nineteen points, with the assistance of Harry Sharp’s clever hand pass on the edge of the square.

Both sides had opportunities to add to their goals tallies, but it was the sub Isaiah Dudley who brought Freo back into contention with his mark in the pocket and follow on set shot. When Melbourne won the last centre bounce clearance of the quarter, they headed straight down towards their forward 50, where Harrison Petty was deemed to have been held. The re positioned key defender went back and slotted his fourth, to give the Dees a handy nineteen point buffer, going into the final term.

Demons get the job done

Every Melbourne fan would have been holding their breath and wondering if this was it. Could we maintain the lead and win our first game of the season? We had played some of our best footy in a long time and now it was as much a psychological game, as a physical one.

Big Max had a chance to extend the lead early in the piece, but his disposition to hook the straightforward set shots came back to haunt him, and it remained a four goal game. As the clock ticked down to ten minutes remaining, the tension was almost unbearable. Surely the footy gods couldn’t be so cruel as to allow Fremantle to snatch a late victory.

Then, when it looked like Jye Amiss was about to score, Trent Rivers threw himself at full stretch just managing to grab the key forward’s shorts and preventing a certain goal. Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Jye Amiss secured the mark at the top of the square and it was a nail biting two goal game. It seemed that Jye Amiss had put his recent jitters behind him when he marked deep in the pocket and slotted the difficult set shot.

Now there was only a measly six points between glorious victory and another disappointing loss. Shai Bolton didn’t do us any favours during the majority of the game, but when he decided to run on instead of taking the 50m set shot, he missed the lot, becoming an instant honorary Demon in the process.

Then when Harvey Langford snapped a 30m kick across the goal line, it was back to a two goal margin. With just under four minutes to go Tom Sparrow added another point and a little more breathing space. Then Gawny hooked a 50m set shot, after first taking the allowed thirty seconds. Jake Melksham almost sealed it with a banana off his right boot, but we had a comfortable fifteen point lead with two minutes to go.

There was still time for Freo but Gawny’s magnificent mark in the centre took another few seconds off the clock. A slight wobble when Sean Darcy marked 25m from the goal, but the twenty seconds he took to kick the set shot meant the dockers now couldn’t score the two goals required for victory. Nonetheless, it was a relief to see Max Gawn awarded a free kick for being held in the ruck and from there the Dees passed the ball until the siren sounded.

Finally we were back to playing the way we know our talented footballers are capable of, and it was a morale boost for our club. We won’t kid ourselves that our next game against Richmond will be easy, but if we play with the same conviction, I have no doubt we will go back to back.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 5 – Melbourne V Essendon

Some Good Moments But No Sustained Momentum

Liam Chambers

Essendon look hungrier from the first bounce.

After a promising start against GWS in Round 1, we are currently languishing second from bottom on the ladder. The Bombers, fresh from their win over Port Adelaide, would be keen to build on their momentum and Melbourne would be expecting a tough game.

Essendon had their first major when Harrison Jones marked in front of goal and slotted his 50m kick. Jye Menzie made it two in a row for the Bombers when he snapped a 15m shot from the right of the square.

Kysaiah Pickett opened his 2025 account with a scintillating goal after an attempted mark was thwarted. He quickly recovered to collect the loose ball on the bounce, before tapping it across the line.

Essendon’s response came three minutes later when Ben Hobbs received a hand pass after an inside 50 stoppage. His snap from 35m sailed through the uprights, extending the margin to fourteen points. The Bombers pressure continued, with Melbourne struggling to contain the attacks on their defensive 50.

The Dees did eventually make into their forward 50 but the efforts didn’t pay dividends, with attempts on goal only resulting in minor scores.

Melbourne’s woes continue to stack up

Melbourne started the second term with more intent and it eventually paid off when Ed Langdon took an uncontested mark 40m in front. He was then awarded a 50m penalty for sustaining a hit after the mark. His point blank shot reduced the deficit to six points.

Essendon was meeting more resistance from the Demons when trying to make their up the ground. The uncontested marks had dried up for the visitors, but their pressure remained near the top of the barometer. Eventually they broke through when Jye Menzie manage to chip the sherrin over the heads of the Melbourne players to score his second of the afternoon.

The Dees seemed to have no problem winning the ball from the centre bounce, but the issues started once they ventured inside 50. Essendon’s defence cut off any advance, and from there the Bombers could launch their own counter attack. When they found themselves inside 50, they were making Melbourne pay. It happened again when Nate Caddy took a contested mark and made sure with his 30m kick.

Once again the Dees won the centre clearance but stumbled as they navigated inside 50. Essendon made the most of a clearance win midfield and made their way goalwards, where Dylan Shiel marked 40m from goal. His set shot was successful, leaving Melbourne trailing by twenty four points.

Once again, the Dees won the centre clearance but couldn’t find a clear path once inside 50. Then Essendon retaliated with a run through the corridor where Sam Draper marked before kicking to Jye Menzie. The forward marked the ball 25m in front of goal. Menzie then claim his hat trick with his set shot.

Nothing was working for the Demons, with the only consolation being the Bombers failure to kick another goal before half time.

Demon launch fightback to stay in contention

When Archie Perkins was awarded a free kick in the pocket, shortly after the start of the second half, the signs were ominous. His set shot conversion only deepened our gloom. Despite the Bombers determination to make a statement and the thirty five point deficit, Melbourne wasn’t about to lay down and let their opponents have it all their own way.

Harrison Petty’s mark in the pocket was a welcome reprieve. He almost played on immediately but instead went back. The 40m set shot looked to be veering left but eventually made it through with plenty to spare.

The Dees’ next goal was a beautiful sight. Bailey Fritsch was taking a free kick from the boundary near the 50m line but saw an opportunity and ran on, kicking from the arc and sending the ball soaring through the big sticks. For the first time in the game, Melbourne finally had the momentum and were making the most of it, chasing and attacking at every opportunity.

When Bailey Fritsch was slammed after taking an uncontested mark inside 50, he was awarded a 50m penalty and promptly walked to the square to make it back to back goals for himself and three in row for the Demons. It felt like old times when Jake Melksham took a contested mark on the wing, then ran on inside 50, where he pick out Kozzie Pickett with a perfectly weight kick. Kozzie didn’t disappoint with his cleanly taken 20m set shot.

Seemingly all good things must come to an end though, and so it was when Xavier Duursma marked and converted from 30m in front.

With two minutes to go, Harry Sharpe brought it back to ten points when Charlie Spargo performed some impressive ducking and weaving, eventually getting the ball to his fellow forward, who ran on and chipped it over the line.

Then, when it looked like Melbourne would go in at three quarter time looking competitive, Stephen May was robbed by both the Umpire and Nic Martin for what was undoubtedly a mark. Incredibly it wasn’t paid and the gap widened to sixteen points.

No relief in final quarter, as Demons bombed by Essendon

Demon fans were hoping for more of the same when the sides took to the ground for the final term.

Within four minutes though, it was obvious that the Bombers were back firing on all cylinders; Jade Gresham took an uncontested mark at the top of the goal square and immediately played on, tapping the ball across the line. As the clock ticked down, the chances of a Demon’s win receded, and when Ben Hobbs took an uncontested mark in front of goal, it looked very grim indeed. After Hobbs slotted the goal, it virtually sealed the deal for Essendon.

Tom Sparrow’s snapped from the top of the square provided some hope, but it turned out to be just a consolation goal in the end.

Nate Caddy’s 40m set shot with five minutes left only rubbed salt into the wounds. Mason Redman’s bullet from 60m with twenty seconds remaining seemed unnecessarily cruel, but Jye Menzie’s fourth from inside the goal square, just before the siren was brutal.

We play Fremantle at home next. Best not to think of our last two games against the Dockers and just go out and play our best footy.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 4 – Geelong V Melbourne

Demons Launch Two Comebacks But Third Time Proves Unlucky

Liam Chambers

Dees out of the blocks early but Cats finish term strongly

We’ve played some close games against Geelong in recent years, with Melbourne securing the chocolates in last season’s clash. While both sides have under preformed so far this year, the pressure was well and truly on the Demons to secure their first win of 2025.

It was a good start for Melbourne, when Christian Petracca issued a statement of intent as he curled a 25m snap to opening the scoring.

It took the Cats ten minutes to kick their first goal, and Jeremy Cameron took the honours, after he was awarded a free kick in the square. In a low scoring quarter, Geelong finally got their second when Patrick Dangerfield marked in the pocket and converted from 45m out.

With only a minute left to play, Dangerfield was once again involved in getting the ball up the ground. As the sherrin flew inside 50, late inclusion Rhys Stanley leapt up to take the mark, then scored from the set shot.

Demons struggle but remain competitive with mid quarter resurgence

Despite being evenly matched for the majority of the first term, the two late goals from Geelong, gave the hosts a fifteen point advantage at the start of second quarter.

Both sides had scoring opportunities in the first five minutes, but were unable to land the coup de grace, until veteran Patrick Dangerfield scooped up the ground ball and swivelled quickly to snap the ball over the heads of Harrison Petty and Shannon Neale; who were fighting it out on the goal line.

After the goal, the Demons were on the back foot as Geelong sought to press their advantage. Eventually it paid off when Jack Bowes’ banana kick from the pocket found the space between the posts, stretching the lead out to a worryingly twenty nine point margin in favour of the Cats.

At this stage, Melbourne fans would have been bracing themselves for yet another big loss. Christian Petracca had other ideas however, and when he marked a Bailey Fritsch kick in the left pocket, he made sure of the 45m set shot to claim his second goal, giving the true believers a much needed boost.

Jacob van Rooyen has yet to score multiple goals in a single game this season, but his set shot from just inside the arc drew his side closer to the Cats. It was almost back to back for the young ruck/forward but he just couldn’t hold to the chest mark in the goal square.

Then, down the other end, Sam DeKoning snapped in front of goal to claw one back for Geelong. Less than a minute later, Harvey Langford redressed the balance for the Demons with his impressive pickup and follow on kick from 40m.

Melbourne had a few more chances to score but were unable to capitalise, and the margin remained at fifteen points when half time siren sounded.

Melbourne fail to make the most of their opportunities

The Dees urgently needed to recapture the attacking frenzy that paid dividends in the latter half of the previous quarter, and also to prevent Geelong from taking control again.

Nothing seemed to be going Melbourne’s way for the first ten minutes, then an awkward kick by Bailey Fritsch from the wing to the centre of the ground bounced fortuitously for Jack Viney. The unorthodox tactic caught the Cats off guard, as did Kozzie Pickett’s brilliant kick to Daniel Turner, which was marked directly in front. Disco didn’t falter with his 20m set shot and now it was a ten point game.

The Dees looked in the ascendancy after Turner’s goal, but a series of mishaps let Geelong off the hook, and eventually an opportunity presented itself inside 50. Jack Bowes took advantage to of the situation to snap a goal from the pocket. Then Dangerfield marked 40m out and put the Cats ahead by twenty three points, claiming his hat trick in the process.

Just when it looked like Geelong had all the momentum, Pickett took an exceptional semi contested mark in the middle of the ground, and his kick to inside 50 eventually found its way to Ed Langdon. The midfielder ran on and snapped from the pocket, reeling the margin back in to seventeen points.

There were further chances for both teams, but a series of minor scores meant the margin was still a manageable sixteen points at three quarter time.

Geelong accelerate to the finish line

Final quarters haven’t been kind to Melbourne in recent times, but when Bailey Fritsch took an impressive contested mark in the third minute of play, it felt like it could be the launching pad for another exciting comeback. Unfortunately the set shot proved disappointing.

Five minutes later Shannon Neale made sure of his own set shot, and hopes of a Demon victory started to fade. Soon afterwards, a 20m snap from Shaun Mannagh put a potential win further out of reach for the visitors.

With just over seven minutes remaining, Tyson Stengle sealed the deal for Geelong with his 35m set shot from the pocket. Stengel got another chance when he marked to the left of the goal square. Then, to make sure he didn’t miss, the Umpire awarded him a 50m penalty.

There’s no way of sugar coating Melbourne’s performance. It was our lowest score since Round 16 of the 2023 season. It’s also our worst start to a season in thirteen years. Unless we turn things around quickly, we will struggle to make the finals again this year.

On the positive side we did play well for periods in the first three terms, but our inefficiency in front of goal is deeply concerning.

Having said that, each new game is an opportunity to redeem ourselves. We face Essendon in the Gather Round, so let’s get the job done in Adelaide.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 3 – Melbourne V Gold Coast Suns

Suns Play A Scorcher At MCG

Liam Chambers

Gold Coast looks impressive

The Suns have been threatening to be a finals side for a few seasons now but their record away from home is not good; just two wins on the road last year. They would have been buoyed by their victory over the West Coast Eagles in Perth last week, but Melbourne at the MCG would be a much tougher gig.

Initially the signs were good for the Demons. Max Gawn almost had the opening goal, but his shot veered to the right. Up the other end Will Graham was gifted a 50m penalty and had no problem slotting the goal. Then Jed Walter was the beneficiary of another 50m penalty, and he struck it cleanly from just outside the arc.

By now the Suns were looking very comfortable and threatening to take control. Melbourne wasn’t letting go that easily though, and made some good plays but was unable to land that crucial first goal. It finally came when Jake Bowey took a mark 60m out, then ran on before launching from the arc to put his side on the board.

The Dees struggled to build on their momentum after the goal, with a series of fumbles and bad disposals which presented Gold Coast with another scoring chance. John Noble didn’t waste the opportunity. The deeper into the quarter, the more the visitors looked to be dominating play in all areas. When Bailey Humphrey kicked through the pack at the top of the square, it was four goals for the Suns.

Suns dominate quarter but Melbourne hold on to stay in the game

Melbourne needed to wrest back some control at the start of the second term and though they prevented Gold Coast from kicking any more goals, they were unable to add to their own tally. That was until Jake Melksham took a contested mark inside 50 and converted his 45m set shot. Unfortunately, the Suns response was immediate, and they were straight back inside 50, where Noah Anderson snapped the ball from 48m to stretch the advantage back out to eighteen points.

The Demons continued to play hard and fast but were unable to make the most of their scoring opportunities. Luckily, Gold coast was having the same problem with the gap remaining at eighteen points as the clock ticked down to half time. In fact with both main goal kickers in Ben King and Bailey Fritsch missing late in the term, Melbourne actually won the quarter by a single point.

Suns take control but Dees launch late attack

After half time the Suns continued to dominate field position leaving Melbourne to react to the pressure placed on their defence. The Dees were able to keep Gold Coast at bay but were unable to launch a counter attack. Luckily Ben King was having one of his off days, where he couldn’t find the space between the uprights, therefore allowing Melbourne to stay in touch.

Then against the run of play, the Dees got their third goal when Harry Sharp, despite an agonisingly slow build up, snapped from 30m to send the ball sailing over the line.

At this stage, a win looked very achievable for Melbourne, but a series of fumbles resulted in Touk Miller marking in the pocket and slotting the set shot. Demon fans have reason to be aggrieved though, as a certain foul on Jack Billings was ignored by the Umpire, allowing Gold Coast to continue playing on the edge of the 50m arc. Miller had back to back goals when awarded a free kick in the opposite pocket a few minutes later, having no problem with the execution. 

After the bounce, Gold Coast again wasted no time charging back down the ground, where Ben King was waiting to take the mark. This time he decided to take no chances with set shots, instead dropping the ball before tapping it along the goal square and across the line. In the space of five minutes, we went from looking competitive to conceding three goals and now struggling to contain the resurgent Suns.

Further adding to Melbourne’s pain, King again marked to the right of goal and finally rediscovered his set shot mojo.  Shortly after, Jarrod Witt took a contested mark at the top of the square. His successful set shot extended his side’s lead to forty three points.

Melbourne needed to find some answers quickly and for a moment it seemed that they had clawed one back when Jack Henderson’s set shot looked to have found the mark; the review found otherwise, and the goal was disallowed. There was no doubt about Harry Sharp’s effort though when he chipped a goal from the edge of the square. The brief burst of Melbourne momentum quickly dissipated however when Gold Coast won the hitout and raced goalward. A series of fumbles resulted in Lachie Weller snapping from 25m out and restoring their forty two point advantage.

Christian Petracca decided he’d had enough, and when he received the ball inside 50, ran on and launched skyward and through uprights, giving the Demon fans reason to still believe. When Kade Chandler launched a missile from 55m to secure his second of the afternoon, we dared to dream of a comeback that people would tell their grandchildren about. Jake Melksham almost added a third but just couldn’t get the correct angle with his attempt.

Then the cruelest blow of all. Will Graham’s kick as the siren sounded resulted in a goal that was deemed legit by the goal umpire. I’ve watched that kick several times and I can’t see how the goal was awarded. It certainly helped to take the wind out of Melbourne’s sails and brought their new found momentum to a shuddering halt.

Suns unassailable in final term

The odds were already against a Melbourne victory as the sides took to the field for the fourth quarter, but Touk Miller’s set shot goal in the fifth minute put paid to any lingering hopes of a Demon win. It also didn’t help that our efficiency in front of goal left a lot to be desired.

Gold Coast kept their foot on the accelerator and continued attacking. Then Sam Flanders got his name on the scoreboard with a 40m snap. Ben King was well and truly over his set shot jitters when he steered 15m kick through to the back of the net.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom though. Harvey Langford’s bullet from the 50m line was a late highlight for Melbourne.

Ethan Read then took a contested mark in front of goal and made sure with the set shot, making it fifty two points in favour of the Suns. Ben King was awarded a free kick in front after being held and he had his fourth of the afternoon.

Jacob van Rooyen has yet to hit the heights of previous years but his contested mark in the pocket and his cleanly executed 50m set shot reminded fans of his potential to cause damage to the opposition. Sadly, as seemed to happen all game, Gold Coast hit back immediately when Ben Long snuck one in with thirty seconds remaining.

Still there is good news. In Round 2 we were beaten by fifty nine points, but in Round 3 we were only beaten by fifty eight points. It’s small progress, but progress nonetheless. Maybe being 0-3 for the start of the season will motivate us when we take on Geelong in Round 4. 

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Winning and losing

Nigel Dawe

IT’S with more than a tinge of disappointment, frustrated dismay, and pure anger that I’ve wrangled this piece together. The cause of which has nothing whatsoever to do with our first three games. Yes, we have three bold L’s in our results column (the last two of which were certainly not great), but that’s life, and for the life of me I can’t understand the bozos – whether they don red and blue scarves or not – who rant their pea brain views and frustrations at players and coaches, like they could do, or have ever done, any better.

I’m glad I wasn’t at any of these games, only because I would’ve been far too disheartened by the antics of those within our ranks who just can’t take defeat on the chin, and simply move on in a dignified fashion.

I think I’ve made mention before, when our side is down, we need to adopt a ‘having sick relative’ mentality, that being the kind that shows support (which is ironically the key concept, not to mention driving verb behind the word – Supporter). The most appropriate response when a loved one has come down with something: is actually being there for them. If your child broke their arm this afternoon you wouldn’t go charging into the hospital to berate them for it, would you? Because people of substance don’t ever turn on one-another, they simply keep on turning up, and they hang in there – rain, hail or shine.

We’re better than this, much, much better than this! It broke my heart watching footage of a so-called Melbourne fan launch some kind of nasty-toned tirade at Max as he departed the field against North the other day, and the disappointed look on his face as he ever-so briefly snuck a peek at the clown who made it, will stick with me for a very long time. I just wanted to give our big seven-times All Australian a hug, and a good old-fashioned punch in the arm for luck.

Those of us who genuinely live and breathe this club have your back, it’s great to win, but that’s not why any of us should ever commit to causes like this; having tunnel visioned expectations that we will win – week-in, week-out (after having enjoyed such a purple period of success) is something that only fuels and enflames such vulgar responses to defeat. None other than Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” And while it comes across as mirth, it is actually meant in all seriousness: that being the most potent, unconquerable seriousness of all – the kind that is roused, and then truly rallied through the aid and force of enthusiasm.

Relatedly, I remember reading a comment by triple Brownlow medallist Bob Skilton, about his tenure at Melbourne as coach in the mid-70s, and how after having lost his first 8 games as coach (after the team had already lost the last 10 of the previous season) he was booed off the MCG, but club secretary Jim Cardwell bolstered his spirits by saying: “Bob, I don’t know if this will help, but I do remember them hooting Norm Smith off the ground one day too.” In the same interview, Skilton also made mention of what he best remembered about Smithy, and how our coach of the Century would ‘always preach’ – “Lose with dignity, win with respect for the opposition.”

It’s funny, I’ve often thought, none of us would ever dream of ‘correcting’ a brain surgeon on their performance or technique: “Say, you should have inserted your scalpel more to the left on your last incision, would’ve helped enormously – so just make sure that’s your approach next time!” Perhaps it has to do with surgical procedures being done behind closed doors, as ‘opposed’ to sport being performed in full view of an audience, I don’t know. But having faith and trust in those that are best placed to undertake what they are trained and hand-picked to do, is always a good place to start.