Round 18 – Melbourne V Brisbane

Liam Chambers

Q1 – The Demons come out fighting.

It was a must win game for the Demons if they were to maintain the coveted top four position. Geelong is making a late dash and we don’t want them to usurp us in the last weeks of the regular season. On the positive side, the Lions have been underperforming in their away games and the MCG hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them in almost a decade.

Melbourne went hard early hoping to catch Brisbane napping. Let’s just say, the Lions were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, while the Dees tore through the visitors’ back line.

Alex Neal-Bullen kicked the opener from a free, after he was taken out of the marking contest, just to the right of the square. It was an easy conversion, and the Dees were away.

A minute later, Christian Petracca had his first, after controlling the bouncing ball, then turning and snapping from 15m in front. Two minutes later, Petracca had a second when he marked on the arc, then ran in a semi-circle before booting from 50m to split the middle.

Dees fans little time to bask in their team’s reflected glory though, as Ben Brown was awarded a free against Harris Andrews, who was caught holding the ball. Big Ben’s signature long run up set shot resulted in the key forward hitting the target from 50m.

With four goals in ten minutes, Melbourne had reason to feel very happy with their performance. It was only a matter of time though before Brisbane settled down and showed what a quality opponent they can be.

Slowly, the Lions started to wrest back some momentum, culminating in Zac Bailey’s 50m set shot hitting the spot and giving his team their first major. Despite Brisbane’s new found dominance, it was the Dees who picked up the next goal, via a great team effort.

Jake Melksham controlled the bouncing ball, then turned and snapped to Ben Brown inside 50. Brown marked and ran on, then unselfishly hand passed to Charlie Spargo, as he hovered on the edge of the square. The small forward strolled to goal line and hammered it home for Melbourne’s fifth.

After the goal, Brisbane resumed control of the game but were unable to make the most of their chances. Then, with three minutes remaining, Charlie Cameron ran out to take a mark, 20m from the goal line. It was a piece of cake for the high scoring Cameron and Brisbane narrowed the margin to seventeen points. It was already a goal fest for the fans but there were more majors to come.

First Kysaiah Pickett was awarded a free for his tackle on Darcy Wilmot in the pocket. Kozzie has struggled to put points on the board in recent weeks, but his 35m set shot from the tight angle was perfect.

Then, Joe Daniher marked the ball in a similar spot, up the other end. His kick after the siren sailed through, setting up an exciting second term.

Q2 – The Lions even the score.

The opening chapter of our heroic tale had been a quarter of two halves, with first Melbourne and then Brisbane dominating; the Lions carrying the momentum into the break.

The Demons got the opener though, after Brisbane turned the ball over, allowing Jake Bowey the opportunity to collect and snap from 40m.

After the bounce, Melbourne continued to worry the Brisbane defence before the visitors broke through and transitioned the length of the ground. Oscar McInerney, lumbering inside 50, was able to collect the ball and just manage to tap it through the uprights. Then the Lions had back to back majors when Will Ashcroft was the last link in a seamless end to end chain. His 40m kick from the pocket was only ever going between the uprights, and Brisbane gave the screw another turn.

After that, the Lions went up a gear, controlling the game with Melbourne valiantly fending off wave after wave of attacks. Finally though, Jaspa Fletcher took an intercept mark and bounced his way inside 50, before unleashing from 40m.

It was now a five point game with the Lions well and truly on top; the pressure continuing unabated. It was only a matter of time before Brisbane took the lead. The inevitable happened when Jack Gunston cleanly converted his 40m set shot, putting the Lions ahead by a single point.

Then, when it looked like Melbourne risked falling further behind, Petracca took a mark inside 50. He went back and kicked from the 50m line, claiming his hat trick.

Brisbane wasn’t to be denied their half time lead though. With thirty nine seconds to go, Lincoln McCarthy marked at the top of the square and put the Lions ahead again.

Q3 – Brisbane turn it up to eleven.

Melbourne dominated the stats in the first half, but Brisbane transitioned the ball better and made the most of their opportunities inside 50. In order to take back control, the Dees needed to emulate the Lions’ kicking efficiency.

Unfortunately, Brisbane hit the scoreboard first when Lincoln McCarthy kicked another goal after he marked 35m out. It was back to back majors for the forward and just the start the Lions wanted.

Undeterred, Melbourne went on to win the clearance and launched an immediate attack. Taj Woewodin, who almost kicked a goal on his debut in Round 17, was not to be denied a second time, as his 45m shot from the boundary found the target. There was much rejoicing as his team mates gathered around to celebrate.

The scoreline see sawed as the goals continued with Jack Gunston snapping from 15m, returning the margin to seven points. Despite the numbers on the board, the Lions were owning the quarter, keeping the Dees hemmed inside their defensive half.

Melbourne withstood the avalanche of pressure for what seemed like an eternity, before Brisbane finally broke through, courtesy of a Zac Bailey’s snap from 30m. The juggernaut from the north continued to ride roughshod over the Demons’ defence, scoring their third in a row when Jarryd Lyons snapped a bullet from 48m. More torture ensued when Jack Gunston marked and scored from a 30m set shot.

The outlook for Melbourne was bleak with the Lions completely dominating inside 50 and being frustratingly accurate with their kicking. It was a worried looking coach on the sidelines, as Simon Goodwin pondered his options in a game rapidly slipping from his grasp. To add to the pain, Harrison Petty was subbed out with an injury. His replacement Joel Smith ran on to take up the fight.

Then, a moment of sweet relief, when Kozzie Pickett swooped to collect the loose ball, before finding enough space to launch and score from 25m.

Regrettably, the relief was short lived as Eric Hipwood converted from deep in the pocket to restore the twenty eight point margin.

Captain Max Gawn, who was in his element dominating the ruck all night, was suddenly gifted a free kick from 45m out. Gawny kicked for the stars and was rewarded when his shot fell back down to earth, just behind the goal line. It was the boost and injection of self-belief that the Dees needed, and the fans were ecstatic.

It looked like Melbourne might get another, immediately after the bounce, but Brisbane turned the ball around and got it up the other end. There, Charlie Cameron kicked his second, with the shot coming off the inside of his left boot.

There was an encouraging end to the quarter though, and reason for optimism, as Jacob van Rooyen took up the ruck position, tapping down the ball, where Kozzie collected and passed to Petracca, allowing him to snap his fourth of the night.

Q4 – The miracle at the MCG.

On paper, the Lions had the game in the bag, but the Demons have played some great footy in the last term this season. However, a win for Brisbane would greatly assist their chances of securing a top two spot, so there was motivation aplenty.

When Joe Daniher hit the turf like he was auditioning for the Fall Guy reboot, it appeared to be a case of signed, sealed and delivered for the Lions. Joe slotted the set shot for his third of the night and Steven May was left fuming that his gentle caress of Daniher’s back had handed Brisbane a twenty six point lead.

Possibly because the Lions felt safe enough to relax, or the Dees were naturally motivated by the injustice of it all, is uncertain (possibly a combination of both) but the incident proved a catalyst for a Demon revival.

The determination was unquestionable, but it seemed that old accuracy hoodoo was again haunting Melbourne, with three minor scores in a row. When James Jordan put his set shot wide and the clock slipped under ten minutes, a victorious comeback seemed a bridge too far. 

However, master bridge builder Max Gawn continued to lay the ground work, refusing to submit and urging his troops forward. As the minutes ticked away, the four goal disadvantage pushed victory further and further out towards the horizon.

Then with just over seven minutes remaining, Kozzie went for a mark just outside the 50m line; bent down to retrieve the ground ball while evading two encroaching Lions, then ran on, kicking with his left boot. The ball curved slowly in a beautiful arc that could have been set to music. Finally, and incredibly it floated between the posts.

Now, it was caution to the wind time, as Melbourne took their momentum and launched themselves at Brisbane with no thoughts for the consequences. Another minor score and then a wonderfully placed kick by Gawn, which was marked in the pocket by Jake Melksham. The around the corner set shot kick went through and took the Dees to within two goals of the Lions, with less than five minutes to play.

The Lions were under siege and a rushed behind ensued. Then a stoppage where the ball was tapped down. Oscar McInerney grabbed the sherrin, but he had it ripped from his hands by the iron willed Jack Viney; the midfielder then spun around and snapped at goal, taking the Dees to within five points of an unbelievable upset.

Melbourne had two minutes to win the match and the Lions had two minutes to deny them. The entire MCG was in a heightened state of tension.

When Angus Brayshaw’s kick inside 50 soared high, all eyes were on the ball, but it was Jake Melksham who ended up with the sherrin tightly clasped in his hands, as he tumbled across the turf. Taking the full thirty seconds, Melksham went back to kick perhaps the most important shot of his career. The kick, when it left his boot from just inside 50, was pure perfection. As the ball crossed the goal line, the roar from the crowd was deafening.

With ten seconds left, the Lions made one last desperate dash. The ball sailed towards Brisbane’s goal, but the mark was taken on Jake Lever’s chest, with Eric Hipwood’s arm draped across his shoulder. The mark was rightfully claimed by Lever, despite pleas from Hipwood to the umpire that he had marked it. Maybe the Brisbane fans believed that but nobody else was buying it.

While the history of the Melbourne club continues to be written, a special paragraph should be dedicated to this famous victory.

We host the Adelaide Crows in Round 19. They may be fading towards the business end of the season, but we would be foolish indeed to dismiss them.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 17 – St Kilda V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

With a roof over their heads, Melbourne didn’t have to worry about playing in the rain this week. Also, their recent record at Marvel has been good, boding well for the must win match.

The game started badly for St Kilda when star goal kicker Max King made his way off the field with an injured shoulder; his season potentially over. Demon fans would cast their minds back to Round 15 when Jeremy Cameron’s injury only motivated Geelong to play one of their best games all year.

Alex Neal-Bullen put the Dees on the board by emerging from a stoppage, stumbling into the square, evading the grasping Saints and landing a kick into the goal.

Afterwards, St Kilda’s pressure was incessant as they pushed Melbourne back into their defensive half. Their sheer determination meant something would eventually have to give, and it did when Jack Steele took a mark just inside the arc. He kicked the 50m set shot, levelling the scores.

After the goal, the Saints took advantage of their momentum, forcing Melbourne to continually defend. A few efforts were thwarted before Jade Gresham booted a long shot from 55m to give his side a nine point lead. While the goal was being celebrated, Seb Ross was sitting forlornly on the bench with a suspected hamstring injury, and he too was subbed out. A minute later St Kilda extended their lead further when Mason Wood snapped from 40m in front.

We could have been forgiven for thinking the Saints were on a thumping victory trajectory, but I clung to my optimistic pre game prediction of a six goal first term for the Dees. They said I was a dreamer, but I said, “I’m not the only one”.

After the bounce, Melbourne won the clearance and took off for goal like the winner of a one minute trolley dash; eventuating in Lachie Hunter being taken high on the edge of the square. The wingman converted to reduce the deficit. The Dees had a second in quick succession when Ben Brown stole the mark, 30m from goal.

Then Ed Langdon gave Melbourne the lead with his opportunistic attempt from the right of the goal square. Ed looked slightly perplexed, as he was helped to his feet by his team mates; possibly not realising that the ball had gone through the uprights.

Once St Kilda had recovered from the flurry of Demon goals, they quickly regrouped and resumed their attack on Melbourne’s defence. They couldn’t quite regain their earlier momentum however and the Dees easily dealt with the renewed pressure.

Then with under three minutes remaining, Christian Petracca took an exceptional mark deep inside 50, and was quickly goalward bound before booting the ball from the middle of the goal square, sending it high into the stands.

Melbourne maintained the lead despite Mattaes Phillipou’s attempt, which actually landed on top of the upright. Luckily, there’s no points for trick shots of that quality. Angus Brayshaw attempted a 60 plus metre shot after the siren but unfortunately was unable to fulfill my prophecy of six majors in the quarter.

Q2 – three Saints down

With three of their players subbed out, the Saints looked to be on the back foot. They obviously didn’t get the memo though, as they continued to go all out in attacking Melbourne. The pressure was paying off with St Kilda setting up several set shots on goal, as well as creating other opportunities inside 50. However, they were suffering from the same affliction that has plagued the Dees for the past month and their accuracy left a lot to be desired.

The Saints completely dominated the first half of the term, but then Melbourne slotted the opening goal against run of play. Jake Melksham has settled nicely into his role as Bailey Fritsch’s replacement. His around the corner from deep in the pocket was perfectly executed.

After the goal, St Kilda just kept pushing forward before Mitch Owens was awarded a free kick in the square. It was an easy set shot to make it a one goal game.

The Dees counter attacked after the bounce and eventually landed the ball inside 50, where Ben Brown went for the mark and was taken high. Tom Sparrow immediately played on, taking the advantage and snapping from 25m to restore the lead to twelve points.

Melbourne then assumed control of the ball, slowing down the play to their advantage. The Saints just kept coming though, powering forward when they got hold of the sherrin. They couldn’t slot any more goals before half time though, trailing the Dees by thirteen points at the break.

Q3 – a slim 2 points

Whereas the Saints had dominate inside 50 in the first half, their efficiency once inside the arc was severely lacking. Also, Steven May was having an enormous night. Not having to shadow Max King, freed up the defender to intercept mark like it was going out of fashion.

Five minutes in, Jake Melksham hit the post with his around the corner set shot attempt, making it three all for posters so far in the game.

When Christian Petracca took an intercept mark, 40m from the target, he had the look of a player who had rediscovered his goal kicking mojo. He steered the shot cleanly giving the Dees a twenty one point cushion.

The Saints were still in it though and when Jack Billings converted from 40m in the pocket, St Kilda fans were on their feet. They barely had time to sit down again when Cooper Sharman took a mark 30m in front. Suddenly the lead had been whittled down to nine points and the hosts were again threatening an upset.

Melbourne though, was able to pad out their buffer when Ben Brown tapped down an attempted mark and Petracca ran past, collecting the footy en route. The all rounder then booted from the edge of the square to claim his hat trick.

There were no more goals when the three quarter siren sounded, with the Dees having won the term by a slim two points.

Q4 – all over with Trac’s 4th

The Saints had given everything in the first three quarters in an attempt to climb over the top of the Demons. The question now was, could they maintain the rage and clinch a famous victory.

The home crowd was cheering on their understrength side, willing them to keep going and they didn’t disappoint. The pressure on Melbourne defensive half was unrelenting and there were a few fumbles and stumbles along the way, as they continued to deflect the onslaught.

Fortunately for the Dees, St Kilda was unable to convert their chances. The Saints would have reflected on the bitter irony that the team who struggled to hit the target in recent games, was now landing goals against the run of play. Jake Melksham kicked his second from another round the corner shot; doing a great job filling Bailey Fritsch’s footy boots.

Then, just when the Demon army thought it was safe to relax, St Kilda stole one back twenty seconds after the clearance. Mitch Owens found just enough space to snap one from the top of the goal square.

Melbourne almost returned the favour, after winning the hitout and taking off for goal. The debutant Taj Woewodin received a handball as he ran inside 50, then snapped from 30m. His spontaneous celebrations were premature unfortunately, as the sherrin just skimmed the outside of the right hand upright.

A few minutes later Tom “Jack” Sparrow created his own piece of history when marked and converted to score his second goal in a match, for the first time in his sixty six game career. Surely Sparrow’s goal was going to seal the deal? Dees’ fans couldn’t relax though. Back to back losses and a gritty St Kilda side were enough to keep the doubt alive.

When Jake Gresham nailed his 40m set shot, the Saints still had five minutes kick another three goals and win.

It looked like St Kilda could in fact pull off a miracle when Mitch Owens marked five metres from the goal line. It was a false dawn however as Judd McVee was held off the ball behind the marker and awarded a free kick. The fans were incensed but the free was legit.

The Saints would be justified in believing that they had somehow angered the footy gods when Cooper Sherman’s snap from 35m landed next to the goal line before flipping back into the hands of Ed Langdon.

With a minute to go, St Kilda knew it was all over but would still have been dismayed to see Christian Petracca mark a Jake Melksham kick, 40m out in the pocket. Tracca then capped off a stirling game with his superbly taken set shot to notch up his fourth goal.

Post match – locking down 4th

With the victory, the Dees managed to put some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. It was hard won and locked them into fourth spot on the ladder.

Congratulations to Christian Salem on his milestone 150th game. His twenty four disposals was an integral cog in the Melbourne machine on the day.

Brisbane are seemingly invincible at the Gabbatoir but surprisingly, they have lost four of their seven away games this season. Those stats will mean nothing however if we are not at our best on Friday night. Now that we are scoring more goals than behinds, let’s show the Lions we’re after that number three position.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 16 – Melbourne v GWS

Liam Chambers

It was a cold wet Sunday afternoon at Traeger Park in Alice Springs; unseasonably so according to the experts (and 4 degrees on the ground according to Gus and Gawny – ed). Our annual visits to the Northern Territory have been cut back to one game in recent years but the crowd that gathered in the chilly conditions for the contest were enthusiastic.

Melbourne were dominant in the opening ten minutes of the term but were unable to take advantage of their momentum. The sherrin was like a bar of soap, slipping from the players’ hands as they tried to mark and control the ball.

Again the Demons had no problems hitting to the left and right of the tall posts; it was the bit in the middle that proved to be the sticking point. Then our top goal scorer, Bailey Fritsch limped off the field to be replaced by Jake Melksham. Unfortunately, it looks like Fritsch will be out for the remainder of the regular season with the injury to his foot.

GWS had spent much of the quarter defending but when they got inside their forward 50, they looked dangerous. Callum Brown got the first goal of the match when he collected the ball from a stoppage and ran towards the square before turning and snapping.

The Dees continued to win the contested ball in the middle of the ground and at the back but were unable to make it count once they went inside 50.

The Giants’ defence was stopping everything Melbourne could throw at it.

Finally a piece of induvial creativity from Kysaiah Pickett saw him gather the tapped down ball, run on, drop it, then recover before kicking to Jake Melksham, who was 35m from goal.

Melksham converted perfectly to give Melbourne the lead.

The Dees had the chance to go a couple of goals up before the break but were unable to take full advantage and went to the break leading by only five points.

Melbourne had led inside 50s by 21-8 in the first term, as well as spending two thirds of the time in their forward half. The most worrying stat for the Demons though was their solitary goal for all that effort.

Q2 – slippin’ and a slidin’

It got worse at the start of the second quarter when Toby Greene was gifted a 50m penalty and casually chipped the ball in from 15m.

After the bounce, Melbourne upped the ante by piling on the pressure. It paid off quickly when Jake Bowey scooped up the ground and snapped from 35m to give his side a one goal lead.

The Dees were winning clearances by a wide margin and dominating contested position but were unable to make it count on the score board. The wet conditions were definitely not helping but we desperately needed to fix the lack of goals and quickly.

Up the other end the Giants launched the ball straight to the pack in front of goal. As soon as it was fisted away, Toby Greene was waiting to pounce, and he snapped it through for his second.

The half ended with the tied at twenty one points apiece.

Q3 – slip sliding away

The rain started to clear up after the break, but the goals didn’t eventuate for either side. That was until Xavier O’Halloran was awarded a free kick smack bang in the middle of the goal square. It was the easiest of kicks for the midfielder to restore the Giants’ lead.

It was a case of three in a row for GWS when their run through traffic resulted in Josh Kelly finishing the manoeuvre with a swiftly snapped kick, guiding the ball high and through the centre of the uprights.

Then it was three for the quarter when Isaac Cumming’s set shot from 50m had just enough distance and height to sail over the outstretched hands of the Melbourne players on the goal line.

The weather was again starting to look grim, and with it the outlook for the Demons to take back control of the game.

Fear not however, as Brodie Grundy’s initial tapped down from a stoppage was fed back, allowing him to get boot to ball and claw one back for Melbourne.

Less than a minute later, Kozzie Pickett got the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he marked and converted from a 30m set shot.

Having trailed by three goals at the halfway mark of the term, the Dees managed to launch a fightback and narrow the margin to four points by three quarter time.

Q4 – slippery little sucker

By the start of the fourth, the rain was seriously pouring down and showing no signs of abating.

Melbourne launched themselves at the Giants, knowing that they couldn’t afford to let the opposition dictate the terms as they did for most of the previous quarter.

The pressure paid off early on with Angus Brayshaw directing a well weighted kick to Ed Langdon in the pocket. The fast running midfielder duly marked and went back to take the kick. Ed has a knack for hitting the target when he is presented with a particularly difficult shot and this occasion was no exception. The Dees were back in front.

For most of the quarter, Melbourne had the lion’s share of the play, but the rain made marking a much more frustrating task. The kicks were going astray as well. Even Toby Greene missed the lot when he had a 45m set shot opportunity to take the lead.

The momentum was swinging to GWS, but the Dees managed to get themselves into scoring positions. Unfortunately, the space between the uprights continued to be disappointingly elusive.

Then when it looked like Melbourne might just hang on for a narrow victory, Josh Kelly popped up again to bomb the ball from 60m out. As if in slow motion, it landed on the goal line and flipped over to put the Giants ahead.

Post match – snakes and ladders

Another almost win for the Demons. We’ve now lost four of our last six games. Probably most concerning though is our low scoring record in recent matches. Since Round 12, our final scores are: 8 13, 8 18, 8 15 and 5 15. In relation to the GWS game there’s another interesting stat, as pointed out by Jon, our every watchful Report Editor; we had 73 inside 50s for those five goals. We’re so competitive in most other areas but we need to somehow fix the accuracy dilemma. We know it’s going to click at some stage, but we face the Saints at home in Round 17. Though they were caught napping by West Coast last week, we know how good they are at Marvel.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 15 – Geelong v Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Even though Geelong has been underperforming as reigning Premiers, the Cattery is still a daunting venue for visiting teams. Of their seven prior home games this season, they had only lost two. The first to Collingwood and the second, by only seven points, to GWS. Melbourne would need everything to go right on the night.

The Cats got their first when Tyson Stengle kicked a 45m shot from deep in the pocket. Melbourne’s response was immediate but unfortunately Joel Smith’s 15m snap hit the post.

Geelong then had a second, via a lucky break, when Tanner Bruhn kicked from outside 50 to the goal square. There the ball bounced across the line with Michael Hibberd in hot pursuit.

Following the goal, there was an incident involving Jeremy Cameron as the victim of friendly fire; having collided with Gary Rohan. The match was delayed for ten minutes while Geelong’s leading goal scorer was assessed and then stretchered off the field, playing no further part in the game. Fortunately subsequent tests have ruled out any serious injury.

Gary Rohan was obviously devasted, but my initial thought was that the forward would now play his heart out to make up for his unintended mistake.

The Dees got the first goal after the delay, when Bailey Fritsch marked and converted from 20m to the left of goal.

Then with three minutes to go in the quarter, Rohan marked and kicked from 40m, directly in front, to increase the Cat’s advantage to fifteen points.

To add to the Demons’ dilemma, the rain started falling. However a silver lining appeared when Joel Smith created something out of nothing with his around the corner snap 25m from goal.

Both sides were racking up the minor points in the second term, but it took until the halfway mark before Geelong got the first goal. Tom Hawkins marked a Gary Rohan kick 35m out and he rarely misses those opportunities.

Melbourne was now trailing the hosts by fourteen points in a low scoring half. The small group of Dees’ supporters, amid the sea of Cats, looked on forlornly. Having braved the cold and wet conditions to travel south for the night, they needed something special to raise their spirits.

Cue Joel Smith who took a mark on his chest right next to the goal square. Despite the rain, the ball connected perfectly with Smith’s boot, and sailed through for his second of the night.

After the goals, both sides again struggled to hit the target. Then Kysaiah Pickett collected the tapped down ball from a stoppage. He let the slippery sherrin fall from his grasp before booting it through the uprights. Now it was a one point game.

After that the goals dried up again with the Dees only able to muster another two points, giving them the smallest of leads at the half time break.

The Cats got the first of the second half when Rohan continued to make amends for his earlier indiscretion. He took a mark just outside 50, then ran on and kicked from 40m out.

Geelong went on the attack to try and drive home their advantage. However, they found that the Dees were more than a match for them in defence.

Melbourne had their own chances to score but were unable to convert.

Eventually Jacob van Rooyen was able to mark; brilliantly hanging on to the wet ball 20m out from goal. His set shot was calmly taken, and the Demons’ half time lead was restored.

With no sign of the rain clearing, Melbourne was having to innovate, with Alex Neal-Bullen knocking the ball forward with his fist, slamming it inside 50, towards goal. Kozzie gave chase, gathering the bouncing ball and kicking from 25m to claim his second of the night.

The Dees had dominated the third term but only increased their lead by a single goal. On paper they were favourites to win, considering their fourth quarter performances in 2023.

However, the combination of the weather and Geelong’s home advantage, meant Melbourne could leave nothing to chance.

It was a rocky start the visitors when Ollie Henry took a contested mark, 40m in front. His conversion was on target, evening the score.

Zac Guthrie then gave Geelong the lead when his running kick from 40m sailed through.

Melbourne managed to keep the Cats on a tight rein for the next ten minutes before a spate of goals put the hosts firmly in the driver’s seat.

First, Mark Blicavs gave his side a two goal advantage with his mark taken inside 50, his set shot floating through.

Then the villain turned hero, Gary Rohan, chased down the ball as it bounced across the 50m arc, before collecting and kicking it from the edge of the square.

Finally, Mitch Duncan was able to chip from 50m and watch the ball bounce through the unguarded goal.

Trailing by four goals with only ten minutes on the clock, it was a desperate Melbourne who now had to throw caution and everything else to the wind.

When Tanner Bruhn snapped his second from the top of the goal square, he handed the Demons the virtually impossible task of kicking five goals in the last seven minutes.

Christian Petracca snatched one back with his pitch perfect snap from deep in the pocket.

Tracs was also involved in Melbourne’s final goal when his kick to deep inside 50 was marked by Bailey Fritsch on the edge of the square.

It was too late for the Dees however as Geelong hung on to claim victory.

The Giants are next on the agenda, and we’ll be taking no chances against a side who’ve shown flashes of brilliance this year. Alice Springs is a good ground for us though, and everyone will be hoping for a repeat of Kozzie’s double hat trick from last year.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 13 – Melbourne V Collingwood

Liam Chambers

I think we can allow ourselves to dream again. The last few weeks have been testing and there’s no denying that we needed that win more than Collingwood did. The players knew it, Simon Goodwin knew it and the fans certainly knew it. We fought with a fury rarely seen since our 2021 Grand Final victory.

All the lads were impressive, but Jack Viney truly deserved the Man of the Match award. His indomitable spirit came to the fore once again when his club and his teammates needed it most. No barrier was impenetrable for him on the day.

We showed the rest of the competition that the Pies came be taken on at the own game and defeated. We swarmed, we tackled, we had numbers around the ball, and we eventually wore them down. The late last quarter comeback by Collingwood was down to the wire, but we held our nerve. Brilliant!

Q1 – patchy but in the game

It was on from the first bounce; neither side was holding back. Kozzie Pickett kicked the first point, but it was Patrick Lipinski who scored the first major, when he found just enough space in front of goal to quickly turn and snap.

Not quite the start the Dees wanted and the Pies were quick to continue pressuring Melbourne’s defence. At the back, Judd McVee is improving with every game, and he is superb as a last line guard, repeatedly getting the ball out safely.

Collingwood’s second came from a stoppage when Jack Crisp gathered the tap down, then ran on to snap from 20m.

After that the Demons made a few incursions into their forward 50 but the Pies got the ball out quickly, then went on a counterattack. Their end-to-end assaults eventually resulted a third goal. Harvey Harrison missed a mark inside 50 but was able to collect the loose ball and dribble it across the line.

At the halfway point of the term, Melbourne found themselves trailing by eighteen points. An act of composed desperation was urgently required. Luckily Jack Viney was in the mood to provide it.

The tenacious Midfielder marked the ball just outside 50, then ran on before kicking from the pocket, 40m out, while trusting himself to guide it through the uprights.

It’s no exaggeration to say that we needed that goal badly. It was inspirational and fired up his Demon teammates.
Now Melbourne was going forward more and creating opportunities while also denying the Pies the chance to play their preferred game.

Despite the change of momentum, we couldn’t seem to land that all important second goal.

The Dees would have been happy with their game in the latter part of the first quarter, especially after being under siege for most of the opening twenty minutes.

Q2 – defence, defence, defence

It was a case of more of the same at the start of the second. Melbourne continued applying the pressure to Collingwood’s defence and the reward came quickly, with Bailey Fritsch marking a well placed McVee kick 40m out. Fritsch had no problem splitting the middle and closing the gap to three points.

The Demons were messing very effectively with Collingwood’s game plan; tackling hard and getting players around the ball, then slowing down the flow when they had possession.

The only chink in Melbourne’s armour was their accuracy in front of goal. Fortunately the Pies couldn’t convert their chances either. 

Then Mason Cox was able to run into some free space 25m in front, marking the ball and kicking the set shot.

Cox went back to ruck for the centre bounce, but Max Gawn won the hitout before Tom Sparrow got hold of the ball and launched a mighty kick to inside 50. This time Fritsch ran out and marked the ball on his chest. He had no bother kicking his second of the quarter and it was back to four points.

It was game on again with both sides going at it hammer and tongs. Christian Petracca had a chance to give Melbourne the lead but his 50m set shot hit the post. It was a physically exhausting experience for players and fans alike as Collingwood ran hard towards goal and Melbourne fought valiantly in defence. The Dees’ tackling was magnificence, frustrating the Pies’ attempts to score.

They did break through eventually though when Bobby Hills’ set shot from the arc hit the target.

The margin might have been back to ten points, but the Demons were fired up. They were intent on keeping Collingwood contained inside 50 and pounced on every loose ball to deny the Pies an exit.

Tracca was at the top of his game and had another 50m set shot (he doesn’t get too many closer to goal) after the siren. It veered to the left but chipped another point off the Pies’ lead; now a very manageable eight.

Q3 – finally kicking goals as well as points

Melbourne continued to deny the Pies their preferred game, limiting their chances to break into open space and take off goalward. We were also successfully getting the ball inside 50.

We had a few chances early on, then Joel Smith took a brilliant, contested mark 20m from goal. His accurate set shot doubled his career goal tally, and the margin shrank to one point.

Less than a minute later, the Demons had back-to-back goals when Bailey Fritsch collected the bouncing ball, before quickly turning and kicking from a tight angle to give Melbourne the lead. 

The Dees were in the driver’s seat, tackling and winning the ball, defending brilliantly as well as kicking and marking efficiently. The momentum was all going Melbourne’s way.

When Brodie Grundy marked 40m out, he had his second chance of the day to kick a goal against his old side. The Collingwood fans were booing at the top of their lungs, which is ironic considering Grundy never wanted to leave the club and was forced out. Still, it must have been sweetest feeling for the Ruck when his shot sailed through, giving the Dees a two-goal advantage.

I spent a few minutes looking at Beau McCreery’s goal. It was so close, but it sadly appears that he got his boot to it while the ball was still on the line.

Immediately after the bounce, the Pies threw everything at Melbourne’s defence, desperate to even the score before the break, but it stayed 47-41 at three quarter time.

Q4 – On top but is it enough in the last minute?

The Demons have won most of their fourth quarters this season. However Collingwood has won ten of their last thirteen games while trailing at three quarter time. Now there’s a statistic to chill the blood of most confident opponent. Melbourne would require all their mental strength to avoid capitulating at the final hurdle.

When Patrick Lipinski received a handball 25m in front and kicked a goal, Dees’ fans felt their anxiety levels go up a notch.

Then Melbourne missed two in a row, making it 4-9 from set shots for the game and adding to the already heightened tension. When Fritsch made it 10-4, smelling salts were being administered by concerned family members.

Collingwood players were also feeling the pressure as the Dees continued to deny them another goal.

Then a long high kick from Kozzie Pickett was marked three metres to the left of the goal square by Alex Neal-Bullen. When the Midfielder kicked around the corner to score, it was like releasing a pressure valve that was just about to blow.

Jacob van Rooyen added another layer to the buffer when he took an inside 50 mark from a perfectly place Viney kick that sailed fifty plus metres from the centre of the ground. The set shot from 35m swung to the right but floated back beautifully to stretch the lead out to sixteen points.

With less than five minutes to go and nineteen points ahead, Melbourne fans still had the champagne corks firmly lodged in the bottles. Collingwood only needed one goal to fire them up again. The entire MCG thought it would happen when Will Hoskin-Elliott marked 30m in front, but he kicked it wide. Then he had a second look at it but kicked wide again.

When Brody Mihocek was awarded a dubious 50m free kick, then missed, we almost felt safe with a sixteen-point advantage and only ninety seconds remaining on the clock. Anyone else but the Pies, and we would have been celebrating. Then with eighty seconds to go, Mihocek marked and converted. 

Melbourne won the subsequent hitout with fifty-five seconds to go but Collingwood managed to get hold of the ball and dashed towards goal.

There was a desperate clash of bodies chasing the sherrin only twenty metres from home. Then a stoppage and Nick Daicos had the ball. He ran, turned and snapped, reducing the margin to four points.

With twenty-six seconds left, the final centre bounce was up there with the most important moments in Melbourne’s history. Both sides surged and there was another ball up. This time Jack Viney got a touch to the tapped down ball before managing to connect with his boot and it was heading towards the Dees’ goal. By the time the sole Collingwood player got a touch, it was too far away, and with too little time left on the clock to matter.

It was a victory for the ages and one that won’t be forgotten by Melbourne fans. The Dees have shown that we are serious contenders. We still have to address aspects of our game, notably our accuracy in front of goal but we are in this competition.

Next – Geelong at Subsidy Stadium (ok, GMHBA)

Commentator Jason Dunstall made an interesting observation about practising the right things when it comes to goal kicking and not reinforcing bad habits. I suspect that the above the shoulder game has been having a greater impact on the Dees’ set shot precision in recent times. As Henry Ford said, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right”.

Geelong may be struggling but they are notoriously difficult to beat at home and they still have two Coleman contenders in their ranks. Simon Goodwin is taking the squad down a day earlier to get the lads used to the idiosyncrasies of the GMHBA ground and that should help. Our biggest hurdle though may be having beaten the Premiership favourites, we let our guard down against the unfancied Premiership holders.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!