Round 18 – Melbourne v Essendon

Demons Back In Contention

Liam Chambers

Melbourne show no fear

If the Dees were nervous about taking on a top four side, it certainly didn’t show in the first minute, as they laid siege to the Bombers defence. They claimed the first goal via a Bailey Fritsch collect and snap from 25m in front.

Essendon got on the scoreboard when Kyle Langford was presented with a gift wrapped 50m penalty after Kysaiah Pickett imperceptibly stepped off the mark. The 20m set shot was an easy conversion. The Bombers quickly followed up with a second courtesy of Sam Durham, when the Midfielder marked on the 50m arc, then slotted the set shot.

With Max Gawn out injured, Harrison Petty was the substitute Ruck in the first term, allowing Sam Draper seemingly effortless access the ball. Draper, along with Ben McKay, was also proving formidable in defence, marking with ease. The Dons had another goal after Xavier Duursma marked in front of goal and kicked the 30m set shot.

Trailing by twelve points, Melbourne kept their cool and refused to be intimidated by Essendon’s dominance in marking and possession.

The Dees eventually started to turn the momentum when Daniel Turner ran out to meet the ball just inside 50. His brilliant 50 plus set shot sailed over the heads of the Bombers defence to claw back the margin to seven. Then with just thirty seconds remaining, Kozzie Pickett took advantage of a Melbourne free kick to run on towards the square and snap to make it a one point game.

Dees set fire to the rain

Melbourne continued to improve after the break with Kade Chandler receiving the ball as he ran past the pack and dribbled in from just outside the goal square. The next goal came via some clever play by Pickett and Jake Melksham to get the ball to Caleb Windsor, allowing the young Midfielder to speed through and bounce the sherrin between the uprights.

The Demons were thriving in the wet conditions and with Jacob van Rooyen taking over Ruck duties, Essendon found themselves struggling to keep up.

The Bombers eventually arrested some of Melbourne’s momentum when Nic Martin snapped a goal from 30m.

Jake Melksham pumped up the fans again when he made up for his earlier miss hit by slotting an around the corner from the pocket and stretching the lead back out to fourteen points.

As the rain cleared, Essendon was better able to deal with the Dees pressure but failed to make inroads themselves before the half time siren.

Melbourne consolidate their lead

They waited until ten minutes into the term, but Melbourne’s first goal was beautifully orchestrated. It started with Kozzie ducking his way out of a tackle, then out manoeuvring another Bomber before pinpointing Melksham in the pocket; the veteran forward unselfishly passing to Ed Langdon as ran towards the square. The Winger then tapped it through to make it a three goal game.

Harrison Jones restored the lead back to two goals when he marked and went back to slot the 20m set shot.

Jake Melksham has been pivotal in the Dees last two matches with his vision and clever kicking. His foresight in spotting Daniel Turner just inside 50, then kicking to the space in front was brilliant. The Key Forward ran and marked the ball before running into the square and kicking into the open goal.

Final quarter a game of two halves

The last term started well for Essendon when Nic Martin was taken high in the pocket. He made sure of the set shot to reign back Melbourne’s lead to eleven points.

Despite the early goal for their opponents, the Dees kept up the pressure and it paid off when Kozzie cleverly bounced the ball back to Melksham just outside the 50m arc. Jake then launched from 52m and watched the ball bounce three times before crossing the line.

It was encouraging to watch the talented young players in our side, and the perfectly place kick from Caleb Windsor that picked out Pickett 30m from goal was very satisfying. Then Kozzie’s conversion showed a growing maturity that we will hopefully continue to see for years to come. Then another young talent Daniel Turner ran out to meet the ball kicked by Jack Viney and also slotted the set shot perfectly.

Up the other end the Bombers were struggling to hit the target.

Bailey Fritsch made sure no one forget he is till the leading goal kicker for the Dees when he marked a kick from Trent Rivers, the calmly ran on to notch up his second of the night. Fritsch didn’t waste any time in claiming his hat trick after Melbourne won the centre bounce and Kozzie launched from outside to land the ball in the hands of the Magnet.

Of course Essendon haven’t reached and stayed in the top eight by just accepting being seven goals down with eight minutes to play so they continued to be a danger to the Demons.

They got one back when Nic Martin was awarded a free kick in the pocket he took advantage of his opportunity to kick his third of the match. Then Kyle Langford controlled the falling ball and turned quickly to snap another for the Bombers. It was three in a row for Essendon when Xavier Duursma marked in front of goal and went back to kick the 25m set shot.

By now there was more than a few nervous fans watching live and those watching from their uncomfortable arm chairs. There was three minutes to go when Nic Martin took a mark inside 50. His 45m set shot was true and there was still hope for an upset.

Melbourne rose to the challenge though and there was to be no more goals on the night.

Next is another trip to Perth and all the partisanship that WA crowds bring. If we can win there, then September may well be a reality for the Demons.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 17 – Melbourne V West Coast

Liam Chambers

Dees Back To Their Winning Ways

Rampaging opening quarter for Melbourne

After Round 10’s surprise loss to West Coast, the Dees would be mindful of their opponents potential to cause another upset. Last week’s hard fought performance against Brisbane and the return of Jake Melksham this week would surely boost confidence inside the Demons’ camp.

Melbourne were out of the blocks quickly, chasing an early goal. They got it when Koltyn Tholstrup marked inside 50, then back to kick the 50m set shot. It was the young player’s first goal in four games as a Dee and opened the scoring for the hosts. Having kicked his first, Tholstrup liked it so much he decided to do it again. This time he collected the loose ball and launched a 30m shot that sailed straight through the uprights.

Jake Waterman kicked West Coasts’ first when he marked in the left pocket, then kicked around the corner to make sure of the goal.

Majors for Bailey Fritsch have been thin on the ground in recent weeks, but he’s still the leading goal scorer for Melbourne and he added to his tally after spinning out of a tackle and snapping from the pocket to open his account for the afternoon.

Another Demon rediscovering his mojo is Jacob van Rooyen. When he marked the ball inside 50, he calmly went back and kicked from just inside the arc, guiding the sherrin safely over the line.

Caleb Windsor is a dead set footy opportunist and didn’t hesitate after he gathered the ground ball just inside the boundary line; he saw the path to goal was clear and he went for it. Speaking of opportunists, Kysaiah Pickett was straight onto to the loose ball 40m out from goal, getting a boot to it while simultaneously being tackled, and it was another six points for Melbourne.

Leading by thirty two, Dees’ fans would have been delighted with their side’s free flowing football and clinical execution.

Kozzie had a second when he found himself totally alone thirty metres from goal, and obligingly accepted Jake Melksham’s perfectly placed kick. The ensuing set shot was flawless, also bringing up his 150th AFL goal, in the process.

West Coast regain some momentum but unable to steady the ship

The Eagles were able to prevent the Dees from scoring in the opening ten minutes of the second term but eventually they succumbed to the continuing high pressure game on their defence.

Melbourne again got the ball inside 50 where Max Gawn took it to ground with Kozzie once again pouncing; this time passing to two players near the goal square. The kick didn’t quite connect but West Coast’s defence fumbled and van Rooyen collected on the bounce before tapping it across the line.

The Eagles finally started to make gains when Oscar Allen took a contested mark directly in front and converted for his first of the match. After the goal, West Coast were inspired and started to put more pressure on Melbourne’s defence. A couple of almost goals went a begging but eventually Oscar Allen had his second when he marked in the pocket, right next to the boundary line. The kick off the outside of the boot negotiated the angle nicely and the margin was back to thirty points.

It was short lived however, as van Rooyen took another contested mark just inside 50. What should have been a difficult shot for the young gun was turned into a sure thing when Alex Witherden was penalised for Umpire dissent.

With three minutes on the clock, Daniel Turner was given plenty of space to take an uncontested mark in the pocket, then slotted his set shot with millimetres to spare. Then as the seconds ticked down to half time, van Rooyen took another inside 50 mark and kicked a career equalling fourth goal for the game.

Even Steven quarter keeps the Eagles’ hopes alive

With a very comfortable buffer of forty nine points, Melbourne started the second half in the driver’s seat. However the spectre of Round 15’s thirty nine point lead being whittled down to a very narrow win of three points still lingers in the minds of players and fans alike. Also, we desperately need to build on our percentage as the business end of a very tight season looms.

Oscar Allen opened the scoring with a carbon copy of van Rooyen’s closing goal of the first half. Jake Waterman followed up by taking a contested mark on the edge of the square and went back to kick an easy goal.

With the margin now down to thirty six, the Dees needed the next goal to settle fans’ jitters. Luckily, West Coast made it easy for them by leaving Fritsch all alone at the top of the goal square. The mark and his 15m set shot was a straightforward task for the sharp shooter.

When Kozzie took a potential mark of the year in the pocket, his hat trick looked a certainty. Unfortunately the shot was touched on the goal line, but his showmanship was appreciated by all.
Jake Melksham showed he has lost none of his tactical nous when he used his body cleverly to take a contested mark in the pocket. His 20m around the corner set shot was spot on and stretched the lead back out to the half time number.

By now the Dees were looking very comfortable in their skins and when Max Gawn took a mark 25m directly in front, even hard core sceptics believed the Captain wouldn’t spray the straightforward shot. The big Ruckman can hit 60m shots with ease but his record from short distances is mixed. This time the connection with the boot was perfect and it was three in a row for Melbourne.

The Dees had some more chances to extend their lead further, but it wasn’t to be. Then on the cusp of three quarter time, Jack Darling took a contested mark and slotted the 20m set shot.
With 3.4 apiece, the term was an equal affair, but it would take an effort of monumental proportions for the Eagles to win it and an unprecedented meltdown for Melbourne to lose in the final quarter.

Melbourne bring it home

Once Jake Melksham marked beside the goal square and ran around to snap it through, the game was in the bag for the Demons.

Ed Langdon took Melbourne’s total score to over one hundred (for only the third time this season) when he hammered home his set shot.

Oscar Allen salvaged something for his team when he kicked his fourth goal of the game after marking and making sure of the 20m set shot. Liam Ryan added another after he was awarded a free kick in the square, following a down field incident.

Finally Bailey Fritsch claimed his hat trick after missing the initial mark but recovering and running on to tap it in from the goal square.

The win against West Coast was much needed but victory over serious contenders Essendon would be even more significant and get the faithful really believing again.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 16 – Brisbane V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Demons look to have recovered some form but struggle to convert

After four losses from the last six games; the only wins coming against bottom four sides, questions were being asked about Melbourne’s chances of playing finals this year.

Brisbane are a side on the up and up after a slow start to 2024 and well placed for a top eight finish. Though not quite the impenetrable fortress of previous seasons, the Gabba is still a daunting prospect for Brisbane’s opponents.

No surprise then that the opening goal went the way of the Lions when Cam Rayner jumped to mark the ball 15m from home. No surprise either that Charlie Cameron got his name up in lights early when he also took a contested mark inside 50. His 50m set shot was also accurate. Could have done without the John Denver follow up though.

When Kysaiah Pickett is playing well he can be a game changer and after he tackled Harris Andrews he was rewarded with a free kick. His set shot from 20m was spot on and the Dees had their first.

After some lackluster performances recently, fans would have been delighted to see their team taking the game to Brisbane. Melbourne also welcomed back Jake Lever after a long stint on the sidelines and the defence was dealing well with some mighty Lions’ pressure.

Unfortunately, a piece of impressive play from the back half saw Brisbane transition the ball through the corridor and inside 50, where Charlie Cameron was waiting to scoop it up and snap his second. Despite an even contest on paper, the hosts were ahead by fourteen points when the quarter time siren sounded.

Melbourne party like it’s 2021

While Melbourne performed well in the first term, they were unable to get the points on the board to reflect that effort.

The second quarter started well though when Jacob van Rooyen took a contested mark near the square, after an impressive transition up the ground. The 15m set shot sailed through smoothly to reduce the gap to eight points.

It didn’t take long for Eric Hipwood to extend it out again when he collected the ground ball and snapped from 20m.

Van Rooyen was having a good night though, and he was given plenty of room to run and jump at the incoming ball, courtesy of a Jack Viney kick from outside 50. The subsequent 35m set shot from deep in the pocket was on target. Kozzie Pickett also had his second when his around the corner set shot from 30m also found the mark.

Melbourne kicked their fourth of the quarter and took the lead when Bailey Fritsch got his right boot to the footy and snapped from 30m.

The Dees had turned the clock back and were raising the desperation stakes, pressuring Brisbane and hungrily chasing every loose ball, unwilling to give their opponents any leeway. Kade Chandlers typified the Demon approach on the night when he grabbed the ball after van Rooyen was unable to complete the mark. His run on and dribble into the goal square bounced perfectly across the line.

Kozzie took another inside 50 mark and went back to kick his third; this one from the 50m arc. The Dees weren’t just hungry, they were ravenous as they continued to attack the Lions, showing no mercy and forcing them into uncharacteristic errors. In fact Melbourne was playing so well, they were making their own luck, and everything was falling their way.

When Clayton Oliver took an intercept mark, he was awarded a 50m penalty after Zac Bailey moved off his spot. However, the Umpire short changed Oliver, only allowing 40m at most but the Midfielder kicked the goal anyway, putting his side twenty one points in front.

Joe Daniher arrested the one way traffic flow when he took a mark deep in the pocket and converted the set shot.

It was redirected back in favour of the Demons, after Pickett grabbed the falling ball and ran around to snap from 35m in front, claiming his fourth of the night.

The Lions roar back into contention

After the break, Melbourne needed to consolidate their lead, but the Lions were not going to make it easy for them, especially in front of a Gabba audience.

The first goal went Brisbane’s way when Joe Daniher found himself unguarded inside 50, as a result of a mystifying refereeing decision. Having dropped the mark and slipping while getting up, he still managed to tap the ball towards goal, where it dribbled across the line. At the other end, Steven May made his feelings clear to the Umpire about the injustice of awarding a free to the Lions after he had taken a legitimate mark, but to no avail.

Brisbane looked to take advantage of a brief change in momentum to add to their goal tally. Fortunately though the Dees were unfazed and took the ball back into the Lions’ defensive 50, where Daniel Turner marked and converted from 25m.

After the goal, Melbourne needed to hammer home their advantage, but a series of scoring opportunities went astray, allowing Brisbane to stay in touch.

Then with just over five minutes left in the quarter, Cam Rayner was able to soccer the loose ball centimeters from the goal line to reduce the margin to sixteen points. A few minutes later and Callum Ah Chee took a mark directly in front before running on and making it a ten point game.

Having conceded two goals in a row, the Dees were in desperate need of a boost before three quarter time.  Proving that boost was one Kysaiah Pickett who fought for the ball just inside 50, then snapped from 40m to notch up his fifth of the night.

Melbourne falls agonisingly short

Both sides were guilty of inaccuracy in front of goal, but the tide appeared to be turning in Brisbane’s favour as the final quarter progressed. Still, the minor scores kept racking up until finally Jarrod Berry kicked a running goal from 40m to reign in Melbourne’s lead to just seven points.

Then with four minutes left, Kai Lohmann kicked an around the corner set shot to make it a one point game and put all the pressure back on the Dees. Then a heartbreaking penalty on the inside 50 boundary saw Hugh McCluggage kick an admittedly great shot to give Brisbane a one goal lead.

Melbourne couldn’t regain the ascendancy in the remaining time, allowing the Lions to claim a last minute victory. 

It was such a shame that we played so bravely and ferociously, only to miss out at the final hurdle.

Next week is a re run of Round 10, but this time we play West Coast at the MCG. It goes without saying that it’s a must win game.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 15 – Melbourne V North Melbourne

Liam Chambers

The Demons out of the blocks and charging

Having lost four of our last five games, fans sat down to watch Round 15’s contest against North Melbourne with a sense of trepidation. Although the Roos are currently cellar dwellers, their form has noticeably improved in recent weeks.

We needed an early confidence boosting statement to settle the doubts that come with being in a slump. That statement came from game changer Kysaiah Pickett; the small forward snapping from 20m in front of goal.

Two minutes later, Harry Sheezel opened the scoring from North chipping the ball through from the edge of the square.

Tom McDonald was reliving his former footy life as a forward when he launched from the 50m arc and watched his effort sail through the uprights.  It feels like the ball is in safe hands when Daniel Turner takes a contested mark. This time he didn’t miss with his 25m set shot in front of goal.

Kade Chandler was successful from a similar position when he took advantage of a high tackle to play on and snap Melbourne’s fourth of the quarter. The Dees won the centre clearance and headed straight back to goal, where Harrison Petty ran out to take the mark. His subsequent set shot split the middle and extended his side’s lead to twenty four points.

Roos start to reclaim some momentum

After the first quarter goal fest, both sides struggled to hit the target in term two. There were near misses and almost theres, but it wasn’t until the fifteenth minute when Cameron Zurhaar ran in from the side of the pack near goal and stole the mark, that the first major was recorded. His 30m set shot went through and cut the margin to seventeen points.

Trent Rivers hasn’t scored all season but his effort, three minutes from half time, was a thing of beauty. After collecting the ground ball, he ran around the Roos before launching from 50m to score Melbourne’s first of the term.

When Harry Sheezel was tackled just inside 50, the umpire called play on inside of ruling against the defender for incorrect disposal. Then North got the ball back towards goal where Jy Simpkin took an uncontested mark. He then cleanly kicked the set shot.

Melbourne reassert their authority

North had come back strongly in the second quarter and the Dees needed to respond in kind to prevent their opponents from gaining any further traction after half time.

The opening goal was well executed with Kozzie Pickett tearing through the corridor before launching the ball inside 50 where Daniel Turner ran across to take the mark. He then converted to push Melbourne’s lead back out to twenty one points.

The Roos replied quickly with an end to end run through the middle culminating in Luke Davies-Uniacke’s running kick from 35m.

As the quarter proceeded and despite the best efforts of both sides, the margin remained stubbornly at fifteen points.

Then at the twenty minute mark of the term, Alex Neal-Bullen took a mark 35m to the left of goal and converted to give the Demons some breathing space. When Tom Sparrow was awarded a free kick for being held, he made sure that his 20m set shot found the target and Melbourne had a twenty seven point buffer.

After Jack Viney pounded a long ball deep inside 50, Jacob van Rooyen leapt high to take the mark, before going back and slotting the set shot. Even Max Gawn was getting in on the scoring act, after he took an uncontested mark at the top of the goal square.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though and when Cameron Zurhaar took an inside 50 running mark, he kicked his second of the game.

North Melbourne launch nail biting comeback

Zurhaar started the fourth quarter the same way he finished the third, by slotting another set shot. The Roos cut the margin to twenty seven points, and by doing so, planted some seeds of doubt in the minds of the Demon faithful.

Those seeds began to germinate and take root when Eddie Ford feigned a hand pass, forcing Caleb Windsor off his mark, thus allowing the North Melbourne forward to claim a 50m penalty. The 25m set shot sailed through and the deficit was cut to twenty one.

Harry Sheezel made it a fifteen point contest when he took a contested mark in the pocket and kicked an around the corner to notched up his second of the night. Eddie Ford also got his second when playing on to advantage after Zurhaar was fouled at the top of the goal square.

Now North only trailed by nine points with nine minutes to play and the Dees hadn’t yet managed a score of any kind in the quarter. In fact any time Melbourne look close to getting near goal, North would throw themselves into danger zone.

Then with just under four minutes remaining, Cameron Zurhaar kicked his fourth from a 40m running snap.

Somehow Melbourne hung on to win by three points but there will be questions asked how we managed to give up five goals without scoring a single point in return.

We travel to Brisbane for Round 16 and the Lions are in terrific form so the Dees will be considered the underdogs. We need to use that to our advantage.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 13 – Collingwood V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Even first quarter but Collingwood takes the honours

Melbourne know not to underestimate Collingwood during their Round 13 clash at the MCG and their first quarter performance gave fans hope that they could put their previous game against Fremantle well and truly behind them.

Though the Pies opened the scoring with a running inside 50 kick from Will Hoskin-Elliott, Melbourne looked compose and ready to take on their rivals. The next goal also went Collingwood’s way when Finlay Macrae tapped one in from just outside the square.

Not the ideal start for the Demons, but they showed some desperation in defence to hold off the Pies. Melbourne was handling Collingwood’s pressure well and had opportunities in front of goal but just failed to nail the big shots.

That changed when Kysaiah Pickett crumbed the ball from a tap down, then ran on, finding enough space to snap the ball into the goal square and across the line. Unfortunately, in the cruel blow, the score review ruled that the ball was touched, and the result was overturned.

The Dees continued to pressure Collingwood, but right before the siren and against the run of play, Nathan Kreuger marked directly in front and converted for his first ever AFL goal.

Melbourne claw back momentum but lose it late in the term

After play resumed in the second quarter, Melbourne seemed to have lost a little of their desperation, allowing Lachie Schultz to take an uncontested mark deep in the pocket. The small forward made the most of his opportunity, giving his side a twenty one point advantage.

With five minor points to their name, Melbourne finally bagged a major when Jacob van Rooyen took a brilliant contested mark, then went back to make sure with his 50m set shot. It was a much needed goal for the Dees, especially with Christian Petracca injured and uncertain to return to the field of play.

On the upside, van Rooyen took another contested mark to the left of goal and this time kicked around the corner to secure his second goal. Tracca returned to the ground, but it may have proved to be an unwise decision, as he looked to be in discomfort and unable to fully participate in the game.

Melbourne had clawed their way back into contention, with the gap only seven points. However, chances were still going begging and when Harvey Harrison took an uncontested mark in front of goal, the forward made sure to extend the Pies’ advantage. Nathan Kreuger kicked his second after taking a mark in the pocket and it looked like the Dees early momentum was starting to fade, as Collingwood pulled further away. Then right on the siren Hoskin-Elliott marked to the right of goal and the Pies went into the main break up by twenty seven points.

The Pies win another quarter despite Melbourne’s best efforts

It was the perfect start for Melbourne when van Rooyen made it three from three with his 30m set shot in the opening minute.

It was a short lived revival however, as the ball fell into Billy Frampton’s hands while he ran alongside the square and he instinctively snapped it over the goal line. When Darcy Cameron kicked a difficult set shot from deep in the pocket and watched it sail through the uprights, you just knew it was not going to be Melbourne’s day.

After being denied by a dodgy review earlier in the game, Kozzie Pickett didn’t leave any room for doubt with his around the corner kick from boundary line.

Melbourne rallied again after the goal, but the execution was letting them down. There were multiple chances to hurt the Pies, but the ball just couldn’t find a path through the uprights.
Collingwood appeared to be having all the luck as once again a wayward ball landed fortuitously for the hosts. This time Nick Daicos was on the receiving end and his 50m set shot sailed through.

It was the same result when Harvey Harrison marked just inside the 50m arc, before going back to kick his second of the day.

No fairytale ending

Trailing by thirty four points, the outlook was depressingly bleak for the Dees. Still hope springs eternal but if they were going to make a statement, they had to make it quickly.
Umpires are often accused of being inconsistence but Daniel Turner’s kick to Jake Bowey deemed not fifteen was a tad unfair. Bowey was left in no man’s land as he was immediately attacked on three fronts. Harvey Harrison had just enough time to get a kick away and his 30m shot sailed through.

Now thirty nine points behind, nothing seemed to be working; even hat trick hero van Rooyen had lost his Midas touch by the fourth quarter, sending his 45m set shot to the left of the post.
If Melbourne couldn’t catch a break, Collingwood couldn’t miss. Patrick Lipinski’s snap from the arc sailed over the defence and bounce across the goal line, extending the lead out to forty six points.

Pickett collected his second with a classy dribble from a tight angle to the left of goal, scoring the Demons’ first of the term. Bailey Fritsch clawed back another six points when he controlled the tapped down ball before running around to snap from 30m.

Just as Melbourne looked like they just might win the quarter, up popped Nathan Kreuger. He took a contested mark, then converted to score his hat trick.

All in all a disappoint result that capped off a month of disappointing results. With Christian Petracca not returning in 2024 and Jake Lever still a few weeks away from recovery, Melbourne’s season is in the doldrums.

We face North Melbourne in Round 15, which would have been a certain four points only a few weeks ago, but everything is starting to click for the Roos, just as the Demons’ year is heading south. Still, we’ve been in worse places, and we have enough time to salvage our season.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!