Round 22 – Melbourne V Port Adelaide

Liam Chambers

Melbourne back to their best

The last time we played Port was Round 3 at the Adelaide Oval. The Power had two wins under their belt and home advantage, but we managed to prevail on that occasion. Now our rivals were eyeing off a top two position, and we were fighting to salvage our footy season.

From the opening siren, both sides were feeling the pressure, but for different reasons. It appeared that the accuracy suffered as a result. Shots were off target at both ends, though Melbourne was playing a better structured team game than in some of their more recent outings.

It took to the halfway mark for the first goal to be scored and thankfully it was Bailey Fritsch who claimed the honours when he drilled the ball from 45m. After the goal, the Dees upped the pressure and scored again within two minutes when Ed Langdon snapped from 30m to stretch the advantage to eleven points. Alex Neal Bullen almost made it three in a row but was denied by the post.

Melbourne was playing some of their best football in a long time and dominating Port Adelaide, but the visitors eventually scored their first goal when Jason Horne-Francis got behind our defence and marked 10m in front.

Then Port drew level with the Dees when Darcy Byrne-Jones dribbled the ball in from 30m and watched it cross the line.

The Dees keep up the pressure

After an impressive first term, Melbourne seem to relax early in the second and allow the Power to take back some of the momentum. Jason Horne-Francis was able to mark in the pocket and kick an around the corner set shot, giving his side an eight point lead.

One Demon who never relaxes is Jack Viney, and his determination to win the ball set up Melbourne’s next goal, after he twisted and turned through Port’s players, before getting the ball to Jacob van Rooyen. The key forward immediately kicked the sherrin towards goal where Kysaiah Pickett’s pressure was rewarded with a free kick from the boundary line. The resultant goal took the Dees to within three points of their rivals.

Kozzie made it a three point lead when he marked on the edge of the square, then converted the set shot.

A quarter of swings and roundabouts

After the main break, it was more of the same from the Demons, with Kozzie securing his third in a low scoring game. His inside 50 mark, after Melbourne had transitioned from half back, was well taken, as was his 45m set shot.

The Dees were doing practically everything right but when there was a slip up, Port pounced immediately to take full advantage. One such lack of concentration gave Charlie Dixon the opportunity to take a contested mark 30m from goal. It was back to three points.

Despite Port Adelaide’s intense pressure, Melbourne was able to hold off the onslaught, thanks in no small part to Max Gawn’s brilliant defence work.

Then up the other end we found a way through the Power’s back line, where Alex Neal-Bullen was able to take the mark. His 40m set shot was on target and we were back in business.

With five minutes to go in the term, Zac Butters got away from the pack and sprinted towards inside 50, before launching from 48m and bouncing the ball onto the goal line to again reduce the margin to three points.

Agonisingly close but the Dees bow out of contention

With only three points still separating the teams at the start of the final quarter, a goal would be a significant psychological boost for the side that scored first. Unfortunately Charlie Dixon chose the opening minute to take a contested mark directly in front and then went back to slot the 20m set shot.

With so much at stake, the back line at both ends was working overtime to prevent another goal. Understandably, passions were running high and mistakes were made but still the margin was a wafer thin three points in Port’s favour.

Then the lead flipped again when Kozzie kicked his fourth of the night after he chased down the ball inside 50 and hammered it into the stands. Melbourne had a couple of opportunities to push the margin out to a three goals but were unable to make them count.

When Quintin Narkle took a contested mark in the pocket, he evened the score with his 20m set shot. With only five minutes to go, a point or two from either side would be enough to win the game.

Sadly, the Dees were continually denied access to their forward 50 by Port and a couple of minor scores for the visitors was all that was needed to land the game and the four points.

It appears our season is officially over. There are only two games left, and we would have to win each game by fifty plus points and the four teams vying for the seventh and eight spots would have to completely implode. A win in each of our last games would still be good though; especially against the Pies.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!