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!!!