Saints Deny Demons At Death – Round 15 – St Kilda Vs Melbourne
Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Two points! I’ve tried to be Zen about the game but that result would have had Bodhidharma himself putting his boot through the Telly. I wrote a few weeks ago that the difference this season was that we were winning the games we were expected to win. I can’t explain why we played the way we did today or why we were surprised that St Kilda fought so determinedly for the win. I’ve always had a niggling feeling that the Dees are guilty of underestimating some teams. We’ve lost six games this season and there were three games where we scrambled against opponents that on paper we had a very good chance of beating. We were flogged by Hawthorn and made to look very ordinary against Collingwood. Today we didn’t defend well enough and let St Kilda believe they could win.
There were definite positives about the way we played today though. Bayley Fritsch is going to be a star; Jesse Hogan has rediscovered how to score goals and I thought Christian Petracca arguably played one of his best game this year. Gawny again showed why he is the best ruckman in the league.
Having said that we face an uphill battle now to play finals in September. In the last eight games we play Geelong, Sydney and West Coast, as well as resurgent teams GWS and Adelaide, not to mention the Bulldogs. Realistically we need to win five of those eight games. Not a happy thought. This Melbourne team needs to experience finals no matter if they succeed or fail at the first hurdle. Either way it would set them up to really shine in 2019. I’m not writing off the Dees yet and if we can get a good result against Fremantle on Saturday and the Doggies the following week then the fans will start to really believe.
Our stats today were alright except for disposals, kicks and handballs. We had some good moments and the first and final quarters were impressive enough; especially when Jack Viney lifted his game. However, the Saints had more uncontested possessions in the third and dominated inside 50s in the second. I’m sure young Simon had a few choice words to impart at the end of those quarters; especially to Clayton Oliver over his inexplicable tackle giving away a penalty with seconds to go before half-time. That must have given the Saints a boost.
I wasn’t sure about Tom McDonald playing today either. When your best goal kicker is coughing up blood in the previous game then maybe a week’s rest is in order. Anyway, let’s go to the Top End next week and show the skeptics why they shouldn’t write us off just yet.
MELBOURNE 4.2 9.3 11.6 18.9 (117)
ST KILDA 4.3 11.6 14.10 18.11 (119)
GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 4, Harmes 3, Hogan 3, Brayshaw 2, Petracca, Tyson, T.McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Melksham, Lewis
St Kilda: Gresham 4, Membrey 4, McCartin 2, Savage, Steele, Clark, Newnes, Armitage, Billings, Battle, Steven
I thought long and hard about what to write in this weeks’ review.
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
I could write about how on early Sunday morning I had to turn the lights on at the pub as for some unknown reason Australia + didn’t show the game but you don’t want to read about that.
I could also write about how I turned up exuding extreme confidence which only grew after we shot out to a 19 to zero lead but I guess you also don’t want to read about that.
I might write about how alarming our defensive pressure was on Sunday or how easy of late it seems for opposition teams to score against us or how our turnovers are so very costly but I know you have read enough about that.
I thought about writing about some of the umpiring decisions and how our club has been slammed in the media post game across many facets from selection decisions to effort on game day but again you have read all about that all over social media.
I then could write about how there was daylight between Gawn and any other Dees player on Sunday but I know you already know that.
Finally I thought I could then just write about how once again we let a game we all know we should have won slip through our fingers and really only have ourselves to blame if we miss the 8 this year but I know you definitely don’t want to read about that.
So what I will write about is the game on Saturday night. We are back up north in our ‘home’ game this time against the Dockers. I can see this going very similar to the Crows game in Alice a few weeks ago. The Dockers have a few key injuries and the boys have a very strong point to prove and the Mighty Dees will win…..Now I know you all want to read about that!
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 15)
Gawn 5
Viney 4
Fritsch 3
Brayshaw 2
Harmes 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 31
Hogan 27
Gawn 23
Brayshaw 20
Jones 17
Melksham 14
Petracca 12
T.MacDonald 11
Viney 10
Salem 7
Lever 6
Jetta 6
Fritsch 6
Garlett 5
Harmes 4
Hibberd 4
Hannan 3
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 15)
Viney 5
Fritsch 4
Brayshaw 3
Harmes 2
Oliver 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 41
Hogan 33
Brayshaw 25
Fritsch 19
Petracca 15
Salem 15
Viney 14
Tyson 11
Lever 10
Harmes 10
Neal Bullen 7
Hannan 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
Not much change in both awards as Oliver continues to hold his lead in both.
Keep the faith and Go Dees!!!
You could probably count on 1 finger how many teams have lost when they have 29 more inside 50s, 19 more contested possessions and 16 more clearances. Yet on the big stage on a Friday night the Dees were behind on the only stat that really matters as we went down to the Power by 10 points.
It was a major disappointment that still irks me! How on earth did we lose that!?
A couple of decisions that didn’t go our way and late injuries to MacDonald and Jetta certainly didn’t help our cause. The one positive that can be taken away is that I promise you if we bring that level of intensity each week we will not lose many games. Our ferocity at the contest was as high as I have seen all season and the boys certainly played like the had a point to prove after our last game performance.
Viney was fantastic and lead from the front all night with 20 hard earned contested possessions, not to be outdone his fellow co captain Jones was great as was Oliver, Brayshaw and Jetta. Finally MacDonald continued his great form with 3 goals but overall it really was a game that we let slip away and now see us at the bottom half of the 8.
We have the Saints again this Sunday in what really is a must win game. I can’t see us losing – especially if we continue with that level of intensity shown on Friday. The Dees will and will win easily.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 13)
Viney 5
Brayshaw 4
Oliver 3
Jones 2
Jetta 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 31
Hogan 27
Gawn 18
Brayshaw 18
Jones 17
Melksham 14
Petracca 12
T.MacDonald 11
Salem 7
Lever 6
Jetta 6
Viney 6
Garlett 5
Hibberd 4
Harmes 4
Hannan 3
Fritsch 3
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 13)
Viney 5
Brayshaw 4
Oliver 3
Harmes 2
Tyson 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 40
Hogan 33
Brayshaw 22
Petracca 15
Salem 15
Fritsch 15
Tyson 11
Lever 10
Viney 9
Harmes 8
Neal Bullen 7
Hannan 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
Oliver now is taking a strangehold on both awards and extends his leads.
Go Dees!!
As a relatively new Demons fan, I’ve only known seasons where we’ve failed to make the finals. This year I believe will be different.
Round 14 – Port Adelaide Vs Melbourne
Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Taking on Port Adelaide at their home ground, especially when they are on the ascendancy, was never going to be easy. After the defeat against Collingwood two weeks ago the Dees needed to bounce back and secure a win. For the majority of the game that seemed a distinct possibility. Then that last all important quarter, was once again, where Melbourne struggled to meet expectations.
As a relatively new Demons fan, I’ve only known seasons where we’ve failed to make the finals. This year I believe will be different. We’ve beaten the teams we were expected to beat and we’ve fought valiantly against teams that have tested us. We were pipped at the post against Geelong. We kept pace with Richmond until the last quarter and were ahead of Port Adelaide until the final ten minutes. We can honestly say we didn’t play our best against either Hawthorn or Collingwood and much as I hate to say it, we didn’t deserve to win either game.
We have a great team of players. However, I don’t think we yet have the sense of belief and overall confidence that a side like Richmond, Sydney or Geelong possesses. I think that will happen and Melbourne has improved every season over the last five years. We have potential superstars in Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald, Christian Petracca, Jake Lever, Max Gawn as well as the brilliant Neville Jetta, Angus Brayshaw, Jake Melksham, Clayton Oliver, the list goes on. They’re doing a lot of the right things on the field. Our players are brave, crazy brave in the case of Neville Jetta and Tom McDonald with Nathan Jones throwing himself at the opposition with regular intensity. We have the talent, the determination; we play well as a team.
Why do we struggle against the top sides? When does a team suddenly click? With Richmond it was last season after failing to make the top eight in 2016 when their 2015 performance suggested they should be contenders. Melbourne need that connection when it’s all about the team’s success. Maybe it will happen this year and I really hope it does because of one man. Nathan Jones has stuck with the Demons through all the humiliations and write offs from commentators. He deserves the team he knows Melbourne can be.
The Dees were superior when it came to disposals, inside 50s, clearances, handballs and contested possessions. On the flip side, Port had more marks in 50 and interestingly more free kicks. I’m not going to go through each quarter as we all know the Dees dominated only to be denied at the final hurdle. It comes down to who scored the most goals. The Power were intense in their pressure and we suffered some nasty injuries. Let’s hope that all affected players recover well and are able to compete fully for the rest of the season.
We’ll keep learning from our experiences and will give it our all against the Saints next week. As always, we need to bring our best game to every encounter; just because St Kilda are struggling this year doesn’t make them any less of a threat.
Go the Mighty Dees!
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 4.6 8.7 11.9 (75)
MELBOURNE 3.5 4.8 9.9 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 2, R.Gray 2, Westhoff 2, Wingard, Boak, Dixon, Thomas, S.Gray
Melbourne: T.McDonald 3, Hannan 2, Petracca, Smith, Melksham, Salem
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
Collingwood! The place as a 5 year old I heard swear words for the first time in the outer at Victoria Park. Collingwood! They have the most one eyed supporters I know and growing up in the edge of a Collingwood zoned area I know a few of them! Collingwood! I have had 3 dislocated hips of late and that hurts but it is nothing compared to the pain of losing to Collingwood!
I had supporters that I haven’t seen or spoken to for over 20 years contact me after the game just to rub it in! I hate Collingwood!
On the big stage, with an enormous crowd the boys just couldn’t get it done. It was a disappointing effort and we really didn’t get a look in. Our opposition completely nullified our strengths this year – especially in contested possession and trust Collingwood to play their best game of the season against us. I was gutted on Monday, as I am sure all readers were.
TMac was the standout for us, 6 goals in a losing effort was fantastic, Oliver as usual got plenty of the pill (31 times), Fritsch was great and our co-captains were also servicable in what really was a day I hope to forget.
We are on a different big stage this week. Friday night against the Power. Another massive game with both sides eyeing off a place in the top 4. We have played well against them of late and we will bounce back. Dees to win and store the last game far back in the recesses of our memory.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 12)
T Macdonald 5
Oliver 4
Fritsch 3
Jones 2
Viney 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 28
Hogan 27
Gawn 18
Jones 15
Brayshaw 14
Melksham 14
Petracca 14
T.MacDonald 12
Salem 11
Lever 7
Garlett 6
Jetta 5
Hibberd 5
Harmes 4
Hannan 4
Fritsch 3
Bugg 3
Neal Bullen 1
O.MacDonald 1
Viney 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 12)
Oliver 4
Fritsch 3
Viney 3
Smith 2
Salem 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 37
Hogan 33
Brayshaw 18
Petracca 15
Salem 15
Fritsch 15
Tyson 10
Lever 10
Neal Bullen 7
Harmes 6
Hannan 4
Viney 4
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
An uncharacteristic quiet day by Hogan has seen Oliver take the lead in both awards.
Go Dees!!
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