T Mac Attacks but Dees Denied – Melbourne v Collingwood

Round 12 – Melbourne V Collingwood – T Mac Attacks but Dees Denied

Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour

It had to happen eventually. Why did it have to happen against Collingwood though? The main positive was the performance of Tom McDonald. Unfortunately, the Pies outplayed Melbourne for most of the game. We lost by 42 points but it could have been much worse. Half way through the last quarter we were staring down the barrel of a 70 plus rout. Plenty of time to reflect over the next couple of weeks. Simon may want to tweak his game plan a bit. I’m sure he’ll be watching the replay a few times before we take on Port in Round 14. Let’s not forget though that the fans raised a huge amount for Neale Daniher’s Big Freeze.

 

Mason Cox opened the scoring in what was an ominous sign of things to come. Mitch Hannan’s goal a minute later though seemed to indicate it would be a fairly even game. However, it was all the Pies for the next twenty minutes with Jaidyn Stephenson, Will Hoskin-Elliot, Mason Cox and Josh Thomas all scoring before T Mac got one back for the Dees.

 

With the scores at 12-35 at the start of the second quarter, Demon fans could have been forgiven for thinking that James Harmes’ goal was a turning point. This was enforced a minute later when Mitch Hannan repeated his feat from the first quarter. Melbourne seemed to be closing the gap rapidly but then Scott Pendlebury scored for the Pies and the margin was back out to seventeen points. However, the brilliant Bayley Fritsch then raised our spirits and when Alex Neal-Bullen scored in the fifteenth minute, there was much rejoicing as the margin was reduced to five points. Melbourne’s afternoon seemed to be a constant battle as Collingwood kicked two unanswered goals from Stephenson and Hoskins-Elliot. I have to admit I covered my eyes initially when Max Gawn marked the ball thirty metres from the Pies’ goal. Then I thought if he has the courage to kick this, I have the courage to look. Thankfully the big man kicked it true and steady. Unfortunately, as happened so many times today, Collingwood hit back almost immediately. This time it was Josh Thomas. The half time margin was slightly better for the Dees at nineteen points. Still plenty of time.

We needed a perfect start to the second half but it was the Magpies who scored first with another Mason Cox goal. Tom McDonald stepped up to score his second but yet again Collinwood hit back; this time via Josh Thomas, compounded a minute later with another Stephenson goal. The determined Jack Viney got one back for Melbourne just as Oscar McDonald went off injured. Even that goal scoring machine Jesse Hogan couldn’t save the day as he kicked a behind from a normally guaranteed goal. Again, it was Tom, scoring his third goal that gave us hope. Then the Pies hit back yet again. McDonald kicked his fourth only for Collingwood to kick another two (Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek) before the siren.

With the margin at thirty points Melbourne needed to do something special and quickly. It was not to be as behinds from Charlie Spargo and Angus Brayshaw were followed by another Pies’ goal from Mason Cox (didn’t he like the climate in the States?). Back to back goals from Taylor Adams stretched the Magpies’ lead and it looked like becoming very nasty for the Dees. Luckily Tom McDonald wasn’t finished and his fifth gave us hope we could lessen the impact in defeat. Goals from Treloar and Hoskins-Elliot then push the margin back out but Tom wouldn’t give up. He sixth goal was bittersweet and the inevitable reply goal from Stevenson was cancelled out by Clayton Oliver’s only goal of the day.

As Simon Goodwin said in the post-match interview, you’ve got to ignore the noise. All the commentators were saying he was out coached by Nathan Buckley and that may be true but remember how many of the same voices were calling for Buckley’s head last season. Stick with it Simon and we’ll come back stronger than ever against Port Adelaide.

MELBOURNE 2.0 7.2 11.5 14.7 (91)
COLLINGWOOD 5.5 9.9 15.11 20.13 (133)

GOALS
Melbourne: T. McDonald 6, Hannan 2, Harmes, Fritsch, Neal-Bullen, Gawn, Viney, Oliver
Collingwood: Cox 5, Hoskin-Elliott 4, Stephenson 4, Thomas 3, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Adams, Treloar

 

 

 

 

 

Jetta was a Jet

Big freeze suggestions – Little Goody Two Shoes or Adam Ant?

Dees down dogs

Round 11 – Western Bulldogs Vs Melbourne – Dees Down Dogs – This game had everything – Nathan Jones’ 250th game and Neville Jetta had his best game of this season. 

Liam Chambers – our corespondent in Coffs Harbour

This game had everything. All the players seemed determined to make Nathan Jones’ 250th game something special. The Doggies played hard and in the first quarter really took the fight to Melbourne. The Demons fought for every point and Neville Jetta had his best game of this season. If he doesn’t make the All Australian Team this year then there is no justice.

 

 

 

Apart from the high drama there was also the tragedy of Jake Lever’s potentially season ending injury. The Dees have great depth but will miss Lever’s outstanding contribution to Melbourne’s success so far in 2018.
Melbourne started off looking in ominous form marking well and looking like they were going to dominate the Dogs. Unfortunately WB had other ideas and Mitch Honeychurch kicked the opener followed by another two from Josh Schache and Marcus Bontempelli. The Doggies had Melbourne on the ropes and they struggled to get out of their inside 50. Things only got worse when Jake Lever limped off in the twentieth minute. Finally though the legend of Tom McDonald continued when he kicked his first of the day. However further bad news for the Dees when Jake Melksham injury was balanced with a beautiful captain’s goal from Nathan Jones. Scores at quarter time 21-13.

Melbourne started the second quarter with an Alex Neal-Bullen goal closely followed by T Mac’s second to put the Dees in front. A goal from Billy Gowers showed the Dogs still had plenty of spirit left but then Jesse decided it was time to add to his impressive scoring record this season. If he’s not careful he’ll end up top goal kicker for 2018. Tom McDonald might not be far behind as he slotted his third. Jesse Hogan kicked the last goal of the half to have Melbourne leading by sixteen points at 30-46.

Bontempelli got his second in the opening minute of the third quarter but Christine Petracca hit back with his only goal of the game. Another from Jesse was followed by one from Fritsch who has been one of the Dee’s best markers. Mitch Hannan again showed why you don’t give him an opener when he scored in the seventeenth minute. Jordan Roughead scored for the Dogs in what would be the last of the quarter. Scores 44-83.

Melbourne were comfortably ahead at the start of the last quarter but Hogan made it even more difficult for the Dogs with a goal in the third minute. Then it seemed like it would be a low scoring last twenty minutes before Tom McDonald got his fourth quickly followed by Angus Brayshaw (again playing brilliantly) before Jesse Hogan sealed it with his fifth. We won’t mention his behind after the siren except to say it clocked up another game of three figure points for the Dees.

We knew the Bulldogs game was going to be difficult and it was Melbourne’s toughest since we played Hawthorne in Round 4. Simon Goodwin can be justifiably proud of our lads though and it bodes well for the rest of the season. The Dees are still managing to fly under the radar a bit but more commentators are starting to take them seriously and a win against Collingwood next weekend will see expectations rise. The Pies are always a notoriously difficult game for the Dees and they will need to bring their very best performance to the MCG on the public holiday Monday to make sure we bury another hoodoo.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 4.6 6.8 7.9 (51)
MELBOURNE 2.1 7.4 11.7 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Honeychurch, Schache, Gowers, Roughead, Suckling
Melbourne: Hogan 5, T.McDonald 4, Jones, Neal-Bullen, Petracca, Fritsch, Hannan, Brayshaw

Something to Crow About – Melbourne v Adelaide

Round 10 – Melbourne Vs Adelaide -Something to Crow About – On  paper this was going to be a tough game but in the end, Melbourne made it look so easy.

Liam Chambers – our corespondent in Coffs Harbour

Another great display of skill and determination. The Dees are playing superbly as a team and their confidence is growing with every game. For the first half of the quarter, it seemed like every Melbourne player wanted to get on the score sheet. Adelaide looked stunned as Petracca, Melksham, Neal-Bullen, Hannan and Hogan all kicked goals before Eddie Betts finally got the Crow’s first.

Jesse got his second before Adelaide staged a mini comeback with unanswered goals from Gallucci and Douglas. Alex Neal-Bullen got another before the siren to give Melbourne their fifteenth consecutive winning quarter. Scores 36-19.

The goals continued for Melbourne with Tim Smith’s first for the Demons in the opening minute. Darcy Fogarty kicked one for Adelaide but Jesse Hogan was in fine form and kicked his second in the ninth minute. Even though the Crows upped their game they couldn’t manage to convert their advantage into goals and it was Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw who scored next followed by the inform Alex Neal-Bullen. Captain Nathan Jones got his only goal of the match just before the half time siren. Scores 74-26.

Adelaide’s Sam Gibson got the opener in the third quarter but the reprieve was only temporary as Tim Smith doubled his tally for the Demons with a second goal for the afternoon. Charlie Spargo kicked his only goal of the day three minutes later before Melbourne began to put a seemingly insurmountable amount of daylight between themselves and Adelaide. First Jesse got his third, then McDonald scored and Petracca got his second and third to see out the quarter. Scores 112-34.

The Crow’s attempted to launch a last quarter comeback with unanswered goals from Josh Jenkins and Richard Douglas but it was never a realistic possibility. Melksham got the Dee’s first of the last quarter before Neville Jetta had an uncharacteristic fumble in front of goal to allow Eddie Betts to pounce and score his second goal. It was pretty much all Melbourne for the last fifteen minutes with goals from McDonald, Brayshaw and Hogan.
Great teamwork from Melbourne.

We’ve been very lucky injury wise this season and Adelaide were missing some key players but the Dee’s put on a stellar display and there’s not too many teams that would fancy their chances against the Red & Blues. Next week we face the Bulldogs at Docklands. The Doggies will be desperate for a win but we’ve just got to stick to our game plan and notch up a sixth success. Go the Mighty Dees!

MELBOURNE 7.1 12.2 18.6 23.8 (146)
ADELAIDE 3.1 4.2 5.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 5, Neal-Bullen 3, Petracca 3, Brayshaw 3, Smith 2, Melksham 2, T. McDonald 2, Hannan, Jones, Spargo
Adelaide: Douglas 2, Betts 2, Gallucci, Fogarty, Gibson, Jenkins

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On a related Melbourne Football matter, a big Happy Birthday to the beautiful Daisy Pearce, captain of the Demons AFLW side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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