Way of the Demons (or How to Answer Your Critics) – Essendon v Melbourne
Round 6 – Essendon Vs Melbourne – Way of the Demons (or How to Answer Your Critics) – Max “Banana Kick” Gawn is adding to his folk legend status – Tom MacDonald showed what an asset he is to Melbourne – Spargo’s sparkling debut
Little by little Max “Banana Kick” Gawn is adding to his folk legend status. This week he channeled the great Eddie Betts when the big fellow put the Sherrin through the uprights from a seemingly impossible angle! Not once but twice! The second time he had some assistance from the sidelines in the shape of a helpful Essendon fan. They do say that the best revenge is kicking well. It looks like Max also picked up some tips from Eddie on how to handle idiot opposition fans.
At the start of the quarter, the Bombers looked determined to dominate a Melbourne side recovering from back to back defeats. They finally broke through the Demon defence in the 12th minute with a goal from Smith. The Dees got their first five minutes later when Mitch Hannan slotted one home, ably assisted by Christian Salem. However Essendon extended their lead when McDonald-Tipungwuti added his impressive moniker to the score sheet. The first quarter was a low scoring affair at 15-9 but Melbourne looked composed and had soaked up some intense Essendon pressure.
Melbourne got the perfect start to the second quarter when new recruit Charlie Spargo kicked his first of the game after the Dees dominated in the opening minutes.
The Demons didn’t have it all their own way though as the Bombers kicked two unanswered goals from Laverde and Stewart. Tom MacDonald showed what an asset he is to Melbourne, intercepting and marking like he’d never been away. Unfortunately the next goal was scored by the Bomber’s Jake Stringer. Not to be outdone, Charlie Spargo got his second, showing no debutant nerves. After a series of one pointers, Mitch Hannan kicked his second of the afternoon, giving the Demon faithful something more to cheer about. The first half ended 37-31, the same margin as the first quarter.
Jesse Hogan had looked out of sorts for most of the game but that didn’t stop him kicking his first of the afternoon, from a 50 metre penalty. Tom McDonald didn’t want to be left out and slotted the first of his comeback game two minutes later. The Dees were in front for the first time in the match. Then the moment came when Max Gawn showed what a versatile player he has become by kicking a perfect banana bender into the Essendon goal. Again, this was followed up two minutes later with a goal from Bayley Fritsch, making it six in a row from Melbourne.
The sight of Jesse Hogan crumbling on his ankle was not good and he limped off for treatment. Whether this had an affect on the Dee’s momentum is hard to say but the goal run eased off for awhile until Fritsch decided he wanted more and kicked his second. Stringer then got his second for the Bombers a couple of minutes later to finally end Melbourne’s run of seven unanswered goals. Then we had the infamous moment when an Essendon fan had some choice words for Big Max. Undeterred, Gawn repeated his feat from earlier in the quarter and went on a second bender. His look to the distraught Bomber’s fan was worth a thousand words. Last week’s goal hero Jake Melksham opened his account a few minutes before three quarter time and Melbourne went in leading the Bombers by nineteen at 57-76.
The final quarter was initially nearly all Melbourne with Mitch Hannan opening the scoring and Jesse Hogan (looking much better) getting his second goal. Tom McDonald then got his second before the other McDonald (as in Tipungwuti) also added a second. It was definitely a quarter for seconds when Jake Melksham also doubled his score. It wasn’t all Melbourne though as a flurry of goals to Smith, Stringer and Zaharakis jangled a few Demon nerves. A last minute goal from Bayley Fritsch helped to settle them down again.
This was definitely Melbourne fighting back. The captain Nathan Jones was outstanding, even though he didn’t get on the scoreboard. Neville Jedda and Christian Salem were also superb throughout. I’m definitely looking forward to how we fare against St Kilda next weekend. The Saints drew against the Giants last week so we definitely cannot take them for granted.
ESSENDON 2.3 5.7 6.9 10.12 (72)
MELBOURNE 1.3 4.7 11.10 16.12 (108)
GOALS
Essendon: Stringer 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Smith 2, Laverde, Stewart, Zaharakis
Melbourne: Hannan 3, Fritsch 3, Spargo 2, Gawn 2, Hogan 2, T McDonald 2, Melksham 2
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Horror movie right there on your tv
Horror movie right there on your TV, Anzac Eve blockbuster
Watching the Dees play is like watching a horror movie. It all starts pleasantly enough but you know the scene is coming. The scene that will terrify you and make you squirm in your seat. But you won’t look away. You can’t look away. The sadomasochism in you won’t let you. Plus after all you bought the ticket. And so it was in the Anzac Eve blockbuster on Tuesday night. A promising start gave us all hope that knocking off the reigning premiers was a real possibility; 13 points down early in the last gave us real hope. Then it came. It seems to always come. 7 goals later and for the rest of history it will show a 46 point win to the Tigers.
We really don’t look like we have a plan B. I don’t know if it is a confidence thing, a coaching thing or a bit of both but our inability to stop other teams’ run ons is alarming. Gone are the days we were truly crap. Gone are the days when traveling to the footy my only hope was an ‘honourable’ loss so that I wouldn’t get teased too much in the playground on Monday morning. We are a decent side and that’s what is so frustrating. Perhaps we are missing Viney’s leadership when things start to go awry? I don’t know. But I do know we will never be a great side until we can stem an opposition run on.
Another alarming thing is how we have stopped the ability to score. After 3 rounds we were the highest scoring team in the league and on Tuesday night 1 goal from 19 first quarter inside 50s is a poor return. If it was me I would keep Hogan inside 50. He is by far our best scoring option and our main target.
Oliver was our best player with 31 touches and Melksham had a welcome return to form with 4 goals in a game that again left me hollow at the final siren. This Sunday we front up again against the Bombers. Two teams in poor form right now. If both teams bring their worst I am predicting a nil all draw. This is a big game for us. After almost being undefeated after round 3, a loss will see us at 2-4. Now that would be a horror show!
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 5)
Oliver 5
Melksham 4
Hogan 3
Jones 2
Gawn 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 5)
Oliver 5
Hogan 4
Tyson 3
Salem 2
Lever 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Hogan 18
Oliver 14
Petracca 12
Gawn 10
Jones 8
Garlett 5
Melksham 4
Salem 2
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Hogan 22
Oliver 17
Petracca 18
Tyson 8
Salem 6
Neal Bullen 3
Fritsch 2
Bugg 2
Harmes 1
Lever 1
Hogan continues to lead both awards.
Go Dees
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Eye of the Tiger Hypnotises Demons
Round 5, Melbourne Vs Richmond, Eye of the Tiger Hypnotises Demons
Apparently, we weren’t indestructible this week but there was still a lot of good to take away from the game against Richmond. After last week’s disaster we took the game to the Tigers for the first three quarters. The less said about the fourth quarter the better.
We welcomed back Tyson, Weideman, Stretch & Hunt who had a lot to prove as their places weren’t assured and it was an interesting match for all four. Jake Melksham opened the scoring for Melbourne with his first disposal. We piled the pressure on and Richmond were slow to respond taking seven minutes to get a behind from their first inside 50. Higgins follow it up with the Tiger’s first goal a minute later. The Dees worked hard to stem Richmond’s attack but couldn’t prevent a second Richmond goal, this time from Castagna. The quarter ended with Melbourne trailing 11-14.
The Tigers got the first in the second quarter with another goal to Higgins. Then Michael Hibberd went off due to the blood rule and when he returned he was sporting a fetching nose sling in the style of Hannibal Lecter. Despite taking half the quarter to register their first inside 50, the Dees had only conceded two goals to Richmond with Higgins scoring his third of the match. Then finally in the 22nd minute, Melksham scored for the Dees. The Tigers followed up with a goal from Lloyd. The half time score was 18-38.
The third quarter opened with a brilliant effort from Hogan to notch up his first of the day. Gawn as usual was winning in the hitout stakes and the Demons were dominating with a string of inside 50s. This was topped off with a beauty from Jeff Garlett reducing the margin to 8 points. Suddenly it looked like we might upset the mighty Tigers. An enormous kick from Oliver unfortunately only resulted in a behind. Then Richmond powerhouse Jack Riewoldt showed how dangerous he is when he marked and kicked his first of the game. Things were looking good for the Dees though when Melksham got his hat trick but two quick gaols for Prestia and Lloyd just before the end of the third brought the Demon fans back down to earth with the score on the siren at 38-57.
We were heading skywards again at the start of the fourth when James Harmes got his first goal to reduce the margin to 13 points. We could do this. Then the afternoon got worse with Hibberd off for the second time due to the blood rule. The replay of his face hitting the hallowed turf of the MCG had fans squirming. It hardly seemed to register with him though as he trotted off for a second time. Quick goals from Lambert and McIntosh saw the Tigers in ascending form and even inspired play from Weideman and Hogan (scoring his second goal) couldn’t stem the tide. After that it was nearly all Richmond when they slotted home four goals in five minutes. A consolation goal from Melksham, scoring his fourth, did little to raise Demon spirits (really not trying to be funny). A goal to Lambert just before the full time siren didn’t reflect how well Melbourne had played for most of the afternoon.
There was a lot of good to take away from our performance, but I just wish it would all come together for us sooner rather than later. There are still seventeen games left in the season so lets do a Swans revival circa 2017 and win the next fifteen.
MELBOURNE 1.5 2.6 5.8 8.8 (56)
RICHMOND 2.2 5.8 8.9 15.12 (102)
GOALS
Melbourne: Melksham 4, Hogan 2, Garlett, Harmes
Richmond: Higgins 3, Lloyd 2, Castagna 2, McIntosh 2, Riewoldt 2, Lambert 2, Prestia, Cotchin
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Hawk The Slayer
Round 4 Hawthorn Vs Melbourne, Hawk The Slayer, Spandau Ballet
Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Not being a Spandau Ballet fan, I don’t usually quote their lyrics but “Why do I find it hard to write the next line?” seems apt in the circumstances. We lost badly on Sunday. There must be positives to take away from the game but they’re not overly obvious at the moment.
After our performances of the last three weeks, we should have been very competitive against the Hawks but unfortunately it was not to be. The Dees have been criticised in the past for not bringing their best game to each quarter but this time they only played for the first thirty minutes and then sort of went missing in action for the rest of the match.
The Hawks opened the scoring with a Luke Breust kick, then Jessie Hogan missed for a behind. Back to back goals from Dean Kent looked very promising for the Dees but the goal hero of last week Thomas Bugg was off target with his first attempt. It look like it was going to be Hogan’s afternoon with a superb goal on the run from over 40 metres out. Then another from Kent saw him seal his hat trick. After this exciting start, it was a series of behinds before Gunston scored for Hawthorn.
Then if you wanted an ominous omen it was provided by the great Max Gawn. Having taken a brilliant mark he was unable to convert from his kick 20 metres out in front of goal. That kick was of course reminiscent of Gawny’s miss in the final minute of the opening game against Geelong. A goal from Salem five minutes from quarter time showed the Dees were back in control. Then a goal three minutes later from Breust meant Melbourne went in just 35–22 ahead when it could have been a 20 point lead.
The second quarter started badly for the Dees with a third from Breust. Again Bugg kicked a behind that he would have nailed last week. With the Dees yet to kick a goal in the quarter, the Hawks got their second with a soccer kick from Puopolo.
Then the Demon’s misery was compounded with a goal from Henderson putting Hawthorn in the lead. Another goal from Roughead was followed by a disappointing behind from Melbourne’s Jeff Garlett. Even the early exit of the great Cyril Rioli and the heavier rain couldn’t dampen the Hawk’s spirit. The half time score was 47-39.
It was a similar story in the third quarter with O’Meara opening the scoring for Hawthorn with another soccer kick. Then a goal from 15m out for Isaac Smith made the Dees job that much harder. Another behind from Bugg just seemed to signal it was not going to be the Demon’s day especially when Neville Jedda went off due to injury. Goals from O’Brien and Smith put a Dee’s victory further out of reach.
When the triple hero of the first quarter Dean Kent kicked a behind all I could think was “of course”. By now Melbourne had failed to score a goal since the 29th minute. It was a relief when the siren went for the end of the third quarter and the Dees hadn’t conceded any more goals. Three quarter time score was 73-41.
Surely Melbourne could grab a few goals and reduce the margin to a more respectable 10 or 15 points.It was not to be however when Gunston scored his second in the fifth minute. Neal-Bullen did give a brief flutter of hope in the eight minute with a goal to inspire the Demon Army.
They couldn’t follow it up however and Roughead scored again four minutes later.Then three goals in just three minutes from O’Brien, O’Meara and Roughead twisted the knife that bit deeper. O’Brien then scored his second and Breust scored his fourth to round out the quarter. The final score was 115-48. This was definitely a Melbourne game to forget and one they won’t want to repeat.
Here’s hoping I quote another Spandau Ballet line next week “You’ve got the power to know, You’re indestructible” when we flog the Tigers.
HAWTHORN 3.5 7.5 11.7 18.7 (115) MELBOURNE 5.5 5.9 5.11 6.12 (48) GOALS Hawthorn: Breust 4, Roughead 3, O’Brien 3, O’Meara 2, Smith 2, Gunston 2, Puopolo, Henderson Melbourne: Kent 3, Hogan, Salem, Neal-Bullen
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Watching footy in Jakarta
Watching footy in Jakarta, The Age, supporting the Dees and v Tigers on Anzac Eve
Darren Spence – our correspondent in Jakarta
I…….<delete>, How…….<delete>, Why…….<delete>, expletive……<delete>. I have started writing this review about 5 times; it has not been easy! I have been disappointed more often than not over following the Dees for more than 40 years and it is fair to say the weekend performance was up there with the most disconsolate I have felt in a long time – well since 5 games ago – last round last year but I am not going to go there!
I thought/hoped disaster games were passed us now and the way we started the game I was extremely pumped up at quarter time. 20 points up, Kent with 3, Hogan highest possession getter on the ground there was a lot to like about the way the Dees were playing. It wasn’t just me that felt that way, I was watching with a few Hawks supporters and one of them actually left at quarter time believing Melbourne were going to thrash his boys……he obviously has not followed Melbourne’s past form very much!
After quarter time there is very little to write about. 1 goal to 15 says it all.
There is a silver lining however…..I assume most of you have read the article in The Age from their correspondent based in Jakarta about questioning whether to make his imminent new born support the Dees? Well anyway I got hold of him and (when he is back from working overseas) we are going to start watching games together! It will be great to watch games again with a Dees fan, it has been a while! Our first game will be the Saints on May 6 but before that we have the Tigers on Anzac Eve. Watch for the boys to come out firing – they have a lot to prove and what better way to do in a blockbuster game!
Votes this week
LUKEY TAPSCOTT (rnd 4)
Oliver 5
Hogan 4
Petracca 3
Jones 2
Neal Bullen 1
ANB RISING STAR (rnd 4)
Oliver 5
Hogan 4
Petracca 3
Neal Bullen 2
Salem 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT (overall)
Hogan 15
Petracca 12
Gawn 9
Oliver 9
Jones 6
Garlett 5
Salem 2
Bugg 1
Neal Bullen 1
ANB RISING STAR (overall)
Hogan 18
Petracca 15
Oliver 12
Tyson 5
Salem 4
Neal Bullen 3
Fritsch 2
Bugg 2
Harmes 1
Hulk continues to lead both awards at this stage of the year.
Go Dees
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