Scarily good!
by Darren Spence
This season is turning out to be quite unique.
In my long history of supporting the Dees I don’t think I have seen the Melbourne players in our squad collectively all improve as they have this year. You would be hard pressed to name a player that hasn’t.
It is one of the reasons that the football world is so bullish about our squad and much credit needs to go to the coaching, drafting and support staff collectively. With the whole squad developing it creates depth on the list.
The days of players playing 1 good game in the 2nds and getting promoted the next week are long gone, today players have to earn a game by exhibiting the right behaviors and performances on a consistent basis before being rewarded and this ensures that should opportunities in the seniors present itself that a number of possibilities are available, all ready to go to play their role. This is a hallmark of teams that are successful. It is also a hallmark of envy amongst fellow teams.
The first half on the weekend was scary. Scarily good! Up against one of the competition front runners the Mighty Dees blew the Power away with enormous pressure around the ball. A concerted effort to overcome the slow starts that have plagued us all year was a real focus and an almost goalless first half to Port was the result.
It was Viney who set the tone. Coming back only 19 days after surgery, and he himself admitting that he will be playing sore, he led from the front in the first quarter with 12 possessions (4 of them contested). Gawn had his best game since returning from injury dominating this years’ potential AA ruckman and helping the Dees smash Port in clearances, contested possession and inside 50s till the main break.
An expected fight back after half time by the Power did come but the damage was done earlier and the Mighty Dees ran out winners by 23 points in a crucial win for our finals aspirations.
I have already mentioned the efforts of Viney and Gawn and it was my man crush Hibberd who was our best player on the day. He finished with a game high 36 disposals and has become such a vital play-maker for us off half back. Cut and paste Oliver got another 30 touches, Hunt was very good and Hogan, like Gawn, played his best game since his return with 3 goals. Tyson was busy, Jetta did no harm to his AA aspirations and Melksham looks to have found a new role up forward with 3 goals also in what was one of our best performances this year.
This Saturday sees us travel down to Hobart to play the Roos. We haven’t beaten them in over 10 years although we have made a habit of breaking hoodoos this year. This is a game that we just can’t drop. Good teams win these games and with only 5 left till the finals the boys won’t let this one slip away.
Go Dees
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