Dees Strike Gold

August 12, 2018 by sally
Filed under: NSW Demons

Round 20 – Melbourne Vs Gold Coast Suns – Dees Strike Gold

By Liam Chambers

On paper this was a game that was never seriously going to test Melbourne. The one thing the players and fans have come to realise this season though is to never take anything for granted. The Suns had a win against an under preforming Swans in Round 18 so the Demons were best advised to leave nothing to chance.

Happily, Melbourne came out firing and the first goal went to captain Nathan Jones. Jonesy has waited 12 long years for the Dees to again finish in the top eight and so far 2018 is shaping up as their best chance. We did ourselves a huge favour with the size of the win against Gold Coast boosting our percentage to 132.8. With several sides snapping at our heels that superior percentage will be hugely important once the dust settles after Round 23.

The Dees have been guilty in the past of capitulating to teams they should have been assured of beating. This season they mostly overcome that handicap with the exception of our 2-point loss to St Kilda. Our critics have yet to be convinced that we deserve to be in the top eight; the ninety-six-point margin against the Suns probably won’t have changed too many minds either. Having said that though, I was very impressed by how we continue to gel as a team, with the possible exception of comeback kid Aaron VandenBerg. I don’t think he got the memo about passing the ball to other players who may have a better chance of scoring. Of the nine goals delivered by the Dees in the first quarter, seven were by individual players, with Alex Neal-Bullen and Charlie Spargo both scoring two each.

It’s good to see Jesse Hogan moving more freely and back to his winning ways. His four goals against the Suns brings his tally to forty-six for the season. He’s still in contention to win the Coleman Medal so come on Jesse and get a triple hat trick against the Swans in Round 21. Melbourne didn’t have it all their own way however and the Suns pushed back somewhat in the third limiting the Dees to just two goals for the quarter. Only Jesse and Jeff Garlett managed to put the sherrin between the big sticks. Garlett’s goal came after some nice team work from the Dees, culminating in an unselfish pass from Jesse Hogan, allowing Jeff to walk in the goal. We came home strong in the fourth quarter, giving the fans plenty to celebrate.

Anyway, all of that is irrelevant unless we win at least one of the final three games. We face the Swans next which won’t be easy after their comeback game against Collingwood. Don’t believe the Buddy is injured story. He looked fairly fit after kicking six goals against the Pies. A tactical move by the Coach to throw the Magpies off? We’ll have to be on our best form and show no mercy. Go the Dees!!!

MELBOURNE 9.3 14.6 16.12 21.17 (143)
GOLD COAST 1.0 4.2 5.4 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 4, Harmes 3, Spargo 2, Oliver 2, Garlett 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Jones 2, Petracca 2, Salem, Brayshaw
Gold Coast: Sexton 5, Holman, Rischitelli