Round 22 – Melbourne V Port Adelaide

Liam Chambers

Melbourne back to their best

The last time we played Port was Round 3 at the Adelaide Oval. The Power had two wins under their belt and home advantage, but we managed to prevail on that occasion. Now our rivals were eyeing off a top two position, and we were fighting to salvage our footy season.

From the opening siren, both sides were feeling the pressure, but for different reasons. It appeared that the accuracy suffered as a result. Shots were off target at both ends, though Melbourne was playing a better structured team game than in some of their more recent outings.

It took to the halfway mark for the first goal to be scored and thankfully it was Bailey Fritsch who claimed the honours when he drilled the ball from 45m. After the goal, the Dees upped the pressure and scored again within two minutes when Ed Langdon snapped from 30m to stretch the advantage to eleven points. Alex Neal Bullen almost made it three in a row but was denied by the post.

Melbourne was playing some of their best football in a long time and dominating Port Adelaide, but the visitors eventually scored their first goal when Jason Horne-Francis got behind our defence and marked 10m in front.

Then Port drew level with the Dees when Darcy Byrne-Jones dribbled the ball in from 30m and watched it cross the line.

The Dees keep up the pressure

After an impressive first term, Melbourne seem to relax early in the second and allow the Power to take back some of the momentum. Jason Horne-Francis was able to mark in the pocket and kick an around the corner set shot, giving his side an eight point lead.

One Demon who never relaxes is Jack Viney, and his determination to win the ball set up Melbourne’s next goal, after he twisted and turned through Port’s players, before getting the ball to Jacob van Rooyen. The key forward immediately kicked the sherrin towards goal where Kysaiah Pickett’s pressure was rewarded with a free kick from the boundary line. The resultant goal took the Dees to within three points of their rivals.

Kozzie made it a three point lead when he marked on the edge of the square, then converted the set shot.

A quarter of swings and roundabouts

After the main break, it was more of the same from the Demons, with Kozzie securing his third in a low scoring game. His inside 50 mark, after Melbourne had transitioned from half back, was well taken, as was his 45m set shot.

The Dees were doing practically everything right but when there was a slip up, Port pounced immediately to take full advantage. One such lack of concentration gave Charlie Dixon the opportunity to take a contested mark 30m from goal. It was back to three points.

Despite Port Adelaide’s intense pressure, Melbourne was able to hold off the onslaught, thanks in no small part to Max Gawn’s brilliant defence work.

Then up the other end we found a way through the Power’s back line, where Alex Neal-Bullen was able to take the mark. His 40m set shot was on target and we were back in business.

With five minutes to go in the term, Zac Butters got away from the pack and sprinted towards inside 50, before launching from 48m and bouncing the ball onto the goal line to again reduce the margin to three points.

Agonisingly close but the Dees bow out of contention

With only three points still separating the teams at the start of the final quarter, a goal would be a significant psychological boost for the side that scored first. Unfortunately Charlie Dixon chose the opening minute to take a contested mark directly in front and then went back to slot the 20m set shot.

With so much at stake, the back line at both ends was working overtime to prevent another goal. Understandably, passions were running high and mistakes were made but still the margin was a wafer thin three points in Port’s favour.

Then the lead flipped again when Kozzie kicked his fourth of the night after he chased down the ball inside 50 and hammered it into the stands. Melbourne had a couple of opportunities to push the margin out to a three goals but were unable to make them count.

When Quintin Narkle took a contested mark in the pocket, he evened the score with his 20m set shot. With only five minutes to go, a point or two from either side would be enough to win the game.

Sadly, the Dees were continually denied access to their forward 50 by Port and a couple of minor scores for the visitors was all that was needed to land the game and the four points.

It appears our season is officially over. There are only two games left, and we would have to win each game by fifty plus points and the four teams vying for the seventh and eight spots would have to completely implode. A win in each of our last games would still be good though; especially against the Pies.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Western Bulldogs V Melbourne – Demons Down in the Dumps

Liam Chambers

Dogs get early jump on the Dees

It’s no secret that we’ve struggled with form over the back half of the season and this round we were again up against a side that is hitting its stride at the right time. We have a talented team with some great young players, but the footy year is almost over and, possibly with it, our finals aspirations. But having said that, never say never until it’s mathematically impossible.

Cody Weightman had a few chances to kick the first goal, but then ended up supplying the ball for Aaron Naughton to provide the opener. Weightman did get one for himself when he marked in the pocket and banana kicked the set shot. It didn’t get any better when Bailey Williams marked just inside the arc and converted to give the Dogs a twenty two point lead.

With Melbourne under intense pressure, the margin could have been greater, with the Bulldogs hitting the post on two occasions. The Dees had few chances and unfortunately we were unable to take advantage when they were presented.

It took almost twenty minutes, but Melbourne finally got on the scoreboard when Bailey Fritsch marked 30m out and made sure of the set shot. After the goal the Dees had more inside 50 incursions, but the Bulldogs kept the pressure up and denied them more scoring opportunities.

Up the other end, Marcus Bontempelli was able to launch from 40m and just clear the goal line.

Melbourne back in the game

It was a disappointing first quarter for the Demons and they needed an early goal to settle things.

When the chips are down though, skipper Max Gawn steps up and takes the initiative. His contested mark was perfect, and the set shot cleanly taken. It was a brief respite however, as Adam Treloar restored the quarter time advantage with his 30m snap in front of goal.

Kysaiah Pickett is sometimes inconsistent in his brilliance, but his set shot from the pocket was pure poetry and it was back to eighteen points. Unfortunately another brilliantly inconsistent player, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took a contested mark and kicked the 30m set shot.

The second term was looking like a much more even contest when Tom Sparrow kicked his around the corner set shot from the pocket to make it three goals each for the quarter. Then a 45m running kick from Bailey Fritsch found the target and clawed the Dees deficit back to sixteen points.

Dees suffer some outrageous fortune

With Melbourne only trailing by three goals at the start of the second half, fans would have been confident of staying in touch with the dominant Dogs. In fact Bailey Fritsch had an early chance to reduce the margin further but the kick just failed to make the distance.

Then thirty seconds later Cody Weightman had his second goal off a running inside 50 kick. Adam Treloar also had his second when he kicked an around corner set shot from the pocket a minute later and the Bulldogs were thirty points ahead. Another minute and Jamarra Ugle Hagan too had his second goal from point blank range, courtesy of an inside 50 infringement.

By now the match was in grave danger of slipping from Melbourne’s grasp and with it our finals hopes. Then Tom Sparrow kicked his second to claim a desperately needed goal for the Demons.

Continuing the theme of the third quarter, Marcus Bontempelli marked on the edge of the square and kicked his second of the night with an around the corner set shot. When all the luck goes to one side, it seems unfair but Caleb Poulter’s kick from outside the 50m arc bounced perfectly for the midfielder and the advantage was out to forty one points for the hosts.

After taking a battering all term, Trent Rivers goal from a mark and play on was a welcome reprieve. Then when Jacob van Rooyen successfully executed his set shot from the pocket, fans began to wonder if a comeback was indeed possible.

But we were left to wonder no longer when a decision by the review board deemed the ball had skimmed the upright on the way through. It was a cruel blow but pretty much par for the course on a night of cruel blows.

Is Melbourne’s fate sealed?

The Dees started the final term thirty eight points down; not a margin to gladden the hearts of the faithful. It would take a monumental effort to overcome such a deficit and seemed highly improbable against a team who had played so well all night. Damage limitation was a priority and everything after that would be a bonus.

The quarter was only one minute old when Ed Richards kicked a goal from 20m in front; it now appeared that even damage limitation wasn’t an option.

Earlier, the Dogs kicked a goal when they were gifted an extremely lucky bounce but when Jack Viney’s kick landed the ball right in the middle of the square it somehow managed to avoid the goal line totally. Where’s the luck? Up the other end Aaron Naughton marked at the top of the goal square and kicked his second.

Taj Woewodin may have only scored two goals in his Melbourne AFL career but his third was perfect and left a nice gap between sherrin and post. Kysaiah Pickett has scored a few more than three but his latest was again first class. After an end to end transition by Melbourne, Kozzie was the last link in the chain when he launched from just outside 50 to bounce it over the line.

With less than ten minutes to play and thirty seven points down, the game was now out of reach for the Demons but Sam Darcy’s mark in the pocket and subsequent successful set shot on goal was still painful. Tim English’s late goal only served rub salt into the wounds but thankfully that was the last for the Bulldogs.

A victory would have kept Melbourne in contention, but now the final three games are a must win and we must also hope that other results go in our favour.

On top of that, it looks like Steven May is out for at least one match, which is not great for him or the Dees. Despite the odds though, again never say never.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 20 – Melbourne V GWS

Demons Last Minute Dash Just Fails To Topple Giants

Liam Chambers

Dees out of the blocks at a frenetic pace

With their Captain back in the team and only five games remaining, Melbourne had to throw everything at GWS in order to stay in touch with the top eight.

The Demons had the first goal after Kade Chandler kept the ball in play as it threatened to cross the boundary line, then he ran around the defence and snapped off his left boot.

The Giants responded five minutes later when Tom Greene was able to launch from 40m to send it straight through the middle.

Harrison Petty’s record from set shots this season hasn’t been the best but when he ran out to meet Jack Viney’s kick, his conversion was spot on. The next goal was similar to the previous effort, except it was Bailey Fritsch running out to meet Ed Langdon’s effort. The result was the same and Melbourne was fourteen points ahead.

Ed Langdon got a goal himself after Jacob van Rooyen handpassed into the goal square as the midfielder/wingman called for the ball. With less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, Jake Melksham took a clever contested mark in the pocket, then kicked an around the corner set shot to extend the lead to twenty seven points.

GWS lift their game and close the gap

In what seems like a rite of passage, ex Demon Toby Bedford took an uncontested mark inside 50, then went back to kick the 50m set shot. Sometimes it feels like former Melbourne players just can’t miss in those situations.

With GWS pushing hard, the Dees needed to weather the storm and somehow prevent the visitors from gaining too much momentum. Unfortunately they conceded a second goal when Brent Daniels collected the chaos ground ball, then turned and snapped from 30m in front.

Bailey Fritsch stole one back when he found himself alone in Melbourne’s forward 50, then took the mark and kicked the set shot.

Even though the name Toby hasn’t even made the top 1000 in recent years, the Giants have three of them. I’m not sure if McMullin is Toby 2 or 3 (obviously Greene is 1; though technically 4) but the young forward made sure of his 40m set shot after taking the uncontested mark.

Coincidently, the next goal was another Toby effort, this time from Greene himself. He collected the ball as it was tapped away from the pack, then ran goalward and scored.

With three minutes left in the half another former Dee took an inside 50 mark. Jesse Hogan then went back to kick his 50th goal of the season and take GWS to within two points of Melbourne.

Melbourne weather the storm but lag at the final break

Max Gawn is the inspiration behind many Demon victories and when he received the hand pass from Jake Melksham, the big fella launched from 20m to stretch the advantage out to ten points. That goal steadied the good ship Melbourne, but the orange tsunami kept threatening.

We held on and even had chances to increase our lead but eventually the dam broke when Toby Greene was able to draw a free kick and smashed an around the corner set shot to reduce the margin back to three points. Callan Ward gave the Giants the lead for the first time in the game when he marked, then kicked the 40m set shot.

Not for long though, as Jack Viney was able to pick up the ground ball and snap from 30m to restore Melbourne’s lead.

Then, in another twist, Jesse Hogan (using Gawn’s back for leverage) took the mark and kicked from just inside to notch up his second.

Dees just pipped at the post

Jesse Hogan started the fourth as he finished the third, by taking a contested mark inside 50. It was an easy conversion and just what we didn’t want. As if that wasn’t enough, GWS won the hitout and was immediately back inside 50, where Brent Daniels was able to collect the bouncing ball, then run around and snap his second to give the Giants a fifteen point lead.

Then Jesse Hogan twisted the knife, as he took yet another contested mark and again slotted the set shot. By now the temptation was to abandon all hope and head for the exits but it wasn’t over yet. Toby Greene collected his hat trick, after an admittedly brilliant smoother on a kick just inside 50. He then ran on to the square before getting on the end of a hand pass and tapping it through the uprights.

GWS almost an another but Melbourne was finally able to stop the rot and make some progress towards salvaging the game. They finally got some rewards when JVR marked the ball in the ruck, then launch from 20m to give the faithful hope. The renaissance was almost over before it began when Toby Greene tried to snare another. Fortunately Jake Bowey went above and beyond to get a touch on the sherrin before it crossed the goal line.

There was a couple of more chances for the Dees to further reduce the margin, but it was not to be.

Then Kade Chandler got his second when he kicked at speed just inside the arc and watched the ball sail through, reducing the gap back to fourteen points. With just minutes left, Kysaiah Pickett finally got on the scoreboard when he marked and converted from 45m out.

As the clock ticked down to the final minute, Alex Neal Bullen was able to collect the ground ball and snap it high and through the post to bring the Dees within two points of GWS.

Similar to the late dash against Carlton in Round 9, there was to be no fairytale finish for the Demons on this occasion either.

There are four games left in the season and the next two are against teams you are hitting their stride at the right time. Then there’s the Suns, who are rarely beaten at home and finally the reigning premiers Collingwood, and we write them off at our peril. With such a tight top twelve, we’re still in with a chance, but if we lose more than one of those games then a finals berth may be out of our hands.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 19 – Fremantle V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Fremantle dominate the stats

Back in the west to take on the Dockers, Melbourne would have been determined to avoid a repeat of Round 12’s one sided contest. The Dees were deep into enemy territory and needed to bring their best game in front of a hostile crowd.

Unfortunately they didn’t get the ideal start they were hoping for when Sam Sturt took an uncontested mark before going back to kick the 50m set shot. The second was way too easy after Jye Amiss found himself all alone and only metres from the square when he marked and walked in the goal.

Fremantle’s pressure was incessant, and they were dominating clearances, marks and inside 50s. Melbourne did have a few opportunities against the run of play but were unable to make Freo pay. Unfortunately the Dockers were able to able to build on their lead after a 50m penalty allowed Bailey Banfield to kick the ball to Josh Treacy just inside 50, which he marked and converted.

The Melbourne players and fans were hugely relieved to hear the quarter time siren and to be only twenty one points down, when it could have been so much worse.

Dees surge late in the term

The Demons needed an early goal to stem the bleeding to quell concerns and gain some momentum. Caleb Windsor, never one to hold back when he senses an opportunity was onto the loose ball before anyone else and soccered it 15m along the ground and across the goal line.

Josh Treacy had been threatening to kick his second since the start of the term and he eventually did that when he took a contested mark from the back of the pack in front of goal, then turned and thumped it through. Straight after the bounce, Luke Jackson took a contested mark in the pocket right on the boundary line. Having already inflicted a world of pain on his former teammates in Alice Springs early last month, his banana kick set shot reopened the healing wound. Then Michael Walters somehow took an uncontested mark in the middle of the pack and cleanly converted the 30m kick.

Trailing by thirty five points, the Dees desperately needed to do something creative if they were to stay in contention.

It took to almost the end of the quarter before Melbourne got their second when Jacob van Rooyen ran out to mark 40m from goal. His set shot was clean and brought the margin back to thirty points. Then van Rooyen took another mark on the edge of the square to make it a four goal game and more importantly give the faithful some hope.

After the centre bounce, it was almost three in a row for the Demons, but it was not to be. Then with Michael Walters marking just before the siren, the Dockers clawed it back to thirty.

But then the suffering continues for the visitors

After the break, Melbourne needed to put Freo’s late goal in the previous term behind them and focus on regaining the momentum.

Unfortunately Jai Amiss was left unguarded deep inside the Dockers forward 50 and Jeremy Sharp was able to present him with the easiest of uncontested marks. The follow up set shot from point blank range stretched the advantage out to thirty six points. Then Amiss took another mark inside 50 less than a minute later and the key forward had his hat trick.

The misery just kept piling up for the Demons when Fremantle again got the ball over the heads of Melbourne and was it marked by Andrew Brayshaw, who then hand passed to Jordan Clark running past. The defender kept going and launched from the top of the square to make it an eight goal game in favour of the Dockers.

By now the Dees were being completely dominated and Fremantle kept transitioning through the corridor while their forwards kept marking the ball inside 50. This time it was Michael Walters, and he ran on to hammer home his third of the match.

It was over twenty minutes in before Melbourne kicked their first of the second half, when Kade Chandler marked inside 50 and converted the 45m set shot. Kade Chandler got two in a row after Jake Melksham took a great contested mark and targeted the small forward sixty metres from home. The goal was a certainty after Chandler was awarded a 50m penalty. I’m always in favour of those decisions when they go our way.

The Dees had three in a row when Harrison Petty marked a kick 25m out.

Dream scenario was not to be

Although they had clawed back some momentum, Melbourne still had Mount Everest to climb in the last quarter against an in form Dockers and arguably the second most hostile home crowd in the league. The Dees piled on the pressure early but were unable to take advantage of their opportunities in front of goal.

Then disaster struck when Josh Treacy was able to take a contested mark in the pocket, then go back and kick his hat trick. Michael Sonny Walters put the result beyond any doubt when he marked 15m from the goal mouth, then snapped an around the corner to claim his fourth of the day. Jai Amiss also had four when he received a hand pass in the goal square and slammed it into the stands. Caleb Serong added to home side’s tally when he took advantage of the free kick call and tapped one from 15m in front.

Jack Billings arrested the flow from Fremantle when he marked and went back to make sure of the set shot.

While every goal is welcomed, there was still a massive fifty four point deficit to consider and when Sam Sturt kicked his second, the only consolation was at least it wasn’t the ninety two margin of Round 12. Though when Sturt got back to back goals from a crumb in the square, Demon fans could be forgiven if they started to wonder?

With only just over four minutes to go, all Melbourne could do was play for some pride and thankfully they decided to do that.

Ed Langdon got one back when he launched from 35m and put it through the posts. Next Daniel Turner took a contested mark and slotted his set shot. Jake Melksham was having a quiet day unfortunately, but his late mark just inside the arc was welcome, as was the subsequent goal.

Next Round we’re back at the MCG, but it’s against another top five side in GWS. It goes without saying that we need to win that game, however I’ll say it anyway. We need to win that game.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 18 – Melbourne v Essendon

Demons Back In Contention

Liam Chambers

Melbourne show no fear

If the Dees were nervous about taking on a top four side, it certainly didn’t show in the first minute, as they laid siege to the Bombers defence. They claimed the first goal via a Bailey Fritsch collect and snap from 25m in front.

Essendon got on the scoreboard when Kyle Langford was presented with a gift wrapped 50m penalty after Kysaiah Pickett imperceptibly stepped off the mark. The 20m set shot was an easy conversion. The Bombers quickly followed up with a second courtesy of Sam Durham, when the Midfielder marked on the 50m arc, then slotted the set shot.

With Max Gawn out injured, Harrison Petty was the substitute Ruck in the first term, allowing Sam Draper seemingly effortless access the ball. Draper, along with Ben McKay, was also proving formidable in defence, marking with ease. The Dons had another goal after Xavier Duursma marked in front of goal and kicked the 30m set shot.

Trailing by twelve points, Melbourne kept their cool and refused to be intimidated by Essendon’s dominance in marking and possession.

The Dees eventually started to turn the momentum when Daniel Turner ran out to meet the ball just inside 50. His brilliant 50 plus set shot sailed over the heads of the Bombers defence to claw back the margin to seven. Then with just thirty seconds remaining, Kozzie Pickett took advantage of a Melbourne free kick to run on towards the square and snap to make it a one point game.

Dees set fire to the rain

Melbourne continued to improve after the break with Kade Chandler receiving the ball as he ran past the pack and dribbled in from just outside the goal square. The next goal came via some clever play by Pickett and Jake Melksham to get the ball to Caleb Windsor, allowing the young Midfielder to speed through and bounce the sherrin between the uprights.

The Demons were thriving in the wet conditions and with Jacob van Rooyen taking over Ruck duties, Essendon found themselves struggling to keep up.

The Bombers eventually arrested some of Melbourne’s momentum when Nic Martin snapped a goal from 30m.

Jake Melksham pumped up the fans again when he made up for his earlier miss hit by slotting an around the corner from the pocket and stretching the lead back out to fourteen points.

As the rain cleared, Essendon was better able to deal with the Dees pressure but failed to make inroads themselves before the half time siren.

Melbourne consolidate their lead

They waited until ten minutes into the term, but Melbourne’s first goal was beautifully orchestrated. It started with Kozzie ducking his way out of a tackle, then out manoeuvring another Bomber before pinpointing Melksham in the pocket; the veteran forward unselfishly passing to Ed Langdon as ran towards the square. The Winger then tapped it through to make it a three goal game.

Harrison Jones restored the lead back to two goals when he marked and went back to slot the 20m set shot.

Jake Melksham has been pivotal in the Dees last two matches with his vision and clever kicking. His foresight in spotting Daniel Turner just inside 50, then kicking to the space in front was brilliant. The Key Forward ran and marked the ball before running into the square and kicking into the open goal.

Final quarter a game of two halves

The last term started well for Essendon when Nic Martin was taken high in the pocket. He made sure of the set shot to reign back Melbourne’s lead to eleven points.

Despite the early goal for their opponents, the Dees kept up the pressure and it paid off when Kozzie cleverly bounced the ball back to Melksham just outside the 50m arc. Jake then launched from 52m and watched the ball bounce three times before crossing the line.

It was encouraging to watch the talented young players in our side, and the perfectly place kick from Caleb Windsor that picked out Pickett 30m from goal was very satisfying. Then Kozzie’s conversion showed a growing maturity that we will hopefully continue to see for years to come. Then another young talent Daniel Turner ran out to meet the ball kicked by Jack Viney and also slotted the set shot perfectly.

Up the other end the Bombers were struggling to hit the target.

Bailey Fritsch made sure no one forget he is till the leading goal kicker for the Dees when he marked a kick from Trent Rivers, the calmly ran on to notch up his second of the night. Fritsch didn’t waste any time in claiming his hat trick after Melbourne won the centre bounce and Kozzie launched from outside to land the ball in the hands of the Magnet.

Of course Essendon haven’t reached and stayed in the top eight by just accepting being seven goals down with eight minutes to play so they continued to be a danger to the Demons.

They got one back when Nic Martin was awarded a free kick in the pocket he took advantage of his opportunity to kick his third of the match. Then Kyle Langford controlled the falling ball and turned quickly to snap another for the Bombers. It was three in a row for Essendon when Xavier Duursma marked in front of goal and went back to kick the 25m set shot.

By now there was more than a few nervous fans watching live and those watching from their uncomfortable arm chairs. There was three minutes to go when Nic Martin took a mark inside 50. His 45m set shot was true and there was still hope for an upset.

Melbourne rose to the challenge though and there was to be no more goals on the night.

Next is another trip to Perth and all the partisanship that WA crowds bring. If we can win there, then September may well be a reality for the Demons.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!