Round 8 – Gold Coast V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

The Suns have promised to be competitive during the last few season but continue to fall short when it comes to reaching the finals. This year could the one though. They showed enormous courage against Melbourne in an attempt to reverse recent history.

Showing how difficult a task that would be was illustrated by Jacob van Rooyen when he took a contested mark, then went back to score the first goal, despite Gold Coast’s early dominance.

The Dees continued to hover in their forward 50 but the Suns’ defence was determined to keep them at bay. Melbourne broke through eventually when Kysaiah Pickett took a mark 30m out from goal and converted, increasing the advantage. Brodie Grundy got his name on the score sheet again this week when Mabior Chol was denied a mark close to the square. The quick thinking ruck collected the ground ball and snapped through for a goal.

The Suns finally got a major when they ran from their goal square, right through the corridor to inside 50 where Malcolm Rosas took a hand pass and made it to the edge of the square, kicking from point blank range. The tables had now seemingly flipped in Gold Coast’s favour as they piled the pressure on Melbourne’s defence. The tackling intensity increased from both sides with the fans now knowing they were watching a game.

Rosas had a chance to kick his second when he took a mark from Levi Casboult 40m in front. He didn’t disappoint the home crowd; reducing the lead to eight points. Mabior Chol reduced it to a single point when he took a hand pass and snapped the ball from 15m.

Just before quarter time, Kade Chandler continued his stellar season when he ducked and weaved his way through the Suns’ defence before kicking the ball high and bending it through the posts.

If Melbourne had any preconceived notions about emulating round 7’s high scoring demolition of the Roos, they were quickly fading as they ran on for the second term. They knew they were up against an opponent who wasn’t going to die wondering.

It was the Demons again who opened the scoring when Max Gawn took a mark from a well placed Jack Viney kick. His set shot from 20m in front went through cleanly and Melbourne was thirteen points to the good. The Dees had the majority of the play in the first five minutes, but the Suns managed to sneak one in when Levi Casboult took a contested mark in the pocket. He speared it through, putting the heat back on the visitors.

It had been a low scoring second quarter but then James Jordan got a lucky 50m penalty and made the most of it with his accurate 40m set shot. After the clearance, Melbourne got the ball straight to inside 50 where Grundy marked and converted for his second of the afternoon.

Up by twenty points, it looked like the Dees were pulling away and had the game under control; looks can be deceptive however. Melbourne again won the clearance, but this time Gold Coast was able to break out quickly and counterattack. Jack Lukosius marked right on the 50m line, then backed himself in to kick the 55m set shot. Suddenly it was a contest again.

Then it was a case of the Suns shining when Malcolm Rosas took a hand pass after a stoppage and snapped form 40m to clear the goal line. Emotions were high and rising when Mabior Chol took a mark 40m from home with half time looming. His successful set shot made it a one point game and a potentially explosive third quarter.

Then right on the cusp of the siren, Alex Neal-Bullen snapped a bullet to relieve the pressure valve, giving Melbourne the breathing space they so desperately needed.

With the margin still only seven points (recurring), the second term had been a see sawing affair. Could the Suns replicate their form from the first half, or would the Dees flick the switch and over run the home side? From the opening bounce, it was obvious Gold Coast had no intention of making it any easier for the Demons. The pressure and hard tackling continued.

Then, we witnessed one of those magic moment form Kozzie Pickett, where he effortlessly ducked, weaved and spun his way to the edge of the square before chipping high into the stands. The margin was back to out to thirteen points, but no champagne corks were popping just yet. We started the second term in similar fashion, then the Suns fought back quickly to be snapping at our heels.

As if on cue, Levi Casboult took a vice like mark a mere 10m from the goal and it was back to that mystical seven point number again. As Gold Coast continued to challenge the Dees, they could sniff an upset in the air. They were feeding off their own sense of belief and continued to put everything they had into the attack. The reward came with a Ben King free kick directly in front. He may have been inconsistent in the past but not anymore. The big forward kicked his twelfth straight set shot goal and took the Suns to within a point of Melbourne.

It was back to seven (again) when Jake Bowey almost casually plucked the ball from a passing Suns’ player and snapped a goal. Fun fact, Bowey has never missed; four goals and no behinds in his AFL career.

Brandon Ellis didn’t miss either. He converted his set shot and it was a one point game (again). Neal-Bullen almost got it back to seven but scored a minor instead, making it a two point game and breaking the one, seven cycle.

By now both sides looked like they were in the fight of their lives. It was a continuous tackle and counter tackle fest with no one able to fully gain the upper hand.

Finally Matt Rowell had the chance to put the Suns ahead for the first time all afternoon, but his set shot from deep in the pocket was punched through for a behind. Back to one point. It looked like the third quarter would end with the smallest of gaps dividing the two sides.

Then with just over one hundred seconds remaining, Tom Sparrow kicked from the 50m arc. The ball sailed high and long, just skimming the paint work on the upright. Back to seven points. But wait! With one minute remaining, Jack Lukosius marked again on the 50m line. This time his shot went wide, and it was a one goal game.

Then, when we thought it couldn’t get any more dramatic, Ben King was awarded a free kick in front of goal right on the siren. His set shot was true, and it was all even at seventy two points apiece.

After a frantic and frenetic third quarter, the last term was going to test each side’s capabilities and resolve to the limit. This year Melbourne have played some great final quarters. They would need to produce their best to emerge victorious against a Gold Coast side now brimming with belief.

For the first five minutes, the game plan just wasn’t clicking for the Dees. Then Christian Petracca pulled one out of the hat. His round the corner kick from deep in the pocket flew high and long, bending just enough to sail through the uprights. After that there was a couple of missed opportunities, but then Max Gawn was gifted a free kick 10m from goal that stretched the lead to fourteen points.

Demon fans by now were into the fingernail biting stage. The Suns had fought back so many times in the previous two hours that another resurgence seemed highly likely. With nine minutes to go, Noah Anderson did a Kozzie and collected the ground ball before weaving around the Dees’ defence and tapping it over the line.

There was another couple of chances for Melbourne to sew it up, but they were unable to connect. Then quelle horreur! An uncharacteristic mistake in defence allowed a turnover and Malcolm Rosas to snap through the ball. The Suns now trailed by only four points.

With six minutes to go, the Dees just couldn’t get that crucial goal to seal the deal. A couple of minor scores had them up by solitary goal. Then with fifty seconds remaining, Darcy McPherson took a diving mark 40m from goal. Every Demon fan in the country was willing the defender to miss the target and he didn’t disappoint.

With fifteen seconds left on the clock, and in an eerily similar scenario to the end of Q3, Steven May kicked the ball back into play. The ball returned again but this time into the safe hands of Jack Viney where clutched the sherrin lovingly to his chest, and Melbourne supporters released a collective sigh of relief. Post match, every Melbourne player interviewed knew they had been in the fight of their season so far.

We visit the Hawks in Round 9 but don’t expect a walkover. We all know by now that there are no easy games.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 7 – Melbourne V North Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Remember a few short years ago when North Melbourne was guaranteed to take the wind out of our sails? To abruptly end any winning streak we managed to cobble together? Thankfully those days are over and lingering doubts vanquished.

We were the clear favourites on Saturday night and within a minute, Kade Chandler was on the board when he controlled the bouncing ball out of the square to claim his first. Bailey Fritsch continued his impressive record of kicking a goal in each of his last thirty five games when he effortlessly struck from 30m in front. Two minutes later and Fritsch had his second. This time from a 40m set shot.

When Kysaiah Pickett scores, he scores spectacularly well. His first was a curling kick from the 50m line which soared high and dipped behind the goal line for Melbourne’s fourth. A clearance win, and Jack Viney launched a kick to Tom Sparrow waiting just inside 50. Sparrow’s successful set shot meant the Demons had five goals inside ten minutes of play.

Melbourne’s dominance was interrupted by the tragic injury to Charlie Comben, who was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg, possibly ending his season. When play resumed, the Dees continued to deny North any points on the scoreboard; the Umpire adding to the Roos’ pain by awarding Brodie Grundy a 50m penalty. The Ruck slotted his 20m shot to extend the lead to thirty seven points.

Cameron Zurhaar managed to stem the onslaught when took a contested mark inside the goal square and kicked the visitors’ first. It was a brief respite though, because Bailey Fritsch claimed his hat trick when he marked in the pocket before kicking a high round the corner kick which was cleared by the score review. Kozzie Pickett had his second when he marked a bullet from Christian Petracca out of the centre. The small forward went back and kicked cleanly from 35m.

After being totally overrun in the first term, the question was how would North Melbourne adapt their game to avoid the same fate in the second quarter. The first few minutes didn’t look promising for the Roos and when Jaidyn Stephenson gave away a double 50m penalty, it was like shooting fish in a barrel for the lucky recipient Trent Rivers.

The perceived injustice seemed to momentarily fire up North but there was no reward for effort and the Dees slipped back into their comfortable dominance.

In contrast to the first quarter, Melbourne goals were thin on the ground for the first ten minutes. That changed when Kade Chandler kicked another; this time a 25m set shot from the pocket.

The Roos finally got a second when Nick Larkey took a handpass and kicked form 20m in front. Within a minute though, the Demons had stretched the lead back to fifty six points when Petracca marked 45m from goal and converted the set shot.

Alex Neal-Bullen typified the Dees’ fighting spirit when he crashed tackled a North Melbourne defender as he went to kick the ball from the goal square. The forward quickly scooped up the loose ball and tapped it across the line. Kozzie had another kick from just outside 50. His shot sailed towards goal and was guided through by Fritsch who protected the ball as it bounced across the line.

With a sixty six point lead, Melbourne needed to keep up the pressure and build on their score, ensuring a big percentage boost. It was a good start with Petracca running onto the loose ball from a stoppage and snapping from 10m to the right of goal. Jacob van Rooyen’s long kick was pinpoint accurate in picking out Bailey Fritsch inside 50. Fritsch almost took the mark but let it slip. He quickly recovered to gather, turn and slot his fourth.

To the relief of North fans, Nick Larkey was clean with his 35m set shot from deep in the pocket. Even better for the visiting faithful, was Cameron Zurhaar’s goal from a set shot directly in front.
The margin was back to the half time’s sixty six points. North Melbourne appeared to have achieved some late momentum, but the Dees continued to apply pressure on the Roos’ defensive 50.

JvR got his only goal when he took a diving mark from a Kade Chandler kick. He went back and did his usual ritual, raising the ball to eye level, measuring the kick, before running up and chipping the goal.

Melbourne started the final quarter with the same hunger they showed throughout the match. The players would have been keenly aware of the advantages a significant percentage boost would bring; especially at the end of a tight season. There was a couple of early chances, but it was the high performing Petracca who got the first, marking and scoring from 25m.

Jack Viney got one when he collected the ground ball from a stoppage, increasing the Demons’ lead to eighty five points. Then it was another goal for Chandler, ably assisted by Kozzie, when he marked the ball right next to the goal square.

Josh Schache kicked his first as a Demon when his set shot from 25m went through. There was much rejoicing with his teammates gathering around. He didn’t escape unscathed though. They do say a debut goal is better than a poke in the eye. Well, Schache seemed to have got both while being congratulated but he didn’t mind while he was being treated on the bench.

With the goal fest in full swing, the question was who would push the margin past one hundred. Of course it had to be Jake Bowey, the player who didn’t experience a Dees’ loss until his eighteenth game. Having reached the ton, would Melbourne be able to maintain the margin with less than seven minutes left on the clock? Brodie Grundy got it up to one hundred and eight with his second of the night but that’s as good as it got.

North seemed determined to salvage something from the night, even just denying the Dees a hundred plus victory. Zurhaar got his hat trick and pared it back to one hundred and two. Then Liam Sheils reduced it again with his set shot before Ben Cunnington brought it down to ninety, right on the siren.

A great result despite the late flurry from the Roos.

Next week we venture north to take on the Gold Coast Suns who’ve won back to back games for the first time this year. Melbourne will again be favourites but not complacent.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 4 – West Coast Eagles V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

The Eagles’ home ground is less Colosseum like these days. The baying crowds are still there but they are now significantly less intimidating for visiting teams. In fact Optus Stadium evokes pleasant memories of our 2021 Premiership.

Bailey Fritsch opened the scoring after marking an Ed Langdon specialty; the pocket to centre kick.

The Demons looked in control for the first few minutes but after that West Coast started to increase the pressure on Melbourne’s defence. However the young side struggled to make the most of their opportunities whereas the Dees were clinical when presented with a target. Kysaiah Pickett announced his return by collecting the bouncing ball in the centre and snapping a kick to Tom McDonald inside 50. The forward plucked the sherrin from the air and converted easily from 40m.

The Eagles regrouped and finally got into a scoring position when Jack Darling centered the ball to Noah Long 30m to the left of the uprights. The goal inspired the hosts and they threw themselves at Melbourne with renewed vigor. When Oscar Allen was awarded a free kick on the edge of the goal square, his around the corner kick meant the Eagles drew level on the scoreboard.

They tried but were unable to build on their momentum before T Mac marked a Jack Viney kick 25m out and went back to kick his second of the quarter. Melbourne had now scored three goals from six inside 50s; a stat to gladden the hearts of the faithful.

The Eagles continued to worry the Dees in their defensive 50 but rarely looked dangerous in attack. Up the other end, the Demons were causing sorts of bother for the home side. Bailey Fritsch’s kick from the 50m arc had Tom McDonald and Charlie Spargo running for the ball with only one Eagle for company. McDonald was unable to mark but Spargo collected the ground ball and snapped from the top of the goal square.

Tom McDonald was involved again when his inside 50 delivery was marked by Bailey Fritsch, 35m to the right of goal. Fritsch’s set shot after the siren gave the Dees a seventeen point quarter time lead.

After the break, the Eagles resumed the pressure on Melbourne. There was little reward though as West Coast made mistakes, frequently turning the ball over. They also scrambled to contain the Demons when they threatened to score. Eventually Bailey Fritsch had a half chance as he turned and snapped to notch up his hat trick.

Both sides were tackling hard but Melbourne was seeing much more of the ball, with the Eagles struggling to get into their forward 50. Even though the Dees had chances to extend their lead, they were unable to convert.

Then Tim Kelly was awarded a 50m penalty and he scored from the 50m line for a much needed West Coast goal, reducing the margin to nineteen points. Alex Neal-Bullen extended it out again when he trapped and snapped form 25m in front, after a convoluted run of play from Melbourne.

A minute later and Connor West was awarded a high tackle free. He converted from 40m to again bring it back to nineteen. Then with forty seconds to go in the half, Jack Viney was able to kick to the hot spot in front of goal where Charlie Spargo collect the mark. He decided to run quickly turning and snapping for his second.

West Coast was still in the game at the start of the third quarter and they had a few chances early on but were unable to make them count. Melbourne also had opportunities go begging until Christian Petracca took a mark 40m from home, then played on and snapped the first of the term.

After that goal, the Dees moved up a gear. Bailey Fritsch delivered a well weighted kick to Jack Viney who went back and hit the target.

West Coast wasn’t quite ready to raise the white flag yet though and Oscar Allen took a contested mark 30m out. His conversion restored some optimism to the fans. That optimism seemed premature however, as a minute later Kade Chandler sent a hand ball over the top to an unguarded T Mac standing near the goal square. The big forward was able to steer it through for a goal, much to the disappointment of the blue and yellow crowd seated in the stand behind the uprights.

Melbourne won the next clearance and ran for goal, fumbling back and forth along the way before Kade Chandler was able to run and snap, giving the Dees a forty one point lead. Then it was a case of McDonald goes fourth when he received a handpass from Pickett and launched a kick from 55m. The ball sailed over the top and bounced just over the line, shepherded along by Fritsch.

Jacob van Rooyen continued to build on his impressive debut in Round 3, marking the contested ball in front of goal. His set shot went through cleanly and the lead was out to fifty four points. Melbourne had completely dominated the quarter both on the ground and on the scoreboard. However it was West Coast who had the last word when Oscar Allen kicked his third from a set shot after the siren.

With a forty nine point lead, it looked like the Dees had it all wrapped up at the start of the final term. No rest for the Demons though. They piled on the pressure in their forward half and it finally paid off when Christian Petracca took a mark and slotted a 50m set shot for his second goal.

Whether you’re a Dee or an ex Dee it didn’t matter; the goals just kept coming, with Jayden Hunt marking in front and kicking it through for his new club.

When Tracca is playing well, it’s pure poetry. His pinpoint accurate kick to pick out van Rooyen in the square was perfect. The young gun then kicked around the corner to claim his second. There is much to admire about van Rooyen but his ability to instinctively know what he needs to do is hugely impressive. You can’t teach that.

Kozzy Pickett finally got his first major after a few false starts earlier in the game. His pick up of the ground ball and casual tap in make it look so easy. Sam Petrevski-Seton got one back with his set shot in front of goal before Tim Kelly added another following the bounce. Pickett got the last with his 30m set shot. He would have wanted more but I’m sure he’s saving it for the Bombers in Adelaide on Saturday.

Essendon will be tough. They’re playing very well this year and they always raise their game when fronting up to the Demons. Expect an entertaining fast paced game.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 3 – Melbourne v Sydney 

Liam Chambers

The Swans Get Their Wings Clipped (van Rooyen is a True ‘Un) 

Round 3 was the first full game without Max Gawn but a few firm favourites were back; notably Steven May and Bailey Fritsch, along with the ever-reliable veteran Michael Hibberd.

It was the debutant Jacob van Rooyen who was to have the first major impact on the game though. His mark just outside the 50m arc was well taken. Then his level headed kick to Alex Neal-Bullen, after the teenager spotted him running into position, was perfect. Neal-Bullen went back and kicked Melbourne’s first.

The signs were good for the Dees with their forwards getting behind the Swans’ defence with relative ease. Pinning the Swans in their defensive 50, Melbourne got another shot at goal when van Rooyen was taken high about 15m from goal. The youngster show great composure when taking the kick, slotting his first for the Demons.

Up the other end nothing was working for the opposition. They were winning the clearances but not getting the reward. Conversely, Melbourne was making the most of their chances, pressuring Sydney’s defence until they found a path to goal.

Kade Chandler is turning into a great goal assister (official informal title). His turning kick from just outside 50 was taken by the athletic Charlie Spargo. The small forward’s mark was unconventional but effective and his set shot was on target.

After the bounce, the Swans again won the clearance but again the Dees’ fended off the challenge. Finally, Sydney got a six pointer on the board when Lance “Buddy” Franklin managed to dribble one in after a few moments of chaos following a stoppage in front of goal.

Lachie Hunter redressed the balance when he was awarded a free kick 60m out. He was guaranteed a goal once the umpire gave out a 50m penalty for dissent. It was all Melbourne by that stage and Spargo was again involved in the action, wrong footing the defence and finding Ben Brown with a nicely weighted kick. Brown struck it perfectly and his 30m shot went through for the Dees’ fifth. A minute later it was six when Clayton Oliver kicked an accurate running shot from 40m.

It had been a great opening term for Melbourne but the Swans would have been frantically discussing their counter tactics during the break. Straightaway Sydney looked more aggressive, defending more urgently and counter attacking with a vengeance. It didn’t take them long to open the scoring with Tom Papley kicking a set shot from 45m. The visitors looked determined to add to their tally and they got the chance when an off the ball holding decision went against the Dees. Will Hayward was the beneficiary and he kicked it through to build on the Swans’ momentum.

They failed to main the rage however, allowing Melbourne to slowly wrest back control. When a loose ball was collected by Kade Chandler and snapped off his right boot, the lead was back out to twenty-three points. Bailey Fritsch celebrated his return by taking a contested mark while fending off Paddy McCartin (no easy feat). His set shot put some more daylight between the sides, stretching the margin to thirty points.

With eight goals from eight different kickers, it was turning into a promising afternoon for Demon fans. Having just scored at one end, Fritsch popped up in defence to take a contested mark. Unfortunately the ball came back inside 50 and was marked by the legendary Franklin who slotted his second. When James Rowbottom snapped a goal from 20m in front, it seemed that Sydney’s dogged persistence was paying off. The question now was how would the Dees respond?

That was answered by Lachie Hunter whose 45m set shot landed perfectly on his left boot and dropped beautifully through the posts. With a minute to go, Melbourne was still leading by twenty one points and would have been happy to have weathered the Sydney storm before regrouping in the break. Unfortunately, Logan McDonald somewhat spoiled that aspiration when he took a mark on the 50m line. His set shot hit the target and the Swans finished the half only trailing by fifteen points.

The Dees had the perfect start to the third quarter when Clayton Oliver was awarded a 50m penalty after he suffered a late contact while taking a mark. His kick from 35m notched up the second of the afternoon for the 150 game veteran.

Needless to say, the Sydney Swans haven’t got to where they are by being timid and they continued to take the fight to Melbourne. That aggression was typified by Tom Papley whose 40m running snap reduced the gap back to fifteen. Errol Gulden made it an eight point game when he somehow managed to get his boot to the sherrin in a highly congested pack. The match had suddenly become very competitive. The Swans won the clearance and Franklin marked 35m from goal. Fortunately he pulled it wide, giving the Dees a chance to reset.

Sydney, despite having dominated for most of the quarter, failed to capitalise on their momentum. Then when Kade Chandler had a difficult shot from the pocket, he steered it through to push the advantage out to two goals even. With the intensity rising, Simon Goodwin made a tactical substitution, bringing Jake Melksham on for Ben Brown. The forward was given the job of frustrating Paddy McCartin.

The Dees as a group were starting to frustrate the entire Swans side when Steven May’s perfectly placed kick was marked by Bailey Fritsch 35m from home. The reliable Fritsch didn’t disappoint and Melbourne started to pull away again. It was back to back for the Fritsch magnet when he turned and snapped after receiving a looping handball from Brodie Grundy.

Tom Papley kept Sydney in contention when he marked at 40m out, securing his hat trick. The margin yo yo’d back to twenty four points after Charlie Spargo picked up the loose ball in front of goal before kicking his second.

The frenetic high scoring third quarter set a precedent for the final term with Sydney desperate to get goals early. Melbourne was equal to the task; determined to maintain the upper hand. Ed Langdon has perfected the art form of centering a kick from the pocket and finding a teammate in a goal scoring position. This time his running kick found Kade Chandler who again hit the back of the net with his set shot.

With a comfortable thirty two point lead, the Dees were now going to be difficult to run down. Nick Blakey kept Sydney in the chase with his 40m set shot but all hope was abandoned two minutes later when Jacob van Rooyen took a contested mark 15m in front. It was a dream introduction for the first gamer. He must have thought he was really dreaming when he was awarded a free kick a minute later; this time from 40m in front. His effort sailed through and the Dees had an unassailable forty point lead.

In all the excitement, the Swans managed to scramble one back after winning the clearance and bursting through inside 50 where Will Hayward ran one in from the goal square. James Jordon took it back to forty points when he took a mark from Chandler (another assist) and made no mistakes with his cleanly taken set shot.

Not wanting to be left out, Harrison Petty marked a sublimely placed Christian Petracca kick and slotted one from 35m. Tom Sparrow had a go when he snapped a high ball through the uprights, boosting Melbourne’s already healthy percentage. Justin McInerney pulled one back to save some Sydney face but by then it was all over. Jake Melksham kicked one from the pocket, after the siren, to cap off a perfect night for the Demons.

The 50 point margin secured us the fourth spot on the ladder. I don’t know what the record is for the most individual goal scorers in a single game but I like to think we came close on Sunday afternoon.

Next week it’s the Eagles in Perth. They’re not as scary a prospect as they were a few seasons ago but we won’t be taking them for granted.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 2 – Brisbane V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

On a hot Brisbane night, it was the Lions who were first off the mark. Zac Bailey took advantage of a forward 50 stoppage and tap down to snap one in from the edge of the goal square. Two minutes later Tom McDonald was the beneficiary of a turnover that delivered him a set shot 35m from goal. He put it through the middle to even the scores.

Brisbane won another clearance, enabling Jarrod Berry to kick from 55m and claim the Lion’s second. While that goal was being scored, Captain Max Gawn was limping off the ground after what appeared to be an innocuous incident during the hitout. Fans initially feared the worst but thankfully post match scans revealed a ligament strain and not the dreaded ACL tear.

Even with their leader sidelined, the Demons initially seemed confident in their play with Christian Petracca slotting the second from a 55m set shot.

After the bounce the Lions started applying some intense forward pressure. Melbourne defended well but the sea of maroon was relentless. Despite Jake Lever’s best efforts, another Brisbane goal was looking inevitable and it finally eventuated via a 25m snap from Dayne Zorko.

Having set up camp comfortably inside their forward 50, Brisbane added a fourth when Will Ashcroft succeeded in drawing a high tackle, then converting his free kick in front of goal. The Lions were putting on a show for the faithful in the stands, again winning the clearance before Oscar McInerney took a contested mark. His set shot hit the target and the margin increased to nineteen points.

The night only go worse for the Demons when Joe Daniher got his hands on the ball after a stoppage just outside the goal square. He somehow managed to get a kick away in the right direction and watched as the sherrin bounced across the line. Quarter time couldn’t come soon enough. It was chaos at times but Melbourne managed to avoid conceding anymore before the break. The twenty five point deficit and the loss of Max Gawn meant it was going to be an uphill battle for the visitors.

Brisbane had dominated in all major stats and now the question was how would the Dees respond? Starting a match with Gawn out due to injury was one thing. Losing, arguably, their most influential player early on as a result of a potentially career ending incident was another matter entirely.

For most of the quarter, Melbourne didn’t concede any more goals, but they didn’t they score a major either and the gap remained stubbornly steady at twenty five points. Then Ben Brown gave the Demon Army something to cheer about when his 50m set shot found the space between the uprights.

It proved to be a short lived optimism however. Charlie Cameron ran out to take a mark 40m from goal and his subsequent set shot cancelled out Big Ben’s previous effort. Having never been much of a John Denver fan, the ritual of blasting out “Country Roads” after every Cameron goal was particularly grating on this occasion. To rub salt into the wounds, Brisbane again won the clearance and their attack on Melbourne’s defence resulted in another goal for Joe Daniher. The Lions now had a game high advantage of thirty one points and the signs were ominous for the Demons.

Despite the ongoing Brisbane pressure, Ben Brown was able to keep Melbourne’s hopes up with his set shot from the pocket, which bounce nicely across the line. Bailey Fritsch built on those hopes with his 50m set shot just before half time to bring it back to a more manageable twenty points.

The players would have been happier with their performance in the latter half of the previous quarter but trailing by twenty points meant they needed to get scores on the board and quickly.
The footy gods continued to smile on Brisbane however and another stoppage in front of goal resulted in Charlie Cameron getting the toe of his boot to the sherrin, notching up his second of the night. The next goal came after a huge pressure surge from the Lions, launching the footy into their forward 50 where Zac Bailey managed to control the ball before snapping it home; powering his side to a thirty two point lead.

The Dees were seriously scrambling now to limit the damage and trying desperately to hit back. It was all Brisbane though. When Zorko scored another, a missile from 40m, even the most optimistic Demon fan was reading the writing on the wall; albeit between gaps in the fingers covering their eyes.

Melbourne couldn’t seem to catch a break until Bailey Fritsch found himself alone in the Dees’ forward 50 and took a mark from Kade Chandler. Then it was just a case of walking in the goal. A small glimmer but at least something to build on. Unfortunately a couple of set shots went astray but then Alex Neal-Bullen took advantage of a loose ball to run through and score from the goal square.

The belief was back but then Lincoln McCarthy took a contested mark, on his second attempt, 25m in front. He converted and the lead was back to thirty two points. After that Joe Daniher seemingly sealed the deal with his third goal, one minute from three quarter time.

Melbourne have, in recent years, built a bit of a reputation as comeback kings but a thirty eight point margin at the beginning of the final term looked insurmountable. When Daniher scored from another set shot, this time from the pocket, a Demon win appeared almost impossible. New recruit Lachie Hunter wasn’t having it though and he snapped from just outside the square to reduce the gap to forty points. Stirring stuff but it still felt more like a consolation than a serious resurgence.

If the Dees were to have any chance, then Melbourne needed a major circuit breaker. As if on cue, the Gabba obliged. One second the Dees were racing up the field towards their goal, the next, the stadium was in darkness. After what seemed like an eternity, the officials blew the whistle to resume the game.

It was evident from the start of the restart that the momentum had shifted to Melbourne and they set about taking full advantage. Within a couple of minutes, Bailey Fritsch took a hand pass from Hunter and his round the body kick sailed in from 35m. It took another five minutes but Christian Petracca’s massive kick from the centre found an unmarked Ben Brown just outside the square and the big fellow just walked it in.

The clearances were finally going Melbourne’s way and another big kick from Tracca went deep inside 50, where Charlie Spargo combined with Kade Chandler to give the youngster another goal. Just over a minute later and Clayton Oliver nailed one from a 45m set shot. Four in a row and the lead was whittled down to eighteen points. Then Tom Sparrow was awarded a free kick just outside the 50m line. His shot went deep and in the confusion Ben Brown got a hold of the ball before tapping it in from 20m for his fourth of the evening.

The only thing stopping a Demons’ win now was the clock and unfortunately they couldn’t muster the final two majors for what would have been the upset of the decade. Brisbane were relieved and would have been justifiably dirty had the result gone against them at the death but it would have been a game for the ages.

It looks like Gawny will miss the next six weeks but he’ll take that over an ACL injury any day. We will miss his leadership but we have the talent to beat any team in the competition. The new look Dees sans Max will be severely tested in Round 3 when we take on the in form Swans.

I have a feeling the commentariat will be backing Sydney to win but we revel in the underdog status, so…

Go the Mighty Dees!!!