Round 9 – Melbourne V Hawthorn

So Close, Until It Wasn’t

Liam Chambers

Dees showed good form, staying in touch with the Hawks

With three wins under our belt, we could have been forgiven for feeling confident against a top four side that hadn’t been seriously challenged so far this year; okay, maybe Geelong.

Charlie Spargo had a chance to score the first major. It looked to be going through but suffered a late hook. A minute later Jacob van Rooyen had a set shot from a similar distance on the other side of the ground. It looked good initially but slipped passed the outside of the upright.

Then it was Hawthorn’s turn. Ruckman Lloyd Meek took a mark 40m in front of goal, then went back to make sure. Harvey Langford again showed his value as a Demon when he took a contested mark inside 50, then converted the 50m set shot to bring Melbourne level with the Hawks.

Luke Breust displayed why he’s still a goal scoring machine when he was on the end of Hawthorn wave, kicking from the edge of the square to give his side back the lead. Nick Watson increased it to twelve points when he slotted his 35m set shot.

Tom Sparrow had a chance to close the gap when he marked Clayton Oliver’s kick directly in front. No problems with the set shot. Melbourne almost made it a one point game after the siren but Bailey Fritsch’s boot couldn’t make clean contact, so it was a six point game at quarter time.

Inaccuracy in front of goal still a problem for Demons

Hawthorn started the second quarter by upping the pressure and making repeat entries into the Dees’ defensive 50. Melbourne eventually broke out and made some incursions of their own, deep into Hawks’ territory but were unable to make them pay. There were a couple of almost there, but no cigar.

The Dees would rue the wasted opportunities when Hawthorn made it back inside 50 and Dylan Moore marked and ran on, tapping the ball through from the edge of the goal square. Melbourne should have been a couple of goals up by the latter half of the term, but inaccuracy in front of goal continued to let them down.

It also didn’t help that a blatant foul on Kozzie Pickett in the square was ignored by the Umpires. The subsequent set shot would have been a certain goal. When Kozzie was fouled again less than a minute later, his set shot was cleanly taken. Up the other end, Nick Watson was awarded a free kick in the pocket and the margin was back out to nine points.

Just before the break, Jai Newcombe went to mark but left the ball on the ground. Harvey Langford pounced, collecting the ball and snapping it through for his second of the afternoon.

Low scoring quarter has sides neck and neck

Despite not being able to make the most of their scoring opportunities in the first half, there was a lot of positives for Melbourne, especially with respect to their younger players.  It continued to be a low scoring game, with inaccuracy in front of goal letting both sides down.

Eventually it was Josh Ward who scored the first goal of the third quarter, when he received the hand pass inside 50 and had enough space before chipping the ball from 20m out.

As mentioned earlier Melbourne has some very talented younger players and Harvey Langford is proving himself to be an important asset, as he showed again when he took a contested mark on the edge of the square. His set shot was efficiently taken and it was back to a two point game. Speaking of young talent time, Harry Sharp’s running kick from 40m was calm and clinical, giving Melbourne back the lead.

With three minutes to go, Hawthorn reclaimed the advantage when Jack Ginnivan marked in the pocket and converted with his round the corner 20m set shot.

Hawks press turbo and accelerate to the finish line

With such a slim margin going into the final term, it was anyone’s game. However, even the most optimistic Demon fan knows that, in recent times, we reserve our worst footy for the fourth quarter. Our opponents know that too and it is now so ingrained in our psyche that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We all crossed everything and hoped that it’s different this time.

Two minutes in and Max Gawn takes a contested mark inside 50. Everyone holds their but the kick is just off target.

Then Jack Gunston manages to get at the top of the square, receives the hand pass and taps the ball across the line. Five minutes later and Gunston, who couldn’t hit the side of a barn all afternoon, marks in the pocket and cleanly converts.

With the biggest lead of the game, the Hawks had the wind at their backs. Mabior Choi then took an impressive mark, edging Tom McDonald off the ball in the process. Again, the set shot was cleanly taken and the advantage was out to nineteen.

The Dees needed something special to give the faithful some hope; who would answer the call. Who else, but Kozzie Pickett. After some impressive get out of trouble hand passing in their defensive 50, they finally broke through and Pickett was the last player in the chain. His ran from the middle of the ground, evading the clutches of Bailey MacDonald, bounced the sherrin twice and launched from the 50m arc. The ball landed just over the line and the hope was back.

Mabior Choi got his second when he snapped from 25m in front and the hill became a little steeper for Melbourne. With each passing minute, the chance of a winning comeback became less and less lightly. The way things were now panning out for Jack Gunston, he could have closed his eyes, kicked the ball over his head and still nailed a goal. His casual 45m kick from the pocket sailed through with the greatest of ease.

After the centre bounce, Josh Weddle got in on the action by snapping one from 35m out.

There were no more goals but Melbourne had conceded six goals after being neck and neck with the Hawks all afternoon.

We played well for the majority of the match but in the end Hawthorn proved that they deserved to be in the top three.

Unfortunately the news doesn’t get any better for Demon fans. Next up we travel to Brisbane to face the reigning premiers at the Gabbatoir. We will be odds on favourites to get completely trounced, but Melbourne have a history of upsetting the punters when the odds are stacked against us.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 7 – Richmond V Melbourne

We Won Again!

Liam Chambers

Demons in control, but last minute mistakes prove costly

After Round 6’s drought breaking performance, there were high hopes of back to back victories when we lined up against the Tigers for the Anzac Eve game. Richmond’s confidence was also given a boost in Round 6 with their unexpected win over potential finalists Gold Coast Suns.

It took ten minutes for the first goal to register on the scoreboard. Ed Langdon, the recipient an uncontested mark, was then tackled and dragged to the ground, resulting in a 50m penalty. Langdon’s set shot from 40m in front was cleanly taken and the Dees were away.

Both sides had chances to add to the goal tally, but it took almost another ten minutes for the second major. This time, an unguarded Bailey Fritsch was gifted the sherrin just to the left of the square. His quickly taken shot went through for a thirteen point advantage.  Then it was Kade Chandler’s turn, when he launched from the 50m arc to send the footy straight through the uprights.

Just before quarter time, Sam Lalor took an uncontested mark just inside the arc. He converted from 50m to give the Tigers their first goal, with a minute remaining in the term.
It looked like Melbourne would go in at the break leading by eleven points, but with literally one second left on the clock, Tim Taranto was fouled in front of goal. He went back and kicked the goal, reducing the margin to five.

Demons and Tigers play ping with the scoreboard

The Demons dodged a bullet very early in the second term, when Tom Lynched missed an easy 30m set shot.  Steely Green didn’t miss though, with his difficult set shot from deep in the pocket, giving his side the lead for the first time in the match.

Melbourne then had a bit of luck when a Richmond free kick was reversed after Jake Bowey was hit just outside the 50m. The shot was taken quickly in the goal square by Harrison Petty, giving the Dees back the lead.

Rhyan Mansell took it back again after he was deemed to have been held at the top of the goal square. Then the normally stingy Nick Vlastuin kicked the ball straight to Harrison Petty, who then made no mistakes with the 35m set shot.

Melbourne builds up an imposing buffer

Melbourne had the perfect start to the second half when Charlie Spargo’s long kick from the middle of the ground found Kysaiah Pickett, who leapt up to take the uncontested mark. After scoring five majors in Round 6, Kozzie had his first of the afternoon when he slotted the 30m set shot.

The Dees next goal was pure poetry in motion, as Christian Petracca managed to find some space by zig zagging around the Tigers’ defence, ably assisted by Chandler and Gawn, before snapping from 40m.

We didn’t have to wait too long for the next goal and it was classic Fritsch. After some frantic hand passing on the edge of the 50m arc, Bailey Fritsch found enough space to run and snap a banana shot that floated back beautifully through the uprights, extending the Demons lead out to twenty two points.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though, and when Tom Lynch’s attempt at a singled handed mark didn’t yield the desire result, he had enough time to turn and control the bouncing sherrin, before tapping it across the goal line.

Tom Sparrow redressed the balance almost immediately with his desperate tackle on Nick Vlastuin near the top of the goal square. Sparrow went back and made no mistake locating the space between the big sticks.

Surely Kolton Tholstrup must be up for the most complicated mark of the year with his incredible juggling feat 20m from goal. His was neat in his execution of the set shot, and it was a twenty nine advantage to the Dees.

Christian Petracca is back to his best and strongest; his pinpoint accurate 50m set shot was impressive.

Dees victorious but let guard down in latter half of final term

Going into the last quarter thirty five points up was a scoreline to gladden the hearts of the Demon faithful. Then, when Kade Chandler kicked the first goal to make it a forty one point advantage, it would be a brave punter to bet against a Melbourne win.

Kozzie Pickett should have had another goal, but his 40m snap was deemed touched before it landed in the square and bounced across the line. The review ruled against the goal Umpire, which is rare but them’s the breaks.

With seven minutes left on the clock, the Dees were forty four points in front. A win looked assured, but also the margin would also help boost to our percentage.

Then Tom Lynch ran out to take a contest mark 25m in front. He made sure with the set shot to claw one back for the Tigers. Lynch got another two minutes later when he kick an around the corner to claim his hat trick. Tim Taranto also got another when he snapped one from 15m to reduce the margin to twenty five points. Toby Nankervis made it four in a row when he slotted his 35m set shots.

Luckily, there was only just over one hundred seconds left on the clock, otherwise Demon fans would be getting extremely nervous. The fact that Richmond scored all their four goals for the quarter after Max Gawn was taken off is somewhat concerning, but overall back to back wins is encouraging.

We head to Perth for Round 8 to play the winless West Coast. The Eagles played well in their Round 2 game against Brisbane; mainly in the first half. The Lions recovered to win but we don’t want to have to play catch up if West Coast come out swinging hard early.

If we focus on what we’ve been doing well in the last couple of weeks, then my money’s on Melbourne.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 6 – Melbourne V Fremantle

We Won!

Liam Chambers

Melbourne wind back the clock

From the start, there was a desperation to the Demon’s team that’s been missing since their opening game. The players were running, chasing and tackling hard.

The first goal came against the run of play, after Andrew Brayshaw was awarded a free kick directly in front. His 50m shot was accurate and the Dockers were on the board.

When Kozzie Pickett is in form, he doesn’t miss much and his snap from 40m was spot on. The second Melbourne goal came quickly when Ed Langdon’s kick inside 50 found Harrison Petty, who ran out to mark the ball. He made no mistake with the set shot and it was back to back for the Dees.

Demon fans had to rub their eyes to make sure they were awake when Trent Rivers took a contested mark and ran inside 50 before launching from 45m to make it three in a row for Melbourne. The Dees were applying intense pressure on Freo and tackling hard whenever their opponents got the ball.

Shai Bolton showed that he’s a real asset to his new club when he marked in the pocket, before making the difficult 45m set shot look easy. Then Murphy Reid pulled the Dockers level when his snap from 40m went through. By now the initial euphoria had worn off for Melbourne fans, and for a few minutes Fremantle looked to have the upper hand.

But wait, Petty marks the ball on the 50m arc, then goes back to have a kick. Surely not, but the big fellow takes his time before running up and striking perfectly from 55m, taking back the lead for his side. Melbourne won the centre bounce and Jack Viney hammered it straight inside 50, where Jake Melksham was deemed to be held. He just missed to the right, possibly not helped by the gash on his right knee.

The Demons had the momentum now, and the pressure on their opponents was sky high. Also impressive was how accurate their kicking and marking was, allowing them to work up the ball up the ground. They eventually got it inside 50 again, where Christian Petracca collected the tapped down ball, before snapping around the corner from the pocket. The Demons were back out to a two goal lead.

Unfortunately, just before quarter time, Josh Treacy was able to get in behind our defence and mark the ball near the top of the square, before running on and tapping it through for a goal.

Undeterred, the Dees won the hitout and Petracca’s hand pass to Viney saw the midfielder running and side stepping his way inside 50, then launching from 40m to widen the gap to eleven points.

Dees up and down but finish the half strongly

Melbourne couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second term. Kade Chandler’s kick from 60m out would have been looking for a mark, but instead it bounced just outside the square and then flipped its way across the goal line.

A couple of minutes later and Sean Darcy took his first disposal, an uncontested mark 30m in front of goal. He went back and converted, bringing the margin back to eleven.

It was a case of right place, right time for Kade Chandler when Luke Ryan couldn’t quite mark the sherrin. Chandler pounced swiftly, grabbing the ball as it fell, then turning and tapping it across the line. Everything was flowing smoothly as the Dees transitioned the ball from one end of the ground to the other, culminating in Harrison Petty marking the sherrin on the edge of the square. As Kozzie Pickett ran towards the top of the goal square, Petty hand passed to the small forward, gifting him his hat trick for the afternoon.

Once again we won the hitout and Viney and Pickett combined to get the ball inside 50, where Kozzie’s 40m snap gave him back to back goals and Melbourne a twenty nine point buffer. A mistake in defence gave Murphy Reid a chance to claw one back for Freo but luckily he sprayed it to the right.

It was a case of second time unlucky when Jye Amiss was awarded a free kick for a down field foul. His 20m set shot was successful and the margin was reduced to twenty two points. Suddenly it was the Dockers who had the momentum and they were pushing forward at a rate of knots. When Jeremy Sharp received the ball on the edge of the arc, he launched from 49m to make it a sixteen point game.

Encouragingly, the Dees were still prepared to take on Fremantle and kept up the pressure on their rivals. Earlier in the quarter, Chandler scored a lucky goal when the ball bounced fortuitously; now Shai Bolton had an even luckier goal, when his chip from the pocket bounced over two players, landing in the goal square and then bounced at exactly the correct angle to cross the line.
From twenty nine points, it was now back to ten and Melbourne were on the back foot.

Then Kozzie took one of the marks of the year so far when he used Petty’s back as a ladder to grab Harvey Langford’s kick from 70m out on the wing. Pickett converted with ease to claim his fourth of the afternoon. Harrison Petty has struggled to score in recent times but today he was in fine form and his third goal was possibly his easiest, but also required quick thinking, as he soccered through ball from the top of the square.

Melbourne hold firm while Fremantle rue some missed opportunities

It was more of the same from Melbourne at the start of the second half. The Umpire was a little concerned that Fremantle might fall further behind, so gave two glaringly obvious holding the ball incidents the benefit of the doubt. It worked, and the Dockers were able to move the ball out of their defensive 50 and down the ground to where Oscar McDonald was waiting to take an uncontested mark.

The former Demon had previously only scored three goals in his eighty eight game AFL career, but in the tradition of ex Melbourne footballers playing against their old team, he went back and easily slotted the 40m set shot. The next five minutes was intense, as Freo fought to make the most of their new found momentum but a series of errors and fumbles on both sides went largely unpunished.

Then, following an impressive transition by the Dees, Kozzie Pickett produced yet another piece of magic with his contested mark 40m from goal. He ran on, showing Josh Draper a clean pair of heels, before slamming the sherrin into the stand to notch up his fifth of the match. With the advantage back out to twenty points, Melbourne went hunting for more goals.

The Dockers didn’t want to go in at three quarter time trailing by any more than the current margin and when Shai Bolton marked in the pocket and converted the 35m kick, he made his side’s mission a little less difficult. Harvey Langford pushed Melbourne’s advantage back out to nineteen points, with the assistance of Harry Sharp’s clever hand pass on the edge of the square.

Both sides had opportunities to add to their goals tallies, but it was the sub Isaiah Dudley who brought Freo back into contention with his mark in the pocket and follow on set shot. When Melbourne won the last centre bounce clearance of the quarter, they headed straight down towards their forward 50, where Harrison Petty was deemed to have been held. The re positioned key defender went back and slotted his fourth, to give the Dees a handy nineteen point buffer, going into the final term.

Demons get the job done

Every Melbourne fan would have been holding their breath and wondering if this was it. Could we maintain the lead and win our first game of the season? We had played some of our best footy in a long time and now it was as much a psychological game, as a physical one.

Big Max had a chance to extend the lead early in the piece, but his disposition to hook the straightforward set shots came back to haunt him, and it remained a four goal game. As the clock ticked down to ten minutes remaining, the tension was almost unbearable. Surely the footy gods couldn’t be so cruel as to allow Fremantle to snatch a late victory.

Then, when it looked like Jye Amiss was about to score, Trent Rivers threw himself at full stretch just managing to grab the key forward’s shorts and preventing a certain goal. Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Jye Amiss secured the mark at the top of the square and it was a nail biting two goal game. It seemed that Jye Amiss had put his recent jitters behind him when he marked deep in the pocket and slotted the difficult set shot.

Now there was only a measly six points between glorious victory and another disappointing loss. Shai Bolton didn’t do us any favours during the majority of the game, but when he decided to run on instead of taking the 50m set shot, he missed the lot, becoming an instant honorary Demon in the process.

Then when Harvey Langford snapped a 30m kick across the goal line, it was back to a two goal margin. With just under four minutes to go Tom Sparrow added another point and a little more breathing space. Then Gawny hooked a 50m set shot, after first taking the allowed thirty seconds. Jake Melksham almost sealed it with a banana off his right boot, but we had a comfortable fifteen point lead with two minutes to go.

There was still time for Freo but Gawny’s magnificent mark in the centre took another few seconds off the clock. A slight wobble when Sean Darcy marked 25m from the goal, but the twenty seconds he took to kick the set shot meant the dockers now couldn’t score the two goals required for victory. Nonetheless, it was a relief to see Max Gawn awarded a free kick for being held in the ruck and from there the Dees passed the ball until the siren sounded.

Finally we were back to playing the way we know our talented footballers are capable of, and it was a morale boost for our club. We won’t kid ourselves that our next game against Richmond will be easy, but if we play with the same conviction, I have no doubt we will go back to back.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 5 – Melbourne V Essendon

Some Good Moments But No Sustained Momentum

Liam Chambers

Essendon look hungrier from the first bounce.

After a promising start against GWS in Round 1, we are currently languishing second from bottom on the ladder. The Bombers, fresh from their win over Port Adelaide, would be keen to build on their momentum and Melbourne would be expecting a tough game.

Essendon had their first major when Harrison Jones marked in front of goal and slotted his 50m kick. Jye Menzie made it two in a row for the Bombers when he snapped a 15m shot from the right of the square.

Kysaiah Pickett opened his 2025 account with a scintillating goal after an attempted mark was thwarted. He quickly recovered to collect the loose ball on the bounce, before tapping it across the line.

Essendon’s response came three minutes later when Ben Hobbs received a hand pass after an inside 50 stoppage. His snap from 35m sailed through the uprights, extending the margin to fourteen points. The Bombers pressure continued, with Melbourne struggling to contain the attacks on their defensive 50.

The Dees did eventually make into their forward 50 but the efforts didn’t pay dividends, with attempts on goal only resulting in minor scores.

Melbourne’s woes continue to stack up

Melbourne started the second term with more intent and it eventually paid off when Ed Langdon took an uncontested mark 40m in front. He was then awarded a 50m penalty for sustaining a hit after the mark. His point blank shot reduced the deficit to six points.

Essendon was meeting more resistance from the Demons when trying to make their up the ground. The uncontested marks had dried up for the visitors, but their pressure remained near the top of the barometer. Eventually they broke through when Jye Menzie manage to chip the sherrin over the heads of the Melbourne players to score his second of the afternoon.

The Dees seemed to have no problem winning the ball from the centre bounce, but the issues started once they ventured inside 50. Essendon’s defence cut off any advance, and from there the Bombers could launch their own counter attack. When they found themselves inside 50, they were making Melbourne pay. It happened again when Nate Caddy took a contested mark and made sure with his 30m kick.

Once again the Dees won the centre clearance but stumbled as they navigated inside 50. Essendon made the most of a clearance win midfield and made their way goalwards, where Dylan Shiel marked 40m from goal. His set shot was successful, leaving Melbourne trailing by twenty four points.

Once again, the Dees won the centre clearance but couldn’t find a clear path once inside 50. Then Essendon retaliated with a run through the corridor where Sam Draper marked before kicking to Jye Menzie. The forward marked the ball 25m in front of goal. Menzie then claim his hat trick with his set shot.

Nothing was working for the Demons, with the only consolation being the Bombers failure to kick another goal before half time.

Demon launch fightback to stay in contention

When Archie Perkins was awarded a free kick in the pocket, shortly after the start of the second half, the signs were ominous. His set shot conversion only deepened our gloom. Despite the Bombers determination to make a statement and the thirty five point deficit, Melbourne wasn’t about to lay down and let their opponents have it all their own way.

Harrison Petty’s mark in the pocket was a welcome reprieve. He almost played on immediately but instead went back. The 40m set shot looked to be veering left but eventually made it through with plenty to spare.

The Dees’ next goal was a beautiful sight. Bailey Fritsch was taking a free kick from the boundary near the 50m line but saw an opportunity and ran on, kicking from the arc and sending the ball soaring through the big sticks. For the first time in the game, Melbourne finally had the momentum and were making the most of it, chasing and attacking at every opportunity.

When Bailey Fritsch was slammed after taking an uncontested mark inside 50, he was awarded a 50m penalty and promptly walked to the square to make it back to back goals for himself and three in row for the Demons. It felt like old times when Jake Melksham took a contested mark on the wing, then ran on inside 50, where he pick out Kozzie Pickett with a perfectly weight kick. Kozzie didn’t disappoint with his cleanly taken 20m set shot.

Seemingly all good things must come to an end though, and so it was when Xavier Duursma marked and converted from 30m in front.

With two minutes to go, Harry Sharpe brought it back to ten points when Charlie Spargo performed some impressive ducking and weaving, eventually getting the ball to his fellow forward, who ran on and chipped it over the line.

Then, when it looked like Melbourne would go in at three quarter time looking competitive, Stephen May was robbed by both the Umpire and Nic Martin for what was undoubtedly a mark. Incredibly it wasn’t paid and the gap widened to sixteen points.

No relief in final quarter, as Demons bombed by Essendon

Demon fans were hoping for more of the same when the sides took to the ground for the final term.

Within four minutes though, it was obvious that the Bombers were back firing on all cylinders; Jade Gresham took an uncontested mark at the top of the goal square and immediately played on, tapping the ball across the line. As the clock ticked down, the chances of a Demon’s win receded, and when Ben Hobbs took an uncontested mark in front of goal, it looked very grim indeed. After Hobbs slotted the goal, it virtually sealed the deal for Essendon.

Tom Sparrow’s snapped from the top of the square provided some hope, but it turned out to be just a consolation goal in the end.

Nate Caddy’s 40m set shot with five minutes left only rubbed salt into the wounds. Mason Redman’s bullet from 60m with twenty seconds remaining seemed unnecessarily cruel, but Jye Menzie’s fourth from inside the goal square, just before the siren was brutal.

We play Fremantle at home next. Best not to think of our last two games against the Dockers and just go out and play our best footy.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 4 – Geelong V Melbourne

Demons Launch Two Comebacks But Third Time Proves Unlucky

Liam Chambers

Dees out of the blocks early but Cats finish term strongly

We’ve played some close games against Geelong in recent years, with Melbourne securing the chocolates in last season’s clash. While both sides have under preformed so far this year, the pressure was well and truly on the Demons to secure their first win of 2025.

It was a good start for Melbourne, when Christian Petracca issued a statement of intent as he curled a 25m snap to opening the scoring.

It took the Cats ten minutes to kick their first goal, and Jeremy Cameron took the honours, after he was awarded a free kick in the square. In a low scoring quarter, Geelong finally got their second when Patrick Dangerfield marked in the pocket and converted from 45m out.

With only a minute left to play, Dangerfield was once again involved in getting the ball up the ground. As the sherrin flew inside 50, late inclusion Rhys Stanley leapt up to take the mark, then scored from the set shot.

Demons struggle but remain competitive with mid quarter resurgence

Despite being evenly matched for the majority of the first term, the two late goals from Geelong, gave the hosts a fifteen point advantage at the start of second quarter.

Both sides had scoring opportunities in the first five minutes, but were unable to land the coup de grace, until veteran Patrick Dangerfield scooped up the ground ball and swivelled quickly to snap the ball over the heads of Harrison Petty and Shannon Neale; who were fighting it out on the goal line.

After the goal, the Demons were on the back foot as Geelong sought to press their advantage. Eventually it paid off when Jack Bowes’ banana kick from the pocket found the space between the posts, stretching the lead out to a worryingly twenty nine point margin in favour of the Cats.

At this stage, Melbourne fans would have been bracing themselves for yet another big loss. Christian Petracca had other ideas however, and when he marked a Bailey Fritsch kick in the left pocket, he made sure of the 45m set shot to claim his second goal, giving the true believers a much needed boost.

Jacob van Rooyen has yet to score multiple goals in a single game this season, but his set shot from just inside the arc drew his side closer to the Cats. It was almost back to back for the young ruck/forward but he just couldn’t hold to the chest mark in the goal square.

Then, down the other end, Sam DeKoning snapped in front of goal to claw one back for Geelong. Less than a minute later, Harvey Langford redressed the balance for the Demons with his impressive pickup and follow on kick from 40m.

Melbourne had a few more chances to score but were unable to capitalise, and the margin remained at fifteen points when half time siren sounded.

Melbourne fail to make the most of their opportunities

The Dees urgently needed to recapture the attacking frenzy that paid dividends in the latter half of the previous quarter, and also to prevent Geelong from taking control again.

Nothing seemed to be going Melbourne’s way for the first ten minutes, then an awkward kick by Bailey Fritsch from the wing to the centre of the ground bounced fortuitously for Jack Viney. The unorthodox tactic caught the Cats off guard, as did Kozzie Pickett’s brilliant kick to Daniel Turner, which was marked directly in front. Disco didn’t falter with his 20m set shot and now it was a ten point game.

The Dees looked in the ascendancy after Turner’s goal, but a series of mishaps let Geelong off the hook, and eventually an opportunity presented itself inside 50. Jack Bowes took advantage to of the situation to snap a goal from the pocket. Then Dangerfield marked 40m out and put the Cats ahead by twenty three points, claiming his hat trick in the process.

Just when it looked like Geelong had all the momentum, Pickett took an exceptional semi contested mark in the middle of the ground, and his kick to inside 50 eventually found its way to Ed Langdon. The midfielder ran on and snapped from the pocket, reeling the margin back in to seventeen points.

There were further chances for both teams, but a series of minor scores meant the margin was still a manageable sixteen points at three quarter time.

Geelong accelerate to the finish line

Final quarters haven’t been kind to Melbourne in recent times, but when Bailey Fritsch took an impressive contested mark in the third minute of play, it felt like it could be the launching pad for another exciting comeback. Unfortunately the set shot proved disappointing.

Five minutes later Shannon Neale made sure of his own set shot, and hopes of a Demon victory started to fade. Soon afterwards, a 20m snap from Shaun Mannagh put a potential win further out of reach for the visitors.

With just over seven minutes remaining, Tyson Stengle sealed the deal for Geelong with his 35m set shot from the pocket. Stengel got another chance when he marked to the left of the goal square. Then, to make sure he didn’t miss, the Umpire awarded him a 50m penalty.

There’s no way of sugar coating Melbourne’s performance. It was our lowest score since Round 16 of the 2023 season. It’s also our worst start to a season in thirteen years. Unless we turn things around quickly, we will struggle to make the finals again this year.

On the positive side we did play well for periods in the first three terms, but our inefficiency in front of goal is deeply concerning.

Having said that, each new game is an opportunity to redeem ourselves. We face Essendon in the Gather Round, so let’s get the job done in Adelaide.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!