Round 17 – St Kilda V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

With a roof over their heads, Melbourne didn’t have to worry about playing in the rain this week. Also, their recent record at Marvel has been good, boding well for the must win match.

The game started badly for St Kilda when star goal kicker Max King made his way off the field with an injured shoulder; his season potentially over. Demon fans would cast their minds back to Round 15 when Jeremy Cameron’s injury only motivated Geelong to play one of their best games all year.

Alex Neal-Bullen put the Dees on the board by emerging from a stoppage, stumbling into the square, evading the grasping Saints and landing a kick into the goal.

Afterwards, St Kilda’s pressure was incessant as they pushed Melbourne back into their defensive half. Their sheer determination meant something would eventually have to give, and it did when Jack Steele took a mark just inside the arc. He kicked the 50m set shot, levelling the scores.

After the goal, the Saints took advantage of their momentum, forcing Melbourne to continually defend. A few efforts were thwarted before Jade Gresham booted a long shot from 55m to give his side a nine point lead. While the goal was being celebrated, Seb Ross was sitting forlornly on the bench with a suspected hamstring injury, and he too was subbed out. A minute later St Kilda extended their lead further when Mason Wood snapped from 40m in front.

We could have been forgiven for thinking the Saints were on a thumping victory trajectory, but I clung to my optimistic pre game prediction of a six goal first term for the Dees. They said I was a dreamer, but I said, “I’m not the only one”.

After the bounce, Melbourne won the clearance and took off for goal like the winner of a one minute trolley dash; eventuating in Lachie Hunter being taken high on the edge of the square. The wingman converted to reduce the deficit. The Dees had a second in quick succession when Ben Brown stole the mark, 30m from goal.

Then Ed Langdon gave Melbourne the lead with his opportunistic attempt from the right of the goal square. Ed looked slightly perplexed, as he was helped to his feet by his team mates; possibly not realising that the ball had gone through the uprights.

Once St Kilda had recovered from the flurry of Demon goals, they quickly regrouped and resumed their attack on Melbourne’s defence. They couldn’t quite regain their earlier momentum however and the Dees easily dealt with the renewed pressure.

Then with under three minutes remaining, Christian Petracca took an exceptional mark deep inside 50, and was quickly goalward bound before booting the ball from the middle of the goal square, sending it high into the stands.

Melbourne maintained the lead despite Mattaes Phillipou’s attempt, which actually landed on top of the upright. Luckily, there’s no points for trick shots of that quality. Angus Brayshaw attempted a 60 plus metre shot after the siren but unfortunately was unable to fulfill my prophecy of six majors in the quarter.

Q2 – three Saints down

With three of their players subbed out, the Saints looked to be on the back foot. They obviously didn’t get the memo though, as they continued to go all out in attacking Melbourne. The pressure was paying off with St Kilda setting up several set shots on goal, as well as creating other opportunities inside 50. However, they were suffering from the same affliction that has plagued the Dees for the past month and their accuracy left a lot to be desired.

The Saints completely dominated the first half of the term, but then Melbourne slotted the opening goal against run of play. Jake Melksham has settled nicely into his role as Bailey Fritsch’s replacement. His around the corner from deep in the pocket was perfectly executed.

After the goal, St Kilda just kept pushing forward before Mitch Owens was awarded a free kick in the square. It was an easy set shot to make it a one goal game.

The Dees counter attacked after the bounce and eventually landed the ball inside 50, where Ben Brown went for the mark and was taken high. Tom Sparrow immediately played on, taking the advantage and snapping from 25m to restore the lead to twelve points.

Melbourne then assumed control of the ball, slowing down the play to their advantage. The Saints just kept coming though, powering forward when they got hold of the sherrin. They couldn’t slot any more goals before half time though, trailing the Dees by thirteen points at the break.

Q3 – a slim 2 points

Whereas the Saints had dominate inside 50 in the first half, their efficiency once inside the arc was severely lacking. Also, Steven May was having an enormous night. Not having to shadow Max King, freed up the defender to intercept mark like it was going out of fashion.

Five minutes in, Jake Melksham hit the post with his around the corner set shot attempt, making it three all for posters so far in the game.

When Christian Petracca took an intercept mark, 40m from the target, he had the look of a player who had rediscovered his goal kicking mojo. He steered the shot cleanly giving the Dees a twenty one point cushion.

The Saints were still in it though and when Jack Billings converted from 40m in the pocket, St Kilda fans were on their feet. They barely had time to sit down again when Cooper Sharman took a mark 30m in front. Suddenly the lead had been whittled down to nine points and the hosts were again threatening an upset.

Melbourne though, was able to pad out their buffer when Ben Brown tapped down an attempted mark and Petracca ran past, collecting the footy en route. The all rounder then booted from the edge of the square to claim his hat trick.

There were no more goals when the three quarter siren sounded, with the Dees having won the term by a slim two points.

Q4 – all over with Trac’s 4th

The Saints had given everything in the first three quarters in an attempt to climb over the top of the Demons. The question now was, could they maintain the rage and clinch a famous victory.

The home crowd was cheering on their understrength side, willing them to keep going and they didn’t disappoint. The pressure on Melbourne defensive half was unrelenting and there were a few fumbles and stumbles along the way, as they continued to deflect the onslaught.

Fortunately for the Dees, St Kilda was unable to convert their chances. The Saints would have reflected on the bitter irony that the team who struggled to hit the target in recent games, was now landing goals against the run of play. Jake Melksham kicked his second from another round the corner shot; doing a great job filling Bailey Fritsch’s footy boots.

Then, just when the Demon army thought it was safe to relax, St Kilda stole one back twenty seconds after the clearance. Mitch Owens found just enough space to snap one from the top of the goal square.

Melbourne almost returned the favour, after winning the hitout and taking off for goal. The debutant Taj Woewodin received a handball as he ran inside 50, then snapped from 30m. His spontaneous celebrations were premature unfortunately, as the sherrin just skimmed the outside of the right hand upright.

A few minutes later Tom “Jack” Sparrow created his own piece of history when marked and converted to score his second goal in a match, for the first time in his sixty six game career. Surely Sparrow’s goal was going to seal the deal? Dees’ fans couldn’t relax though. Back to back losses and a gritty St Kilda side were enough to keep the doubt alive.

When Jake Gresham nailed his 40m set shot, the Saints still had five minutes kick another three goals and win.

It looked like St Kilda could in fact pull off a miracle when Mitch Owens marked five metres from the goal line. It was a false dawn however as Judd McVee was held off the ball behind the marker and awarded a free kick. The fans were incensed but the free was legit.

The Saints would be justified in believing that they had somehow angered the footy gods when Cooper Sherman’s snap from 35m landed next to the goal line before flipping back into the hands of Ed Langdon.

With a minute to go, St Kilda knew it was all over but would still have been dismayed to see Christian Petracca mark a Jake Melksham kick, 40m out in the pocket. Tracca then capped off a stirling game with his superbly taken set shot to notch up his fourth goal.

Post match – locking down 4th

With the victory, the Dees managed to put some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. It was hard won and locked them into fourth spot on the ladder.

Congratulations to Christian Salem on his milestone 150th game. His twenty four disposals was an integral cog in the Melbourne machine on the day.

Brisbane are seemingly invincible at the Gabbatoir but surprisingly, they have lost four of their seven away games this season. Those stats will mean nothing however if we are not at our best on Friday night. Now that we are scoring more goals than behinds, let’s show the Lions we’re after that number three position.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 15 – Geelong v Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Even though Geelong has been underperforming as reigning Premiers, the Cattery is still a daunting venue for visiting teams. Of their seven prior home games this season, they had only lost two. The first to Collingwood and the second, by only seven points, to GWS. Melbourne would need everything to go right on the night.

The Cats got their first when Tyson Stengle kicked a 45m shot from deep in the pocket. Melbourne’s response was immediate but unfortunately Joel Smith’s 15m snap hit the post.

Geelong then had a second, via a lucky break, when Tanner Bruhn kicked from outside 50 to the goal square. There the ball bounced across the line with Michael Hibberd in hot pursuit.

Following the goal, there was an incident involving Jeremy Cameron as the victim of friendly fire; having collided with Gary Rohan. The match was delayed for ten minutes while Geelong’s leading goal scorer was assessed and then stretchered off the field, playing no further part in the game. Fortunately subsequent tests have ruled out any serious injury.

Gary Rohan was obviously devasted, but my initial thought was that the forward would now play his heart out to make up for his unintended mistake.

The Dees got the first goal after the delay, when Bailey Fritsch marked and converted from 20m to the left of goal.

Then with three minutes to go in the quarter, Rohan marked and kicked from 40m, directly in front, to increase the Cat’s advantage to fifteen points.

To add to the Demons’ dilemma, the rain started falling. However a silver lining appeared when Joel Smith created something out of nothing with his around the corner snap 25m from goal.

Both sides were racking up the minor points in the second term, but it took until the halfway mark before Geelong got the first goal. Tom Hawkins marked a Gary Rohan kick 35m out and he rarely misses those opportunities.

Melbourne was now trailing the hosts by fourteen points in a low scoring half. The small group of Dees’ supporters, amid the sea of Cats, looked on forlornly. Having braved the cold and wet conditions to travel south for the night, they needed something special to raise their spirits.

Cue Joel Smith who took a mark on his chest right next to the goal square. Despite the rain, the ball connected perfectly with Smith’s boot, and sailed through for his second of the night.

After the goals, both sides again struggled to hit the target. Then Kysaiah Pickett collected the tapped down ball from a stoppage. He let the slippery sherrin fall from his grasp before booting it through the uprights. Now it was a one point game.

After that the goals dried up again with the Dees only able to muster another two points, giving them the smallest of leads at the half time break.

The Cats got the first of the second half when Rohan continued to make amends for his earlier indiscretion. He took a mark just outside 50, then ran on and kicked from 40m out.

Geelong went on the attack to try and drive home their advantage. However, they found that the Dees were more than a match for them in defence.

Melbourne had their own chances to score but were unable to convert.

Eventually Jacob van Rooyen was able to mark; brilliantly hanging on to the wet ball 20m out from goal. His set shot was calmly taken, and the Demons’ half time lead was restored.

With no sign of the rain clearing, Melbourne was having to innovate, with Alex Neal-Bullen knocking the ball forward with his fist, slamming it inside 50, towards goal. Kozzie gave chase, gathering the bouncing ball and kicking from 25m to claim his second of the night.

The Dees had dominated the third term but only increased their lead by a single goal. On paper they were favourites to win, considering their fourth quarter performances in 2023.

However, the combination of the weather and Geelong’s home advantage, meant Melbourne could leave nothing to chance.

It was a rocky start the visitors when Ollie Henry took a contested mark, 40m in front. His conversion was on target, evening the score.

Zac Guthrie then gave Geelong the lead when his running kick from 40m sailed through.

Melbourne managed to keep the Cats on a tight rein for the next ten minutes before a spate of goals put the hosts firmly in the driver’s seat.

First, Mark Blicavs gave his side a two goal advantage with his mark taken inside 50, his set shot floating through.

Then the villain turned hero, Gary Rohan, chased down the ball as it bounced across the 50m arc, before collecting and kicking it from the edge of the square.

Finally, Mitch Duncan was able to chip from 50m and watch the ball bounce through the unguarded goal.

Trailing by four goals with only ten minutes on the clock, it was a desperate Melbourne who now had to throw caution and everything else to the wind.

When Tanner Bruhn snapped his second from the top of the goal square, he handed the Demons the virtually impossible task of kicking five goals in the last seven minutes.

Christian Petracca snatched one back with his pitch perfect snap from deep in the pocket.

Tracs was also involved in Melbourne’s final goal when his kick to deep inside 50 was marked by Bailey Fritsch on the edge of the square.

It was too late for the Dees however as Geelong hung on to claim victory.

The Giants are next on the agenda, and we’ll be taking no chances against a side who’ve shown flashes of brilliance this year. Alice Springs is a good ground for us though, and everyone will be hoping for a repeat of Kozzie’s double hat trick from last year.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Aimee Mackin’s recruitment continues the proud association between Ireland and the Dees

Liam Chambers

Aimee Mackin joins her sister Blaithin at Melbourne for the 2023 season. Aimee also plays Gaelic Football and has been a pivotal player and prolific points scorer for Armagh. Her 3-3 tally against Laois in the Lidl National League Division 2 final at Croke Park on April 15, helped her club win promotion to the top division. In addition, she received The Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award for April 2023. She also scored nine points against Donegal in the recent opening game of the campaign to defend their Ulster Football Championship title.

Aimee has previously been awarded 2020’s TG4 Senior Player’s Player of the Year. Similar to the Australian experience, women’s sporting codes in Ireland have been steadily gaining in popularity, especially over the past decade. 

Aimee is a dual code athlete, having previously played association football (soccer) where she starred for the Women’s Premiership club Newry City, scoring the last minute winner to secure the Women’s Premier League in 2015. She has also represented the Northern Ireland women’s national football team at both youth and senior level.

She’ll be a great asset to the Demons in our forthcoming season where we’ll be defending our Premiership title. It’ll be exciting to see how Aimee’s Gaelic football scoring abilities will translate to Aussie Rules. Her inclusion will add another dynamic to an already strong and talented side.

Continuing the tradition

Over the last few decades, many Irish players have come to Australia to play AFL, most notably Jim Stynes*, whose 264 games for the Demons was hugely influential; winning the Brownlow in 1991. Post retirement he was heavily involved in recruiting Irish players to relocate to Australian clubs. The campaign has continued to be successful, expanding to the include the AFLW.
With the inauguration of the International Rules game in 1984, both countries codes were elevated in the public’s consciousness. I remember the 1986 series where the Australians played three games in Ireland. The Irish won that series 2-1 but not before some memorable on field punch ups. I particularly recall Jack O’Shea running the entire length of the ground to join in one encounter; fearing he would miss out on some of the action. Different era.

At that time National television in Ireland used to show highlights of AFL games on a Saturday afternoon. It was interesting if a little strange for the uninitiated. The similarities to Gaelic football were obvious but a bit confusing as well. The rugby style football and the players’ uniforms stood out. Not so much the short shorts (you only have to look at the 1970s, early 80s soccer players for comparison). It was the sleeveless shirts that were most significant. It gave the game a sort of quintessentially Australian vibe combined with a healthy lack of respect for authority.
Interestingly the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) looked at the Australian game and allegedly used their rules as a template when setting up the Gaelic football game. Although Gaelic Football in Ireland has been played in some form since the early fourteen century (possibly earlier), it was only with the setting up of the Gaelic Associations in the 1880s that the modern game was established. This coincided with a growing interest in the Irish language and the arts as a counterweight to British cultural influence.

The Irish and Australians have much in common, not least the number of Aussies who can claim Irish ancestry, and there’s long been a mutual affection between the two nations. It is this tradition that we welcome Aimee Mackin to our shores and our club and long may she enjoy Australian hospitality.

*editors footnote to Jim. EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin has a feature on Jim and his influence in Australia. I thoroughly recommend it, and in a wonderful quirk of fate a week after visiting in 2018 I inadvertently sat beside an Irish pair at the MCG final against Geelong. That pair turned out to be Jim’s brother David and sister Dearbhla.

NSW Demons to host club president Kate Roffey AM

The NSW Demons are delighted to host our eminent and recently honoured club President Kate Roffey AM at the Kirribilli Club on Thursday 22nd June.

Kate has kindly made herself available to meet with the NSW Demons supporters, so we encourage anyone who can to come and fly the flag. This is a rare opportunity to talk to someone intimately involved with the club, and who is just an all around interesting and inspirational person. Under Kate’s stewardship the Demons are AFLM 2021 Premiers, and reigning VFL and AFLW Premiers.

The Kirribilli Club is the new home of the NSW Demons. The club boasts a bistro with ridiculous views of the harbour (and a new winter menu), and a dedicated sports bar and lounge.

We invite Demons supporters to dine in the bistro at 6pm, ahead of formal introductions at 7pm, then the game on the big screens in the sports lounge at 7:20pm. There’ll be a half-time lucky door prize of a Melbourne Football Club guernsey, kindly donated by Beyond Bank, a major supporter of the Demons.

We don’t get a lot of love north of the Murrumbidgee so let’s show the club how much we care. The more support we show, the more support we’ll get.

Please RSVP to Marilyn on armagrant@hotmail.com

When: Thursday 22nd June. 6pm dining for 7pm formalities

Where: Kirribilli Club

• 11 Harbourview Cres, Lavender Bay
• Get there by train (Milsons Point), car (paid parking on-site, limited local parking)

Round 12 – Melbourne V Carlton

Liam Chambers

The Dees headed into Round 12 having suffered back to back losses; but were firm favourites against a Blues’ side who had only secured one victory in seven outings.

Carlton are a good side going through a prolonged slump and Melbourne would be well aware that slumps can end abruptly. Hawthorn anyone?

It remains a mystery why the Demons are underperforming. One reason may be a bit of the self-doubt that plagued us prior to the 2021 season, slowly seeping back into our psyche post Grand Final? Having said that, if we regain that belief, we will be unbeatable again.

It was a strong start with Melbourne kicking the first major. Christian Petracca’s set shot from 50m left his boot perfectly and wasn’t going anywhere except through the uprights.

Carlton’s reply came from a player struggling with his own doubts. However Harry McKay quelled his inner demons to snap through an around the corner kick from the pocket.

Brodie Grundy had a set shot from beyond the 50m arc that landed in the square where Alex Neal-Bullen was waiting to pounce. His gather, turn and snap was perfect, and the Dees were ahead again.

Melbourne’s third was a symphony of chaos from one end of the ground to the other. It started with Angus Brayshaw, involved Lachie Hunter ducking and weaving, then Jacob van Rooyen passing and receiving, then passing again. Charlie Spargo was waiting inside 50 where he managed a hand pass to Kysaiah Pickett who snapped the ball between two Blues’ players and found the back of the net. Happy birthday Kozzie!

With Carlton fighting for their season, they had a greater incentive to increase the pressure on their opponents. How Melbourne responded in the second quarter would be crucial to their own prospects. 

The Dees were dominant in their forward half early on but their accuracy in front of goal was letting them down. It wasn’t until Charlie Spargo was awarded a free kick from 30m that Melbourne got the first of the term.

Harry McKay looked to have dislodged the monkey when he scored his second with another around the corner set shot.

It was a low scoring quarter with neither team able to fully control the play. The Dees looked the better side but couldn’t make the Blues pay.

Then folk hero van Rooyen took an uncontested mark inside 50 from a well-placed Spargo kick. His set shot from the arc was well executed and stretched the lead out to twenty points.

The Demons would have been happy to be nineteen points ahead going into the second half but also aware that their play was messy and lacking composure at times. Thankfully, so were Carlton’s efforts. How the teams had used halftime break to reset would prove crucial.

The Blues latched onto the ball after the centre clearance bounce and were off, with Adam Cerra launching the sherrin down the ground. Harry McKay marked, then ran on and kicked from 60m. The ball landed in the goal square and bounced across the line.

Jake Bowey made a brilliant tackle on Sam Walsh to earn himself a 50m set shot. His kick had the journey but just veered to the left. I may be mistaken but that could be Bowey’s first minor score from a set shot?

With over half the quarter gone, the Dees had yet to kick a six pointer. Then Bailey Fritsch marked the ball two metres from the goal line. Fritsch had missed his four previous set shots on the day, but he definitely didn’t miss the fifth.

Melbourne had the momentum now but just couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. Then with five minutes to go, Bowey copped it from all angles while going for a mark. He didn’t look too good and was subbed off; possibly but hopefully not missing the Collingwood game.

Then a Carlton player who wasn’t Harry McKay scored the visitor’s fourth when Blake Acres took a mark and kicked the 30m set shot from the pocket.

The Blues won the subsequent clearance and got the ball to inside 50 where Charlie Curnow took an uncontested mark. The season’s leading goal kicker had no problems converting, giving Carlton back to back majors.

Melbourne’s reply was swift. It looked like the Blues were heading for three in a row but Steven May controlled the ball in defence and the Dees went end to end. Fritsch got his second when he dribbled the ball in from 15m.

The margin was back to seventeen points and that’s the way it stayed until three quarter time.

Five minutes into the final term, and against the run of play, Carlton pulled one back courtesy of Zac Fisher. His 40m set shot floated through and narrowed the margin to eleven points.

Melbourne continued to dominate, locking the Blues in their defensive half but the goals stubbornly refused to materialise. Carlton were besieged at times but they somehow managed to fend off the Dees.

Despite Melbourne going inside 50 a total of ten times, they couldn’t hammer home their advantage.

Then, at the halfway stage, up steps Captain Max Gawn. Despite having an ordinary night, he proceeded to mark the ball on the 50m line. Even more remarkably, he decides to attempt the 55m set shot. Best of all though, he actually kicked the goal!

Carlton won the clearance and booted the ball to inside 50 where Harry McKay again took the mark. He then inexplicitly decided to attempt another around the corner kick from a distance of 40m; much to the relief of the Demon fans. The ball dropped short, and Melbourne dodged a bullet.

A minute later and Matthew Cottrell marked the ball in a similar position. He opted for the more straightforward method, but it missed to the left.

There were a few more chances to add to the tallies but there were no more goals.

Round thirteen has been unlucky for Melbourne in recent years. It doesn’t help that the Pies are in tremendous form. However the Big Freeze is a great event and a great cause and don’t forget that the Demons have a habit of causing an upset when they’re labelled the underdog.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!