AFLM – Round 3 – Melbourne v Essendon

Liam Chambers

It’s a cliché but no less true for that; great teams always find a way to win. While challenged for most of of the second and third quarters, Melbourne were well and truly tested in the last term but they finished strongly to make it 3-0 for the season so far.

It started off so well. Melbourne were dominating play and making it look like a practice match. Sam Weiderman was back, filling in for Ben Brown and kicked a beauty on his second attempt. Simon Goodwin has an embarrassment of riches at the moment with Jake Lever set to return next week. The fact that there are so many potentials waiting in the wings means the regulars are focused on keeping their spot.

No such worries for Tom McDonald at present as he proved himself again with his bending shot to score the Dees’ second. With Jack Viney’s round the corner kick just before the siren, it was a very comfortable looking Demons side running off at the break.

As Lao Tzu said “There is great danger in underestimating your opponent” Wise words and I’m afraid I was guilty as accused when I sat back to watch the second quarter, believing the game was in the bag. I was quickly brought down to earth when Tex Wanganeen’s set shot looked like sailing through before fortunately connecting with the post.

The Bombers were inspired though and started to bring the game to Melbourne. When Tom Cutler kicked Essendon’s first, things got serious. Straight after the bounce they were back in Melbourne’s defensive 50 and Peter Wright had marked the ball. His kick from 45m slotted perfectly and the gap was closing.

Tom Sparrow’s set shot from 40m stayed on it’s trajectory to clear the right hand upright, easing the pressure but only momentarily. Just before half time, Andrew McGrath snapped from just outside the goal square and the margin was back to nine points.

Tex Wanganeen had hit the post at the start of the previous term but didn’t miss with his second attempt; the snap kick off his left boot curled through to bring the Bombers to within three points. Essendon took the lead when their key forward Peter Wright kicked his second from a set shot and now Dees fans were sitting up and taking notice. Wright did it again a few minutes later to score his third and the lead stretched out to ten points.

James Harmes has scored some crucial goals so far this season. His shot from 40m in front was a definite ship steadier and just what Melbourne needed. Harmes scored again less than two minutes later when he launched a 45m kick that never looked like missing. The Demons were back in front. Almost immediately, Sam Weiderman was on the receiving end of an Angus Brayshaw perfectly placed kick. Sam’s kick from the pocket was also perfectly placed and it was out to a two goal margin.

Unfortunately Essendon refused to stick to the script and Jake Stringer took a mark almost on the goal line. He couldn’t have missed no matter how hard he tried. Stringer then took another mark. This time from 40m out but the result was the same and the Bombers were back in front.

The goal fired up the Dees and they won the clearance before Bayley Fritsch was deem held on the 50m line. Advantage was paid and Clayton Oliver ran on, launching a kick goalwards where Sam Weiderman was waiting to collect. Weiderman kicked his third from 25m and Melbourne was ahead again. Christian Petracca was having a quiet night and allegedly suffering some knee swelling but it didn’t prevent him kicking a rocket from edge of 50m and curling it through beautifully. Tracca actually signaled that the ball may have been touched but he seemed to be the only one who thought so and the goal stood.

It looked like a case of normal service restored when Charlie Spargo put Melbourne ahead by three goals halfway through the final term. A few minutes later and Bayley Fritsch made a four goal margin when he snuck around the defence and placed the ball directly between the posts.

Essendon weren’t going anywhere though and won the clearance before making another run towards inside 50 where Archie Perkins kept Bomber’s hopes alive with his snap on goal. Then they underlined their revival with another Peter Wright mark in front of goal. With five minutes to go the margin was only eleven points and still anyone’s game.

Angus Brayshaw had been stellar all night and he again launched a long kick to the waiting pack just outside 50. After some crumbing and gathering, the ball found it’s way to Ed Langdon. His kick from the pocket should never have crossed the goal line but somehow he managed to spin it in the right direction. Nobody was more surprised than Langdon when the major was awarded.

It was definitely game over when Bayley Fritsch marked one handed five metres from goal and snapped it through. Melbourne still had one final trick up their sleeve when Clayton Oliver had a chance to score from 30m. Instead he placed it in Sam Weiderman’s hands, who was in the exact spot where Fritsch had just scored previously. Weiderman calmly turned and tapped it in for his fourth.

It was a good result in the end with the Dees’ total just shy of the ton. We’re only one of three teams to be 3-0 and are sitting comfortable in second spot on the ladder.

Tonight we travel to Adelaide to take on Port, who have yet to register a win. Nobody is going to take Port Adelaide for granted. They finished in second spot last season and they’re notoriously difficult to beat at home. It’s going to be a tight game.

Go the mighty Dees!!!

by Geoff Wenborn

The venue was great and the setting perfect for the MFC Best and Fairest awards. We were so lucky as NSW Demons to be there (thanks Sally) and had we finished in top 4 I might have really enjoyed it to the ‘Max’.

Yes, at the beginning of the year the anticipation for this night of nights for the players must have seemed to be one out of the box. However, as we all know the results didn’t match the expectation and it wasn’t like we just missed out – finishing 17th (not 9th) but 17th was such a rude shock that the atmosphere was understandably muted.

Fittingly I think the award was shared by our best player and most articulate leader Max Gawn and our most consistent and yet to realise his full potential player in Clayton Oliver. In my view ‘Clarry’ will end up being a very damaging player in the Red and Blue not just the best contested ball getter. The report from the demons website is below. There were various highlights through the evening particularly James Harmes with his favourite fan as well as various speeches from the players.

Images: Harmsey and his mate, Fellow NSW Demons at the table, Random WAGS

There was no doubt it was a subdued event and I would summarise the overriding feeling of the Dees by saying we’re sorry (although they didn’t say it like that). We are really sorry about the season we had and for letting everyone down but we’re not sorry because we did try really hard and the experience and how we let down our fans is working as the biggest spur ever.

On a night which is really about celebrating the efforts of our players over the year it was kind of a sub text. The speeches were relatively brief and full of thank yous for the efforts that were made and players like Jones explained they really wanted the season to go longer so they could show us what they can do. We can win, we will win, we must win.

Of course the only proof for all of us fans will be the performance and in the results so next year looms really large for all of us. There is a cautious degree of optimism for a few reasons, we can’t possibly go as bad as that again, we will be fit and ready to go, our draw will be more preferential, we have learned our lesson on a few fronts, we can now plug some of the holes that were obvious, we are so hungry and we are young and we are not that bad.

The playing group has remained tight and the age is about right. There were quite a few departing coaches and there was acknowledgment and respect for those people as well. Of course, on the night we didn’t know Frosty would be leaving nor Billy Stretch and others.

It is a tough sport, quite brutal and we demand a lot and as a Dees supporter we also deserve some success now and this group of players owes it to us and they think they owe it to us which is good. But together we have to prove it.

Neither the chairman nor the coach said too much outside this script and probably the best speech, most heartfelt and most articulate was big Max. If they can capture his intent and passion it would be hard pressed not to be fired up about the potential. You could tell what a second B&F really meant to him.

It was interesting to be part of a B&F in what I think were quite unusual circumstances of unfulfilled expectations but encouraging to find the players feel the same way.

My colleague Chris and I didn’t pursue talking to many players but enjoyed the sponsors (Johnny Walker) beverage and hearing the players speak. Results and report follow. Thanks to Sally and the NSW Demons to be able to participate.

Final Leaderboard
464 – Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver
323 – Jack Viney
319 – James Harmes
293 – Christian Petracca
230 – Bayley Fritsch
213 – Christian Salem
210 – Angus Brayshaw
204 – Sam Frost
199 – Jayden Hunt
192 – Nathan Jones
167 – Jake Melksham
154 – Steven May
151 – Tom McDonald
142 – Marty Hore
126 – Jordan Lewis
107 – Michael Hibberd
104 – Jay Lockhart
97 – Josh Wagner
87 – Harry Petty
82 – Tim Smith
65 – Sam Weideman
Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy – Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver
For the first time in the club’s history, Melbourne has seen a tie for the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, with Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver sharing the top honour for season 2019.
The Demon duo both ended up on 464 votes – 141 votes clear of third place – to win the Best and Fairest award.
Gawn’s stunning season saw him earn All Australian honours for a third time in four years, as the ruckman starred against the competitions best.
The Dees big man led the competition in hit-outs per game and averaged a league-high 12 hit-outs to advantage.
Oliver was one to benefit from his ruckman’s dominance, averaging 30 disposals per game.
The 22-year-old had the most contested possessions in the league this season, showing an incredible ability to win the hard ball for someone of his age.
Both Gawn and Oliver become two-time ‘Bluey’ winners after sharing the award over the past three seasons.