Round 16 – Gold Coast V Melbourne

Dees Get Sun Burnt On The Coast

Liam Chambers

First quarter Demons still in holiday mode

After notching up a couple of minor scores, Gold Coast kicked their first major when Ben Long ran out to take an inside 50 mark. He had no problems converting the set shot to give the home team an eight point advantage.

Despite dominating possession and territory, the Suns were unable to convert all that pressure into a larger advantage. That changed in the sixteen minute, when Joel Jeffery’s kick from 40m sailed through, extending Gold Coast’s lead to seventeen points.

After the centre bounce, Melbourne became more serious about taking on their opponents and started to get the ball into their forward half. After repeat inside 50s by the Dees, Jake Melksham almost kicked the first goal for his side, but the effort was touched on the line, denying him what would have been a spectacular goal.

After the near miss, the Demons were back defending against another Suns’ onslaught; the only thing saving Melbourne from being completely overwhelmed in the first quarter, was Gold Coast’s inaccuracy in front of goal. Unfortunately, Jed Walter was gifted a 50m penalty, which meant he was kicking a set shot from the goal square and therefore almost uncertain to miss. He didn’t disappoint the home fans.

Next up Bailey Humphrey took a mark in the pocket 20m from goal and made sure with the set shot. Then Touk Miller made it three in a row for the Suns when he marked directly in front and converted the 30m set shot.

Quarter time couldn’t come quickly enough for Demon fans, and when Ben Ainsworth marked in the pocket, we all held our breath while he went back for the set shot. Thankfully he hooked the kick and Melbourne was able to hang on till the siren, going in at the break trailing by thirty six points.

The Dees get back into the competition

Melbourne needed to produce something special in the second term after an uninspired opening quarter. Straightaway it was obvious that the Dees’ pressure had moved up several gears and it paid off early when Harrison Petty snapped a goal, after Jack Viney’s effort at ground level got the ball to his teammate.

Ben King stretched the Suns’ lead back out to thirty six points when he took a contested mark in the pocket and made the set shot look easy. Then, another set back for the Demons when Petty took a concerning knock to the head and was walked off for an assessment.

Jake Melksham has kicked some great goals over the course of his career, and he can add number 200 to that impressive tally. The hook kick from 45m deep in the pocket was spectacular.

Clayton Oliver was the second casualty for the Dees after he connected with Touk Miller. Oliver came off after the collision, just before Ben Long converted the set shot from the resulting free kick. The margin was back to thirty five points.

After the centre bounce, Kozzy Pickett was awarded a free kick for tackling Bailey Humphrey, who was pinged for holding the ball. Max Gawn ran downfield to inside 50, where he then went up to mark Pickett’s kick. The Big Fella notched up his hat trick for the season with his accurate kick from 25m directly in front.

Then after the bounce, another inside 50 mark, this time from Melksham, also marking a Pickett kick. His 50m set shot reduced the margin to twenty three points. Unfortunately Ben King brought the Dees back to reality with his imposing contested mark, right on the edge of the square. His second goal was never in doubt, and it was back out to thirty.

Melksham was having a quarter to remember after he took a mark on the edge of 50 arc, then went back to slot his third goal from 55m.

Suns extend their lead

Melbourne started the second half in a much better position, but still trailed Gold Coast by four goals. Kozzy had been instrumental in two of his side’s goals in the second quarter, but his first individual shot of the game was classic Pickett.

It didn’t take long for the Suns’ response however, and it came when Ethan Read marked just inside 50. His set shot was good, and it was back to twenty four points. Bailey Humphrey stretched it out to thirty one when his snap from 40m went through.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen an old school all in melee, but we got one when Ben Ainsworth was collected high after marking in the pocket. Then Steven May was knocked to the ground and players were streaming from every quarter to get in on the action. Meanwhile Ainsworth played on to advantage and snuck one in while everyone else was otherwise engaged. I’m not sure that Ainsworth didn’t run more than fifteen metres before kicking the ball, but I was unable to see his full run, and the goal stood anyway.

By now it was looking as though the hill was too high for Melbourne to scale, but Bailey Fritsch’s mark just inside 50 gave fans a glimmer of hope. His kick from the 50m line had both accuracy and length and the Dees were still in it.

Ainsworth put some doubt back in Melbourne minds when he marked at the top of the square, then played on for his second goal. It seemed a bridge too far for the Dees after Connor Budarick launched from 40m to claim his first goal of the year. Then, with thirty seconds left on the clock, Jed Walter scored his second with a chip from 15m out to give Gold Coast a forty six point lead heading into the final term.

Mighty last quarter effort from Demons not enough for victory

The margin continued to hover around the forty six mark, as both sides had opportunities but were unable to convert.

Then, at the ten minute mark, Kozzy almost marked in the square, but recovered quickly to tap the ball across the line. A similar lapse in the Suns’ defence a minute later allowed Melksham to mark the ball a metre from the line, making it a formality for the 200 plus goal kicker to go back and slot his fourth of the afternoon.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Bailey Fritsch marked in the pocket and then converted to reduce the margin to twenty six points. The Dees had certainly rattled the Gold Coast, but it was probably too late for a record breaking comeback.

Still… When Kozzy collected the ground ball 60m out, then ran on, launching from 40m, and hitting the target in the process, there was suddenly a realistic possibility of that incredible comeback.

As the seconds ticked down though, the likelihood of an unlikely win began to fade, and when Ben King marked at the top of the square, the dream was over.

However, Jake Melksham still had one more footnote to add to the day’s proceedings. First he marked at the edge of the square and then successfully kicked the set shot, despite suffering some very uncomfortable leg cramps.

In the end Melbourne redeemed themselves, but a perplexing first quarter and a couple of relatively easy scoring opportunities in the fourth most likely cost them an important away victory. Having said that, there was plenty to like about our performance on the Gold Coast.

Next round is another away game. This time against the Crows at their home fortress, Adelaide Oval. Technically they haven’t lost a home game all year, so we’ll be the underdogs again.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!