SITTING DOWN

[Demonland 70,328]

by The Oracle

Patrons had barely taken their seats for yesterday's encounter at the MCG when Geelong's champion midfielder evoked memories of Usain Bolt as he crashed out of the centre unimpeded, ran to the fifty metre line and rammed home the quickest opening goal in the history of the game. It was yet another example of Gary Ablett Junior magic 2009 style.

There and then, many feared that a massacre was looming of similar proportions to that which befell the Demons when they met the Cats on the MCG last August on the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Back then, the Demons took the result sitting down but it was a different story yesterday. The final result was a flogging by 43 points but it took the visitors until well into the second quarter to assert themselves and, after a period of domination in the third quarter, they were even outscored in the last term by a dogged young Melbourne combination that kept plugging away all day against an opposition that is a sheer class above.

Despite conceding the first two goals of the game, Melbourne was desperately unlucky not to take a handy lead into the first break. Experienced players in Bruce (twice), Davey, Miller and Robertson worked hard to establish shots at goal and missed. Miller's attempt failed to make the distance and supporters watch in dismay as a handful of Cats ran a raffle to decide who would clear the ball from the last line of defence. It took youngsters in Ricky Petterd and Cale Morton to show the way with consecutive goals to give the team the lead late in the quarter before Mooney spoiled the party with the reply.

Still, the quarter time score line of 2.4.16 to 3.3.21 read favourably compared with last August's 0.0.0 to 8.3.51.

Geelong hasn't won 48 out of its last 51 games for nothing and despite James McDonald keeping a reasonably tight rein on Ablett Junior and the emerging Demon defence of Matty Warnock, Stef Martin, Jared Rivers and James Frawley working their butts off to stem the flow, the Cats were able to break away with six goals to two in the second term. This was mainly thanks to the superior class of their midfield with Chapman and Bartel in superb form and the superb finish skills of Steve Johnson. By contrast, Melbourne continued to struggle up forward although Robbo straightened them up to an extent and did finally manage to snag his 400th goal for the club.

The third quarter could easily have turned into an embarrassment for Melbourne but for Geelong's wayward kicking for goal but the defence should take some credit for applying the pressure and keeping up to it's task against the Cats' high possession on ball brigade that persistently pushed the ball forward. At the other end, Robertson kicked a couple to make things look a little more honourable for the Demons' beleaguered attack.

The main feather in Melbourne's cap was the winning of the final quarter by a few points. Admittedly, the Cats were resting Scarlett and Ablett and had probably put up the shutters but the Demons kept plugging away and the likes of Morton, Sylvia, McLean, Jones and the hard working Aaron Davey finished the game off strongly. Special mention should be made of Frawley and a couple of teenagers in Jamie Bennell and Addam Maric. Both made mistakes under pressure but, like many of their team mates on the day, they battled on and never gave in.

They would have learned plenty from competing at close quarters against such a champion team and that sort of experience will hold them in good stead as the team's development phase continues through the next season or so.

Melbourne 2.4.16 4.6.30 6.7.43 10.8.68

Geelong 3.3.21 9.8.62 12.17.89 15.21.111

Goals

Melbourne Robertson 3 Miller 2 Bennell Johnson Morton Petterd Sylvia

Geelong S Johnson 4 Mooney 3 Varcoe 2 Rooke 2 Stokes Ablett Hawkins Chapman

Best

Melbourne Davey Robertson Morton Sylvia Frawley McLean

Geelong Chapman Bartel S Johnson Selwood Enright Mackie

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

Geelong Ablett (groin soreness)

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Geelong Nil

Reports Nil

Umpires Kennedy Ryan Dalgleish

Crowd 36,932 at the MCG