ONE VICTORY AT A TIME

by Whispering Jack

Two victories in a row!

Who would have thought just a fortnight ago when the Demons returned from Brisbane with their tails between their legs that they would produce successive victories at the MCG and move off the bottom of the ladder?

Last week it was almost to be expected against the West Coast Eagles who have lost the ability to win games away from Subiaco Oval. But against a Port Adelaide that needed to win to remain in close proximity to a finals berth, it certainly wasn't expected that Melbourne would lead all the way to win their third game for the season 15.11.101 to 13.12.90.

The first inkling I had that it was going to be another day out for the Demons came when the teams ran out onto the hallowed turf of the MCG. On the one hand you had Melbourne looking shmik, respectable and very much a football team in their traditional red and navy blue outfits and, on the other, you had Port Adelaide's 22 all rigged out wearing shorty pajamas and looking like, well ... a bunch of clowns. They played "A Grand Old Flag" and you could feel it stirring the players' veins, urging them on to play their hearts out for victory; they played the dirge that masquerades as the Port Adelaide club song and, apart from the fact that it would bring howls of laughter if performed for the judges on Australian Idol, it appeared to set the scene for the visitors by placing them at a best friend's funeral rather than at a football match whose winning result was vital for the team's entire season outcome.

It was little surprise therefore that it was the Demons who came out to play with their new found pressure game that knocked the Power out of their cute white socks.

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Port Adelaide's dominance was asserted from its rucks right through to its midfield and the run created set up a dominance right across the ground. This time around Melbourne's new ruck combination of a rejuvenated and much improved Mark Jamar and Stef Martin turned the tables. They won their fair share of the hit outs and set up a dominance at the stoppages whereby the forwards were given scoring opportunities that could only be dreamt of earlier in the season.

And a new Melbourne forward set up is emerging, one that is radically different to the set up dominated for a decade by David Neitz and Russell Robertson. Certainly, Robbo is still there in the twilight of an illustrious career but yesterday he played third fiddle behind the electrifying Liam Jurrah who rose more than once into the stratosphere to stake some claims for mark of the year and provided four goals and four assists and Ricky Petterd who also booted four including the sealer late in the game and took eleven marks. Matthew Bate and Neville Jetta also added to the annoyance and the angst of the Port Adelaide defence.

The Demons received fantastic service from Cameron Bruce across half back and Brad Green who seemed to be everywhere. Brock McLean and Brent Moloney were strong and consistent in the middle and their contributions were vital to the final result.

Melbourne's defence which has held together for most of a season under extreme pressure showed further signs of development with James Frawley outstanding on Brett Ebert and Matthew Warnock doing the job on danger man Warren Tredrea who booted six last time they met and was restricted to just one this time around. That goal has to win the most dubious goal of the year award and came after the umpires missed an obvious holding the ball decision. Either that or someone abolished the prior opportunity rule while none of us were looking.

That the Demons only won by a little under two kicks is a bit of a mystery to me especially when you consider that Port Adelaide conceded some goals through a lack of organisation and frustration in the second quarter. First, a foray into attack was nullified by a free kick and 50 metre penalty for an interchange error and then Chad Cornes gifted Lynden Dunn a goal with a push and another 50 metre penalty. Apart from advancing Dunn's acting career, the result of the two closely connected incidents represented a two goal turnaround and gave the Demons the impetus to win the second quarter and take the bragging rights into the rooms at half time.

Melbourne's season to date has been punctuated by lamentable third quarter efforts but this time it had all the momentum and came out with all guns blazing to score the first three goals of the second half through Petterd, Jurrah and McLean. This opened up the biggest lead of the day (32 points) and, while Port pegged them back, it was always going to be enough to give the Demons their third win of the season.

It's been a while since the Demons last won two games in a row so spare me a moment to indulge in a fantasy about the prospects of them going even one better when they head down the highway to Sleepy Hollow next weekend. Port Adelaide thrashed Brisbane last week. The Lions, in turn, gave Geelong a bit of a touch up at the weekend. Since the Demons conquered Port yesterday, that must mean they are good things to beat the Cats this week.

Well, that game has been played ever since Tom Wills started the ball rolling a century and a half ago and is about as reliable as the Connex Timetable. I think I'll therefore quit while I'm ahead and just savour one victory at a time.

Melbourne 4.2.26 9.6.60 13.9.87 15.11.101

Port Adelaide 3.3.21 7.6.48 10.8.68 13.12.90

Goals

Melbourne Jurrah Petterd 4 Bate Robertson 2 Dunn McLean Moloney

Port Adelaide K Cornes Lade J Westhoff 2 Brogan Davenport Gray Pearce Rodan Salopek Tredrea

Best

Melbourne Bruce Jurrah McLean Petterd Moloney Jamar Green Frawley

Port Adelaide Cassisi K Cornes Salopek Thurstans Davenport Rodan

Injuries

Melbourne Bell (shoulder)

Port Adelaide Brogan (ribs)

Changes Nil

Reports Nil

Umpires James Sully Wenn

Official crowd 15,888 at the MCG