FALLING INTO PLACE

by The Oracle

There are times when everything falls nicely into place.

It wasn't perfect but there was a lot to like about Melbourne's big 63 point win over Fremantle in the bottom of the table blockbuster at the MCG yesterday.

The team's fourth victory for the season, its biggest for more than three years since it delivered a belting to Hawthorn on a Friday night at the MCG, means the Demons have at least registered a 33.3% improvement on 2008. Unlike most of its very few wins since Dean Bailey took the helm as coach this one was a clear and unequivocal victory.

The game started off as you would expect from a contest between last and second last on the competition ladder and was not helped by the shocking weather conditions that prevailed at the first bounce. However, Melbourne was more efficient in the first quarter when the going was tough and the climate changed dramatically from wet with a greasy ground under foot to sunny and slippery. As a result, it held a slight advantage at the first break. The Demons broke clear with five goals to one in the second quarter, consolidated in the third and ran away in the last. But for a couple of goals conceded in junk time they would have done even more damage than doubling their opponents' score.

Melbourne had most of the aces in this game. Paul Johnson worked hard all day to negate the influence of Aaron Sandilands and the midfield led by a dazzling performance from Aaron Davey dominated a game for the first time since Bailey's ascent to the coaching position. Brent Moloney, Brock McLean, James McDonald, Nathan Jones and Shane Valenti relished the conditions and were able to continually push the ball forward where Liam Jurrah, Matthew Bate and a resurgent Russell Robertson desperate to show that his days at the top aren't yet over, did the rest and helped the team to its highest score for the year.

The freakish forward line play of Jurrah was electric and his goal while on the ground in the middle of a pack was one for the highlights reel. Robbo also added to the package by providing a potential mark of the year.

Critics who recently questioned Bailey's experimentation would have egg on their faces after Lynden Dunn shut Matthew Pavlich down and Cale Morton was fantastic in defence and a couple of pack marks indicated that he was advancing from the status of just an outside player to a footballer of greater substance. James Frawley also fought back after a slow start to underline his potential as a defender of quality.

It was a pity that the game was attended by a paltry crowd of 13,004 although the new AFL/MCC deal will probably save Demon officials from writing a cheque. The bad weather and live coverage would have kept some people away but it was good to see our club president back after a rest and enjoying the fruits of victory. We're all behind you Jimmy and look forward to your complete recovery. This is what Jimmy and 13,003 others enjoyed - Melbourne Demons stun Fremantle winning by 63 points!

As for those fickle supporters who found the comforts of a warm home a more appealing prospect, there's not much doubt that they will jump back on the bandwagon. That day is coming soon.

Melbourne 4.0.24 9.4.58 13.5.83 20.7.127

Fremantle 3.4.22 4.7.31 6.9.45 9.10.64

Goals

Melbourne Jurrah 4 Bate Robertson 3 Davey McLean 2 Johnson McNamara Miller Petterd Sylvia Valenti

Fremantle McPharlin 3 Mayne 2 Bradley Headland Hill Suban

Best

Melbourne Davey Jurrah Moloney Jones Morton Valenti Bate

Fremantle Hasleby Sandilands Broughton Pavlich

Umpires Wenn Ryan Sully

Crowd 13,004 at Melbourne Cricket Ground