SUNFLOWERS

[Demonland 73,208]

SUNFLOWERS by Whispering Jack

Those final ten seconds seemed to last forever. Melbourne trailled by one point as Rohan Bail gained possession near the fifty metre line. His left foot kick appeared set to score but then it started to fall short towards the outstretched hands of Ricky Petterd. Time froze, the ball caressed his fingertips and then fell to the ground.

The siren sounded and Petterd slammed his hands into the ground, his near perfect game marred by the knowledge that his team would have almost certainly won the match had the ball stuck in his hands. It's such a cruel game this football caper!

We never considered the possibility of a close contest when we arrived for the game. You know all about young teams with their tendency towards providing inconsistent performances but this result was way beyond our expectations and yet the sorry realisation of what had taken place hit the senses like a sledghammer. After a whole season of indifference to defeat, the one-point loss at the hands of the old enemy Collingwood was gutwrenching.

That's how it should be when you lose and the hurt on the faces of the players as they trudged off the ground told the story. After 100 minutes or so of application and intense pressure they knew now exactly what had to be done to win a game - a poofteenth more than what they did today.

On the other hand, the fact that this group gave away so much in experience to one of the competition's leading teams, a regular finallist and a premiership contender, and was in the game until its dying seconds, is significant. It tells us that the team is regaining its self-belief.

After last week's soul destroying humiliation at the hands of Hawthorn, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey was staring down at a blank canvas. The critics were clamouring that there was nothing there; that he and his players were heading for a bleak future. The picture is now more than somewhat brighter and the coach's vision is no longer dark but rather alive with vibrant colour because he knows that they really can compete.

Despite Petterd's late missed mark, he was the game's best forward line player. He thrashed Collingwood defender Heath Shaw and his four goals was a great reward for a stunning performance on a Demon forward line badly weakened by injuries and loss of form.

Elevated rookie Jordie McKenzie was outstanding again in only his fifth game for the club. His persistence, his creativity and his strong tackling were all exceptional.

Brad Green followed up last week's courageous display with three second-half goals in his 200th game. He marshalled the forward line and played a major role in ensuring that the team would not wilt under Collingwood's pressure. In the end, it was Green who passionately addressed the young team before they fittingly carried him from the ground.

However, the hero was ruckman Mark Jamar who single-handedly controlled the rucks and helped generate some much needed onball drive that has been missing for so long from the club's midfield. Years ago, in his early days at the club, Jamar was third fiddle to Jeff White and today's main opponent Darren Jolly who left the club and achieved premiership glory in Sydney. Today, he not only beat his old teammate but he also held sway against Josh Fraser who humbled the Demons on both occassions when they met last year. It's just a pity that his running shot for goal from ten metres out late in the second term missed everything.

Melbourne's defence continues to gain in stature. James Frawley has good pace and can take on the talls and the smalls. He disposed of the dangerous Medhurst and provided his team with great run out of defence. Matthew Warnock was also steady and rock solid. And it's hard to believe that Jack Grimes was only playing his 14th game. He kept Alan Didak in check for most of the game and was creative in turning defence into attack. Aaron Davey returned to game after a poor opening game and showed that his old zest and zip was back as he constantly ran through the lines. Skipper James McDonald led from the front.

Mention should be made of the fact that the Demons had four second game players in Rohan Bail, Tom Scully, James Strauss and Jack Trengove. They all contributed without being outstanding but what an experience it must have been for them to take part in a pressure cooker game in front of in excess of 50,000 people?

There was plenty to like about the way Melbourne played and credit must go to coach Dean Bailey who kept his cool during the week despite being tormented by some in the media and many disaffected Demon supporters. Most of what he did today worked although he will no doubt be looking at ways to ensure that his charges keep up the pressure for the full four quarters. Lapses in the latter part of the third and final quarters proved costly today with the Magpies kicking the last two of each term.

However, at least Bailey now has the opportunity to turn that blank canvas he faced last week in a blaze of colour. The flowers are beginning to bloom.

Melbourne 4.5.29 6.6.42 9.11.65 12.13.85

Collingwood 2.2.14 7.5.47 10.10.70 12.14.86

Goals

Melbourne Petterd 4 Green 3 Dunn 2 Bail Bennell Newton

CollingwoodAnthony Davis Lockyer Pendlebury 2 Beams Cloke Fraser Medhurst

Best

Melbourne Jamar Petterd Grimes Davey McKenzie McDonald Frawley

Collingwood Pendlebury Beams Lockyer Thomas O'Brien Sidebottom

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

Collingwood Johnson (knee)

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Collingwood Nil

Changes

Melbourne Jake Spencer (hip flexor) replaced by Clint Bartram

Collingwood Shane O'Bree (virus) replaced by Dayne Beams

Umpires Hay Jeffery Wenn

Crowd 50,421 at the MCG

[Allen Jakovich 516]

Great report Jack. A very enjoyable read.

Edited April 7, 2010 by Allen Jakovich