FIRE AND RAIN

FIRE AND RAIN by Scoop Junior

Melbourne's theme for 2010 has been "The Fire Has Started" and, to a large extent, the concept has been a good fit for an emerging team full of youth and exuberance. The success of the past few weeks even brought talk of a possible finals appearance as early as this year and a win over Hawthorn at the weekend would have seen the flames burning even brighter. Ironically,  that prospect was undermined in part when the heavens opened up and the rains doused the fire for the Demons - for this year at least!  

The game against the Hawks was, in some respects, not too dissimilar in pattern to last week's win over Richmond when the teams traded blows for three quarters until the superior skill of the Demons came to the fore and they ran away to win by 29 points. This week, the teams were level pegging for three quarters until the Hawks' stronger bodies took over in the last.

The difference in the actual game, though, was significant. Against Richmond it was a game of errors and turnover by both teams. Melbourne found space forward of centre on the counter attack and kicked a number of easy goals. It was more typical of an early season game against a willing but limited opponent. Against the Hawks, however, it was a much more intense contest, with numbers around the ball, possessions hard to come by and both teams throwing themselves in at every opportunity.

Melbourne battled hard all day and the players did themselves and their coach proud. The Dees stuck with a more fancied side for most of the day and could have snatched the game had they been a little more fortunate. 

I don't refer to being fortunate with the men in green who, despite handing Hawthorn a number of soft goals (together with that disgraceful penalty paid against Joel MacDonald for a deliberate rushed behind), did not cost Melbourne the game.

What was more costly was the absence of a player like Brent Moloney and the second quarter injury to Aaron Davey. In a game where Hawthorn's mature, big bodied senior players dominated the stoppages in the difficult conditions, Moloney's bulk and ability to win clearances would have made a substantial difference for the Demons. 

The most telling aspect of the Hawks' dominance in this area was the fact that they kicked 10 goals from stoppages, including the two sealing goals from Burgoyne and Hodge late in the last term.

Davey, one of Melbourne's essential ingredients in its run and spread style of play, could have been a key player in the second half, particularly in the last term when the Dees' run appeared to dry up at times. Run and precise skills is the way to break through the Hawks' style of play and losing your quickest midfielder and most skilled player is always going to hurt against them. Davey's injury also robbed the side of rotations in what was a bruising, physical game played in wet conditions.

So, with a bit more luck, Melbourne could have possibly won the game, although it must be said that Hawthorn were deserving winners on the day.

The backline again performed well against one of the most dangerous forward lines in the AFL. James Frawley and Lance Franklin had a fascinating duel, with honours roughly even though I would probably give the nod to Frawley as I think most teams would gladly take a 3 goal haul from Buddy any day of the week. 

Frawley restricted Franklin's ability to dominate in the air, with two of his goals coming from ground level play and the other a soft free kick. The other key to the Hawks' attack in Roughead was well held by Rivers, who has, in the past five weeks returned to his best form. Rivers battled well and won the majority of the one on ones and didn't let the big Hawk forward have much of an influence on the game.

Colin Garland was also a solid performer, playing mostly on Peterson and Brown, while Clint Bartram stuck to his task defensively and gave plenty of drive, although he let himself down on occasions with poor skill execution.

Rohan Bail played down back and up forward and was one of the team's better players. His run and willingness to back himself was important early in the game and helped the Dees establish an early lead.

The midfield was well beaten around the packs despite the best efforts of Mark Jamar who won the ruck battle and pushed forward to kick two important goals. Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones and James McDonald battled hard all day and can hold their heads up high for not letting a gun midfield dominate proceedings.

Tom Scully was good with his run and energy but needs to work on his decision making which can let him down at times. However, his ability to consistently find the ball at the elite level in his first year is quite amazing.

Jack Trengove was quiet again and has struggled a little since returning to the side after three weeks out. It is entirely normal for first year players to have down periods where they struggle to find the ball and Trengove will work through it and hopefully play another great game before the end of the season. Sylvia was the pick of the midfielders in the clearance stakes and was another to work pretty hard all day.

The forward line was probably the disappointment of the day. After kicking 12 between them last week, Lynden Dunn, Brad Green and Liam Jurrah were fairly quiet, while Jack Watts just could not get into the game. 

The wet conditions and lack of regular quality supply wouldn't have helped the forwards but you would like to see a bit more output even taking such considerations into account. Aussie showed glimpses but was probably outnumbered on three or four occasions and just did not get the help he needed.

The pick of all the Demons players in my view was Cameron Bruce who, like Rivers, has re-established himself as a key player in the team in the past five weeks. He nullified the influence of one of the game's best midfielders in Hodge and also ran hard to link up play and help set up attacking forays. It was an extremely clever, disciplined and hard working performance from Melbourne's veteran.

While Melbourne's finals hopes are all but gone, supporters would have left the ground yesterday pretty proud of their players and quietly satisfied that the team is well and truly on track in its development. No one would have thought finals were even a possibility this year so to still be in contention at Round 20 is a sign of how far the club has come in season 2010. 

For a young club to produce more than competitive showings against the likes of Collingwood (draw and one point defeat), the Bulldogs (four points), Fremantle (11 points) and this week against Hawthorn demonstrates that the fire has really started. The big wins will come with another season of development on those young legs and then it will take more that just wind and rain to put out the flames.

Melbourne  4.1.25 8.1.49 11.3.69 12.6.78

Hawthorn 4.1.25 8.4.52 12.7.79 15.9.99

Goals

Melbourne Green Jamar Jurrah 2 Bruce Dunn Sylvia Trengove Watts  Wonaeamirri

Hawthorn Ellis Franklin 3 Hodge Peterson Roughead 2 Brown Burgoyne Hooper

Best 

Melbourne Bruce Jamar Sylvia Frawley McKenzie McDonald  

Hawthorn Burgoyne Sewell Franklin Mitchell Birchall Ellis

Injuries

Melbourne Davey (leg)

Hawthorn Nil

Changes

Melbourne Nil 

Hawthorn Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil 

Hawthorn Nil

Umpires Findlay Rosebury McInerney

Crowd 48,211 at the MCG