LANDSLIDE

[Demonland 73,140]

LANDSLIDE by The Oracle

The cliff hanger result of the Federal election was a world away from the minds of the fans assembled at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium for the game between the Power and the Demons. They might have come expecting to witness a close, hard fought contest but instead it was a landslide for the home team as Melbourne wasted its early dominance in general play around the ground with some poor disposal and decision making up forward and then allowed Port Adelaide to dominate the scoreboard with the tired effort of a young team that's had a long, hard season.

The harsh realities of professional sport came home to the Melbourne Football Club early in the game. The young Demons have been displaying some pleasing form of late as they entered the home stretch of what many regarded as a "development" season. They've learned a lot.

However, although they've come a long way, their biggest lesson in the ned has been that there's still an enormous gulf between them and the professionalism required to play finals football, let alone to make it all the way to the top.

A truly professional side would have taken full advantage of the team's total dominance over Port Adelaide in the first 15 to 20 minutes of their contest at AAMI Stadium. During that time, Melbourne controlled the ball in a game that was played mostly in its own forward half. It was on top everywhere but it failed to translate that dominance on the scoreboard.

You simply shouldn't miss shots from 20 metres out as did Jack Trengove in the game's early moments. Cast your minds back to the mid season game against Carlton who I don't regard as being a particularly more skilled or talented team than Melbourne. The Blues turned their early dominance into a five goal to nothing start that virtually put the game beyond doubt in the first 15 minutes. After that, the scoreboard pressure and the elements kept the Demons at bay.

By way of contrast, Melbourne wasted its early chances this week and allowed Port Adelaide back into the contest and at quarter time, the home side had its nose in front despite the fact that the Demons held sway in most of the game's vital statistics including double the number of clearances. Port was given a second chance thanks to Melbourne's wasteful inefficiency and it took full advantage in the second quarter by kicking five straight goals. In that time Nathan Jones and Cale Morton had added to the list of easy misses and the Demons' overuse of the ball had become a mindnumbing contrast to the Power's efficiency. Little wonder that when they came into their rooms at half time, the locals were so chock full of confidence. They held a 10 point lead despite Melbourne having 15 shots at goal to 10 and a 70 possession advantage.

One aspect missing from Melbourne's game at most times when it has faced adversity this season has been a dominant key forward to help the likes of Jack Watts and Liam Jurrah in the early stages of their development. Port Adelaide's Schulz, whilst not a fashionable footballer, provided an example of the type of forward who might fill the bill in the interim. His five goals were the difference between the two sides and his type might well be on the Demons' shopping list in the post season.

Melbourne might have some excuse in that late season injuries have struck at the worst time. In the space of little over a week they have lost Aaron Davey, Colin Sylvia, Joel Macdonald and Jack Grimes reinjured his hmastring on comeback in the VFL. All four would have been handy yesterday but you have to make do with the material you have at your disposal.

After half time, it was Port that came out full of energy and it smashed the Demon resistance and in the end, the club's dismal record at AAMI Stadium just got worse. When the club plays its next game there in the season to come, it will be a decade between its last victory at the ground.

All that the Melbourne fans were to get from the last half of the game was the individual brilliance and the mark of the year from Liam Jurrah who actually backed up that effort with a straight shot for one of his four goals and some wonderful performances from veterans in Cameron Bruce and retiring skipper James McDonald who led the way in his 250th game for the club.

Next year, the Demons will be without Junior's professionalism and his leadership. For their sake, it is to be hoped that they take note of the example he has set throughout his illustrious career.

Melbourne 2.6.18 5.10.40 8.11.59 11.17.83

Port Adelaide 3.2.20 8.2.50 15.6.96 17.10.112

Goals

Melbourne Jurrah 4 Wonaeamirri 2 Dunn Green McDonald Scully Watts

Port Adelaide Schulz 5 Boak Gray 3 Broadbent Hitchcock Pearce D Stewart P Stewart Thomas

Best

Melbourne McDonald Bruce Jurrah Moloney Scully Rivers

Port Adelaide Schulz Boak Rodan Brogan Pearce Cassisi

Injuries

Melbourne Jurrah (hamstring)

Port Adelaide Ebert (knee)

Changes

Melbourne Sylvia (virus) replaced in the selected side by Bail

Port Adelaide Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Port Adelaide Nil

Umpires McLaren Hay Mollinson

Crowd 21, 086 at AAMI Stadium