THE 25 DEGREE SAUNA

THE 25 DEGREE SAUNA by Whispering Jack

Melbourne built up its frequent flyer points and kept its season alive with a 21-point win over wooden spoon contender Port Adelaide in front of what was the lowest Darwin AFL crowd ever of  7,255 in the Top End tussle at TIO Stadium.

It was just as well that the Demons fended off a frenetic final quarter fightback from the Power because, having sold the right to play at their traditional hunting ground, a loss to a lowly team would not have looked good. At home, Melbourne would virtually have been assured of a percentage boosting win going on its form this year against most interstate clubs and the players would have been fresher and fitter rather than fatigued from playing in a humid 25 degree sauna before an important four week block in which it takes on all of this year's top four contenders bar Collingwood.

It was important therefore that the Demons did come out of the blocks with a purpose to ram home the first four goals of the game. This was achieved, as it so often does, from the strength of its midfield with Mark Jamar and Stefan Martin monstering Port Adelaide in the ruck and giving first use of the football to its on ball brigade led by Brent Moloney, Colin Sylvia, Jack Trengove and  Nathan Jones. 

From there, livewire forwards like Ricky Petterd and Addam Maric finished things off well and the Dees maintained their four goal buffer through to the first break. 

The honours for the second term went slightly in favour of Port Adelaide and Melbourne can thank Liam Jurrah who was the team's only goalkicker for the stanza (he snagged three of them) and the strong defensive work of James Frawley for keeping the margin at a comfortable 20 points at the game's halfway mark. 

The Demons always seem to find ways to torment their supporters in strange ways just when a game seems to be safely in the bag or heading in that direction. And so it was when Brad Green was lining up for a goal that would have stretched the lead to more than six goals, that runner Joel Hocking crossed the mark and the ball was given to a Port defender. Soon after that, the inevitable Power goal was scored, then another and another and the momentum had shifted completely. Late in the quarter, the lead had been whittled down to 14 points and it took a lovely fingertip mark from Jurrah, the crowd favourite, to leave Demon fans breathing more easily.

After starting off with an early third quarter goal, Demon hearts were set fluttering again with two quick replies before five unanswered goals seemed to settle the score with the Demons sitting on a 45 point lead late in the quarter.

However, life wasn't meant to be easy and the roller coaster was back in service as Port scored a late goal before the siren and added the first four of the final term to get within a sniff again before a late goal to Stefan Martin sealed the deal.

Relief.

A special mention must be given to James Frawley not only for nullifying an in form Power forward Jay Shultz but for providing lots of run out of defence in the steamy conditions and to Jordie McKenzie who did a number on the dangerous  Travis Boak. Luke Tapscott was excellent on his return after a long absence with a hamstring injury.

Kudos go also to the AFL for its foresight in ensuring that there would be no power failure to turn out the lights and keep fans waiting in the dark as they did for the TIO game earlier this year. In what was a great touch for their administrative capabilities they also sent three blind umpires to officiate the game to ensure that if the lights had gone out, it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

So Dean Bailey and his Demons march on towards a month that will seriously test their mettle. The team which has had its character seriously questioned already this year in games against three of its upcoming opposition teams (and consistently in the last four years by the other) confronts the almighty challenge of recovering from an energy-sapping contest to face its own modern day demons.

Are they up to it? 

Melbourne 6.2.38 9.6.60 16.8.104 17.11.113

Port Adelaide 2.2.14 6.4.40 10.5.64 14.8.92 

Goals

Melbourne  Jurrah  Maric Petterd 3 Green Martin 2 Gysberts Jones Nicholson Sylvia

Port Adelaide Banner Cornes 3 Gray Hitchcock 2 Cassisi  Hartlett Pearce Thomas

Best

 Melbourne Petterd Sylvia Moloney Martin Trengove Frawley Jamar

Port Adelaide Cassisi Thomas C Cornes Gray Lobbe

Injuries

Melbourne Tom Scully (shoulder)

Port Adelaide Matt Thomas (eye)

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Port Adelaide Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Port Adelaide Nil

Umpires Dalgleish Jeffery Armstrong

Crowd 7,255 at TIO Stadium.