BACK TO EARTH by The Oracle

In the end it was a rout. The Dockers kicked more goals in the final quarter than the Demons kicked for the whole match and indeed in any of their four previous encounters.

Fremantle won 18.10.118 to 6.14.50 and that score line really addresses the scoring efficiency of the ladder leaders who burst away with a four goal to nil lead by the eleven minute mark of the match. They maintained that position as the status quo until late in the third quarter and then ran away with the game with those seven unanswered final term goals. As predicted, they held the advantage in the ruck and on the ball and won in most positions. They were better at the stoppages, they were better in the air and on the ground and their ball use was far more efficient.

And that was with their substitute on the ground for the second half in place of Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters also injured, making the eventual winning margin of 68 points all the more impressive.

Of course, Melbourne's ineptitude in front of goal after half-time was not helpful. The Demons had 11 shots (for one goal) to 14 (for 10) in that half of football and that result of itself pretty much summarizes the difference between a premiership contender and one that simply isn't ready to take on the big boys.

Melbourne does have some promising players and Jesse Hogan is one of those who came back down to earth after the excitement of Anzac Eve. He tried hard and did some special things but he was taught a lesson by an experienced defender in Luke McPharlin who has been playing the game at this level since Hogan was in primary school.

Hogan missed the presence of Chris Dawes to help out up forward. And when the team comes up against two monster ruckmen next time it would be helpful if Mark Jamar was given some more assistance in that area as well. Of course, with the injuries mounting on a weekly basis, the team's depth or lack thereof is being tested more and more.

Tom McDonald continued his great season while Jeff Garlett worked hard for his three goals but should have kicked at least five.

Melbourne 2.2.14 5.4.34 6.8.44 6.14.50

Fremantle 5.3.33 8.6.54 11.8.74 18.10.118

Goals

Melbourne Garlett 3 Brayshaw Hogan vandenBerg

Fremantle Mayne 4 Mundy Neale Pearce Suban Taberner 2 N Suban 2 De Boer Fyfe Hill Sandilands

Best

Melbourne T McDonald Garlett Brayshaw Dunn Garland Tyson

Fremantle Mayne Fyffe Mundy Neale Barlow Hill

Changes

Melbourne Cam Pedersen replaced Chris Dawes (calf) in the selected side.

Fremantle Nil

Injuries

Melbourne Salem (concussion)

Fremantle Pavlich (concussion) Walters (concussion)

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Fremantle Nil

Umpires Ben Ryan Troy Pannell Robert OGorman

Official Crowd 22,892 at MCG