GIVEN THE OLD HEAVE HO’ by George on the Outer

September 8, 20205 yr

Fremantle gave Melbourne the old heave ho’ from playing finals in 2020, in conditions that the Demons yet again failed to handle.

With the whole season on the line and the need to win to stay in contention for finals, what the fans saw was much the same as they have been witnessing so many times before — a complete debacle and capitulation against a side that sat 15th on the ladder before the game.

Promises made after the loss to the 16th placed Sydney Swans were rendered hollow as followers of the side watched the same rubbish served up.

The weather, with a strong wind to one end in the first quarter, and then followed by heavy rain became a factor ... but not for Melbourne who simply failed to adapt and alter their style of play to match those conditions. Any junior football coach knows to kick directly with the wind when it is wet and kick to the boundary when against the wind. The Demons continued to kick down the line and to pockets when not needed.

And they continued to do it after the coach told them to “be bold” with the kicking at ½ time. It took until 6 minutes before full time before an attack was mounted through the middle, and even then there was no-one to kick to, because the big targets were out on the wing!

Fresh legs? Of the 7 players brought into the side they managed a total of 57 possessions and ten tackles. Eight of those tackles were from AVB and Kossie! Melksham tagging Fyfe for 3 quarters managed 2 tackles! ANB 6 touches for the match.

It was gut-wrenching for fans to watch. It would be absolutely forgiveable if they were playing a top of the side team but they weren’t and that was the second time in four days.

The pity is that Melbourne had half a dozen players who really put in. Jack Viney, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Steven May, Ed Langdon and Trent Rivers went at 100% for the whole game. Max should have alternated with Preuss in the ruck and looked to be out on his feet. That didn’t help the side.

Despite not having a functional forward line (and Freo had 3 of their best defenders missing), Melbourne were within nine points with 10 minutes remaining. Someone needed to stand up in the greasy conditions, but without those big bodies (TMac, Brown not even selected), and Preuss banished to the bench, the Dockers were able to simply kill the ball.

If the pressure was able to be brought to bear in the final quarter, when Melbourne doubled their score, why was it not possible for the previous three?

Poor selections, poor planning and tactics, poor application and insufficient motivation led to this loss.

The only outcome will be that a sizable group of players and even the coach are now looking down the barrel of “the Old Heave Ho” come season end ... which now can’t come soon enough!

MELBOURNE 0.1.1 1.3.9 2.4.16 4.9.33

FREMANTLE 1.6.12 1.9.15 4.9.33 6.11.47

GOALS

Melbourne Fritsch Hunt vandenBerg Weideman

Fremantle Walters 3 Cerra Darcy Frederick

BEST

Melbourne Viney Petracca Fritsch Gawn

Fremantle Cerra Walters Mundy Serong Ryan Fyfe Cox

INJURED

Melbourne Nil

Fremantle Duman (hand)

REPORTED