Melbourne was in a beastly mood early in the game against Hawthorn at the MCG with eight goals to one in the first half. The Hawks came out of the blocks after half time like a team possessed with three quick goals but the Demons rallied to win by a comfortable nine goal margin. Jack Viney and Christian Petracca were the best of the Demons.

MELBOURNE  5.5.35 8.6.54 11.10.76 15.13.103

HAWTHORN 0.1.1 1.3.9 6.5.41 7.7.49

THE TEAMS 

HAWTHORN 

B J. Sicily S. Frost J. Weddle
HB F. Maginness S. Mitchell J. Blanck J. Impey
C C. Nash J. Newcombe K. Amon
HF J. Worpel J. Koschitzke C. Wingard 
F D. Moore M. Lewis L. Breust
FOLL L. Meek W. Day C. Mackenzie
I/C S. Butler B. Hardwick C. Jiath H. Morrison SUB L. Bramble EMG F. Greene J. Scrimshaw

IN J. Blanck L. Breust S. Butler C. Jiath J. Koschitzke C. Mackenzie

OUT T. Brockman (suspended) F. Greene (omitted) C. Macdonald (illness) N. Reeves (ankle) J. Scrimshaw (omitted) J. Ward (foot) 

MELBOURNE

B A. Brayshaw  S. May M. Hibberd
HB J. McVee J. Lever J. Bowey
C E. Langdon C. Oliver A. Neal-Bullen 
HF B. Fritsch B. Grundy L. Hunter 
F K. Chandler J. van Rooyen K. Pickett
FOLL M. Gawn C. Petracca J. Viney
I/C H. Petty T. Rivers C. Spargo T. Sparrow SUB J. Jordon EMG B. Laurie T. McDonald D. Turner

IN M. Hibberd C. Spargo

OUT J. Harmes (omitted) D. Turner (omitted)

Our last two games have been repeat matches against teams we beat easily earlier this year.

We beat North by 90 points the first time but struggled against them for half a game and won by 32 points in the end the second time.

We beat Carlton by 61 to 44 the first time but they really mauled us in the first quarter and we couldn’t get over them in the end on Saturday.

What’s with our slow starts and reversal of form lately?

Is there reason to worry?