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ROOVENGE by Whispering Jack

Demonland
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I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

The game was full of individual contests, but the standout was the duel of the giants, which was spiced up for extra interest as a consequence of the fallout from the last engagement between the clubs, when Max Gawn, was outplayed by North’s Tristan Xerri, who finished with 20 disposals and one goal and even shaded the Demons' skipper in the hit out total. The media highlighted post-match comments by Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, suggesting that personal issues may have contributed to his decline in form, with SEN's David King labeling it a "balls up". 

It was inevitable therefore, that the press would frame yesterday’s meeting between the two as a battle Royal and a contest for All-Australian honours and in this context, Gawn decisively gained retribution, dominating the hit-out and possession count and facilitating his team’s victory. Roovenge.

However, that merely scratched the surface of the 95-point reversal in fortunes between the two teams. Since their last encounter, the Melbourne brains trust has been diligently reconfiguring the team's strategy, achieving moderate success thus far, albeit hindered by subpar conversion in front of goal. 

Yesterday, things worked well thanks to the attacking skills of Jake Melksham (5 goals) and Bayley Fritsch (3) and a different input of sorts from young talls in Jacob van Rooyen and Matthew Jefferson  who are combining to show some good signs for the future. And while Kozzy Pickett missed a couple of sitters in the second term, his presence was always a dangerous factor in the Demon attack. All in all, the forwards are starting to gel with more caring and sharing.

In their last encounter, the young Kangaroos outran the Demons midfield bulls when the game was in the balance in the third quarter, enabling a goal deluge in the last, but this time it was the experience of Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, and Clayton Oliver that stood out. Petracca’s game was special. Youngster Harvey Langford is fitting into that group nicely. The defence while under constant pressure at times also performed admirably. 

With half a dozen games to go and no prospect of finals, the emphasis will remain on improving and preparing for the future but looking to next week’s meeting with Carlton, the idea of some bluevenge is certainly on the table.

MELBOURNE 3.3.21 6.5.41 11.9.75 18.11.119

NORTH MELBOURNE 4.2.26 5.6.36 8.11.59 12.11.83

GOALS 

MELBOURNE Melksham 5 Fritsch 3 Chandler 2 Gawn Jefferson Langdon Petracca Pickett Sparrow Tholstrup van Rooyen

NORTH MELBOURNE Harvey 4 Darling Zurhaar 3 Curtis 2

BEST

MELBOURNE Fritsch Melksham Petracca Salem Gawn Viney

NORTH MELBOURNE McKercher Zurhaar Sheezel Harvey Parker

LATE CHANGES

MELBOURNE Tom McDonald replaced Steven May (illness)

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Tom Sparrow (concussion)

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

REPORTS 

MELBOURNE Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

SUBSTITUTIONS 

MELBOURNE Caleb Windsor replaced Xavier Lindsay (tactical) in the third quarter  

NORTH MELBOURNE Bailey Scott replaced Finnbar Maley (tactical) in the third quarter

UMPIRES Jeff Dalgleish Jack Howard Alex Whetton Peter Bailes 

CROWD 35,844 at The MCG

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    12 hours ago, Demonland said:

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

    The game was full of individual contests, but the standout was the duel of the giants, which was spiced up for extra interest as a consequence of the fallout from the last engagement between the clubs, when Max Gawn, was outplayed by North’s Tristan Xerri, who finished with 20 disposals and one goal and even shaded the Demons' skipper in the hit out total. The media highlighted post-match comments by Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, suggesting that personal issues may have contributed to his decline in form, with SEN's David King labeling it a "balls up". 

    It was inevitable therefore, that the press would frame yesterday’s meeting between the two as a battle Royal and a contest for All-Australian honours and in this context, Gawn decisively gained retribution, dominating the hit-out and possession count and facilitating his team’s victory. Roovenge.

    However, that merely scratched the surface of the 95-point reversal in fortunes between the two teams. Since their last encounter, the Melbourne brains trust has been diligently reconfiguring the team's strategy, achieving moderate success thus far, albeit hindered by subpar conversion in front of goal. 

    Yesterday, things worked well thanks to the attacking skills of Jake Melksham (5 goals) and Bayley Fritsch (3) and a different input of sorts from young talls in Jacob van Rooyen and Matthew Jefferson  who are combining to show some good signs for the future. And while Kozzy Pickett missed a couple of sitters in the second term, his presence was always a dangerous factor in the Demon attack. All in all, the forwards are starting to gel with more caring and sharing.

    In their last encounter, the young Kangaroos outran the Demons midfield bulls when the game was in the balance in the third quarter, enabling a goal deluge in the last, but this time it was the experience of Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, and Clayton Oliver that stood out. Petracca’s game was special. Youngster Harvey Langford is fitting into that group nicely. The defence while under constant pressure at times also performed admirably. 

    With half a dozen games to go and no prospect of finals, the emphasis will remain on improving and preparing for the future but looking to next week’s meeting with Carlton, the idea of some bluevenge is certainly on the table.

    MELBOURNE 3.3.21 6.5.41 11.9.75 18.11.119

    NORTH MELBOURNE 4.2.26 5.6.36 8.11.59 12.11.83

    GOALS 

    MELBOURNE Melksham 5 Fritsch 3 Chandler 2 Gawn Jefferson Langdon Petracca Pickett Sparrow Tholstrup van Rooyen

    NORTH MELBOURNE Harvey 4 Darling Zurhaar 3 Curtis 2

    BEST

    MELBOURNE Fritsch Melksham Petracca Salem Gawn Viney

    NORTH MELBOURNE McKercher Zurhaar Sheezel Harvey Parker

    LATE CHANGES

    MELBOURNE Tom McDonald replaced Steven May (illness)

    NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

    INJURIES

    MELBOURNE Tom Sparrow (concussion)

    NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

    REPORTS 

    MELBOURNE Nil

    NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

    SUBSTITUTIONS 

    MELBOURNE Caleb Windsor replaced Xavier Lindsay (tactical) in the third quarter  

    NORTH MELBOURNE Bailey Scott replaced Finnbar Maley (tactical) in the third quarter

    UMPIRES Jeff Dalgleish Jack Howard Alex Whetton Peter Bailes 

    CROWD 35,844 at The MCG

    Excellent summary. Maybe TMac deserves a special mention as well after his inexplicable recent exile.

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    12 hours ago, Dee-tonator said:

    Excellent summary. Maybe TMac deserves a special mention as well after his inexplicable recent exile.

    Bizarre he was only in because May was crook.

    Something not quite right about all this..

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