The preseason quickly moved into practice match mode with little time available for clubs to blow off the cobwebs so it was a relief to see out the series with all things pointing in a positive direction for Melbourne. The injuries have been kept at bay and the team is displaying good form, running out 50-point winners over Richmond at Casey Fields after carrying out the surgical dismemberment of an opponent with consummate ease in hot torrid conditions for the second straight week.
The victory was stamped early with the twin towers, Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy controlling the ruck and resting forward positions, transferring between them from one role to the other. Together, they helped set up a five goal lead by quarter time which was stretched further to 38 points at the main break with each of them scoring three goals by half time by dint of their mastery of the air and ground. After that they continued on their merry way dominating ruck duels but allowing others to share the goal scoring. By the end of the game, they were well in front and celebrating another successful day at the office.
The Demons have been threatening in the midfield throughout this shortened preseason and, even in the absence of the injured Jack Viney, they had plenty of customers for a bit of a spin at stoppages in addition to the usual dominance and heroics of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. At various times we saw the likes of Kozzie Pickett and Alex Neal-Bullen in there to join the constantly improving Tom Sparrow and an others in the middle while Ed Langdon and Lachie Hunter again dominated on the wings. With clean, crisp ball movement and lots of gut running, they were all over the Tigers in the heat of the day.
This gave the forwards and whoever was resting in the ruck plenty of opportunity to connect for a big score. The return of Tom McDonald is welcome and important: the smalls looked taller with him in their company and it paid dividends. The rejuvenated McDonald also chipped in with three goals of his own.
But, as coach Simon Goodwin would emphasize ad infinitum, it’s the defence which is the rock on which team success is built and it’s from there that you started your attack on the opposition. The key defenders in Steven May, Jack Lever and Harry Petty were unstoppable, Jake Bowey was clean and crisp and every man down back played his role including rookie Judd McVee who survived his baptism of fire against Richmond’s GOAT in Dusty, holding him to a single goal with the Tiger champion lucky to get that one after a touch of possible interference in the contest.
We all maintained a sense of relief when the final siren sounded to signal the blowing off of early season cobwebs. All eyes are now on Round 1 and the Bulldogs on the MCG.
MELBOURNE 5.3.33 9.8.62 12.11.83 18.13.121
RICHMOND 0.3.3 3.6.24 7.8.50 10.11.71
GOALS
MELBOURNE Gawn Grundy McDonald 3 Spargo 2 Brown Chandler Hunter Neal-Bullen Pickett Petracca, Sparrow
RICHMOND Baker Balta Dow Lynch Martin Riewoldt D Rioli Ryan Short Taranto,
BEST
MELBOURNE Petracca Gawn Hunter Oliver May Langdon
RICHMOND Baker Taranto Hopper Vlastuin Martin
INJURIES
MELBOURNE Nil
RICHMOND Prestia (strained pectoral muscle)
REPORTS
MELBOURNE Nil
RICHMOND Nil
Curtain Raiser:
RICHMOND VFL 2.4.16 2.5.17 6.8.44 10.9.69
CASEY DEMONS 2.2.14 6.6.42 8.6.54 10.8.68
GOALS Schache 5 van Rooyen 2 Grey Jefferson Verrall
