Demonland

When bottom side Adelaide scrapped together a win over the Giants last week, a tiny glimmer of hope opened up for the Demons’ finals chances. The patient was in intensive care but not quite finished — there was a faint pulse, a heart beating ever so slightly but was it enough when two more wins and other results were needed to fall their way? The first step was the resuscitation of a team that had lost its last two matches against sides then sitting fifteenth and sixteenth on the ladder. Once again, the whole year was “on the line”, so would the Demons splutter out ignominiously again or would they finally show some ticker? A win meant as much for the Giants as they included a series of their better players with Mumford, Perryman, Kelly and Williams taking their places, making the task for the Demons more difficult. It all started well for Melbourne which bounced out of the blocks to lead by three goals in the first quarter. Jake Melksham was assigned Josh Kelly right from the start, which meant that Christian Petracca was pushed out of the middle to a forward role. Max Gawn against Mumford was to be the battle of the day, one of them hoping to ruck but the other was trying to act as a wrecking ball. Fortunately Max was the one playing football, but once again the mids failed to win the clearance contest. By half time, the scores had levelled out, setting the stage for a slog-fest to the line. Silly errors, particularly from Melksham, gave the Giants a series of goals, and the Melbourne fans once again witnessed the side failing to stop a run of opposition goals. At one stage in the third quarter the Demons had conceded six of the last seven but still, the Giants’ led at the final break by seven points. It was all or nothing for the final term, with Melbourne getting the all and GWS the nothing. The Demons lifted and hit the lead with a Bayley Fritsch goal with ten minutes time left. Thanks to some brilliant running from Ed Langdon the ball finished up in the Demons forward line again to see Trent Rivers snap truly to give Melbourne an eleven point margin with only two minutes to go. The Giants managed another goal with barely thirty seconds on the clock, so players threw themselves at the ball with reckless abandon. A Rivers spoil stopped the final advance and the fat lady final sang to keep the Demons heart beat ticking over. The backs held the side together when needed, particularly Steven May and Rivers. May’s strength and football smarts saw him repel multiple attacks. Eight marks in the full back position was telling, but it was his cool head that kept the opposition at bay when needed. Rivers has not only cemented his role in the backline, but his accurate kicking and ability to read the play is what the side has been searching for to complement Salem on the other flank. In a score of 12 goals, Rivers and Salem contributed a quarter of the team’s score including two of the last three. The mids had some hard competition and lowered their colours in clearances again. However, Petracca, when moved through the guts had 19 contested touches out of 22 in total. And on the wing, Langdon just did what he does best, by running to create the outlet options for the backs, and then sending the ball forward. Unfortunately, the forward line was only semi -functional. Sam Weideman’s seven touches and a solitary mark, was sub par by any standard. Alex Neal-Bullen ran around and around and did little other than high five others while managing only nine disposals. Jayden Hunt probably wrote himself out of contention for the next game with a sub par five disposals. Mitch Brown did his job as expected with 13 touches and seven marks. Kysaiah Pickett was his usual busy self and his 15 touches was in sharp contrast to the other small forwards. But with half of the forward line not firing in any way, the side was fortunate that the half back flankers were able to step up. With one more game to come, there is still a chance. The losses against Sydney and Fremantle in the heat and humidity of Cairns mean that Melbourne depends on other teams to fall over. Most of those matches will happen after the game against Essendon and to win that match it must bring the same level of intensity as it took to the Gabba for without it, the heart beat will flat line. MELBOURNE 5.2.32 7.5.47 9.6.60 12.7.79 GWS GIANTS 2.3.15 7.5.47 10.7.67 11.8.74 GOALS Melbourne Baker Rivers Spargo 2 Fritsch Hunt Neal-Bullen Petracca Pickett Salem GWS Giants Daniels Lloyd Williams 2 Cameron de Boer Finlayson Perryman Williams BEST Melbourne May Langdon Gawn Petracca Oliver Rivers GWS Giants Kelly Hopper Daniels Williams Green INJURED Melbourne Neville Jetta (ankle) GWS Giants Nil REPORTED Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Brent Daniels for rough conduct on Christian Petracca in the second quarter UMPIRES Stevic, O'Gorman, Williamson CROWD 1,204 at The Gabba

A lot more chance but still no chance if that makes sense.

Longmuir seems like the type of coach who’d want to take a scalp.

Actually. It won't if they lose next week and we win.

It wasn't as damaging percentage wise as it was looking early. I hope that Gunston no score doesn't cost us in the end. Such a Melbourne result if it does.

Not to mention them losing to Freo. Freo are much better than the Hawks and won't just roll over but the Bulldogs also don't drop games to lowly teams.

Ok I'm done. I can't put myself through this.

How can we expect Hawks to win when then can't take an easy mark.

Someone tag the Bont.

Dogs already up 2 %

If I didn't have a vested interest I wouldn't even be watching.

Bulldogs will end up smashing the Hawks. The Hawks haven't even given up yet.

Hawthorn are a very poor team. Missing goals and targets and dropping easy marks.

I think we need to forget about the assist from the Hawks. Over to you Fremantle.

You can't touch the Bont.

Bulldogs clogging the Hawks forward line like the did to us.

I haven't watched much of the Hawks this year but he's done it every time I have.

That was such an against the run of play goal that we are so familiar with.

Why do every team I barrack for get [censored] by the umpires?

Collingwood are starting to get key players back and we are relying on the Suns beating them.

how far begind= how far behind is Kayo to LIVE?

Anyone else worried the Bulldogs might claw back percentage today? Well aware we still need them to lose next week but percentage is still in play.

With one round and some prospect of finals to come, Christian Petracca remains in the box seat. 161. Christian Petracca 133. Steven May 128. Clayton Oliver 111. Jack Viney 110. Max Gawn 87. Ed Langdon 52. Jake Lever 36. Michael Hibberd 31. Angus Brayshaw 23. Trent Rivers Christian Salem 15. Jay Lockhart 13. Oscar McDonald Adam Tomlinson 10. Jake Melksham Sam Weideman 8. Kysaiah Pickett 7. James Harmes Luke Jackson 6. Mitch Hannan Charlie Spargo 5. Bayley Fritsch 4. Tom McDonald 3. Jayden Hunt 2. Oskar Baker Aaron vandenBerg 1. Neville Jetta Braydon Preuss

At the bottom uncheck like I have done. With this setup I seem to still receive updates when someone quotes a post of mine but not any reaction notifications.