Melbourne took their first win over Hawthorn since 2006 on Saturday at the MCG, kicking the last five goals of the game to win by 29 points and put an end the Hawks’ nine-game winning streak.
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In a mighty performance at the MCG, the Melbourne Demons broke a ten-year in one of the most entertaining games of the year.
The win well and truly rubber-stamps the revival of Melbourne under Paul Roos, and will surely be built on in coming years as the club looks towards its next premiership.
On a day where many of their superstars failed to perform, Cyril Rioli nearly single-handedly dragged Hawthorn over the line, putting in a sparkling performance that included four goals, 12 tackles, and plenty of headaches for anyone within arm’s reach of the champion Hawk.
Poor kicking haunted the reigning premiers all day, exemplified by usual dead-eye Jack Gunston’s final score tally of 2.4. Usual contributors Luke Bruest and James Sicily also had their quietest games of the season, failing to register a single goal between them.
It was clear that the Demons were on from the moment the ball was first bounced, beating Hawthorn at their own game early with precision ball use doing the damage.
Jack Watts was the difference in the first half with three goals, while first-game forward Sam Weideman had a dream debut, kicking two majors.
More impressive was the fact that the Demons kept the scoreboard ticking over without superstar forward Jesse Hogan, who was a late withdrawal.
In the final term the game was excruciatingly tight, and with nine minutes remaining, the Hawks still led.
However, the game was full of lead changes and momentum swings – and it was the Demons who came home like a steam train.
Given the quality of their opposition, it was almost impossible to call the final result – but as time continued to drain, a couple of Dom Tyson goals sealed the famous victory.
Isaac Smith and Jordan Lewis were amongst the Hawks better players, but sadly for Hawks fans, there were not enough of those.
The win was engineered in the middle by the gargantuan combination of Max Gawn and Jack Viney, who are fast becoming one of the deadliest one-two punches in the game.
Viney finished with 39 touches and eight tackles, while Gawn’s 41 hitouts and contested marking ability proved to be the difference.
Melbourne will be delighted at the games of players such as Clayton Oliver and Oscar McDonald, who despite their inexperience were never intimidated and played key roles in the win.
The result could have major ramifications for the Hawks, who are now just one game clear on top of the ladder.
By dropping another game they risk losing a home final, and will certainly be bringing their best to the remaining three rounds, starting with rivals North Melbourne next weekend.
This could’ve been a necessary wake-up call for the Hawks, and could serve to strengthen their resolve as they look to a record-equalling fourpeat.
It was a great day for the Melbourne Football Club, who will next travel to Adelaide to take on the Power.
In their final few weeks under Roos, expect them to inject valuable experience into their talented young players, as they will be the ones who form the basis of this clubs journey back up the AFL ranks in years to come.
Final score
Melbourne Demons 17.8.110
Hawthorn Hawks 11.15.81
The Roar’s AFL MVP Votes
3 – Cyril Rioli
2 – Jack Viney
1 – Max Gawn
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