The Melbourne Demons were able to put on a strong defensive display on Saturday afternoon, backing up a sensational first quarter effort to beat the Port Adelaide Power by 23 points.
Final score
Melbourne Demons 13.10 88
Power Adelaide Power 9.11 65
With a game and percentage separating them, the Port Adelaide Power and Melbourne Demons will lock horns at the MCG knowing a loss could damage their top four ambitions and even hopes of making the finals. Join The Roar for our live scores and coverage from 2.10pm (AEST).
Three weeks ago, the Demons were the toast of the football world, with a thrilling triumph over West Coast sending them into the top four for the first time in over a decade.
But with two losses in their past three games, and their sole win a narrow one over lowly Carlton, the Dees head into the final six rounds of the home-and-away season with percentage keeping them in the top eight.
While their past three weeks have been ordinary at best, Melbourne have been hampered by a terrible run of injuries; but with key players Christian Salem, Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and 150th-gamer Jack Watts all returning to the side, their midfield is once again looking imposing.
Unlike the Dees, Port Adelaide are guaranteed a spot in the eight at the end of this round regardless of the result due to their formidable percentage, but it’s still arguably their most important match of the season.
The Power seem to have inherited West Coast’s flat-track bully status, given their regular domination of the lower sides but a dearth of wins against top-eight teams. The only way to go about shedding that tag is to win games like this one.
Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Brad Ebert and Jared Polec were all at their brilliant best as the Power dismantled North Melbourne last week, but against a quality side on their home turf, it will be difficult for them to dictate terms quite so heavily.
Prediction
This game is another one of 2017’s now-common unsplittable matches.
Port Adelaide’s superiority on the ladder is counteracted by the Demons’ home ground advantage. The Power’s poor record against top-eight sides is similarly balanced by the unknown of whether the Demons’ returning stars can make an impact in their first week back. I can’t split them, so for the first time this year, I’m backing a draw.
Port Adelaide and Melbourne to play out the year’s third draw
There have been plenty of great stories in the AFL this year, but after a string of serious foot injuries curtailed a promising career and appeared to have him bookmarked as a VFL player for life, former No.2 draft pick Jack Trengove’s return to the Dees’ line-up this week is positive.
Can Trengove mark his recall to the big leagues with a vital win? Or will the Power shed their flat-track bully tag once and for all?
Tune into The Roar‘s live coverage of this crucial fixture from 2.10pm (AEST), and be sure to leave a comment in the section below.
Cat
Roar Guru
Nah, the lesson last night is don't play like crap.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
If you honestly think that Port Adelaide benefited from the umpiring today, it may be time for you to stop watching footy.
Graeme
Guest
I was at the game and you have to be joking. If it hadn't been for appalling umpiring Port would never have got close.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Port are weird.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Also the lesson from last night...
Cat
Roar Guru
And the lesson is don't dig yourself such a big hole that you need help from the umpires to get out of it.
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, that's it from me. Demons finals-bound after a gutsy 23-point win over a fast-finishing Port Adelaide. Do stick around for the other blogs here on The Roar this evening and across the rest of the weekend! Catch you next time! Melbourne 13.10 (88) defeated Port Adelaide 9.11 (65) by 23 points at the MCG. GOALS Melbourne: Melksham 3, Hogan 3, Garlett 2, Petracca 2, T McDonald, Harmes, Hannan. Port Adelaide: Boak 4, Westhoff 2, Wingard, Dixon, Trengove. BEST Melbourne: Hibberd, Melksham, Hunt, Tyson, Viney, Gawn. Port Adelaide: Boak, R Gray, Ebert, Powell-Pepper. INJURIES Melbourne: Gawn (calf), McDonald (corked thigh). Port Adelaide: Wingard (ankle).
Tim Miller
Editor
Port Adelaide: T. Boak, three votes. It's a rarity that the best player on the ground comes from the losing team, but the sole reason this wasn't the blowout that loomed early on was Boak. The Port Adelaide skipper was simply breathtaking in his role as a high half forward with stints in the middle, and his gut running to get on the end of the chain was something to behold. Three times he was able to sprint 70 or 80 metres and get into space inside 50, and where other players might have let their fatigue tell with a bad miss, he banged through all three of them, and one more besides. In a side boasting Wingard, Dixon, Gray and co., would you have believed it was Boak who kicked half their goals today? Every time the Power needed a boost, it was him who stepped up to the mark. 24 touches and six tackles rounded off a remarkably captain's game. It wasn't enough to get his side over the line, but that wasn't his fault by any stretch of the imagination.
Tim Miller
Editor
Melbourne: M. Hibberd, two votes. Another former Bomber in the votes for the Dees, but while Melksham saved his heroics for the last stages, Hibberd was brilliant all day. Half-back runners are all the rage at the moment, and with Christian Salem's return freeing him up even more, he racked them up as he pleased. A staggering 36 possessions as the Dees looked to get him into his hands at every opportunity, and you can't afford to give players like Hibberd that much of the ball. Was as instrumental in the first quarter, when his precises kicking split the Power open again and again, as in the last quarter, when his cool head and composure proved instrumental in the 15 minutes of time-chewing the Dees used to strangle the life out of the Power. Another trade success story for the Roos era at Melbourne.
Tim Miller
Editor
Predictive Brownlow time, everyone! Melbourne: J. Melksham, one vote. Didn't do much in the first half, but by golly, he was everywhere as the Power came surging back. He kicked three goals in the second half when goals were hard to come by, but as Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett faded out of the game, he began to loom as the only Dees forward who was threatening. Just 13 touches, so his stats aren't all that impressive, but when the game was on the line, the former Bomber stepped up big time.
Tim Miller
Editor
Itwas a special day for Melbourne, holding off a fast-finishing Port Adelaide to triumph by 23 points at the MCG, in a performance that signals the Dees are finals bound in 2017. It looked like the Dees' game to win from the moment Tom McDonald put through the first goal of the day in the first minute, and it proved a catalyst for a dominant Demons first half. With Max Gawn dominant in the ruck, and Dom Tyson and Jack Viney roving his taps to perfection, the Dees blitzed through the Power's midfield time and time again. And with Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett dangerous up forward, the Power were no match as the Demons piled on seven of the first eight goals of the game. The Power bit back, however, with Travis Boak magnificent with four second-half goals as the Power fought back from a 44-point deficit to reduce the margin to under three goals with plenty of time left. With Gawn hobbled by a calf injury, Paddy Ryder began to assert his dominance, and with Robbie Gray's move into the middle taking effect, the tiring Dees looked like being overrun. Only briefly, however, and herein lies the difference between this year's Melbourne and the Demons of yore. In the past, they have wilted in the big moments, allowing teams to come back and steam over the top of them, but today, they held firm. For fifteen minutes they held a desperate Power at bay, denying them time and time again and chewing up time. By the time Jake Melksham put through the sealer with four minutes to go, time had already conquered the Power. Once again, the Dees' defensive setup was outstanding, with Sam Frost and Neville Jetta leading the way as one of the competition's deadliest forward line was left effectively impotent all day, and Michael Hibberd and the returning Christian Salem providing the drive from defence that characterises the new, aggressive Melbourne. An ankle injury to Chad Wingard in the third quarter would prove telling, and while he returned briefly in the final term before succumbing to the ice, the Power were never again able to truly threaten. For the Power, though they will remain at least fifth by the end of the round, the questions over their ability to deal with the very best sides in the competition remain, and their tag of "flat-track bully" will only grow stronger after an abysmal first half. The Demons' pressure proved unsustainable, but in a finals-like atmosphere, it was the men who haven't played one of them for over a decade that proved better suited to it. There's still a long way to go this season, but if a performance like today is any indication, the Demons are going to be a hellish match-up for any team in September.
TFR
Roar Rookie
being a port fan is fun excellent one week under 10s the next. Season is very unpredictable to tip unless port play a top 8 team SHOCKING
Bob
Guest
Story of the game? Port were building momentum in the last quarter, then had it ripped away by seven straight free kicks to Melbourne. I fully believe port would have run over the top of them with fair umpiring
Tim Miller
Editor
Frost chips across to Hunt, he goes back to Frost and the siren sounds! The Dees reign supreme!
Tim Miller
Editor
Long ball in for the Power, but the Dees have the numbers and Oscar McDonald saves the day.
Tim Miller
Editor
Just over a minute to go now. Count it down, Demons fans!
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Too little too late, but what a ripper from Westhoff! Hibberd's clearing kick from the goal line is a wobbly one, the Power respond, comes to Westhoff on the 50 near the boundary line, and his kick is perfect! Goal of the day I'd say, right at the death. Melbourne 13.10 (88) Port Adelaide 9.11 (65) Q4, 2.43 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL MELBOURNE And from 45, Petracca makes no mistake! And after the Power couldn't make any inroads in that 15-minute stalemate, the dam wall has busted now. Melbourne 13.10 (88) Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) Q4, 3.19 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND MELBOURNE Kennedy-Harris clears and bangs a ball long, but Byrne-Jones gets there to shove it through for a behind. But from the kick-in, Petracca intercepts and will line them up from 45! Melbourne 12.10 (82) Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) Q1, 3.59 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL MELBOURNE HE'S GOT IT! MELBOURNE ARE HOME! Magnificent from Melksham. A difficult shot, especially with the wind on today, but it's a thing of beauty, soaring through the air and right through the big sticks. They've had a fright, but it's another beautiful day for the red and the blue. Melbourne 12.9 (81) Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) Q4, 4.21 left