It is odd that a team which plays as Melbourne does – contested, physical and hard-nosed – is so prone to going to water.
Some teams fall over like a house of cards. The foundation is always vulnerable, disguised by a smoke and mirrors system or a handful of transcendent individual talents, and the collapse makes sense.
Melbourne’s collapses make no sense beyond the players looking compelled to pay masochistic tribute to the past decade of their team’s shortcomings.
Until the final stanza – whether it’s the final quarter, or last year, the final game – the Demons are rock solid. Then they toss all their work into the air, turning it into china while airborne, and see how loudly and emphatically it can smash to pieces in front of them.
The win in Adelaide was a perfect summary of the Demons. They dominated the second and third terms, turning an arm-wrestle into a former arm-wrestle, gradually but undeniably suffocating their opponents until, by the depths of the third quarter, Adelaide couldn’t string three clean possessions together.
For Melbourne, it all starts in the middle, with Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver – the Dees’ two best players. Gawn and Oliver are the most dynamic and impactful interior duo in the game – Gawn the best tap ruckman around, Oliver among the small number of most elite clearance mids.
Max Gawn (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Gawn’s genius is self-evident – the tallest player on the field doing the deftest things on it stands out. Oliver is less obvious, but each week he becomes more irrepressible. He has a PhD in extraction, a master of angles and quick releases in small windows. He’s old school but also quick-twitch – he slams his body into contests to win position, then, in a strange form of explosiveness, is able to quickly manipulate that position and free the ball to a teammate in space.
Oliver and Gawn were at the heart of the win over the Crows, the dominance at stoppages too definitive to overcome. They hardly did it alone, though.
What makes the Demons most special is the number of tough, vigorous midfielders they can rotate through stoppages. Christian Petracca is the most compelling of all of them, and his past month has been ominous. If Petracca is ready to be a 22-touch, five-tackle, five-clearance, one-goal midfielder, alongside Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Nathan Jones and Jack Viney, the Dees can beat anyone.
They probably already can – if only on a given day. They’re skilled and brutal, with elite talent waiting inside 50 to punish. Their pressure can be ferocious. It’s not as manic as Richmond or Collingwood but in some ways it’s cleaner – the Demons have a habit of generating turnovers like NFL interceptions, a team of free safeties picking the ball off in the air after a hurried pass and immediately going back the other way.
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All the pieces – except perhaps for a healthy Jake Lever and a bit more outside dash (the best theoretical version of healthy Jayden Hunt would help) – are in place, the Dees just need to stop riding their bicycle into trees.
The near-collapse against the Crows was farcical. Late in the piece, Melbourne played like a team that felt it was obliged to meltdown – the game was won and then they made the unconscious decision to try and lose it. If not for numerous missed Adelaide chances from the goal-square, they may well have succeeded.
They escaped, though, after dramatically not escaping the week before. It wasn’t convincing, but it was a win, and for a group so unproven in big moments, maybe that will be enough to convince them.
If they start to believe, and play four quarters with that belief, then any opponent should be concerned, because the Demons are the only side in the competition that can beat 18 teams.
Mark Dennis
Guest
Totally agree this is a side to likes I've never seen before in my entire life being born in 78. & Goodwin will only get better with then, his clearly a heck of a coach and is always focused on getting better but the way the unit respect him and how he gets in with them says he's clearly going to be the next norm Smith..there is a dynasty coming out way toot toot
Virgil Starkwell
Guest
I tried to console a Demons’ supporter mate of mine following the recent narrow loss to Geelong. I used the example of Richmond’s soul destroying last minute 2017 defeats. Keep your chin up, there’s always next week, that which doesn’t destroy you only makes you stronger etc. Didn’t help at all.
Samuel Ord
Roar Guru
Really good comparison, I agree entirely. Richmond in, 2013 (??) I think only just missed out on finals but lost more than a half dozen games by less than 10 points. Melbourne feels the same way now. That's why I think it's been important that Melbourne manage to scrape into the top four this year, so they can have at least two finals and really get a feel for it. Richmond had to suffer three elimination final defeats and a year out of September just to get the hang of being in finals again. Hopefully for the sake of the Demons they don't need the same sort of trial by fire to enjoy some success.
Samuel Ord
Roar Guru
I think you're on the money here. Melbourne was crushed after Jake Lever got injured and was rubbed out for the season for a very good reason. Without him down back, Melbourne concedes too much. It's crazy to think that a side averaging 103+ points has dropped so many close ones. Melbourne would probably be top two with the Tigers if it wasn't for Lever's injury.
dave
Guest
Richmond can beat 17 teams.18 teams is a comment about Melbourne having to beat Melbourne as well as the other 17 teams.
Daws
Guest
I think Jay is saying Melbourne can beat themselves. At least you live up to your moniker.
Jed Lanyon
Roar Rookie
Dees show a lot of promise. I won't be able to buy in until I see how they fare against the Eagles (Away) and GWS in the final rounds. Crazy to think that they would be entrenched in the top four if not for those heartbreaking losses to the Cats x 2 and to the Saints.
reuster75
Guest
I can't remember now which commentator said it, think it was on the ABC but they remarked that Melbourne are a lost like Richmond of a few years ago in that they keep getting themselves into good positions but kept losing the close ones. I thought that was quite a good comparison and I reckon you could take this article and travel back in time with it to describe Richmond of a few years ago. If Melbourne hold on and make the eight maybe mentally they'll see it as a free hit and will be able to get on a run.
Confused
Guest
Good read but you spoil it by make outlandish statements like "because the Demons are the only side in the competition that can beat 18 teams" Only Richmond can make this claim. Don't forget they have lost 7 games out of 18 and sit in 6th position with the same points as position 7-9, Hawk, Cats & Swans. They lost against the Hawks & Cats and yet to play the Swans.
bogdan kanachini
Guest
I think it would be great, if they could beat someone in the eight.
Jorge
Guest
good article Jay. I think the best part of their precarious predicament is that they are like a 100m sprinter that is running okay but hasn't put together a complete performance since half way through the season and now things are not quite synchronistic. Between their losses to the premiers in round 5 and their ANZAC Day loss to the Pies, the Demons were playing irresistible football. Their backs absorbed pressure and nullified attacks, their midfield, as Jay described succinctly started to grind and pummel other midfields. The main difference between then and after the bye was the linking with the forwards allowing them to score in multiple avenues and heavily. Whether it is players carrying injury, playing better defences, shuffling different players through, the link between the forwards and midfield has been spluttering since the bye. Like a sprinter, alternating between messy starts and more poignantly, fragile finishes, they have been unable to "put it all together". IF? Melbourne can start to believe they can put it all together against some of the league's best, they can not only just make the finals but have a chance to put in a PB(personal best) when they cross the finish line ……. and they just might be picking up a gold......
User
Roar Rookie
If Melbourne make the gf this year , well I'm already shuddering with memories of 88 & 2000, anyway their backline will be exposed in the remaining h&a matches and will lose at least two but very possibly all four because it's Melbourne.
Griffo
Guest
I like the sound of that! At the same time I realise how precarious the Dees position in the eight is. Suns next week, then Swans, Eagles and Giants in the last 3. 3 wins out 4 and a grand total of 14 wins for the season could be good enough for 4th spot. 2 out of 4 and 13 wins could be poor enough for 9th. Hopefully the boys can win 4 out of 4!
Riordan Lee
Editor
Sensational read, Jay. Have been scratching my head all season trying to figure out where Melbourne's at, but you've put all the increasingly confusing pieces of the puzzle together for me.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Now THAT is good writing. I think you are right too. I expect the fading flakiness to diminish and they will cement themselves as top 4. From there they will progress to the GF (against GWS) and become 2018 Premiers.