The Melbourne Demons are playing finals for the first time in more than a decade, after overcoming the West Coast Eagles to win by 17 points.
It was a tight contest all day, with Melbourne holding the advantage for much of it on the back of a strong four-goals-to-none start.
Melbourne had the game on its terms, pressuring the home side and stopping its rebound game with some smart defensive zoning.
When West Coast found space they were able to take full toll, but those opportunities were few and far between in the first half.
Max Gawn and the Melbourne midfield dominated the middle of the ground. Jack Darling went down at the ten-minute mark in a heavy (but fair) tackle from Melbourne’s Oscar McDonald, and was ruled out of the game at quarter time with concussion.
The Eagles turned to Jeremy McGovern in the second quarter to maintain their two tall forward set up. However other than a few marks to help his side exit the defensive half he was largely ineffectual and ended the game in the defensive half.
West Coast had a much better time of it in the second quarter, and were able to capitalise early to bring the margin back to seven points.
But Melbourne held firm, as they did throughout the day when challenged, and built their margin to 14 points at half time.
Melbourne’s midfield was well on top, holding a +23 contested possession differential at the main change.
Max Gawn was stellar out of the centre all day, and won 20 disposals himself. By contrast, Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy were mostly ineffectual around the ground.
For the first ten or so minutes of the third quarter the Eagles once again looked as though they’d challenge for the lead, getting far more of the game on their terms as the teams traded possessions on the wide expanses of Perth Stadium.
Melbourne’s half-forward line stood up, helping to limit the damage by keeping the Dees efficient when they did break the West Coast lines.
It was delicately poised at the final change, with players on both sides looking fatigued in the warm afternoon sun.
The teams traded blows, but it was West Coast who took the lead on the back of a Mark LeCras goal with 18 minutes gone.
It was the first time the home side had been in front all day, and the most engaged the crowd, who was otherwise distracted by some questionable umpiring calls and no-calls, was all afternoon.
Melbourne found the answer through their half forwards a few minutes later, and never looked back, kicking the last three goals of the game to run out winners.
West Coast had a chance to go back up with a clean entry on the back of a strong Elliot Yeo contested mark, but couldn’t find an open player inside forward 50.
The Dees can thank their core midfield group and their flexible half forward line for the win. When Melbourne needed a goal it was the likes of Gawn, Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw who managed the ball out of the centre, and it was the deft kicking of James Harmes, Christian Salem, Charlie Sparso and Mitch Hannan that gave the Dees the lion’s share of their opportunities.
Melbourne will be playing finals for the first time since 2006, while West Coast – locked in to the final eight last week – will need a victory or a relatively small win by Collingwood to lock in their top two finish.
All told this is an enormous result for the Dees, and one which could set them up for a strong run come September time.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
The thing that got me with ththe commentary team was the unconscious irony in their remarks about the brilliance of the Melbourne side compared to almost anything said about the Eagles. Surely, if a side is ahead by brilliant play,for the other side to catch and pass them,even if briefly,there must have been equal brilliance? The same thing happened in the Saints and Hawks game.The elite skills of Gunston,Breust,Burgoyne et al must at least have been matched by the Saints but not a dickybird was heard.When the Hawks turned it over it was uncharacteristic,despite being tackled and harrassed to perfection. it was only St Kilda's inaccuracy that saved Hawthorn from ignominy Elsewhere a post referred to Simpson being outcoached. I agree.The Dees scored three or four goals,their winning margin, from players being off by themselves.Good kicking helped but the first time it happened,Simpson could have done something to stop it happening again. One more defender and depend on your dynamic small forwards of whom Cripps is approaching elite status, to kick goals.Hutchings kicked two after all
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
“Scoot Airlines” : Certainly makes you stop & think...
User
Roar Rookie
Nullified Oliver and though his possession count wasn't high he kicked two clutch goals. Game was pretty well over when darling went down 10 minutes in, but can't fault alot of what we did to have it in the balance with 10mins left and gov having nearly his worse game ever as well. Would say jack would of been good for 3goals so result isn't worrying for me.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
If there was an award at the EOY for the best tagger in the game...... Surely it would go to Hutchings....... Lost my Fantasy Prelim because he kept Oliver to 76 points.....
User
Roar Rookie
Furthermore to mock the idea of a conspiracy then say the umpires (which are all non wa at WC matches now) put the whistle away because of crowd noise which in itself is a conspiracy theory, I don't need to flesh out that further mate.
User
Roar Rookie
Rob first for goals came when both Lycett and darling went of for medical attention, well done Melbourne took advantage and got four, but reason why is perfectly sound. When Melbourne can manage to get over 50000 fans to a match and not rely on Collingwood or Richmond to provide them you can sling mud, till then just making up numbers in September isn't a landmark achievement.
Rob
Guest
What a day! Finals finally!!! Shame its all an AFL eastern states conspiricy as it is everytime West Coast lose! Notice with the morons not making any noise because of the shock of having the first 4 goals kicked against them the umpires put the whistle away?
User
Roar Rookie
Lost that in round one Pete, if a team came here in finals and didn't think they could win they don't deserve to be in the finals at all.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The most significant thing is WCE have lost their home mystique now and every finals side will believe they can knock them off in Perth.
User
Roar Rookie
Can't disagree, felt it was a poor reflection on Melbourne, truly they should of won by 6-7, teams that worry me in finals is Richmond, Geelong and Swans all the rest don't have it imo.
Cat
Roar Guru
It was a very Geelong like performance. Play poorly for 3/4s then fall short in the end.
User
Roar Rookie
Being down your CHF is coverable, losing darling early to concussion becomes an unfortunate bridge to far. To get so close and look like winning halfway through last quarter was a super effort wce. Lycett keeps pushing whatever contract with whatever club higher. Thought after the well publicised Angus stuff he'd struggle, good lesson for the kid.
asd
Guest
Best thing in Football in years Rob Flower would be proud
MQ
Guest
Impressive win by the dees, when the eagles got their nose in front during the last quarter, I thought they were gone.
Daz
Roar Pro
I almost can't believe it that we will actually be playing finals. I'll let it sink in for a bit.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
Last time Melbourne made the Finals: - There were 16 teams in the competition. - Nine/TEN had the AFL rights. - John Howard was Prime Minister of Australia - iPads, iPhones and MacBooks didn't exist back then - Alan Carpenter was premier of Western Australia - Rwanda wasn't in the Commonwealth of Nations. - Channel 9 won ratings year by a fraction over Channel 7 following the death of CEO Kerry Packer in late 2005. - Qantas logo changed - Airbus A380, Airbus A350, Boeing 787 Dreamliner didn't exist. - There was no Channel 10 affiliate in Regional WA and in central and remote Australia. - Virgin Australia didn't exist back then. - Android phones wasn't invented during that time. - Scoot Airlines didn't exist. - Twitter debuted during that year. - Facebook existed with 24 million users worldwide. - YouTube still came out. - Instagram, Tumblr, and Snapchat didn't come out - Commonwealth Games was held in Melbourne. - Carlton won back-to-back wooden spoon. - Nathan Jones was 18 years old. - Windows 7 didn't exist. - Game, Angry Birds wasn't released. - Multichannels: ONE HD, ELEVEN, 9Gem, 9Go, 7two, 7mate, 7flix, ABC ME, ABC News 24, SBS Viceland, Food Network, NITV didn't exist. - Expansion of Digital TV in Australia commenced during that year.
anon
Roar Pro
West Coast have a banana peel in Brisbane at the Gabba next week. Looks like heavy rain predicted for next Sunday.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Wow, this may be the win the Demons look back on this year or next as era defining. Have also locked Port out of the eight.