FOR the second time this season, Melbourne notched up a win by two points.

Interestingly, both have come against the AFL’s newest clubs: Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast Suns.

On paper, they tell the same story.

Melbourne gained the four points in round one against the Giants and they gained another four on the weekend against the Suns.

It was also Melbourne’s eighth win for the season – its equal best effort in a season since both 2010 and 11.

Eight wins is the club’s best achievement in a season since 2006, although it should be noted that in both 2010 and 11, Melbourne achieved draws.

Although round one was hailed a fantastic victory – given Melbourne came from 21 points down at three quarter-time to secure a top start to the season – the weekend was far from the same.

It was a scrappy, hard-fought affair.

Melbourne won just one quarter – the second term convincingly by 24 points – but it was enough to get home.

Jack Watts, who kicked the match-winner and took the game-saving mark down back, said that teams “absolutely” have to take wins like that sometimes.

“That’s exactly what Roosy (Pau Roos) said after the game,” he said.

“Some of his best wins have come ugly and then they’ve gone on to a really good patch of footy for the team.

“It can really springboard a club going forward, so it’s really important to start winning those games. We’ve lost a few of them and to be able to win them – it gives you confidence going forward that next time you’re in that same position, you’re going to do the same thing – so it was very important.”

As forward Aaron vandenBerg added: “Look, you’re not going to play your best footy week in week out. Last year, or earlier on in the year, we wouldn’t have got that win, so I think that shows that the group is moving forward as a young group.”

Naturally, no game is the same. Results are achieved in different ways and manners.

The perception – a dangerous notion – was that it was a ‘get out of jail’ result and in some ways it could’ve been deemed that way. But winning ugly or grinding out a win is quite simply part and parcel of the game.

In the end, wins and losses are what the game’s about and given it was just three years ago that Melbourne won two matches for the season – notching up the eighth win in unfashionable style is still far better than the opposite.

It’s worth noting that Hawthorn has had to grit out many games this year, having won three games by three points and another by five points.

In fact, the Hawks have won seven games by 19 points or less this year, and five by single-figure margins. Still, it’s a massive tick by Hawthorn to win the close games and hold off opponents when challenged.

The point is, few realise the premiership favourites have won nine of their games by 26 points or less. All people know is that the Hawks have 15 of their 18 matches – another outstanding achievement.

On Sunday, coach Paul Roos was posed the notion: was it a get out of jail win against the Suns at the MCG?

“Yes and no. I thought it was a pretty even game all day,” he said.

“Our turnovers were probably a bit worse than theirs. You get out of jail when you kick a goal like [Jack Watts did], but there was still two and a half minutes to go.

“If you look at the overall game – it was an even contest and we happened to be in front at the end, which was very pleasing.”

Roos said the spectacle was also a reflection of a long season.

“It’s an interesting time [of the year]; I’ve watched a lot of footy this weekend,” he said.

“It’s probably been as bad a weekend of football as we’ve seen … I think as a coach you’re always trying to remain positive and you’re trying to remind them of the good footy you’ve played, which worked in the second quarter.

“Our effort was really good all day, as was theirs, but it looks like the theme of the weekend is that our skill level really dropped and teams are tired now and fighting their way through [the rest of the season] … and that was certainly the theme this weekend.”

Nevertheless, Roos said Melbourne’s win was critical for the club.

“It’s a big win. I wouldn’t underestimate the importance for us as a club and for them as a group of players with four rounds to go – it was a really important win,” he said.

“In terms of effort, it was a great effort – our guys put in an enormous effort, as did they. The Suns did a terrific effort. They’re a young team with a lot of injuries and we’re a young team – so I thought the effort of the two teams was fantastic.”

“As a spectacle, there was a real contest and it was close, but the turnovers detracted from the game. I’m sure the Melbourne supporters still go home happy because you win by a couple of points and there was a lot to take out of it for ‘Rocket’ (Rodney Eade) and the Suns.”