IT’S EASY to get caught up in the hype of any game – win, lose or draw, once it’s done and dusted.   

But it’s no stretch to say the clash against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena on Sunday was arguably one of Melbourne’s gutsiest performances since its most recent finals series 10 years ago.  

It might sound like a big statement, but it’s also a double-edged sword.

What it highlights is how trying the recent era has been for Melbourne – remembering the club has only won 46 matches since it defeated St Kilda in the second elimination final in 2006. But the fight back shown in Hobart against quality opposition only reinforced that the club is on the right track, even if that might’ve tested the nerve last weekend against the Dons.

Testing the memory, I’ve come up with 19 really strong/memorable victories for Melbourne since the end of 2006. They were 2007 (Adelaide, Collingwood), 2008 (Fremantle, Brisbane Lions), 2010 (Port Adelaide, Essendon), 2011 (Essendon), 2012 (Essendon), 2013 (GWS, Western Bulldogs), 2014 (Adelaide, Richmond, Essendon) and 2015 (Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood, GWS).

And aside from a handful of other hard-fought performances without gaining the four points – think Melbourne’s two efforts against Port Adelaide at Traeger Park and Adelaide Oval in 2014 – it’s hard to remember a prouder moment than the clash at Bellerive for anyone who bleeds red and blue since 2007.  

No doubt, it was still a disappointing loss.

But when the dust settled, it was an outstanding comeback and effort against a hardened outfit, which despite its knockers, has made the past two preliminary finals and is a very good football side.

It would’ve been a brilliant victory for Melbourne – and not a stretch to say one of its greatest – given it has only ever come back from a 42-point deficit or more on three occasions at quarter-time or half-time. For the record, those came against North Melbourne at Arden St in round five, 1934 (down by 47 points at quarter-time), St Kilda at Moorabbin in round nine, 1977 (down by 46 points at quarter-time) and Fremantle at the MCG in round seven, 2008 (down by 50 points at half-time).

In recent years – and as mentioned by ruckman Max Gawn post-match – it could’ve blown out to a 100-point loss, when Melbourne trailed by seven goals. Instead, Melbourne gritted its teeth, worked its way back into the contest and made it one hell of a game.  

It was certainly one of the more entertaining matches Melbourne has been involved with in recent years, especially with 41 goals registered, including 20 by the red and blue.

When Melbourne squandered seven goals to zip, 20 minutes into the first term, it looked like how far the Kangaroos?

‘Horror in Hobart’ headlines soon turned into a ‘Mighty Melbourne’.

Melbourne’s ability to kick nine goals to two in the second quarter – albeit with the breeze – showed genuine ticker.

The fact Melbourne rolled up its sleeves and took it up to a genuine premiership contender – the most experienced list in the competition, both in age and games, was a gutsy effort.

North Melbourne took to the field with an average age of 27 years, 344 days; 3416 games and 2527 goals. Melbourne had an average age of 23 years, 331 days; 1490 games and 656 goals.

Following the win, the Kangaroos are now sitting third on the ladder after three rounds, and along with the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast Suns, are the only undefeated teams in 2016.

Plenty of positives came from the match. And some outstanding individual highlights.

For example, Gawn’s ability to fight back in the second quarter, after opposition ruckman Todd Goldstein started in brilliant fashion, with three first quarter goals, was testament to his character.   

In the end, the honours were tied. Officially, Champion Data couldn’t separate them, with both players earning 172 ranking points each.

Gawn finished with 18 disposals, including 17 contested possessions, a whopping 63 hit outs, two goals and four scoring assists.

Goldstein finished with 19 touches, including 15 contested possessions, 38 hit outs and five goals.

Other fine performers for Melbourne included Bernie Vince, with a game-high 32 disposals, Jack Viney (28 touches) and Clayton Oliver (26 possessions) – in just his third game. In attack, Jesse Hogan hit back from criticism in the lead-up to the match with three majors and Dean Kent booted four goals after a quiet round two.

For North Melbourne, almost 38-year-old Brent Harvey kept on keeping on, booting a career-best six goals in his – wait for it – 412^th AFL match. Jarrad Waite continued his fine start to 2016, with four majors. Jack Ziebell also laid 19 tackles in a fine display.

The drama that unfolded in the last 30 seconds in the match, when Kent landed his fourth major with just 20 seconds remaining, and Billy Stretch snapping a behind just after the siren, was pulsating stuff.

In the end, Melbourne’s five-point loss was shattering – until a sense of pride came to the fore.

It was just the response it needed to produce on the back of a disappointing round two loss to Essendon.

To push North Melbourne all the way – the side I tipped pre-season to win the flag (aside from Melbourne, of course) – was a first-class achievement.

So far, Melbourne has won one match and lost two games by a combined total of 18 points. It could’ve been three wins. It could’ve been two wins, one loss. It also could’ve been three losses.

The competition is so close. Don’t for a minute think the next three matches will be any easier against Collingwood, Richmond and St Kilda – but what an opportunity for Melbourne.

What an opportunity!