MELBOURNE’S 32-point win over North Melbourne on Sunday meant more than four points on the ladder.
The victory secured the Demons’ spot in the top eight and drove them to second, just eight points behind ladder-leader Collingwood.
But the challenge doesn’t stop there.
As the home-and-away season draws to a close, Melbourne is gearing up for a last push to put themselves in the best possible position ahead of finals.
With three games to go, we take a look at the Demons’ run home…
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AS IT STANDS
It's a logjam at the top with Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide separated by percentage only, with the final three games to determine who enters finals with home finals and a double chance.
The top eight sides all still stand a chance to earn a double chance, with the eighth-placed Giants just two-games adrift of Port Adelaide in third.
ROUND 22
Carlton v Melbourne | Saturday 12th August
Their first challenge will be Carlton, who come into the match surging up the ladder with an impressive seven-game winning streak.
The Saturday night clash will be a classic eight-point swing, with Carlton currently leading the chasing pack outside the top four, just two games adrift of the second-placed Demons.
A win for Melbourne in Round 22 would guarantee a top-four spot and would give the side two remaining weeks to work towards the highest possible ladder position.
Whilst it’s the Blues’ home game, the Demons will cherish the opportunity to play on their home turf at the MCG and battle their in-form opposition. A notable player on the watch list for Melbourne will be Charlie Curnow, the current leader in the race for the Coleman Medal.
ROUND 23
Melbourne v Hawthorn | Sunday 20th August
The penultimate game of the home-and-away season will be against Hawthorn. Though they may be sitting in the lower half of the ladder, the Hawks have proven that they are still a formidable opponent, defeating the Pies by 32 points during Round 21.
Hawthorn has a plethora of young stars coming up the ranks with the likes of Mitch Lewis and Will Day creating a challenge for the home side.
In what is the last home match for the Demons, the two teams will come together to celebrate the BCNA’s (Breast Cancer Network Australia) annual Pink Lady Match, with fans encouraged to get the game and show their support for the special cause.
ROUND 24
Sydney v Melbourne | Sunday 27th August
The last push before finals will be against Sydney at the SCG, the club’s first match at the ground in more than two years.
While their season started with injury woes, an influx of returning Swans have reignited the brand of football that led them to a grand final berth.
Currently sitting at 10th following a four-game winning streak, Melbourne will be preparing to play a Sydney battling for a spot in the top eight, meaning the game will no doubt be a tough contest to finish the home-and-away campaign.
FINALS…
The run home to the end of the season is often the most integral part of the year, so Melbourne’s last three games will be important in setting up how their finals campaign looks.
Dees fans eager to secure their spot at finals can purchase a Melbourne membership. Members will have a priority ticket purchasing window prior to general public on-sale in weeks 1-3 of finals. There is no guarantee any tickets will be available to the general public following the member pre-sale, so being a member is more important than ever.
If you are yet to become a member, there's still time; you can unlock priority finals access for weeks 1-3 by grabbing your discounted Demons membership today for just $30.
