MELBOURNE’s 45-point victory against the Western Bulldogs allowed for an unforgettable first win at the Demons for Jack Billings.
After a disappointing first game during Opening Round in Sydney, where he was placed as a sub, Billings was eager to work towards an impressive week and successful result for Round 1, which evidently paid off with the final score at 16.12 (109) to 9.10 (64).
After his first win at the Melbourne Football Club, Billings reflected on the lead up to Sunday’s match, where hard work and determination were key focuses.
“We were obviously disappointed last week up in Sydney,” Billings told Melbourne Media.
“[We] had a good week on the training track, and we really set ourselves for today.
“It was the first home game of the year and it was great to get the win and more importantly, how we played for the four quarters.”
Billings' first game at the Dees saw him register one goal, 23 disposals, 15 marks, four contested possessions, an outing that earned him a spot amongst the AFL's best afield.
After a strong week of training behind him, his efforts and perfect conditions were reflected during the game, to which Billings remained humble when discussing post-match.
“Week to week, you play your part and play your role and it was great to contribute and do my bit today," Billings said.
“I felt like that was the highlight of the team’s performance, everyone played their role, and they were able to get the result.
“[The fans were] so passionate and really loud today, we loved it.”
Coach Simon Goodwin discussed Billings in a post-match media conference, mentioning his dedication to becoming a part of the team.
“He’s started to really evolve in our system,” Goodwin said.
“[Billings] worked really hard over summer to understand the role we want him to play.
“Today we saw the space, the connection in his kick, was all on show. He’s going to add a lot to us.”
The game saw multiple standout players from Melbourne, with goals from various Demons, which left Billings reflecting on his eagerness to continually build his on-ground chemistry.
“You don’t want to have to rely on one or two, we need to spread the load [when kicking goals]," Billings said.
“[Clayton is] one of the players I was really looking forward to playing with, [he's a] high quality player.”
