Dees open their 2013 account

It’s been an incredibly tough start to the year for the Demons, having lost their opening three matches by an average of 107 points. But after a stunning final term against the Giants, when the Dees kicked 12.2 to 2.2, they had their first win of the 2013 premiership season. Still, it wasn’t all beer and skittles for the Demons during the match, as they trailed by seven points at half-time and by 19 points at three quarter time. Still, Melbourne’s win broke a five match losing streak, with its most recent win also coming against Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval (now Star Track Oval) in round 21 last year. And Melbourne’s score of 22.12 (144) was also its highest under coach Mark Neeld, who secured his fifth win.

Melbourne’s record breaking final term

Melbourne produced its greatest ever quarter, when it booted 12.2 (74) in the final term to set up its 41 point win over GWS. The Demons eclipsed their previous best score of 11.7 (73), which has been  achieved twice: in the first quarter against North Melbourne in round 10, 1972 at Arden St Oval, and in the final term against Carlton in round four, 1991 at Waverley Park. In the history of the game, there have only been 14 greater scores kicked by a single team in a final quarter. For the record, South Melbourne’s 17.4 (106) against St Kilda in round 12, 1919 at Lake Oval is the most points booted in a final quarter. Coach Mark Neeld indicated it was hard to fathom that a team down by 19 points at three quarter time could come back and produce such a commanding term. “We were confident of a competitive last quarter – no doubt, but you can’t predict the scoreboard.”

Sharing the goals

Melbourne had just more than half of its team contribute goals. The Demons had 12 individual goalkickers for the match: Jeremy Howe 4, Shannon Byrnes 3, Michael Evans 3, Aaron Davey 2, Max Gawn 2, Cam Pedersen 2, Rohan Bail, Mitch Clark, Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Colin Sylvia and Jack Trengove. In Melbourne’s history making final term, the six players to boot the 12 goals were: Evans and Howe (three each), Gawn and Davey (two apiece) and singles to Jones and Trengove. 

Key stats continue

The Demons were also prominent in several key statistics. Melbourne produced its best tackle count since round five, last year against St Kilda. It also achieved 59 inside 50s – its best since last year’s win over the Giants in round 13. Both counts were Melbourne’s second highest totals for the past two years.

The coach and players rally for the red and blue

Coach Mark Neeld revealed post-match that one of his key points to his players at three quarter time was to win the match for the Melbourne supporters. He said they had been through plenty, and this was the players’ chance to give the fans something to cheer about in trying times. And this message wasn’t lost on the players, as ruckman Mark Jamar said after the game. “It’s very, very good for our supporters, because you saw today that we still had [a crowd of more than] 20,000, even against an interstate side. For [the supporters to] come out, when we were zero [wins] and three [losses] … and to keep supporting, as they do, each and every week – that was fantastic. In the last quarter, the roar from the crowd, you would’ve thought there were 80,000 here, so it was a real credit to all of our supporters who came today and barracked for us. Everyone who barracked for us, stick with us, because we’re working hard and we’ll come through this all right.”