1. Night of brotherly love
Docker Andrew Brayshaw won the bragging rights, but Demon brother Angus had the last laugh. Andrew, younger by three years, nabbed Angus holding the ball on centre wing in the third term before the pair enjoyed a push and shove – reminiscent of their junior battles in the backyard. Not done there, Andrew then made Angus earn a simple mark later in the term with a late bump. The Brayshaw duo were one of three pairs of brothers on the ground, including Demons Tom and Oscar McDonald and Dockers Stephen (playing his 200th game) and Bradley Hill.
2. Hogan no hero
Match review officer Michael Christian will monitor the down the ground replay closely on Monday after Jesse Hogan's jumper punch on Lachie Neale behind play in the first term. It left Neale gasping for air in the middle of TIO Stadium, but in a positive for Hogan, the Dockers midfielder played out the remainder of the game. It came in a rollercoaster first term for Hogan, where he kicked the first three behinds of the match, before converting a goal and finishing the term with five marks and eight disposals. Veteran Jordan Lewis won't have to answer to Christian for a third term elbow on Michael Walters, but Simon Goodwin might have questions, after the undisciplined act resulted in a 50-metre penalty and a Dockers goal.
3. Melbourne's bookends headache
As a result of three consecutive losses heading into Saturday night, Simon Goodwin called a number of changes at both ends of the ground. Small forwards Jeff Garlett and Charlie Spargo were recalled in place of marking options Sam Weideman and Mitch Hannan. Without starring, the goalsneaks provided the Demons with pace across half forward and contributed to 25 tackles inside 50, up from 13 last week. At the other end, key defender Sam Frost played his first match since round four, replacing debutant Harrison Petty in a backline that held the Dockers to seven majors.
4. Gawn's goalkicking Demons return
Few that witnessed Max Gawn's match-losing miss from 15 metres out directly in front of goal against Geelong in round one this year, would have thought it would be possible to repeat the feat. Then he went and repeated it against Essendon. In the second quarter against Fremantle, Gawn was presented with a shot in almost exactly the same position, yet still managed to spray it horribly for the worst miss on goal, on a night with plenty of contenders. He redeemed himself after winning a free kick on the three-quarter time siren, nailing a set shot from 40 metres out. At half time, the Demons had 45 inside 50's for a grand score of 45, courtesy of 15 behinds. Forward Alex Neal-Bullen hit the post twice from easy set shots, while Billy Stretch, Angus Brayshaw and Christian Petracca all managed multiple behinds and no goals.
5. Tough night for Ross
Ross Lyon should have sensed the omen at the start of the night when he made his way to the wrong coach's box before the first bounce. Although Melbourne dominated the first term without hurting the Dockers on the scoreboard, Lyon was fired up at the first break as his players failed to adapt to the conditions. Max Gawn ended any Fremantle hope on the three-quarter time siren, the Demons going on to punish the tired Dockers in the final term. Melbourne finished with 50 more forward entries and 78 in total – five short of the all-time record they matched in round eight against Gold Coast.
