MATT Burgan looks at the stories, stats and surprises in his weekly column.
Summary
Not since rounds 10 to 15, 2006 has Melbourne achieved what it did on the weekend – six consecutive wins. It’s yet another record/milestone that has been ticked off in the club’s 2018 journey. Melbourne’s sixth win in a row mightn’t have been the biggest or the best, but it was still strong. The Demons overcame a slow start – the Bulldogs kicked the first three goals – before piling on 15 goals to four: considerable in any footy analysis. On a day where the club celebrated co-captain and triple best and fairest winner Nathan Jones’ 250th game, and the team notched up its eighth victory of the season, the only sour point of the match was the injury to tall defender Jake Lever, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament. The boom recruit will now miss the rest of Melbourne’s 2018 campaign.
How’s stat?
Melbourne’s 18 consecutive quarters won came to an end after the Bulldogs won the first term by eight points. Yet, the Demons bounced back to win the final three quarters by 24 points, 13 and 20 respectively. Although Melbourne was unable to match or surpass Geelong’s VFL/AFL record of 21 quarters won from rounds six to 11, 2010, it has dropped just one term from it past 22 – still an extraordinary effort.
The number
9 – players have now played at least 250 games for Melbourne since it became a foundation VFL/AFL club in 1897, after Nathan Jones joined the club on the weekend. He joins David Neitz (306 games), Robert Flower (272), Adem Yze (271), Jim Stynes (264), Steven Febey (258), Brad Green (254), Brian Dixon (252) and James McDonald (251) in the exclusive group. And all things being equal, Jones will be in the club’s top five for the most games played at Melbourne by the season’s end.
Experience differential
Games: Melbourne (1,978) v Western Bulldogs (1,817)
Goals: Melbourne (994) v Western Bulldogs (830)
Average age: Melbourne (24 years, 328 days) v Western Bulldogs (24 years, 193 days)
Did you know …
Melbourne has now kicked at least 100 points or more in its past six matches – something it hasn’t done since 2000, its most recent Grand Final season. The Demons booted 100 points or more in nine consecutive matches from rounds 14 to 22, back in 2000. Can the Demons equal it or surpass it this time around?
3 votes: Tom McDonald
McDonald continued his brilliant form with another four goals, giving him 19 goals from six games. Again, playing in attack and on the wing, McDonald was pivotal in the second term with two majors, when Melbourne hit the front and regained the lead to ultimately set-up the victory. Had 24 disposals, 11 marks and 12 scoring involvements.
2 votes: Jesse Hogan
Moved to second on the AFL goalkicking table, behind North Melbourne’s Ben Brown (35 goals), after booting five majors, giving him 10 in the past two rounds and 31 for the year. Kicked three majors in the final term, and finished with 19 touches and 10 marks. In career-best – and All-Australian – form.
1 vote: Neville Jetta
Unquestionably, his best game for the season. Jetta was brilliant down back and went to another level when Jake Lever suffered his knee injury. Jetta was typically courageous and defensive, but his offensive play was a feature. He finished with a season-high 24 disposals 14 intercepts, including seven intercept marks.
Apologies to …
Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Michael Hibberd, Bayley Fritsch, who all could’ve been among the votes.
Good to see …
The widespread of love for Nathan Jones on his special day – something even the ‘Cadbury Crème Egg’ (hard on the outside, and soft in the middle) relished. All who bleed the red and blue love the man who has given so much for so long, and to see him enjoy his moment in the sun was something that makes footy so great. To see him enjoying his 250th game with his beautiful family was just another moment that makes this game so great. Congratulations Jonesy, you’re a ripper!
Oppo’s best: Marcus Bontempelli
‘The Bont’ finished with 24 disposals and although he was more influential in the first half, he was still arguably his team’s best. He was the Dogs’ only multiple goalkicker, with two majors.
Pic of the day
Bobbi and Remy flock to dad as he leads the team out (Photo: Quinn Rooney)
Facebook of the day
Tweet of the day
Turn that sound up + sing it! ❤️#Jonesy250 pic.twitter.com/A2lvFq9y64
— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) June 2, 2018
Instagram of the day
Video of the day
In the mix
After taking in the same 22 for the past three rounds, Melbourne will be forced to make at least one change for the Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood, due to the season-ending knee injury to Jake Lever. Cam Pedersen has been banging down the door for a recall and he did his chances no harm whatsoever when he booted four goals in Casey’s win over Williamstown on Sunday. His versatility could appeal. Joel Smith, who was an emergency in round 11, will be right in the mix to replace Lever, as a player who can play tall or small down back. Sam Frost, Josh Wagner, Declan Keilty and Harry Petty are other defenders sure to be talked about. And then there are Jayden Hunt, Dom Tyson, Jeff Garlett, Billy Stretch and Tom Bugg, who are all in the mix for a recall.
Next round
What a beauty this year’s Queen’s Birthday clash should be. One of the biggest games on the footy calendar goes to another level this year, with the fourth ‘Big Freeze’ set to see all 18 AFL senior coaches going down the slide and into icy water. It’s all for a great cause, as the fight continues to help raise funds and awareness towards motor neurone disease – the terrible illness, which the great Neale Daniher continues to fight. Of course, there is also a game of football to be played. Two of game’s greatest rivals – third-placed Melbourne and seventh on the ladder Collingwood – will go head-to-head in what promises to be the biggest Queen’s Birthday clash since 2006, when the crowd was 78,773. The Demons and Pies have played in front of 80,000-plus on 12 occasions – expect this to be the 13th.
In the press box …
Which journo/media person was shattered to miss out on his full size Four’n Twenty by half-time? He didn’t even land a pre-match cookie from the barista!
In the rooms...
Jonesy blows a kiss to daughter Bobbi pre-game (Photo: Caitlin Nobes)
Song to sum up the match
Nathan Jones - The Supremes
Simon Says …
“It probably wasn't the natural way we win games of footy, to get beaten at clearance by 20, so we had to find a different way to win this week and to the boys' credit, we adapted really strongly. We were very strong around the contested footy still, so I was really pleased we found a way to adapt and still get a really strong result. There were some terrific performances throughout the side that indicated we were able to adapt and it's a sign of maturity, really." – Simon Goodwin
