1. Forgotten Demon makes solid return
Few AFL footballers pack more into their career by age 25 than Melbourne's Jack Trengove, but not all of it has been good. He was the No.2 pick behind former Melbourne teammate Tom Scully in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, then elevated to the co-captaincy – alongside Jack Grimes – on the eve of the 2012 season before stepping down at the end of the next football year. Trengove would have joined Richmond in the 2014 trade period, if not for ongoing foot problems that aborted the deal and ruined his 2015 campaign. He finally overcame that issue last year, but has largely been unable to get out of the VFL, despite repeat good performances. But Bernie Vince's latest striking indiscretion opened a door for Trengove. He received warm applause on entering the field barely six minutes into Saturday's contest and had seven disposals by quarter-time and 16 in total. It was his first senior game in 399 days and only his sixth since the start of 2014. Trengove knows he is playing for his career and will be on a tight leash.
2. Garlett the Entertainer
There was doubt all week about whether Demons goalsneak Jeff Garlett would play after he went straight from Darwin – the scene of last week's match – to Western Australia to mourn a relative's death. But the indigenous star returned in time to be named then complete a Friday training session on a week Melbourne launched its reconciliation action plan. Garlett, wearing the Demons' indigenous guernsey for the first time at the MCG, put on an early show. He pointed emotionally to the sky after a set-shot goal in the opening term, then hit the post on two of the most exciting behinds you will see in the ensuing minutes. Garlett's brilliant dribbling goal off his left boot from deep in the pocket in the third term was critical in Melbourne staving off the Power's fightback.
3. Gray turns it on in the middle
Debate continues to rage on whether Robbie Gray best serves Port Adelaide in attack or the midfield. There was no question which one it was on Saturday. A fascinating early match-up between Gray and Neville Jetta easily went the in-form Demon defender's way, but the Power star's move into the middle in the second term was a game-changer. Melbourne was crunching Port in the clearances – leading 20-3 at one stage – but Gray single-handedly swung the balance and ended up being the game's No.1 clearance player. The point here is that Gray, who has three goal hauls of five or more this year, is equally capable in either role and is the Power's greatest on-field weapon.
4. Viney accelerates out of the blocks
Melbourne insiders say Jack Viney targeted the Port Adelaide game as soon as he came out of foot surgery 19 days ago for a nasty bout of plantar fascia. The co-captain was still on crutches last week, but was running by the weekend and eventually convinced the Demons he was right to go with a workhorse effort at training on Thursday. Viney joined hamstring victims Jack Watts and Christian Salem and Dom Tyson (knee) in returning from injury. Any lingering effects were not evident in the first quarter on Saturday, with Viney racking up 12 disposals (six contested) and four clearances by the first break. Melbourne had a four-goals-to-none lead by then that Simon Goodwin's men never relinquished despite some tense second-half moments. Viney was quieter in the final three terms with only 13 more possessions, with NAB AFL Rising Star contender Sam Powell-Pepper clamping down on his equally tough-as-nails opponent.
5. Maligned milestone men
It was somewhat fitting that Demon Jack Watts and Port's Charlie Dixon reached milestones in the same match, given their similar backgrounds. Both are marking forwards – albeit with different strengths and styles – who entered the AFL with lofty expectations and went on to, fairly or unfairly, become whipping boys in the football public, particularly early in their career. You can never please everyone, but Watts (150 games) – back from a hamstring injury – and Dixon (100), who played his first 65 matches for the Gold Coast, have defied those reputations to become important players for their respective sides. Dixon had the greater impact of the pair, including drawing the ire of the pro-Melbourne crowd with a verbal spray to Neville Jetta after a high tackle. He also slotted a last-quarter goal to bring the visitors within 16 points inside six minutes.
