Matt Burgan looks at talking points, facts and moments from Rd 2
1 – The first loss of season
It wasn’t great. It wasn’t expected. But interestingly, Melbourne entered round two as the only undefeated team this year, counting the NAB Challenge and round one. Only Fremantle, Melbourne and Collingwood won all three NAB Challenge games, but Freo and the Magpies lost comfortably in round one, meaning Melbourne was technically the last of the 18 teams to suffer a defeat in 2016.
2 – The 2005 stat remains
We have to look back to 2005 as the most recent year Melbourne opened the home and away season with two consecutive wins. It now must wait until 2017 to crack two wins in its opening two games.
3 – And so does the 2011 stat
After winning four in a row, including three NAB Challenge matches and round one, Melbourne still managed to miss out on that elusive two in a row in the premiership season. Wins in rounds 13 and 14, 2011 against Fremantle and Richmond respectively remains the most recent back-to-back wins for Melbourne.
4 – Experience counts
Did you know Essendon fielded a more experienced side against Melbourne? The Bombers average age was 25 years, 188 days, as opposed to Melbourne’s 24 years, 141 days. The Dons also possessed more games experience with 1905 matches to Melbourne’s 1615.
5 – The two ‘Zs’
David Zaharakis and Zach Merrett proved a handful for Melbourne, winning 66 disposals between them – 34 and 32 touches respectively. Their ability to find space, win the uncontested ball and send the ball inside 50 proved telling in the final result. Zaharakis’ four score assists and Merrett’s two goals were also instrumental.
6 – Ben Ken best
Ben Kennedy was arguably Melbourne’s best player. He kicked three goals and had 21 disposals, displaying plenty of grit in just his second game for his new side. His efforts weren’t lost on coach Paul Roos. “[In regards to] Ben Kennedy … I gave the message to the players afterwards that most of the guys who we’ve got from other clubs – they’re second chance guys. They’re working really hard to get a game and they’re really fanatical about their craft. They want to play AFL football and that’s another example of one of those guys that we’ve got that really kept us in the game. He had 20 [disposals] and kicked three [goals]. He didn’t single-handedly [keep us in the game], but we only had about half a dozen guys that played pretty good footy and he was very good today.”
7 – Selection impacts
Roos said the return of Heritier Lumumba was one positive to emerge from the loss, but the selection of youngster Angus Brayshaw may have been premature, after he returned from a knee injury, sustained in Melbourne’s first NAB Challenge match. Roos said selection also played a part in the loss. “I thought ‘H’s’ (Lumumba) effort to come back was really positive. It was a bit touch and go. In hindsight, playing him was the right move and Brayshaw was the wrong move. In talking about selection – you get one right and you get one wrong.”
8 – The comeback kids
On the same day, Jack Trengove and Christian Petracca played their first full match in a VFL practice hit-out against Box Hill Hawks on Saturday. It was a massive step in their journey towards the AFL. Trengove hasn’t played for two years and Petracca has been itching for his debut. A big tick needs to go to both in their quest to get back to the highest level.
9 – What the player said …
“It’s hard to tell individual mindsets, but we felt the group came to play. We were in the game at all times, but we just felt like we were that half a step off and they’re an AFL side, so they’re going to carve you up, if you’re half a metre off the contest. As a group, we were pretty switched on – we just didn’t execute offense and defence. It’s disappointing that we didn’t win any aspect of the game.” – Dom Tyson
10 – What the coach said …
“We didn’t see it going into the game, but where that lack of energy comes from [I don’t know], but some of them possibly [might’ve got ahead of themselves].” – Paul Roos
