MATT Burgan looks at the talking points, facts and moments from Melbourne’s two-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on Sunday …
1 – Eight wins equals best achievement in five years
Melbourne’s win was its eighth for the season – its best in five years. In 2010 and 11, Melbourne won eight games in each year, while it also had a draw in both seasons. One more by the red and blue in 2016 will mean it’s achieved its best season in 10 years.
2 – Melbourne shines again against the Suns
Melbourne notched up its third win in a row over Gold Coast. The two sides have played nine times, with Melbourne gaining six wins. The red and blue won the first three encounters, before dropping three in a row. But since round one last year, Melbourne has won three in succession against the Suns. Coach Paul Roos said: “It was one of those footy days, where I don’t think there was any point overanalysing it. It was a scrappy game with five weeks to go, but it was great conditions – you would’ve loved to have played out there – but it was what it was. Sometimes those games are as important – if not more important – than a 10-goal win or a win you’re not expected to beat.”
3 – One big quarter sets up win
Melbourne’s 5.3 to 1.3 in the second quarter – when it won the term by 24 points – ultimately set up the victory. But it lost the first quarter by 12 points, the third term by four points and the final quarter by four points.
4 – A big round for milestones
It was a massive round in the AFL for milestones, with Brent Harvey breaking the record for the most VFL/AFL matches. Harvey’s 427th game eclipsed Michael Tuck’s record, which stood for 25 years. Fremantle’s greatest player Matthew Pavlich notched up his 350th game, while Geelong triple premiership stars Corey Enright and Jimmy Bartel notched up significant milestones. Enright broke Ian Nankervis’ 325 games for the Cats – a club record – and Bartel achieved 300 games. At Melbourne, defender Tom McDonald notched up his 100th game. Although it wasn’t the lofty heights of the aforementioned quartet, McDonald’s achievement was a fine effort, given he was taken at No.53 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft. He has since become a mainstay of the Melbourne backline and at 23 years old, has the potential to play for another decade. He has become an integral part of the red and blue’s make-up and is now the ‘veteran’ among a very young, but exciting backline for Melbourne.
5 – Is Dom is good
Midfielder Dom Tyson was outstanding for Melbourne with a game-high 31 disposals, including 12 contested possessions. He also had eight clearances and five tackles.
6 – Three shy of a PB
Ruckman Max Gawn had a massive day in the ruck, smashing 60 hit outs – three shy of his personal best. Overall, Melbourne won the hit outs 67 to 21.
7 – vandenBerg and Watts shine
Six of Melbourne’s nine goals came from two players: Aaron vandenBerg and Jack Watts. The duo was outstanding in the win, kicking three goals each, and stood tall when the team needed them to the most.
8 – Roosy and Rocket
For the 13th time and last time, Roos coached against Rodney Eade. Roos, who was Eade’s assistant at the Sydney Swans, before later taking over and guiding the Swans to the 2005 premiership, finished with seven wins. The win on the weekend took him one ahead in the ledger.
9 – Four to come for Roos
With four more matches remaining for the season against Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Carlton and Geelong respectively, Roos said he was simply looking forward to maximising the most out of his remaining four games as senior coach, before handing the baton to Simon Goodwin. Roos said: “I was really happy that [Tom Lynch] goal didn’t go through to be honest. I’m thinking about Lynch missing it and us winning the game, so I don’t think about anything else. I think about going to work and doing the review and playing against Hawthorn next week. There is no emotion other than that – and the emotion of winning, which is exciting.”
10 – Another opportunity
With Melbourne set to take on the Hawks next round, for the second time this year, vandenBerg said it was a great challenge for the club to pit itself against the premiership favourites. “When we played them earlier in the year, we played really well against them, so I guess we’ve just got to look at what we did last time and touch up a few things. I think the group is really committed and hungry to get a big scalp and I don’t think there is a better way to do it than this week.”
