1. Melbourne's Top End turnaround
Melbourne managed to break a hoodoo on Saturday night, winning in the Northern Territory for the first time since 2011. It cut a seven-game losing streak across two different venues in the region, with Melbourne's trips north not amounting to much fun in recent seasons. Before Saturday night's comfortable 32-point win over Fremantle, the club had dropped its previous four encounters at TIO Stadium. It has also lost all of its three games in Alice Springs. But as coach Paul Roos said in the lead-up to the game, travelling might not be the issue: the Dees also have a terrible record at Etihad Stadium, which is just a 15-minute drive from their AAMI Park headquarters. They put in a professional and clinical display to overpower Fremantle.
2. Jack Watts' value continues to rise
Jack Watts has been maligned in recent years but the Melbourne forward continues to show his talents in 2016. Following perhaps a career-best game against Adelaide last week, Watts backed up the performance with a productive start against the Dockers. The 25-year-old kicked three goals in the opening quarter to set up Melbourne's seventh win of the season. His polish and nous around goal was too much for first-year Fremantle defender Sam Collins, who was promptly moved off Watts. Watts moved into the ruck and across half-back at different stages, but finished the night with three majors, taking his season tally to 30. It is already the best season haul of his eight-year career, with another seven rounds left. Watts is a restricted free agent at the end of the season and his value is rising with every week.
3. Freo's flat start
Matt Taberner's rolling left-foot snap that curled through for a goal in the opening minute was one of very few highlights for the Dockers in the first term as the Demons went on a demolition. Melbourne kicked six of the next seven goals for the term to lead by 29 points at the first break, but a closer look at the statistics showed the gulf between the sides – one a finals aspirant and the other facing a likely bottom-four finish. Melbourne had 56 more disposals than Fremantle in the first term (129 to 73), doubled the Dockers for inside-50 entries (18-9) and had five more clearances. There were six Melbourne players with four or fewer disposals at quarter-time; in contrast, there were 17 Dockers. Luckily they were able to be more competitive after that and limit the damage.
4. Kent quietly shows his quality
Melbourne is starting to build an exciting and dynamic forward line, spearheaded by Jesse Hogan and supported by Jack Watts with speedy Jeff Garlett at their feet. Add second-year player Christian Petracca to the mix and the Dees have plenty of forward options. Dean Kent can get overlooked at times, but the 22-year-old is carving out a nice career in Melbourne's front half. Kent kicked three goals for the Dees against the Dockers, which made him the fourth Demon to have passed 20 goals for the season. His precision kicking, toughness and ability to make chances and then take them have seen him play all bar one game this season in a coming-of-age year.
5. You're the one that we want…
There was some irony in the fact Jesse Hogan saved one of the best games of his season for Fremantle, the club most linked to him and the team that most needs a player of his ilk. Hogan was outstanding against the Dockers, kicking four goals from 20 disposals (an equal season-high) and 12 marks (the best of his season). Hogan is contracted to the Demons until the end of next year but will hold off on talks to extend that until at least the end of this season, leaving Fremantle to continue to be linked to Hogan until he agrees to stay on at the Demons beyond 2017. The club will head to November's NAB AFL Draft likely holding a top-four pick trying to find the next Hogan at a much cheaper price, with West Australian Tim English and NSW forward Todd Marshall the leading key position prospects in this year's under-18 crop.
