LAST week in this column we looked at the rise of Stefan Martin in the absence of Mark Jamar.

Seven days later and the big fella has posted a career-high disposal count against the Bombers (25) and been judged best on ground by many media outlets.

Is it drawing a long bow to suggest Stats Incredible was responsible?

It was also good to see Max Gawn and Jeremy Howe debut, with both players having an impact on the game - Howe with 10 scoring involvements for the match (an equal team high), and Gawn with a big mark late in the final quarter. If only big Max had been able to convert.

With all the youthful exuberance - the Demons had five players in the team with less than five matches to their name - it was arguably composure under pressure which was the key to the win.

A couple of weeks ago the media highlighted Hawthorn’s tactics in kicking their way through a forward press.

Against the Bulldogs in Round 10, the Hawks enjoyed an 82 per cent kicking efficiency for the match, almost 10 per cent more than any other side that week.

The crucial element to their kicking was that it was made up of 173 short kicks and only 53 long kicks. To get through a zone or forward press, the short kick is starting to be used more and more.

In previous years, sides like Geelong and West Coast used handball to great effect. Now there is a much stronger emphasis on kicking.

Last Friday night, the Demons disposal efficiency was 76.3 per cent - a solid figure but nothing extraordinary. However, when looking at the third quarter the figures become much more interesting.

In the third term Melbourne racked up 121 disposals to Essendon’s 73. During that time the Dees posted an 82.4 per cent kicking efficiency, clearly the best figures of any quarter from the entire round.

Once again it was short kicking which led to the effective ball movement - 46 short kicks and only 15 long kicks.

As a result of hitting their targets with short kicks, the uncontested mark tally in the third quarter was a staggering 43 to 14. The second half tally was 61 to 21 in Melbourne’s favour.

Of the six goals kicked in that third term, three of those were from a chain started in Melbourne’s defensive 50. Precise kicking is even more important when you are switching from defense to attack.

There is an argument that lack of effort from the opposition can also contribute to a high disposal efficiency. An effective forward press doesn’t necessarily allow a long chain of short kicks to occur. But if you can be precise with your foot skills, even the best zones and defensive structures can be tested.

Also, disposal efficiency numbers don’t always relate to team success - consider that the Crows had the highest effective kicking percentage of the round yet lost the match by 47 points.

But if you can combine precise skills with fast ball movement and accurate conversion (Melbourne’s 6.2 from 13 inside 50s in the third quarter certainly helped), then you’re well on your way to victory.

Obviously getting the ball is the first priority. Melbourne’s total of 434 disposals was its highest tally since Round 8, 2009.

The players in the engine room put in some of their best performances for the year.

Jordan Gysberts posted a career-high 30 disposals and led the way with 10 scoring involvements, while Jordie McKenzie’s 28-disposals (also a career-high), 13 tackles, 7 clearances and 13 tackles was arguably one of his finest since coming off the rookie list in 2009.

Add to that the return of Tom Scully and Jack Trengove, as well as Brent Moloney’s return to form after a couple of lean weeks, and the midfield has good confidence heading into its toughest test for the year against the Magpies.

We will spend this week trying to plot the downfall of the reigning premier.

There is a different vibe around the club heading into the Queen’s Birthday weekend, and the history and tradition of the match isn’t lost on the staff or the players.

See you all there.