AN OVERWHELMING majority of Melbourne players have named the team’s outstanding win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium as the highlight of 2015.
Melbourne brought the drought against the Cats for the first time since 2006 – and at the Cattery since 2005 – with a fine 24-point win in round 12.
For 2015 best and fairest winner Bernie Vince, winning at Geelong was something he had never achieved in his AFL career, even when he was at the Crows.
“The biggest highlight [for me] was the Geelong game. I’d never personally won there and they had a pretty good team at the time and they were really banking on beating us to make the finals,” he told Dee TV.
“That was a great day – individually and for most of the team – we probably had one of our better days.
“It was very enjoyable and we had the next week off too, so we were able to celebrate and have a few beers afterwards, which was great.”
The likes of Max Gawn, Alex Neal-Bullen, Billy Stretch, Neville Jetta, Dom Tyson and Jeff Garlett were among the Demons to also name Melbourne’s fourth win of the year as its best.
Even for defender Colin Garland, who was sidelined in rounds 11 and 12 with a hand injury, it was his highlight of 2015.
“Definitely all of the wins [were highlights] and probably the Geelong win in particular. I didn’t play in it but I was down there. I’ve never liked going down to Geelong but it was good on that day,” he said.
“That win was great for the club and considering our history down there, it was even better.”
For Jesse Hogan and Heritier Lumumba, their first match for the Demons was an undisputed highlight.
“I debuted with five or six other boys and it was a perfect way to start the year. That was probably my highlight – getting my first game out of the way and having a win,” Hogan said.
Lumumba added: “I think that every win we had was a highlight.”
“Every win that I was involved in was a highlight because I knew how much it meant to the football club and not just to the players and coaches but to the supporters.
“Round one was extra special for me, given it was my first game for Melbourne, my 200th game and I was able to kick a goal in the end too, which is what I always love.”