First quarter: Fremantle 0.3.2 (20) to Melbourne 0.3.1(19)
MELBOURNEstarted its 2015 campaign in impressive fashion, booting three of the openingfour goals to gain a 13-point lead.
Ben Newtonstarted life as a Demon in perfect style, slotting the first major from thepocket. Goals to Chris Dawes and Nathan Jones followed, after they came fromturnovers generated in Melbourne’s forward half.
But Fremantlehit back in the latter part of the term and when Hayden Crozier kicked hisside’s third, the home side took a one-point advantage into the first break.
Second quarter: Fremantle 0.7.4 (46) to Melbourne 0.3.2(20)
After anencouraging start by the Demons, they produced a disappointing second term,managing just one behind, courtesy of Newton at the 15-minute mark.
On theflipside, Fremantle added 4.2, with skipper Matthew Pavlich booting two for theterm to have three by the main break, giving the home side a 26-point lead.
N.Jones wasMelbourne’s leading ball-winner at the main break with 14 disposals and Newtonhad 13 touches.
Third quarter: Fremantle 0.7.5 (47) to Melbourne 6.6(42)
The roles werealmost reversed in the third quarter, when Melbourne hit back strongly, booting3.4 for the term, while restricting Fremantle to just one point.
WesternAustralian duo Dean Kent and Jesse Hogan got the ball rolling for the Demons,when they kicked back to back goals in the opening two minutes. And when AaronvandenBerg – who was born in WA, grew up in NSW and recruited from the ACT –booted Melbourne’s third in a row, the margin was cut back to just eightpoints.
Lachie Nealeposted Fremantle’s only score at the 13-minute mark, as Melbourne continued tochip away in front of goal. But four behinds, after a flying start in thesecond half, cost Melbourne the lead at three quarter-time. As a result, Freomanaged to hold the lead by just five points.
Final quarter: Fremantle 0.9.7 (61) d Melbourne 0.6.7(43)
The stage wasset for a fascinating final term and it proved to be a low-scoring arm wrestle.
Just one goalwas scored in almost 20 minutes, via Fremantle’s Matt Taberner, who booted histhird for the match. But when Chris Mayne kicked truly late in the term, it wasenough for Fremantle to hang on.
Melbourne lostits opening match of the season by 18 points, but showed plenty ofencouragement against one of the competition’s most respected opponents.
