FOR 12 YEARS, Melbourne’s 2006 Elimination Final win was all its fans had.
The Demons experienced a September drought which lasted over a decade, and this 18-point victory against the Saints was their only taste of success.
So how did that night at the MCG unfold for the seventh placed Dees?
The Stats
SCORE: St Kilda 10.12 (72) def by Melbourne 13.12 (90)
DISPOSALS: Neitz 4, McLean 2, Bate, Bruce, McDonald, Miller, Pickett, Robertson, Yze
GOALS: Bruce, Green 29, McLean 25, McDonald, White 20, Johnstone 18
The Steal
While memories of this Friday night clash are sweet, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Demons.
After booting two majors in the opening eight minutes, Melbourne surrendered its four-point lead with St Kilda mounting a charge.
Fraser Gehrig flipped the contest on its head with three goals in four minutes, as the Saints strung together five in a row to open up a match-high 27-point lead early in the second term.
From that point on, it was a game of the momentum. Four straight goals to the Dees, followed by three straight goals to the Saints.
Nine points separated the two sides at the final change, as Melbourne was required to come from behind in order to advance to a Semi Final.
And it did just that.
While Steven Baker made things tough with the first of the last term, the Demons finished with a flourish, booting the last five unanswered goals to book a flight to Perth the next week.
The Stars
Some iconic Melbourne names took to the field against St Kilda that Friday night – none more so than David Neitz.
The skipper led from the front with four majors in his 285th game for the club, while his successor, James McDonald, also contributed with 20 touches and a goal.
Brad Green and Cameron Bruce were in the prime of their careers, winning the ball 29 times each through the middle, as Jeff White dominated in the ruck.
A 20-year-old Brock McLean stood up in his third final in three years, while the likes of Russell Robertson, Adem Yze and Aaron Davey lurked dangerously inside 50.
It was the senior figures who led the way in the win, as a young Nathan Jones enjoyed his seventh game of footy at the top level.
