MELBOURNE’S second worst loss of the season, its low-scoring against Fremantle and its loss in the context of 2013 were some of the stats to emerge from round 16’s ‘By the numbers’ …

- Melbourne suffered its second biggest loss of the season, when it lost to Fremantle at TIO Stadium by 63 points. The red and blue’s 93-point loss against the West Coast Eagles in round two at the MCG remains its worst defeat for the home-and-away season.

- Fremantle kicked 7.2 to 2.2 in the third quarter – its best term for the game. It was also Melbourne’s best and worst quarter for the match. The Demons booted 2.2 for the term, but they also lost the quarter by 30 points.

- Melbourne didn’t score its first goal of the match until the nine-minute mark of the second term. But Dean Kent’s brilliant one bounce, running goal was one Melbourne’s few highlights for the match.

- Fremantle almost doubled Melbourne’s inside 50 count. Freo had 61 inside to Melbourne’s 32.

- Tom McDonald was one of Melbourne’s best performers. He had a game-high 13 spoils. He also finished with 22 touches for the match, second to only teammates Matt Jones and Nathan Jones, who had 23 disposals each.

- Melbourne has now lost its past five matches against Fremantle by an average of 68.60. Its past four matches have been lost by 77.25 points. The Demons haven’t kicked more than 40 points in a match in the past four matches. The Dees have kicked scores of 5.10 (40) round 23, 2012, Patersons Stadium; 6.4 (40) round nine, 2013, Patersons Stadium; 5.8 (38) round 21, 2013, MCG and 4.10 (34) round 16, 2014, TIO Stadium in their past four outings. 

- To put this loss in context with 2013, Melbourne had 10 worse losses than its 63-point to Fremantle this year. The Demons also suffered losses by 60 and 61 points in 2013.

- Melbourne now has two wins/three losses from matches at TIO Stadium. The Demons won their first two matches at the venue, defeating Port Adelaide in 2010-11, but have since lost to Port Adelaide (2012), Brisbane Lions (2013) and Fremantle (2014). 

- Melbourne’s clash against Fremantle was the first of a hat-trick of playing teams in the top five. The Demons played Freo (now fourth on the ladder) and will play Geelong (fifth) at the MCG next round and then Port Adelaide (third) in round 18.

- Melbourne’s loss against Fremantle on the weekend means it’s the first time since rounds one to three that it’s lost three in a row.