MELBOURNE’S continued poor record at Etihad Stadium and North Melbourne, its highest score for the 2014 season and several PBs for Demons were among the statistics analysed in round 23’s ‘By the numbers’ …

• The Demons have now lost their past 20 matches at Etihad Stadium. Their most recent win remains round 19, 2007 against the Western Bulldogs, when Mark Riley was coach.
• Melbourne still hasn’t defeated North Melbourne since round 20, 2006 at the MCG. The Demons have now lost their past 13 matches against the Roos.
• The Dees kicked their best score for the season – 14.9 (93) – against the Kangas. Their previous best was 14.7 (91) against Richmond in round nine at the MCG.
• Melbourne produced three strong quarters against North Melbourne. It drew the first and second terms, and lost the final quarter by just four points. But Melbourne’s third quarter was its problem, as it lost the term by 26 points.
• The Demons had more disposals (361 to 305), marks (89 to 80), contested possessions (138 to 121), uncontested possessions (226 to 184) and inside 50s (44 to 43) than the Kangaroos.
• Tom McDonald not only kicked his first AFL goal against North Melbourne, he also kicked two consecutively. Both goals were almost identical – beautiful passes from teammate Dean Kent in the pocket. It was McDonald’s 60^th AFL match. 
• Kent also achieved a PB, kicking three goals for the first time in an AFL match. He finished with 3.2 and two scoring assists.
• Nathan Jones had a game-high 27 disposals. He finished the season with 610 disposals – the first time in his AFL career he has cracked the 600-plus possessions milestone.
• Mark Jamar played his 150^th match for Melbourne, becoming the 56^th player from the club’s 1310 players to reach the milestone.
• Melbourne finished its first season under coach Paul Roos with four wins and 18 losses, after 2013 produced just two victories.