MELBOURNE’S sixth loss by 20 points or less, Dom Tyson’s career-best numbers and Nathan Jones’ seventh 30-plus disposal performance in 2014 were among the stats to emerge from round 18’s ‘By the numbers’ …

• The Demons went down to the Power for the fifth consecutive time, with their average losing margin being 27.6 points during this period. But taking away a 79-point shocker in round one, 2013, Melbourne has lost its other four matches by just 14.7 points. Melbourne’s most recent win over Port Adelaide was round 17, 2011.
• Melbourne has now lost six matches by 20 points or less in 2014. The Demons have narrowly lost to St Kilda (17 points, round one), Gold Coast Suns (eight points, round five), Western Bulldogs (16 points, round eight), Port Adelaide (20 points, round 11), Western Bulldogs (six points, round 15) and Port Adelaide (three points, round 18).
• Of the two teams Melbourne has played twice this season – Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide – it has averaged almost the same losing margin against both teams. The Demons went down to the Dogs by 16 points and six points in rounds eight and 15 respectively, for an average losing margin of 11 points. Now, Melbourne has lost to Port Adelaide from its two encounters this year by an averaging losing margin of 11.5 points, after going down by 20 points and three points in rounds 11 and 18 respectively.
• The Demons won the third quarter by 11 points, drew the second term, lost the final quarter by a point and lost the opening term by 13 points. Overall, the Dees went down to the Power by three points.
• Port Adelaide booted seven goals in the first half and just three after the main break. Melbourne kicked five goals in both halves.
• Two lots of six consecutive goals were kicked in the match. The Power booted six majors from the 15-minute mark of the first term until the 13-minute mark of the second term. Then the Demons booted half a dozen goals from the 18-minute mark of the second term until the 16-minute mark of the third quarter. Bernie Vince, Cam Pedersen, James Frawley, Sam Blease, Jay Kennedy-Harris and Jack Watts booted the goals for Melbourne during this period.
• Melbourne trailed by 30 points at the 13-minute mark of the second term, before it regained the lead at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter via Jack Watts. Although the Power regained the lead via Chad Wingard’s goal after the siren at three quarter-time, the Demons again hit the front at the 21-minute mark of the final term via Dom Tyson’s second goal. But at the 26-minute mark, Jay Schulz kicked the match-winner.  
• Dom Tyson had an equal career-best 32 disposals against the Power. He also booted two goals. In round one against St Kilda, Tyson also had 32 touches and booted a goal.
• Mark Jamar had 47 hit outs – his third best effort of his career. His best is 55 hit outs against St Kilda in round five, 2012 and then 53 hit outs against the Western Bulldogs in round eight, this year.
• Nathan Jones collected 31 disposals. It was the seventh time this year he has won 30 touches or more in a match in 2014. In his career, he has won 30 possessions or more 15 times.