MELBOURNE has progressed through to the second round of the 2011 NAB Cup after downing Port Adelaide in a close encounter in the second of three abbreviated games at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
Only minutes after their 10 point victory over the Adelaide Crows, the Demons overcame the fresher Power squad to snatch a nine-point win in the dying moments to automatically advance through to the next round of competition.
Port Adelaide started the game strongly, with skipper Dominic Cassisi running in ominously through traffic only to miss the first shot on goal.
However the first major came at the other end, with young Demon sensation Jack Trengove slotting a classy left foot snap from an acute angle.
Not to be out-done, Power young-gun Mitch Banner drew inspiration only moments later with his own snap bouncing through for the Power’s first goal.
Despite already playing 40 minutes of football earlier in the evening, it was Melbourne that appeared to have the run in the first half. Continuing his impressive night, Jack Watts showed signs that he has an exciting year ahead, taking multiple strong contested marks and making his presence felt inside the forward fifty.
Both sides traded scores, with Lynden Dunn giving Melbourne some reward for effort by taking advantage of a contentious in the back decision close to goal.
Moments later, Brett Ebert booted the only 9-point goal of the game in his return for Port Adelaide, proving he still has the raking power behind his boot to play a role for the Power this season.
The Power then surged further ahead through a crumbing goal to Broadbent, pushing the lead out to 10 points into the final minutes of the first half.
It took a last-gasp pack mark and an after-the-siren goal from Melbourne’s Matthew Bate to cut the margin back to 4 points at the break and keep the Demons in touch.
Port dominated the early period of the second half, creating various opportunities in front of goal when play resumed. However, chances went begging for the Power, with Cassisi and Westhoff failing to put the Demons away with their set-shots.
Enter Jack Watts. The No.1 draft pick took yet another pack mark deep in the Demon forward-line and kicked truly to make it a one-point game with only six minutes remaining. This awakened the Demons, who goaled again through the left boot of the ever-dangerous Liam Jurrah.
Suddenly, the Demons had all the answers and led by nine points late in the game.
Garland took a courageous mark for Melbourne, running with the flight of the ball, saving a sure-fire Power goal with two minutes remaining - and ensuring the Demons’ progression to the second round.
Port Adelaide 1.2.2 1.2.6 (36)
Melbourne 0.3.1 0.5.6 (27)
GOALS: Port Adelaide: Nine-point goals: Ebert Goals: Banner, Broadbent,
Melbourne: Nine-point goals: - Goals: Trengove, Dunn, Bate, Jurrah, Watts.
BEST: Port Adelaide: Cassisi, Banner, Stewart, Pittard. Melbourne: Watts, Jurrah, Bartram, Sylvia.
INJURIES: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Nichols, Vozzo, Armstrong.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
