IN FINALS for the first time since 1994, after fighting the good fight all season, Melbourne lined up against Adelaide in the 1998 First Qualifying Final, watched by more than 60,000 spectators. The Crows were formidable opponents, having won the flag the previous season.
But, on this particular day, it was Melbourne from the very beginning. Just two minutes into the first quarter, Jeff Farmer evaded Andrew McLeod to register a goal from the forward pocket. His effort was complemented by Jeff White’s dominance over Shaun Rehn at the centre bounces. This first up contribution gave Melbourne’s engine room midfield the first use of the ball.
Farmer chimed in for another goal, then he and Garry Lyon both goaled on the run, just to complete the term on a high note. The scoreboard read Melbourne 6.6 to Adelaide 2.2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Crows headed into the second term determined to stop Melbourne’s running, but their ambitions were mixed up with their lack of ability to halt the Demons in their tracks.
To add to this, their own forward line was struggling. Jamie Shanahan held Tony Modra to one goal for the day, while Anthony Ingerson - playing his 100th career game - also proved effective against Matthew Robran. By the long break, with White and Andrew Leoncelli adding goals late in the quarter, Melbourne’s lead was stretched to 34 points.
The half-time break only revitalised the Demons, with David Neitz turning on a show to equal Farmer’s, kicking four goals in the third quarter. At one stage, Melbourne led by 51 points. At the end of the third quarter, it was 48 points in the Demons’ favour.
This was the margin at the end of the game. While Melbourne’s momentum slowed slightly in the final quarter, it was too late for the reigning premiers to hit back.
Everyone in red and blue celebrated as Melbourne notched up its sixth win in a row, progressing to a first semi-final showdown with St Kilda. By the end of the game, 12 Melbourne players had experienced their first ever finals match in the best way possible - with a first up win.
The day of Melbourne’s meeting with St Kilda was grey and drizzly, seeing most of the crowd huddled in white ponchos against the mist. But the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of anyone connected with Melbourne, although Garry Lyon was missing through injury, giving Travis Johnstone the opportunity to become the 13th Demon to make his finals debut.
Sadly, it was a poor start for Melbourne, set off by bad kicking, with both Farmer and Neitz missing easy goals. At the end of the first quarter, the Saints were ahead by four points, and early in the second term, extended the lead to 14 points.
It was the most they would be ahead all day, as Farmer took control of the game. With his three goals in seven minutes, the Demons were suddenly five points in front - a lead which stretched out to seventeen points by the long break.
The second half only emphasised Melbourne’s good form. Late in the third quarter, the Demons were 35 points ahead. Once again, Farmer emerged, kicking a mid-air soccer goal to add to his line up.
Around the ground, White flew high, while Guy Rigoni put the barriers on Robert Harvey’s forward moves. The Melbourne defence held strong, with the likes of Adam Yze, Brent Grgic, Marcus Seecamp and Steven Febey further frustrating the St Kilda forwards.
Six goals to Melbourne in the last quarter confirmed their superiority against the Grand Finalists of just one year before. The result was a 51 point Melbourne victory. The stands resounded with cheering, and Lyon was mobbed by jubilant teammates.
And so it was on to the Second Preliminary Final for Melbourne, up against North Melbourne, fresh after a week’s rest, on a Friday night. Lining up for their third final in as many weeks, the national anthem and the ‘Grand Old Flag’ rang out yet again.
But the first quarter saw many wasted opportunities, as Melbourne scored 3.6 to North’s 4.1.
As the game progressed, Corey McKernan was dominating at the centre bounces. Melbourne’s momentum was gone in the forward line, and the back line was not rebounding as it had in earlier weeks.
Although Melbourne was only eight points behind at the long break, North was starting to stamp some authority on the game.
In the second half, Winston Abraham, Brett Allison and Shannon Grant kicked three goals between them in six minutes. North was drawing ahead, and, by the end of the third quarter, had advanced to a 21-point lead.
While Melbourne was still in the game on the scoreboard, it seemed that the exuberance that had been so much a part of the past two weeks had deserted the Demons. Dashing goals from Rigoni and Seecamp sparked some enthusiasm, but in the end North was far too good and went into the Grand Final with a 30-point win behind them.
It was the end of a great season for Melbourne - Season 1998 had seen the team experience a remarkable rise, going from sixteenth to fourth place after finishing last in 1997. Despite falling short, there was much to both appreciate and celebrate about the achievements of 1998, from pre-season to Preliminary Final.
But, on this particular day, it was Melbourne from the very beginning. Just two minutes into the first quarter, Jeff Farmer evaded Andrew McLeod to register a goal from the forward pocket. His effort was complemented by Jeff White’s dominance over Shaun Rehn at the centre bounces. This first up contribution gave Melbourne’s engine room midfield the first use of the ball.
Farmer chimed in for another goal, then he and Garry Lyon both goaled on the run, just to complete the term on a high note. The scoreboard read Melbourne 6.6 to Adelaide 2.2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Crows headed into the second term determined to stop Melbourne’s running, but their ambitions were mixed up with their lack of ability to halt the Demons in their tracks.
To add to this, their own forward line was struggling. Jamie Shanahan held Tony Modra to one goal for the day, while Anthony Ingerson - playing his 100th career game - also proved effective against Matthew Robran. By the long break, with White and Andrew Leoncelli adding goals late in the quarter, Melbourne’s lead was stretched to 34 points.
The half-time break only revitalised the Demons, with David Neitz turning on a show to equal Farmer’s, kicking four goals in the third quarter. At one stage, Melbourne led by 51 points. At the end of the third quarter, it was 48 points in the Demons’ favour.
This was the margin at the end of the game. While Melbourne’s momentum slowed slightly in the final quarter, it was too late for the reigning premiers to hit back.
Everyone in red and blue celebrated as Melbourne notched up its sixth win in a row, progressing to a first semi-final showdown with St Kilda. By the end of the game, 12 Melbourne players had experienced their first ever finals match in the best way possible - with a first up win.
The day of Melbourne’s meeting with St Kilda was grey and drizzly, seeing most of the crowd huddled in white ponchos against the mist. But the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of anyone connected with Melbourne, although Garry Lyon was missing through injury, giving Travis Johnstone the opportunity to become the 13th Demon to make his finals debut.
Sadly, it was a poor start for Melbourne, set off by bad kicking, with both Farmer and Neitz missing easy goals. At the end of the first quarter, the Saints were ahead by four points, and early in the second term, extended the lead to 14 points.
It was the most they would be ahead all day, as Farmer took control of the game. With his three goals in seven minutes, the Demons were suddenly five points in front - a lead which stretched out to seventeen points by the long break.
The second half only emphasised Melbourne’s good form. Late in the third quarter, the Demons were 35 points ahead. Once again, Farmer emerged, kicking a mid-air soccer goal to add to his line up.
Around the ground, White flew high, while Guy Rigoni put the barriers on Robert Harvey’s forward moves. The Melbourne defence held strong, with the likes of Adam Yze, Brent Grgic, Marcus Seecamp and Steven Febey further frustrating the St Kilda forwards.
Six goals to Melbourne in the last quarter confirmed their superiority against the Grand Finalists of just one year before. The result was a 51 point Melbourne victory. The stands resounded with cheering, and Lyon was mobbed by jubilant teammates.
And so it was on to the Second Preliminary Final for Melbourne, up against North Melbourne, fresh after a week’s rest, on a Friday night. Lining up for their third final in as many weeks, the national anthem and the ‘Grand Old Flag’ rang out yet again.
But the first quarter saw many wasted opportunities, as Melbourne scored 3.6 to North’s 4.1.
As the game progressed, Corey McKernan was dominating at the centre bounces. Melbourne’s momentum was gone in the forward line, and the back line was not rebounding as it had in earlier weeks.
Although Melbourne was only eight points behind at the long break, North was starting to stamp some authority on the game.
In the second half, Winston Abraham, Brett Allison and Shannon Grant kicked three goals between them in six minutes. North was drawing ahead, and, by the end of the third quarter, had advanced to a 21-point lead.
While Melbourne was still in the game on the scoreboard, it seemed that the exuberance that had been so much a part of the past two weeks had deserted the Demons. Dashing goals from Rigoni and Seecamp sparked some enthusiasm, but in the end North was far too good and went into the Grand Final with a 30-point win behind them.
It was the end of a great season for Melbourne - Season 1998 had seen the team experience a remarkable rise, going from sixteenth to fourth place after finishing last in 1997. Despite falling short, there was much to both appreciate and celebrate about the achievements of 1998, from pre-season to Preliminary Final.
