IF LAST weekend’s demise at the boots of the Brisbane Lions is reminiscent of anything for Melbourne, it could well be a season not actually that long ago, but far enough back that we didn’t have Fremantle, GWS, Gold Coast or Port Adelaide. 

The Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy were still separate entities, we found out that the Crows were a formidable force at Football Park, and in Round One, the Demons took on the Eagles at Subiaco.  It was very last century.  In fact, it was altogether 1991.

For Melbourne, it was also an inglorious beginning to what would turn into an exciting season.  Having unexpectedly triumphed over the Eagles in Perth in 1990, before then being handed a five goal defeat by the same team in that season’s second semi-final, the competition between the two clubs was willing, to say the least.

But it was not to be the Demons’ day on this occasion.  With just one behind in the first half, and Glenn Lovett and Garry Lyon the only goal scorers with one apiece, the 79 point margin at the final siren was, to say the least, demoralising.  Peter Sumich with five and Michael Brennan with three led the way for the Eagles, Matera and Mainwaring dominated on the wings, and the thumping was comprehensive.

The challenge was to rebound from this low.  Round Two was back in Victoria, playing Fitzroy at Princes Park.  With six goals to one in the first quarter, then another nine to two in the second, the 75 point margin at the long break was all but insurmountable for the unfortunate Lions.  Darren Bennett was on his way to eight goals, Jim Stynes was garnering his first Brownlow votes for the year with three, and all was - once again - right with the world.

It was a reminder of how quickly the seasons can change.  By Round Nine and a welcome bye, Melbourne sat an exciting second on the ladder, prevented only from top place by those same Eagles.  By the time Round 15 beckoned, five defeats had followed the break, and a win against the Swans was required to bring the red and blue back into some sort of finals reckoning.  In front of 10,569 at the SCG, Allen Jakovich kicked 8.8, Darren Bennett kicked 7.2, and an 83 point win was in the Demons’ keeping.  It was a relief, but the start of an unpredictable run that landed Melbourne at seventh place by the time Round 24 and the bye were on the doorstep.

So, there was nothing that could be done now.  The red and blue fate lay at others’ feet.   It was, in a way, reminiscent of 1987 and the wait for the scores to fall Melbourne’s way - but with less control.  However, when all the results came through, Melbourne was in finals action, with the unlucky side - of all sides - being Collingwood, shuffled down the ladder to seventh spot.   ‘I feel like a condemned man who has been reprieved’, said coach John Northey at the time.  He had the Demons in the finals, and Jim Stynes’ Brownlow win waiting in the wings.

It was finals time.  With a win over Essendon in the elimination final, West Coast was the opponent  again, bookending the season with this first semi-final encounter.  Out at VFL Park due to the Great Southern Stand construction at the MCG, this was it.  The Eagles sailed to a 38 point victory, even after Melbourne held the lead at the end of the first quarter.

And this was indeed it.  But, in a season that had been one of such extremes, the value of perseverance had been shown throughout.  Season 1991 could well have been declared over very early on with the devastating loss to West Coast - but as with all seasons before and since, the fun had just begun.