Dees unhappy with ‘soft’ showing as breakout forward’s horror blow sours wins

Melbourne has survived a big scare from North Melbourne, but the come from behind victory has come at a massive cost.

The Demons got the win, but it's come at a cost with Harrison Petty set for a stint on the sidelines.

Melbourne has survived a big scare from North Melbourne to claim a fifth straight win, but their 32-point victory has come at a cost with Harrison Petty left in a moon boot.

Petty left the game midway through the third term after a nasty looking ankle injury and played no further part.

His absence slowed scoring for Melbourne in the 15.13 (103) to 10.11 (71) win at Blundstone Arena and will again ask questions of the Dees’ attack end.

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Melbourne’s win wasn’t without a tough fightback after coughing up a five-goal lead midway through the second term.

“We were just being soft to be honest – we weren’t cracking in at all. We weren’t at the contest,” Dees star Christian Petracca told Fox Footy post-match.

“Our forwards, myself, we weren’t jumping at the footy. Defenders, mids we had something we probably weren’t proud of.

“When you get embarrassed like that a little bit, it’s good to going back to what you know you can do, control what you can control.”

The Demons scored nine of the next 10 goals from that point in the second term to reclaim the lead and never look back.

The win lifts Melbourne into second spot – albeit potentially temporarily as Brisbane is still to face Fremantle later on Sunday.

While it was another loss for North Melbourne, taking their run of losses to 18, the Roos showed promise in the first half but couldn’t maintain the intensity for Alastair Clarkson’s first game back as head coach.

Alastair Clarkson, North Melbourne coach. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

3. MELBOURNE’S KEY WEAPON GOES DOWN IN HUGE PRE-FINALS BLOW

The Demons had struggled in attack for almost two months as they couldn’t find the right forward line balance – until Harrison Petty was shifted.

As a forward, Petty kicked six goals in last week’s win over Richmond but also proved a big marking target to relieve pressure on young Jacob van Rooyen.

With Kysaiah Pickett able to get to Petty’s feet, his form lifted immediately – and that was again evident against the Roos on Sunday.

But Melbourne’s premiership hopes took a big hit midway through the third term when Petty’s ankle got caught awkwardly in a big Ben McKay tackle.

The former defender-turned forward immediately signalled for help and limped from the field.

He was taken straight down to the rooms and placed in a moon boot in worrying signs.

“It’s a big story emerging,” Fox Footy’s Gerard Healy said.

“It’s not a pretty look, I’ve got to say.

“He turned it (his left ankle) inside out!

“It’s not supposed to bend that way.

“There’s no doubt he’s probably done some serious damage.

“It’s a serious injury and he’s going to be out for a few weeks at best.”

Harrison Petty took no further part in the match after a sickening looking ankle injury.

Fellow commentator David King agreed the injury was a “huge” blow to Melbourne’s chances if Petty’s injury lay off was as serious as first feared.

“They’ve finally found the answer to their forward 50 woes and it was the competitor in Petty that made their forward 50 options they’ve possessed the last few weeks,” he said.

“They’ve averaged 111 points the last three games, and I think largely because of that guy.

“Coming into a finals series, you want to be in peak health.

“That’s a huge story – he’s been their competitor, their focal point forward of centre Harrison Petty.”

King said the Petty injury is likely to open the door for the return of banished ruck recruit Brodie Grundy, who has been forced to ply his trade in the VFL and build his resume as a forward.

“(Bayley) Fritsch comes back but he’s a different player – so do you have to look at Brodie Grundy?” King questioned.

“They’re going to need a tall target and if they think van Rooyen isn’t it, and he’s probably too early to be … then I think Grundy must come into the frame,” Healy added.

Before Petty headed to the bench, he was the number one target inside 50 for both sides with 10 for the match.

2. ‘HORRIBLE BLUNDER’ COSTS ROOS DEARLY

It’s no secret North Melbourne have endured a horror 2023 campaign with little to celebrate.

But when they found themselves five goals up against a Melbourne outfit widely tipped to be a premiership contender come September, the question became can North hold on?

Sadly they could not, with their day summed up by a horror effort from Darcy Tucker.

A horrible blunder gifts Alex Neal-Bullen his first 💥

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— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 6, 2023

With his side up by 29 points midway through the third term, Tucker’s “horrible goal line blunder” sparked Melbourne’s run of nine of the next 10 goals.

Running back towards his goal, Tucker appeared unsure if he was under enough pressure to rush the footy through.

And he paid the ultimate price when he attempted to pick up the Sherrin and dropped it, leaving the footy there for Alex Neal-Bullen to slot through.

“That’s unforgivable,” commentator David King said.

“I’ve never seen a rule that has bamboozled more players than this one around the goal line,” Gerard Healy added.

“Only dumb players; only players who can’t think their way through certain situations,” King added.

The two-time North premiership player was stunned the rule continued to confuse.

“Every player in the competition knows under pressure you can force the ball through,” he lamented.

“You’re three and a half metres from your defensive end – you just knock that through. You don’t need to take possession.

“You shouldn’t be trying to grab the ball.

“In the end, it’s a horrible blunder.

“You just hope this doesn’t create the spiral that has happened so easily … losing becomes a habit.

“That’s a goal that shouldn’t be conceded from a Kangaroos’ point of view.”

1. IS THIS THE BLUEPRINT TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE’S BRILLIANT BACKLINE?

Steven May and Jake Lever are a formidable duo down back for the Dees, but in the opening term in Tassie North Melbourne made them look second-rate.

In a five-goal to one opening quarter blitz, it was Lever who copped the brunt of the punishment as his opponent Eddie Ford had three of those five goals.

Mastercoach Alastair Clarkson showed his hand early, as he used Ford as an attacking weapon to keep Lever accountable.

And when he wasn’t – instead trying to float off and intercept, Ford made him pay dearly on the scoreboard.

“Couldn’t control the ball early the Melbourne Football Club and paid the heavy price on the scoreboard,” commentator David King said.

“Strategically let’s look at what Alastair Clarkson has done first day back in the chair – Eddie Ford tagging Jake Lever.

“It brought enormous success in the first quarter.

“Lever wants to get off and intercept mark, but he knows Ford is likely to come with him.

“But Ford released at the perfect moment where he could then mark the ball inside 50.

“He (Lever) wants to leave Eddie Ford. He thinks Ford is going to come with him … but he doesn’t, he leaves.

“The big question for Jake Lever is do I stay or do I go? When do I release from him?

“That’s the challenge he’s thrown back Alastair Clarkson to Simon Goodwin.”

Lever had just intercept marks in the opening term as North Melbourne got on top.

While Ford kicked three first quarter goals, he didn’t add to that tally from that point in the match.

“Kicking three goals in the first term would rattle most defenders … But Lever clamps Ford (in the second term) and then is able to get off and still play that intercept role,” King said.

“It’s been a test of wills if you like.

“A great arm wrestle between the two.”

Originally published as Dees unhappy with ‘soft’ showing as breakout forward’s horror blow sours wins