Melbourne might still make the finals, but there’s no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow

MELBOURNE had designs of a fairytale flag like the Western Bulldogs or Richmond before them, but the reality is the Demons haven’t beaten a single top eight team this season and face a pair of tough asks just to qualify for finals.

It was a tough day at the office for Max Gawn and the Dees. Picture: Michael Klein

YOU can put a line through Melbourne.

The Demons won’t be producing their version of a fairytale flag this season.

How could they after today?

They’ll wake up tomorrow requiring a win against West Coast (Perth Stadium) or GWS (MCG) to even qualify.

CLARRY: I CAME BACK FAT BECAUSE I’D DONE F*** ALL

SHATTERED: FEARS FOR JOHNSON’S KNEE

MALTHOUSE: THE AFL’S BIGGEST MYTHS

LIVE LADDER: NERVOUS TIMES FOR DEES

After 21 rounds, the Demons have not beaten a single top-eight team.

In fact, they are 0-7 against teams in the top half of the ladder and 12-1 against the bottom half.

Are they psychologically tough enough? Is it a gentlemen’s club or a football club?

Today, they hosted a Sydney team with its bench halved by quarter-time.

The Swans lost All-Australian Nick Smith (hamstring) and in, a deflating blow, Alex Johnson (knee).

Minutes into the second term, the Demons led by 18 points.

AFL Round 21. 12/08/2018. Melbourne v Sydney at the MCG. Melbourne's Max Gawn at ground level. Pic: Michael Klein

Then, whoosh. The Swans banged through seven consecutive goals — with none coming from superstar Lance Franklin.

It made little sense, and there were no excuses for the Demons.

The Demons started the second half with Jordan Lewis as a loose defender, with Aliir Aliir playing the same role for the Swans.

Former coach Paul Roos wasn’t so sure. Roos urged the Demons to go 6-6-6 and back in their midfield.

After all, they were roving to the game’s premier ruckman in Max Gawn.

Aliir got in the way an awful lot, taking 10 marks. Lewis did not.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Isaac Heeney of the Swans takes a spectacular mark over Jesse Hogan of the Demons during the 2018 AFL round 21 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 12, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Heeney plucking it from the sky. Picture: AFL Media

It’s a long way down. Picture: AFL Media

Those hands are safe. Picture: AFL Media

In the final quarter, Isaac Heeney was the loose man.

He played the role of goalkeeper in a performance Mark Schwarzer would’ve tipped his hat to.

The Demons simply couldn’t get it passed the blond bombshell.

Heeney’s final intercept mark was fittingly followed by the final siren, and his earlier grab will win mark of the year.

Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery were among Sydney’s best. Picture: Getty Images

Heeney soared over Jesse Hogan, much like Andrew Walker’s classic grab against Essendon.

For all of Melbourne’s dumb mistakes, the game was still there to be won in the final quarter.

Angus Brayshaw had the chance to cut the gap to just 15 points in the final term, but his simple set-shot faded.

At that stage the Demons then had 4.7 from set-shots. It was unforgivable. Then Charlie Spargo had a shot for goal from 45m.

Heeney stopped it from scoring. Then Jesse Hogan had a set-shot. Out on the full.

In the final term the Demons managed three goals from 19 entries.

In fact, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver, Tom McDonald, Spargo and Hogan combined for 3.11

It had Demons fans pulling their hair out. Conversely, young Swan Oli Florent’s ball use was exquisite.

It was as if the two teams were kicking a different Sherrin at times.

Franklin — who is now 15-0 against the Demons — played as if he had opened a lolly shop — Sugar Buds.

Dom Tyson found plenty of it for the Dees. Picture: Getty Images

Franklin spent the third quarter selling candy to Sam Frost, although the transactions were repeatedly followed by wayward shots.

After five straight behinds, Franklin put the Swans 28 points clear deep in the third quarter with a powerful set-shot.

The steely celebration showed the Swans were on.

Suddenly, the Demons are just hanging on.

MELBOURNE 2.6 3.12 7 .14 10.18 (78)

SYDNEY 1.1 7.2 13.6 13.9 (87)

GOALS

Demons: vandenBerg 3, T.McDonald 2, Petracca, Hogan, Pedersen, Garlett, Jones

Swans: Papley 3, Heeney 2, Franklin 2, Cunningham, Hayward, Hannebery, Dawson, Kennedy, McCartin

BEST

Demons: Brayshaw, Tyson, Harmes, Oliver, Salem

Swans: Lloyd, Heeney, Newman, Aliir, Franklin, Kennedy, Hewett

INJURIES

Demons: TBC

Swans: Johnson (knee), Smith (back)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, Nicholls, Fleer

Official crowd: 51,424 at the MCG

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >