Melbourne withstand St Kilda second-half comeback to move back into top eight
FOR eleven long years the Melbourne faithful have perched in their MCG seats hoping and waiting but mostly enduring ... that wait is almost at an end.
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FOR eleven long years the Melbourne faithful have perched in their MCG seats hoping and waiting but mostly enduring.
Since their last final 240 games ago, they have seen the tanking saga, the Mark Neeld years, the deaths of Jimmy Stynes and Robbie Flower.
Finally, the Victorian team with the longest finals drought is on the precipice.
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On Sunday, Simon Goodwin’s Demons unleashed an early MCG blitzkrieg then withstood St Kilda’s fierce comeback from 39 points down.
As a result the Demons have their finals destiny in their own hands.
Those members in their crisp suits in the Long Room and chinos and blazer in the MCC members rose as one to salute them.
Instead of a second half basking in the victory it was a white-knuckle ride as St Kilda drew within four points early in the last term.
But after a 24-point victory the Demons are in the eight and have a simple equation: win against Brisbane and Collingwood and they play finals.
Sunday’s win was symbolised in a single contest.
Halfway through the first quarter Angus Brayshaw and Koby Stevens charged into the fray chasing the Sherrin.
Brayshaw, in his first game back from four recent concussions, had every reason to back down.
They cannoned into each other with such ferocity it seemed inevitable Brayshaw would be jogging to the sidelines, his career in jeopardy.
Yet instead he got up and dominated the first half, with Stevens the unfortunate recipient of a game-ending concussion.
So often on the receiving end, Brayshaw ended up with 26 possessions, two strong saving marks and a hint that he could again be a star.
Melbourne captain Nathan Jones said when everything was on the line Melbourne’s contest game reappeared in the last term.
“I am so proud we were able to execute. It was a big crowd (53,115), a big day and the stakes were big for both clubs. I felt like we had that energy going today.
“There was a steely focus and we also went back to trying to go out and enjoy the game and have fun and it worked.”
Jones was only metres from Brayshaw when he was floored and could have been forgiven for thinking the worst.
“I saw it, it flashed into the corner of my eye and I was worried ... but a couple of minutes later I saw him run past me and I was excited.
“I said to him, ‘there is another test for you’. Every time he recovers from something like that it gives him confidence.
“The way he played, it looked like he didn’t miss a beat. I am really close to him and he is like a little brother to me.
“I drove in with him today and he was ecstatic to be back, he puts a lot of pressure on himself but he has got that much talent.
“He took a long period away and put the work in and every time he takes a hit like that and bounces back up, it adds another level of confidence.”
There were so many unlikely heroes for Simon Goodwin after his demotion of Jack Watts showed he wanted performances over reputation.
First it was James Harmes with his three first-term goals, then Cam Pedersen joining the party in Watts’ absence.
He was everywhere, with 26 possessions, two goals, six tackles and a real presence around the ground.
Finally, as St Kilda looked likely to rip away this game, Mitch Hannan’s five-minute cameo sealed the contest.
First he nailed a difficult long set shot from close to the boundary before a skyscraper goal and mark to end St Kilda’s valiant resistance.
In between the midfield was tougher for longer against their St Kilda counterparts.
The inside strength of co-captain Nathan Jones and Clayton Oliver, the poise of Jordan Lewis and the under-rated talents of Alex Neal-Bullen combined perfectly.
Billy Longer had the better of Max Gawn and Jake Carlisle was a rock in the back six.
But too many Saints went in and out of the game or just couldn’t finish the deal.
Jack Billings played out the contest with a half-shut eye but instead of five goals had 1.3 and a shot out of bounds.
Josh Bruce found new ways to butcher chances, missing everything from point blank then having the ball bounce back over his shoulder as he ran into an open goal.
St Kilda’s third-term fightback might have been rousing, but the 4.7 they put on the scoreboard said everything about their lack of potency.
VOTES
3. Cam Pedersen
2. Nathan Jones
1. Billy Longer
BEST
MELBOURNE: C.Pedersen, N.Jones, A.Brayshaw, C.Oliver, J.Lewis, J.Harmes, A.Neal-Bullen
ST KILDA: B.Longer, J.Carlisle, S.Ross, J.Steele, J.Billings, D.Roberton, L.Dunstan
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