AFL 2015: Melbourne defeats GWS Giants by 26 points at Etihad Stadium

JESSE Hogan kicked three goals to help Melbourne snap at 22-game losing streak at Etihad Stadium and claim victory over the GWS Giants.

Rebecca Williams

2 min read

September 6, 2015 - 5:59PM

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Jesse Hogan of the Demons celebrates a goal during the round 23 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on September 6, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

IT HAS been another season of frustration for Melbourne this year.

But the Demons showed there is reason for optimism with a season-ending 26-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

In their dead-rubber against the Giants in front of a crowd of just 8974, the Demons were able to finish 2015 on a winning note to finally snap their Docklands hoodoo.

The victory gave the Demons their first win in eight years at Etihad Stadium, ending a 22-game losing streak at the venue.

Daniel Cross is chaired off the ground after his final AFL match. Picture: Colleen Petch.

The final-round victory leaves the Demons with seven wins from season 2015 and gave them their first win in five meetings against the Giants.

Since their 37-point win over Collingwood in Round 18, the Demons have lost their past four matches, but gave their supporters positive signs to consider over the pre-season.

While the victory gave the retiring veteran Daniel Cross a winning send-off, it was not the way he wanted to finish the game after he was stretchered off after hitting his head on the turf when he landed heavily from a marking contest.

But it was a typically gusty piece of play from the former Bulldog in his 249th game as he flew back with the flight of the ball to attempt the mark nine minutes into the last quarter.

In a final farewell, he waved to the crowd as he was carried off on the motorised stretcher.

Cross was then given a huge applause when he emerged from the race and walked back out along the boundary later in the term so he could watch the rest of the match from the bench.

Jeremy Howe completes a spectacular mark in the third quarter. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Cross has been strong in his final match, finishing with 25 disposals as the Dees’ midfield trio of Nathan Jones (36 disposals), Bernie Vince (38 disposals) and Jack Viney (29 disposals) all delivered impressive performances.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn dominated in the ruck against Tom Downie, finishing with 55 hit-outs to 21, while Demons key defender Tom McDonald restricted the dangerous Jeremy Cameron to just two goals.

Jesse Hogan and Ben Newton top-scored for the Demons with three goals each, while the out-of-contract Jeremy Howe provided one of his high-flying highlights in the third quarter with a giant leap at half-back.

For the Giants, Callan Ward was the top possession winner with 32, while Adam Treloar had finished with 26 disposals.

The Demons led the match by just two points at half-time, but set up the victory in the third quarter when they kicked six goals to two.

MELBOURNE 4.1 7.6 13.10 15.13 (103)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.1 7.4 9.7 11.11 (77)

GOALS

Melbourne: Newton 3, Hogan 3, Garlett 2, Harmes 2, Howe, Jones, Grimes, Dunn, Kennedy-Harris

Greater Western Sydney: Williams 2, Cameron 2, Palmer, Whitfield, Townsend, Ward, Stewart, Smith, Greene

INJURIES

Melbourne: Cross (concussion)

Greater Western Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Melbourne: Alex Neal-Bullen replaced Mitch White in the final term