Melbourne v Adelaide: Match report, news and analysis from Round 22 clash
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has one regret about a possible breakthrough minor premiership, while Matthew Nicks saw positives in the Demons’ 41-point win.
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A career-high seven goals from Bayley Fritsch has helped Melbourne see off a spirited Adelaide to set up a final-round showdown with Geelong for the minor premiership.
The result moved the Demons back to the top of the ladder, where they’ve now resided for 12 weeks this season, with just two points separating them and the second-placed Cats.
Melbourne’s victory also rules the Western Bulldogs out of finishing the year in first place.
The bottom-two Crows were far from disgraced, though, and seriously tested the flag fancies on more than one occasion, getting to within three points in the third quarter, before losing by 41.
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It’s been 57 years since the Demons won a minor premiership, and with the city of Melbourne’s ability to stage finals under increasing doubt as a result of being ravaged by another lockdown, Goodwin said he feels “incredibly” for the club’s fans who have waited so long to see their side launch a serious assault on a flag, but may miss out on witnessing it from the stands.
“They’re craving coming to the MCG to see their team compete and win and play in some significant games and they’ve been enormous for our footy club for a long period of time,” he said.
“We can still feel their support through the messages, social media and a range of different things.
“They’ve been on this journey for a long time and they need to know from us that we are doing everything we can to play the best for them and we want to make them proud.”
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks was pleased with how his team has responded on the field to the Taylor Walker racism furore, but lamented a couple of missed opportunities against premiership contenders.
“Definitely the last two weeks we’ve found the game that we put out there earlier in the season,” Nicks said post-match.
“In fact, I think we’ve been even better these last couple of weeks as far as the way we’ve connected up.
“Some of our younger players around that 20-to-21-year-old age I think have really stepped up and their game’s gone to another level, so great signs for us.
“But we’re disappointed that we don’t get the result because at times today, and coming in at three-quarter time, we feel like we are right in that game and the opportunity was there for us.
“Unfortunately we’re not quite there at this point, we don’t quite have the polish in our game and the ability to put scoreboard pressure on our opposition.”
“He’s obviously really important to our ball movement but he’s also now brought that leadership and he’s got the guys playing a stye of footy that they’re showing DNA now off the back of some our really important leaders and he’s one of them,” Nicks said.
Adelaide started the game strongly, dominating uncontested possessions (57-40) in the first quarter and cutting up the Demons with transition footy.
But despite registering seven of the first eight scoring shots inside 14 minutes, the Crows failed to make Melbourne pay the full price, managing just 1.6, including three missed set shots, to lead only by six points.
At that stage, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin must’ve been second-guessing his decision to pull star defender Steven May out of the line-up before the game due to general soreness, as seven of Adelaide’s first eight inside-50s resulted in a score, and Darcy Fogarty was looking dangerous.
But Goodwin’s anxiety would’ve been eased considerably early in the second term, by which time not only had Adelaide key forward Elliott Himmelberg (hamstring) been subbed out, mitigating May’s absence, but the Demons had turned the tables on their less-fancied opponents, opening up a 28-point lead on the back of five consecutive goals, as Christian Petracca began to work his way into the game.
The Crows continued to have a crack — they led the clearances 20-17 and contested possessions 74-72 at halftime — and they were rewarded for their efforts early in the third term when they cut the deficit back to three points as Melbourne’s costly turnovers continued to mount.
However, Melbourne responded to the challenge again, kicking six of the last eight goals, including four from Fritsch, to stamp their authority on the contest.
SEEDSMAN SHOWS THE WAY
Paul Seedsman continued to be a shining light for Adelaide in what has been another disappointing season for the club. The former Magpie collected 15 of his career-high 36 disposals in the first quarter, to be the driving force behind the Crows’ bright start, and he had a whopping 24 by halftime. He also finished the contest with 738 metres gained, 10 inside-50s, 10 score involvements and a magnificent goal from outside 50m as he continues to press for membership in the All-Australian squad.
PICKETT FINISHES OFF A BEAUTIFUL PLAY
The play of the day for the Demons probably came just after time-on in the third quarter when Angus Brayshaw handballed to Max Gawn running past on the wing before the big ruckman fended off a Ben Davis tackle and combined with Luke Jackson to get the ball to Christian Petracca. He delivered a laser-guided pass onto Kysaiah Pickett’s chest deep in the forward pocket. The goalsneak proceeded to kick the easy goal to put Melbourne up by 16 points just as the Crows were making another charge.
JACKSON THE JOKER IN THE PACK?
Jackson continues to grow with every passing week, and played another pivotal role as that forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck. The Rising Star favourite ended up with 16 touches, 19 hitouts and two goals, and combined beautifully with Max Gawn again, who registered 19 disposals, 27 hitouts and 10 clearances. The young tall looms a vital piece of Melbourne’s September plans.
“He’s evolving quickly, ‘Jacko’. His game has come on in leaps and bounds,” Goodwin said.
“His aerial work has improved and you saw late in the game today (with) his ruck work what he can give around centre bounce and clearance and I think the duo with ‘Gawny’ (Max Gawn) is becoming pretty potent for us.
“We’re enjoying his development, that’s for sure, but we’re looking for some big things from him.”
THIRD CLUB BECKONS FOR LYNCH
Have Adelaide stamped Tom Lynch’s papers a little early? The rationale of needing to rebuild and blood as many youngsters as possible in season 2022 is sound, but the star utility, who turns 31 next month, produced a compelling audition for a rival club who might consider throwing him a lifeline as he registered 29 touches, seven marks, eight score involvements, a goal assist and a goal.
SCOREBOARD
DEMONS 3.3, 7.4, 12.7, 16.8 (104)
CROWS 1.6, 3.7, 8.8, 9.9 (63)
LERNER’S BEST
Demons: Fritsch, Jackson, Petracca, Gawn, Salem, Langdon, Oliver.
Crows: Seedsman, Lynch, Fogarty, Keays, Butts, Laird, Sloane
GOALS
Demons: Fritsch 7, B.Brown 2, Petracca 2, Jackson 2, Melksham, Spargo, Pickett.
Crows: Fogarty 3, McAdam 2, Seedsman, Mackay, Murphy, Lynch.
INJURIES
Demons: May (soreness) replaced in selected side by Joel Smith.
Crows: Himmelberg (hamstring).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LERNER’S VOTES
3. Bayley Fritsch (Melb)
2. Paul Seedsman (Adel)
1. Luke Jackson (Melb)
DEES MAKE LATE CALL ON KEY INJURY
Melbourne suffered a late blow ahead of its clash against Adelaide at the MCG with star defender Steven May ruled out.
May will miss the match with general soreness and has been replaced in the Demons’ line-up by Joel Smith
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said the Demons could not afford to take any risks with a player like May on the eve of the finals.
The move continued a theme of the weekend with important defenders including Tom Stewart (Geelong) and Jake Lloyd (Sydney) missing the round.
Goodwin said the key backman was expected to miss just the one match.
“He is just a little bit sore, he has had some soreness all week,” Goodwin said.
“We’re at a stage where we can’t risk a guy like Steven so we took him out of the side and he’ll be right next week.
Melbourne’s general manager of football performance Alan Richardson said May was expected to miss only one game.
Aaron vandenBerg has been named as the medical sub for the Demons.
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