Curse lifted: Melbourne win extraordinary grand final to end 57-year flag drought

After 57 years of heartache, the cruel irony of playing a grand final in Perth, and relinquishing an early lead to be left on the brink of defeat, Melbourne fans were afforded 20 minutes in the final quarter for reality to sink in.

The curse of North Smith had been lifted. The demons had been exorcised. Melbourne had claimed their 13th VFL/AFL premiership; their first since a time before colour television, before decimal currency, before most of their supporters can remember.

A Christian Petracca-inspired Melbourne stormed to victory over the Western Bulldogs.Credit: AFL Photos

The final scoreline will not come close to adequately telling the tale of an extraordinary grand final. Perth’s first decider was one of four acts. First came Melbourne’s bruisingly-strong start. Then there was the Western Bulldogs’ thrilling comeback. Then came the Demons’ riposte, a 17-minute stanza that will stand the test of time for its perfection and greatness. And finally came the celebrations of most of the final quarter. This act will last all summer, and then some.

The early minutes were marked by all the physicality one would expect from the start of a grand final. It was the Demons - kicking with the advantage of a slight breeze after winning the toss - who settled quickly. After a couple of behinds, the Dees struck first as Christian Petracca set sail from a standing start. Melbourne appeared on top of their game, and the Bulldogs were not. The Dogs could not generate meaningful chains of possessions, and Bayley Fritsch soon added the Dees’ second. Roarke Smith became an unlikely first goalkicker for the Dogs when he latched onto the ball after neutralising a marking contest. But it would prove to be his team’s only first quarter major.

Marcus Bontempelli shone for the Bulldogs in the grand final.Credit: AFL Photos

The Dogs were worryingly fumbly in defence. The first term was a horror show for Bailey Williams, who made several critical errors including turning the ball over under pressure from Kysaiah Pickett then spilling a regulation mark. Both moments led to Melbourne goals, and the Dees took a 21-point advantage to quarter-time.

It is doubtful the Dogs took any inspiration from West Coast’s Josh Rotham winning the grand final sprint during the interval, but in any case the match’s complexion changed dramatically almost immediately after the re-start. Having been in the headlines earlier in the final series, Adam Treloar had been largely unobtrusive in the first term but burst into life in the early stages of the second quarter, snapping a couple of goals in quick succession before being involved in a centre break which ended in Aaron Naughton cutting the margin back to within a goal. After missing a couple of early opportunities, Ben Brown slotted his first to steady the ship somewhat for the Dees, but much like Smith’s first quarter goal, Brown’s interjection was the quarter’s exception.

Marcus Bontempelli had also been subdued in the first quarter but he took control in the back half of the quarter, slotting two goals as he showcased his aerial prowess. Bontempelli was taking no prisoners either, with a high hit on Clayton Oliver likely to be looked at by the match review officer.

A euphoric Demons side celebrates.Credit: Getty Images

Suddenly very little was going Melbourne’s way. Max Gawn thought he kicked a goal but was denied by a line-ball goal umpiring decision, while Lachie Hunter put the Dogs ahead after drawing a free for high contact from Charlie Spargo. The Dogs had well and truly found not only their composure but so too their cohesion. Suddenly it was Melbourne - down by eight points at half-time - who needed to find answers.

They were not forthcoming in the first half of the third quarter. Jason Johannisen flew brilliantly and kicked the opening goal of the half, before Bontempelli took outright Norm Smith Medal favouritism with a sublime snap. The Dogs were 19 points up, midway through the quarter. It was now or never for the Dees.

Bayley Fritsch finished with a six-goal haul.Credit: AFL Photos

Then came quite probably the 17 greatest minutes in the history of the game’s oldest club. It was unbelievable. Fritsch kicked two goals against the run of play, the second set up by magnificent work in the middle from Petracca and Oliver. Brown put through his second before Angus Brayshaw put the Dees in front. Petracca had already been immense in the preceding minutes but then came his piece de resistance: a dribbler from the pocket. Tom Sparrow and Oliver then both finished spellbindingly on the run. Melbourne led by 24 points. They had put the premiership in premiership quarter.

In a grand final that had already yielded two stunning changes of momentum, it was not beyond the realms of possibility that the Dogs could yet come back again. This was Melbourne we were talking about, after all.

But that was the old Melbourne. The Melbourne that died in Perth on September 25, 2021. There would be no further nervous moments as Brown and then Fritsch added their third and fifth goals respectively. Neal-Bullen’s set shot at the eight-minute mark extended the lead to 42 points. It was 9:40pm, Melbourne was 40 minutes into its nightly curfew, but the city was about to be painted red and blue.

The dying minutes brought exultation. Petracca, performed a celebratory jumping chest bump - first with Oliver and then with the also outstanding Christian Salem. Petracca would finish with 39 disposals. There was no debate about who would win the Norm Smith Medal.

Melbourne 4.5 5.9 12.11 21.14 (140)
Western Bulldogs 1.2 7.5 9.5 10.6 (66)

BEST

Melbourne: Petracca, Fritsch, Salem, Oliver, Brayshaw, Jackson, Brown, Lever, Neal-Bullen.
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Daniel, R. Smith

VOTES

C. Petracca (Melbourne) 9 [Norm Smith Medal]
B. Fritsch (Melbourne) 8
C. Salem (Melbourne) 8
C. Oliver (Melbourne) 8
M. Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) 7

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