Melbourne Demons v GWS Giants: All the news from their Round 1 clash

It was a heartbreaking start to 2025 after a lean 2024, but Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is confident of his side’s path despite their loss to GWS.

Mitch Bourke

@Mitchbourke

5 min read

March 16, 2025 - 8:27PM

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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is confident his side is on the “right path” after opening its season with a heartbreaking defeat against GWS.

The Demons led the Giants for the entirety of the final quarter on Sunday until Lachlan Keeffe nailed a set shot from a tight angle with less than 60 seconds on the clock to lift his side to a rousing three-point victory.

Goodwin named a staggering six new faces for the clash, five of which were making their AFL debuts. Melbourne hadn’t fielded more debutants in a match since 1966.

“There was a hell of a lot to like in the game, clearly when you play five debutants and they all perform to a really high level, it gives you great confidence as a footy club and it starts to build belief,” Goodwin said.

“I say this a lot to the players that you always win in some manners and we won in a lot of manners today, we’ll certainly live in that space.

“There’s still lots to learn in terms of the last 25 minutes of the game, we did a lot right as a footy club, we walk away without the result but we walk away emotionally as a club feeling like we’re on the right path.”

Although noting that a last quarter drop off at the contest proved costly, Goodwin was thrilled with his midfield group’s overall effort, which was buoyed by the return of Christian Petracca.

“The power around the ball and the ability to win clearance was really high for three quarters, you see how they were moving … there’s a lot of power in that group,” Goodwin said.

“They were certainly very dominant in the game, especially early, it was probably the part of the game that cost us a little bit late … we lost the clearance, we lost the centre bounce late and had to suck up the territory, that probably hurt us at the end of the day.”

Petracca didn’t miss a beat in his return game, having been absent since sustaining serious injuries in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood last year.

“It was just great to see him back out there, I don’t know if the camera was out there watching him but he had a fair smile on his face for the majority of the day,” Goodwin said.

The Demons are 0-1. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“It was great to see him right back to his best, his buy-in to the team and making the team the best it can possibly be is outstanding to see, I thought he had a huge impact in the game and he’s only going to get better from here.”

Key defender Steven May was a late out before the match with a fractured larynx, and Goodwin said it would be “touch and go” whether he was available next week.

“Probably unlikely, but it wouldn’t be much longer than (next week),” Goodwin said.

“We’ll get the right advice from the specialists and everyone involved and make a good medical decision, it’s a pretty important thing to get right and we certainly won’t be rushing it.”

LAST LAUGH: KEEFFE BREAKS DEES’ HEARTS WITH LAST-MINUTE BOMB

A last-gasp Lachlan Keeffe set shot has lifted GWS to a stirring win over Melbourne.

Adam Kingsley’s men remained undefeated by the barest of margins after Keeffe delivered a dagger into the hearts of the Demons faithful.

Melbourne had led for the entirety of the final quarter and had looked set to hang on for a rousing victory in soggy conditions at the MCG.

The ascendancy sat with GWS for much of the final term, however a string of missed chances had threatened to derail its hopes of a comeback.

Tom Green, who was returning from a calf injury, worked his way into the game and produced a mammoth final quarter effort. He sparked the Giants late with a long-range outside-of-the-boot goal in the pouring rain and finished with 35 disposals and nine clearances.

Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio bagged three goals each and were both crucial for the Giants up forward. Greene was at his best lively while Congilio was simply clinical.

Lead changes were plentiful throughout the hotly contested and bruising match, and Melbourne had threatened to run away with the game early in the second half after three blazing runs out of the centre square produced three goals in the 98 seconds.

Lachlan Keeffe had the last laugh over Max Gawn. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

WHEN IT MATTERS

Lachlan Keeffe was always going to be in for a tough day when asked to ruck against Max Gawn, and despite losing the hit outs significantly he toiled hard and the Giants led Melbourne in clearances.

But it was inside the final 60 seconds of the clash that Keeffe really made his presence felt, drifting into the open forward pocket to snag an uncontested mark. What followed was no easy feat, the Giants had been marred by poor goalkicking throughout the final term yet Keeffe sent the soaking Sherrin between the sticks from a near impossible angle.

DEES DEBUTANTS DELIVER

For the first time since 1966, Melbourne fielded six club debutants – five of which were playing their first AFL game – and it turns out Demons fans have plenty of reason to be excited about the future as green shoots sprouted into fully fledged AFL players right before their eyes.

Matthew Jefferson celebrates his first goal, 17 seconds into the game. Picture: Michael Klein

Former first round draft pick Matt Jefferson has been to bide his time for an AFL opportunity, but grabbed it with both hands and delivered the Demons their first goal just 16 seconds into the game. The key forward presented well and looked a promising player, while Xavier Lindsay also enjoyed a dream start to his AFL career, racking up 22 disposals and distributing the ball beautifully off half back.

Former Lion Harry Sharp was among the goal-kickers and brought great pressure in the forward 50, and mature age pick-up Aidan Johnson also nabbed a major.

ON TRAC AGAIN

Christian Petracca’s AFL return had been highly anticipated after last year’s horror King’s Birthday injury and the uncertainty that followed. Spoiler alert: it was worth the wait.

The sight of the no. 5 jersey bursting out of the centre square and sending a piercing kick inside 50 time and time again was a welcome sight for Dees fans, who delivered an almighty roar for Petracca’s first goal in the opening term.

Petracca was superb and finished the match with two goals, 27 disposals and four clearances. Clayton Oliver also impressed with 25 touches and five clearances.