Dees tame Hawks
It’s a grand old flag ... well sort of
MELBOURNE scored a 10point win over Hawthorn in last night’s AFLX grand final at Etihad Stadium.
The Demons led by 22 points at halftime and held on for a 56-46 victory in front of 22,585 fans.
Jake Melksham, Alex NealBullen and James Harmes all booted 10-pointers in the final, with Melksham outstanding throughout with a tournament-high five goals from outside the 40m arc.
The Demons recorded wins over Carlton and North Melbourne to book their place in the decider, while the Hawks defeated Essendon and St Kilda to progress. Melbourne scored a comprehensive 82-54 win over the Blues in the first of six pool matches, their strategy of setting up shots at goal from outside the arc netting them seven 10-pointers.
Melksham led the charge for the Demons with three goals from outside the arc. Hawthorn were happy to find marking targets inside the 40m arc in the second game against the Bombers and that proved an equally effective tactic, the Hawks prevailing 72-54.
Carlton departed the competition after a strong North Melbourne squad dealt them a 83-68 defeat.
The Roos’ total was the highest recorded after the first 13 matches of the abbreviated game, played by seven-a-side teams over 10-minute halves on a soccer-sized pitch.
North fielded the most-experienced side of the evening with players of the calibre of Ben Cunnington, Jarrad Waite, Shaun Higgins and Jamie Macmillan included.
The Bombers were eliminated when they suffered their second loss of the night, St Kilda recording a 52-37 win in their first game.
The Roos bowed out when the Demons scored a 70-46 win despite only scoring one 10-pointer, with Melksham again effective from long range.
The Saints and Hawks played off in the last pool game for the second spot in the grand final.
St Kilda led by 24 points at halftime, but Hawthorn clicked into gear to score a 77-55 win.