DEMONS POWER TOWARDS FINALS
MELBOURNE made a huge statement in Alice Springs, announcing themselves as genuine premiership contenders with a ruthless 91-point demolition of Adelaide.
The Demons racked up their fifth consecutive win with a 23.8 (146) to 8.7 (55) victory over last season’s beaten grand finalists.
In doing so they extended their streak of winning quarters to 18, won five games in a row for the first time since 2006 and inflicted the Crows’ heaviest loss under Don Pyke.
The nature of the win sent a very clear message to the rest of the competition about Melbourne’s premiership credentials.
But coach Simon Goodwin, quite understandably, wasn’t buying into that sort of talk.
“It was an important game against a really strong footy club ... to put on a performance like that was really pleasing,” he said.
“(But) we understand this game is about small margins. To be in form, but also to be out of form ... it wasn’t that long ago we were struggling and we had to find a way to get into form.
“I certainly wasn’t thinking this was the be all and end all as a game.”
Elsewhere yesterday, North Melbourne veteran Jarrad Waite boosted his chances of earning another contract extension after producing a match-winning display in the 28-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Waite booted three goals – all in the second-half rain – to help lift North to the 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58) win.
The triumph saw Kangaroos jump to fifth spot on the ladder with a 6-4 record, while Fremantle (4-6) face an uphill battle to push for a finals berth.