Dees’ biggest win in 25 years
MELBOURNE has dished up a history-making shellacking of Carlton, defeating the Blues by 109 points at the MCG yesterday, the Demons’ biggest win in 25 years.
Melbourne moved into the top four by destroying its young opponents 25.9 (159) to 7.8 (50).
After emerging clear of a first-quarter tussle, the major point of interest quickly became Melbourne’s winning margin.
To the delight of Dees fans among 44,122 at the MCG, they earned a triple-figure win, kicking the game’s last seven goals. It was Melbourne’s biggest win over Carlton in the 122-season history of the competition.
Tom McDonald kicked four first-half goals and by full-time was joined by four other multiple goalkickers. Jake Melksham tallied five majors and Alex Neal-Bullen was full of run and finished with four.
More than half Melbourne’s side featured on the
J. Melksham 5, A. Neal-Bullen 4, T. McDonald 4, B. Fritsch 2 , M. Gawn 2, M. Hannan 2, C. Oliver, C. Petracca, J. Harmes, J. Hogan, J. Viney, N. Jones. H. McKay 2, J. Lamb 2, M. Murphy, P. Cripps, Z. Fisher. T. McDonald, A. Brayshaw, J. Melksham, N. Jones, M. Gawn, J. Lever, J. Harmes, A. Neal-Bullen. P. Cripps, M. Murphy, D. Lang.
Shaun Ryan, Brendan Hosking, Hayden Gavine. 44,122 at MCG. goalkickers’ list — though spearhead Jesse Hogan left his run late and joined them with the last goal of the game.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin was pleased his side never let up — just as it didn’t in last week’s 69-point drubbing of Gold Coast.
“That’s two weeks in a row now and our leaders have been really instrumental in that,” he said. “They’ve been driving a really high standard around the footy club ... I thought the selflessness, the team-first actions were outstanding.
“We’re starting to see the rewards of that.”
At times Melbourne’s dominance was look-away brutal. Between Patrick Cripps’ second-term goal and Jed Lamb’s long bomb in the third term, Melbourne kicked seven straight goals to hit the century and rip the contest away from the Blues.
Carlton offered pressurefree football in a significant setback for Brendon Bolton’s side after a season-first win last week against Essendon.
It was Bolton’s worst loss as an AFL coach, making him eager for atonement next week.
“I’m glad it's a six-day break. (Next week’s) Geelong game can’t come quick enough,” he said.
Cripps (31 disposals, eight tackles) never stopped trying but the Demons were rampant.