Melbourne proved there is life without their inspirational captain Max Gawn, reaffirming their premiership credentials with a powerhouse performance as Sydney’s bubble burst in a big way.
The Dees were banged up when the two sides last met in last year’s finals series but finished all over the Swans in round three to win by 50 points at the MCG.
The Demons celebrate a Harrison Petty goal.Credit:Getty Images
Despite fielding a makeshift forward line, weakened further by an injury to spearhead Ben Brown, the Demons piled on their biggest score against the Swans in 12 years.
Challenged in the third quarter when the Swans drew within six points, the hosts flexed their muscle, piling on 11 of the last 15 of the game.
Ben Brown was injured.Credit:Getty Images
Gawn is without peer but Brodie Grundy ensured the captain’s absence was not missed, working Peter Ladhams into the ground with his running power. The former Pies ruckman had 21 touches to go with 25 hitouts, though Ladhams was also among the Swans’ better players.
Grundy may not have the deft tap work of Gawn but the Dees’ dynamic duo of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca did not go hungry, leading a Demons midfield that overwhelmed the Swans.
Rendered impotent at the end of last year, the Dees forward line was electric on Sunday, with 12 different goalkickers. Bailey Fritsch could not miss, kicking three, while foot soldiers Kade Chandler and Charlie Spargo also bobbed up with important goals.
Returning to the scene of the crime in last year’s grand final, when they lost to Geelong, the Swans could not match the Demons’ physicality at the contest.
The Swans were comfortable winners in the first two weeks but failed to measure up to the steep jump in grade. Beaten at the contest and when the ball got to the outside, the Swans had few winners. Their review will be sobering.
Lance Franklin showed glimpses of his best against Steven May but missed two shots at key moments in the third term. One ambitiously positioned entry inside 50 exposed the Swans the other side, allowing the Dees to move the ball from end to end for a goal against the flow.
John Longmire has a word with Isaac Heeney.Credit:AFL Photos
Melbourne’s early dominance came not from their usual source at the stoppages – the Swans were on top in this department – but their control of the ball when in possession.
The Swans’ trademark pressure was off, allowing the Dees to work the ball from side to side and pick holes in their zone.
Swans coach John Longmire often says skill errors are the product of low intensity. Nick Blakey’s sloppy turnover coming out of defence, which allowed Oliver to stream through 50 into an open goal, was a case in point.
The Swans’ best period of the game came in the middle two quarters when prime movers Errol Gulden, Callum Mills and Luke Parker were at their busiest.
The Swans leave the field after their loss.Credit:Getty Images
Sydney’s energiser bunny Tom Papley threatened to break the game open with three goals, including a signature running goal bursting from a forward 50 stoppage.
ROOOOO BEAUTY
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression – and Jacob van Rooyen certainly caught the eye of Dees’ fans with his. Within eight minutes on debut, van Rooyen kept his head over a ground ball, set up the first goal of the game, then kicked one himself from a ruck infringement, receiving a rousing ovation from the MCC members on his way to the bench. He finished strongly as well, kicking two goals in the last quarter to finish with three, including one from a big pack mark for the sealer. Dees fans will be hoping they can call out “Roooooo” many times over the next decade.
SWAN OFFLINE
We’re sometimes sceptical when players say they pay no attention to the media, but there might be some truth to it in Will Hayward’s case. After the fallout from the Greater Western Sydney-Carlton game, how else could you explain the Swans forward not being aware of the heightened awareness by umpires towards dissent? An angry Hayward paid the price for giving the umpire a frank assessment after being penalised for falling on top of Lachie Hunter in a tackle, the resultant 50-metre penalty making certain of a goal. There was a second case of talking back later in the quarter, which cost a free kick.
MELBOURNE 6.1 9.3 14.4 21.8 (134)
SYDNEY 1.3 6.6 9.9 12.12 (84)
GOALS Melbourne: Chandler 3, Fritsch 3, van Rooyen 3, Hunter 2, Oliver 2, Spargo 2, Petty, Jordon, Sparrow, Neal-Bullen, Brown, Melksham. Sydney: Papley 3, Franklin 2, Hayward 2, McDonald, Gulden, Blakey, Rowbottom, McInerney.
BEST Melbourne: Petracca, Oliver, Grundy, Fritsch, Hunter, Langdon. Sydney: Papley, Mills, Lloyd, Ladhams.
UMPIRES Gavine, Whetton, Findlay, Mollison
VENUE MCG
CROWD 42,423
