A reinvented Melbourne have emerged as serious finals contenders as Kysaiah Pickett led them to a brilliant 53-point victory over Sydney with an electrifying five goal performance in Sir Doug Nicholls round.
It completed back-to-back wins over last year’s grand finalists for Melbourne, which is starting to play the type of football premiership coach Simon Goodwin promised ahead of the season.
Kysaiah Pickett sparked Melbourne with five goals against Sydney.Credit: Getty Images
They kicked their highest score since round seven, 2023, building their game off defensive pressure that saw them lay 89 tackles and win the contested possession count by 27.
By contrast, Sydney look a long way off playing finals and could be without their skipper Callum Mills, who will be under scrutiny for jumping and collecting Demons forward Charlie Spargo head high.
Spargo was subbed out of the game after the umpires stopped the game to ensure he was examined. It was Mills’ first game for the season and might be his last for a few weeks, with the Swans heading for just their sixth non-appearance in finals since 2000.
But the focus will be on Melbourne, who have now won five of their past six games and have scored more than 83 points in each of those wins to breathe life into a campaign that was on life support when they started their season with five losses.
Pickett was the difference between the two teams as he converted opportunities into goals more often than not – he kicked 5.4 – a bag which included an out-on-the-full torpedo and two posters. He also had 13 score involvements and six clearances.
Inside 50 metres, Pickett was harder to catch than an untied balloon losing air, his performance receiving a standing ovation when he ran to the bench after his fifth goal midway through the third quarter.
Melbourne president Brad Green might have been ambitious when he said in the off-season that the Demons would need two or three first round picks to even consider trading Pickett, but those at the MCG on Sunday could be forgiven for thinking that was unders. Three Brownlow votes won’t quite do his performance justice.
But it wasn’t only Pickett – who was wearing the Demons’ Indigenous jumper designed by his father Kevin Kropinyeri – who played well. Ten players kicked goals for Melbourne, who brought up the ton midway through the last quarter despite being inaccurate in front of goal.
Christian Petracca is chaired off after a victory in his 200th AFL game.Credit: Getty Images
Earlier, before Pickett kicked a goal from the boundary line, they had kicked 7.13 and were in danger of keeping Sydney in the game with their inaccuracy.
Max Gawn was again brilliant, setting the tone with a stoppage snap goal within the first five minutes, and Christian Petracca was dangerous in his 200th game. Post-game Petracca told Fox Footy “defence creates opportunities”.
The Melbourne fans also showed their love for Clayton Oliver, who – left more to his own devices after having run-with roles the past two weeks – played well. When he left the ground to cheers after a last-quarter goal, it would have been apt for John Paul Young to come out of the dugout to sing Love is in the Air.
Unfortunately for the Swans, JPY would have needed to follow up with Yesterday’s Heroes to mark their bleak return to the MCG after last year’s grand final embarrassment.
Crows too good for Eagles
All-Australian forward Jake Waterman was taken to hospital after dislocating his right shoulder in West Coast’s 66-point loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
In a match played in a swirling breeze, Adelaide led by just four points midway through the second quarter before piling on 10 of the next 12 goals to set up the 19.14 (128) to 8.14 (62) win.
Josh Rachele cashed in with five goals, while Jordan Dawson tallied 27 disposals, eight clearances, two goals and 602m gained in a best-afield display on Sunday.
Tempers boiled over in the dying minutes when Eagles recruit Liam Baker pushed his forearm into the back of James Peatling’s neck while the Crow was face-down on the ground.
The incident sparked a major melee that is sure to attract plenty of fines.
The percentage-boosting result ensured Adelaide (7-4) will finish the round in the top four, while West Coast (1-10) couldn’t reproduce the heroics from last week’s breakthrough win over St Kilda.
Adding to West Coast’s woes was a serious injury to Waterman, whose right shoulder popped out when he was sandwiched in a final-quarter marking contest. Waterman had been a rare shining light for West Coast with three goals, but his season could be over if he requires surgery.
– AAP
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