Melbourne stunned Fremantle by four points in an extraordinary thriller at the MCG on Saturday, with Kysaiah Pickett starring as the Demons ran over the ladder-leaders in a game hailed as the match of the year.
The win, which came after Melbourne kicked four of the last five goals to overcome a 15-point deficit midway through the final quarter, has elevated the Demons to bona fide premiership contenders, according to pundits.
A remarkable turnaround under Steven King
Most pundits had Melbourne languishing this year, given the talent that exited the club at the end of last season. But new coach Steven King has reinvigorated the Demons with a free-flowing, attacking gameplan ideally suited to the MCG. The Dees' rapid ball movement against Fremantle was hypnotic, in complete contrast to former coach Simon Goodwin's rigid and risk-averse style.
Melbourne are now 10-1 at the MCG this year, a handy stat come finals. With the Demons in striking distance of the top four, they deserve to be spoken of as a genuine premiership wildcard. If Melbourne goes deep into September, King should be a shoo-in for coach of the year.
High-octane classic with twists and turns
The blistering pace of the game was unrelenting, with the two sides kicking a combined 17 goals in the finest exhibition of attacking footy this season. The match had more momentum shifts and plot turns than the film The Empire Strikes Back.
Fremantle came out firing, with Patrick Voss causing havoc up forward, scoring two quick majors and celebrating with his exuberant Gangnam Style dance. Moments later, Harrison Petty added his own absurdity by rubbing his newly shaved head after kicking a goal, a clear dig at Voss, who had taunted him earlier in the season. Petty showed he is more than comic relief by nailing two of his three goals in the last quarter.
Patched-up midfield dominates
It was Melbourne's unheralded, patched-up midfield that provided many of the masterful moments against Fremantle's much-lauded engine room. Kysaiah Pickett (27 disposals, two goals) and Tom Sparrow (24 disposals, two goals) dominated the clearances and stoppages. Sparrow has been a revelation this season, thrust on to the ball with the departure of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. The 26-year-old is averaging 22 disposals, six tackles, five clearances, and 11 goals in 21 matches this season.
It helps that he is getting the ball palmed to him by Max Gawn, one of the greatest ruckmen the game has ever seen. Gawn (16 touches, 33 hit-outs) probably got the chocolates over Luke Jackson (17 disposals, seven tackles, 26 hit-outs), but both are likely to wear All-Australian blazers at season's end.
Defensive pressure and key matchups
Melbourne's win was more impressive given that Fremantle's damaging three-pronged attack of Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, and Voss kicked 11 goals. But one key to the Demons' victory was their ability to keep potent playmaker Murphy Reid quiet. Koltyn Tholstrup quelled Reid's influence, holding the 19-year-old to just three touches at one stage deep in the second quarter, while gathering 22 disposals of his own.
Melbourne's pulsating pressure was ruthless, leading to uncharacteristic mistakes from Fremantle defenders Jordan Clark and Matthew Johnson late in the game. The contest also had its share of controversy: Bayley Fritsch's mark over the boundary line in the dying seconds looked closer to the Shane Warne Stand than inside the field of play.
Finals implications
In the end, the Dees absorbed the finals-like intensity better than Fremantle. Don't be fooled that Fremantle had nothing to play for; trips to the MCG are rare for the Dockers, and getting comfortable on the hallowed turf is imperative given the club seems unlikely to play there again this season unless they make the grand final. Losing to the Dees is bound to create doubt about Fremantle's ability to perform on the big stage. If Fremantle does make it to the last Saturday in September, they may just face a Demons side playing without fear.
