Melbourne have earned the right to play finals. They have not fallen in. They have not stumbled yet still made it, they have proven they deserve to be there and the finals series will be better for it.
Particularly in a Victorian market, where five of the eight finalists will be big, well-supported local clubs.
Melbourne will play finals for the first time in more than a decade. The team that has promised so much has finally achieved something, even if making finals and doing something there are two totally different things. What making the finals does is at least frank the improvement, validate the plan.
Replay
The question is now whether finals is the hurdle they are just happy to clear or whether, as Bob Murphy has wondered, clearing this double hurdle of beating a top team and making the finals is the catalyst for more?
Are they this year’s Richmond where the Tigers last year were the team that had to answer the query of whether they could win a final and then once they did they didn’t look back?
The relief, the sense of unburdening the weight of expectation was plain with the Demons. Might that now create a freedom to play their brand of football in the confidence that their game works against good and bad teams alike?
All wins are not equal in football. They might deliver the same four points but Melbourne know this win was more significant because of who they beat, where and what was at stake.
Kicking on: James Harmes goes forward under pressure during the Melbourne’s win over West Coast.
Their record against top eight sides has been regularly cited but is a little misleading. The Eagles were actually the third side that was in the eight when Melbourne beat them. North in round two and Adelaide in Darwin in round 10 were also in the eight when Melbourne played them. The Eagles are just the only team in the eight now that the Demons have beaten.
A less commonly referenced point about the Demons’ record before to this week was a more valid and disturbing one and that was that their percentage against top eight teams was 60 per cent and those outside the eight 160.
This game was a game changer in many respects. Yes it was an Eagles team without Josh Kennedy but it was a Melbourne team without Jesse Hogan. The Eagles loss of Jack Darling early was significant yet the issue Melbourne created for the Eagles was as much in their defence as attack. It was the first time since round one that West Coast had conceded more than 90 points.
Melbourne looked more disciplined and committed to their game than they had been. They didn’t panic when the Eagles surged and surged again to get in front.
They had more control of the game and organisation behind the ball than has been evident previously. They worked harder to pressure the Eagles and not allow the chip kick.
Melbourne has been the most attacking side this year but they looked good for the way they held the Eagles up. The Darling injury plainly unsettled the Eagles structure for they had to throw Jeremy McGovern forward for a period but in the end he could have no influence in attack or defence on the day.
Melbourne’s team defence looked better in working hard to pressure players and not allow easy uncontested marks. The recipe for playing Melbourne has been to control the ball and the tempo of the game. When they have lost the other team has had big numbers of uncontested marks as they work the ball forward and punch holes in the defensive zone but Melbourne worked hard to reduce that yesterday.
They stuck to their plan even when they fell behind. They looked more urgent to take the game on, mindful that their best football is played at pace. The instruction to play on at all costs was clear. They were clearly urged to take risks and had the courage to do it.
They have looked better with Aaron Vandenberg back in the team. Michael Hibberd likewise was important early behind the ball for his strength and ball use but he pulled up short with hamstring awareness in the second half. That is the injury that isn’t an injury but the moment he made us aware he had a hamstring and it was sore.
James Harmes was cleverly industrious in his underrated way in the middle, Mitch Hannan had an impact and the value of Alex Neale-Bullen’s was evident when he was not there.
The Melbourne win has an additional curly effect that could yet shape the eight. If the Eagles were to lose next week at the Gabba against Brisbane then Hawthorn or Collingwood could leapfrog into second and take a home final. No one expects that to happen given it’s second playing 15th but the Lions are better than their ladder position, they have beaten Hawthorn twice this year, and are no bunnies.
In fact if Collingwood and Hawthorn both won and the Eagles lost, the Eagles would drop to fourth behind that pair. That is all for the future, for as of today Melbourne is in the eight and will play finals.
DON'T BE FOOLED
Yes, Buddy Franklin has been outstanding in the last few weeks and again on Saturday night he muscled his team over the line against the Giants.
Yes, the Swans deserve credit for resuscitating a season that was gone a month ago and looked certain to see them miss the eight for the first time under John Longmire.
But twice in three weeks they have won against teams that have finished the game without a bench.
Replay
Two weeks ago, Franklin got off the chain when Darcy Moore went down and he was opposed to a basketballer playing his first game.
On Saturday night, it was the same. Franklin finished with five goals but four were kicked after Phil Davis went off injured. The Giants were leading at three quarter time by two goals but Davis was unable to go and Ryan Griffen had done another hammy.
Yes, the Swans have defied expectation but the form line is misleading.
RUCK STAR IS KEY TO PIES
Collingwood have a long and unenviable injury list yet find themselves in the top four and likely to remain there.
That they have done so while significant names have been out is a testament to the depth of the list, built by recruiters whose jobs were in peril 12 months ago, and the coaching of Nathan Buckley, whose job was also in peril a year ago.
However, it is also due to the fact that one name did not appear on that long injury list. It is highly doubtful, indeed improbable, that if Collingwood had supplemented Brodie Grundy’s name for any one of the players they have missed this year that they would be top four.
Grundy is more important to Collingwood and where Collingwood are right now than any other player. That includes the absences of Adam Treloar and Jordan De Goey.
Grundy must be All Australian this year even if only the second ruck to Max Gawn. He plays as a ruck rover anyway.
KELLY AND THE GANG
Tim Kelly’s influence on Geelong has been profound in 2018 with the midfielder leapfrogging the star-studded trio to be arguably the Cats’ best midfielder.
On Saturday, he kicked three goals and had 26 disposals but it’s his balance and clean hands that leaves everyone spellbound. It’s why Cats’ CEO Brian Cook made it clear on Saturday the club had no intention of trading the 24-year-old while he still has a year to run on his contract.
Purrfect fit: Talented Tim Kelly has worked his way into the Cats line-up.
Kelly fits in nicely to a midfield line that has Gary Ablett (34-year-old), Joel Selwood (30), Patrick Dangerfield (28), Mitch Duncan (27), Sam Menegola (26) and, provided he can get fit, Nakia Cockatoo (21).
With the Cats unable to qualify for finals higher than seventh this season, they are up against it to go deep into finals. However, Kelly’s presence will significantly increase their chances of being a threat again in 2019.
Peter Ryan
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