In Round 21, we celebrated a fine win against the Saints knowing that the fate of our finals quest rests firmly in our own hands. But not celebrated for too long… as Simon Goodwin has said many times throughout the season: ‘It’s the ladder position at the end of round 23 that counts’.
The days leading up to this game against Brisbane are filled with nervous anticipation. Will Viney be right? Will Wattsy come straight back in after a week’s penance in the Magoos? Will Buggy be trusted? Will ‘The Hulk’ make a miraculous return, and if he does, has he missed too much footy this year to have a significant impact? Will the Lions put the cue in the rack or will their very young side want to knock the Demons off to upset our finals chances? So many questions.Selection brings good and bad news. Hogan is in, but Viney is out.
This is a game that all the pundits say we should win (and comfortably). They don’t have the perspective of the long-suffering Demon supporters who have come to dread games against ‘teams we should beat’. Even this year we’ve dropped games to North (twice), Fremantle, and Hawthorn (before they came good). On the plus side, we’ve got it all to play for. A big win will guarantee September action for the first time since 2006, putting our percentage out of realistic reach of the chasing pack.
Game day dawns and I get a message from a fellow supporter during the morning
What do you think…?
I text back.
nervous but confident
The Dandenong line is shut and we have to catch a Frankston line train, stopping all stations which takes forever to arrive at Richmond. The train is awash with red and blue, with just a smattering of maroon.
We (Margaret and I) get our seats on Level 2 of the MCC. A bit later we’re joined by our good friend Helen (of the aforementioned text) and my daughter Alison, son-in-law Brendan, and grandson Hamish. At 11 months he’s not able to appreciate the significance of the day! Into the Percy Beames for a couple of pre-game settlers. A straw poll reflects similar thoughts to my own. We should win but ‘gee let’s hope we turn up to play’.
The Dees come onto the field to the sounds of AC/DC’s ‘Hell’s Bells’. It’s a ripper.
The game starts in high intensity, the Lions are clearly keen to make their mark. They have settled better but can’t put the score on the board. Hibbo, as he’s done all year, stands firm throughout the first quarter. We’re a bit cleaner in attack and end the quarter a goal to the good. The crowd of about 30,000 is unusually subdued. We surmise the crowd is collectively nervous and maybe this is translating to the players who seem a few percent off – handballs almost right, kicks almost perfect (can one be almost perfect or is it dichotomous?).
The second quarter continues in a similar vein. Brisbane find their range early and hit the lead. Thank goodness for Jesse, he kicks his second and third goals for the quarter. It’s a real arm wrestle. The half time siren sees us clinging to a slender 3 point lead. Hibbo, Lewie, Hoges and Pedo have been very good. D. Beames excellent for them.
We retire to the Dining Room for afternoon tea to get young Hamish out of the cold. Party pies, sausage rolls, scones and sandwiches and a nice cuppa and we’re fortified for the second half. Our chatting only reinforces the nervous tension. Surely, we’ll turn it on for 20 minutes and put it beyond doubt.
During the third quarter we see glimpses of the fluid Melbourne, Jesse finishes off the good work from further up the ground with his fourth and fifth goals. Gawny, Clayton and the Jones boy have all lifted and we’re getting more of the ball around the packs. Fifteen points in front at the siren.
Well it’s ours to lose now. We can smell September. Come on Dees, you can do it.
We’re on, raising hell, kicking 3 in 5 minutes for a 32 point lead and Hoges has six straight. The crowd breathes a collective sigh of relief and sit back to watch the rest of the onslaught.
Unfortunately, it seems the players got the same vibe and appeared to relax a tad and the Lions took full advantage, kicking the next 4 goals to draw within 7 points with not much more than half the quarter played. The good Melbourne re-emerged and as we did against Port and St Kilda, steadied the ship with two goals to one from there onwards.
The siren and joyous celebration. We’re almost there. The excitement is palpable. Surely having come so close we won’t fall at the last hurdle. It’s a simple equation now, beat the Pies and we’re in for the first time since 2006. Jonesy is the only player to have played in Melbourne’s last final. Of course, we’ve traded in finals experience with Lewi, Milkshake and Hibbo.
Can’t wait for the weekend to unfold and our place in the finals is confirmed.
MELBOURNE 3.3 6.6 11.8 16.8 (104)
BRISBANE LIONS 2.3 6.3 9.5 14.7 (91)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 6, Pedersen 3, Garlett 2, Melksham, Vince, Petracca, Harmes, Brayshaw
Brisbane Lions: D.Beams 3, Rockliff 2, Gardiner, Zorko, Hipwood, Barrett, Bastinac, Allison, Close, Walker, McCluggage
BEST
Melbourne: Hogan, Pedersen, Petracca, Jones, Oliver, Hibberd, Melksham
Brisbane Lions: D.Beams, Zorko, Bastinac, Taylor, Rockliff, Witherden
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Brisbane Lions: D.Beams (head), C.Beams (head)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Gavine, Mollison
Official crowd: 30,422 at the MCG