Source :- THE AGE NEWS
What a cracking start to this game. Scores are level between Melbourne and Fremantle – 5.2 (32) apiece.
Kysaiah Pickett had a chance to put the Demons in front after being paid a dubious free kick about 40m from Melbourne’s goal late in the first quarter, but his snap did not make the distance. It was justice, according to premiership coach Adam Simpson.
“This is the worst free kick of the round so far,” Simpson said on SEN. “I think you’ll find that the head was flung back (in the tackle).” Replays show that Simpson was right.
After the Pickett kick didn’t land, Simpson remarked: “He did the right thing.”
One poor free kick aside, the game is a ripping spectacle. Both sides are moving the ball well. The Dockers kicked four of the first five goals of the game, but the Demons were able to steady to fight back.
The leading possession winners in the first term were Melbourne’s Koltyn Tholstrup with nine, teammate Max Gawn with eight and Freo’s Jordan Clark with eight. Gawn is shading opponent Luke Jackson on all fronts – possessions eight to five, while he leads the hit out 13 to six.
Melbourne’s goal kickers: Bailey Laurie two, Tom Sparrow, Kysaiah Pickett and Kade Chandler. Fremantle’s goal kickers: Patrick Voss two, Sam Switkowski, Isaiah Dudley and Jye Amiss.
Oh no, the big American has gifted Melbourne a goal and the Dees have hit the front.
That is a howler from Mason Cox. An absolute shocker. He had the ball deep in Fremantle’s defence and decided to switch play with a short kick.
But alert Dee Bailey Laurie pounced. He intercepted the poor Cox kick and then ran into an open goal. That’s Laurie’s second for the game
Melbourne trailed by 18 points before nailing four goals in succession – two to Laurie, one to Kade Chandler and another to Kozzie Pickett. The Dees lead 5.1 (31) to 4.1 (25) first term.
Fremantle have asserted an early authority at the MCG, stretching out to a three-goal lead.
Scores were level at seven-points apiece before Isaiah Dudley slotted home a check-side punt, Patrick Voss booted his second of the quarter and then Jye Amiss marked and goaled.
Two big problems here for the Dees: they are losing the midfield battle, and their backs can’t keep pace with the potent Dockers forward line.
Dockers 4.1 (25) lead the Demons 1.1 (7) in the first term.
We are five minutes into this MCG clash, and the Demons have taken the narrowest of leads – one point.
The Dockers showed they were not overawed by coming to Melbourne and setting foot on the MCG when forward Patrick Voss marked and goaled to open the ledger.
The Demons quickly replied through Tom Sparrow, who nailed a major on the run, and then took the lead when Bailey Fritsch hit the post from a set shot.
All eyes will be on Max Gawn and Luke Jackson as play starts at the MCG.
This battle could decide the outcome of the clash between Melbourne and Fremantle, as well as the All-Australian ruck slot.
Gawn is a more dominant tap ruckman, while Jackson can do a lot of damage around the ground. Bring it on.
For footy fans who like to stay away from politics and integrity issues, the MCG clash between ladder leader Fremantle and top four contender Melbourne can’t start quick enough.
But, it is impossible to ignore the massive story that has unfolded about Geelong this week, involving a secret concussion clause it had entered into with player Jake Kolodjashnij.
While Geelong has since scrapped the agreement, the club’s former president and now AFL chairman Craig Drummond was forced to release a statement this morning. It said:
“I was President of the Geelong Football Club in 2024. This was an extremely complex and sensitive matter, and obligations to both the player and the Club were very carefully considered by the Geelong board.
Key defender Daniel Turner is a massíve inclusion for Melbourne today against a potent Fremantle forward line.
MELBOURNE
B: J.Bowey, J.Lever, D.Turner
HB: C.Jiath, C.Salem, T.Rivers
C: H.Sharp, T.Sparrow, H.Langford
HF: K.Pickett, B.Fritsch, E.Langdon
F: M.Jefferson, J.van Rooyen, B.Laurie
R: M.Gawn, J.Steele, C.Windsor
I/C: K.Tholstrup, T.McDonald, H.Petty, K.Chandler, J.Fitzgerald
EMG: X.Taylor, M.Heath, P.Cross
IN: D.Turner, K.Chandler
OUT: B.Howes (injured), P.Cross (omitted)
FREMANTLE
B: O.McDonald, B.Cox, H.Chapman
HB: J.Clark, L.Ryan, K.Worner
C: M.Johnson, A.Brayshaw, M.Frederick
HF: M.Reid, S.Bolton, S.Switkowski
F: P.Voss, J.Amiss, J.Treacy
R: L.Jackson, C.Serong, H.Young
I/C: I.Dudley, M.Cox, N.Erasmus, N.O’Driscoll, J.McVee
EMG: H.Davies, T.Murray, C.Scerri
IN: B.Cox
OUT: A.Pearce (managed)
Welcome to a bumper day of AFL round 22 footy.
My name is Danny Russell, and I’m perched in the stands at the MCG to cover the game’s first clash – between Melbourne and Fremantle, starting at 1.15pm.
We hope you enjoy our coverage.
