Source : the age
Thirty seconds to go. Bailey Fritsch is having a shot at goal. Siren sounds. Dees home.
But what a moment of controversy. Fritsch takes the mark right on the boundary line. It could have been out on the full. The boundary umpire was right there, but he ruled that the ball was still in play.
The Demons’ fans don’t care. They have launched into their theme song. Fritsch manages a behind. The Demons beat the Dockers by four points – 17.11 (113) to Fremantle’s 17.7 (109).
We are inside two minutes and the Demons head inside 50m. Wow, this is close. They lead by three points.
It’s a ball up. They just need to hold it forward.
We are inside the final four minutes and Melbourne lead by three points.
Both sides are going hammer and tong in this tense final term. If Melbourne can grab the next goal, they are close to being home. It’s a big if.
The Demons have hit the front at the 21-minute mark of the final term. This Melbourne-dominated crowd of 40,938 is up and about, as their team leads by three points.
They grabbed the front after Harrison Petty was paid a free kick, but Bailey Fritsch took the advantage and snapped truly. Fritsch followed up soon after with another snap that hit the post – that’s four Demon posters for the game.
Dees 17.9 (111) lead the Dockers 17.6 (108).
Another brilliant goal from Harry Sharp. Amazing stuff. The Demon runner throws the boot at a loose ball in the goal square and soccers it through. The Dockers by four points.
Ouch, that hurts for Melbourne. A brilliant piece of roving by Fremantle’s Isaiah Dudley results in a Dockers goal. He scoops the ball off the deck and then dribbles through a check side from the pocket on the run.
That’s his second of the day and Fremantle lead 17.6 (107) to Melbourne 15.8 (98) 19 minutes gone in the final term.
Kysaiah Pickett takes a mark in front of goal and boots his second of the afternoon.
But the margin is still eight points. Until. Until. Until … Petty.
The bald wonder, Harrison Petty, who made fun of a Freo taunt earlier in the game by rubbing his own nude nut, takes a big grab in the goal square and slots home an easy goal. Petty has three. It’s a three-point ball game.
Freo 16.5 (101) lead the Demons 15.8 (98).
The Dees are hanging in there after a goal to Harrison Petty. They fell 14 points behind in this final term, so that will help settle the nerves.
Fremantle’s Matthew Johnson kicked the first goal of the final term. The Dockers led by eight points at the final break. This game is up for grabs.
Luke Jackson has edged ahead of Max Gawn in their head-to-head battle and possible decider on who is handed the All-Australian ruckman guernsey. Jackson has had 16 disposals and 24 hitouts to Gawn’s 13 possessions and 28 hitouts.
Melbourne will need to dig deep to win this game, trailing by eight points at the final change.
After a first-half shootout – 21 goals across the opening two terms – the game became more of an arm wrestle in the third quarter.
3QT: Fremantle 14.4 (88) lead Melbourne 12.8 (80)
Now it’s Melbourne’s turn to play catch up. They have fallen eight points behind deep into the third quarter.
The Dees kicked the first two goals after half-time, but as has often been the way in this match, Fremantle put on the next three – to Shai Bolton and two to Jye Amiss, who has five for the day.
The pace of the game has slowed. After a frenetic 21-goal opening half, there have only been five in total in the third term. Freo 14.4 (88) lead the Demons 12.8 (80).
