Round 3, 2010
Melbourne vs Adelaide
Sunday 11 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 23,335
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.5 | 1.8 | 5.11 | 7.15.57 |
| Adelaide | 2.5 | 4.9 | 5.10 | 5.11.41 |
Melbourne win by 16 points
Goalkickers: Matthew Bate 2, Jamie Bennell 1, Brad Green 1, Nathan Jones 1, James McDonald 1, Jack Trengove 1
Brownlow votes
3 - Jack Grimes
1 - James McDonald
Milestones:
First goal
Jack Trengove (3rd game)
In a battle of two winless sides Adelaide went into the game under more pressure having been a popular fancy for the top four at the start of the year. The Demons were returning to the scene of their heartbreaking round 2 loss to the Pies looking to build on the good form they had shown the previous Saturday.
With Brett Burton dominating early but keeping the Demons in the match with his wayward kicking, Melbourne stayed within touch but were still well behind at half-time with only one goal on the board.
The Demons started to play a better brand of football in the third term, and despite Burton kicking the first goal of the term he was well held by James Frawley from then on and Melbourne booted the next two in quick succession to blow the game open. After Patrick Dangerfield had been carried off after suffering a serious neck injury the Demons hit the lead through a first league goal by number two draft pick Jack Trengove.
Down to one fit player on the bench for the last quarter, the Crows soon lost another when Kurt Tippett limped off. Despite their domination the Demons were continually rebuffed and no goals were kicked for the first half of the quarter. Solid work in the backline kept the Crows out and eventually goals to James McDonald and Nathan Jones sealed the victory.
Best were Frawley, Grimes and Green.
Colin Sylvia was a late withdrawal, replaced by Colin Garland for his first game since Round 1, 2009
It was the first time that Melbourne had won a game after being on one goal at half time since Round 9, 1989 against Sydney. It was the 16th time that it happened in club history, but only the fourth since World War I.
James McDonald became the player to make the most appearances in AFL history after being promoted from the rookie list.
Video
Media
afl.com.au - 11/04/2010