Round 1, 2016
Melbourne vs Greater Western Sydney
Saturday 26 March
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 28,805
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.0 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 12.8.80 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 3.4 | 6.8 | 8.14 | 10.18.78 |
Melbourne win by 2 points
Goalkickers: Jesse Hogan 3, Jeff Garlett 2, Aaron vandenBerg 2, James Harmes 1, Ben Kennedy 1, Dean Kent 1, Bernie Vince 1, Jack Watts 1
Brownlow votes
3 - Jack Viney
2 - Clayton Oliver
Milestones
First game and Rising Star
Clayton Oliver
First MFC game
Tomas Bugg
Ben Kennedy
50 games
Jack Viney
The Demons kicked five goals in the first quarter and six in the last to win, but a misfiring forward line structure meant they only managed one goal in the middle two.
They stayed alive due to a midfield dominance led by Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and first gamer Clayton Oliver as well as the ruckwork of Max Gawn. The defence held up while the Giants often missed easy chances.
Starting the last quarter 21 points behind they kicked four goals in the first seven minutes to take the lead. After a disappointing day Jesse Hogan sparked to kick three in the final term, and Melbourne were as much as 10 points in front in the last quarter before two Giants misses and a goal with nine seconds left seemed too late. GWS got the ball forward from the final centre bounce but couldn't take a mark and time ran out before they could get a shot on goal.
After a decade without a Round 1 win it was Melbourne's second in a row and their fifth win in all competitions dating back to the Round 23 win over the Giants. It was the first time they'd played the same team in back-to-back competitive matches since Richmond in 1986 and 1987.
Best were Viney, Watts and Oliver. Oscar McDonald suffered an ankle injury.
Media
Match Centre - afl.com.au