Round 2, 2002
Melbourne vs Port Adelaide
Sunday, 7 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 19,611
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.1 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 16.13.109 |
| Port Adelaide | 2.3 | 3.12 | 8.15 | 11.16.82 |
Melbourne win by 27 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 4, Cameron Bruce 3, Brad Green 2, Andrew Leoncelli 2, Travis Johnstone 1, Anthony McDonald 1, Stephen Powell 1, Peter Vardy 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Travis Johnstone
2 - Adem Yze
Milestones:
MFC Debut
Peter Vardy
For the second week in a row the resurgent Dees played, and beat, a 2001 finalist albeit this time in less dramatic fashion than their see-sawing round 1 victory over the Hawks.
David Neitz was the catalyst again, kicking three goals and early in the second term the margin was out to five goals, but when Port came back they were wasteful with 1.9 for the quarter and failed to make any impression on the quarter-time margin. They snuck in front briefly in the third quarter, extending the margin as far as eight points and it was 42 minutes between goals for the Demons until Brad Green kicked his second. Neitz levelled the scores not long after with his fourth, returning back to the forward line after briefly switching into defence to look after the dangerous Matthew Primus.
Bruce, Bizzell and White were the best. Alistair Nicholson blanketed Warren Tredrea and James McDonald kept the Josh Francou to 14 touches. On debut Peter Vardy was dangerous, but inaccurate with 1.4.
Anthony McDonald suffered a rolled ankle, Paul Wheatley a hamstring injury, David Schwarz a corked thigh and Travis Johnstone a corked buttock.
Neale Daniher said "Obviously very pleased the way the boys won the game there in the last quarter. We started well, obviously, with Port coming at us and at us and it's probably similar to last week. They showed a lot of character as a group and (are) very confident they can take anyone on and I think they just went out and won the game."
Media
Age - 08/04/2002