Round 7, 2008
Melbourne vs Fremantle
Sunday 4 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 19,423
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 3.8 | 8.15 | 17.17.119 |
| Fremantle | 5.6 | 11.10 | 13.17 | 15.23.113 |
Melbourne win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Russell Robertson 4, Austin Wonaeamirri 4, Aaron Davey 3, Brad Miller 3, Brad Green 2, Brent Moloney 1
Brownlow votes:
3 - Brock McLean
1 - Jeff White
Coaches votes
8 - Brock McLean
4 - Russell Robertson
2 - Cameron Bruce
2 - Brad Miller
1 - Austin Wonaeamirri
Milestones:
Rising Star nomination
Austin Wonaeamirri
First win as coach
Dean Bailey
Statistical categories led:
Largest first half time deficit overcome to win (50)
Winless after six games, Melbourne were heading for more of the same when they went into the half time break 50 points behind. They were comprehensively beaten early, failing to register a clearance until Fremantle had 14 midway through the second quarter. They made bad decisions, putting teammates under pressure and allowing the Dockers to build what should have been a match winning lead. Some bookmakers had stopped taking bets on the result at half time, while others were offering as much as $95 on a Demon victory. The game came alive when Melbourne kicked the first four goals of the third quarter, with the fourth through Aaron Davey via end-to-end ball movement through the middle of the ground that had rarely been seen in their opening six losses.
Fremantle steadied, but only kicked three behinds before Davey kicked another after stepping around two opponents, taking three bounces, then converting. Just as things looked dire for the visitors, Matthew Pavlich went forward for two goals in a minute that seemed to finish the big comeback. It restored a 32 point lead for the Dockers at three quarter time, but Melbourne kept coming in the final term, registering their greatest ever second half comeback. They kicked 9.2 in the final term to win by a goal.
After his first win as a senior coach Dean Bailey said "to get that far behind was disappointing", and said "you can't win many games playing a half of football", but was proud of the comeback. "For the Melbourne people today to stick it out to see the end result was a real credit to them". He said "I know they helped us get over the line, there is no doubt about that".
After finding themselves more than 50 points down at half time the Demons mounted their greatest ever second half comeback, cutting into the Dockers lead during the third term before storming home with a 9.2 last quarter. Austin Wonaeamirri kicked three of his four goals in the final term, including the goal that put Melbourne ahead.
Best were Miller, Rivers and Wonaeamirri. Daniel Bell replaced Matthew Whelan (illness) in the selected side.
Video
Media
Age - 05/05/2008
Links
Demonblog match review