Demons burn off dismal Dockers
Melbourne gave new meaning to the AFL buzz phrase six-day turnaround, flipping their form about entirely to destroy Fremantle by 89 points at the MCG on Sunday.
Smashed by Collingwood last Monday, the Demons rebounded in superb style to beat the Dockers 22.17 (149) to 8.12 (60).
Skipper Brad Green booted five goals, much-maligned top draft pick Jack Watts was outstanding with three goals and 24 telling possessions, and young midfielders Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie also starred.
The win will help ease pressure on under-fire coach Dean Bailey, with the Demons now sitting outside the top eight on percentage.
It also sets up a huge match next Saturday against Richmond, who sit on 22 points as well - giving the winners a possible springboard into finals contention.
Fremantle, who are already without several key players, remain in the top eight but are sinking into the cluster of teams gathering at the fringe following their loss.
Already without several key players going into the match, they have new injury woes to contend with after losing key defender Antoni Grover and tagger Ryan Crowley during the match.
Grover was taken off late in the second quarter with a leg injury, while Crowley hurt his back in the third term.
But the Dockers were bleeding before their departures - found wanting in the first term as the Demons came out fighting to establish a 31-point quarter-time lead.
GWS target Scully was hugely influential with 11 touches in the term, while Green bounced back from a poor display against Collingwood with two goals for the quarter.
The Dockers wound back the lead in the second term to just 19 points, though they never really looked convincing in doing so.
The Demons eventually pushed the lead out to 25 points by halftime.
Then Watts imposed himself on the game in the third term with nine touches and a goal.
Melbourne booted 12 goals to two in the second half as the undermanned Dockers tired badly and the Demons dominated in every aspect.
The only bright spot for Fremantle was an excellent return from midfielder Michael Barlow after 12 months recovering following a badly broken leg.
Barlow finished with 25 possessions, and battled hard along with onballer Nat Fyfe for a well beaten side.
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