Blog log from R17 of 2024: Melbourne vs West Coast

Cripps takes a link mark forward of members wing and kicks over an aggressively-position May to Waterman in the pocket 30m out. Waterman’s checkside floats left and OOTF. (Q1 3:24)
Pickett receives from Fritsch on members wing and kicks over Hough to Tholstrup 35m out on the flank, he boots the first goal of the day and his first as a senior player. (Q1 4:59)
Tholstrup snaps the second goal as well from half forward, he’s an excellent celebrator judging on those two! (Q1 7:07)
Sparrow marks a Neal-Bullen pass just inside 50m on a slight angle, crowd yells for a pass but he goes back for the set shot which he leaves near side right. (Q1 8:16)
Duggan marks a scrubbing kick inside 50 by Hunt in front of Rivers 40m out near the boundary, his kick is well wide and rushed by Gawn. (Q1 11:54)
Waterman marks a Duggan pass over McVee in the pocket 25m out and curls in a quality set shot. (Q1 13:24)
Pickett creates a crumb in the pocket, two Eagles converge but Barrass’ handball falls for Fritsch who spins away and slots a snap across the body from 30m off the left! (Q1 17:24)
McVee receives from McDonald in the centre and hits the lead of van Rooyen in front of Ginbey 40m out on the flank, who kicks straight and true for his first major. (Q1 19:24)
Windsor snaps another one for Melbourne from the pocket 35m out after another centre clearance, this one from Rivers. (Q1 21:32)
Hutchinson is outmarked for a high ball in the centre by the titchy Bowey, chain ends with van Rooyen marking 40m out on the flank but this kick is across the face. (Q1 23:58)
Pickett roves and rolls through another one for the rampaging Demons from 30m, another scoring chain started by Rivers from midfield. (Q1 25:09)
The Demons rebound around members wing at full pace from a stoppage deep in defence, Melksham delivers a lovely long pass to Pickett 40m out in front for another one. (Q1 28:13)
Yeo sees Duggan free on members wing after a turnover in midfield, Duggan passes to Cripps 35m out near the boundary, kick is narrow to the right. (Q1 29:55)
Witherden is pinged for an accidental arm across the face after contesting with van Rooyen 30m out on the flank, footy gods push it wide right. (Q2 2:11)
Ryan picks off Moniz-Wakefield’s kick across the centre and has Allen over the back to mark 30m out on the flank, who misses badly to the left. (Q2 3:55)
Chesser has had a bad day already and he drops a Pickett kick to the square with two Demons lurking, van Rooyen wins the raffle with Melksham to crumb and goal. (Q2 7:36)
Allen flies over a six-man pack to clunk the mark from a long Waterman speculator to 20m out in front. Oz almost misses that one too, but it swerves through. (Q2 9:11)
Waterman marks well in front of May 45m out on the flank from Kelly’s centre clearance kick. The set shot fades left and into the goalpost. (Q2 11:17)
Hutchinson catches van Rooyen HTB on the wing and passes to Allen 35m out near the boundary who delivers a fabulous checkside for his second goal! (Q2 18:41)
van Rooyen is paid a pack mark 45m out on the flank in a contest where Melksham looked to have interfered too early, Witherden points at the replay, 50m penalty, goal. (Q2 21:06)
Turner marks a long pass from the centre by May leading in front of Hough 40m out on the flank, his drop punt is a peach for his first major. (Q2 23:21)
van Rooyen marks a centring Fritsch ball and boots goal number four from 45m on a slight angle. (Q2 26:11)
Allen snaps his third goal from the square after Reid delivers the first centre clearance of Q3. (Q3 0:40)
Allen leads in front of May to mark a McGovern pass 40m out near the boundary but misses near side right with a drop punt. (Q3 3:40)
Yeo feeds Duggan at a pack 30m out in the pocket, his quick kick to the square is marked by Waterman for his second goal. (Q3 5:20)
Melbourne fumbles a few times trying to run the ball all the way from deep in defence but manage to get a surge play going, Tholstrup has Fritsch over the back for the goal. (Q3 8:01)
Chesser misses a snap across the body from 35m on a slight angle. (Q3 9:00)
Bailey Williams complains that he got a fist to a long ball marked by van Rooyen but the mark is paid and set shot kicked from 20m, but it’s a miss to the left. (Q3 11:00)
Pickett flies on the back of Rotham for a screamer over a pack 35m out on the flank, crowd loved that one! But the set shot is narrow to the left. (Q3 12:25)
May intercepts Barrass’ kick in in the centre and goes to the flank where Melksham is paid a mark 30m out which Witherden claimed a touch on, Milk curls in the goal. (Q3 13:56)
Gawn is unopposed to mark a Melksham pass from outer wing to 30m on a slight angle, he gets a handful of popcorn from the bucket as well. (Q3 17:31)
Duggan’s pressure forces McDonald to turn the ball over from the back pocket to Witherden, who goes short to Cripps 45m out on the flank, kick touched on the line. (Q3 20:00)
Fritsch beats Hunt to mark a Turner kick to 15m out on a slight angle on a fast break around members wing, but hits the post. (Q3 22:01)
van Rooyen marks a Neal-Bullen kick from the HFF to 30m on a slight angle but also misses to the left. (Q3 23:02)
Darling misses a long-range set shot. (Q3 25:01)
Darling gets a much closer opportunity and converts from 20m. (Q3 26:26)
Melksham kicks off Q4 junk time with his second goal after marking a Turner kick next to the behind line. (Q4 2:43)
Melksham marks on the HFF well within range, he centres for Viney who has Langdon further on to mark 20m out, this is garbage time stuff now. Langdon goals. (Q4 5:54)
Allen takes another pack mark 20m out in front and converts for his fourth goal. (Q4 6:59)
A downfield free against Pickett for contact on Hutchinson gifts a sore-looking Ryan a goal from the square. (Q4 12:29)
Jack Williams tugs a set shot left from 50m on a slight angle. (Q4 17:39)
Fritsch is over the back for his third goal. (Q4 22:25)
Allen tugs a set shot way to the left from 45m on a slight angle. (Q4 24:59)
Pickett marks a Neal-Bullen pass 40m out on a slight angle just before the final siren, this kick to put the Demons in the eight… but Kozzie shanks OOTF. (Q4 28:35)