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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Scott Heinrich

AFL 2021 round eight: Undefeated Demons deny Swans – as it happened

Melbourne celebrate
Melbourne get around four-goal forward Tom McDonald during their rousing win over Sydney at the MCG. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Summary

Melbourne have rolled back the years this season and tonight they again revived memories of times past to stretch their unbeaten record in 2021 to eight games. The Demons were handed a stern examination by a dogged Sydney outfit and they passed the test with flying colours, showing class and nerve in the final quarter to prevail when a team of lesser belief might have floundered.

Sydney kept on coming despite being outplayed for large parts of the game, coming back from 22 points down in the third quarter to get to within three points midway through the last term. But their determination would ultimately come to nothing as the Dees, led by a stirring four-goal performance from Tom McDonald, showed greater composure when it mattered to remain unbeaten and preserve their place on the top of the ladder.

Melbourne were made to earn this one and if tonight proved anything, it proved they have resolve and grit to match their class. The dream remains well and truly alive.

FT: Melbourne 10-7 (67) beat Sydney 8-10 (58)

The Demons hold firm to deny a brave Sydney outfit and keep their unbeaten record intact. This was a uncompromising contest and another challenge answered by the leaders of the competition.

Q4: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 10-7 (67) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Melbourne tackle like maniacs to strip the ball from Kennedy but Sydney’s pressure is just as intense as they strive to keep the ball in their forward 50. But Melbourne are holding firm. The clock is ticking.

Q4: 3 mins remaining: Melbourne 10-7 (67) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Big run-down tackle by Jordon stymies a Sydney move forward - he has been so good tonight - and now time is running out for the Swans.

Q4: 5 mins remaining: Melbourne 10-7 (67) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Oliver turns the ball over and Sydney go forward but Lever takes a nice intercept mark with May taking Franklin out of the contest. Legally according to the umpire.

Q4: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 10-7 (67) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Huge contested mark in a big pack by McDonald and he does the rest, kicking around his body to give Melbourne a handy 10-point buffer. He’s had a big night, McDonald. Almost the difference between the teams.

Q4: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 9-7 (61) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Petracca tries to make something from nothing but his snap on goal in traffic can’t bet past the last Swan on the line. Fritsch then has a half a chance from the pocket but misses to the left.

Q4: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 9-6 (60) vs Sydney 8-9 (57) Goal! The Swans are back in it (again) as Mills gets into space inside-50, marks strongly and converts to make it a three-point ball game.

Q4: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 9-6 (60) vs Sydney 7-9 (51) Franklin tries to impose himself on the contest but it’s to no avail and Melbourne rebound, with Gawn taking a smart contested mark to initiate another entry inside-50 for the Dees.

Q4: 14 mins remaining: Melbourne 9-6 (60) vs Sydney 7-9 (51) Goal! Sydney fail to clear from defence as Spargo pounces on the loose ball and converts with a deft checkside in front of goal. Clever kick. Melbourne needed that one.

Q4: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 7-9 (51) Oliver shows great strength in the contest to drive Melbourne forward but Sydney repel with ease. McInerney’s entry, however, is sloppy as Gawn mops up. Next goal will be huge.

Q4: 17 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 7-9 (51) The past seven inside-50s have gone Sydney’s way. And again they go forward but Papely’s left-foot snap is miscued as the ball dribbles out of bounds. The game, however, is in Sydney’s half and back on Sydney’s terms.

Q4: 19 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 7-8 (50) Goal! Big centre clearance from Sydney to get the last term under way and Sinclair shows composure and polish to convert inside 20 seconds from the restart. The ball is now back in Melbourne’s court. Time to show us what you’re made of.

3QT: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 6-8 (44)

A gripping game with plenty of twists and turns. The Demons looked set to run away with it as they opened up a 22-point lead, with the majority of the play to their name, but Sydney found something from somewhere to fight their way back into the contest. The match is Melbourne’s to lose but Sydney are going nowhere. And nor should you. A big last quarter beckons.

Q3: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 6-8 (44) Franklin wins a free for holding the ball and looks within range, hard on the boundary, but chooses to centre his kick and it’s the wrong option as Melbourne clean up the mess.

Q3: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 6-8 (44) Goal! It’s that man Papley! He’s so dangerous around goal and all he needs is a sniff, which he gets here as he snaps around his body from 40m out to get the Swans to within 10 points of the Dees. Another twist to this fascinating match.

Q3: 3 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 5-8 (38) How did he drop that?! Sinclair spills a sitter of a chest mark, barely 15m out from goal, to scupper a golden chance for Sydney to claw another one back. You can’t mess up like that. Not in a game like this.

Q3: 4 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 5-8 (38) Goal! McLean releases Lloyd, who launches from a standing start directly in front, about 40m out, and though the goal umpire shuffles to his right the kick is true enough to register a much-needed major for the Swans.

Q3: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 8-6 (54) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Another masterclass in skill by McDonald as the Dees star snaps his set how from the boundary to split the uprights. That’s three majors for McDonald. He’s had a big game. It’s all Melbourne.

Updated

Q3: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 7-6 (48) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) The Dees dominate another stoppage as Oliver does the hard work to help manufacture another inside-50. Wicks and Harmes are now at each other after an errant tackle from the former and it’s a free - an unnecessary one at that - to Melbourne. Now is the time for Sydney to keep their heads, not lose their cool. Only 18 points, but the Demons are well on top.

Q3: 10 mins remaining: Melbourne 7-6 (48) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Neale-Bullen and Petracca combine to good effect on centre wing as Melbourne engineer another entry inside-50. The Swans hustle their way out of trouble but they have their hands full at the moment. Dees on top in the contest and are finding field position increasingly easy to come by.

Q3: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 7-6 (48) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Pure class from McDonald, who wins the hard ball in traffic, spins out of trouble and splits the big sticks to hand the Dees their biggest lead of the match. All of a sudden Melbourne find another gear. The sign of a good team.

Q3: 14 mins remaining: Melbourne 6-6 (42) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Beautifully weighted kick by Salem finds Brown at the top of the goal square and the big forward finishes the job with an assured set shot. Ideal response from Melbourne as rain starts to fall at the MCG. That’s three for Brown.

Q3: 16 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Sydney maintain their pressure inside-50 and reap the rewards as Parker wins the hard ball and Hayward does the rest, snapping truly from directly in front. Important first goal. Game on.

Q3: 18 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 3-8 (26) The second half is under way. It’s a scrappy contested ball on centre wing until Melbourne find a way forward. Sydney, again, defend stoutly under pressure and rebound before Papley attempts an audacious attempt off the ground that only just misses.

HT: Melbourne 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 3-7 (25)

Melbourne looked to have the better of the second quarter but failed to take their chances and should be in front by more than the 11-point buffer they enjoy. The Swans, to their credit, are not giving in without a fight and will take heart from their rearguard efforts. They are not out of it but will need to show greater purpose, and be cleaner, from an offensive perspective if they are to turn the tide.

Q2: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 3-7 (25) The Swans defend desperately and somehow transition the ball from defence to attack as Papley marks on his chest close to the ground. Instead of taking a shot he pops it up to the square and it’s a surprising turn of events that comes to nothing.

Q2: 3 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 3-7 (25) The Swans show greater restraint with the ball in hand and find Kennedy on the chest just outside 50. He arcs to his right and launches a long bomb but sprays it to the right for a minor score.

Q2: 5 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-5 (35) vs Sydney 3-6 (24) Sydney tackle for their lives deep in defence and do well to diffuse the threat before Wicks dives into Pickett’s back to give a away a free. It looks a simple enough shot for the Demon but his fluffs his shot to the left.

Q2: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-4 (34) vs Sydney 3-6 (24) Papley looks dangerous again and has a crack with his left boot when he might have been better off palming to a teammate, missing with his ambitious snap from around 40m out.

Q2: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-4 (34) vs Sydney 3-5 (23) Franklin nearly gets his hands on a contested mark in front of goal but May holds his ground. Mills then has a chance to create from the pocket but his centring ball goes straight to a Demon. Solid defending by Melbourne, who are doing the job at both ends of the ground.

Q2: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-4 (34) vs Sydney 3-5 (23) Gawn take a strong contested mark well inside 50 but his set shot, though well struck, cannons into the left post. Petracca then spurns another shot on goal, this time on the run, but chances are coming thick and fast for the ladder leaders.

Q2: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 5-2 (32) vs Sydney 3-5 (23) Goal! The Dees go forward - fast and direct, yet again - and Petracca finds himself with enough time off a McDonald handpass to snap through the big sticks from 15m out directly in front. Ominous signs.

Updated

Q2: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 4-2 (26) vs Sydney 3-4 (22) Lever gives a away a free kick right in front of goal - and the Swans let him know about it - but Hayward can’t finish the job as his tepid shot on goal misses to the right.

Q2: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 4-2 (26) vs Sydney 3-3 (21) Goal! This time big Brown doesn’t fluff his line, converting a straightforward set shot after pulling down a grab with his right paw. Dees back in front again.

Q2: 17 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-2 (20) vs Sydney 3-3 (21) And from that rebound Brown takes a strong mark before waltzing in off the longest run in the history of the world and missing to the right. If you didn’t know, you’d swear he’s about to have a crack from 100m out.

Q2: 19 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 3-3 (21) We’re back. Manic tackling by the Swans on centre wing forces an error from McDonald but Hickey can’t hold his attempted mark from the resultant thrust forward. And now Melbourne rebound.

QT: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 3-3 (21)

A good start to the game by Sydney, a great middle by the Dees, then a solid end on the part of the visitors to cap a tight, compelling quarter of footy by two very good teams. Nothing in it.

Q1: 1 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 3-3 (21) Goal! Gawn spills a mark deep in defence and the ball spills free off a Melbourne handling error before Hickey spins on a dime and snaps off his left to put the Swans back in front. Lovely work from the big man.

Q1: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Petracca shrugs a tackle, then another, and closes in on goal before ... kicking out on the full. So he is human. The Swans mop up in defence and Franklin and May again go toe-to-toe in a contest, with honours even.

Q1: 4 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Kennedy and Florent combine well on centre wing and the passage of play leads to Franklin marking just outside 50, but he plays on and is under pressure before kicking out on the full. Good play by May.

Q1: 5 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Good crumbing from Oliver but his shot is rushed from just inside the arc and goes through for a behind. Dees getting on top here after a bright start by Sydney.

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-0 (18) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Sinclair almost gets his hands to a contested mark inside-50 but Petracca shows surer hands to clear the ball away. Again the Dees go fast and direct on the turnover and Brown marks strongly on the lead before kicking truly to put the Demons in front.

Q1: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 2-0 (12) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Goal! Melbourne make Sydney pay on the counter as Melksham converts from just inside 50. The Dees have been very efficient from their forward entries so far.

Q1: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-2 (14) Papley is again dangerous across half-forward but Hickey can do no better than lumber and fumble as the Swans turn the ball over when they should be threatening.

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-2 (14) Buddy gets his hands on the ball from a centre clearance but his set shot, though straight, lands agonisingly short and is through for a behind off hands.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-1 (13) Goal! The Dees hit back as McDonald gets on the end of a passing chain and converts his set shot from 45m out almost directly in front.

Q1: 16 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 2-1 (13) Goal! And that pressure is showing on the ladder leaders. Bad turnover by Melbourne ends up with Hayward finding time and space at left half-forward. He takes the chest mark and converts from 50 out.

Q1: 17 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 1-1 (7) Big tackle by Hayward on the right forward flank retards Gawn and keeps the pressure on Melbourne. Early days but good start by the Swannies.

Q1: 19 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 1-0 (6) Goal! Early clearance for the Swans and big mark at CHF by Papley, who hits the deck hard but manages to get the ball forward as McInerney crumbs off the pack and slots one home for the Swans. Papley moving gingerly. Driver muscle? Glute?

Not long now. Dees kicking to right of screen.

On top of a somewhat lacklustre showing against the lowly Kangaroos last week, Melbourne will have to overcome a pretty shoddy record against the Swans if they are to come away with the four points tonight.

Since round eight in 2012, the Dees have beaten Sydney just once in nine meetings.

That one victory game in round four of the 2019 season. Don’t recall it? Take a look below.

Not bad.

A couple of milestones today. Congratulations on reaching 100 senior games to both Jake Lever and Callum Mills.

Nice enough autumn day in Melbourne. A bit cloudy perhaps. Should be about 14C by first bounce. The MCG is looking splendid. But when doesn’t it?

Today’s games at a glance...

St Kilda beat Gold Coast by 9 points...

Greater Western Sydney beat Essendon by 2 points...

Collingwood beat North Melbourne by 18 points

No late team changes

Melbourne

B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jake Lever
HB: Christian Salem, Harrison Petty, Jayden Hunt
C: Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Ed Langdon
HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch
FOLL: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, James Jordon
I/C: James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Charlie Spargo, Trent Rivers

Sub: Kade Chandler

Sydney

B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Jordan Dawson
HB: Jake Lloyd, Robbie Fox, Justin McInerney
C: Luke Parker, Oliver Florent, Harry Cunningham
HF: Tom Papley, Hayden McLean, Callum Sinclair
F: Sam Wicks, Lance Franklin, Will Hayward
FOLL: Tom Hickey, James Rowbottom, Callum Mills
I/C: Josh Kennedy, Chad Warner, Colin O’Riordan, Errol Gulden

Sub: Nick Blakey

Though Lance Franklin is a big in for Sydney, the loss of Isaac Heeney is a rather significant out. And spare a thought for Nathan Jones, who celebrated his 300th with a win over Richmond and didn’t do a lot wrong last week but is now out on his ear. It’s a tough game.

Updated

Preamble

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of what should be an absorbing contest between two of the competition’s leading lights. Each week presents a new opportunity for the Demons to solidify their premiership claims and today is no different. The ladder leaders are winning more and more admirers as their unbeaten run continues and a verdict over the Swans will do plenty to silence the doubters that remain suspicious.

The form around Sydney’s last-start win over Geelong is starting to look very good. Though the Swans had just two points in hand over the Cats it was a brave performance against a seriously in-form team. It also paused growing concerns that Sydney’s blistering start to the season was but a false dawn - in between their triumphs over Richmond and Geelong were defeats to Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast and an unconvincing victory over Essendon. The Swans will be glad to return to the MCG after thrashing the Tigers there in round three and will be buoyed by the return of Lance Franklin from injury.

The visitors are underdogs tonight but will be no pushovers for Melbourne, who needed all four quarters to get past North Melbourne last week and now have to reconfigure their defence with Adam Tomlinson going down to a season-ending knee injury. But they too will not lack for confidence, having met every challenge that season 2021 has presented to this point.

Should be an excellent game. Looking forward to it, and to your company. If you’d like to get involved, you know what to do.

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