Melbourne draftee Jay Kennedy-Harris kicked three goals as the Demons shocked Richmond Jon Ralph and Bruce Matthews
From: News Limited Network
February 15, 2014 WHEN Paul Roos finishes as Melbourne coach he can try his hand at arresting climate change or keeping Toyota’s factories in Victoria.
After all, what can’t Melbourne’s saviour do if he can fix footy’s toughest task: making the Demons competitive.
Last night his barnstorming Demons swept past 2014 contender Richmond with a 14-point victory that mixed style and substance.
The caveats are obvious: the sample size is just four quarters, the contest was a meaningless NAB Challenge game, and Round 1 is still a month away.
But some Melbourne fans might have derived more pleasure from last night’s contest than the entire Mark Neeld era.
For a team that even its chief executive admits has been an “impediment” to the league, the positives were endless.
The game plan was unrecognisable from recent years, the young kids were endlessly exciting, and the midfield stocked with recruits who suffered a collective case of leather poisoning.
If triumph is too strong a word for a meaningless NAB Challenge contest, it was still mighty fun to watch.
Roos’ Demons kicked four of the last five goals to over-power a disappointing Richmond, with the club’s no. 40 selection Jay Kennedy Harris kicking three last-term goals.
With 90 seconds on the clock the Demons were in front but wavering, until David Astbury’s bungled clearance landed in the hands of Kennedy-Harris.
He put on the afterburners to bounce twice and then goal on the run, and when Jeremy Howe kicked a final sealer the Demons fans were delirious.
Jay Kennedy-Harris shapes as your classic AFL small forward and appears a tantalising prospect for clubs at the 2013 AFL Draft.
Kennedy-Harris’ form was electric, but it only capped off a midfield dominance which was nothing short of extraordinary.
The Demons had an astounding 183 more possessions, 24 more contested possessions, and stars like Bernie Vince (32 touches), Jack Trengove (29), Daniel Cross (26) and Dom Tyson (16 in just over a half).
The win would have been meritorious enough if the Demons weren’t missing talls Jack Watts, Mitch Clark, Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes, Jack Fitzpatrick and Colin Garland.
From the first minutes we witnessed something unseen in recent years at Melbourne: a recognisable game plan.
The defence got support from midfielders surging back, the onball brigade flicked the ball around like quicksilver, and the Demons continually cracked in at the contest.
Free agent James Frawley played his best game in recent memory, mature-aged defender Alexis Georgiou looked comfortable at the level, and Jeremy Howe capped it all off with four goals.
To be frank, the Tigers were diabolical.
A side hoping to step up as a genuine contender had few positional winners, was smashed in close, and had few eye-catching performances from the newbies.
Shaun Hampson was just adequate against supposedly inferior opposition, first-round pick Ben Lennon played back and was only so-so, and much-hyped forward Liam McBean (subbed with one touch) got a reality check.
The real bonus was former GWS rookie Anthony Miles, who vice-captain Brett Deledio this week admitted he had never heard of in his ten games at the Giants.
He puts his head over the ball and looked extremely tidy, finishing with 16 touches, eight clearances and two goals.
Coach Damien Hardwick has already forecast a determination to hit the ground running in Round 1.
Safe to say there is plenty of work to be done for that to occur, even with Jack Riewoldt, Reece Conca, Ivan Maric and Daniel Jackson to return.
NEW BOYSWITH the obvious focus on Melbourne’s first-timers, none stood out more than teenage forward Jay Kennedy-Harris who invoked memories of recently retired Aaron Davey with his bursts and ball-winning ability.
The 18-year-old so often just seemed to be in the right spot at the right time. He had eight telling touches in the first half before sitting out the third quarter as a sub.
Brought back midway through the last quarter, he threaded a goal from a tight angle to put the Demons back in front, snapped another two minutes later and booted the sealer in the last minute.
Mature-age rookie Alex Georgiou looked at home across half-back with his strength, while former Crow Bernie Vince and ex-Giant Dom Tyson gave new skipper Nathan Jones support in the midfield.
THE WHITEBOARDSO, what style would Paul Roos bring to Melbourne? Well, Demon fans will at least see their boys run up high stats this season.
The Demons put a premium on retaining control of the ball, happy to give ground with a back kick to switch rather than bomb and give up a costly rebound.
When in possession, Melbourne players ran hard to create the overlap. That energetic plan did take its toll, particularly late in quarters.
And the defensive intensity was impressive. The Demons, ranked a dismal 17th for tackles last season, relentlessly attacked the ball and the ball-carrier.
FEBRUARY FLIERRICHMOND’S flint-hard midfielder Dustin Martin picked up where he left off last season as a steady playmaker and contributor.
More importantly, he didn’t waste one of the 21 touches with pinpoint delivery by hand and foot.
Martin overshadowed more experienced teammates Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin and they will be a formidable Tigers trio again.
GAME CHANGERRICHMOND’S veteran defender Chris Newman and Melbourne forward Lynden Dunn swapped roles with promising results.
Newman played as a small forward and the former Tigers skipper kicked two goals before he limped off with a right leg injury late in the third quarter.
Dunn, minus the trademark mo, was effective across half-back for the Demons. He read the play well, gathering regular possessions as a cool contributor to the back six.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-draftee-jay-kennedyharris-kicked-three-goals-as-the-demons-shocked-richmond/story-fndv8t7m-1226827470647
