The Northern Territory news Mon 6 Aug 2012
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2012-08-06
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
application/pdf
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/241767
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/615609
24 NT NEWS. Monday, August 6, 2012. www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 6 -A U G -2 0 1 2 P A G E : 2 4 C O L O R : C M Y K Well take the win MELBOURNEVGOLD COAST ByMARKHAYES Manner of victory no worry for Dees The jubilation former Melbourne captain Brad Green showed after kicking his fifth goal showed how important yesterdays victory was Picture: WAYNE LUDBEY NEWSFLASH: Stats can lie. But before the minutiae of numbers that totally belie Melbournes 42-point win at the MCG yesterday, two quick points. Firstly, after a week in which the Demons moral fabric was again stretched, it mattered little to the players and their hardy if small band of fans who celebrated with gusto their third win of a tumultuous season. And secondly, apologies to vanquished Gold Coasts Harley Bennell and Gary Ablett who could easily have notched five Brownlow votes between them despite their club never being in the hunt. The Suns ball-magnets aside, Melbournes win came after 20 good minutes against a squad that brought an insipid effort to a first quarter that ultimately decided the clash. The Demons all but ended their chances of a wooden spoon and a week of tanking debate without that spectre being resurrected. Brad Green equalled a career-best with five goals for the Demons; his exuberant celebrations showing to all 18,097 at the MCG exactly what victory meant to his beleaguered club. The Suns showed a complete inability to do the basics required to compete at this level. They had limited lead-up options, over-reliance on too few and missed set shots that top-level under-16 players would gobble up. But most damning was a total lack of defensive urgency until the game was effectively lost. The Demons, themselves the not-so-proud owners of a 2-15 record and winless since June 24, could scarcely believe the gift bestowed upon them. James Sellar opened Melbournes account early, but the floodgates didnt open until Green wound back the clock and kicked his first midway through the first term. From there, the Demons squandered several chances and still put the game to bed with two goals to Sam Blease, Colin Sylvia and the first career goal of ruckman Jake Spencer. This is not to denigrate Melbournes achievements after a troubled season but that many of those goals, and subsequent ones, came as a result of slipshod defensive positioning gave the victory a somewhat hollow feeling. But in a big plus for Melbourne, Jeremy Howe notched his almost weekly contenders for mark of the year and his hanger and goal on the final siren were reason enough to give the faithful hope. We came into the game with intentions of trying to put a stamp on it and close it out early, Howe said. But any wins a good win right now. This was a must-win for us. We could have finished off a bit stronger . . . and there are still some negatives that will come out of the game, but the confidence well get out of this is much more important. Bad news for both clubs was that Gold Coast statistically dominated after the first break as the lead yoyoed between six and nine goals. The Suns led contested possessions and, for the first time this season, won clearances.