Footy – like it ought to be.
The Demons and Dockers battled out a classic at the MCG in Round 22, as the ebb and flow of the game had everyone guessing until the final minute of the contest. It was one of those clashes you walk away from feeling as though you’d just experienced something special – as if the stadium was a living, breathing part of the spectacle, which is amazing since it was less than half full. However, those in attendance were able to experience something incredible – football the way it is intended. No scandals, no junralist’s spin – just a brilliant game of footy. And the noise those in attendance made created the feeling like the ‘G was jam-packed.
We had the master and apprentice battling it out in the ruck, with Max Gawn seriously challenged by Luke Jackson. We had Harrison Petty potting a cape on, rubbing his bald head, and playing the last quarter of his life. And you had the powerful Fremantle forward line kicking goals to provide the Dockers three wonderful focal points.
I’ve gotta be honest – I was waiting for Freo to dig in, flex some muscle, and run over the Dees. The way Melbourne were attacking the contest made me feel as though they might run out of gas. However, the longer the game progressed, the more something became apparent.
Melbourne players trust each other.
It sounds simple, right? You have to trust yuour teammates int eh AFL – all good teams do. But sometimes, actions betray those words.
Not Melbourne. Not today.
When you sit there and watch further up the field, the Dees run to position in anticipation of their teammate winning the contest. They believe their mates have the competition – and we’re talking about the best team in the land right now – covered to the point they expect them to win the footy. And when they do, they’re ready to capitalize.
It’s a gamble, but when it pays off, it pays off in a big way. And the Dees won big in this game.
Heaps to get through in this one – let’s jump into The Mongrel’s Big Statements from one of the games of the season.
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Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
