{"id":67666,"date":"2026-08-08T08:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/67666\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:44:09","slug":"r22-melbourne-v-fremantle-the-big-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/67666\/","title":{"rendered":"R22 – Melbourne v Fremantle – The Big Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Footy \u2013 like it ought to be.<\/p>\n

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\u2019d just experienced something special \u2013 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 \u2013 football the way it is intended. No scandals, no junralist\u2019s spin \u2013 just a brilliant game of footy. And the noise those in attendance made created the feeling like the \u2018G was jam-packed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve gotta be honest \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Melbourne players trust each other.<\/p>\n

It sounds simple, right? You have to trust yuour teammates int eh AFL \u2013 all good teams do. But sometimes, actions betray those words.<\/p>\n

Not Melbourne. Not today.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 and we\u2019re talking about the best team in the land right now \u2013 covered to the point they expect them to win the footy. And when they do, they\u2019re ready to capitalize.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a gamble, but when it pays off, it pays off in a big way. And the Dees won big in this game.<\/p>\n

Heaps to get through in this one \u2013 let\u2019s jump into The Mongrel\u2019s Big Statements from one of the games of the season.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The remainder of this article is for our members. They support me, and I provide for them. It\u2019s a good deal.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oh\u2026 a Mongrel paywall\u2026 the worst of all paywalls. We\u2019re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this \u2013 you will never look back. If you don\u2019t want to, that\u2019s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you\u2019re stuck with the stuff that\u2019s frustrated you for years.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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