Melbourne skipper Max Gawn put the crew on his again in a masterclass show as they claimed a 32-point win in opposition to Richmond on the MCG.
The Demons and Tigers have been locked in a tense battle all afternoon because the momentum of the competition swung forwards and backwards.
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Richmond appeared to have the higher hand and threatened to run away with the sport halfway by means of the third time period.
That’s when Gawn had seen sufficient and reached a gear no Richmond participant was able to matching.
The towering ruckman thrust himself into the thick of the motion and regularly outworked his opponents.
From taking marks within the defensive 50 to scooping the ball up off his ankles and fuelling his crew ahead, Gawn grew to become a one-man wrecking crew within the fourth quarter.
Melbourne entered the ultimate time period holding a slender four-point lead when Gawn switched into beast mode.
He racked up an absurd 13 possessions, 9 of which have been contested, whereas having seven clearances.
In the long run he completed with 28 disposals, 22 contested, 11 clearances, eight inside 50s and had 10 rating involvements as Melbourne secured the 20.10 (130) to fifteen.8 (98) win.
Gawn’s second straight dominant outing spells dangerous information for Brodie Grundy who was traded to Melbourne forward of the season. Studies have started to drift he might find yourself at his third membership in as a few years with Port Adelaide and Sydney the possible locations.
The show left footy followers in sheer disbelief as Gawn torched the Tigers everywhere in the huge area of the MCG.
“One of many best halves of footy I’ve seen,” Jimmy Bartel mentioned on Seven’s protection.
AAP’s Oliver Caffrey wrote: “No means is Grundy getting again on this crew. Gawn’s performed two of the most effective particular person final quarters of the season in essential wins since being again as the primary ruck.”
Ladbrokes’ Joshua Bell wrote: “Melbourne ought to by no means choose Brodie Grundy once more. Max Gawn is a distinct beast as the only real ruckman.”
Melbourne defender Harrison Petty was thrown ahead and produced the most effective sport of his profession, slotting six objectives in a blistering show.
Petty led the way in which in entrance of objective forward of Jacob van Rooyen and Jake Melksham who slotted 4 objectives every.
The win retains Melbourne locked into fourth place, solely marginally behind the third positioned Brisbane Lions on proportion.
They’ll end off the season with video games in opposition to North Melbourne, Carlton, Hawthorn and Sydney.
The loss for Richmond has them sitting in eleventh spot on the ladder, two factors behind the eighth positioned Western Bulldogs.
They face a tricky run residence through which they not solely have to attempt to win each sport, but in addition have outcomes go their means.
They’ll tackle the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide to shut out the season.
Initially printed as Max Gawn produces monster show, leaves AFL world in awe