Unlikely 'masterstroke' saving 'rattled' Dees from bad flop amid ...

An unlikely hero in his fourth game helped Melbourne recover from an embarrassing first-half display, with Daniel Turner proving crucial in Wednesday night’s hard-fought Demons win over Richmond at the MCG.

With the Demons and Tigers coming off the bye, one would’ve expected them to both be sharp as tacks, but the opening two quarters, in particular, were marred by an avalanche of skill errors

The Demons were lambasted by Fox Footy experts at half-time as they trailed the Tigers by one point, doe to their horrible skill execution and inability to hit the scoreboard.

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But Turner — who’d never kicked an AFL goal prior to Wednesday night — kicked two goals in a decisive third quarter in which Melbourne’s intensity lifted markedly to break the game open.

Despite a couple of Richmond challenges, the Demons proved too strong in the second half to run out convincing 43-point winners, 13.7 (85) to 5.12 (42).

Demons captain Max Gawn won the Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes medal for best player on the ground, finishing with 23 disposals (16 contested), 10 marks, 26 hit-outs and a goal

The loss came at a cost for the already injury-depleted Tigers, with star midfielder Jacob Hopper — who was laying for the first time since Round 2 — subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury.

Hopper tried to stay out there, but succumbed shortly after in what was his first game back after being sidelined with a knee injury since Round 2. He had a match-high 23 disposals at the time of being subbed out.

It continues a frustrating run for Hopper who has only managed 19 games from 30 since crossing from GWS and it exacerbates Richmond’s bulging unavailable list which also features Jayden Short (calf), Tom Lynch (hamstring), Tim Taranto (wrist), Dion Prestia (hamstring), Noah Balta (knee), Jack Ross (foot) and Josh Gibcus (knee).

ROLLING MATCH UPDATES

There were no late changes for either side, with Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond) and Bailey Laurie (Melbourne) named the starting subs.

The returning Kysaiah Pickett had an immediate impact, winning the first clearance of the game to set up Melbourne teammate Jacob van Rooyen for the first goal of the game.

Richmond dominated territory for most of the quarter, but Demons players frequently intercepted the ball to thwart Tigers attacking forays.

Finally, after their 16th inside 50, the Tigers got their first goal, going end-to-end to set up a goal for Mykelti Lefau.

The two teams were involved in a scuffle just before quarter-time, with Melbourne players unhappy with Marlion Pickett’s hit to Clayton Oliver.

The fracas came just before Bayley Fritsch kicked a much-needed goal for the Demons, who led by six points at quarter-time.

Yet the Tigers clearly led the inside 50 count at quarter-time, challenging Melbourne with their run from half-back.

“I reckon Richmond are all over Melbourne. They’ve got them rattled with their run and gun game,” Fox Footy’s David King said.

The Tigers then got the first major of the second quarter, with Dustin Martin able to out-mark Steven May before snapping truly.

Another arm-wrestle ensued, with both teams struggling with the high pressure, but also failing to hit basic kicks throughout the second term.

Christian Petracca then got involved up the field, producing a superb kick to Daniel Turner, who ran in to kick his first AFL goal. But Maurice Rioli Jnr soon responded for Richmond, which went into half-time with a one-point lead.

“If you’re a Melbourne supporter, you’d be mightily disappointed with what they’ve dished up in the first half,” dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy.

“I don’t know what’s going on, they must still be asleep from the bye. They have been so poor.”

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said the Demons were “playing like a bottom-four team”.

An imposing contested mark from Max Gawn gave the Melbourne skipper the opportunity to snap the first goal of the third quarter as the Demons regained the lead. The Demons then got a second consecutive goal through Turner, who nailed his set-shot attempt from a tight angle.

Melbourne made it four straight goals as Turner kicked his third and Pickett snapped truly from the boundary to extend their lead to a game-high 25 points.

Former Melbourne player Nathan Jones told Channel 7 that playing Turner forward was a “masterstroke” by the Demons, considering he’s played primarily as a defender or wing since joining the club.

Rioli was on the end of some fast Tigers ball movement and steadied to goal for Richmond. But the Dees got the last goal of the quarter through Caleb Windsor to give them a 23-point lead at the final change.

Windsor’s goal came in somewhat controversial circumstances, as a Pickett snap attempt led to the ball hitting a boundary umpire. The footy stayed in play — it seemed destined for the boundary line — and led to a Windsor mark and set-shot.

The Tigers had all the momentum at the start of the fourth term, with Shai Bolton kicking the first major of the quarter.

But the Demons quickly halted the Richmond surge, with Fritsch and Pickett both kicking their second goals respectively to go out to a 28-point lead.

And when Bailey Laurie — who was subbed into the game for Windsor — kicked truly, the game was over.

THE 3-2-1 …

3. DEES OVERCOME ‘RUST’ ON STRANGE NIGHT

It was a funny old game of football on Wednesday night and not pretty at times, particularly in the first half.

Heck, Melbourne would’ve been happy to simply bank the four points at one stage before blowing out its lead in the second half en route to its fifth win of the season to climb into the top four, if only momentarily.

The Demons actually trailed by a point at half-time, such was their inefficiency with the ball, while Richmond wasn’t using it much better.

Fox Footy pundits even noted at half-time how Richmond fans would’ve been “proud” of their side and expressed concerns with Melbourne’s brand.

Kangaroos legend David King said Simon Goodwin’s side had been “frighteningly bad” and pondered whether there was some “rust” in actioning its more aggressive ball movement. Hawks legend Jason Dunstall went so far to say the Dees were “playing like a bottom four team.”

Melbourne responded in a big way though with a five-goal third term including Dylan Turner stepping up as the unlikely hero with two of his three goals in the period.

The Dees stacked on another five goals in the fourth quarter to win comfortably in the end, while Richmond’s 5.11 return in front of goal did it no favours.

“The difference is the forward 50s – one has targets and one doesn’t,” King highlighted on Fox Footy at three-quarter time.

“It’s as simple as that, they’re got no reference points in the Richmond forward 50 and they’re trying to manufacture through Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton.

“Turner has been the reason they’re cashing in on their end.”

Also helping Melbourne’s cause was it had Steven May, Jake Lever and Tom McDonald standing tall in defence to combine for 29 intercepts.

The Dees’ grit and professionalism inside the contest also came to the fore as they showed more composure when they needed to.

2. TIGERS DEALT ANOTHER BLOW

Jacob Hopper has suffered a hamstring injury in yet another brutal setback for the gun Richmond midfielder.

Hopper grabbed at his hamstring during the third term but played through the setback for several minutes in an unusual turn of events.

He eventually came from the ground and was clearly frustrated on the bench before getting taken down the rooms and subbed out of the game.

“A lot of frustration for this man,” Channel 7 caller Brian Taylor noted.

Geelong great Cameron Ling added: “We said how strange it was, that awareness he had but stayed out here for a couple of centre bounces.

“He jogged to the bench really upset, he’s gone down to the rooms to be checked out further.”

It continues a tough run of injuries from Hopper, who’d just returned from a five-game absence after knee surgery on the same left leg he hurt his hamstring.

Adem Yze can’t take a trick on the health front, with Hopper set to re-join a lengthy injury list at Punt Road compounding the club’s 1-6 start to 2024.

Many of them are long-term setbacks too.

That includes fellow 2023 recruit Tim Taranto (wrist), Tom Lynch (hamstring) and Jack Ross (foot), who are all out for the next couple of months, as well as Noah Balta (knee), Josh Gibcus (ACL), Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Jayden Short (calf)

1. PICKETT ‘CERTAIN’ TO BE FINED – NOT BANNED – FOR OLIVER STOMACH PUNCH

Marlion Pickett’s minor hit to Clayton Oliver’s stomach behind play will likely result in a fine.

The incident came while Bayley Fritsch was lining up for goal late in the first quarter, with Pickett hitting Oliver in the guts with an open hand.

While it’ll draw some attention from the Match Review Officer, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph believes Pickett will be let off with a fine.

Ralph compared the incident to Scott Pendlebury’s open-handed slap to Lachie Neale last month that resulted in a $2500 fine.

“Marlion Pickett is certain to be given a fine rather than a suspension for his stomach punch on Clayton Oliver,” Ralph said on Fox Footy at half-time.

“Even though we all hate these incidents and would like to see them eradicated from the game. It’s low impact rather than medium. Let’s call it the Pendlebury principle. Three weeks ago we saw Pendlebury with a really strong open-handed punch to the guts of Lachie Neale.

“That was only a fine, he is an impeccable character, but that wasn’t taken into account that night.

“So only a fine I think for Pickett.”

It comes after a busy week for the MRO with several incidents including Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan and Tom Barrass all copping suspensions. Only Hogan was able to get off his ban at the tribunal.

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