KEY POINTS: Undermanned Demons score memorable win over Bombers

MELBOURNE 13.6 (84) d ESSENDON 10.7 (67)

Pickett Power Too Much For Dons

Kysaiah Pickett has packed a lot into his first 100 games. He’s dished out some big hits, conjuring up memories of his uncle, the great (and often lethal) Byron Pickett. He’s kicked many electrifying goals, and played a big part in Melbourne’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership. And like Byron, he’s building a career notable for its versatility. He didn’t win a huge amount of the ball against Essendon, despite running through the midfield on occasions, but he was there in key moments: a blind turn at half forward to set up a Langdon goal, a mark and goal of his own in the last quarter that sealed the deal for the Dees, and a perfectly weighted kick to Dan “Disco” Turner just to make sure. It was a milestone well worth celebrating from one of the game’s most talented and watchable players.

No Gawn, No Worries

Wet weather and a hardened opponent exposed the Bombers on Saturday night. This was no night for neat, running, overlap football. It was a night for ruthlessness. Forget the late flurry that briefly raised pulse rates in the Melbourne coach’s box; this was Melbourne’s game. Pickett exemplified what the Bombers lacked. So too Ed Langdon, who ran his guts out. They might have been lacking Max Gawn and Christian Petracca, but you wouldn’t have guessed that Melbourne was the side expected to fade out of the season. Essendon had a top-two position there for the taking, and could hardly have wanted for a better time to take on the Demons. They needed to find a way and they didn’t. They will probably make September, but this game suggested they lack the maturity to make a deeper run.