MELBOURNE’S win over Fremantle on Friday night was an important one.
Coming off the back of a disappointing 10-point loss to the Bulldogs, the Demons were looking to make a statement when they travelled west to their ‘home away from home’ at Optus Stadium.
And statement they did make, securing an emphatic 46-point win over the Dockers.
Star defender Jake Lever, who returned to the side after missing Round 19, was full of praise following the victory.
“It was great to be back and to come over here and play the way that we did, I’m just so proud of the boys,” Lever said.
“Last week, the team scored 110 points and that’s probably not the style that we want to play and for us to be able to come over here, they scored 39 points, that’s just a great team effort, so [I’m] super proud.”
Melbourne dominated the inside 50s from early on in the Friday night match, finishing the match at 60 - 40 inside 50s, a significant improvement on last time the two sides met in Round 11.
Lever was particularly impressed with the group’s ability to not only restrict the Dockers scoreboard impact, but create as many scoring opportunities as possible for themselves.
“We had a big focus on it,” Lever explained.
“For us, we want to be a team that plays it in their forward half.
“It’s the way to go, it wins finals, it wins big games and we’ve probably lacked in that area over the last couple of weeks.
According to Lever, the Demons will take the win over Fremantle as a step of confidence heading into a tough three final weeks of the home-and-away season facing Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane.
"They’re a really good side,' Lever said.
"[So] it does give us confidence, but we know that our method does stack up and for us [it’s about being] able to back that in.
"I’m looking forward to the last three games, I’m really excited.
"It’s going to be [three] challenges but we wouldn’t have it any other way…we know where these three teams mindsets are going to be at and it’s going to be trying to get a top four spot and that’s the same as us."
