First quarter: Melbourne 2.5 (17) toGold Coast Suns 1.2 (8)
Melbournekicked the first goal of the match courtesy of Dom Tyson, who converted directlyin front from a set-shot. Tyson gained a free kick, after teammate Dean Kentleft the ground with a cut eye, having being crunched by Gold Coast’s MattShaw.
Sam Day replied– and opened Gold Coast’s account – but his goal proved to the visitors onlymajor for the term.
The only othergoal in the first term came via big man Mark Jamar, who kicked truly from amark. Although Melbourne had seven scoring shots to three, it only took a nine-pointlead into the first change. Still, it was a most encouraging start by theDemons.
Second quarter: Melbourne 7.7 (49) toGold Coast Suns 3.6 (24)
Melbournestarted the second term in outstanding fashion, booting three in a row to gaina 28-point lead at the 10-minute mark.
Day made it acouple when he ended the red and blue’s four-goal streak and booted GoldCoast’s second. And when Alex Sexton made it back-to-back goals, the Suns cutthe margin back to 12 points.
But when JeffGarlett kicked his first as a Demon and Nathan Jones followed up soon after,the Dees took a 25-point lead into the main break.
Third quarter: Melbourne 12.9 (81) to Gold Coast Suns8.8 (56)
Melbourneextended its lead to 30 points early in the third term, when Jesse Hogan kickedhis first AFL goal – resulting in every teammate coming up and congratulatinghim.
But the Sunskicked four of the next five majors to cut the margin back to just two goals.
However, theDemons answered the challenge and hit back with four of the last six goalsbefore three quarter-time, claiming a 25-point lead. Three of the goals camevia new players Garlett (who booted his second), vandenBerg and Ben Newton,while Watts also landed his second.
Final quarter: Melbourne 17.13 (115) d Gold Coast Suns13.11 (89)
The Suns uppedthe ante early in the final term, kicking the first three goals in just sevenminutes – including two from the great Gary Ablett – to cut the margin back tojust eight points.
But whenHeritier Lumumba – in his first match for Melbourne and his 200thAFL game – mopped up and booted a fine goal, it started a four goal streak bythe home side. This included a brilliant set-shot snap by Watts from thepocket, plus Hogan’s second and Tyson’s third, giving the Demons a 30-pointlead.
Gold Coastadded two more goals for the match, while Christian Salem kicked Melbourne’slast goal, helping the red and blue to a 26-point victory – its first round onewin since 2005.
