1. Gawn cops a gobful then gives it right back
Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn has not been the safest converter in front of the big sticks and one certain over-zealous Essendon fan let him know all about it. Gawn's set-shot misses against Geelong and Hawthorn from directly in front earlier in the season garnered plenty of attention. However, the big man had his radar on target against the Bombers kicking two terrific banana goals in the third quarter. Gawn's second banana goal would have given him plenty of satisfaction as he turned around to the Bombers fan and gave him the ultimate stare down. Gawn was dominant against the Bombers and was clearly best afield, with 23 hit-outs to advantage (42 overall), 16 disposals and two goals.
2. Old McDonald calms Melbourne's farm
While Jack Viney remains on the sidelines as he fights back from a serious foot issue, the Demons were pleased to welcome back Tom McDonald for his first game of the season. McDonald developed a hot spot on his toe after the pre-season and was put in rehab as a result. His return was important from a structural point of view with his versatility seeing him play up forward, in the midfield and, at times, down back. With brother Oscar doing a brilliant defensive job on Joe Daniher, the older McDonald took some important marks across the ground and importantly gave the Demons a target to kick the football to. It had been an area Melbourne had been lacking in during its run of successive losses to Hawthorn and Richmond. McDonald was one of Melbourne's best players in his return.
DEES STORM HOME: Full match coverage and stats
3. Daniher's woes continue
Last season Joe Daniher looked like being the AFL's most dominant forward for years to come. But, so far, this year, the Bombers spearhead has been unable to recapture the form that saw him regularly tear games apart in 2017. Opposition teams have done a good job of preventing Daniher from leaping at the footy and credit has to go to Oscar McDonald for the defensive work he put in. His set-shot goal kicking still requires plenty of work – the Bomber kicked an inaccurate 0.3 for the afternoon. Daniher needs to find a way to get out of his lean run for his own confidence and for the betterment of the team.
4. Spargo provides spark for the Demons
Melbourne needed some spark across half-forward and youngster Charlie Spargo was the one to provide it. Spargo, pick No.29 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, booted two goals in the second quarter to get his side back into the game. The 18-year-old had a heavily interrupted pre-season after he dislocated his shoulder in June last year, but impressed late in the pre-season and earned his opportunity after gathering 19 disposals and kicking two majors in the VFL last weekend. That came after he missed a week through suspension in his first match for Casey. Spargo finished the game with 18 disposals and two goals in his debut.
SHOWREEL: Demons find glow through Spargo
5. Tight turnaround sees scrappy first half
There were just nine goals kicked between the two sides in the opening half, while the skill level from both teams was well down as they regularly torched the football. Maybe that could be attributed to the lack of break both teams were forced to deal with after the Anzac Day and Anzac Day Eve games. Melbourne had just a five-day turnaround after its loss to Richmond on Tuesday evening, with the Demons making five changes to their team. The Bombers had just four days to prepare for the match after they were beaten by Collingwood on Wednesday, with Essendon's coaching staff also settling on five changes.
