GIVEN our recent history against the Demons, this week was always going to be a tough slog, even in light of the respective ladder positions of the two sides. So if someone had offered us a win – any win – at the start of the day, I suspect most fans would have gladly taken it. That said, we could have done without letting a 35-point last quarter lead turn into a six-point deficit late in the game!

The moment
In a game ultimately decided by Andrew Swallow's goal from bang on the 50m arc, there can only ever be one moment. As much as the end result was the thing that mattered, Swallow's effort to gather the ball cleanly and break a tackle was every bit as impressive as the kick. The former Sandgroper has taken his game to another level in just his second year in AFL company; not bad for a kid called out by recruiting guru Neville Stibbard at number 43 in the 2005 draft. Nice one Nev!

Goal of the game
We can't give all the plaudits to Swallow so this one goes to Lindsay Thomas' first quarter belter. The former Port Adelaide Magpie swooped onto a loose ball 30 metres out from goal, knocking it into the path of experienced Demon Brad Green. Before Green to could take control of the bobbing ball, Thomas lunged onto the turf to take possession, jumped to his feet and snapped a pearler around his body from an acute angle. His celebration in front of the Roos faithful was almost as impressive.

The move
The Roos have been magnificent with their free-scoring ways in recent weeks, however tempering that has been the team's tendency to leak goals at the other end of the ground. Drew Petrie, so valuable at centre half-forward in the absence of David Hale, returned to the defensive half at the weekend and helped restrict the Demons to just four goals in the first three quarters in almost perfect conditions at the MCG.

Coaches' award
Some of Daniel Pratt's brave spoiling attempts have conjured up images of the great Glenn Archer in past weeks and he was at it again for much of this match, particularly in a ripping first half. But perhaps Pratt's best “one-percenter” was his shepherd on the goal-line to help protect Andrew Swallow's match-winning goal. What he was doing down there is anyone's guess.

King of the Kids
At 23, Josh Gibson hardly qualifies as a kid, however the fact he has played just 20 games is enough to win him the “King of the Kids” title in round nine. If his game-saving goal-square tackle on Paul Johnson wasn't enough, Gibson's cool use of the ball out of defence throughout the game would probably have won him the gig anyway.

Syd Barker watch
Shannon Grant's second consecutive five-goal haul will probably earn him maximum votes this week, while Brent Harvey and Andrew Swallow were others who will no doubt attract the coach's eye. While his numbers weren't huge, Drew Petrie's importance in the backline cannot be underestimated.

Ladder
The Kangas remain in sixth place after their thrilling one-point win, equal on points with second-placed Geelong and just one win away from the ladder leader, West Coast.

Next week
As much as there is never a good time to be playing the Eagles at Subiaco, the Roos this week face the ladder leaders without a host of their star performers, with Kerr, Hansen, Cousins and - depending on the outcome of his tribunal hearing - Chris Judd missing from this week's encounter. The ultra-professional Eagles will no doubt be stung by their upset loss to Hawthorn at the weekend, and provide the biggest test of the year for the resurgent Roos.