AFL season 2016: Mature Melbourne withstand Richmond pressure to waltz home winners

MELBOURNE 5.1 11.3 14.7 20.9 (129) RICHMOND 2.3 7.5 11.9 14.12 (96)
Goals: Melbourne: J Garlett 4, B Vince 3, J Watts 3, D Tyson 2, M Gawn 2, A Brayshaw, C Salem, D Kent, J Harmes, S Frost, T Bugg. Richmond: J Riewoldt 3, S Lloyd 3, T Vickery 3, A Miles, B Ellis, D Martin, S Edwards, T Chaplin.
BEST: Melbourne: Viney, Gawn, Tyson, McDonald, Jones, Garlett, Watts, Vince. Richmond: Riewoldt, Edwards, Cotchin, B Ellis, Houli, Lloyd.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Ray Chamberlain, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 59,968 at MCG.

Melbourne is breaking new ground. Richmond still in worrying old ground.

Jacob Townsend of the Tigers is tackled by Demons' captain Nathan Jones. Photo: Getty Images

The Demons' new territory was not the fact they beat Richmond – they did that last year. Not even the fact they won two games in a row – they hadn't done that in five years – but this was new ground because Melbourne played with maturity and like they expected to win.

Twice Richmond came back at them. Twice Melbourne withstood the surge. And then they partied into the last quarter.

And Richmond? Oh dear. One win and four losses now. They were better than last week, but then that is not a big statement. They played well in periods against Melbourne but could not sustain it. Again their tail was — and is — too long.

Neville Jetta of the Demons handballs as he is tackled by Daniel Rioli of the Tigers. Photo: Getty Images

Jack Riewoldt kept them in the contest in the second and third quarters and was their best player on the night. Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards were good, Dustin Martin muscled the ball about, Brandon Ellis played well and Bachar Houli gave run from half-back and Sam Lloyd gave them some bite near goal. Alex Rance was beaten by Jesse Hogan last year but not this time. Hogan was okay, but Rance had more impact, even if he might have issues with the match review panel this week for a knock to the back of Jack Watts' head in the last quarter that saw him reported.

But the Richmond load was again carried by too few. Again.

Richmond were never completely out of the game until midway through the last quarter but also never looked as though they were going to overrun Melbourne, which was as much a comment on Melbourne's new maturity as on Richmond.

The game began after a minute's silence and a moving tribute to the Anzacs. We mention this not to remind you it is Anzac Day on Monday, but because if you were watching at home Channel Seven chose to go to an ad break during the minute's silence. Odd decision.

When the game began the Demons had the better of a scrappy first term, Angus Brayshaw stood up in a tackle for the first goal and Vince crumbed for the next. The Tigers got in front for the only time of the night when Troy Chaplin goaled after Shane Edwards. But goals to Watts, Garlett and Gawn set up the break that Richmond battled to bridge all night.

The quarter-time siren didn't so much as end the quarter as start the fight. A melee rolled on for minutes, clocking dollar signs over at the AFL.

In the past, Melbourne might have spent themselves with the hairy-chested bravura of push and shove but then been pushed around when the football resumed. This time they were the ones to respond better, even after Richmond came at them with three quick goals early in the second term.

Tom Bugg ran towards goal, pointing where the ball was about to be sent, then put his fingers to his lips to taunt the silenced Richmond crowd. He does not lack confidence. Christian Salem goaled again, two minutes later, after a superb Max Gawn tap and Melbourne had reasserted themselves.

Richmond again came at them in the third term and again Melbourne was able to absorb the parry without being flustered. They have calm heads around the ball in the clean Dom Tyson and the man-child Jack Viney. Bernie Vince's return reintroduced more class in ball movement while Tom McDonald is playing as well as any defender at the moment.

Gawn again controlled the match from the middle; he booted two goals to the half and had seen off the clearly labouring and un-match ready Ivan Maric by quarter-time. Maric could not cover the ground and Gawn is an opponent who would have challenged a fit Maric. In the first term, Maric could not make the small amount of ground to spoil Hogan from marking a high ball.

Brett Deledio was a not totally surprising, yet still very damaging, late withdrawal. They need him back sharply. They have done for five weeks.

The Demons ran through the last term celebrating in rare air. Dom Tyson goaled and Sam Frost got the goal he deserved after celebrating early and heartily for one that teased him by hitting the post.