Fresh from the premiere of Fred Schepsi’s “Eye of the Storm” at the Melbourne International Film Festival, I venture to the MCG for Hawthorn V Melbourne is search of defensive mise en scene.
Fred is in town to also show his old self funded and screened Aussie chestnut “The Devils Playground” where Fred shows how the Devil, like the Demons did most of his best work in the 50s in Australia.
Leading up to Vatican 2, Melbourne won 3 flags on the trot before the Collingwood clerics held up the crufix to reinforce their 4 in a row record from the Gordon Coventry days.
We collectively give Yabby Jeans a minutes silence as his incredible career is highlighted on the big screens. The rain lifts, the sun comes out and the Hawks pump it inside 50 5 times in the first 10 minutes for 5 goals without a Dee touching the ball.
Through Nathan Jones and Matthew Bates the Dees recover and get back to within 10 at quarter time. Second quarter is a see saw but with the Demons bid to bring darkness to Glenferrie. Enter Cyril “Buffy” Rioli who – with pal “Spike” Franklin and “Angel” Mitchell spike the heart of the Demon and consign the Bailey game plan to dust.
The second half is like the Exorcist in reverse for the Dees as the Hawks infiltrate every line with salvation to prove that while you can lose some disciples along the way through injury (164 games lost for the brown and gold in 2011) you still might have a shot at the holy grail.
Hawthorn 20 12 132 d Melbourne 12 6 78
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