AFL star captures unwanted history in latest Demons loss
Melbourne's slumping AFL season hit a new low as they faltered badly on the big stage against Collingwood.
Their annual Queen's Birthday blockbuster has often thrown up upset results, but the Magpies stormed to a regulation 15.8 (98) to 7.15 (57) win on Monday and they are now outright second on the ladder.
The Demons are mired in third-last spot with only three wins.
Adding insult to injury, co-captain Nathan Jones captured an unwanted slice of history when the final siren blew.
With Melbourne’s latest loss, Jones became the first player in AFL history to lose 100 games at the same venue.
Jones, who endured possibly the worst stretch in the club’s history under then coach Mark Neeld, has played in 100 losses at the MCG.
Most losses at a single ground
100 - NATHAN JONES - @MCG
89 - Bob Murphy - Marvel
85 - Nathan Buckley - MCG
82 - David Neitz - MCG
81 - Scott Burns - MCG
@melbournefc #AFLPiesDees @AFL— Swamp (@sirswampthing) June 10, 2019
Congratulations to Melbourne’s Nathan Jones who just played in his 100th loss at the @MCG - The first player to ever reach that milestone at any ground, ever. Amazing achievement.#AFLPiesDees
— Josh Kleine (@gobbles21) June 10, 2019
Feel for Nathan Jones...must be really tired of this... #AFLPiesDees
— Bernie Westwood (@BernieWestwood8) June 10, 2019
Demons overwhelmed by Magpies
Melbourne defenders Steven May and Jake Lever were solid in their returns from injury and Max Gawn split the points in his much-anticipated ruck duel with Brodie Grundy.
But apart from a brief rally in the last quarter, the Demons were found wanting again as the Magpies small forwards cut loose to deadly effect.
Collingwood goalsneaks Jordan De Goey, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Jaidyn Stephenson kicked three goals apiece.
As their inaccuracy shows, Melbourne once again were dysfunctional in attack.
Gawn's straightforward set shot after the final siren went wide and that summed up their scoring woes.
Pre-game, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had heralded the example of Neale Daniher, who spoke about seizing opportunities in adversity.
Goodwin had also stressed that the Demons have so much to play for in the second half of the season.
But after five weeks of some improvement, Monday showed how far last year's preliminary final finalists are off the pace.
As Collingwood took outright second spot on the ladder, GWS and reigning premiers West Coast failed to bridge the gap to top side Geelong.
The Giants and Eagles are now a game behind the Pies and three games adrift of the Cats, who opened round 12 on Friday night by tearing Richmond apart.
Adelaide enjoyed their best win of the season, beating the Giants by 21 points, while the Eagles were swamped in the last quarter by Sydney at the SCG.
It was a bad weekend all-round for West Coast - star midfielder Elliot Yeo was a late withdrawal with a calf injury, while Nathan Vardy and Willie Rioli face one-game bans for rough conduct.
WITH AAP
