1. Has Mark Neeld coached Melbourne for the last time?
It's probably stating the bleeding obvious, but Mark Neeld is under extreme pressure. It seems just a matter of when the axe will fall. Many believe that will happen at a Melbourne board meeting on Monday. Demons president Don McLardy, in his pre-match speech to members, didn’t even mention the coaching position but revealed significant changes would take place at the club within weeks. Performances like the one the Demons served up against the Hawks haven’t helped Neeld's cause. Fifteen minutes into second quarter his side has scored just three behinds, but at least it managed to beat its worst half-time score against the Hawks (albeit by just two points).
2. Buddy's glove
Lance Franklin raised fears that he was protecting a hand injury when he donned a black glove on his right hand. (His left thumb was also strapped with white tape). If he wasn't injured, it seemed a strange decision given that the last time he gloved up in a game, in last year's round five loss to the Sydney Swans at Aurora Stadium, he managed just three behinds – the only time he went goalless for the season. He trained with the glove during the week, but the tactic didn’t work – Franklin was well contained by James Frawley, taking only just one mark and kicking 2.3 and one out of bounds. Perhaps not coincidentally, he favoured an American brand, Franklin, a major manufacturer of baseball apparel. With all the talk of massive contracts being thrown at the superstar, it's not hard to imagine his manager Liam Pickering arranging a lucrative endorsement deal.
3. Dawes claws back
There were only faint signs of life for the Demons but a small consolation for the red-and-blue faithful was the welcome form of recruit Chris Dawes, who was probably his side's best player. Despite limited opportunities, overwhelming odds and a quality opponent in Josh Gibson, the ex-Magpie had 21 disposals, took a career-best (and game-high) 12 marks, kicked a goal and could have slotted a few others. He moved well, made position, generally marked strongly and basically performed in a manner expected of such a high-priced signing.
4. Hot Sewell too cool for Dees
Brad Sewell simply loves playing against Melbourne. The veteran midfielder had received maximum votes in the Brownlow Medal in three of his past five games against the Demons, and might well be adjudged best-afield by the umpires again after having 31 disposals, five clearances, eight inside 50s and six tackles. When he came off the field for his first breather 11 minutes into the match, he'd already amassed 10 disposals. He had 14 in total in first quarter.
5. Hawks rebound hard after mini-scare from Suns
At the same venue a week earlier, Hawthorn trailed the ever-improving Gold Coast by 17 points early in the third term before snapping out of their malaise to win by 26 points. All signs pointed to a big start from the Hawks this time. They dominated from the outset, monopolising possession in the first half to establish a 69-point lead by half-time. It was the kind of ruthlessness many expected from this star-studded line-up a week earlier.
