Melbourne’s premiership drought ends with a massive 74-point win over the Bulldogs in the AFL grand final, on the back of 12 straight goals in the third and fourth quarters.
The game was shaping up as all-time classic, with the Demons taking a 21-point lead after one quarter, only for the Bulldogs to bite back and go into half-time eight points up.
But Melbourne rediscovered their form in the third quarter, booting seven straight goals to end the term, and starting the fourth term with five more unanswered to all but secure the flag.
The Dogs only managed one major as the Demons stormed to their first premiership since 1964.
Christian Petracca won the Norm Smith Medal as the best on ground, becoming the first player with 40 disposals in an AFL grand final, as well as two impressive goals.
Look back on our AFL grand final live blog, although we are experiencing some technical difficulties with new posts.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
The Dees have done better than the blog!
As you can surely tell, the blog has completely imploded with just minutes to go in the match. If you do somehow get to read this, rest assured that YES! MELBOURNE HAS WON THE GRAND FINAL BY 74 POINTS! IT HAPPENED!
By Dean Bilton
THE DROUGHT IS OVER! MELBOURNE ARE PREMIERS IN 2021!
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
FRITSCH HAS SIX GOALS IN A GRAND FINAL!
By Dean Bilton
5′: We’re into the hugs with the coach on the sideline stage of the grand final. What a special night for Simon Goodwin, who has led this Melbourne revolution in such fine form. It’s been a whole club effort to create this perfect storm in 2021, in which they have truly been the best team all year.
Fritsch kicking for number six…
By Dean Bilton
AND HE HAS KICKED IT! WHY NOT?!? EVERYONE CAN HAVE A BITE!
They get around the young fella too. Some of these Melbourne players look a little overwhelmed.
By Dean Bilton
6′: Speaking of Christian Petracca, he has 40 disposals to his name now. Nobody in the history of VFL/AFL football has done that before. Jeez. Luke Jackson, who has been absolutely brilliant tonight, is now lining up for goal…
By Dean Bilton
CHRISTIAN SALEM GETS IN ON THE ACT!
He’s played a stellar game down back, but floats forward late to join in the fun. Who can blame him?!? He’s a little unlucky Petracca has played so well, because he has been right up there among the best.
By Dean Bilton
TRELOAR GETS ONE BACK FOR THE BULLDOGS
Tough one for Treloar, who led the second-quarter fight back. Not his night.
By Dean Bilton
8′: Brayshaw receives on the run from Petracca (of course), streams inside 50 and misses the lot.
By Dean Bilton
MCDONALD GOALS! A BEAUTIFUL DOZEN FOR MELBOURNE!
They don’t look done either.
By Dean Bilton
9′: You can start engraving Petracca’s name on the medal now, he’s still at it. He spins and hits up Tom McDonald, who has a chance to kick Melbourne’s 12th in a row.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
10′: Cody Weightman marks on the lead deep in the forward pocket. They haven’t kick a goal for what feels like three hours. They still haven’t, Weightman puts it out on the full.
By Dean Bilton
12′: We’re on Norm Smith watch now. I would say with some confidence it’s going to be Christian Petracca’s, but Clayton Oliver, Christian Salem and maybe Bayley Fritsch have cases too. Speaking of Fritsch, he’s lining up for number six… and he shanks it. A rare miss.
By Dean Bilton
ED LANGDON ADDS ANOTHER! IT’S PARTY TIME IN PERTH!
The Dogs have slowed to a crawl and the Melbourne players are enjoying a quarter of footy 57 years in the making. Tears will be being shed all round the country right now.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
15′: Lachie Hunter was just strolling down the wing by himself, and messed up the bounce. It went out of bounds. That’ll be that then.
By Dean Bilton
WHO KICKS ANOTHER! MELBOURNE WILL BE PREMIERS!
You can call it now! It’s happening, Dees fans! The lead is 42 points with 14 minutes to go!
By Dean Bilton
16′: Another shot coming up for Neal-Bullen! In fairness Petracca was dead to rights holding the ball on the wing, but the whistle didn’t come so Langdon carried it forward and hit up ANB…
Posted 5h ago5 hours agoSat 25 Sep 2021 at 6:58am, updated 5m ago5 minutes agoSat 25 Sep 2021 at 12:35pm
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
