Australian Football

Match Report

THOSE DEMONS MADE IT LOOK SO EASY

By DICK REYNOLDS

It was unbelievable - no one in their wildest dreams could have predicted such an over whelming Melbourne success in Saturday's grand final. To beat Collingwood by three or four goals, yes . . . but not by 12 goals.Yet I saw the same thing happen earlier this season when the Demons didn't put a foot wrong, and gaye my team Essendon the same treatment. Collingwood supporters must have been spellbound as they saw their "mighty" Magpies given a football lesson. They weren't in the race as Mel bourne's power football swept them aside. They stood alone Melbourne deserve, their grand final win - there's no doubt they were by far the best team this season.

It appeared at times as if they were just "playing" with Collingwood. To me they're a better side than last year and will go down in history as one of Melbourne's greatest teams.

Melbourne selectors were proved right in persevering again with full forward Athol Webb. Webb turned Melbourne's forward line into a deadly weapon. His fast moves and long leads made the set-up perfect for big Bob Johnson and Ron Barassi to score goals. These tactics shot holes in the Collingwood defence, which didn't seem to have a "clue" how to stop it.And young Jim Sandral, on the half-forward flank, also put plenty of bite into the forward drives.

GOALS

MELBOURNE: Spencer 5, Webb 5, Barassi 3, R. Johnson 3, Ridley COLLINGWOOD: Jones, Smale, Greve, Serong, K. Turner, Twomey

INJURIES

MELBOURNE: Carroll, broken nose and concussion, was replaced in the last quarter by Lane; T. Johnson, off in last quarter to give Gleeson a run; McMahen, torn thigh muscles. COLLINGWOOD: Hedt, torn knee ligaments, replaced in second quarter by Kupsch; Sharp, kick on hand, replaced in last quarter by. Hamilton.

BEST

MELBOURNE: Spencer, Webb, Barassi, Beckwith, Cordner, Adams, Sandcal. COLLINGWOOD: Tuck, Weideman, Serong, Waller, Mann, Lucas