Blog log from R1 of 2025: Melbourne vs Western Sydney

Petracca jets from the first bounce, long to pocket where Jefferson beats Himmelberg to the crumb for his first senior goal! (Q1 0:24)
Another centre clearance to Melbourne via Oliver, Sparrow marks over Whitfield but misses from 35m. (Q1 2:00)
Keeffe dispossesses Viney at a stoppage on members wing, surge rather than a tsunami ends with Cadman volleying the goal from Greene’s pass towards the square. (Q1 4:39)
Gawn kicks inside 50 but to no one, GWS gets a slingshot going with Greene over the back at the hotspot to mark Daniels’ pass and goal. (Q1 9:04)
Leake’s pressure causes Petty to handball into the behind post, ump pays deliberate OOB rather unkindly, Greene eventually misses a set shot. (Q1 12:47)
Greene roves a Cadman contest at the hotspot and gives out to Wehr who bounces through a nice snap across the body off the right. (Q1 16:02)
Gawn leaps in front of Taylor to mark a Viney speculator to a pack 25m out in the pocket, but sprays the set shot. (Q1 20:41)
Jefferson fumbles and regathers in the pocket, tries an unlikely snap that falls in the square for Johnson to provide a crumb for Henderson to dribble home! (Q1 23:35)
Whitfield dives to tap a loose ball to Jones at half back but is pinged for a throw. Sharp takes the free 40m out on a slight angle, but pushes it right. (Q2 1:07)
Brown spoils at the Melbourne hotspot but the crumb sits up for Petracca steaming through half forward, he gathers and goals. (Q2 6:46)
Greene misses just to the right from a set shot 35m out on a slight angle. (Q2 11:41)
Kelly misses a mid-range snap. (Q2 13:38)
Rivers marks 45m out on the flank but his kick is wide and short, crumb sits up in the square for Sharp to soccer the goal! (Q2 16:50)
Another long ball to the Demons goalsquare, this time it’s Petracca who wins the crumb and goals! (Q2 18:19)
Fritsch roves Petracca’s centre clearance to the hotspot but snaps OOTF off the left. (Q2 19:34)
Greene to Green for a quick snap from CHF, drifts to the behind line where Cadman claims a contested grab over McDonald, review… (Q2 20:42)
Review ruling is a mark on the juggle, Cadman curls in the goal off the left. (Q2 21:23)
Petracca feeds Johnson for a pressured running snap from deep in the pocket 30m out that goes narrow to the right. (Q2 26:33)
Mad scramble in the GWS goalsquare after Bedford baulks Oliver on the HFF with a nice step, Coniglio snaps high for the goal from 15m. (Q2 28:02)
Petty holds the arm of Greene to give away a free in a big pack at the hotspot sitting under a long ball, Greene makes him pay with the goal. (Q2 29:18)
Bedford releases O’Halloran to run in side from a stoppage on the HFF and let fly off the left… starts straight but swerves left and skids for a point. (Q2 31:17)
Windsor comes off half back from the first centre bounce of Q3 to receive from Viney, run away from Green and slam through a sensational goal from CHF! (Q3 1:04)
Another forward handball from the next bounce by Petracca, this one finds Swallow who turns and goals from 45m! (Q3 1:31)
Gawn bombs long to the top of the square from the HFF, spoiled out for Bowey who snaps from 20m… through but was it touched by Jones? Review… (Q3 4:15)
Stays a goal. (Q3 4:39)
Bowey overcommits to a chaos ball by Greene near the hotspot, Coniglio has better balance to mop up and goal. (Q3 9:04)
Kelly and Green combine at the next bounce, long to a pack 30m out on a slight angle where Greene marks but shanks it across the face. (Q3 10:19)
Himmelberg is unlucky to have a loose ball come off his boot OOTF 40m out, Gruzewski takes the free but his kick is rushed in the square. (Q3 12:56)
Windsor tries to run through CHF for another highlight goal but hits traffic, his kick skids towards Idun who can only tap it into the path of van Rooyen for a soccer goal. (Q3 14:10)
Brown roves at half back but dithers and is mown down by Sharp 50m out on a slight angle, HTB free kick is off the side of the boot and OOTF into the right behind post. (Q3 18:05)
Taylor roves a long ball to the flank 30m out but has his pocket picked by Johnson who swerves through the goal! (Q3 20:48)
Coniglio marks a Greene pass 45m out on a slight angle but the crowd hoots as he sprays it wide right and OOTF. (Q3 23:49)
Green wobbles a high speculator up the corridor, crumb falls for Keeffe who release Coniglio to skid through his third goal. (Q3 26:16)
Rain had been holding off but it has started pelting down all of a sudden. Classic Melbourne! (Q3 30:16)
Ball already a cake of soap. (Q3 30:50)
Petracca sharks a Jones handball 40m out in front and snaps off a step but it’s to the left. (Q3 31:31)
van Rooyen takes a free after the siren for insufficient intent, his kick from 30m out doesn’t score. (Q3 33:45)
Rain has blown away for the start of Q4. (Final Siren)
Whitfield spoils a Rivers rebound kick back inside 50, Bedford gives to Green who delivers a pressured checkside for a huge goal from 40m! (Q4 1:59)
Brown fluffs a nice pass by O’Halloran 20m, bounced right off his chest, he gathers and gives to Kelly who blazes wide left. (Q4 3:12)
Windsor gathers in the centre and breaks two flying tackles then passes to Jefferson 40m out on a slight angle, set shot is low but just long enough! (Q4 6:39)
Callaghan misses a snap from near CHF with teammates waving arms looking for a pass. (Q4 9:05)
Oliver gives away a downfield free for dropping Himmelberg after disposal, Cadman gives to Greene who loads up for bear from the HFF… swerves into the right post. (Q4 10:16)
Wehr misses a snap from the HFF. (Q4 12:06)
Ward roves on the last line and starts a rebound that goes all the way, Cadman by himself on members wing spots up Greene who runs to 35m and chips the huge goal! (Q4 16:00)
Fritsch is a bit lucky to get a contact free going for a ground ball against Green on members wing, long ball marked by Johnson over Himmelberg but set shot across the face. (Q4 28:08)
1:48 to go and GWS still a kick behind. (Q4 28:08)
Giants attack the corridor, Ward kicks inside 50 and it’s Keeffe who marks unopposed 40m on the flank! This for the lead! (Q4 28:36)
Keeffe kicks over Gawn on the mark, it’s good! (Q4 29:00)
53 seconds, now it’s the Dees who have to score. (Q4 30:10)
Greene torpedoes from the bounce after Gawn fumbles, 40 seconds left at the throw in in the GWS FP. (Q4 30:27)
Ash to Green for the clearance, Melbourne rebounds through Windsor around outer wing but it breaks down, Giants win! (Q4 31:12)