MELBOURNE’S stunning AFL win-streak has given Demons supporters hope their 57-year premiership drought could finally end this year.
The Demons made it nine straight wins to open 2021 with a comfortable 26-point victory over Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.
The previous five times (1941, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1964) Melbourne have won at least nine straight games during a season they have gone on to claim the flag.
It is the first time Melbourne has started a season 9-0 since 1956.
The Demons lit up a wet and gloomy Victorian day with some red-hot football, downing the disappointing Blues 13.16 (94) to 10.8 (68) in front of 38,581 fans.
It was actually their 11th straight triumph, counting the two victories they had to round out the 2020 season, equalling the second-best win-streak in club history.
Rejuvenated Demons forward Tom McDonald continued his dominant start to the season with three first-half goals, while Bailey Fritsch also finished with a trio of majors.
Exciting small forward Kysaiah Pickett produced another goal-of-the-year contender when he expertly dribbled the ball through from a tricky angle in the third quarter.
In the final term, Pickett looked to have snapped another extraordinary goal but he immediately indicated to the goal umpire that Carlton defender Adam Saad touched the ball off his boot.
The Blues dominated clearances 48-33 but Melbourne had answers across the ground to quell any disadvantage at the stoppages.
Carlton’s injury list grew with David Cunningham suffering a suspected season-ending knee injury in the first quarter.
The 24-year-old clutched his knee and was subbed out of the game for Michael Gibbons, with fears he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
Star forward Harry McKay put another scare through the Blues camp only minutes later when he hurt his right shoulder, but was cleared to return to the field and played out the game with pain killers.
The Coleman Medal leader finished with three goals, including two in as many minutes during the third quarter, to again be one of Carlton’s best performers.
Melbourne heads to Adelaide next Saturday for a clash with the struggling Crows, while Carlton is back at the MCG for a must-win game against Hawthorn, who are coming off a shattering loss to North Melbourne.
(C) AAP 2021
MELBOURNE 4.3 8.6 12.9 13.16 (94)
CARLTON 3.2 6.5 8.7 10.8 (68)
Goals: Melbourne: B Fritsch 3 T McDonald 3 A Neal-Bullen 2 C Oliver C Spargo E Langdon J Hunt K Pickett. Carlton: H McKay 3 E Betts L Casboult L Stocker M Gibbons M Murphy M Owies M Pittonet.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Simon Meredith, Cameron Dore.
Official Crowd: 38,581 at MCG.
