Melbourne’s turmoil deepens as out-of-sorts Demons lose a THIRD straight game in chastening 26-point loss to Collingwood – and skipper Max Gawn suffers injury scare as things go from bad to worse for reigning premiers
- Collingwood beat Melbourne 12.10 (82) to 8.8 (56) at the MCG on Monday
- The Demons have lost three games in a row and slipped to second on the ladder
- Reigning premiers had won 17 in a row until losing to Fremantle last month
- Collingwood trailed by two points, before six-goal fourth quarter blitz
- Body Mihocek kicked four goals for the Pies, who remained in the top eight
Melbourne’s troubles deepened on Monday, with the Demons suffering a third consecutive defeat while skipper Max Gawn was given an injury scare in the Queen’s Birthday clash.
The reigning premiers 12.10 (82) to 8.8 (56) loss to Collingwood at the MCG was their third straight since their 17-game unbeaten run came to an end against Fremantle late last month.
Gawn left the field late in the second quarter after he appeared to roll his ankle, before eventually rejoining the action in the third quarter.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn suffered an injury scare as the Demons lost a third straight game
The superstar ruckman, however, was helpless to stop Collingwood’s final term blitz, with the Pies kicking six majors to Melbourne’s one as they turned a two-point deficit into a 26-point win.
Brody Mihocek kicked four majors, while Nick Daicos and Jack Crisp had 33 and 29 disposals respectively for Collingwood, who cemented a top-eight spot with a fourth-consecutive win.
The Demons, meanwhile, slipped to second behind Brisbane on the ladder, losing their grip on top spot for the first time this season.
More worryingly for them, over the last three weeks Melbourne have looked a world away from the ruthlessly efficient machine that had swept everything in its path for the previous 17 games.
Jack Crisp finished with 29 disposals as the Pies stunned Melbourne on Monday at the MCG
Jamie Elliott kicked three goals as the Pies defeated the reigning premiers by 26 points
The Demons’ on-field ordeals have been exacerbated by incidents off it, with Jake Melksham and Steven May involved in a stoush in a Melbourne restaurant.
Demons players were reportedly jokingly sledging Joel Smith and when Melksham reportedly stood up for the latter, the situation escalated.
The forward allegedly punched May, leaving him needing two bouts of surgery on his infected hand.
The fullback is also alleged to have told Melksham that the Demons would have lost the Grand Final to the Western Bulldogs last season had he played instead of being ruled out due to an injury.
More to follow
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