AFL 2024 round four LIVE updates: Demons charge to top of ladder after back-to-back wins in Adelaide

Demons bat deep

Clayton Oliver has seldom endured a less productive first half than his six-disposal tally at 16 per cent against Adelaide.

But despite Oliver’s rare downer – the gun midfielder was seemingly still hampered by a finger injury – Melbourne led by 17 points at half-time while getting on top in the clinches after an indifferent opening.

Oliver finished with a modest 16 touches, but the Dees had other contributors pop up.

South Aussie Tom Sparrow’s cameo was admirable, while the usual engine room drivers Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney ensured a prosperous, flawless six-day stay in Adelaide for the Dees and top spot on the ladder.

Kozzy in strife

Kysaiah Pickett faces scrutiny from the MRO after collecting Crow Jake Soligo high in a botched second-quarter smother.

The electrifying but at-times undisciplined Demon left the ground to smother Soligo’s attempted handball – but then it went awry.

Pickett tucked his arm in on the follow-through and collected the young Crow’s head with his shoulder.

Soligo completed the game and was among Adelaide’s best, but Pickett nonetheless faces a third suspension in the space of barely 12 months.

He copped two games for taking Western Bulldogs superstar Bailey Smith high in last year’s opening round then received two weeks for a high hit on Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps in the finals.

Go-slow Crows

Adelaide thrilled the full-voiced, bumper crowd of 48,020 with a furious late rally, holding the Demons goalless after three-quarter-time.

But the rearguard came far too late and with too much damage already inflicted by two horrid middle two terms which have consigned them to a 0-4 start.

More than half of the Demons’ final score came from Adelaide turnovers, the home side’s slow, predictable ball movement feasted on by Melbourne’s expert interceptors behind the ball.

After missing last year’s finals by a whisker, all while playing an attractive, high-voltage brand of football, the Crows couldn’t be further off that pace to launch 2024.

Melbourne has revealed that they spent the week in Adelaide as part of a pre-planned mission to score back-to-back wins at Adelaide Oval.

After accounting for the Crows by 15 points on the opening night of Gather Round, five days after downing Port power by seven points, it was mission accomplished.

Former captain Jack Viney said the road trip had helped the Demons band together.

“To be able to spend a bit more time with your teammates, go out to dinner, go out for brekky, all that kind of stuff, helps build connection with your teammates,” Viney told Channel 7.

“It has translated onto the footy field. Guys being selfless and guys celebrating acts where they might not be involved but are happy to see their teammates succeed. That is contagious.”

Melbourne has now won its past four straight, after dropping their season opener to Sydney, and sits on top of the ladder after the opening game of Gather Round.

“There are lots of things that we are happy with at the moment,” Viney said.

Viney said the Demons had been working hard across the summer on stoppage and clearance work as well as efficient ball use going forward.

“To get a good range of goalkickers, it’s great to see,” he said.

The AFL’s “Gather Round” for 2024 is up and running …

Demons bat deep

Clayton Oliver has seldom endured a less productive first half than his six-disposal tally at 16 per cent against Adelaide.

But despite Oliver’s rare downer – the gun midfielder was seemingly still hampered by a finger injury – Melbourne led by 17 points at half-time while getting on top in the clinches after an indifferent opening.

Oliver finished with a modest 16 touches, but the Dees had other contributors pop up.

South Aussie Tom Sparrow’s cameo was admirable, while the usual engine room drivers Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney ensured a prosperous, flawless six-day stay in Adelaide for the Dees and top spot on the ladder.

Kozzy in strife

Kysaiah Pickett faces scrutiny from the MRO after collecting Crow Jake Soligo high in a botched second-quarter smother.

The electrifying but at-times undisciplined Demon left the ground to smother Soligo’s attempted handball – but then it went awry.

Pickett tucked his arm in on the follow-through and collected the young Crow’s head with his shoulder.

Soligo completed the game and was among Adelaide’s best, but Pickett nonetheless faces a third suspension in the space of barely 12 months.

He copped two games for taking Western Bulldogs superstar Bailey Smith high in last year’s opening round then received two weeks for a high hit on Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps in the finals.

Go-slow Crows

Adelaide thrilled the full-voiced, bumper crowd of 48,020 with a furious late rally, holding the Demons goalless after three-quarter-time.

But the rearguard came far too late and with too much damage already inflicted by two horrid middle two terms which have consigned them to a 0-4 start.

More than half of the Demons’ final score came from Adelaide turnovers, the home side’s slow, predictable ball movement feasted on by Melbourne’s expert interceptors behind the ball.

After missing last year’s finals by a whisker, all while playing an attractive, high-voltage brand of football, the Crows couldn’t be further off that pace to launch 2024.

Melbourne’s twin pillars in defence, Steven May and Jake Lever, said it was mission accomplished after back-to-back wins in Adelaide.

The Demons downed Port Power by seven points at Adelaide Oval last week and then five days later took care of the spirited Crows on the same ground by 15 points.

“I knew that Adelaide would throw everything at us,” May told Channel 7 after the win.

“We come here on a mission and it is a business trip and we spent the week here. To take on two Adelaide powerhouses and win, that is exactly what we wanted.”

May spent last week out with a rib injury and looked tender in the first quarter as he battled big Crow Taylor Walker in marking contests, but he still managed to stand tall and intercept numerous Adelaide forward thrusts.

Lever said the Demons defence stood tall with May in the team.

“It is so great to have him back,” Lever told Seven. “We rely on him as a team. We love playing with him. We stand tall when we get to play with him.

“We know coming into the game that Adelaide were going to give their best. It is a hostile environment here and we have won two weeks in a row.”

Melbourne has maintained its impressive record at Adelaide Oval, downing the Crows by 15 points despite a goalless last quarter.

The Demons have now beaten both Adelaide teams within the space of a week on their home turf.

It is four wins straight for Melbourne and they will momentarily grab top spot.

Tonight’s game was played before 48,000 fans. The Crows are now zero and four and face Carlton at Marvel Stadium next week. Worrying times for coach Matthew Nicks.

Here’s the equation: three minutes remaining and the Crows trail by 14 points.

They need three goals in three minutes. Is it possible?

For all the early talk of the Crows forgetting how to score, Melbourne started reading the same playbook.

The Demons have now gone 28 minutes of playing time without scoring a goal.

Back to 15 points. Do the Crows dare to dream?

Adelaide has now kicked three goals in a row, the latest because of a Jake Lever brain fade.

The Melbourne defender lost touch with Joshua Rachele with a high, incoming ball and then appeared to try and tackle his opponent rather than spoil the mark. Rachele was rightly awarded the free and kicked truly.

Suddenly, the crowd is alive and the Demon defence looks a little shaky.

Is there a sniff? Is there a glimmer of hope?

Crows skipper Jordan Dawson has tried desperately to inspire his uninspired side by taking a sliding mark and kicking a goal. That is three of the past four to Adelaide.

But with less than 10 minutes remaining they still trail by 22 points.

Melbourne has subbed Ben Brown out of the game for Woewodin.