2012 Melbourne Football Club season

• In the first game, Mitch Clark opened Melbourne's pre-season campaign with a successful shot at goal. Soon after Nathan Jones's goal would extend Melbourne's lead with signs of Melbourne running away with the game. However Gold Coast would steady the game and level it up 0.2.2 a piece at half time. In the second half Nathan Bock and Gary Ablett would raise the intensity in the midfield to help take the lead away from a wasteful Melbourne in the dying stages of the game.
• In the second game, a fresh Brisbane Lions would dominate in the midfield and keep Melbourne scoreless in the first-half. However they would not get the scoreboard to reflect their efforts only kicking one goal up until half-time. Melbourne would capitalise on the Brisbane Lions's low inside 50 success rate with goals to Colin Sylvia and James Sellar to take away the lead. Melbourne would almost lose the game in the dying 30 seconds when Brisbane got the ball to move from coast to coast and into empty forward 50 space. James Polkinghorne under pressure would grab the ball and shoot along the ground from 15 metres out on an angle, however the ball would bounce past the goals and go through for a behind to end the game.

• Melbourne won their second game of the NAB Cup with a surprise victory against the 2011 NAB Cup premiers Collingwood as Mark Neeld won his first ever encounter against his old club.
• Throughout the match Melbourne would do much of the attacking in the midfield, but would be unable to convert on the scoreboard up until half time.
• Melbourne would take control of the game despite a late onslaught by Collingwood in the third quarter and eventually run away with the game in the fourth quarter.
• Collingwood would kick the last couple of goals during time-on as Melbourne would be victourious by 9 points.
• Despite only being a pre-season game, this was Melbourne's first victory against Collingwood since Round 11, 2007 and their first victory at Etihad Stadium since Round 19, 2007.

• From the start of the game, Melbourne would be utterly decimated in the midfield and would be unable to have any real impact against Hawthorn.
• Lance Franklin and David Hale would put on a show for Hawthorn fans kicking 12 goals between them which included one super-goal from Franklin.

• About a fortnight before the game, former club-president and club-champion Jim Stynes died of cancer.
• Directly before the National Anthem was performed, one minute of applause was dedicated to Jim Stynes for all his contributions to the Melbourne Football Club and the greater community.
• Despite an emotional Melbourne heading in as favourites, they were comprehensively beaten by the Brisbane Lions due to Brisbane's ability to move the ball out of stoppages and towards free targets.
• Brisbane Lions's win over Melbourne was their first at the MCG since Round 21, 1999.

Debut(s): James Magner, Josh Tynan
Brownlow Votes: 1. Niall McKeever (Brisbane Lions), 2. James Magner (Melbourne), 3. Simon Black (Brisbane Lions)^[4]
Ladder Position: 14th
Substitutes: Matthew Bate Sam Blease

• Melbourne headed into the match without a major sponsor after their CEO Cameron Schwab cut ties with Energywatch due to its CEO Ben Polis' controversial remarks on Facebook.
• Melbourne ended a nightmare week with a 108-point destruction in the hands of West Coast who would dominate the free-kick count 32-12 and the tackle count 69-41 despite controlling much of the ball possession throughout the game.
• This would be Melbourne's largest ever loss at Patersons Stadium and also their largest ever loss against West Coast.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Luke Shuey (West Coast), 2. Scott Selwood (West Coast), 3. Matt Priddis (West Coast)^[5]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Matthew Bate Jamie Bennell

• It was announced earlier in the week that Webjet would sign on as one of two major sponsors after Melbourne cut ties with Energywatch the week before.
• Despite playing a competitive first half, Richmond would kick 9 goals to 1 in the third quarter to put the game beyond doubt for Melbourne.
• Melbourne's 3rd consecutive huge loss would ensure that they would fall below 16th spot for the first time in the club's history.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Shane Tuck (Richmond), 2. Nathan Foley (Richmond), 3. Shaun Grigg (Richmond)^[6]
Ladder Position: 17th
Substitutes: Lynden Dunn Stefan Martin

• This match was designated to be the Jim Stynes Tribute Game, in which a Jim Stynes Tribute Hour was held before the start of the game.
• The Jim Stynes Tribute Hour featured tribute videos, speeches and appearances from The Reach Foundation, former teammates Garry Lyon and Russell Robertson, Jim Stynes' family as well as Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
• David Bridie lead singer of the band My Friend The Chocolate Cake would perform a musical act in the tribute hour which included songs "Jimmy Stynes" and "Danny Boy".
• Melbourne would wear a special jumper with a green shamrock clover present in the middle of the jumper with the Jim Stynes number 11 on it.
• Prior to the game it was also announced that Opel had signed on as Melbourne's second major sponsor.
• In cold and rainy conditions where both teams were yet to register a win for the season, Melbourne would be wasteful of their opportunities as Western Bulldogs would capitalize more of their chances up until half time.
• Despite a Melbourne fightback which would bring them within 1 point midway through the third quarter, Western Bulldogs would re-extend their margin and win comfortable 21-point winners.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Matthew Bate (Melbourne), 2. Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs), 3. Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)^[7]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Luke Tapscott Mitch Clark

• Thanks to a midfield onslaught led by Nathan Jones, Melbourne looked like picking up their first win of the season. However a much more experienced St Kilda outfit was able to keep Melbourne scoreless in the final quarter and run away 18-point winners within the last 10 minutes of the game.

Milestone(s): Clint Bartram (100th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. David Armitage (St Kilda), 2. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 3. Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)^[8]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Colin Sylvia Lynden Dunn

• Despite losing to Geelong by 186 points 9 months before, Melbourne would put on a much more competitive display against an essentially rebuilding Geelong side.
• Melbourne would get within 2 goals midway through the third quarter, but would fade out and eventually fall by 43 points.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Steven Motlop (Geelong), 2. Joel Corey (Geelong), 3. Steve Johnson (Geelong)^[9]
Ladder Position: 17th
Substitutes: Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott

• Playing their only Friday night game of the year in cold and wet conditions, Melbourne's midfield would be dominated by that of Hawthorn's whom dominated the inside 50 count 64-36 as well as the clearance count 40-22. The margin was only won by 66 points due to Hawthorn's inaccurate shots on goals.
• Melbourne would finish the round at the bottom of the ladder for the first time since Round 1, 2010.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), 2. Matt Suckling (Hawthorn), 3. Brad Sewell (Hawthorn)^[10]
Ladder Position: 18th
Substitutes: Matthew Bate Jack Fitzpatrick

• Sydney celebrated their 30th anniversary of relocation from South Melbourne in this match by wearing a special red-vee jumper with all the names of the players whom have played for Sydney since 1982.
• Liam Jurrah would play his first and only match of the season after facing Alice Springs Magistrates Court for the first part of the season.
• Rainy SCG conditions proved to be a nightmare for Melbourne's relatively inexperienced forwards and midfielders against Sydney's matured and large bodied key match-ups. In a scrappy game with plenty of stoppages, Melbourne would get slaughtered by 101 points.
• Jack Watts would by far receive Melbourne's greatest number of disposals for the match earning 34 as he played as a loose player in the half-back line. This would ultimately result in him playing out the rest of the season as a defender.
• This loss would be Melbourne's second-ever worst loss at the SCG and their third-ever worst against Sydney.
• Despite the magnitude of the loss, Jeremy Howe would win the Mark of the Year in this game by taking a wayward mark over Heath Grundy midway through the third quarter.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Dan Hannebery (Sydney), 2. Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney), 3. Kieren Jack (Sydney)^[11]
Ladder Position: 18th
Substitutes: Jamie Bennell Cale Morton

• In another wet day in Melbourne, the Demons would run rampant over Carlton in the first quarter by holding a 14-point lead late in the first quarter. However Carlton would wrestle back control of the match and eventually snatch the lead early in the second quarter.
• Up until 3 quarter time Melbourne would be right in this match by inhibiting Chris Judd's involvement in the match and managed to only trail by 16 points at the final break.
• Despite the hard efforts of Melbourne, Carlton would blow the match away and manage to kick 7 goals to none in the final quarter and ensured Melbourne would receive their 4th consecutive 40-plus-point loss.
• Melbourne's 0-9 start to the year was their second since Round 9, 2007.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Andrew Walker (Carlton), 2. David Ellard (Carlton), 3. Mitch Robinson (Carlton)^[12]
Ladder Position: 18th
Substitutes: Jamie Bennell Brad Green

• Despite winning their last two encounters at the MCG, Melbourne would head into the game as major under-dogs against second placed Essendon.
• Melbourne would play their 4th consecutive week of wet-weather football.
• Essendon got off to a quick start in the first quarter with a quick pick up and goal by Jobe Watson 20 metres out. However were wasteful heading inside 50 and Melbourne took the lead midway through the first quarter with a running kick at goal from Jeremy Howe.
• In a low scoring struggle from both sides Melbourne would finally break the ice with a shot at goal from Cale Morton, a running shot and bounce through goal by Brent Moloney outside 50 and a right-footed banana shot from Nathan Jones to get the Demons out to a 13-point lead. It was not until the final minutes of the half when Alwyn Davey would soccer a shot from within the goal square through to close the lead to 6 points.
• Essendon as expected would come out with a lifted intensity and kicked 3 consecutive goals in the third quarter to extend the lead to 15 points. Towards the end of the quarter Mitch Clark would earn a free shot at goal and converted to bring Melbourne back within 8 points as well as break Essendon's momentum.
• After a successful right-angled kick at goal from Colin Garland as well as a controversially denied goal by Daniel Nicholson in the final quarter, Colin Garland would be the unlikely hero by kicking 2 consecutive goals that would earn Melbourne a 13-point lead.
• In the final ten minutes Jobe Watson would snap-kick a running goal from near the boundary to bring the margin back to 5 points. However due to hard-ball wins from Nathan Jones, Jack Watts, Jack Grimes and Daniel Nicholson as well as a wayward shot at goal that resulted in a behind from Colin Garland, Melbourne would finish by producing one of the biggest upsets of the season.
• Melbourne's upset win would be their 80th ever win against Essendon in VFL/AFL history, and ranked first among the Herald Sun's top ten surprises of the 2012 season.^[13]

Brownlow Votes: 1. Daniel Nicholson (Melbourne), 2. Jobe Watson (Essendon), 3. Jack Watts (Melbourne)^[14]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Sam Blease Lynden Dunn

• Mark Neeld's first official encounter against his old club would go down as a comprehensive loss as Collingwood would prove to be too-strong against Melbourne's midfielders with their new use of the corridor under Nathan Buckley.
• After Collingwood kicked the first 8 consecutive goals of the match, Melbourne started a mini-comeback in the late second and third quarters kicking 6 of the next 7 goals to close the margin to within 24 points.
• Collingwood would end Melbourne's comeback by kicking the next 4 goals and equalizing the final 6 goals Melbourne kicked for the match in a high-scoring last quarter.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood), 2. Dayne Beams (Collingwood), 3. Dane Swan (Collingwood)^[15]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Lynden Dunn Brad Green

• Melbourne's inaugural clash with Greater Western Sydney, featured ex-Melbourne captain James McDonald and Tom Scully facing their old club and teammates.
• Whilst James McDonald received a pleasant reception from the Melbourne supporters, Tom Scully was jeered heavily every time he touched the ball, or was sent off to the interchange bench, due to his decision to leave Melbourne the year before for a 5-million dollar contract at Greater Western Sydney.
• Despite conceding the first 2 goals of the game and looking to be challenged by Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne would settle their nerves at the end of the first quarter and build up a lead in the second quarter.
• Melbourne's third quarter was their most impressive quarter for the season as they kept Greater Western Sydney scoreless and piled on 7.4. This was the first time that they had kept a team scoreless in a quarter since Round 8, 2006.
• Melbourne's last quarter featured inaccurate kicking from set shots as they only added 2 extra goals, but still managed to draw the quarter and let Greater Western Sydney's first ever match at the MCG be a thrashing.
• Tom McDonald received the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 13.
• For the first and only time in 2012, Melbourne players would collect all the Brownlow votes in a game.
• During the second quarter Mitch Clark (whom at that point had scored 4 goals) had a head-collision to James Magner's knees. It was later revealed he had suffered a Lisfranc injury and would be out for the rest of the season.
• Despite Melbourne comfortably scoring goals for the rest of the game, Mitch Clark's injury would leave Melbourne without a key forward as they would struggle to make the most of their chances form inside 50 after this match. For the rest of the season, a number of key-defenders would be rotated to fill Mitch Clark's void including Jared Rivers, Colin Garland and Luke Tapscott.

Milestones: Jack Watts (50th AFL game), Tom McDonald (Rising Star round nominee)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Colin Sylvia (Melbourne), 2. Jack Grimes (Melbourne), 3. Nathan Jones (Melbourne)^[16]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Sam Blease Mitch Clark

• With Mitch Clark injured for the rest of the season as well as Nathan Jones and Mark Jamar acting as late withdrawals, Melbourne lacked key players for their game plan structure.
• Melbourne would steady Brisbane Lions' first 3 goals by dominating the forward 50 entrances in the first quarter. However with no versatile forward Melbourne would only score 3 goals before the Brisbane Lions' would run over the top of them for the rest of the match.
• Melbourne's low inside 50 conversion rate (8 goals from 54 inside 50s) would break their 2-game winning streak at the Gabba.

Milestones(s): Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie (50th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), 2. Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions), 3. Brown (Brisbane Lions)^[17]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Sam Blease Tom McDonald

• From the very start of the match, Richmond would dominate possession-use of the ball and despite their inaccurate kicking in the forward line, they would mostly prevent Melbourne from letting the ball escape their forward half throughout the game.
• A second and fourth quarter momentum shift saw Melbourne make the most of their inside 50s, however they would never threaten Richmond's lead eventually losing by 23 points.

Milestones(s): Matthew Bate (100th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Brett Deledio (Richmond), 2. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 3. Shaun Grigg (Richmond)^[18]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Brent Moloney James Magner

• With the Geelong vs Collingwood blockbuster playing at the MCG that night, Melbourne were forced to use Etihad Stadium to host this match. Owing to Melbourne's horrible on-field performance during the season, a very low crowd was expected to turn up and hence the entire level 4 was closed. The crowd of 13,284 was the fourth lowest AFL crowd at Etihad Stadium since it opened in 2000.
• Melbourne produced their best first quarter at that point for the season by kicking the first 3 goals of the match and leading by 20 points at quarter time.
• Fremantle's increased pressure on Melbourne's midfield in the second quarter ensured a large amount of ball-time spent in their forward half. However they were unable to convert their many forward 50 entrances and would only chip away at the margin until half time.
• When Fremantle eventually took the lead away from Melbourne midway through the third quarter, the Demons would gather another burst of momentum and kick the next 4 goals.
• After Sam Blease's goal of the year contender from the boundary line 50 metres out, Fremantle would instantly reply and from that point on run over the top of Melbourne by kicking the last 9 goals of the game.

Debut(s): Tom Couch
Brownlow Votes: 1. Stephen Hill (Fremantle), 2. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 3. David Mundy (Fremantle)^[19]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: James Strauss Mark Jamar

• Despite Melbourne's 2-0 record at TIO Stadium, they would come in as underdogs against fellow cellar-dwellers Port Adelaide.
• Melbourne whom were preparing for the hot and humid conditions in Darwin for a month beforehand would attack early on for the first quarter. However they would eventually slow down and miss vitally needed opportunities as Port Adelaide would snatch the lead in the second quarter and continue to extend it for the rest of the match.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Jack Grimes (Melbourne), 2. Paul Stewart (Port Adelaide), 3. Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)^[20]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: James Strauss James Magner

• Brad Green would become the 8th Melbourne footballer to reach 250 games.
• After North Melbourne kicked the first 5 goals of the match, the game would be too far out of reach for Melbourne to make a comeback.
• Nathan Jones' attempt of lifting Melbourne back in the game would minimize the deficit, however it wouldn't make it a memorable game for Brad Green as they lost their 12th consecutive match against North Melbourne.

Milestone(s): Brad Green (250th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 2. Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne), 3. Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne)^[21]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: James Strauss Neville Jetta

• Melbourne recorded its best first quarter of the season and the 13th largest first quarter margin in its club's VFL/AFL history.
• After Melbourne scored its first goal of the second quarter, it looked like they would thrash Gold Coast. However they would slow down and allow Gold Coast to compete for the rest of the match in a game filled with skill errors and injuries from both sides.
• To end the lack-lustre game, Jeremy Howe would take a leaping grab over teammate Rohan Bail and Campbell Brown in the forward 50 and kick a goal after the siren and extend Melbourne's final margin over 40 points.
• A Kick On The 'G was permitted after the game due to the expected low attendance at the game.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Gary Ablett (Gold Coast), 2. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 3. Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)^[22]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: James Magner Cale Morton

• Melbourne's scoreless first quarter seemed to indicate that they were in for another bad match. However they began to dominate more of the ball towards the end of the first quarter, slowly chipping back at St Kilda's margin in the second quarter.
• After Melbourne got within 5 points of St Kilda early within the third quarter, St Kilda would increase their midfield drive and blow the margin out to 50 points.
• With the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, Melbourne emulated the attacking nature of St Kilda in the third quarter to score their highest score in a quarter for the season (8.1.49) and cut the three quarter time deficit in half by the end of the match.

Milestone(s): Jack Grimes (50th AFL game), Sam Blease (Rising Star round nominee)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Sam Blease (Melbourne), 2. Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda), 3. Beau Wilkes (St Kilda)^[23]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: James Magner Brent Moloney

• Triple Brisbane Lions premiership player Luke Power played his 300th AFL game in this match.
• In freezing weather with strong winds, both sides would produce an array of skill errors, excessive stoppages and missed opportunities throughout the match.
• For the second time in its inaugural season, Melbourne would keep Greater Western Sydney goal-less in a third quarter.
• Entering time on Melbourne would hold a 43-point lead due as Greater Western Sydney lacked strength in its young forward line to kick the ball long in the windy conditions. However Melbourne would concede the last 3 goals of the game in the last 5 minutes to bridge the gap back to 25 points at full time.
• Despite the poor-quality of the match, Melbourne would win a game at Manuka Oval for the first time since Round 11, 2005.

Brownlow Votes: 1. Jonathan Giles (Greater Western Sydney), 2. Nathan Jones (Melbourne), 3. Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney)^[24]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Jack Watts Tom Couch

• Brad Green announced his retirement in the lead up to this game saying that he would rather retire home at the MCG rather than retiring at Subiaco against Fremantle.
• For the first time, both Dean Bailey and Neil Craig would play against their old clubs in assistant coaching positions since both of them were sacked as senior coaches in 2011.
• During the first half, Melbourne's midfield would match that of Adelaide's midfield. However due to the lack of a key forward for Melbourne, they would easily give up the ball to Adelaide's defenders. From there Adelaide were able to kick to key forwards Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippett and Ian Callinan whom would put make Melbourne pay on the scoreboard.
• Adelaide would blow the game out of Melbourne's reach in the third quarter by kicking 10 goals to 3 and increase their chances of a top 2 finish to the season.
• Melbourne's 69-point loss would produce a mammoth 165-point negative-form reversal against Adelaide and send Brad Green out without a fairy-tale finish.

Milestone(s): James Frawley (100th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Colin Sylvia (Melbourne), 2. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide), 3. Taylor Walker (Adelaide)^[25]
Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Neville Jetta Jared Rivers

• With North Melbourne's unconvincing win over Greater Western Sydney earlier in the day, Fremantle had to ensure that they would win by a narrow margin if they were to finish 8th below North Melbourne on percentage and play an elimination final at Perth against West Coast.
• In the opening 2 minutes of the game, Fremantle kicked the first 2 goals of the game with Melbourne only gaining 1 possession.
• Up until halfway through the second quarter, Melbourne would wrestle control of the match by keeping the a large period of the ball in their forward half. Melbourne would slowly would cut the margin back to 6 points as it appeared that Fremantle were trying to secure a "home" final.
• Fremantle would eventually break Melbourne's momentum and begin to successfully hold marks in the forward 50 to score. From that point on they would completely shut Melbourne out of the game to win by 61 points. This however meant that they would have to travel to Melbourne to play Geelong in an elimination final.
• Melbourne would finally end a dismal year in which Mark Neeld would make a large amount of list changes over the pre-season for 2013.

Milestone(s): Jared Rivers (150th AFL game)
Brownlow Votes: 1. Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle), 2. David Mundy (Fremantle), 3. Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)^[26]
Final Ladder Position: 16th
Substitutes: Josh Tynan Sam Blease