It was the match when the Melbourne Demons played at Home against the Great Western Sydney Giants. On the other hand, the GWS Giants called it the home/away game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was also the St. Patrick’s Day Theme Match for the Demons while they wore green socks. It was also the inaugural Jim’s Game, celebrating an Irish legend of the club raising funds for the Jim Stynes Foundation. That’s why the Melbourne Demons wore special green socks to honors the legend. Both Captains also each took handshakes before the coin toss. Before the match started, it was the field umpire Matt Stevic’s 500th AFL match at the MCG as the fans applauded him.
The match began with Jack Viney who passed the footy to Christian Petaracca, who then booted it to Matthew Jefferson, who scored the first goal for the Melbourne Demons. Christian Salem took the long range kick out of Centre Square all the way inside the 50 metre circle to Tom Sparrow got the mark which he got a behind. Darcy Jones did a long dribble kick to Toby Greene and an air kick the footy to Aaron Cadman of the Great Western Sydney Giants and got the first goal of the match. Aaron Cadman soccer kicked the ball into the center goal square and got on the board. Toby Greene the Capitan of the GWS Giants was able to take the mark and then got the goal for the Giants, as they take the lead at the MCG. While the Demons tried to avoid the goal, it somehow hit the post and give Tom Green of the Giants to take the kick but ended up with a behind. However, Brent Daniels, to Lachie Whitfield to Finn Challagan kicked the footy to Toby Greene and gives it to Jacob Wehr and was able to take the footy out to score the goal as the Guants got 3 goals in the row after Demons had one each of the goal and behind.
While Max Gawn the Capitan of the Demons Player was able to mark the spot, he somehow kicked the footy to the left and it was a behind. When the players passed the footy to each other, somehow Matthew Jefferson passed the footy to Jack Henderson of the Demons and dropped the ball in the Goal Square and was able to get into the goal, as the fans were happy to see the home team get closer to the Giants. Before they wrapped up the 1st Quarter, both Melbourne Demons and GWS Giants had great moments with close calls while the defense avoided to allow the other team to score a goal or a behind. The GWS Giants has took the lead to wrapped up the first Quarter of the match with a lead of 3.1 (19) to 2.2 (14).
The 2nd Quarter began with Harry Sharp who was a former player of the AFL Grand Finalist Brisbane Lions which ended up got a behind for the Dees. Then, the Giants were able to punt the footy to avoid the mark, Christian Petracca of the Dees somehow got the Goal with a terrific kick as the Melbourne fans roared the energy at the MCG. The Dees has has but themselves back at the lead since the beginning of the match. The GWS Giants got 3 behinds it started off as rushed behind, then Toby Greene took the mark but ended up kicking on the side goal for a behind and Josh Kelly got a behind as they slowly increase the lead. After that, The Demons kicked the footy and somehow dropped it, which Harry Sharp got an incredible goal as he kicked it like a soccer ball. The Demons were able to take back the lead thanks to Harry Sharp as the fans roared up from the former Brisbane Player. Momentarily, Max Gawn ran the footy as he passed it to Xavier Lindsay while kicked it inside the 50 metre circle while Aidan Johnson almost caught the footy. Jack Henderson then gives the footy to Trent Rivers as he kicked it near the goal square to Jacob van Rooyen, and Christian Petracca scored the goal to extend the Demons lead while the fans were excited for the amazing goal and it was also his 2nd goal of the match. The Dee’s has bashed the Giants as Christian Petracca was the excitement machine. They also show the view of Neale Daniher watching the Dees played in action. The Giants were about to get a goal from Greene to Green and kicked it Aaron Cadman but the referees decided to announced that it wasn’t a goal and called it a soft play. It was by the goal line and point post which Cadman was one step close to get the goal. Then Cadman kicked the footy at the corner and gives the Giants a goal to get a good chance. Then Aidan Johnson got a behind for the Dees as the lead by a 7 point margin. In the boundary line Toby Bedford ran and kicked the footy to Callum M. brown which The Demons defense took the footy as Xavier O’Halloran was about to run it and Steve Conlingo of the Giants took the kick and tied the game at 5.4 (34) to 5.4 (34). After that, Toby Greene was able to stop the footy with the one arm which Harrison Petty was caught for a foul inside the 50 metre circle. Greene was able to get the free kick and managed to kick the goal to regain the lead. Before it was halftime, Xavier O’Halloran of the Giants got a behind which gives the Giants to wrapped up the first half of the match. The GWS Giants took the lead at 6.5 (41) to 5.4 (34) which looked like a 7 point margin.
The 3rd Quarter began with Caleb Windsor as he took the 50 yard kick and got the goal for Melbourne. Moments after the first goal of the Quarter, Christian Petracca was able to ran the ball after the restart which he threw the ball to Tom Sparrow also got a 50 yard kick into the goal as the Melbourne Football Club fans assumed their energetic lead at the MCG. Jake Bowey of Melbourne got the goal as MFC scored 3 goals with 21 points in the first 4 minutes of the 3rd Quarter. After that, Tom Green took the ball and kicked it to Stephen Conlingo as he avoided the tackle and Conlingo got his 2nd goal for the Giants. After that, Toby Greene took the mark, but ended up kicked the footy the left post with a behind. Harry Sharp then slowly kicked the footy as the Giants punt it with rushed behind. After that, the GWS Giants made a poor punt which give Jacob van Rooyen the opportunity to kicked the footy into the Goal Square and got the goal for the Dee’s with the Irish Jig for the theme of their goal celebration. The Melbourne Demons has taken the lead with the 11 points margin at 9.5 (59) to 7.6 (48). One of the Melbourne players did a 360 angle to go pass through the mighty Giants. Harry Sharp was about to kick a 55 metre kick but ended up hitting the post. Sparrow kicked the footy to his teammates, which Matthew Jefferson couldn’t hold on the footy from the Giants Defense, Aidan Johnson was able to ripped it out from the Giants and scored the Goal to extended their lead. It was also Johnson’s Debut Goal for the Dees as his fans were happy to see him get the goal in action and it was the goal to remembered that he won’t forget. Toby Greene was about to kick it inside the 50 metre circle, which the Melbourne defense was able to use the block it with their hands and give the Giants a rushed behind. While Sam Taylor passed it to Tom Green, the Giants took some quick passes before Stephen Conlingo was able to get the help from his teammates and kicked it by the Goal Square as their down by 10 point margin. The Demons almost got a goal which the Giants were able to block the footy, to prevent the Dee’s moment of getting another goal. The treacherous rain suddenly took over the Melbourne Cricket Ground as it was a minute left in the 3rd Quarter. Christian Petracca got the behind as he gives the Giants the lead at 66-55 while leading the Giants with the 11 point margin.
The 4th and Final Quarter began with the treacherous rain as fans decided to sit by the shade this way they don’t get wet while others rather not mind getting wet so they can see their favorite players. Both teams struggled to get the footy while the field was wet and muddy. Then Tom Green was able to get the goal while Jake Lever the Melbourne Key Defender almost got the finger tips to avoid it with a rushed behind. The Giants had got the 5 point margin which they can take the lead if they get the goal again. While Caleb Windsor ran in the centre Square as he kicked it to Matthew Jefferson and took the mark. Matthew Jefferson took the 45 yard kick and it was a close shot which he was lucky enough to get the goal. The lucky Shamrock gives the Demons to take the lead as the sun was able to shine again. Aaron Camdan was able to stopped the footy in the Centre Square and kicked it to Finn Callaghan and ended up with a behind. After that, The GWS Giants Capitan Toby Greene was going to get the goal, but ended up hitting the post for a behind. Jacob Weir was about to get a goal but ended up with a behind. The heavy downpours went back as the match became intense with both teams. The Demons were about to get a goal but the Mighty Giants had other plans as the ran the footy as O’Callaghan kicked to Cadman and ran the footy to Greene as he took the 45 yard kick to score his 3rd Goal of the Match. As the rain stopped, both teams have tackled the footy while it was a 2 point margin. Both teams worked hard to defend the ball as the fans began to shout out the team to increase the momentum. The Giants were able to get a rushed behind as the match have over 6:30 left on the clock. The match began to get intense as time starts to wind down. Max Gawn took the long kick as it was a close but ended up a rushed behind. As Melbourne tired themselves out, the Mighty Giants intercepted to footy but the Demons took back the footy as Johnson took the mark before the 2 minute warning. The Demon fans were about to witness the most exciting moment of the winning goal, which Aidan Johnson ended got a behind on the right hand side while leading the Giants 11.8 (74) to 10.11 (71) with the 3 points margin.
The Mighty Giants has find a way to Never Surrender as it started with Lachie Whitfield, then passed it to Josh Kelly, then passed it to Darcy Jones, and quickly give it to Finn Callaghan while he ran to get the footy. He then passed it to Stephen Conlingo, passed it to Callan Ward with a quick run and kicked it to Lachlan Keeffe at the mark. This could be the opportunity for the Mighty Giants to take the winning shot if they get the goal. While Lachlan Keeffe walked back into the 50 metre line, fans were feeling anxious about the winning goal for the Giants. Lachlan Keeffe had 19 career goals which he can get his 20th and took the 40 metre kick as he give the Mighty Giants get themselves back the lead by 3 points with 53 seconds left on the clock. The Orange Army stormed in to celebrate the goal which there still some time left for Melbourne to get one more opportunity to regain the lead. When they started at the Centre Circle, Max Gawn failed to kept the ball but Toby Greene kicked a long range which it used too much power and the ball went out of bounds into the boundary line. The Demons took so much pressure to give the footy back as they were going to get one last resort but Stephen Colingo was able to intercept the footy and Tom Green took a wide kick up into the air and landed back to Melbourne. When the Dee’s were about to run the ball, the siren was on and the Great Western Sydney Giants has won the lucky shamrock Match in the St. Patrick’s Weekend Footy Match with the final result of 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74). This was the only match that the Great Western Sydney Giants had a home/away match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the Giants remain undefeated to start the 2025 Season of the AFL.
The GWS Giants started off the season on an impressive performance which they never surrendered and played their best to stay unbeaten and Top of the Ladder to began the 2025 Season. The players and Fans were energetic to see the Giants take the win at the MCG for a rainy afternoon before St. Patrick’s Day.
MELBOURNE DEMONS 2.2 5.4 10.6 11.8 (74)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS 3.1 6.5 8.7 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Jefferson 2, Henderson, Sharp, Windsor, Sparrow, Bowey, van Rooyen, Johnson
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio 3, Greene 3, Cadman 2, Wehr, Green, Keeffe
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Petracca, Viney, Salem, Oliver, Langdon
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Whitfield, Greene, Green, Callaghan
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Daniels (hip)
LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Steven May replaced in the selected side by Tom McDonald.
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Harvey Langford (replaced Blake Howes in the fourth quarter)
Greater Western Sydney: Max Gruzewski (replaced Brent Daniels in the third quarter)
Crowd: 23,278 at MCG
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