Melbourne have kept their top-four hopes alive with a stunning four-point victory over Fremantle. The Demons kicked five goals to three in the final term to steal a 17.13 (113) to 17.7 (109) victory in what was quickly anointed as the game of the year.
Petty's Match-Winning Heroics
Harrison Petty was instrumental in the last quarter, kicking two goals and taking three marks in a match-winning effort. He finished the game with three goals, but it should have been four after missing a straightforward set-shot in the closing stages.
Petty kicked his other goal in the second term and had a cheeky celebration to match. After nailing his set shot, he ran away and rubbed his own bald head in a reference to the fiery incident with Dockers antagonist Pat Voss earlier in the year.
Voss Incident and Rule Change
Voss taunted Petty in the Round 2 clash earlier this year, rubbing the Demon's head multiple times and making a cry baby gesture in a reference to an incident earlier in Petty's career. Voss copped a fine for misconduct and his actions also prompted a rule change with umpires now penalising players for rubbing the opposition's head.
Speaking after the match, Petty said it was a spur of the moment decision to celebrate in that way. "That was all spontaneous. I thought a cheeky little dig wouldn't hurt," he said.
"I love Vossy, I love the way he goes about it, he's a competitor and I feel like I'm a competitor too. It's all fun and games in the end."
Comparisons and Reflection
During Petty's heroics in the last quarter, North Melbourne premiership player David King likened the Demon's performance to Wayne Carey. Petty laughed off the comparison, and was typically just happy to play his role.
"It's always pleasing, that's my role to compete and take the marks when they come," he said. "Probably in the first three quarters (Brennan) Cox had the better of me so I was glad I was able to turn it around in the last quarter and hit the scoreboard and have an impact with my marking."
