‘It takes time’: Petracca speaks after Melbourne’s Anzac Day eve win

Resurgent Demon Christian Petracca has backed Melbourne’s internal approach to improving its season after failing to chalk up a victory in its first five games.

“It feels like we are slowly building. Obviously, we had a disappointing start, but, you know, it takes time,” Petracca said after the Demons’ second straight win.

“Sometimes you need a bit more cohesion, and I think tonight was awesome.

“The fourth quarter was disappointing, but I feel like we’re slowly starting to build into some form.”

Melbourne opened up a 35-point break by outscoring the Tigers six goals to one in the third term, but only managed one major in the final term before winning by 20 points.

“No doubt we feel some sort of expectation, both internally and externally, but we understand what we’re building,” Petracca told Channel Seven.

“We need to focus on what we can control and right now, you know, I feel like internally, we’re doing a really good job of keeping things really simple, trying to focus on, you know, the fundamentals and what makes our game tick - and that’s our contest and defence.

“We haven’t been there for the first five weeks with our defence, but I feel like the last two weeks, we’ve shown some really positive signs.”

Petracca finished the night with 11 kicks, 17 handballs and two goals to be one of Melbourne’s best.

The night ends how most expected, with a Melbourne victory. But the journey there did not follow the script.

Simon Goodwin’s Demons, who led by only four points at half-time, needed a six-goals-to-one third term to eventually put away a plucky Richmond side by 20 points in their traditional Anzac Day eve clash.

Melbourne are celebrating back-to-back wins – after five losses to start the season – and can thank their biggest stars for that, with Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver springing to life in a dominant third-quarter display.

Oliver went to half-time with only five disposals and zero clearances, but the four-time club champion amassed 13 and five, respectively, in the match-turning term in a reminder of his rare talent.

Jack Viney, who ran with Tim Taranto, also laid six of his game-high 15 tackles in that period to be another leading light.

The jury is well and truly still out on whether this is the start of a Demons renaissance, or a brief detour from their mediocre ways, but they face the winless West Coast in Perth next week, so the opportunity to build some momentum is there for them.

But they are still in the bottom four, and face a long road back to finals contention.

The game was over a long way out, but Melbourne failed to put the foot down after kicking 44 points clear midway through the last term.

Goodwin put Gawn on ice for most of the last 10 minutes, and watched as the Tigers rattled off the final four goals to slash the margin.

Defenders Christian Salem (34) and Jake Bowey (32) won more of the Sherrin than everyone, while Petracca kicked two goals from his 28 touches and Gawn had 25, nine marks and 34 hit-outs.

Thomson Dow led Richmond with 28 disposals.

FT: Melbourne 12.11 (83) defeated Richmond 9.9 (63)

That brings our Anzac Day eve coverage to a close.

There were smiles all round for Demons fans after suffering through the opening five rounds, and a few glimpses of hope for the Richmond faithful.

Thanks for joining us and be sure to tune in tomorrow for a blockbuster Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. The first ball will be bounced at 3.20pm.

The night ends how most expected, with a Melbourne victory. But the journey there did not follow the script.

Simon Goodwin’s Demons, who led by only four points at half-time, needed a six-goals-to-one third term to eventually put away a plucky Richmond side by 20 points in their traditional Anzac Day eve clash.

Melbourne are celebrating back-to-back wins – after five losses to start the season – and can thank their biggest stars for that, with Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver springing to life in a dominant third-quarter display.

Oliver went to half-time with only five disposals and zero clearances, but the four-time club champion amassed 13 and five, respectively, in the match-turning term in a reminder of his rare talent.

Jack Viney, who ran with Tim Taranto, also laid six of his game-high 15 tackles in that period to be another leading light.

The jury is well and truly still out on whether this is the start of a Demons renaissance, or a brief detour from their mediocre ways, but they face the winless West Coast in Perth next week, so the opportunity to build some momentum is there for them.

But they are still in the bottom four, and face a long road back to finals contention.

The game was over a long way out, but Melbourne failed to put the foot down after kicking 44 points clear midway through the last term.

Goodwin put Gawn on ice for most of the last 10 minutes, and watched as the Tigers rattled off the final four goals to slash the margin.

Defenders Christian Salem (34) and Jake Bowey (32) won more of the Sherrin than everyone, while Petracca kicked two goals from his 28 touches and Gawn had 25, nine marks and 34 hit-outs.

Thomson Dow led Richmond with 28 disposals.

FT: Melbourne 12.11 (83) defeated Richmond 9.9 (63)

Melbourne have scored their second win in two weeks and given some breathing space to coach Simon Goodwin.

The Demons beat Richmond by 20 points at the MCG after taking a 35-point lead into the final term.

Captain Max Gawn was superb and Demons fans will be heartened by the strong showing of Christian Petracca, who had 28 disposals and kicked two goals.

The Tigers have kicked four goals in a row to close the margin to 19 points.

Tim Taranto booted Richmond’s third goal of the last quarter, followed by a major to Toby Nankervis, to bring some respectability to their total.

The Tigers have outscored the Demons four goals to one in the final term.

Melbourne 12.10 (82) lead Richmond 9.9 (63) with less than two minutes remaining.