What we learned from Round 14...

At the conclusion of each round, we will dissect the five key issues that eventuated from the weekend’s games of footy.

Here is what we learned from Round 14...

Melbourne’s happy meal

It is really happening, Demon fans.

There is something different about this Melbourne team. Saturday night’s win over West Coast wasn’t pretty, as the Eagles asserted their territorial dominance for 55 percent of game time. The victory required a certain level of heart and desperation, an attitude that has rarely been aligned with the Dees.

Tom McDonald was the one Demon who personified this mentality, and he was the hero, his miracle goal in the dying moments securing the victory for the visiting side.

Simon Goodwin has had to move McDonald forward out of necessity. With Jesse Hogan out, Melbourne is void of key forward posts, meaning the defender has had to relocate into the attacking arc to give his side an option when moving towards goal.

We had seen signs of McDonald’s efficiency up forward, but against the Eagles, he came out of his shell completely. The 24-year-old was superb, as he booted a career-high five goals, was involved in 14 scores and pulled down eight marks, five of which came inside the forward 50 zone.

McDonald looked like a natural. Just like another defender, Jeremy McGovern, looked like a towering key forward at one end, his Demon counterpart was matching his every move. Even if McDonald didn’t mark the ball, he constantly created a contest, allowing his teammates to crumb the footy and have a chance at the big sticks.

And, of course, there was that goal. Getting swung around in a tackle, McDonald, somehow, some way, with the greatest leg lunge of his life, got boot to ball and it flew just high enough to avoid the Eagles on the goal line. It sailed through, as the Demons flooded back to protect the magical lead they had just attained.

McDonald was developing nicely as a shutdown defender, past the time when he was the proverbial whipping boy amongst Melbourne supporters. Now, the North Ballarat product is almost a symbol for the Demons. In a season where adversity has hit on and off the field, McDonald has taken a necessary positional shift for the team, without compliant. And the results have been joyous, and if this trend continues, Melbourne fans have the right to dare to dream.

Hodge’s true influence

We have heard about Luke Hodge’s leadership skills and capabilities. However, the public was exposed to them first-hand on Thursday, when Hodge was mic’d up during Hawthorn’s stunning victory over then ladder-leaders Adelaide.

Even though it was in a censored, restricted capacity, to listen to how Hodge directed the troops and described in-game situation to the younger Hawks was fascinating. Whether it was speaking to Tom Mitchell about stoppage structures, or explaining to Blake Hardwick why he conceded a goal, the former Hawthorn skipper acted as a secondary coach.

When sides are in a rebuilding phase, the general philosophy is to clean out the older heads, in favour of youthful exuberance. This is fair, as it ensures young kids are getting invaluable experience at senior level. However, you need to accompany youth with those veteran leaders, and Hodge emphasised why on Thursday.

That in-game guidance provided by the four-time premiership player simply cannot be replicated. Coaches can identify poor decision making in film studies days after the game, once they’ve had time to watch the match from countless camera angles. Those are beneficial lessons for young players, but it doesn’t replace the merit of Hodge’s in-game teaching.

The 33-year-old amassed 22 disposals against the Crows, so he is still making an impact across the halfback line. It pales in comparison to the intangibles he brings, though, something that simply cannot be reproduced by someone who hasn’t got that football knowledge ingrained in his mind.

Kennedy is a Brownlow Smokey

Place Josh Kennedy in the ‘if he played in Victoria, he would be more appreciated’ club.

The newly minted Swans captain was mighty in Friday’s win over Essendon. Kennedy accumulated 36 disposals, 551 metres gained, nine score involvements and seven clearances, once again representing a tower of strength at the coalface.

Kennedy was prolific at times when his teammates were down, as he collected 10 touches in the third quarter, a time when the Bombers were making their relentless run. The 29-year-old stood up time after time in the middle, his imposing figure matching his output.

The Sandringham Dragon product has recorded 20 or more disposals in every game this season, while eclipsing the 30 mark in seven contests. Kennedy also ranks second in the league for contested possessions and third for clearances, further evidence of his influence in the guts.

Sydney has turned things around and seem poised to make a charge into the finals. Kennedy has been at the forefront of that, and don’t count him out come Brownlow night.

Gray is a freak of nature

If this is what Robbie Gray is capable of when he is injured, well, it’ll be scary to think what he could do when he is fully fit.

Gray’s aliments have been well documented this season, but you wouldn’t tell on Saturday, when his five-goal, 20-disposal blitz burned Collingwood. The Oakleigh Chargers product was, not for the first time this season, relatively low in volume but peaking in damage, his five majors coming from a pedestrian eight kicks.

Ken Hinkley has been putting his best players in dangerous positions this season, and Gray epitomised this tactic on Saturday. His footy intelligence, immaculate hands and freakish attributes with the footy were on display, as he created his own personal highlight reel.

Whether it was using his quickness to break into space, snapping goals with ease, taking contested marks that should be reserved for key forwards or running back with the flight of the ball to record another grab, Gray was able to deliver the perfect game for a small forward.

Port Adelaide should be considered a premiership contender, even if they haven’t defeated another top club. The Power have all the elements of a flag chance, and someone like Gray, who can break the game open in an instant, is the ultimate x-factor.

How great is footy?

Seriously.

That round will go down as one of the most entertaining in recent memory. We had 17th beating first, dramatic comebacks, dubious umpiring decisions, close finishes, a slew of highlights, controversial MRP incidents and incredible individual performances.

It was everything we love about the sport wrapped into one extraordinary weekend. And, boy, let’s hope there is more to come.