NORTH and SOUTH

[Demonland 66,987]

NORTH and SOUTH by JVM

Every year thousands upon thousands of people flock from the southern states up north to Queensland in search of the sun, surf, scenery and a few other things that start with the letter "s" including sport.

This weekend a few Demon fans might even jump on a jet plane headed for Brisbane although I couldn't vouch to such hardy souls that the experience will be enjoyable if their final destination is the Brisbane v Melbourne game at the Gabba.

You see, the Lions are on a roll and are nicely poised to make an assault on the top four which is vital for any team with high aspirations in the AFL competition.

The Demons had aspirations once as well but that was in the early days of the season when they ventured further north and comfortably beat the Lions in a NAB Cup Challenge at the height of Hurricane Hamish.

However, such games are only make believe and when the real stuff started the Demons went missing. They certainly left their form up in the tropics because they have managed only a single, solitary victim since that wet and windy night some three months ago.

The weather report suggests that conditions at the Gabba will be thundery with rain easing during the day but on current form, even stormy weather will preclude both lightning and the Demons from striking twice!

THE GAME Brisbane v Melbourne at The Gabba - Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 7.10pm.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Brisbane 9 wins Melbourne 16 wins

Gabba Brisbane 7 wins Melbourne 3 wins

Since 2000: Brisbane 6 wins Melbourne 4 wins

The Coaches Voss 0 wins Bailey 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Fox Sports1 6.30pm

RADIO Triple M SEN

THE BETTING Brisbane $1.06 to win Melbourne $8.00 to win

THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 14.9.93 defeated Brisbane 13.14.92 at MCG Round 14 2008

The opportunity doesn't arrive too often these days for one to say that Melbourne won at its last start against a particular opponent but, with Brisbane, that's exactly the case. In Round 14 last year, the Demons were gritty and stuck to their guns all day causing a major upset. Brad Miller and Colin Sylvia booted four goals each. Brad Green was in scintillating form and earned the three Brownlow votes for the game while Aussie Wonaeamirri did his fair share of the crumbing work and celebrating.

THE TEAMS

BRISBANE

Backs Jason Roe Daniel Merrett Jed Adcock

Half backs Joel Patfull Lachlan Henderson Joel Macdonald

Centreline Albert Proud Simon Black Daniel Rich

Half forwards Michael Rischitelli Jonathan Brown James Polkinghorne

Forwards Rhan Hooper Daniel Bradshaw Luke Power

Followers Mitch Clark Cheynee Stiller Justin Sherman

Interchange Jared Brennan Scott Harding Ashley McGrath Sam Sheldon

Emergencies Jack Redden Matt Austin Tim Notting

In Daniel Merrett Joel Patfull

Out Tim Notting Troy Selwood (shoulder)

MELBOURNE

Backs Matthew Whelan Matthew Warnock Ricky Petterd

Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers James Frawley

Centreline Neville Jetta Brock McLean Jamie Bennell

Half forwards Russell Robertson Brad Miller Matthew Bate

Forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Liam Jungarray Jurrah

Followers Paul Johnson Jack Grimes Cameron Bruce

Interchange Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Cale Morton Jack Watts

Emergencies Nathan Jones Lynden Dunn Shane Valenti

In Ricky Petterd Matthew Warnock

Out: Clint Bartram Kyle Cheney

Just four weeks ago the Demons came to Queensland to take on the might of the undefeated Saints at Carrara. That night they gave their fans an incredible ride. It was a trip right up to the top in a roller coaster with a more than competitive first half when Melbourne threw everything was thrown at St. Kilda and was possibly a tad unlucky not to be in front at the main break. Since then however, it's been a real slippery dip as the Demon roller coaster took a downward path. The last half against the Saints was a goalless snore fest. That has been followed by thrashings on big stages (Collingwood at the G on Queens Birthday and last Friday night against Essendon). During that time, the team has produced two or three reasonable quarters, the rest have been dreadful.

Brisbane has been sitting and waiting for this. Last year, it was lowly Melbourne's shock defeat of the Lions that saw them reeling and ultimately Missing out on the finals action. Unfortunate for Demon fans they won't allow this to happen again and certainly not at the Gabba where the likes of Simon Black, Luke Power and youngster Daniel Rich will be pumping the ball long and straight to the twin towers - Bradshaw and Brown. It's just as well that Matthew Warnock is there to take on one of them and James Frawley will take the other. Trouble is that you can't control the two Brisbane B's all night and the Lions have plenty of scoring options and know their ground so well. And their dominant in form midfield will do little to aid the Demons.

Nor will their inexperienced forward line, though it will be interesting to watch youngsters like Jurrah, Watts and Jetta continue on with their development at this early stage of their careers.

Still, it's going to be a tough slog for the visitors on Saturday night. So tough that I'm tipping a repeat of the last fortnight.

Brisbane by 51 points.

[Little Goffy 13,047]

I reckon it'll be a bit closer than that.

Brisbane by 20.

Watts two kick another 2, get twelve possessions and perhaps five marks, and therefore already have better stats than any other key forward in their debut year since Richardson, Lyon and Ablett. Not really a spectacular achievement, but hopefully it'll be enough to close down the snore-fest that is 'hang s$#% on Jack' week.

[H_T 2,941]

Last time, Hurricane Hamish was present when the Dees last beat the Lions in Qld, may this time it be Hurricane Jurrah?

[Super Demon 14]

I've heard on the grapevine that Watts won't play on Saturday night.

He will be on the plane but the word is that he is being "rested" according to my source

I hope this isn't a reaction to the comments by Mathews and Sheahan

[SidVicious 121]

I've heard on the grapevine that Watts won't play on Saturday night.

He will be on the plane but the word is that he is being "rested" according to my source

I hope this isn't a reaction to the comments by Mathews and Sheahan

Nathan Jones is on the plane to Brisbane as he's not selected for Casey so it would not surprise if there was a change but leaving Watts out because he had some criticism levelled at him is a weak response to the critics IMO. It would simply confirm what they say and put more pressure on the kid if they left him out or "rested" him after taking him to Brisbane.

[Einstein 1]

Brisbane by 51 point

I think that might be about right. The betting line for the game is 44.5. I think it'll be around the 7 or 8 goal margin. Hopefully we can stay in the game longer this week. No doubt our third quarter will be a focus....again. We'll get it right sooner or later.

I've heard on the grapevine that Watts won't play on Saturday night.

He will be on the plane but the word is that he is being "rested" according to my source

I hope this isn't a reaction to the comments by Mathews and Sheahan

How good has your source been in the past?

Would be interesting if it is the case. I'd still think he will play. We'll see then I guess. If he is in fact 'rested' I would doubt it has anything to do with Matthews or Sheahan. More likely that he is just being given a week off. I'd love him to do something special this week though and shut everyone up.

[Super Demon 14]

I think that might be about right. The betting line for the game is 44.5. I think it'll be around the 7 or 8 goal margin. Hopefully we can stay in the game longer this week. No doubt our third quarter will be a focus....again. We'll get it right sooner or later.

How good has your source been in the past?

Would be interesting if it is the case. I'd still think he will play. We'll see then I guess. If he is in fact 'rested' I would doubt it has anything to do with Matthews or Sheahan. More likely that he is just being given a week off. I'd love him to do something special this week though and shut everyone up.

My source is very reliable

Time will tell if I'm correct.........I'm not posting this on a whim or guess

[RalphiusMaximus 6,005]

I've heard on the grapevine that Watts won't play on Saturday night.

He will be on the plane but the word is that he is being "rested" according to my source

I hope this isn't a reaction to the comments by Mathews and Sheahan

On the Footy show Chris Connelly said they were aiming to get 8-10 games into Watts this year. Seems an odd move to fly him all the way up there and not play him.

[Jerry Lundergard 412]

Do you think it may be worth mentioning from any media people who have been repeating how bad our last two games have been, that the two teams we lost to have also been flogging other teams?

We now run into another in form team in the comp...

[Kiss of Death 708]

We won!!!

.. the toss :D

[Jarka 767]

Frawley opens up with....a terrible handball and gives away a goal

[Kiss of Death 708]

Already sick of the MMM coverage (goneski???), off to SEN.

edit: great timing, tuned back in just as Sir Cale drills one!

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Can someone please tell me why the hell the live streaming for the uk only viewers on the afl website isn't working !!!!???

I have been looking forward to it all weekend and it's not working !?

Is it that hard to get right!? FFS !!!!

Also doesn't help that afl own the rights to the radio broadcast and it doesn't work when I try to stream that either !!!!!

Kill me now.

[Jerry Lundergard 412]

We are in the game, but we are a woeful football team.

Frawley and Davey our best so far.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

I feel sorry for our backline, they work so hard to get it out of there and it comes back in twice as fast. Our forwards don't put any pressure on and they run it out so easily every time.

[Kiss of Death 708]

Have we had a centre clearance yet? Every contest seems to result in a kick forward (another one as i type this) for Brisbane.

[deestroy08 0]

Are we replacing our 3rd quarter fadeout with a 2nd quarter fadeout? Hope so!...

...but doubt it. It's just experience versus little kids. But gee, I love our backline. And Davey.

[MikeAlphaTango 150]

what the hell are we doing? There is no confidence in anything we do.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Morton has to do something about his disposal.

[Jarka 767]

Morton has to do something about his disposal.

He's not the only one, Grimes' disposal has been pretty poor as well. Our midfield is also near non-existant.

[Kiss of Death 708]

Almost happy I don't have foxtel, from the radio...

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

He's not the only one, Grimes' disposal has been pretty poor as well. Our midfield is near non-existant.

No he is not the only one. However he is young and should be able to hit a target from 20 meters without an opponent.

Grimes has been taking the kick outs and has done a very good job. Yes he may have sprayed a couple but every time Morton is about to kick, I get scared.

It's a worry when you draft an 18 year who struggles to hit targets under no pressure whatsoever. Kicking is the main facet of the game.

[MikeAlphaTango 150]

He's not the only one, Grimes' disposal has been pretty poor as well. Our midfield is also near non-existant.

Add Davey as well. I am definately up for 2 midfielders with our first 2 picks now.

[heartbeatstrue 57]

Frawley and Davey our best so far.

Add Grimes to that.

Disgraceful 2nd qtr, makes a change from disgraceful 3rd qtrs. Hate to think what's coming next..

Woeful skills, turnovers.

Watts should forget Robbo, do it yourself man!

[Carn dees 108]

Im in a pretty crappy mood atm, but we are awful!

It may be the moment but i think we need one more big cut down of the list and inject more uong talent and just play them!