SHELTER FROM THE STORM by Whispering Jack

These past few days have been chaotic for sporting teams that bear the name of our city. Across the road and over the railway line from the MCG, where they used to set off fireworks when the team scored, there was a dark eerie silence. The ghosts were dancing in the place where the Storm had imploded a few days earlier under the weight of one of the nation's biggest ever sporting scandals but it was altogether different at the hub of sport where the team that carried such little expectation took further steps forward at the very beginning of its long journey. It must have been fate that had determined the point at which its promising future intersected and overtook a neighbour whose own tawdry conduct had just caused it to be stripped of a glorious past.

Melbourne 15.13.103 defeat Brisbane 7.11.53.

The Brisbane Lions and their twin key forwards have been running amok this season but they were brought down with a thud when David brandished his slingshot, aimed truly and decisively brought down the juggernaut.

From the opening bounce it was clear that the Demons were intent on applying pressure to the Brisbane attack with its heavy reliance on the scoring power of Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola. The signs were good as James Frawley and Matthew Warnock stood firm against their men, each of who managed to get away for one goal in the first term but that was it for Brown. Fevola's night was a little more productive but he had a fascinating duel all night with Warnock. Colin Garland, Jack Grimes and Joel Macdonald gave tremendous support in defence and the latter would have been a happy man to have shoved the indignity of his delisting back in his former coach's face.

In stark contrast to what was happening on the Brisbane forward line, Melbourne's goals came from numerous sources, a fact which would have pleased coach Dean Bailey no end.

After fluffing up his first attempt to goal, Ricky Petterd took a couple of special contested marks for two first quarter goals and the Demons were away to an 11 point lead at the break. He was to score no more goals for the night but he did attract heavy guard. Travis Johnstone was sent down back and he rekindled some memories of the Demon past not only with his flashy play but with that beard and the holy man look, he portrayed a reasonable facsimile of his former club chairman Joe Gutnick.

Meanwhile, sitting a few metres to my right and one row behind was the current chairman, Jimmy Stynes flanked by club legend Ron Barassi and CEO Cameron Schwab, all enjoying the proceedings as their team's resurgence unfolded in front of them. There was no time to reflect on past glories. They were viewing the future. It's coming soon!

With Petterd now somewhat subdued, others were allowed to take stage up forward to add to the goal tally and to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the night. Matthew Bate, Jack Trengove and Aaron Davey all took their turns to be dangerous up forward. Trengove was brilliant everywhere.

Mark Jamar dominated the rucks and Stefan Martin was proving his perfect foil. The experienced Lions midfield, led superbly by a silky smooth Simon Black, were still able to win more than their share of the clearances but skipper James McDonald, Brent Moloney and Nathan

Jones were strong in the clinches and the younger midfield brigade responded. Trengove, Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie were all significant contributors. Cameron Bruce was everywhere. Colin Sylvia tackled hard and forcibly. Together, the Melbourne midfield broke the game wide open with five goals to one in the second quarter leaving the crowd of 36,396 in awe as the Demons took to the rooms at half time with a lead of six goals.

They stretched it by another goal early in the third term before the Lions started clawing their way back into the contest but the relentless pressure and strong tackling of the home side meant that any thought of a Brisbane comeback would be shortlived. It was Melbourne that finished full of running and kept what was considered as the competition's most potent attack goalless in the final quarter. As a light drizzle fell on the ground, the Demons peppered the goals and finished with a winning margin of 50 points or more for the second week running.

With final quarter goals to the team's oldest player in McDonald and its youngest in Scully, Melbourne made a stunning statement.

The team whose stormy pre season was so wracked with injuries and poor form that it was universally consigned by the pundits to the scrapheap for two, three, four and more years is on the move. What is now emerging is a combination of the old, the new and everything in

between coming together in a chaos made even more stunning by the fact that this is only the beginning.

Our storm is over.

Melbourne 4.2.26 9.6.60 12.7.79 15.13.103

Brisbane 2.3.15 3.6.24 7.9.51 7.11.53

Goals

Melbourne Davey Petterd Sylvia Trengove 2 Bate Green Jamar Jones

McDonald McKenzie Scully

Brisbane Fevola 4 Brown Clark Drummond

Best

Melbourne Trengove Moloney Sylvia Bate McDonald Frawley

Brisbane Black Johnstone Rischitelli Leuenberger Staker Patfull

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

Brisbane Merrett (hamstring)

Reports Nil

Changes

Melbourne Rohan Bail (quad) replaced by Stefan Martin

Brisbane Justin Sherman (corked thigh) by Albert Proud

Umpires Jennings Kennedy Wenn

Crowd 36,396 at the MCG

They were viewing the future. It's coming soon!

A Premiership!!!

Sorry, I'm just a little pumped about our potential at the moment

A Brownlow & a Norm Smith...ha... well ok

60,000 members making one hell of a noise at the MCG watching " B) DEMON DOMINATION-THE ENVY OF A NATION" B)

A Brownlow & a Norm Smith...ha... well ok

You're talking about Trenners again, right? Has anyone ever won the Rising Star and the Brownlow in the same year?

Love the excitement levels, guys!

If this keeps up, it won't be long until we start hearing the dreaded "keeping a lid on" comments.

......Realistically, MAYBE a top 8. But I am a very .....very drunk after that win.

So I will re- asses tomorrow.

Going through the fixture, I think we will get to 10-12 or 11-11 win-loss for the season. Very exciting times!

Sorry, I'm just a little pumped about our potential at the moment

No need to apologise Roost. I think there are a lot of us who are justifiably pumped about our potential.

You're talking about Trenners again, right? Has anyone ever won the Rising Star and the Brownlow in the same year?

Nop but.....Oh, wow, could that actually happen !!!

Wow, incredible post. BELIEF, it’s what it's all about. With belief, all the simple skill errors are no more. Confidence is high right now, and as a result belief is too. It looked bad after round 1, I was always prepared to write it off as a once off, and in a way I think it was a good thing; It has shocked us into action- If that was going to happen, round 1, although no good for supporter morale, may have been the right tonic to snap these guys into some self reflection.

Incidentally, I am so sad for the Storm, the players in particular. They did what they were instinctively required to; that is, bust their asses for their club- they have almost literally been decapitated by a heavy handed, vindictive- moronic organisation. I was a follower of the storm and it took me a while to warm to the NRL. All that hard work, all that loyalty I was starting to build has been ripped unceremoniously out my chest in a matter of seconds. NRL is dead to me- as no doubt it is to many thousands of other Victorians!

Thought Petterd's early form drew the best defender in Patfull which in turn made Maguire go to Bate. Bate could then run him off his legs. It also meant Johnstone had to play on Green in parts, which was a promising match up. I just wish we had Jurrah out there, it would lead to a situation of having 5 forwards - Jurrah, Bate, Petterd, Green, Sylvia of which none could be taken lightly. Combine that with a big body, or a small giving incredible pressure and opposition defences (beside maybe Geelong, Sydney and StKilda) will be troubled.

Incidentally, I am so sad for the Storm, the players in particular. They did what they were instinctively required to; that is, bust their asses for their club- they have almost literally been decapitated by a heavy handed, vindictive- moronic organisation. I was a follower of the storm and it took me a while to warm to the NRL. All that hard work, all that loyalty I was starting to build has been ripped unceremoniously out my chest in a matter of seconds. NRL is dead to me- as no doubt it is to many thousands of other Victorians!

The Nine Network is planning a new series which is loosely based on the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal.

Working title is "Underbellamy".

Incidentally, I am so sad for the Storm, the players in particular. They did what they were instinctively required to; that is, bust their asses for their club- they have almost literally been decapitated by a heavy handed, vindictive- moronic organisation. I was a follower of the storm and it took me a while to warm to the NRL. All that hard work, all that loyalty I was starting to build has been ripped unceremoniously out my chest in a matter of seconds. NRL is dead to me- as no doubt it is to many thousands of other Victorians!

While I do feel sorry for them, this mess has not been all bad (mostly, I know). Their membership has jumped by 300 since the news broke last week. Not a bad effort. All those people supporting them have decided to get out there and back the club. Also a great crowd at the game on the weekend. If they manage to get the no points part of the penalty overturned, they are still going to be a formidable team this season.

Am crossing my fingers and rubbing my Budhas tummy often... my thoughts of a pos 9-10 fiish no so outrageous now.

The team is starting to click... and with a little luck .. will continue to and then more ( with others still to return and others debut )

GO DEES !!

Wow, incredible post. BELIEF, it’s what it's all about. With belief, all the simple skill errors are no more. Confidence is high right now, and as a result belief is too.

Love the avatar.

You're right(good post WJ too), Belief and confidence both contribute to momentum. It's amazing how quickly things can turn. The intent on tackling and harrassing and pressuring the opposition when they have the ball is now contagious. It's superb. They must understand this. An appetite for tackling and holding their tackles more importantly, contributes heavily to many other aspects and can influence heavily on inside 50's.

The Nine Network is planning a new series which is loosely based on the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal.

Working title is "Underbellamy".

Yes. Underbellamy: "The Tale of two Files"

(received it by text).

Very pleased to see the team function well on Saturday night for a great win. Great for my kids to see it too (and all the kids present), plenty of red & blue in the ground, 36,000 - odd (tipped a good crowd). I know the cliche is one week at a time and no-one likes cocky predictions, all I'll say though is when the Dees get on a roll with confidence and momentum; they're hard to stop and the supporters will go & follow. Stay on the bandwagon whilst they're in a purple patch for the time being. Enjoy the ride. Don't be disappointed with any inconsistency that may happen as they are young & inexperienced. But bring on Round 6.