PERCEPTION

PERCEPTION by Whispering Jack

I had some truly surreal experiences last Sunday afternoon.

I attended the funeral of a friend who was President of my boys' junior footy club when they first started playing. He was a larger than life figure who was gruff on the exterior but a warm human being on the inside. We became good friends and worked together on club committees for many years. Two weeks ago, I visited him in hospital and he told me that not only he was stuffed but so too was his footy team, St. Kilda. I tried to lift his mood but when I left I could feel that he was down and that I might never see him again.

The funeral was at a cemetery at Lyndhurst which isn't far from Cranbourne. It was a gloomy day, cold and drizzly but the mourners were all rugged up and shivering. All except for a young man in his thirties who was a Bhuddist, dressed in the familiar maroon and yellow garb and sleeveless. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't in a dream.

With the funeral over at a little past one o'clock, I decided to go to the Casey game. It was a line ball decision but I had originally intended to go and what the heck?

I listen to the description of the first quarter of the Hawthorn v St. Kilda game on the car radio. The Saints are in front and Riewoldt is killing it up forward. I hear the commentators waxing lyrical as he comes in to kick his third for the quarter at the 24 minute mark. St. Kilda is dominating the middle, has winners everywhere and even a spud like Dean Polo, cast off by Richmond at the end of the year, kicks a goal a minute later.

By quarter time, the consensus from the commentators is that they're back in town and the Hawks, who lost Gilham to what appeared a serious knee injury in the early minutes of the game, are in serious trouble.

I arrive at Casey Fields as Koschitzke kicks a behind to start off the second quarter and just before I slam the car door shut, the score is St. Kilda 5.4.34 to Hawthorn 0.1.1.

"Just our luck," I think to myself.

"They're getting back into form in the week before they're due to play us!"

I didn't pay much more attention to the events at the G but, as further scores filtered through from the game, it became obvious that fortunes were being reversed during its course (in much the same way as had occurred twenty-four hours earlier in the match at Etihad Stadium).

Moreover, the game between the Casey Scorpions and the Bendigo Bombers also followed the same pattern with the latter side enjoying an almost five goal lead at the main break only to lose the lead in fewer than fifteen minutes when hostilities resumed.

How then can you draw a line through form in a game between two teams like Melbourne and St. Kilda when you can't even predict what might happen to them from one quarter to the next?

Can anyone actually believe that Melbourne won its penultimate game by 16 goals against a team that mastered St. Kilda the week before?

Well, everyone's saying that Melbourne is stuffed because of the injuries and suspensions but I don't know about that.

I saw some likely types going around in the gloom at Casey Fields and while the standard there is light years away from the AFL, perhaps one or two of them might step up and breath life back into the team's season on Saturday.

There's perception and then there's karma.

THE GAME

St. Kilda v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Saturday 21 May 2011 at 2:10 pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall St. Kilda 82 wins Melbourne 118 wins 1 drawn

Etihad Stadium St. Kilda 3 Melbourne 3 wins

Since 2000 St. Kilda 7 wins Melbourne 9 wins

The Coaches Lyon 4 wins Bailey 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Channel 10 (delayed telecast at 3:00 pm)

RADIO

THE BETTING St. Kilda to win $1.50 Melbourne to win $2.60

THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 15.10.100 defeated Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2010 at Etihad Stadium

It was becoming a common feature of Melbourne in 2010. A tentative start, some unforced errors leading to easy opposition goals and suddenly St. Kilda held a lead of around 20 points with the game just ten minutes old. The rest of the day saw a vain attempt to catch up but we knew it would never work out in Melbourne's favour. Jack Grimes was a shining light until a hamstring ended his season and the Saints coasted to a 35 point win.

THE TEAMS

ST. KILDA

Backs Sam Gilbert Zac Dawson Farren Ray

Half backs Sean Dempster Sam Fisher James Gwilt

Centreline Brendon Goddard David Armitage Dean Polo

Half forwards Brett Peake Nick Riewoldt Adam Schneider

Forwards Stephen Milne Justin Koschitzke Arryn Siposs

Followers Jason Blake Nick Dal Santo Leigh Montagna

Interchange Jamie Cripps Clinton Jones Jack Steven Nicholas Winmar

Emergencies Ryan Gamble Ben McEvoy Andrew McQualter

In Jason Blake Leigh Montagna Brett Peake Nicholas Winmar

Out Steven Baker (suspended) Jason Gram Ben McEvoy Andrew McQualter

New Nicholas Winmar (Scarborough)

MELBOURNE

Backs Joel Macdonald Matthew Warnock Jared Rivers

Half backs Nathan Jones James Frawley Jack Watts

Centreline Addam Maric Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott

Half forwards Jordan Gysberts Michael Newton Colin Sylvia

Forwards Ricky Petterd Brad Green Liam Jurrah

Followers Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Clint Bartram

Interchange Matthew Bate Michael Evans Neville Jetta Jordie McKenzie

Emergencies Jamie Bennell Max Gawn Jeremy Howe

In Matthew Bate Michael Evans Joel Macdonald Jordie McKenzie Jared Rivers

Out Rohan Bail (knee) Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn (suspended) Colin Garland (ankle) Austin Wonaeamirri (knee)

New Michael Evans (Claremont)

THE STATE OF THE LIST by Sam the Stats Man

I come on here a couple of times every year with the bare statistics on the Melbourne players and every year the effect of injuries is one of the main features that stands out. Add a suspension or two and things really start to hurt.

The Demon midfield has been the subject of much criticism in recent years but it has been missing some of its leading young lights in Scully, McKenzie, Trengove and, given that he was about to get a gig in the centre, you can add Grimes to the list.

That said, you can't use injuries as an excuse. Essendon has a long injury list and is thriving. Hawthorn lost two players early against St. Kilda and still came back from five and a half goals down. Things such as injury and suspension test the mettle of the group.

With an enormous void in the ruck and midfield, is there anyone on this list ready to step up?

If there is, then the Demons could yet still make something of season 2011.

BAIL, Rohan MFC 7 games, 1 goal - was showing great improvement before his PCL injury last Saturday at Etihad.

BARTRAM, Clint MFC 7 games, 2 goals - has been steadily doing his job in defence.

BATE, Matthew MFC 1 game, 1 goal, CFC Seniors 5 games, 12 goals - out of form and doing his penance at Casey, Bate has been showing improved form of late.

BENNELL, Jamie MFC 6 games, 4 goals, CFC Seniors 1 game - promising a lot but has failed to deliver to date.

BLEASE, Sam CFC Seniors 5 games, 2 goals - making steady progress in the VFL.

CAMPBELL, Robert ® CFC Reserves 1 game, 1 goal - restricted to one VFL reserves game due to an Achilles injury.

COOK, Lucas CFC Seniors 6 games, 3 goals - another promising youngster cutting his teeth at Casey.

DAVEY, Aaron MFC 7 games, 4 goals - has yet to hit his peak this season.

DAVIS, Troy CFC Reserves 4 games - victim of a thyroid complaint and therefore slowly being eased back into the game.

DUNN, Lynden MFC 7 games, 9 goals - season hit a low with a poor game against North Melbourne and a two-week suspension following that game.

EVANS, Michael ® CFC Seniors 6 games, 5 goals - rookie midfielder who has been a revelation at Casey.

FITZPATRICK, Jack CFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal, CFC Reserves 4 games, 8 goals - had a slow start to the season and was just starting to show something when an ankle injury interrupted his season by six to eight weeks.

FRAWLEY, James MFC 6 games, 0 goals - starting to hit his straps after an injury interrupted season.

GARLAND, Colin MFC 7 games - was playing well in defence but now the victim of an ankle injury that will see him out for up to two months.

GAWN, Max CFC Seniors 5 games, CFC Reserves 1 game, 1 goal - impressing with some excellent ruckwork at Casey.

GREEN, Brad MFC 7 games, 8 goals - seemingly struggling with the burden of responsibility of skipper.

GRIMES, Jack MFC 6 games, 1 goal - young leader was in good form before a navicular injury early in the Adelaide game.

GYSBERTS, Jordan MFC 5 games, 1 goal, CFC Seniors 1 game - young midfielder coming on and showing great promise

HOWE, Jeremy CFC Seniors 4 games, 6 goals, CFC Reserves 1 game, 2 goals - starting to show some good form at Casey after an injury interrupted pre season.

JAMAR, Mark MFC 6 games, 3 goals - All Australian ruckman was enjoying a good season until his PCL injury. Will miss another month.

JETTA, Neville MFC 3 games, 1 goal, CFC Seniors 4 games, 1 goal - had a good pre season but has been inconsistent.

JOHNSTON, Cameron ® CFC Reserves 2 games - has shown out in his return to football at Casey Reserves level after missing out early with injury.

JONES, Nathan MFC 7 games, 4 goals - is having a good season on the ball for the Demons.

JURRAH, Liam MFC 7 games, 18 goals - the club's leading goalkicker but still has yet to hit his straps for a four quarter effort.

LAWRENCE, Kelvin ® CFC Seniors 6 games, 8 goals - has genuine pace and some electrifying skills and will only get better as his confidence rises.

MACDONALD, Joel MFC 1 game, 0 goals, CFC Seniors 5 games - after a disappointing opening round, the former Lion has been biding his time at Casey and is looking for another opportunity at top level.

MCDONALD, Tom CFC Seniors 6 games - has been creating some favourable impressions in the VFL.

MCKENZIE, Jordie CFC Seniors 1 game, CFC Reserves 1 game, 1 goal - restricted by a groin complaint and sorely missed.

MCNAMARA, Tom CFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals, CFC Reserves 5 games, 4 goals - a foot injury curtailed his pre season and has returned in the hope of reinventing himself in more of a midfield role.

MARIC, Addam MFC 4 games, 3 goals, CFC Seniors 2 games, 5 goals - showed a lot in the pre season and had a great game against the Crows a fortnight ago.

MARTIN, Stefan MFC 6 games, 0 goals, CFC Seniors 1 game - one of the big improvers this year who had to carry the rucks in Jamar's absence.

MOLONEY, Brent MFC 7 games, 4 goals - would be leading the club best and fairest by the length of Bourke Street despite the blemish of that late night drink session that cost him his place in the leadership group.

MORTON, Cale MFC 3 games, 3 goals, CFC Seniors 2 games - early draft pick who seems to have lost confidence.

NEWTON, Michael ® MFC 1 game, 2 goals, CFC Seniors 4 games, 13 goals - trying to resurrect his career after being delisted and rookied last year.

NICHOLSON, Daniel ® CFC Seniors 6 games, 4 goals - a consistent performer at Casey who shows skill and pace.

PETTERD, Ricky MFC 4 games, 7 goals, CFC Seniors 3 games, 5 goals - has shown patches of some good form as he struggles to return after a long layoff with a shoulder injury.

RIVERS, Jared MFC 5 games, 0 goals - was coming along quite well until injured and is badly needed back in the side following Garland's injury.

SCULLY, Tom – a pre season knee injury was a major blow to player and club as the cloud of GWS hovers.

SPENCER, Jake CFC Seniors 5 games - the ruckman in waiting who ironically broke down with an ACL on the same day that Mark Jamar was injured.

STRAUSS, James CFC Seniors 4 games - was running into good form when a training accident cost him a couple of weeks.

SYLVIA, Colin MFC 7 games, 8 goals - one of the players the club needs to shine more often.

TAPSCOTT, Luke MFC 7 games, 1 goal - is having a good debut season but seems to be tiring of late.

TRENGOVE, Jack MFC 6 games, 3 goals - his good season has been derailed by the fact that he executed a perfect tackle that resulted in his player's head hitting the ground leading him to suffer the effects of concussion. A similar tackle with a slightly different effect (there were at least a dozen of them in the last round) would have seen him still playing this week.

WARNOCK, Matthew MFC 2 games, 0 goals CFC Seniors 3 games - has the chance to resurrect his career in defence.

WATTS, Jack MFC 7 games, 5 goals - coming on slowly but a definite improver.

WONAEMIRRI, Austin MFC 5 games, 5 goals, CFC Seniors 1 game - still struggling to overcome the effects of his personal tragedies over summer and yet to produce his best.