CHAOS

CHAOS by The Blogger

A butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazon basin. Years later, a volcano erupts in Chile after laying dormant for nearly half a century shooting a plume of ash and gas ten kilometres skywards and then a week later the AFL is thrown into chaos.

It started in this part of the world on Sunday when the ash arrived from Puyehue settling over this continent after a journey sweeping the upper atmosphere across thousands of miles of ocean, disrupting the airways and the three travelling AFL teams on the day. Brisbane, Richmond and Essendon all crashed in a heap, victims of the curse of Puyehue.

Inevitably, the curse will strike again this week.

The Dockers are already in trouble. Mundy and Ballantyne are two wearers of the purple haze who normally strike fear in Demon hearts but they won't be there after suffering injuries when the ash cloud hovered all day over Subiaco. Nor will Sandilands who, standing 211cm above ground level, is hardly a favourite of the crowds at the MCG. He should have been back this match but for that curse.

Oh, the chaos!

Coming off an 88-point humiliation against the premiers who had gaping holes in their line up would not normally fill Melbourne fans with glee but it can't be helped this week. They can rejoice for Mother Nature and the spirits have applied a curse on all teams that travel to play on the Sabbath this week.

The bottom line is that Fremantle simply doesn't stand a chance.

THE GAME Melbourne v Fremantle at The MCG - Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 1.10pm.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 12 wins Fremantle 14 wins

MCG Melbourne 6 wins Fremantle 4 wins

Since 2000 Melbourne 8 wins Fremantle 10 wins

The Coaches

Bailey 2 wins Harvey 2 wins

MEDIA

TV Fox Sports1 Live at 1.00pm

RADIO SEN K-Rock ABC774

THE BETTING Melbourne $1.60 Fremantle $2.65

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Fremantle 11.16.82 defeated Melbourne 10.11.71 Round 16, 2010 at Subiaco Oval

The Dockers got off to a flyer at Subiaco and, at the half, led by six goals against what appeared to be an inept Melbourne team. It was Colin Sylvia who turned things around with a brilliant second half but Melbourne squandered a few chances. Jack Watts missed from a difficult angle and then Ballantyne kicked his fourth to seal the game for the home side.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

Backs James Strauss James Frawley Joel MacDonald

Half backs Nathan Jones Jared Rivers Jack Trengove

Centreline Tom Scully Ricky Petterd Jeremy Howe

Half forwards Colin Sylvia Jack Watts Cale Morton

Forwards Liam Jurrah Max Gawn Brad Green

Followers Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie

Interchange (from) Jamie Bennell Clint Bartram Lynden Dunn Michael Evans Colin Garland Jordan Gysberts Daniel Nicholson

In Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Daniel Nicholson Ricky Petterd

Out Neville Jetta (hand)

FREMANTLE

Backs Antoni Grover Luke McPharlin Greg Broughton

Half backs Garrick Ibbotson Michael Johnson Paul Duffield

Centreline Jesse Crichton Matthew Pavlich Nathan Fyfe

Half forwards Tendai Mzungu Kepler Bradly Ryan Crowley

Forwards Stephen Hill Christopher Mayne Clancee Pearce

Followers Jonathon Griffin Nick Lower Matthew de Boer

Interchange (from) Michael Barlow Benjamin Bucovaz Zachary Clarke Clayton Hinkley Josh Mellington Rhys Palmer Jay Van Berlo

In Michael Barlow Benjamin Bucovaz Josh Mellington Rhys Palmer Jay Van Berlo

Out Hayden Ballentyne (hamstring) David Mundy (foot)

I suppose it might smack a little of desperation when the best you can do to motivate yourself for a game of football is to invoke ancient spirits carried halfway across the planet on volcanic ash but, let's face it - it's bloody hard being a Demon fan. There's no consistency in the way your team plays except for its inconsistency.

That's the way of the world for the Melbourne Football Club. The team teases and titillates. It has lost four of its last five games and has dropped from eighth place to tenth and still remains a game out of the top eight.

Like the Dockers, the Demons have sadly missed their All Australian ruckman. In Melbourne's case, Mark Jamar's return this week would have been most welcome because he would have brought with him strength and experience, something that has certainly been missing in spades in recent weeks. Instead, the Dockers will front up to Stef Martin and the next tallest man in the game after the missing Sandilands. A reversal of roles for the purple haze!

There will be an infusion of players with stronger bodies and some added experience from the winning Casey team but will it be enough against the plucky Dockers?

Yes, I think so. Melbourne might not fare well against the competition's traditional sides but against the interstate clubs - especially the quirky ones on their home turf, the Dees can hold their own.

I can see it all now. The teams are locked together late in the game. Freo draws ahead by five points in time on and then ...

Ash clouds billow over the ground which is suddenly covered in a dark, foggy purple shroud under a shimmering red sun. As the pall lifts, there are 43 players in the Dockers half of the ground and ... shock, horror ... a lone Demon named Liam Jurrah is in his team's forward half surging toward goal with the football under his arm.

He kicks truly, the siren sounds, Melbourne wins by a single point and high above the ground a butterfly flaps its wings.