WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

[Whispering_Jack 30,640]

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS by Whispering Jack

The hero of Melbourne's first win since its long ago trip to tropical Darwin was captain Brad Green who booted four invaluable goals against the Gold Coast Suns. Green's contribution was instrumental in securing an unconvincing and wonky 30-point first victory for caretaker coach Todd Viney and the beleaguered Demons in the penultimate round of the season.

Melbourne seemingly held control in the opening stanza and, but for some severe marking yips that seemed to spread through the team like wildfire, it should have been much further than 19 points in front at quarter time. Green, who started shakily missing his first shot at goal, finally scored his first immediately before the main break at a time when the slow starting Suns pressed for the lead after dominating the contested ball for most of the second term and, at one stage got to within a point of their hosts.

It was Green who kick-started the team early in the second half for what is now becoming its one fighting quarter per game and which yielded six goals. It was Green again who kicked the sealer when Gold Coast threatened in the final term and in this regard, Brad Green the captain, restored some much needed respect to his team with the way he went about accumulating his 18 possessions and nine marks on the way to four straight goals after what surely must have been one of the most difficult periods in his experience as a player with the club culminating in his being named as the sub a week ago against Richmond.

Whatever the rationale behind that move, Green rose above it this week and led the team back onto the winner's list. And, after what’s taken place in this season of hope that has gone so badly pear shaped in the past month or so, I think I can allow myself the liberty of falling back on the old cliché about winners being grinners.

One would have to be grinning after watching one’s team pick up the four points in what was such an embarrassingly poor exhibition of football from both sides (not to mention the umpires who matched the standard of the game perfectly) that it produced many more yawns from the bored crowd than cheers.

The Demons won the game because of their superior defence. Colin Garland, Sam Blease and James Frawley were dashingly magnificent while Tom McDonald gave a good account of himself and showed strong potential in his debut game with 18 disposals and six marks.

Melbourne also dominated the ruck contests with Mark Jamar and Stef Martin winning a combined 49 hit outs but things went awry from there because Gold Coast was far superior and won the clearances. As a result, the domination of the Demon big men at these contests was completely nullified and, looking forward to the future, this must be a worrying sign for the club. Whoever takes over as the coach in 2012 will require not only selective recruiting of midfielders who can win the footy at contests but also some expert assistance to turn around the massive midfield black hole that exists at the club.

There were times during the game when the Suns won the contested ball out of defence and then moved it down the ground at will with pace cutting swathes through the Demon lines – yet another cause for concern to the coaches. Fortunately, opposition on the day is not yet polished enough to take advantage of such situations and Melbourne’s defence was able to hold firm.

When you’re having a bad run it’s amazing how bad luck follows you around. Melbourne has had its fair share of injuries and more recently suspensions but it still didn’t need Liam Jurrah to hurt his shoulder/arm after flying for a great mark in the third term. It was the mark of the man that he kept his composure for his shot at goal (which failed to add to his first half tally of three) before ambling off the ground clutching arm and shoulder to be subbed for the day. Fortunately, his replacement, Jeremy Howe, worked hard when he got his chances and kicked two valuable goals while Jurrah was last seen with his arm in a sling.

Since the heroics of Ricky Petterd in the opening round, the sub rule hasn’t exactly worked well for the Demons. Sam Blease started his career wearing the green vest against the Western Bulldogs, came on late in the game and failed to make an impression during the feature length junk time of that game. Since he’s come back into the side, Blease has been a revelation with his run and carry, his speed and his accuracy. At least the Demon defence in future years will be a strength with the likes of him, Luke Tapscott and Jack Grimes and James Strauss returning from injury.

The use of Green as a sub last week might have been instrumental in sending him a message of sorts but I have a feeling that it also might have cost the club the four points against Richmond. Still, what the hell when the four points don't mean very much at this stage of proceedings?

Apart from the midfield, a strong marking key forward would have to be another prime target for the recruiters. It should be an interesting trade period.

Indeed, the coming weeks are crucial for the club. A new coach with a fresh approach is needed to polish a young team that seems to have lost its focus. All credit to Todd Viney for taking the job as a caretaker but the club really needs an outsider to come in and sort out this lot otherwise we won’t be grinning very much in the years to come despite the promise of our youth.

Melbourne 4.3.27 7.5.47 13.7.85 17.10.112

Gold Coast Suns 1.2.8 6.5.41 7.8.50 12.10.82

Goals

Melbourne Green 4 Jurrah Moloney 3 Howe 2 Garland Jetta Jones Martin Tapscott

Gold Coast Suns Bennell Rischitelli Russell Smith 2 N Ablett Thompson Stanley Swallow

Best

Melbourne Blease Garland Green Jones Jurrah Frawley

Gold Coast Suns Rischitelli G Ablett Swallow Iles Prestia Stanley

Injuries

Melbourne Jurrah (shoulder)

Gold Coast Suns Nil

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Gold Coast Suns Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Gold Coast Suns Nil

Umpires Schmitt Stewart Ritchie

Crowd 21,534 at MCG