DIGGING DEEP by Whispering Jack

That wily old campaigner Kevin Sheedy had to dig deep into his bag of tricks to come up with a message for this week's game between the fledgling GWS Giants and Melbourne.

Instead of informing all and sundry that his team, composed of mainly pimply faced teenagers mixed in with a handful of broken down old hacks and two or three players poached for nothing from other clubs considered it an honour to grace the wonderful ground which really gave birth to our native game, Sheedy couldn't help but go feral by baiting Melbourne fans with stereotypes about visiting the snow and with tales about how his club lured Tom Scully away from the club and into the fleshpots of Rooty Hill.

As with much of what Sheedy says and does these days, it's all smoke and mirrors stuff - deception to mask the inadequacy of his team which was put together with the money and influence of a higher power being the AFL.

There was no recruiting acumen and no finesse involved. The Giants' recruiters picked heir marks, offered more than their current clubs could possibly pay and had them hook, line and sinker. Clubs whose investments in the game were garnered through a century and a half of the hard slog had players pirated by people using their money. Talk about insult and injury!

The truth of the matter is that Sheedy's new franchise is bleeding the AFL of millions of dollars to gain the sport a foothold in a new heartland in the western suburbs of a city that isn't interested the game at all.

You only had to look at the rows and rows of empty seats at Skoda Stadium where the visiting Tiger fans almost outnumbered the bewildered looking locals at last week's affair to tell you that it's just not working.

The truth is that Sheedy's ploy is a total distraction. An attempt to move the focus away from the fact that there's a game to be played and won and onto personalities like Scully, who jumped ship at the first opportunity to make a bigger buck (and good luck to him if he can get paid for routinely producing less on the field than half a dozen of his pubescent teammates) or James McDonald who, quite frankly, must have been embarrassed by the coach's suggestion that he be made captain for the day just so he could stick it up the fans who supported Junior so well for more than a decade.

The first game between Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney Giants deserves much more than the piffling build up and humbuggery of Kevin Sheedy. It deserves to be taken seriously as a game of football for four points and not as a circus. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Sheedy has made it.

Hopefully, Mark Neeld won’t take the bait.

THE GAME

Melbourne v. GWS Giants at the MCG – Sunday 26 June 2012 at 3.15pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 0 wins GWS Giants 0 wins

At the MCG Melbourne 0 wins GWS Giants 0 wins

Since 2000 Melbourne 0 wins GWS Giants 0 wins

The Coaches Neeld 0 wins Sheedy 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7 & Fox Footy Channel live at 3.00pm.

RADIO - ABC774 3AW Triple M

THE BETTING

Melbourne to win $1.31 GWS to win $3.55

LAST TIME THEY MET

Never.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

Backs James Sellar James Frawley Jared Rivers

Half backs Daniel Nicholson Tom McDonald Jack Watts

Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Trengove Jack Grimes

Half forwards Jeremy Howe Lynden Dunn Nathan Jones

Forwards Mitch Clark Colin Garland Colin Sylvia

Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie

Interchange Matthew Bate Aaron Davey Joel Macdonald James Magner

Emergencies Sam Blease Troy Davis Cale Morton

In Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Aaron Davey Joel Macdonald

Out Sam Blease Brad Green (hip) Cale Morton Luke Tapscott (suspension)

GWS GIANTS

Backs Jack Hombsch Tim Mohr Sam Darley                            

Half backs Shaun Edwards Phil Davis Toby Greene                          

Centreline Tom Scully Callan Ward Adam Treloar                            

Half forwards Taylor Adams Jeremy Cameron Rhys Palmer

Forwards Nathan Wilson Jonathan Patton Mark Whiley

Followers Dean Brogan James McDonald Dylan Shiel

Interchange Tomas Bugg Jonathan Giles Devon Smith Luke Power

Emergencies  Chad Cornes WIlliam Hoskin-Elliot Andrew Phillips

In Jonathan Giles Jack Hombsch Nathan Wilson

Out Chad Cornes (rested) Andrew Phillips Sam Schulz (calf)

THE PERILS OF LONG RANGE FORECASTING

Let's face it. The minute the AFL issued its programme of matches way back twhen the full roster of Greater Western Sydney players was far from finalised, we were all smacking our chops in anticipation of what shaped not only as an eminently winnable game for Melbourne but also as a probable crushing of the club we had quickly grown to loathe because of the tactics used to lure Tom Scully away from the club. After all, Melbourne's first encounter in 2011 with that year's debutants from the Gold Coast had resulted in a 15 goal victory even though most judges felt the team didn't even raise a gallop until the final quarter. Surely, this would be another massacre of similar proportions?

Well, we've seen some changes since then.  Things have not gone well for Melbourne with injuries, loss of form, a slow adaptation to a new style of play and some extraordinary and well documented on and off field events derailing the first half of the club's season. Not even in our wildest nightmares did we expect Melbourne to be on only one win at this juncture.

A similar thing could be said of Greater Western Sydney who most expected to go through 2012 winless. Not only did they beat the Suns earlier in the season, but they have been  impressive with some real competitive performances, particularly in recent times. It's no mean feat to be on even terms with Geelong on its home turf even if the Cats are seemingly on their way down and the Giants did well last week to be within sniffing distance late in their game against the Tigers. 

On Sunday, the Giants will experience the MCG for the first time and the big ground should suit them because they run and spread well, a feature which has for the most part been lacking at  Melbourne this year. The Demons have loaded up with big bodies in order to exploit the youthful Giants and it will be interesting to see how the game plays itself out. 

What puzzles me is the GWS decision to omit Chad Cornes who routinely stars against Melbourne and whose form this year had been widely acknowledged as one of the reasons why his team has been so competitive. Last week he had 23 touches against Richmond and whilst not as prolific against Geelong in the game before that, his contribution was significant. In his team's only win this year, Cornes had 28 possessions, took 12 marks and was easily best on the ground. It's hard to believe that he's been rested for this game on this ground and in the heavy conditions anticipated for Sunday. I wouldn't be surprised if this was yet another Sheedy ploy and a late change will see Cornes running out for the game.

What Melbourne needs to win on Sunday is a good start. After a couple of weeks of competitive starts against Carlton and Essendon, the Demons were woeful for almost a quarter and a half as they conceded more than eight goals as a result of some sloppy play, loose checking and poor kicking for goal against the Pies on Queens Birthday. A similar start will lead to a day of embarrassment.

On the other hand, the Giants will need everything to go their way much as it did last week against the Tigers when virtually every foray into the forward line resulted in a goal while Richmond was extremely wasteful up forward. The result was that the home side needed only fourteen shots to achieve twelve goals while the visitors scored one less goal with 31 attempts in their two goal win. In other words, it was only a matter of accuracy in front of goal that was the difference between a close result and an absolute thumping. 

These things rarely happen two weeks in a row and, on that basis I believe the time has come for Melbourne to kick off a better half of the season and I'm tipping Melbourne and Black Caviar to make it a double for the weekend. Both will end up saluting the judges.

Demon fans - prepare to wave your jackets in the direction of the GWS coaches box at the end of the game!

Melbourne by 36 points.

An unfortunate reference in this game is that the AFL has supported this project above other matters. It was the same with Sydney Adelaide West Coast Port and Fremantle when they were introduced. of those teams only FReo have not produced the flag as justification of the success of the team. It is surely that success that builds or perhaps in truth maintained the supporter base. GWS is an opportunity to really grow the supporter base and so will be pursued at any cost by AFL when can we expext a GWS flag? and will it be before the Demons next>

I can see only negatives for the MFC with the lead up to the match . Nothing less than a huge crowd of Melbourne supporters cheering their team to a ten goal win will be reported as a success for the MFC.

Even if we do win by the 10 goals it will be reported that this is what is expected by aMelbourne team more advanced than the above mentioned pimply faced kids. and No doubt there will be more reporting of T$ reception and ststs than any other player action. Watts will need to kick 10 goals or have 40 possessions to even be considered against any T$ action and heaven help us if T$ is injured by anything less than a self imposed injury

I hope that this weekend will quickly be over and we can concentrate on the fortunes of our own players I think we have more than enough good and bad issues to confront.

In fact the snow is looking most welcome just wish I could get there.

Hopefully, Mark Neeld won’t take the bait.

and hopefully supporters do WJ, or it's going to be a cold and lonely afternoon at the 'g on sunday

dont forget wet... Showers forecast.. possible hail even.

let's hope it's raining goals BB !

The weather is going to help us Vs GWS as it will slow their spread and increase the advantage of our focus on winning contested ball and the defensive clearance structure. The kick long along the boundary, re-set, ball in etc... repeat. Magner, Jones, Beamer, etc... should thrive.

Team for Sunday:

B: James Sellar, James Frawley, Jared Rivers

HB: Daniel Nicholson, Tom McDonald, Jack Watts

C: Rohan Bail, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes

HF: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Nathan Jones

F: Mitch Clark, Colin Garland, Colin Sylvia

Foll: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jordie McKenzie

I/C (from): Matthew Bate, Aaron Davey, James Magner, Cale Morton, Sam Blease, Troy Davis, Joel Macdonald

IN: Matthew Bate, Aaron Davey, Joel Macdonald, Troy Davis, Rohan Bail

OUT: Brad Green (hip), Luke Tapscott (suspension)

Garland at Full Forward!!!

Love it.

I know they rarely line up in those positions...

Two half forward flanks out in Green and Tapscott would give Aaron a likely start, with Bail (if fit) over Bate and Joel or Troy possible if Frawley is a late withdrawal with his foot.

could someone be so kind as to remind me how well Davey went in his last outing ? ( scorps ) cheers

could someone be so kind as to remind me how well Davey went in his last outing ? ( scorps ) cheers

Pretty sure it was 18 nice touches then subbed off at half time.

Pretty sure it was 18 nice touches then subbed off at half time.

cheers

i reckon he might be an interesting call up for this game...He does have the skills to bring a few undone.. If hes hungry enough

cheers

i reckon he might be an interesting call up for this game...He does have the skills to bring a few undone.. If hes hungry enough

THe problem is that he may well put in a good one against weak/inexperienced opposition and then fail us again when the pressure is really one. I reckon he is done at MFC.

He will be there next year I reckon. Still the best fwd pocket on the list, Aaron Davey that is

He will be there next year I reckon. Still the best fwd pocket on the list, Aaron Davey that is

Then we are in trouble. ( worse trouble)

Just don't get ahead of yourselves here. This is a real danger game for us. GWS have been holding their own by playing a close-checking, bodies at the ball style and refusing to take a backward step. If they had slightly better match fitness they'd have pinched a few this season already. I am very concerned that they just might throw us off our game by getting in the faces of some of our more fragile players and snatch the win.

I cant see Aaron playing allgames...but used when suits....just my h-o

GWS are not to be under rated. They are a far better team than Gold Coast were in their first year (in fact they are a far better side than the Gold Coast are this year). The facts that the game is at the MCG and possibly the weather make us slight favourites, but we have no right to be cocky, that's for sure.

_{cant see davis getting a game this week, based only on the already top heavy back line named, and i wouldn't be surprised if there was a late change and sellar was dropped due to the forecast}

_{bail and bate will be considered or their strong bodies but i also think the forecast will work against bate}

Jack Watts plays his 50th game this week. Would love to see him, more so than anyone else, lay a bone crunching tackle on scully, from one #1 draft pick to another.

GWS are not to be under rated. They are a far better team than Gold Coast were in their first year (in fact they are a far better side than the Gold Coast are this year). The facts that the game is at the MCG and possibly the weather make us slight favourites, but we have no right to be cocky, that's for sure.

Agreed. GWS will see this as winnable & play it like a grand final. That it's their 1st ever MCG match & $cullygate will inspire them to make even more of a statement. My 2 cents is they'll go hell for leather & the betting odds should be about even instead of us at $1.30 GWS $3.55

I reckon one of the best things that could've happened for us is GWS pushing the tigers last week. They should not be underestimated and I hope we come in with an attitude to what we had for 3 quarters last week. Hit every contest hard, play with instinct and passion.

Give them a hard welcome to the MCG.

Once again, our midfield is the greatest concern. Jamar will have to feed it straight down the throat of our boys.

I can't see GWS matching our forwards and backs at all.

Also, I'm tipping our physicality will be absolutely brutal on Sunday.

Once again, our midfield is the greatest concern. Jamar will have to feed it straight down the throat of our boys.

I can't see GWS matching our forwards and backs at all.

Also, I'm tipping our physicality will be absolutely brutal on Sunday.

Patton & Cameron look bloody good. Get in their ears, hope they get homesick!

One thing I don't want to see is Junior trying to stick up for $cully and trading blows with his old team mates