CENTIMETRE IMPERFECT by Whispering Jack

The point has been made on more than one occasion during the past week of the importance of experience in achieving ultimate success in our game.

It's a point usually made by coaches of young struggling teams and was the theme this week of discussion by both the Western Bulldog's coach Brendan McCartney and Melbourne's Mark Neeld who explained immediately after his side's 25-point loss to the Saints that they "had (an average of) 117 games per player on the field and we had 60 and that's what happens."

It also happens that teams with superior experience often have a strong edge in class and an ability to exploit their opponent's weaknesses and this is what happened in the game. At the start, the Saints attacked the ball with ferocity and were able to put sufficient pressure on the Demons to run away to a four goal lead by mid quarter. Melbourne had worked hard and contested well but was forced into error, usually involving little more than a few centimetres between a perfectly executed piece of play and a turnover and opposition goal. Then, the game changed with the departure of Nick Riewoldt with a knee injury.

Over the course of the next half a game, the Demons worked their way back but they lacked the experienced game turner who could sway the game in their favour totally. And so, they battled their way through the remainder of the first term, throughout the second and for almost ten minutes into the third, they held sway but all of the momentum was insufficient to push them into the lead. When they kicked their second goal after six minutes into the third half, they were within sniffing distance – a mere four points down.

It was at this point that the game changed again and St. Kilda retook the initiative, thanks to the class of their experienced players in dal Santo, Hayes, Fisher and Montagna who led the way to blast out eight unanswered goals in a half hour stretch that put the game well and truly beyond doubt. Beau Wilkes kicked five goals and was good but it was the team leaders who were so decisive in turning things around.

To their credit, the Demons toiled away to peg the Saints' lead back to 25 points which was about the same place where they were at the fourteen minute mark of the first term when Riewoldt had hobbled off the ground. The teams even finished with the same number of inside 50's as well as tackles. Melbourne led the contested possessions and the efficiency count.

The numbers suggest that the team is starting to make some progress after a poor start to the season. When you consider that the Saints were just two points or a single umpiring decision away from beating Collingwood a week earlier, the signs are good.

Sitting in the stands when the score was St. Kilda 5.6.36 to Melbourne's 4.8.32 I wondered what might have been if it had its full back (James Frawley), full forward (Mitch Clark), two first dibs ruckmen (Mark Jamar and Stephan Martin), the versatile Jack Watts and the livewire Liam Jurrah fit and available for the game (not to mention half a dozen others who would be vying for contention if not for their injuries). But that's conjecture for another time.

In this game Sammy Blease came of age and justified his first round draft selection for the first time. Not only for his five goals (which could easily have been six or seven) but for the defensive aspect of his play and the fact that he played out a full game.

Melbourne's much maligned midfield also showed signs that it was coming out of its almost moribund state. Nathan Jones has been good all year and if he continues to improve at this rate, will come close to nudging elite status. The two skippers in Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove continued to show that they can take further strides forward in the future. Who know? One day people might speak of their appointment as joint captains at such a young age as an inspired move.

There were a few highlights from other young players in Jeremy Howe, Luke Tapscott, James Strauss and, although Tom McDonald had a torrid day down back, he also demonstrated that he can step up in the future to a much higher level.

If anything, the Demons were let down by their experienced players. A few of them are nearing the end but Joel Macdonald and Jared Rivers were fantastic and, on their form, one wonders why on earth there are any reservations about signing them on to new contracts immediately.

Melbourne 0.3.3 2.7.19 4.9.33 12.10.82

St. Kilda 4.2.26 5.5.35 12.11.83 16.11.107

Best

Melbourne Blease 5 Sellar 2 Dunn Green Howe Jetta Sylvia

St. Kilda Wilkes 5 Cripps Koschitzke Milne Saad 2 Goddard Riewoldt Steven

Best

Melbourne Blease Jones Grimes Rivers MacDonald Trengove

St. Kilda Wilkes Dal Santo Armitage Dempster Geary Hayes

Injuries

Melbourne Nil.

St. Kilda Nick Riewoldt (knee)

Changes

Melbourne James Frawley (quad) replaced by Matthew Bate

St. Kilda Farren Ray (back) and Clint Jones replaced by

Reports

Melbourne Nil.

St. Kilda Nil.

Umpires Stewart Hosking Kamolins

Official crowd 23,464 at MCG

If you want a real laugh I recommend the play

GROUCHO commencing on 15 August 2012 for a short season at Chapel Off Chapel. If Demonlanders book tickets and confirm their booking and ticket number with Demonland by PM, a donation of $4.00 per ticket will be made to a charity connected with mental health.

Opening night now a sellout!

As so often, 4 goals to none in the first quarter,when the game is there to be won, turns out to be essentially the final margin...

Actually not a bad result, given the expectations of most of us. We'll do them next year with a full team.

Moloney was clearly our worst player today. Would love to know what is going on in his head.

We should pick up that Wilkes fella, if only so he doesn't destroy us every time we play St Kilda.

Good on spencer and blease for having a dip Sylvia should have a look at Spencer's efforts and take note

is 8 goals our best effort for a last quarter this year?

MFC. Junktime specialists. After 39 years of following this mob I've just about had it. Truly am in despair for what the future holds.

One really bad quarter (the third) cost us. Once upon a time that would have opened the floodgates, but we worked back into it, which is a positive.

Didn't mind some of the younger brigade today, starting to look like they could be players: Blease, McDonald (except for a couple of brain fades), Jetta, Strauss, and not to forget Jake Spencer, who did some nice things around the ground. Decent game from some of the mid-tier players as well, Joel Mac and Dunn didn't disgrace themselves, and it was great seeing Rivers down back again.

Odd, I got more out of today's loss than last week's win.

Spencer , Blease and Jetta were some pleasing aspects of an otherwise crap day .

The third quarter was a shocker but I think Nev Jetta had a career saving moment in the last .

effort but no skill

Couldn't watch the game, but Blease's stats are pretty impressive today...

Was it a break-out game or did he just jag a few junk time goals?

Let's be honest. Most of us probably thought 10 goals was about par. The betting line was 50.5 points, so that's a good indication.

When we were that far behind at 3QT, did anybody expect us to kick 8 goals in the last quarter?

Losing sucks, but we are moving in the right direction.

We were never going to win today and anybody who says they were realistically expecting us to is kidding themselves.

Blease was promising but again a massive third quarter lapse from the team. With 10 of the best 22 out I'm impressed!

Edited August 11, 201213 yr by DEELIRIOUS

Couldn't watch the game, but Blease's stats are pretty impressive today...

Was it a break-out game or did he just jag a few junk time goals?

some junk but he should have had seven.

Well done Jake Spencer. Two good games in a row.

Wish some of our so called top players had the same work ethic.

Agree with others that half the third quarter aside, it was a better effort than last week.

Good second and last qtrs given the gulf in experience. Happy with Blease, tappy . T Mac, Jetta and to a degree Strauss.

Sylvia still had more disposals than Jetta, Green, Spencer, Moloney, Magner, Tapscott, & same as Howe & Sellar. Sylvia laid 8 tackles, 2 more than anyone else. Okay, not a great day for him today but let's not have him drawn & quartered, he's still one of our best over the past 6 games or so.

MFC. Junktime specialists. After 39 years of following this mob I've just about had it. Truly am in despair for what the future holds.

bd cannot wait till the end of the season. Have had a gutfull.

Well done Jake Spencer. Two good games in a row.

Wish some of our so called top players had the same work ethic.

Agree with others that half the third quarter aside, it was a better effort than last week.

Well said r&b

MFC. Junktime specialists. After 39 years of following this mob I've just about had it. Truly am in despair for what the future holds.

Compared to last year when we didn't even have junk time goals to make the margine respectable, I'll take our 25 point loss today over an 80 point belting.

I didn't get to see much of the second half after Blease kicked to goal to bring us within a goal, it just sounds like that sparked to leaders of st Kilda to pull their fingers out.

I saw signs we are on a working path. Considering the team out there, and the amount of passengers who are meant to be our top players, I can accept a loss like today's.

The most important thing to me is I saw signs that play is becoming instinctual. They also seem to be trusting each other more and backing them to win a contest.

Well done Jake Spencer. Two good games in a row.

Wish some of our so called top players had the same work ethic.

Agree with others that half the third quarter aside, it was a better effort than last week.

Believe it or not ,Jake has quicker reflexes and better roving skills than our rovers.

Had a breakout game today as did Nev.

I'm actually really happy after just seeing those two prove they can play footy.

I must admit, I did see a few signs today. I am venting my frustration at this year for the first time after being publicly silent for most of it. Tom Mac is going to be great. Dunno what is going on with Trenners, he seems to have no confidence at all. There must be something going on with Maloney that we don't know about.

All in all I just want this year to end, have a decent pre season with our injured list back on the park and see where we are going after that.

I think Dunn has been ok this year as well. He is versatile and can play in several positions. He was on Milne for a while and didn't concede a goal. I know many on here don't like him but he is not our worst.