THE MAESTRO by Bananabender

When I think back over the years, it's rather surprising the number of times the Demons have played in pre season matches up here in Queensland. I remember Jim Stynes coming up here for a game and wearing a cap to shield him from the harmful rays of the sun. I recall some steamy games in FNQ including one against the Lions that was played in cyclonic conditions and another occasion when I stood in the outer at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns one evening and was serenaded by the croaking of cane toads. Last year, I drove four hours to the Gold Coast through pouring rain to witness some horrible football played on a soaked Metricon Stadium. Despite the difficult conditions I never saw a team throw in the towel.

This year's NAB Challenge game was played in hot steamy conditions under the noonday sun that was made solely for mad dogs and Englishmen. While I don't like making excuses, it didn't help Melbourne's cause to come out against a near full strength Suns outfit with a team bereft of its best key backs and forwards, a number of its midfield prospects and a few others of value and then go into a game in energy sapping conditions with a smaller bench and less rotations. Losing Colin Garland to a knock in the head didn't help matters either.

Still, while I'm making excuses, there are no excuses for skill errors like missing easy targets, poor decision making and plain, scrappy football. With just two weeks to go before the season opener against Port Adelaide, Mark Neeld and his football department have the job ahead of them.

Before looking at Melbourne's individual performers, I think it's appropriate to pay homage to The Maestro who was the difference between the two teams on the day. Gary Ablett Junior with his two goals and 24 disposals, mostly to his team's advantage was worth making the trip to the Coast even if he was on the wrong side as far as I was concerned. To have him in the side lights up any midfield and he alone outshone the entire Demon contingent in this area.

Notwithstanding, it was Melbourne which started off the better of the two teams and the nine point lead at quarter time was something of an injustice to the visitors. However, by early in the second term, a fifty metre penalty to Mark Jamar, who had started strongly in the ruck, saw the Demons score their second goal of the term and race to a 21 point lead. Unfortunately, that was that as far a Melbourne was concerned. The Suns took over and bridged the gap to take a 2 point lead into the sheds at half time.

After the break, the Gold Coast forwards took control of a weakened Demon defence with Garland off as a result of a head knock. Restricted in their capacity to make rotations, they withered and gave away five goals to one and the game was over at the final break. The team fought out the last quarter and did well to contain the Suns in the end. To that extent, it was at least a game played by the team under dress rehearsal conditions even if it lacked the intensity of the real thing.

Jack Watts was close to Ablett for best on ground honours picking up 25 disposals at a high level of efficiency and was head and shoulders above his teammates. Skipper Jack Grimes (22 touches) and Nathan Jones worked hard but were used sparingly in the second half. Newcomers Matt Jones and Dean Terlich earned their keep and youngsters Jimmy Toumpas and Jesse Hogan provided hope for the future.

So the preseason is over and, despite the grueling conditions, Melbourne played it out to the finish which is a damn sight better than North Melbourne which wimped out at the end of its rain sodden encounter with Hawthorn half a continent away.

But all that matters little for the Demons. In the absence of someone like The Maestro in their midfield, the future still seems a long way away.

Melbourne 2.3.15 4.3.27 5.5.35 8.7.55

Gold Coast 1.0.6 4.5.29 9.6.60 12.7.79

Goals

Melbourne Sellar 3 Hogan Jamar M Jones Pederson Terlich

Gold Coast Hall 3 Ablett Dixon 2 Gorringe Harbrow Hutchins Lonergan Smith

Best

Melbourne Watts Grimes Sellar Hogan Terlich Toumpas

Gold Coast Ablett Dixon Hall Smith Harbrow Lonergan

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

Gold Coast Lonergan (wrist)

Reports Nil

Umpires Kamolins Foot Mollison

Crowd 3,000 estimated at Fankhauer Reserve, Southport