NO FIRE IN THE BELLY

[Demonland 66,592]

NO FIRE IN THE BELLY by JVM

When the media summed up Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions last week there were some who highlighted many acts by the Demons that demonstrated a lack of pressure applied to the opposition when they had the ball.

Players hanging back and not attacking the ball carrier, failing to chase and run hard, leaving their men alone and allowing them to create space and/or make to leads and take easy marks. All this apart from the simple mistakes and skill errors that conceded easy goals.

These were all instances of players not being prepared to work hard enough or worse still, lacking of any fire in the belly which, given what theyre paid to do and how much theyre paid, is extremely disappointing.

Not only disappointing but strange after the team made a spirited start to the game and even stayed with the Lions for most of the first half but the writing was on the wall even then.

The team is now well past 25 games into coach Mark Neeld's tenure but it remains one of the easiest teams to play against and not the hardest as he promised the fans when the ride began. Not long after that it was said that the team's level of fitness was inferior to that of most of the rest of the competition so preseason training was stepped up by increments, a little in the first year and another 15% in the next. But still that doesn't seem to be the answer except when pitted against Sheedy's pimply faced kids, the team has been unable to step up to the plate after half time.

Last week, they fell into the hole after half time and stood by meekly allowing the Lions (whose own form up to that stage was appalling) to trample all over them This week, the Demons face up to a team that has struck a bit of form and promises to make mincemeat of any team it plays that has that necessary ingredient missing. If theres no fire in the belly among the playing group then Mark Neelds first meeting with his old master, Mick Malthouse, could well be the last.

THE GAME

Carlton v Melbourne at the MCG - Sunday 5 May, 2013 at 3.15pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Carlton 116 wins 2 draws Melbourne 88 wins

At MCG Carlton 48 wins Melbourne 49 wins

Since 2000 Carlton 10 wins Melbourne 8 wins

The Coaches Malthouse 0 wins Neeld 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Channel 7, Fox Footy Channel (live)

Radio - 3AW Triple M

THE BETTING

Carlton to win $1.02 Melbourne to win $13.00

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Carlton15.17.107 defeated Melbourne 6.13.49 at the MCG, Round 9, 2012

The pattern of the game was not unfamiliar. Melbourne kept up with Carlton for most of the first half and was even in a threatening position midway through the third quarter before capitulating against a seven goal final term onslaught from Carlton. Nathan Jones was best afield for Melbourne and Mitch Clark booted three goals

TEAMS

CARLTON

Backs Chris Yarran Michael Jamison Lachlan Henderson

Half backs Zach Tuohy Dennis Armfield White

Centreline Kane Lucas Mitch Robinson Kade Simpson

Half forwards Chris Judd Andrew Walker Jeff Garlett

Forwards Ed Curnow Shaun Hampson Jarrad Waite

Followers Robert Warnock Marc Murphy Brock McLean

Interchange Eddie Betts Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Heath Scotland

Emergencies Tom Bell Sam Rowe

In Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Jarrad Waite

Out Andrew Carazzo Bryce Gibbs (hamstring) Sam Rowe

MELBOURNE

Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich

Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland

Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Viney Matt Jones

Half forwards Jeremy Howe Colin Sylvia Dean Kent

Forwards Rohan Bail Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes

Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones

Interchange Michael Evans Daniel Nicholson James Strauss Luke Tapscott

Emergencies Sam Blease Aaron Davey Cameron Pedersen

In Lynden Dunn Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer James Strauss Jack Viney

Out Sam Blease Aaron Davey Mark Jamar (groin) Cameron Pedersen David Rodan Jack Watts (hamstring)

New Dean Kent (Perth)

There was a time when you could preview a game by matching up the teams player for player and working out which of the two was stronger by deciding how many of one side were ahead of the other. The winner would in all likelihood, be the one that was in front in the majority of positions. It was a reasonably good guide but didn't always work because a team would often have a certain number of dominant players who would have sufficient influence over a game to override the disadvantage of depth of numbers.

I have no such problems with a game like Carlton v Melbourne where the Blues not only have the extra advantage of having the champion or class players in their team but they also have the greater depth. They have the luxury of Murphy, Judd, McLean (at his peak), Scotland, Simpson, Robinson and co and the fact that Carazzo (late omission) and Gibbs out with injury is a mere bagatelle. Melbourne has Nathan Jones so if the opposition manages to cover him then it's all over red rover. At least we won't have a repeat of Jamar tapping the ball constantly to someone like Maloney.

The changes at Melbourne (and there are six of them) wont do the trick. On top of having possible the worst midfield in the competition, the team is without important forward in Mark Jamar and Chris Dawes (along with Jack Watts whose brief stint up forward last week produced two goals) and while the injuries give some younger players an opportunity, the differential in class will be mo more pronounced than in this game. The injury hit forward line is problematic because the Dees have only managed an average of seven goals in their last four bruise free matches against the Blues.

And if that's not enough to convince anybody then let's not forget that Carlton is ranked fourth in AFL for contested possessions this season, while Melbourne is last.

Can't avoid it but this should be a percentage booster for both sides.

Carlton by 41 points.

[Ted Lasso 17,144]

Neeld said in his presser today a couple of the very young boys at casey would be very much in the frame for selection, i wonder who that would be? kent and strauss maybe?

[CHAMP 347]

Neeld said in his presser today a couple of the very young boys at casey would be very much in the frame for selection, i wonder who that would be? kent and strauss maybe?

Strauss is hardly a very young boy anymore, hopefully Kent and Taggert.

Toumpas hasn't done enough for a recall.

[Ted Lasso 17,144]

Would be great for Kent and Taggert, being out there against Chris judd who i rate as close to the best mid i have ever seen, win lose or draw in the game those boys would learn alot, as would jack viney

[bing181 8,228]

B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Dean Terlich
HB: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
C: Jack Trengove, Jack Viney, Matt Jones
HF: Jeremy Howe, Colin Sylvia, Dean Kent
F: Rohan Bail, Max Gawn, Shannon Byrnes
FOLL: Jake Spencer, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Sam Blease, James Strauss, Cameron Pedersen, Daniel Nicholson, Michael Evans, Luke Tapscott, Aaron Davey
IN: Lynden Dunn, James Strauss, Jake Spencer, Jack Viney, Dean Kent, Daniel Nicholson
OUT: Mark Jamar (groin), Jack Watts (hamstring), David Rodan
New: Dean Kent (Perth)

[Jaded No More 59,181]

Wow. [censored] outs.

Big Maxy has a huge job this week. Is he ready?

[Tricky 337]

Neeld said in his presser today a couple of the very young boys at casey would be very much in the frame for selection, i wonder who that would be? kent and strauss maybe?

Give the man a cigar!

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Nicholson is the bane of my MFC supporting existence.

[The Lobster Effect 845]

B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Dean Terlich

HB: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland

C: Jack Trengove, Jack Viney, Matt Jones

HF: Jeremy Howe, Colin Sylvia, Dean Kent

F: Rohan Bail, Max Gawn, Shannon Byrnes

FOLL: Jake Spencer, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones

I/C (from): Sam Blease, James Strauss, Cameron Pedersen, Daniel Nicholson, Michael Evans, Luke Tapscott, Aaron Davey

IN: Lynden Dunn, James Strauss, Jake Spencer, Jack Viney, Dean Kent, Daniel Nicholson

OUT: Mark Jamar (groin), Jack Watts (hamstring), David Rodan

New: Dean Kent (Perth)

I bet most opposition supporters wouldn't recognise half the names in our side. Maybe that's a good thing, means we're trying something different!

[The Lobster Effect 845]

Nicholson is the bane of my MFC supporting existence.

but he runs fast

[whatwhat say what 19,745]

Maybe one of the worst Melbourne squads i can remember since the dark days of 1997.

Edited May 2, 2013 by DemonAndrew

[Ted Lasso 17,144]

Great to see a few boys knocking the door down to get into the team! well done dean kent and james strauss!

[The heart beats true 16,486]

We'd be even money against most VFL sides with that team.

Ouch.

[DeeSpencer 23,508]

I know he's been up and down but surely Tapscott stays, same for Evans, you'd think Strauss gets a chance and then it would come down to go extra small without Pedersen or keeping him and having the emergencies of Blease/Davey/Nicholson.

Personally I'd keep the big body to have someone able to come up the ground and make a contest besides Gawn and Howe. But we will see I guess. The biggest problem with Pedersen last week was he was a complete no impact. The ball just went round him it was pretty much 17 on 17.

My team lined up properly:

FB: Garland Frawley Terlich

HB: Grimes McDonald Dunn

C: Evans Jones M. Jones

HF: Sylvia Pedersen Bail

FF: Howe Gawn Kent

Foll: Spencer McKenzie Trengove

INT: Viney, Strauss, Byrnes S: Tapscott

Emerg: Blease, Davey, Nicholson

I hope they don't make Kent sub. I'm stoked he's got a chance its not really fair just to make him sub. Lets see what he can do, after that we can use him as a super sub through the year but I want him to have a shot now!

I look at this team and I say ok reasonable back line, best of a bad bunch in the midfield, so options up forward with smalls but where the hell are the tall forwards or establish ruckman. Except I know where they are - injured.

Spencer must be on his last chance in the ruck. We know he tries as hard as he can but this is his big chance against a fellow bean pole with another ruck in Gawn for cover to go out and get in there and do something. I'll be cheering the Spence on proudly at the start of the match, not sure he'll deliver for me unfortunately!

[DeeSpencer 23,508]

We'd be even money against most VFL sides with that team.

Ouch.

Maybe. But we've established Jamar isn't playing great so even though he's completely uncoordinated how bad can Spencer be! He's at least winning hit outs at Casey! Then if they decide to drop Pedersen and play with the worlds tallest small forward line with a giant ruck and Jeremy Howe as the marking options good luck but it says a lot for Pedersen!

Unfortunately this is the team we've got. And realistically I'm not convinced Clark, Dawes and Jamar in for Spencer, Gawn and Pedersen makes us miles better. Although it looks much better!

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Nicholson is the bane of my MFC supporting existence.

but he runs fast

So did Cale Morton, especially when Brendan Lane is chasing after him:

Edited May 2, 2013 by The Song Formerly Known As

[CHAMP 347]

Kent cannot be made Sub as a nominated Field 18 starter I don't think.

Reckon the Extended Bench is cut and the Sub selected from that particular four.

He could start on the bench.

[DemonWA 3,536]

Wow. [censored] outs.

Big Maxy has a huge job this week. Is he ready?

Gawn is more helpful in the forward line than spencer, so i'd keep gawn's role the same as the last 2 games

i think the big spencil will get 1st crack at the center bounce.

[Pennant St Dee 11,499]

but he runs fast

and we certainly need that against Garlett & Betts, Nicho is not big enough to go with Yarran

[Pennant St Dee 11,499]

Maybe one of the worst Melbourne squads i can remember since the dark days of 1997.

Well if 2014 turns out like 1998 and we turn around as quickly I will be very happy

[Deemotivated 550]

Really hope a few of our lesser lights are hungry as hell this weekend and grab their chance to shut a few of their "supporters" up.

[Dynamic Demon 17]

We are where we are, but at least it forces the Match Committee to try some of the guys who are contributing at Casey. Disappointed Fitzy didn't get a run. He would be a better option than Spencer. At leash Jack Watts will get a break from the pathetic posters on this site that just want to bag him,

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Squad is atrocious and underdone in many areas, but they will have a crack and give their all.
Mark my words. At least that can be guaranteed.

[Satyriconhome 10,010]

Seen Spencer live 3 times already this season, if you haven't you will see the improvement, he hasn't played well, he has dominated, which he should,love the posters who pot him that haven't. Last week even saw one of his chase downs of a smaller player, nearly broke him in half....asked Jade Rawling about him on the chat...first words "Jake is very competitive", isn't that what some posters are crying out for..support the team

Edited May 2, 2013 by Satyriconhome

[Young Dee 1,303]

I was not sad to see any of those three dropped and think that the ins have more potential.

Spencer for Jamar (win - everyone has been caling for Jamar's head and Spencer is dominating VFL)

Dunn for Watts (win - effort and desire)

Kent for Rodan (win - in every aspect)

Hope the interchange is as follows:

I/C (from): James Strauss, Michael Evans, Luke Tapscott, SUB: Davey or Blease

If thats the final bench I will be very happy. Sad to not have Clark or Dawes but happy Dawes was not rushed. Really want Strauss to have a good game - I do think he will be a good player!

I get so sick of hearing that we are a young/inexperienced side but we do look it on paper.

Edited May 2, 2013 by Young Dee