SNAPSHOT

[Demonland 64,414]

SNAPSHOT by Whispering Jack

It was reported on the Demons website during the week that Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said that in last week's game against Carlton his team displayed a glimpse of its future.

Certainly, at times, there were snapshots of the way that were moving our football club forward absolutely no question, he said.

There was a snapshot there lets enjoy the journey and get on board with these young boys.

The boys who took the field on the weekend, Ive got a feeling that theyre going to be around for quite a while.

This comes on the back of a 61 point defeat in which Carlton doubled Melbourne's score and, apart from the first 8½ minutes, the Blues were well in control of the game.

The basis of the glimpse into future claim stems from the raw statistic of games played by the players making up the respective sides. Carlton not only doubled Melbourne's score but it also had almost double the number of games in its players' legs (more than double once Demon co-captain Jack Grimes broke his collarbone and had to be subbed off for first gamer Dean Kent). They fielded a team featuring 1109 games experience to the Blues 2165.

With eight players coming away from the game with 68 games in total, the lack of experience was plainly obvious and, while that group contained a couple of tall lads, the deficiency in size and physical strength was a clear factor that enabled Carlton to break away at any time it looked as if there was a remote threat to the five goal lead it had developed in a short time during the first quarter (and yet the lead was just a little over six goals at one stage early in the last).

The eight players and their games played were:

■ James Strauss (19)

■ Jake Spencer (17)

■ Michael Evans (8)

■ Max Gawn (7)

■ Matt Jones (6)

■ Dean Terlich (5)

■ Jack Viney (5)

■ Dean Kent (1)

Neeld, himself lacking in coaching experience with less than 30 games under his belt, has constantly raised the inexperience factor in explaining his team's slow development and poor results over his tenure but we live in times when immediate results are the order of the day and Ken Hinkley is showing him up over at Port Adelaide with a 5-1 win loss record at an equally inexperienced club.

On Sunday, the moment of truth will arrive. The Gold Coast Suns are also inexperienced although they do have the best player in the competition and a man whose skills and ability overshadow all else that will be on the field of play.

As a young coach Neeld has had to contend with far more than most would on entering this most demanding profession and although his toughest assignment has always been the need to turn around what for want of a better description has become a dysfunctional culture at the club after years of incompetence in the areas of recruiting, player development and coaching, he faces the prospect of being eaten up by the very same culture if his team is unable to match it with a team of equally experienced counterparts.

In the absence of Jack Grimes for several weeks due to his injury and in light of Jack Trengove's form slump, Nathan Jones has been given a co-captain's role. He has already shown great leadership without the captain tag and he has big shoulders. One hopes that he can continue to lead by the example of endeavour and strength he has routinely shown through the dark times, as otherwise, the critics will continue to harp on and call for his coach's head.

It doesn't seem to be fair that a coach should not be given time to see his plan through but thats the AFL for you. If Neelds team is unable to show some more concrete and definite signs of moving forward, the jungle drums will keep on beating and the calls for a replacement coach will continue to be heard more loudly. The snapshot of the future might be a very ugly one for the coach and his players a little after 7.00pm on Sunday.

THE GAME Melbourne v Gold Coast at the MCG Sunday 12 May 2013 at 4.40pm.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 3 wins Gold Coast 0 wins

MCG Melbourne 2 wins Gold Coast 0 wins

Since 2000 Melbourne 3 wins Gold Coast 0 wins

The Coaches Neeld 1 win McKenna 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Fox Footy Channel (live)

Radio ABC

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 16.12.108 defeated Gold Coast Suns 9.12.66 in round 19, 2012 at the MCG.

The Demons had a great opening term booting six unanswered goals and spent the rest of the time coasting to win by 42 points, Brad Green booted five goals and Jeremy Howe and Nathan Jones had field days against an opposition that only had two performers you know who and Harley Bennell.

THE BETTING

Melbourne $2.10 to win Gold Coast $1.77 to win

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich

Half backs Daniel Nicholson Tom McDonald Colin Garland

Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Viney Matthew Jones

Half forwards Jeremy Howe Chris Dawes Colin Sylvia

Forwards Luke Tapscott Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes

Followers Jake Spencer Michael Evans Nathan Jones

Interchange Dean Kent Jordie McKenzie James Strauss James Sellar

Emergencies Aaron Davey Troy Davis David Rodan

In Chris Dawes James Sellar

Out Jack Grimes (collar bone) Jack Trengove (calf)

GOLD COAST SUNS

Backs Trent McKenzie Tom Murphy Sam Day

Half backs David Swallow Rory Thompson Broughton

Centreline Matthew Shaw Gary Ablett Harbrow

Half forwards: Harley Bennell Tom Lynch Jesse Lonergan

Forwards Brandon Matera Steven May Aaron Hall

Followers Zac Smith Jaeger OMeara Dion Prestia

Interchange Jarrod Brennan Campbell Brown Jack Hutchins Danny Stanley

Emergencies Clay Cameron Luke Russell Tim Sumner

In Campbell Brown Jack Hutchins Steven May

Out Charlie Dixon (ankle) Karmichael Hunt (hamstring) Michael Rischitelli

BLUEY'S BLOOPER

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna is fortunate he's coaching where he's so far out of the public gaze that he doesn't have to put up with eagle-eyed critics who dwell on his every word looking for inconsistencies to justify why he should be sacked.

Earlier this week, he was quoted in the Herald Sun as saying it was unlikely that Campbell Brown would be rushed back into the Suns' line-up now that his six match suspension had come to an end. Bluey said his team was already carrying a few bodies struggling to get through a full game and to bring Brown straight back for the clash with Melbourne might be "a risk too far".

When Brown was selected on Thursday might, there was a suggestion on the Courier Mail website that he was included to rough up the young Demons but that story has mysteriously disappeared and in it's place is one that says Brown's inclusion was "to shock underperforming pair Brandon Matera and Aaron Hall into action".

Make of this what you will but it seems to me that the Suns' coach is in a state of panic and is already waving the white flag. His team had the opportunity of a lifetime to knock off the injury-riddled Dockers on their own home turf last week but they were brushed off like flies. Now, he has completely compromised his principles and resorted to the desperate act of picking a veteran coming off no match practice to throw his weight around.

That's the attitude of a loser who must be dreading the thought of losing the one ace he has up his sleeve in the form of Gary Ablett Junior without who his team might as well not turn up on Sunday evening against the Demons.

Ablett has been under an injury cloud for several weeks and my mail is that he's been close to being rested for a mystery ailment. It's likely that he will come up against an in form Lynden Dunn, who despite the distraction of having a mum who rings up talk back radio, has returned from injury in ripping form. After a top game on comeback as a defender in the VFL, he took Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd apart last week, keeping him down to just 13 touches and drastically limiting his effectiveness around the ground (pity about the rest of the Blues' midfield). Dunn has shown he has the mongrel to take on his second Brownlow Medal winning opponent in consecutive weeks and if he succeeds there will be plenty of people, including the bookies, with egg on their faces this week.

I can't for the life of me work out why people are throwing their money away by betting against Melbourne on the strength of the omission through injury of the co-captains. Jack Grimes was always going to be an "out" and Jack Trengove contributed only six touches against Carlton. Meanwhile, the Suns have lost their top goalkicker Dixon, one of the few matchwinners in their history in Hunt and Michael Rischitelli who was dropped but has always proved a bit of a thorn in the side for the Demons.

Melbourne gains Chris Dawes to add to its forward line where it was undermanned badly last week and James Sellar as a back up who performed well there in the pre season.

This is a perfect opportunity for the team to reload on confidence and I'm looking for some break out performances from players like James Strauss and Luke Tapscott who are ready to step up a notch.

Melbourne by 55 points.

[What 18,810]

Cant wait to see Dawes out there.

This game is 50/50, there midfield is about 10 times better than ours so it wont be easy.

Will be a very interesting battle.

[P-man 13,154]

Enjoying these match write ups, Jack. Not pulling any punches whilst remaining as level headed as can be expected. Good stuff.

[old dee 22,815]

Cant wait to see Dawes out there.

This game is 50/50, there midfield is about 10 times better than ours so it wont be easy.

Will be a very interesting battle.

That applies to ever team we play.

IMO it is the root of 90% of our problems

Easy to see but a lot harder to fix.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,381]

Neeld has confirmed in press conference that Dawes is in and Trengove out (calf problem). Obviously there are other changes (ie, Grimes out).

[[email protected] 101]

Neeld has confirmed in press conference that Dawes is in and Trengove out (calf problem). Obviously there are other changes (ie, Grimes out).

It would be ok if Trengove's only problem is a calf problem.. Let's be positive and hope that's all it is...

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

I forgot it was a 4:40 game.... Damn that time slot sux

[hardtack 10,126]

For those wanting Magner promoted, you're out of luck (me included) - just tweeted:

"Neeld: we're not going to elevate a rookie for this week. It will be a weekly thing that we'll review."

[old dee 22,815]

For those wanting Magner promoted, you're out of luck (me included) - just tweeted:

"Neeld: we're not going to elevate a rookie for this week. It will be a weekly thing that we'll review."

If he cannot get in when we are crying out for mid fielders and two of our midfileders are out injured and one for a lengthy period

then when will he?

Why is he on the list?

I would have thought to cover this exact situation but obviously not so.

[P-man 13,154]

For those wanting Magner promoted, you're out of luck (me included) - just tweeted:

"Neeld: we're not going to elevate a rookie for this week. It will be a weekly thing that we'll review."

Must be because of the wealth of hard bodied, ball winning midfielders we have to draw upon..

FMFD.

[CBDees 3,162]

For those wanting Magner promoted, you're out of luck (me included) - just tweeted:

"Neeld: we're not going to elevate a rookie for this week. It will be a weekly thing that we'll review."

I endorse the announcement Neeld and the coaching panel should not rush into promotion of Magner. We have an option of automatically promoting a rookie half-year and if Magner was judged to be our saviour in 2013 then they would of elevated him after last season. Taking our time, it lets Neeld get a better appreciation of Clisby and the other two in case one of these is more strategically advantageous in the short term.

[P-man 13,154]

Disagree, CBD. Rushing him? We're about to go into one of the very few games we have a bee's dick's chance of actually winning this year. Magner has been the most consistent performer in the twos this year and our third world midfield just became a bit more depleted. We're not just crying out for someone of his ilk, we're pleading for it.

[DemonWA 3,426]

If Neeld is true to his word and Magner isnt promoted then i'd have to assume some one like Rodan, Blease, Jetta or Nicholson will be asked to play in the vacant midfield position?

[CHAMP 347]

Neeld has confirmed in press conference that Dawes is in and Trengove out (calf problem). Obviously there are other changes (ie, Grimes out).

Cannot Accumulate Lots of Footy

[Chook 14,389]

Cannot Accumulate Lots of Footy

Captain And Lacking Form

[old dee 22,815]

If Neeld is true to his word and Magner isnt promoted then i'd have to assume some one like Rodan, Blease, Jetta or Nicholson will be asked to play in the vacant midfield position?

Nicholson!

This bloke makes Bennel look like a rocket scientist.

At least bennel could hit a target with his 3 kicks each week.

That is three more than Nicholson.

How this bloke gets a game is beyond me.

[CHAMP 347]

Nicholson!

This bloke makes Bennel look like a rocket scientist.

At least bennel could hit a target with his 3 kicks each week.

That is three more than Nicholson.

How this bloke gets a game is beyond me.

LMFAO

[watchtheeyes 1,210]

Nicholson!

This bloke makes Bennel look like a rocket scientist.

At least bennel could hit a target with his 3 kicks each week.

That is three more than Nicholson.

How this bloke gets a game is beyond me.

They'd say something along the lines of: "Nicko has elite endurance and is developing nicely".

[Dwight Schrute 16,722]

I wonder if Toumpas comes back in now? probably needs another week or two at casey to get some confidence.

[Go the Biff 3,124]

Nicholson!

This bloke makes Bennel look like a rocket scientist.

At least bennel could hit a target with his 3 kicks each week.

That is three more than Nicholson.

How this bloke gets a game is beyond me.

Nearly spat coffee all over my computer. Classic Old Dee. This should go in your posting Hall of Fame. Even though JB is long gone you still manage to pot him

But FWIW I agree with regard to Nicho.

[Soidee 1,496]

Neeld has confirmed in press conference that Dawes is in and Trengove out (calf problem). Obviously there are other changes (ie, Grimes out).

Calf problem? Yeah sure MN.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

If Neeld is true to his word and Magner isnt promoted then i'd have to assume some one like Rodan, Blease, Jetta or Nicholson will be asked to play in the vacant midfield position?

That should help if we put any one of those in the midfield, not.

If he promotes Rodan to the mid field it will confirm to me that he's in the wrong business, this guy is past it and it smacks of trying to justify his drafting in the first place.

[rpfc 27,391]

If Magner isn't promoted then the FD don't rate him.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,636]

Surprised Magner isn't being promoted, has been very good at Caey for last two weeks and sure he has his limitations but deserves another crack IMO

[daisycutter 28,456]

more list management?

i think we should be playing the best 22 to try and win especially as we are playing the Suns

we lost two midfielders and the best 2 midfielders currently at casey are the rookies magner and couch

i find it baffling