DAMAGE CONTROL by the Oracle

[Demonland 73,140]

There's no greater challenge in football these days than to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium at a time when they are on a roll having beaten fellow top four contenders in Hawthorn and Fremantle in the past fortnight..

At first sight, the clash between the second placed Cats and the second last Demons would in those circumstances be a game of little interest to most in the football world. Come to think of it, the same could be said of the game on second and third sight as well. In fact, one would probably be certified as a contender for the funny farm if one suggested that Melbourne could even trouble a rampant Geelong on its home turf at a stadium where the ground arrangements are such that only a handful of visiting supporters are able to attend and, even then, they must do so in complete anonymity.

This is a pity because while the local faithful will be paying homage to their hero Joel Selwood on his 150 AFL game milestone, many Melbourne fans will miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the chalking up of the identical number of games by two of their own favourites in Nathan Jones and Colin Sylvia. Jeremy Howe will also play his 50th AFL game. Unfortunately, the trio hasn't tasted much success at all after making the long trip down the highway to this venue (perhaps Sylvia might have done so when he was a mere pup but that's it) and it won't happen on Saturday afternoon.

After all, Geelong has won 38 of its last 39 encounters at Simonds giving this veritable fortress the status of the most secure home ground in the country. And not a single Melbourne reader needs to be reminded that one of those 38 Geelong victories heralded two years of misery for their football club.

With the Demons coming out of the fog under a new coach, a young team and with some new found determination evident in recent weeks it would be nice to say that they could take the game up to the Cats, even in the way they fought it out against the Swans last weekend.

Unfortunately for Melbourne, the home team learned its lesson about complacency at the Gabba a few weeks ago and is unlikely to give an opponent an even break any time soon. In fact, it looks like a case of damage control with the bookies quoting $17.00 for the Dees to win. In that case, I think they will do well to keep the damage to under 50 points.

Geelong by 49 points.

THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 13 July 2013 at 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Geelong 124 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws

At Simonds Stadium Geelong 36 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw

Since 2000 Geelong 14 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw

The Coaches Scott 0 Craig 0

MEDIA

TV Fox Sports 3 live at 2.00pm

RADIO Triple M 3AW

THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.01 Melbourne to win $17.00

LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 17.17.119 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76 at Simonds Stadium in Round 6, 2012

It was a dark and dreary day and the memory of the meeting between these teams ten months earlier hung over the teams which produced a dour spectacle. Geelong managed to shrug off the persistent Demons thanks to the dominance of Stevie J, Chappie & the JPod. The Cats won by 7 goals but for Melbourne, at least it was a 143-point improvement.

THE TEAMS

GEELONG

Backs Cameron Guthrie Harry Taylor Josh Hunt
Half backs Travis Varcoe Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie
Centreline Taylor Hunt Joel Selwood Mitch Duncan
Half forwards Mathew Stokes James Podsiadly Billie Smedts
Forwards Josh Caddy Tom Hawkins Steven Motlop
Followers Dawson Simpson James Kelly Jimmy Bartel
Interchange Mark Blicavs Steve Johnson Jordan Murdoch Jesse Stringer

In Steve Johnson Travis Varcoe Billie Smedts

Out Allen Christensen (hamstring) Joel Corey (concussion) Corey Enright (foot)

MELBOURNE

Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich
Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby
Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Jack Grimes
Half forwards Sam Blease Jack Watts Matt Jones
Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Chris Dawes Jeremy Howe
Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones
Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson
Emergencies Jordie McKenzie
Cameron Pedersen David Rodan

In Sam Blease

Out David Rodan

THE YEAR SO FAR by Sam the Stats Man

It seems that things are looking up for the Demons although the results have yet to translate much on the scoreboard. Still, one win in the past three games is better than what we were getting earlier this year.

Here, is my look at the players statistically over the first fifteen rounds of 2013:-

BAIL, Rohan MFC 8 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 3 goals - after slowly overcoming issues with concussion, lost form and injured his knee after going down to Casey.

BARRY, Dominic CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 3 games, 4 goals - well-spoken young man developing with the Scorpions.

BLEASE, Sam MFC 6 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 6 games, 3 goals - struggled so far with form and injury.

BYRNES, Shannon MFC 11 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - mixed performances from the former Cat.

CLARK, Mitch MFC 4 games, 7 goals - injured after Round 4.

CLISBY, Mitch* MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games 0 goals - has impressed in his three outings since being elevated from the rookie list.

COUCH, Tom * CSFC Seniors 9 games, 6 goals - starring at Casey but unable to get upgraded off the rookie list at the moment.

DAVEY, Aaron MFC 12 games, 13 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - has had a better year than expected but still a way off his best.

DAVIS, Troy CSFC Seniors 9 games, 1 goal - on the cusp of getting a senior run. Has been moved forward at Casey, perhaps to test his versatility.

DAWES, Chris MFC 8 games, 9 goals, CSFC Seniors 2 games, 5 goals - starting to make an impact at the club after a preseason interrupted by injury.

DUNN, Lynden MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - the regular team pest seems to have established a role down back.

EVANS, Michael MFC 9 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - was looking really good but a foot injury has put him out for a month.

FITZPATRICK, Jack MFC 5 games, 6 goals, 5 games, 16 goals - has broken into the AFL side and grabbed his chance. Developing cult hero status as a marking forward come relief ruckman.

FRAWLEY, James MFC 12 games, 0 goals - having a solid year as a key defender but there are some issues with his hammy.

GARLAND, Colin MFC 14 game, 1 goal - cream rising to the top as a valuable defender in a unit that's often under intense pressure.

GAWN, Max MFC 8 games, 7 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 7 goals - really coming on well and promising to live up to his potential as a quality ruckman now that his injury woes appear to be behind him.

GILLIES, Tom MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 0 goals - after a couple of lacklustre performances early on, he has settled down in the VFL but has competition in the key defensive posts.

GRIMES, Jack MFC 7 games, 1 goal - the skipper has missed a number of games with a broken collar bone and has only just returned.

HOGAN, Jesse ** CSFC Seniors 10 games, 30 goals - impressing with everything he does at Casey.

HOWE, Jeremy MFC 14 games, 22 goals - the team's top goal kicker is still a spectacular mark but also needs to impose himself more on every game.

JAMAR, Mark MFC 9 games, 2 goals - dominates the ruck but his output around the ground has been below average. Out of action with a foot injury.

JETTA, Neville MFC 4 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 5 goals - seems to be struggling to rise above VFL level at this stage.

JONES, Matthew MFC 14 games, 2 goals - an inspired mature age draft selection who would be getting greater accolades for his debut if he was at a more successful club.

JONES, Nathan MFC 14 games, 6 goals - still the team's outstanding performer who is the first to face a tag each week.

KENT, Dean MFC 7 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 4 goals - taking small steps in the big fishbowl but showing more promise with every passing game.

MACDONALD, Joel MFC 1 game, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - a toe injury has curtailed his season to date but is now ready to go.

McDONALD, Tom MFC 9 games, 0 goals - started the season slowly but has blossomed in recent weeks after coming back from injury.

MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 0 goals - dogged by injury in recent times and also continues to have issues with his disposal.

MAGNER, James MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 9 games, 4 goals - had two games as an uplifted rookie but seems to have fallen out of favour.

NICHOLSON, Daniel MFC 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - getting a run at AFL and showing some improvement.

PEDERSEN, Cameron MFC 7 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 1 goal - still struggles to hold a spot with the Demons but starring at Casey.

RODAN, David MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 5 goals - a few plucky games from the little terrier.

SELLAR, James MFC 6 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 4 game, 0 goals - struggling to hold down a place at AFL level.

SPENCER, Jake MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 4 goals - was starting to show some form after breaking back into the side but now finds himself under a three-week suspension.

STARK, Nathan * CSFC DL 5 games, 1 goal - had a late start to the season due to injury, played a few games in the develop league and injured again.

STRAUSS, James MFC 4 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals disappointing in his fifth year at the club.

SYLVIA, Colin MFC 11 games, 6 goals - a reasonable season interrupted by a three week break through suspension.

TAGGERT, Rory CSFC Seniors 9 games, 11 goals, CSFC DL 1 game, 1 goal - a couple of good games at Casey could see him get an opportunity at the top level before the year is out.

TAPSCOTT, Luke MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 game, 9 goals - dropped in form as of late and is back with the Casey Scorpions.

TERLICH, Dean MFC 13 games, 0 goals - a revelation who keeps improving week by week in defence.

TOUMPAS, Jimmy MFC 8 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 1 goal - slowly coming to grips with AFL football. Has shown glimpses of the sublime skills that made him an early draft pick.

TRENGOVE, Jack MFC 12 games, 8 goals - interrupted preseason and poor early but is gradually returning to the standards of his first two seasons.

TYNAN, Josh CSFC Seniors 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 2 games, 0 goals - slow start but making up lost ground quickly with the Scorpions.

VINEY, Jack MFC 6 games, 1 goal - showed some promise before injuring his toe and missing several weeks.

WATTS, Jack MFC 10 games, 12 goals - coming good after a dirty start.

WESTRUPP, Maia ** CSFC DL 5 games, 0 goals - New Zealander learning the trade with the Casey development league team.

* rookie listed

** special category