Was alright, I guess.

We're on a roll ... everyone in Baja California knows we beat the Tiges and they're happy drinking Tequilas to celebrate ... so tell us about the game.

A Tale of Two Cities by George on the Outer

credit Charles Dickens……re-written Paul Roos

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way...

How apt are those words to describe the Demons fate for the past years. A team going nowhere….to Heaven or Hell. And indeed it has been the worst of times where the spring of hope was dashed by the winter of despair.

But now the Tale of Two Cities has been re-written by Paul Roos. No longer is it London and Paris, but rather Sydney and Melbourne!

We all know the Sydney story. A 72 year Premiership drought broken by Roos as coach. He adopted a relentless, structured, disciplined approach to the way football was played, and turned a group of ordinary, average footballers into ruthless role-players.

What we saw in the game against Richmond, with his new charges, the Melbourne Demons, was a replica of the same formula. Players who last year were headed for the scrap heap, are re-born as integral cogs in the Roos machine.

With the 3^rd win for the Season the Demons have already exceeded their output for 2013, but it is the style of play that will win more, much more in the remainder of 2014.

Today the standout was Cam Pedersen who marked and fought for everything that came his way. Only credited with 8 marks, most of them would have been contested with a 2 goal output to his balance sheet. 12 months ago he moved around the ground at glacial pace: today he is a different player and truly ripped the game apart at critical moments.

Interestingly, it was probably the inclusion of Max Gawn that benefitted Pedersen most. Instead of having to pinch hit in the ruck, he was courtesy of Gawn, able to play a lethal role around the ground and in the forward line.

Watts, Jamar, Vince, Tyson, Viney, Jones, Cross, Dawes, Salem……etc…..It was difficult to single out others for exceptional efforts, because there were simply so many contributors.

This was the first time for many, many years that Demon supporters were not able to walk away from the game saying that player A or B failed to contribute. Today there were no spuds!!!

And unlike previous Melbourne teams, when the opposition got back within 4 points in the last quarter, it would have signaled another capitulation. But not this Roos led team. They simply dug deeper, and now believe that once they have their noses in front, they never get beaten. Just like Sydney….

So now with what is unfolding before our eyes, is it too much to hope for a similar outcome in this new Roos fairytale?

Sydney had to wait 72 years.

We are at 50 and counting down!!

RICHMOND 2.3 4.8 6.16 9.20 (74)
MELBOURNE 1.3 4.5 9.6 14.7 (91)

GOALS
Richmond: Lennon 2, Edwards 2, Jackson, Riewoldt, Martin, Lloyd, Cotchin
Melbourne: Watts 3, Tyson 2, Pedersen 2, N. Jones, M. Jones, Riley, Dawes, Viney, Vince, Kennedy-Harris

BEST
Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Jackson, Cotchin,
Melbourne: Tyson, N. Jones, Pedersen, Viney, Dawes, Howe, Watts

INJURIES
Richmond: Astbury (left knee), Cotchin (ankle)
Melbourne: Neville Jetta (Gastro) replaced in selected side by Jimmy Toumpas.

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Shaun Hampson replaced by Ben Lennon in the third quarter
Melbourne: Aidan Riley replaced by Jay Kennedy-Harris in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Nicholls, Ryan

Official crowd: 56,960 at the MCG

How good are the kids? Salem, Viney, TYSON, JKH...there's a lot to be excited about!

14th on the ladder! and going up

The dark days have ended.

Hallelujah.

We're becoming a serious football team. Roos is a miracle worker!

I don't even want to jump on the Tiger forum and watch the Richmond meltdown I'm just happy that we deserved it and won it........ I might have a quick look.

I think we might be officially 'back in town'

For all those who still think Nate Jones is a B grade midfielder, [censored].

Roos' biggest hug and smile was reserved for the co - skipper.

Edited May 17, 201411 yr by Demonland

We're becoming a serious football team. Roos is a miracle worker! Big Maximus Gawn fitted in brilliantly. Howe, Tyson, Nate Jones, Pedo, Russian all brilliant.

I hate

The umps absolute disgrace

Dustin Martin

Jack reiwoldt (how ever u spell it)

SUCKED IN WE STILL WON

Edited May 17, 201411 yr by DemonOX

I know we beat Carlton and Adelaide but it was this win today, that gave me a lump in my throat. It was a clear picture of the future of the club with some great young kids playing with confidence and enjoying themselves.

I wasn't going to have a beer today.

Stuff that.

Lump in the throat watching the belt the song out. Sensational effort for almost 4 quarters fellas, the benchmark is set.

There could be many more wins coming our way this year!

Hooohaarrr!!

Yyyyyyyeeeessssssss!!!!!!!!! How [censored] good!

Lump in the throat watching the belt the song out. Sensational effort for almost 4 quarters fellas, the benchmark is set.

There could be many more wins coming our way this year!

Hooohaarrr!!

Pedo wow he played a great game.

Viney what an animal

Jones all class

Grimes and Macca and M Jones please stop the turnovers please.

WOO HOO how good was that...TEAM EFFORT

Hard fought and hard earned.

Pretty happy with that.

Awesome. That is all. Every single player. Well done boys exceptionally proud

What a effort, Pedo, Tyson, Vince, Watts, Viney all bloody good games but Nate Jones... What a star!!!!!

We still made some silly mistakes, M. Jones gifting the Tiges a goal, McDonald's handball into the corridor on 50 to 2 Tiges, but what I love is that they don't collapse in a heap after that, pick themselves up and keep fighting.

Great to watch.

Exciting game all the way through and you could even tell with the commentators, they were genuinely excited, contrast that to last year I think a Melbourne draw card was a bit of nothing. Great not to have to listen to Dwayne, but Sandy needs to get the names right! Salem/JKH/Toumpas, study them Sandy they're going to big!

Jeremy Howe's 50 metre BULLET to JKH....

Pedo has become one of my favourites this year. And this time last year I honestly thought I was a better player than him.

All of a sudden the Gysberts trade is a huge win.

Pederson is rapidly becoming my favourite - very very handy and emblematic of Roos has brought to the club.

Viney played one of the most impressive games I've ever seen from a kid at this club. The chase on Jackson in the second quarter should be replayed 10 times when they sit down and review the game. Throw in the class of Tyson, the grunt of the bald-nugget, and the support from the old-timers (Vince, Cross), and it's little wonder we're winning games now. Oh, and having the best coach in the land doesn't hurt either!