THE RECORD BREAKING DOG'S BREAKFAST ... by George on the Outer

The sign above the crowd (if that is what you call the gathering in attendance at Etihad) proudly advertised dog food. And it certainly was a dog's breakfast for football fans, and one of undesirable records for the Demons.

The irony of watching Brad Scott thanking the Kangaroos' supposed 40K members surely would have been lost on the lousy 17K Melbourne and North supporters who bothered to turn up to watch the game (it would also cause you to envisage how many Melbourne supporters would have turned up to watch their team if they were playing in the finals next week).

Something tells me that the Roos are heavily into creative accounting ...

Anyway, back to the game:

In the first quarter North had three goals on the board, before Melbourne even got the ball into its forward half, let alone into the 50m arc. But the Demons mounted some sort of comeback and had leveled the score at the first bell ...

Good signs?

Well the second quarter was much the same, except that Melbourne shot to a 13 point lead early, only to be overtaken by North later in the term and the scores at half time remained locked at 53 all ... more good signs?

Well it all went for a pile of Werribee deposit in the third (yet again) as North piled on 5 goals to the Demons solitary 6 pointer ...

Game over.

The final quarter for the year saw Nathan Jones and no doubt the coach reminding players that this was it for 2014; just another 25 odd minutes, so give it your all. In what has become familiar to Demon supporters, the players responded by allowing North to kick the first two goals within two minutes ... thanks again fellas!

While the Demons kicked five for the quarter, it was all too late. Even Tom McDonald scored a pair which brought his all time tally to ... two goals! Still not bad considering he was playing in the backline. If he could only kick as straight while playing down there ...

The next challenge was to get to 100 points, but opportunities were squandered again and again, with a 93 point score still being the best output for the season, but still miserable by any measure. Its entirely possible that we did contribute more than 100 in this game, as a sizable proportion of the North goals came from absolute howlers from the Melbourne players.

Until we have players on the field who can kick straight or just kick, then we will see more of the same.

But that wasnt the only record to be broken or extended or worse still created on the night:

1. Melbourne went through the 2014 season without winning a single home game;

2. The Demons failed to kick 100 points in any game in 2014;

3. They have never won at this stadium since it was re-named Etihad;

4. It is 8 years since they have beaten North at any venue;

5. Thirteen successive losses to North and an 8-0 score line at Ethihad; and

6. Nine straight losses for the Demons to finish the season ... what is the argument against a priority pick because Im really having difficulty finding one.

Once again the stats sheet represented the best of our players. Along with Nathan Jones ( as usual) we find Dom Tyson, Daniel Cross and Bernie Vince holding down the possession numbers. It is a sad indictment to the rest of the side that these three players were not at the club last year. Three imports can have more effect on a game than the rest who have been here for a long time. Paul Roos has been able to up the output and improve the likes of Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta and Cam Pedersen, but others such as James Frawley, Jack Watts and now Jeremy Howe have taken the "disinterested pills" and may find themselves in other colours next year. None will be missed as they have not contributed in any meaningful way this season.

And next season already looks like starting badly. Dawes will surely catch the unfavourable attention of the MRP with an elbow to the head of Swallow, and Max Gawn went down early in the game with yet another knee injury.

With such a portentious start to 2015, we could be in for more dog's breakfast games ahead, and the potential to set some new records for underperformance.

Unless we can start using the bean-counters at North to massage the numbers in the same way as they have done with their membership!

Melbourne 4.3.27 8.5.53 9.7.61 14.9.93

North Melbourne 4.3.27 8.5.53 13.9.87 19.9.123

Goals

Melbourne Kent 3 Dawes Fitzpatrick McDonald Tyson 2 Dunn Jamar Vince

North Melbourne Turner 4 Brown Wood 3 Ziebell 2 Adams Atley Bastinac Currie Dal Santo Mullett Petrie

Best

Melbourne Tyson, Jones Dawes Cross McDonald Kent

North Melbourne Turner, Swallow Petrie Brown Atley Thompson

Changes

Melbourne Christian Salem (ill) replaced in the selected side by Dom Barry

North Melbourne Nil

Injuries

Melbourne Gawn (knee)

North Melbourne Grima (quad) Hansen (hip) Adams (concussion)

Reports

Melbourne Nil

North Melbourne Nil

Umpires Justin Schmitt Jordan Bannister Brendan Hosking

Crowd 17,174 at Etihad Stadium

I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say: thank heavens it's over.

And I am outta here......

well 30 points better than what id thought. Tomorrow roos writes down who he wants out of the club, monday some boys will get some bad news.

See all you fellow suckers next year.

Adios.

I officially do not give a dam about the 2014 footy season from now.

Is it just me, or does anyone else really, really, REALLY want to punch Ben Brown in the face?

Haven't seen the game, but at least we scored 14 goals, only lost by 30, played what seems to have been a good first half (usually the game would be over by then) and generally improved on the last month.

I'm sure it wasn't all positive though.

And I am outta here......

Haha, yep. Feels like finishing a really, really cruddy day at work. Can't run away fast enough. I've earned my break!

See all you fellow suckers next year.

Adios.

What, and miss the best part of the season?

How I long for the feeling of being sad at the end of the season.

All I have felt for the past 8 years is relief.

Edit Spelling

Edited August 30, 201411 yr by Hell Bent

I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say: thank heavens it's over.

Heard that before at this time of year.

I don't think I will be excited next pre-season, not falling for that trap again.

Well Demonlanders thanks for the fun over the season. I have a confession I am not a MFC supporter (but I do own a membership). I admire you lot as you have passion and it must be difficult to support them. but you keep each other sane by venting here. Probably suggest you don't attack each other so much. I will be back supporting Cross and Michie next year. Hopefully there is some good recruiting over the lay off and you get some games worthy of your support. Love this forum and wish you all the best until next season.

Cheers

Aidan Riley's kicking skills are what excite me about 2015

Is it just me, or does anyone else really, really, REALLY want to punch Ben Brown in the face?

YEs Yes! I was hoping he'd do an AC and end his career!

Haven't seen the game, but at least we scored 14 goals, only lost by 30, played what seems to have been a good first half (usually the game would be over by then) and generally improved on the last month.

I'm sure it wasn't all positive though.

The first half was a tough contest, the third quarter was a blowout, and the last quarter was (in my opinion) an entertaining shootout/goal fest.

Even when we were good, we were marred by poor skills. As I said in the match day thread though, I can suffer that so long as the intent seems okay.

Key learnings: North are pretenders and Brad Scott is the most dislikeable bloke in footy.

Is it just me, or does anyone else really, really, REALLY want to punch Ben Brown in the face?

I have a little black book for that.

Is it just me, or does anyone else really, really, REALLY want to punch Ben Brown in the face?

U could add Dawes to that list too

This aint gonna be nice! How much closer would we have been if the f@#@$% fat umpire knew more about the rules! PRIOR OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!! F@#$%$n hell!!!!! Get a F%^$$#$ life you fat #@#^.

Beaten comfortably against North's B-team. A team that was in self-preservation mode and couldn't be bothered celebrating their goals. Carved up by no-names Ben Brown, Mason Wood and Kane Turner.

There were some good signs but we are so far off the pace it ain't funny. And there is no evidence of it getting better any time soon. No amount of pre-season spin will get me excited for 2015. Will just wait and let the results speak for themselves.

Some positives - Dean Kent could be a genuine star with more consistency. And I'd argue Dom Tyson is mighty close to already being one.

Bring on the cricket.

Well Demonlanders thanks for the fun over the season. I have a confession I am not a MFC supporter (but I do own a membership). I admire you lot as you have passion and it must be difficult to support them. but you keep each other sane by venting here. Probably suggest you don't attack each other so much. I will be back supporting Cross and Michie next year. Hopefully there is some good recruiting over the lay off and you get some games worthy of your support. Love this forum and wish you all the best until next season.

Cheers

Who do u support S?

Good onya mate, but I've got some sad news for you. You own an MFC membership and are on DL - that's a supporter!

Well Demonlanders thanks for the fun over the season. I have a confession I am not a MFC supporter (but I do own a membership). I admire you lot as you have passion and it must be difficult to support them. but you keep each other sane by venting here. Probably suggest you don't attack each other so much. I will be back supporting Cross and Michie next year. Hopefully there is some good recruiting over the lay off and you get some games worthy of your support. Love this forum and wish you all the best until next season.

Cheers

and McDonald kicked his first two goals!

Was a bit weird seeing Frawley slink off the ground with his head down.

This aint gonna be nice! How much closer would we have been if the f@#@$% fat umpire knew more about the rules! PRIOR OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!! F@#$%$n hell!!!!! Get a F%^$$#$ life you fat #@#^.

Our turnovers don't help either w but understand your frustrations.

Edited August 30, 201411 yr by DemonOX