THE PEOPLE SPEAK

THE PEOPLE SPEAK ... BUT DID THE CATS GET THEIR TONGUES? by Demonlanders

The Melbourne Football club approached the match against Geelong with a team with a greater resolve after the disappointment of the last minute loss against St Kilda last week. Captain Nathan Jones said that this loss was 'more compelling than any of the past as it was after positive signs of improvement had been seen right through the club.

"With the new players there is now a core of players who recognise that we are capable when playing our best football of matching any side".

The committment was recognised not only by an increased intensity at training that saw four players sustain match day injuries after a vigorous session but also saw players sign continuing contracts.

This novel approach to list management secured all players under 27 years of age sign for the next 5 years, while those over 27 approaching the last years of their contracts were provided with ongoing coaching and mentoring roles with the club up to the next 5 years. Payment would be performance based with a total pool divided amongst the squad based on a complex formula compensating for necessary list management decisions with success bonuses included. Contracts could of course be terminated due to exceptional circumstances but would be subject to group endorsement.

"The money is not the significant issue though" said Jones on behalf of the players "we know we are well rewarded for doing a job which while it requires dedication and single minded focus is also what we all enjoy doing most.

"We also recognise that the best reward is success and we are committed to winning a flag for our long suffering supporters within the five year time frame".

The Sunday result saw a visible indicator that something had to happen and it is appropriate that the return to the scene of the notorious "186" comes so rapidly to the club.

Paul Roos said that he was gutted with the loss " not for himself but the players and the club". Clearly we have improved and that was recognised after the performance against Collingwood, but we need to take our best football to the next level where we can perform under extreme pressure for the full 120 minutes or whatever".

There was again a further recognition that there is a foundation of talent and skill levels for all features of the game that must be managed to the full by coaches and players.

"We all have to be aware when to handball, when to shepherd, when to kick short or long, when to slow down and when to speed up play, but more importantly we need to do this as a team and not as individuals" said Jones saying these were the recurring comments coming from the players themselves.

"For a brief moment we had team unity after Howies goal only to lose focus and the match " he said. All players agreed that they do not want this to happen again and will not only practice at increased tempo but will ensure they leave the field utterly physically exhausted, "expect to see this after every training session and every game from now on"

The club hopes that Geelong brings the same level of intensity to this weeks game as they displayed against Port last Friday. The players were extremely vocal at training and aware that they have the support, the skill and now the desire to put their body over the ball, and keeping their emphasis on making and creating space by sacrificial acts to ensure their elite play will be rewarded.

Analysis of the game showed that many basic errors were because their was a lack of awareness of their teammates so expect a louder more cohesive group of players this week. The team will be selected from those who survive the rigorous training scheduled for this week. There are some sore bodies now but they contain healthy minds committed to improve.

Fans can be assured that win lose or draw, this weeks match at Simonds, will constitute a "line in the sand" moment that other successful clubs have displayed.

Any less and the mighty Melbourne Football Club may as well look at dissolving and the contracts will be worthless. - dpositive

Has the time come when the Demons can finally lay to rest the ghost of 186?

It was at this very ground almost four years ago that a Melbourne team produced the most lifeless, insipid performance ever seen on the AFL/VFL stage. Whatever the reasons behind the display, it was not what the supporters of any football club deserve to witness. A large number of those who wore the club jumper that day have moved on and in many cases (but not all) rightfully so. There are many new players at the club and some small steps are being made in the right direction but the club continues to produce disappointing results.

Like the insipid loss by over 100 points against Hawthorn a month ago or last week's brain fade after it snatched the lead in the final minute at Etihad only to give it all away 20 seconds later.

Until the club can produce wins at a venue like Simonds Stadium against teams like Geelong in games like the one it faces this weekend, the ghosts will never be laid to rest. - Elwood 3184

THE GAME

Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Sunday 21 June 2015 at 3.20pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws

At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw

The last five meetings Geelong 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins

The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 0

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel

RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Geelong to win $1.16 Melbourne to win $5.25

LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 14.18.102 defeated Melbourne 5.6.36 at the MCG in Round 17, 2014

As the scores indicate, the game was very much like most of the last 12 meetings (apart from one which was a draw). A complete flogging.

THE TEAMS

GEELONG

B: Jared Rivers, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
HB: Cameron Guthrie, Tom Lonergan, Jake Kolodjashnij
C: Andrew Mackie, Joel Selwood, Steven Motlop
HF: Cory Gregson, Josh Walker, Steve Johnson
F: Jordan Murdoch, Tom Hawkins, Darcy Lang
FOLL: Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy, Mathew Stokes
I/C: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Michael Luxford, Jackson Thurlow
EMG: Sam Blease, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrad Jansen

IN: Jake Kolodjashnij, Michael Luxford

OUT: James Kelly (ankle), Rhys Stanley (foot)

MELBOURNE

B: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba
C: Jimmy Toumpas, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney
HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Billy Stretch
F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Angus Brayshaw
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C: Rohan Bail, Matt Jones, Alex Neal-Bullen, Aidan Riley
EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Viv Michie, Dean Terlich

IN: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones, Jake Spencer

OUT: Jack Grimes (hand), Jesse Hogan (hamstring soreness), Viv Michie (omitted), Cameron Pedersen (wrist)

"It will be carnage. " - bingers

For a less insightful match preview see this

Whispering Jack - I'm not as optimistic as bingers. I don't think it will be carnage but I reckon we will win comfortably in the end after a good fight from the Cats. Melbourne by 4 to 5 goals.