MATCH PREVIEW & TEAM SELECTION - Round 14

[Demonland 73,163]

HEARTLAND by Whispering Jack

The Melbourne roller coaster moves to the Top End this week and I have a feeling this could reignite the debate that has been raging on and off among supporters for more than a decade about the financial necessity of selling home matches to venues outside of the home state.

We are all painfully aware of the connection between financial stability and on field success, of how this combination can work to perpetuate the strength of a football club and conversely, of how failure in this area can bring long term grief such as that which the Melbourne Football Club has endured since it last featured in finals calculations.

Lucrative sponsorships are hard to find and the funds coming in from the club's current partnership with the Northern Territory government no doubt help to balance the books but, as the club moves into the phase where it becomes competitive against the other clubs, the question needs to be asked. Should it be necessary for the club to sell off home ground advantage to play in far flung venues in front of small crowds far away from its supporter base?

The Demons are in a vastly different position to the Hawks who have managed to turn Launceston's Aurora Stadium into a fortress at which they are rarely beaten. This has never been the case in relation to Melbourne's endeavours not only in Darwin Alice Springs and also before that, in Brisbane and Canberra.

This week, the team comes up against the West Coast Eagles who admittedly have owned Melbourne, even at the MCG for much of living memory. Their rapid improvement in 2015 despite the loss of a couple of key defenders through injury, means they will relish the opportunity to take on a Victorian team on neutral soil at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

Meanwhile, Demon fans who have been basking in the glory of that win at the Cattery almost a fortnight ago, as if a single good performance is a reflection of total resurrection (some are even calculating the mathematical possibility of how far into the top eight the team can finish), will miss the opportunity of cheering on their heroes in person after a big win.

That happened last when Melbourne took on Port Adelaide in Alice Springs the week after their 39-point victory over the Bulldogs. It was seen as the perfect opportunity to win consecutive games for the first time in four years and the Dees were well on their way when they led by four goals halfway through the second quarter. Given Port's lapses against Carlton at the MCG and their poor recent form in Victoria, one wonders whether the result would have been the same had that game been played in Victoria rather than in the centre of the continent?

Still, the game against West Coast on Saturday night presents the club and its players with a fascinating challenge and pushes the team into the limelight with a game against one of the premiership contenders. If it can prove that the performance against Geelong was indeed not an aberration and produces the goods again, then it might in the near future, win some of those appealing prime time Friday night fixtures which might help bring in the revenue and procure additional sponsorships that would make it unnecessary for the club to sell its soul and move games away from its supporters and it's heartland.

THE GAME

Melbourne v West Coast v Melbourne at TIO Stadium, Darwin Saturday 4 July, 2015 at 7.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 15 wins West Coast 31 wins

At TIO Stadium Melbourne 0 wins West Coast 0 wins

Past five meetings Melbourne 0 wins West Coast 5 wins

The Coaches Roos 0 wins Simpson 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Sports Channel 3 at 7.30pm (live)

RADIO - SEN, ABC, ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Melbourne to win - $4.30 West Coast to win - $1.23

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

West Coast 18.11.119 defeated Melbourne 8.5.53 Round 22, 2014 at Patersons Stadium

The Demons were never in the hunt after the Eagles booted 6 goals to 1 in the opening term. The teams went through the motions for another three quarters. Apart from some resistance from Bernie Vince and Dom Tyson, it was typical of a team for which the season's death knell had long ago sounded.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland

HB: Daniel Cross, Lynden Dunn, Jimmy Toumpas

C: Rohan Bail, Jack Viney, Jack Watts

HF: Jeff Garlett, Chris Dawes, Jeremy Howe

F: Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Jake Spencer

FOLL: Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Nathan Jones

I/C: Matt Jones, Alex Neal-Bullen, Billy Stretch, Dom Tyson

EMG: Jack Fitzpatrick, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aidan Riley

IN: Colin Garland, Jesse Hogan

OUT: Heritier Lumumba (foot), Aidan Riley (omitted)

WEST COAST EAGLES

B: Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Brad Sheppard

HB: Sam Butler, Jeremy McGovern, Sharrod Wellingham

C: Elliot Yeo, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff

HF: Chris Masten, Jack Darling, Jamie Cripps

F: Mark Le Cras, Josh Kennedy, Josh Hill

FOLL: Nick Naitanui, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey

I/C: Liam Duggan, Xavier Ellis, Dom Sheed, Callum Sinclair

EMG: Mark Hutchings, Fraser McInnes, Matt Rosa

IN: Sam Butler

OUT: Matt Rosa (omitted)

WISH I HAD A RIVER 3.7.15

"Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

I wish I had a river so long, I would teach my feet to fly."

~ River by Joni Mitchell

A couple of days ago I read that singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell was recovering from a brain aneurysm she suffered in March. I was relieved to read that Mitchell can now speak, is going through therapy to help regain the ability to walk again and is expected to make a full recovery.

That night, the words and the tune from "River" came to haunt me. The song is about loss, about pain and regret. In this song it's about the loss of a friend, not from bereavement but from the breakdown of a love affair. Regret for things that that might not have been said or done between people in relationships. Regret because things can never be the same again.

It's been a rough week for the world at large. People have died in many places as a result of violence on such a massive scale that the scandals we read of here about young footballers taking social drugs have been overshadowed by the troubles across the globe. News that a prominent player is suffering from a cancer skated across our television screens and numbed us, but only momentarily. We moved on.

Then this morning, came the terrible news about the death of Phil Walsh of the Adelaide Crows. There is nothing to say that can bring him back. There may be regrets but for one family and all those he touched, nothing will be the same again. The pain will linger forever.

Suddenly, it doesn't matter that there's a game in Darwin or anywhere else for that matter.

I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

[hardtack 10,627]

Well written WD and I hate to be a pedant, but you might want to fix the venue from Patersons to TIO.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Will be a great game to bring up two wins in a row. Would really launch us towards around 8 wins this year and potentially finals in Roosy's last in 2016.

Btw, will there be a "If we beat WCE this week, I will...." thead? Few would stick there neck (or tattooed forehead) out again.

[DubDee 26,124]

Expecting a 40-50 pt loss here. WCE are playing great team footy

OTC had some good footage last night showing their zonal defence. For us to win, Roosey has to win the tactical battle first.

then the rest is up to Hogan. no pressure

[Young Dee 1,303]

Expecting a 40-50 pt loss here. WCE are playing great team footy

OTC had some good footage last night showing their zonal defence. For us to win, Roosey has to win the tactical battle first.

then the rest is up to Hogan. no pressure

Think we saw against Geelong the importance of everyone playing their roles - particularly the rucks and mids. We will need to be able to win it out of the center in order to get it to Jesse.

[Pennant St Dee 13,305]

There is no sporting club or organisation in the world I hate more than Meth Coast, cmon boys make my week/year and bring the same which you brought to Kardinia Park

[Young Dee 1,303]

So correct me if I am wrong but our last free to air game was round 10 queens birthday.

Our next free to air game is round 17 against the Saints.

That's a bit tight.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Young Dee

[poita 3,902]

So correct me if I am wrong but our last free to air game was round 10 queens birthday.

Our next free to air game is round 17 against the Saints.

That's a bit tight.

Yep, I have been to all our home games this year, and have not once seen the team on free to air telly. We have six weeks of away games and no free to air coverage in that time.

[old dee 23,872]

Yep, I have been to all our home games this year, and have not once seen the team on free to air telly. We have six weeks of away games and no free to air coverage in that time.

Win 6 more games and it will improve in 2016.

Until then suck it up or get Foxtel.

[rjay 25,093]

Expecting a 40-50 pt loss here. WCE are playing great team footy

OTC had some good footage last night showing their zonal defence. For us to win, Roosey has to win the tactical battle first.

then the rest is up to Hogan. no pressure

We move the ball quickly forward this doesn't work.

OTC showed the good stuff, they didn't show how reliant they were on the midfield. If you win in the middle and move it quickly forward their defence unravels.

[jnrmac 20,189]

West Coast have played 4 of the top 8 and lost 3. I'm not sure they are that good.

[daisycutter 29,743]

there are 4 fta games each round

so 22 x 4 = 88

that is 88 x 2 = 176 teams shown

that is approx 10 appearances per team per season on average

we are obviously being dudded bug time

otoh a good incentive to attend games (at least in vic)

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

West Coast have played 4 of the top 8 and lost 3. I'm not sure they are that good.

Yeah have to see them play Haw, Syd and Collingwood before I really rate them but they are clearly a top 8 side and should be in the fight for 4th.

They have a fantastic forward line and are coached really well in their defensive set ups and ball movement.

I think they are a difficult team for us to match up with because we will have to score well to beat them and we are much more adept to a scrappy game than going head to head with a team that can slam on goals quickly.

[titan_uranus 25,045]

West Coast have played 4 of the top 8 and lost 3. I'm not sure they are that good.

They've only played three current top 8 teams from what I can see (WB, Fremantle, Richmond), and lost two of them.

Jury still has to be out on them in those circumstances.

[Ethan Tremblay 30,970]

I'd love nothing more than to beat West Coast this weekend. I work with pretty much a 50/50 split of Fremantle and West Coast supporters, hard to determine who are the worst. I saw Ross Lyon today in fremantle, at first I mistook him for one of Fremantle's many bums.

[What 18,810]

We owe these pricks big time.

They are mediocre as hell and yet have smashed us for so long.

Them and North are equally as average and annoying.

[SaberFang 7,151]

I hope someone at the club was watching Healy's breakdown of their web defence on Fox the other night.

[Adam The God 30,421]

I hope someone at the club was watching Healy's breakdown of their web defence on Fox the other night.

Thought exactly the same thing myself. Though, I'm sure we're up on all of that anyway.

[CBDees 3,167]

So correct me if I am wrong but our last free to air game was round 10 queens birthday.

Our next free to air game is round 17 against the Saints.

That's a bit tight.

We are always going to have the QB match free-to-air as it is against Collingwood. They weren't doing it for our benefit!

The Saints game is different but I am sure that there will be a hidden agenda there also.

[JV7 2,354]

As I said in the changes thread... Keeping a lid on this game, after every win this year I've got ahead of myself thinking we could put 2 in arow together only to be bitterly dissapointed. Hope I'm wrong!!

[sue 9,145]

there are 4 fta games each round

so 22 x 4 = 88

that is 88 x 2 = 176 teams shown

that is approx 10 appearances per team per season on average

we are obviously being dudded bug time

otoh a good incentive to attend games (at least in vic)

If you live in NSW the odds are worse because every GWS and Sydney game is on fta. So while that guarantees at least 2 fta appearances for other teams when they play those two, it means there are few slots left for other matches. I guess the same may be true in WA etc.

[rjay 25,093]

I hope someone at the club was watching Healy's breakdown of their web defence on Fox the other night.

Thought exactly the same thing myself. Though, I'm sure we're up on all of that anyway.

Healy's analysis comes from his contacts at clubland. He's very good at making it seem as though he has a deep analytic understanding of the game.

Roos would know what is going on with WC defence but in my limited view, having watched them beat the Tiges when Richmond moved the ball in quickly the WC defence didn't stand up. They can be easily scored against.

If we beat them through the middle, which Richmond couldn't do, then we will win the game.

[monoccular 17,575]

I hope someone at the club was watching Healy's breakdown of their web defence on Fox the other night.

Thought exactly the same thing myself. Though, I'm sure we're up on all of that anyway.

Could one of you kindly elaborate for those of us who couldn't watch?

Many thanks

[Grimes Times 1,278]

I just posted this in the changes thread but its relevant here.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/weagles-web-fox-footys-gerard-healy-breaks-down-west-coasts-defensive-tactics/story-e6frf3e3-1227421618499

This is really interesting stuff from G. Healy on how the WCE are defending.

Whatever we do we need to move the ball quickly and dont get into the trap of kicking it long down the line.

[Adam The God 30,421]

Yeah, it's their web defence, which basically relies on amazing communication between the players, good reading of the play and discipline. Their set ups enable one of their defenders to almost always get a 2-on-1 happening on the opposition forward. Healy intimated Simpson may have taken it from Luke Beveridge when he was defensive coach at Hawthorn. Obviously, Simpson was midfield coach at the time.