HOT AUTUMN NIGHT

by The Oracle

What do you make out of a game played in the energy sapping conditions of a hot autumn night; where the rules are more than a bit quirky, both sides are at about two-thirds their capacity and utilising some very rusty players clearly displaying the fact that they are in the early stages of their preparation three or four weeks out from a six month long season?

Apart from the entertainment value and the performances of a few youngsters – not much.

That's how the Melbourne v Brisbane Lions affair turned out at Telstra Dome although one has to add that it was gratifying from a Demon viewpoint that, for the second week running, the team came from behind in trying conditions to nose their way in front, hold on to a slim lead and move further into this silly pre-season competition. These are experiences that will hold them in good stead as the season wears on.

The visitors were without skipper Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Jonathan Brown and Chris and Brad Scott but they still managed to slip their way to a narrow lead at quarter time before the Demons, with Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson shining up forward wrested the lead halfway through the second term and went away to a 14 point lead at the main break thanks to a Paul Johnson's after the siren goal.

Melbourne was also without a good few of its better performers including (in number order) Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland, Brock McLean, Daniel Ward, Adem Yze, Daniel Bell, Brent Moloney, Cameron Bruce and Ryan Ferguson. Despite that, the half time lead would have been greater but for some appalling kicking for goal with at least three easy set shots from within the fifty metre arc going begging. Not to mention some sloppy ball handling and judgment errors - but let's not get to critical because, after all, it’s early March and we still have to get through the Commonwealth Games and bits of the Formula One Grand Prix before we can think serious football.

Melbourne forged further ahead in the first six or seven minutes of the third quarter thanks to some strong marking and two goals from Brad Miller and suddenly it had opened up a 26-point lead. It would take a lot of indiscipline, sloppy football and some very ordinary umpiring decisions to reverse that situation but that’s what happened and by early in the final quarter, the Lions were in front. To their credit, the Demons who at that stage looked spent after last week’s Darwin sauna, fought their way back and it was none other than the stars of the game Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson who booted the clinching goals.

The Demons had started with a stellar line up on the bench including ruckman Jeff White, last week's hero Travis Johnstone, Miller and Paul Wheatley but coach Neale Daniher worked the interchange overtime taking overheated players on and off the ground in the hot and stuffy conditions. One of last week’s stars in Matthew Bate was having a shocker and was dragged a few times in the first half. Luckily for the youngster, this was not a fair dinkum riggidy didge game because, in normal circumstances, I think he might have sat out the second half. As it was, he was given another opportunity and finished the game off quite well although a tape of the first half will not remain long in his pet collection. Still the lad is just 18 years of age and has a definite future.

Another youngster who has come from the clouds is Clint Bartram who was drafted last November at number 60 from Geelong Falcons. The 18 year old was given the task of shadowing Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis. He scrapped and scragged and kept his mind on the job all night and, although Akker had his moments, it's suffice to say that the Brisbane star wasn't doing cartwheels or bragging to the media after the game.

Colin Sylvia was brilliant in the midfield and around the ground. As with last week, he got the first clearance and then he was tough, hard at the ball and kicked beautifully most of the time. He's coming on in leaps and bounds as are the two Johnsons Chris and Paul. Chris showed some silky skills and class and booted two crucial goals while Paul played the agile big man role beautifully. The highlight of the game was his pack mark and goal from a difficult angle after the half time siren.

As good as Sylvia was on the night, there were four others with whom he shared the night's honours. Robbo was brilliant up forward covering for an out of sorts David Neitz who lacked a run or two. His marking and evasiveness on the ground were terrific and he could easily have ended with eight goals if he took his kicking boots with him to the ground. Aaron Davey was at his elusive best. He stands a lot taller these days with Byron Pickett and Daniel Motlop around and his understanding with the Byronator was simply sensational. Travis Johnstone put on another display after starting slowly when coming off the bench halfway through the first quarter. His kicking and evasion skills were a delight. The other hero was slightly unsung on the night – Matty Whelan hardly put a foot wrong in defence and saved the game on so many occasions it wasn’t funny.

But then again, there’s not much funny about football in early March. In fact, the game wasn't all sweetness and light – the club still has some problems in its key defensive positions. Hopefully Jared Rivers elbow injury is not as bad as it looked when he trudged off the ground in agony because he was the best of them. Alistair Nicholson was out bodied one or two times too many by Daniel Merrett (although he chimed in with some timely punches at times and Nathan Carroll, despite his Chopper Read looks, didn’t scare the Lions' attacking players and seemed a bit overawed by the occasion.

by The Oracle

What do you make out of a game played in the energy sapping conditions of a hot autumn night; where the rules are more than a bit quirky, both sides are at about two-thirds their capacity and utilising some very rusty players clearly displaying the fact that they are in the early stages of their preparation three or four weeks out from a six month long season?

Apart from the entertainment value and the performances of a few youngsters - not much.

That's how the Melbourne v Brisbane Lions affair turned out at Telstra Dome although one has to add that it was gratifying from a Demon viewpoint that, for the second week running, the team came from behind in trying conditions to nose their way in front, hold on to a slim lead and move further into this silly pre-season competition. These are experiences that will hold them in good stead as the season wears on.

The visitors were without skipper Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Jonathan Brown and Chris and Brad Scott but they still managed to slip their way to a narrow lead at quarter time before the Demons, with Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson shining up forward wrested the lead halfway through the second term and went away to a 14 point lead at the main break thanks to Paul Johnson's after the siren goal.

Melbourne was also without a good few of its better performers including (in number order) Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland, Brock McLean, Daniel Ward, Adem Yze, Daniel Bell, Brent Moloney, Cameron Bruce and Ryan Ferguson. Despite that, the half time lead would have been greater but for some appalling kicking for goal with at least three easy set shots from within the fifty metre arc going begging. Not to mention some sloppy ball handling and judgment errors - but let's not get to critical because, after all, it's early March and we still have to get through the Commonwealth Games and bits of the Formula One Grand Prix before we can think serious football.

Melbourne forged further ahead in the first six or seven minutes of the third quarter thanks to some strong marking and two goals from Brad Miller and suddenly it had opened up a 26-point lead. It would take a lot of indiscipline, sloppy football and some very ordinary umpiring decisions to reverse that situation but that's what happened and by early in the final quarter, the Lions were in front. To their credit, the Demons who at that stage looked spent after last week's Darwin sauna, fought their way back and it was none other than the stars of the game Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson who booted the clinching goals.

The Demons had started with a stellar line up on the bench including ruckman Jeff White, last week's hero Travis Johnstone, Miller and Paul Wheatley but coach Neale Daniher worked the interchange overtime taking overheated players on and off the ground in the hot and stuffy conditions. One of last week's stars in Matthew Bate was having a shocker and was dragged a few times in the first half. Luckily for the youngster, this was not a fair dinkum riggidy didge game because, in normal circumstances, I think he might have sat out the second half. As it was, he was given another opportunity and finished the game off quite well although a tape of the first half will not remain long in his pet collection. Still the lad is just 18 years of age and has a definite future.

Another youngster who has come from the clouds is Clint Bartram who was drafted last November at number 60 from Geelong Falcons. The 18 year old was given the task of shadowing Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis. He scrapped and scragged and kept his mind on the job all night and, although Akker had his moments, it's suffice to say that the Brisbane star wasn't doing cartwheels or bragging to the media after the game.

Colin Sylvia was brilliant in the midfield and around the ground. As with last week, he got the first clearance and then he was tough, hard at the ball and kicked beautifully most of the time. He's coming on in leaps and bounds as are the two Johnsons Chris and Paul. Chris showed some silky skills and class and booted two crucial goals while Paul played the agile big man role beautifully. The highlight of the game was his pack mark and goal from a difficult angle after the half time siren.

As good as Sylvia was on the night, there were four others with whom he shared the night's honours. Robbo was brilliant up forward covering for an out of sorts David Neitz who lacked a run or two. His marking and evasiveness on the ground were terrific and he could easily have ended with eight goals if he took his kicking boots with him to the ground. Aaron Davey was at his elusive best. He stands a lot taller these days with Byron Pickett and Daniel Motlop around and his understanding with the Byronator was simply sensational. Travis Johnstone put on another display after starting slowly when coming off the bench halfway through the first quarter. His kicking and evasion skills were a delight. The other hero was slightly unsung on the night - Matty Whelan hardly put a foot wrong in defence and saved the game on so many occasions it wasn't funny.

But then again, there's not much funny about football in early March. In fact, the game wasn't all sweetness and light - the club still has some problems in its key defensive positions. Hopefully Jared Rivers elbow injury is not as bad as it looked when he trudged off the ground in agony because he was the best of them by far. Alistair Nicholson was out bodied one or two times too many by Daniel Merrett (although he chimed in with some timely punches at times) and Nathan Carroll, despite his Chopper Read looks, didn't scare the Lions' attacking players and seemed a bit overawed by the occasion.

So we march on to the nabcup semi finals and Neale Daniher, whilst pleased at the results so far, still has a lot of work to do.

Melbourne: 0.2.3, 0.7.7, 0.10.10 0.13.12 (90)

Brisbane Lions: 0.2.5, 0.5.5, 0.9.7, 0.12.9 (81)

9 point goals:

Melbourne: Nil

Brisbane Lions: Nil

6 point goals:

Melbourne: Robertson 5 Davey 3 C Johnson Miller 2 P Johnson

Brisbane Lions: M Clark Merrett 3 Notting 2 Akermanis, Attard Harding

Best:

Melbourne: Johnstone Robertson Davey Whelan Sylvia Green

Brisbane Lions: Black Power Merrett Rischitelli Fixter M Clark

Injuries:

Melbourne: Rivers (elbow)

Brisbane Lions: M.Clark (thumb)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Head McLaren Wenn Woodcock

Crowd 11,612 at Telstra Dome