LONG TIME COMING ...

[Demonland 64,807]

REFLECTING ON A NEW YEAR by Whispering Jack

This week has always been a big one for football fanatics. It's the time of year when a seemingly eternal summer finally fades into oblivion to make way for a new season bringing with it fresh hope - just as it did this time last year, the year before and the year before that.

And if you happen to be a football fanatic of the Demon variety, it seems almost like forever since the days when we were kings...

Yet this time brings fresh hope. Not only that, but for some reason, the hope is tinged with a strong belief that this time things will be different.

But why? What is it about 2006 that makes it so different from the same time of the year in say, 1996, 1986, 1976 or 1966?

Well, let's see.

Way back in 1966 we were still used to success. It was ingrained in our beliefs about the Melbourne Football Club. Unfortunately, we had what was once a great side - arguably the greatest ever - but by now it was on the brink of disintegration. The committee was divided, the coach was still miffed by the turbulent events of the year before when he was sacked and reinstated in midseason (less than a year after winning a premiership flag!) and the young kids who were coming in weren't anywhere near ready - they simply hadn't served enough of an apprenticeship and were thrown to the wolves. The best of them, 17 year old Ross Dillon, did his knee in round six and we didn't see much of him for a couple of years. So in the end, sixty-six wasn't a very good year for Norm Smith and his charges.

By 1976 we were starting to get a bit worried. It was now more than a decade since Neil "Froggy" Crompton, wearing the number 5 on his back, had kicked the goal that made all the difference in '64. Smith was long gone as coach and the bloke who now held the reins was called "The Chimp". We had a young champion in Robbie Flower and we made an almighty run for the finals that year but in the end we failed and we still had the monkey on our backs.

Ten more dismal years passed years and we waved goodbye to Smith's protégé, the great Ronald Dale Barassi and his Five Year Plan. That one didn't work either. When the Great Plan fizzed after the five years we were back where we started. Nowhere. The monkey was now about the size of King Kong.

Then John Northey arrived in eighty-six but he simply didn't have the cattle that year. More pain but at least there was some gain under Swooper. The big ape on our back was reduced in size but when another decade had rolled by we had tasted a little success but not the ultimate. We had seen better times and had come tantalisingly close but it was no cigar and then back to more despair. Ninety-six was a year that started poorly (The Ox had done his knee again, Garry's back was crook, so was Stinga's and Todd Viney was off coaching some tennis playing brat). We were flogged by an emerging Sydney side in a practice match at Moorabbin before the start of the season and the mood was sombre. But things got worse and by year's end King Kong was back and we were facing disaster - the possible death of the club.

A white knight came and we were resurrected, and he went and others came and, in the blink of an eye, here we are in 2006 still waiting for something that's been a long time comin'.

The story of Melbourne over the past few years has been the story of a team that isn't quite ready. We faded out late in 2004 after reaching the top at the end of round 18. The fadeout came earlier in 2005 but we had enough steely resolve to fight back with desperation in late 2005 when we were treated to some real thrills before we went down badly to the Cats in the first week of the finals. Pre season 2006 has been no different - some hard fought wins and then the major let down in Adelaide. So why am I optimistic?

I'm not sure that you can really call it optimism. I'm more inclined to describe it as "the vibe" in the same vein as the term was used by lawyer Tiriel Mora in the movie, The Castle. It's a trifle more spiritual than a mere belief in the Reverend and his message. It's a real "vibe" about where the Melbourne Football Club stands in 2006. I like the midfield blend including Travis Johnstone, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald, Brad Green and the four young Horsemen of the Apocalypse Bell, Moloney, McLean and Sylvia and the younger still Bate and Jones. I like Jeff White and Mark Jamar in the ruck. I like the brothers Davey, Motlop, Pickett and Whelan wherever they may be on the ground. I like the forward mix of Robbo, Millsy, The Oozay and Neita. I have some reservations about the defence but I still like Jared Rivers, Doggy and the General and I'll even learn to like the loveable rogue in Nathan Carroll now that he looks like Chopper Read and then there's Nicho and the up and coming Clint Bartram. I know these blokes aren't everybody's favourites for the flag, or the top four or even the eight but then again, where were the Swans in everybody's estimation this time last year?

It's been a long time comin' but I think now it's here so bring on 2006!

THE TOP TEN ...

For some years I've been rating the full list from first to last at the beginning and then at the end of each season. However, I've decided not to do that this year - it's a bit too tough on the blokes at the bottom end - especially those who I've barely seen in action before. I decided instead to just go with my top ten and, at the same time run the risk of starting the season with the usual bagging from those who ignore my usual caveat about this being one man's very subjective opinion. So here goes ...

1.Travis Johnstone - has finally discovered maturity and consistency and the reason I have him here at the top is that I'm convinced that, barring injury, Trapper will join the elite company of AFL footballers this year. And so he should because he's one of the smartest footballers around with his decision-making and disposal of the football.

2. Russell Robertson - in recruiting circles they talk about athletes who can play a bit but Robbo is a showman who can play a bit. Over the past few seasons, Robbo has reinvented himself by working hard on his weaknesses and turning them into strengths. His kicking for one thing and for another, his general work rate and his aggression at the football. And the boy can take a mark too!

3. Jeff White - the rules and circumstance have forced him to change his style and, while in the past, he relished going solo in the ruck, I expect him to get a great deal of help from others in 2006 - mainly The Russian but also young Paul Johnson. I think this will make him a more useful asset to the team as he enters his twilight years in the game.

4. Cameron Bruce - he had greatness taken away from him in 2005 and now, it's time that he recovers the early season magic he treated us to in last year's first three rounds before injury cheated him out of a stellar season and possible greatness.

5 Brad Green - like Bruce I think he is at the stage of his career where he should take a few more upward steps. This could be the year for him - he just has to become a little more consistent.

6. Adem Yze - was criticised by many for his indifferent end to 2005 but his forty plus goals in a forward pocket was still a good dividend. In the early part of the season played a critical role in some of his team's biggest victories.

7. David Neitz - you wouldn't put him here on his pre season form but he's what you call an experienced trooper who times his run well. For the record, the timing of his injuries has not been good of late but if he stays healthy, the skipper will play a big role in the club's 2006 fortunes.

8. Nathan Brown - courage personified and a hard worker who is so very important in running through the lines and linking up the play going forward. A bit problematic when he's spraying the pill at times but he's so effective when on song.

9. Matthew Whelan - one of the most underrated players at the club. His presence in defence lifts his teammates.

10. Brent Moloney - strong and talented, Moloney is one of the new breed of Demon midfielders who will change the way the club is perceived in football circles in the very near future.

One of the reasons why I am so confident that Melbourne can rise to top four status and challenge for the ultimate honour in the AFL competition is that there are a number of candidates for top 10 placings from outside this group and who I expect will rise to replace some of the above. It's one of the main differences between where the club is now and where it has been at this time of year in all of the previous decades from the sixties up to now. There are challengers everywhere from Aaron Davey, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia and James McDonald to Jared Rivers (especially if he makes a complete and early recovery from his pre season elbow injury), Byron Pickett, Shannon Motlop and some of the even younger blokes. I suppose that's one of the ingredients that gives me "the vibe" and, have I said it before?

It's been a long time coming for that to happen with the Demons.

TWILIGHT TIME

Melbourne kicks off the season with a home game at Telstra Dome against Carlton at twilight on Sunday and is expected to win against a team that is everybody's favourite for a wooden spoon.

Neale Daniher has correctly warned his players to dismiss those doomsday predictions for Carlton and has pointed out that anything can happen in the opening round of the season. Carlton has its full squad available and "they're playing a big game for Kouta". Their practice match form, apart from an early flogging at the hands of Port Adelaide at Optus Oval (which was no worse than Melbourne's effort against the Crows), hasn't been too bad coming off recent wins over West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. Melbourne's response to the Adelaide debacle was a reasonably comfortable win over the Kangaroos but, on reflection, practice match results are more or less meaningless. What is important especially early in the season, is that the team that runs out on the ground is fully fit and therefore capable of exerting constant pressure on the opposition.

The Reverend shrugs off Melbourne's Adelaide performance "a good lesson to take on board" and "more a workrate issue" which has now been addressed. It remains to be seen whether we can run hard enough and apply a more pressure than we did three weeks ago at AAMI Stadium. As much as I am a sceptic, I'll believe him for now because I have "the vibe" and I also have a good memory. Way back in 1974 Melbourne opened up one of it's truly poor seasons with a 49-point defeat against an arrogant, cocky Carlton that was one of the richest clubs in the competition in terms of player depth and financial resources. I dreamed of the day when we could turn the tables and that time has now come. Not only are the Blues broke in every way imaginable, the legend goes that these days Princes Park is haunted by a gigantic ape with a huge bulbous nose that smokes acrid smelling cigars and gropes young women.

The Blues of today are so haunted by this spectre that despite the Daniher words of caution, they won't come within a bull's roar of winning on Sunday.

And in the words of the great Bruce Springsteen in his epic album Devils (read "Demons") and Dust (read "Blues")

"It's been a long time comin', my dear

It's been a long time comin', but now it's here

And now it's here."

THE GAME -

Melbourne v Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday 2 April 2006 at 5.10pm AEST

Teams:

MELBOURNE

B: Brown Carroll Whelan

HB: Yze Ferguson Ward

C: Green Bruce Moloney

HF: Pickett Miller Davey

F: Johnson Neitz Robertson

R: White Sylvia Johnstone

IC: Bartram Jamar McDonald Motlop

Em: Bate Jones Nicholson

NEW: Clint Bartram (Geelong Falcons) Byron Pickett (Port Adelaide)

CARLTON

B: Carrazzo Livingston Walker

HB: Thornton Whitnall Lappin

C: Simpson Scotland Stevens

HF: Houlihan Waite Fisher

F: Deluca Fevola Betts

R: French Kouta Murphy

IC: Bentick McGrath McLaren Sporn

Em: Chambers Teague Wiggins

NEW: Dylan McLaren (Brisbane Lions) Marc Murphy (Oakleigh Chargers)

Field umpires: Kennedy, M.Nicholls, Margetts

TV & Radio: Fox Footy, Triple M, 3AW, ABC

Head to Head: Melbourne 86 Carlton 107 2 draws

Last time: Melbourne 15.20.110 d Carlton 13.14.92 in Round 9, 2005 at Princes Park

My Tip: Melbourne by 49 points