ORWELLIAN by Whispering Jack

A fresh start!

Players rested after the bye.  Some coaching shuffles.  Lewis hinted at some tweaking in game style. 

Would love to think those factors will get us over the line.  But Freo are playing ferociously like we did in the finals.   If we can find that again we will be competitive and cause turnovers for us.  And it will energise the team like Hunt did vs Hawks.

But Freo know the formula to beat us:  match us on the inside then beat us on the outside and/or let us win the contests, Cp's, i50's and watch us turn it over and they head for goals.  If that doesn't work for them they will beat us for speed.  And they have their tails up.

Walters is scary good.  Mundy usually plays well against us at the G.  And then there is Fyfe to contend with.  All are match winners. 

Nonetheless, looking forward to see what changes in our game plan and ball movement have happened over the break. 

And, I look forward to Jessie gracing the G again but hopefully no goals for him.

Round 14
Melbourne v Fremantle
Saturday, 22 June, 1.45pm AEST
MCG

11.30am: MCC gates open

12.00pm: AFL + Public reserve opens

Members

As a home game, access Members can scan in with their Membership card or Digital Card in the club app.

General admission Members can upgrade to a reserved seat via Ticketek.

General admission

Tickets to the game can be purchased via Ticketek.

General admission seating

Great Southern Stand
M1 (Rows A-Z)
M2 (Demon Heartland DRY)
M3-M12
M13 (Rows A-Z DRY)
P5-P7
Q1-Q15

Ponsford Stand
M28-M32
M33 (Rows P-NN)
M34-M36
Q29-Q36

Olympic Stand
M53-M54 (Rows A-Z)
M55-M57
Q49-Q57

Please note the general admission areas are subject to change.

Look out for the screens displaying the map of available general admission areas on a match day, located inside each entry gate.

Cheer squad allocations

Melbourne: M3 Rows A-T
Fremantle: M33 Rows A-G

Public transport

Train

The ground is located in proximity to Jolimont and Richmond train stations.

Plan your trip to the game and view potential disruptions on PTV's Journey Planner.

Tram

The MCG is serviced by trams along Wellington Parade (Route 48 and 75) and the Olympic Park Light Rail (Route 70).

Car parking

The following car parks will be open on game day in Yarra Park:

• Gate 3: 9.30am
• Gate 5: 11.30am
• Gate 6: 10.30am
• Gate 7: 9.00am pass holders only

Deck out in red and blue at the Demon Shop located under the MCG concourse on Brunton Avenue.

The shop will be open from 12.00pm on game day and will close 30 minutes after the match.

TV times

All broadcast info in local times.

Melbourne: Fox Footy – 1.30pm
Sydney: Fox Footy – 1.30pm
Brisbane: Fox Footy – 1.30pm
Adelaide: Fox Footy – 1.00pm
Perth: Fox Footy – 11.30am  + 7mate – 2.30pm (Delayed)
Tasmania: Fox Footy – 1.30pm
Canberra: Fox Footy – 1.30pm
Darwin: Fox Footy – 1.30pm

For all other regions and radio info, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide.

Mobile app

Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app.

Download it for iOS or Android.

Social media

Match hashtag: #AFLDeesDockers

Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day.

VFLW Round 7

Geelong v Casey
Saturday June 22, 11.30am
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

VFL Round 12

Coburg v Casey
Sunday June 23, 12.30pm
Piranha Park, Coburg

Admission prices

Melbourne/Casey Demons Members: $5 when you present your card on entry
Adult General Admission: $10
Concession/Pensioner General Admission: $5
Children Under 15: Free

Coverage

Social media

Follow the Casey Demons on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for behind-the-scenes + live coverage of the match.

ORWELLIAN by Whispering Jack

Please permit me to begin this rather tragic pathetic preview of Melbourne’s forthcoming game against Fremantle with some personal reflections.  

Two years ago, we had visitors staying with us who are all sports fans so we arranged tickets for the entire family for the Melbourne vs Fremantle game at the MCG. The Dockers were struggling at the time while the Demons were on the up and up so I was fairly confident about the outcome. Naturally, we all left the ground bitterly disappointed.   

The Dees picked up their game and came perilously close to making the finals that year and would have done so had they scored about 10 points more over the 22 rounds or one goal more in that particular match against Freo. Naturally, we were bitterly disappointed.

Things were better last year. Our American friends from Philadelphia celebrated a Super Bowl victory and the Demons made the finals at last. Naturally, we were bitterly disappointed when they lost the penultimate game of the season - the Preliminary Final.   

Still, we thought things would get better in 2019. After all, we had the best ruckman in the competition (now supported by another monster sized tall) and a powerful midfield that was capable of bullocking its way through opposition defences and causing havoc in the competition. We had picked up a strong key defender with experience and leadership qualities who would be joined by an elegant key defender due to return early from a season ending injury incurred in the middle of last year? 

Whatever could go wrong?  

Melbourne certainly hasn’t lost the ability to move the ball into attack. The Demons have won the inside 50 count in nine of its 12 games to date which really says something. Indeed, if a team’s percentage was determined by its ability to get inside 50 metres from goal, they would be well ensconced in the top four with a healthy percentage of around 130. Naturally, we are bitterly disappointed that the team’s efforts have been translated into only 3 wins with a measly percentage of 76.  

In the immortal words of the late Professor Julius Sumner-Miller, I am moved to ask the question, “Why is it so?”  

For starters, they have scored a goal from just 16.98% of inside 50 entries so far this year which is the lowest figure ever recorded by a team in an AFL season since collection of such data began in 1998. And while they haven’t fared well with their kicking for goal in scoring 118 goals 130 behinds, their opponents have been making hay by scoring 166 goals 106 against the hapless Dees.   

That statistic has been even more pronounced in the latter stages of games. In the last six games the opposition have kicked an amazing 27.4 in final quarters to 16.26 (and that includes Melbourne’s aberration of 7.2 in the last against GWS).  

With these things in mind, I took my grandkids to the Queens Birthday game at the G against Collingwood and at half time commented to my oldest grandson that there were some signs of improvement in the first half but a turnaround in fortunes in front of each team’s goals was needed to provide a confidence restoring win. As it turned out, the Demons did perform better everywhere but in that particular area of the game. They won the inside 50 contest but Collingwood scored nine straight second half goals to Melbourne’s four goals eight behinds. Naturally, we all left the ground bitterly disappointed.

I was relieved when last weekend’s fixture gave us all a break from the AFL and the Demon yips so I set off to the grandson’s Under 15 game where his team played against an opposition which apparently gave the coaching reins for the day to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson (his son is a member of the side) because their regular coach Trent Dennis-Lane was unavailable. Grandson’s team led from the start but faltered in the final quarter and lost when a goal was kicked in the game’s dying seconds. The winners scored four straight second half goals to two goals five behinds. I just can’t get away from this. Naturally, we all left the ground bitterly disappointed.

So on Saturday, Melbourne faces a Fremantle side on the rise chasing its fourth win in a row. The Dockers have beaten the Dees in eight of its past 10 games. Fyfe and Walters are on fire and Jesse Hogan is starting to hit form. Despite all that, I’m impressed that the Demons have finally done something to alter the pattern of the season to date. They’ve changed their coaching structure and we all know what that means in football.

Prediction: Melbourne by 2 points failing which we will all leave the ground bitterly disappointed and most likely in the hands of the game’s Orwellian Behavioural Awareness Officers. 

THE GAME   

Melbourne v Fremantle at the MCG Saturday 22 June 2019 at 1.45pm   

HEAD TO HEAD   

Overall: Melbourne 15 wins Fremantle 22 wins   

At MCG: Melbourne 7 wins Fremantle 7 wins   

Last five meetings: Melbourne 2 wins Fremantle 3 wins   

The Coaches: Goodwin 1 win Lyon 1 win   

MEDIA   

TV -  Fox Footy Channel live at 1.30pm

Radio - Triple M SEN 3AW ABC

LAST TIME THEY MET   

Melbourne 13.24.102 defeated Fremantle 7.6.48 at TIO Stadium, Darwin, Round 16, 2018    

The Dockers were struck by injury and only avoided a complete slaughter because the Demons, well ... they kept missing shots in front of goal.

THE TEAMS     

 

	PLAYER	INJURY	LENGTH
	Jeff Garlett	Shoulder	TBC
	Jake Lever	Knee	TBC
	Corey Maynard	Concussion	Test
	Michael Hibberd	Collarbone	1-2 Weeks
	Jake Melksham	Foot	4 Weeks
	Joel Smith	Groin	4 Weeks
	Aaron vandenBerg	Ankle	4 Weeks
	Neville Jetta	Knee	6 Weeks
	Tom Sparrow	Knee	7-9 Weeks
	Guy Walker	Shoulder	Indefinite
	Aaron Nietschke	Knee	Season

Will get pumped. Combine the dockers defence with our “worst forward efficiency ever” it’s not gonna favour us.

To be honest we should pump Freo but alas the rudder is not working on the HMAS Melbourne.

No injury report this week.

No mid-week coach press conf.

Is there anyone home?? 

 

Maybe they have all gone to the snow??

Edited June 20, 20196 yr by Lucifer's Hero

Apparently Lever, Hibberd and Garlett all out injured, and Spargo ommited.

Not confirmed though.

 

4 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Apparently Lever, Hibberd and Garlett all out injured, and Spargo ommited.

Not confirmed though.

 

FFS!

Just now, loges said:

FFS!

Just rumour at this stage, so hold fire.

 

1 minute ago, Lord Nev said:

Just rumour at this stage, so hold fire.

 

Just seems that at every facet of the football club we can not cut a break.

Chanel 7 news just said Lever out with a knee

Is there a captains run tomorrow on Gosh's Park?

Anyone have the times?

18 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Apparently Lever, Hibberd and Garlett all out injured, and Spargo ommited.

Not confirmed though.

Now it is. In ANB, Petty, Lockhart and T Smith

Not including Lewis after doing very well down at Casey is a bit of a statement - though perhaps they need someone who can play tall?

Josh Wagner with a get-out-of-jail free card.

19 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Apparently Lever, Hibberd and Garlett all out injured, and Spargo ommited.

Not confirmed though.

 

How do you get injured from a bye... what a joke ........ Is there no end to this terrible season

Things just get worse and worse for this club sometimes  

Looking at the official injury report Garlett may be done for the season.

Dislocated shoulder .. apparently worse than his pre season injury.

“Jeffy injured that shoulder in a tackling drill. It was the shoulder he dislocated up in Shepparton against Richmond in the JLT game. He just had an incident at training where he dislocated it again and it’s probably worse than the first time. He’s going to see a surgeon on Monday – not necessarily to have surgery but just to get some advice. We’ve got to wait until we get some thoughts from the surgeon before we know a timeframe.”

Jesus..  Only at Melbourne where a club has a bye and we still get [censored] injuries.

Garlett is done.   Will be lucky to get picked up by another club at seasons end.

T Mac should have been dropped.

Freo by 45

WTF! Lever has another knee injury???  ANB back in? Shoot me now.

Petty ahead of Oscar..

Quiet a statement there.

Some ordinary ins 

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Petty ahead of Oscar..

Quiet a statement there.

And one I'm very happy with. 

Do we know what ailments Hibberd and Garlett are suffering from?

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Do we know what ailments Hibberd and Garlett are suffering from?

Jeff Garlett | Shoulder – TBC

“Jeffy injured that shoulder in a tackling drill. It was the shoulder he dislocated up in Shepparton against Richmond in the JLT game. He just had an incident at training where he dislocated it again and it’s probably worse than the first time. He’s going to see a surgeon on Monday – not necessarily to have surgery but just to get some advice. We’ve got to wait until we get some thoughts from the surgeon before we know a timeframe.”

Michael Hibberd| Collarbone – 1-2 weeks

“What had happened was the plate had started to come off the collarbone, so he had to go in after the Queen’s Birthday game and have that plate reattached. He’s seen the surgeon already who has basically given him the green light, and he’s training really well so he’s a definite chance to play against Brisbane next week.”

 

Source

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Do we know what ailments Hibberd and Garlett are suffering from?

Garlett dislocated shoulder, Hibbard copped a knock to collarbone area last game, should only miss a week

Edited June 20, 20196 yr by drysdale demon
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