Jump to content

AINT THAT A CRYING SHAME by The Oracle

Demonland
in Match Previews

Featured Replies

Posted

It’s a crying shame that we happen to be playing against the resurgent St Kilda just as they have managed to overcome a rotten patch of form with an upsurge in momentum resulting from the sacking of its coach and the appointment of a new one.   

The Saints had a purple patch at the start of the season winning four of their first five games (including the one against the sloppy and sluggish Demons in Round 5) before collapsing into the sink hole that led to them parting ways with coach Alan Richardson and his ultimate replacement by caretaker Brett Ratten. 

In accordance with the standard when that happens, the Saints suddenly came alive and comprehensively beat the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium last week just as the Doggies were starting to make a play for the finals.  

Meanwhile, Melbourne’s nightmare season continued to roll along with another inaccuracy-marred performance that saw it roll over again in the final quarter of a very winnable game against the West Coast Eagles. Had it been able to win those matches this season, it might still have been within striking distance of the finals but instead, it sits behind Carlton which some weeks ago was languishing on the bottom before the sacking its coach.  

Once again, the season’s statistics are misleading and unhelpful because, while the Demons are streets ahead of the Saints in most of the game’s key performance indicators, they are so ineffective at converting such apparent advantages into wins on the scoreboard. The numbers don’t even bear repeating because, on a weekly basis, they favour the Demons against their opponents but when the players hit the ground, they spray their own set shots at goal and then watch the ball move the other way with efficiency that leads to easy goal scoring situations.   

The casual observer is left to opine that the club’s brains trust has miscalculated the ways to use the 6-6-6 system to the team’s advantage.   

The team that runs out onto Marvel Stadium on Saturday night will be well below the best that Melbourne can put on the field but let’s face it - there are others who have been badly hit by injuries and they manage to keep performing and win games. The Bombers are a case in point. 

Which means that the Demons have been exposed for a lack in depth players as well as the spirit and football nous required to win games.  

It ain’t happening at the moment and it won’t happen on Saturday night.  

Prediction St Kilda by 9 points.  

THE GAME St Kilda v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday 27 July 2019 at 7.25pm    

HEAD TO HEAD    

Overall St Kilda 93 wins Melbourne 121 wins 1 drawn    

At Marvel Stadium St Kilda 8 wins Melbourne 5 wins   

Past five meetings St Kilda 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins  

The Coaches Ratten 0 Goodwin 0 wins   

MEDIA    

TV - Channel 7 Live at 7.00pm Fox Footy Channel Live at 7.20pm    

RADIO - Triple M 3AW ABC

THE LAST TIME THEY MET     

St Kilda 15.5.95 defeated Melbourne 7.13.55 at the MCG, Round 5, 2019  The Saints ran the Demons off their feet on the outside and that told on the scoreboard despite getting the ball inside their forward 50 metre arc. Both sides had 20 shots at goal - the difference between the teams at the end? 40 points!  

THE TEAMS   

ST KILDA  

B Nick Coffield Nathan Brown Shane Savage
HB Callum Wilkie Jake Carlisle Hunter Clark
C Jack Billings Sebastian Ross Jack Newnes
HF Jack Sinclair Josh Bruce Ben Long
F Jack Lonie Tim Membrey Doulton Langlands
FOLL Rowan Marshall Blake Acres Jade Gresham
I/C Luke Dunstan  Nick Hind Ben Paton Jack Steele
EMG Josh Battle Darragh Joyce Matthew Parker Bailey Rice 

IN Ben Long

OUT Matthew Parker (omitted)

MELBOURNE

B Michael Hibberd Jake Lever Neville Jetta
HB Jordan Lewis Sam Frost Christian Salem
C Nathan Jones Clayton Oliver Oskar Baker
HF James Harmes Harrison Petty Jayden Hunt
F Christian Petracca Tim Smith Bayley Fritsch
FOLL Max Gawn Jack Viney Angus Brayshaw
I/C Oscar McDonald Alex Neal-Bullen Corey Wagner Josh Wagner
EMG Kyle Dunkley Marty Hore Braydon Preuss Sam Weideman 

IN Oskar Baker Oscar McDonald Tim Smith

OUT Jay Lockhart (omitted) Steven May (hamstring) Braydon Preuss (omitted) 

Injury LIst: Round 19

Tim Smith (calf) – available
Oscar McDonald (illness) – available
Jack Viney (concussion) – test
Harry Petty (ankle) – test
Jake Melksham (foot) – test
Marty Hore (collarbone) – test
Sam Weideman (calf) – test
Billy Stretch (foot) – test
Tom Sparrow (knee) – 2-3 weeks
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBC
Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – TBC
Tom McDonald (knee) – season
Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – season
Joel Smith (groin) – season
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season
Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite

PreviewRd192019.png

 
Go to topic listing

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Carlton

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland

  • REPORT: North Melbourne

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

    • 4 replies
    Demonland

  • CASEY: Werribee

    The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland

  • PREGAME: Carlton

    The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Clap
      • Haha
      • Love
      • Like
    • 222 replies
    Demonland

  • PODCAST: North Melbourne

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

    • 29 replies
    Demonland

  • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

    The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

      • Haha
      • Like
    • 253 replies
    Demonland
View All