EARLY DOORS

by the Oracle

We're a little over halfway through the pre season Nab Cup/Challenge series and there’s been a fair bit of hand wringing and gnashing of teeth about Melbourne’s lacklustre performance to date.

In the Nab Cup game v Hawthorn the Demons seemingly had the game in their control late in the third quarter before they gave away a couple of nine pointers which then gave the Hawks the momentum for a strong final term against a half strength Melbourne that wilted in the end. The following week, the Dees sent a team minus a number of stars to Mount Gambier to take on the Crows and the result was fairly predictable in view of the relative strengths of the teams that took the ground. Yesterday against Richmond, Melbourne fielded a better team against a largely inexperienced team and it duly saluted; no four points but a win is a win.

Throughout the journey the Demons have been experimenting with different styles and strategies ahead of the regular season. In the Nab Cup game they went handball mad and almost wrote themselves into the Guinness Book of Records by running up nearly 200 handballs for the day. They also drove some of their supporters crazy with this style but the coach had already stated that he had a purpose and that was to prepare the team for the style of game necessary to win matches against the interstate heavyweights on their home turf.

In case anybody hasn't noticed yet, last year's top four comprised of West Coast, Sydney, Adelaide and Fremantle.

It's also becoming somewhat ridiculous for people to panic about where their team is at several weeks before the start of the season proper.

Football history is studded with stories of teams that struggle to win practice matches and even some which make slow starts to the season, and yet they are there at the business end of the season.

It was Malcolm Blight, then coach of Geelong, who famously stated in 1994 that he wasn't worried about the thrashing his team had suffered at the hands of Melbourne (16.13.109 to 26.18.174) in the opening round of the season, because "the bloke who leads the marathon out of the stadium normally isn’t still in front at the end of the race."

Blight's Cats made the grand final in 1994 only to be beaten by West Coast but he had made his point. Despite the early season 65 point shellacking, his team was among the leading pack when the runners returned to the stadium late in the race and it was in contention on the last Saturday in September (actually I think it might have been the first Saturday in October that year but who's counting?).

That's exactly what the teams should be focussing on – even at this stage of proceedings.

And now to the players themselves. How are they travelling in those early kilometres of the marathon?

Simon Buckley - has come into 2007 with a stronger body and great purpose in his approach to the game. Performed well against the Hawks in the Nab Cup and, whilst he had been less prominent since, he displays all the makings of a player with a very promising future at the club.

Nathan Jones - has dropped nearly 8 kgs over the summer but it hasn’t affected either his hardness or his ball winning ability. He has done everything right as the team’s tough inside midfielder in the absence of the injured Brock McLean.

Clint Bizzell - after a couple of quite early games, the Biz has started showing some of the form that once made him the general of the team’s backline. Will need to continue to impress however, to gain a place in the starting 22.

Ben Holland - a withdrawal from the Nab Cup and then injured a hip against the Crows at Mount Gambier. Holland played at Sandringham at the weekend but failed to stand out.

Brock McLean - was going along nicely until he suffered a thigh injury. Supposed to be back this week.

Matthew Bate - has been going along steadily without setting the world on fire. Along with Lynden Dunn, he faces a challenge to continue his steady improvement in that vital second year of senior AFL footy. Still needs to work on his disposal.

Brad Miller - a major disappointment in the Nab Cup game, Miller has been struggling to adapt to the team’s game plan. No certainty to play in round 1.

James Frawley - has played a bit part in every game to date but hasn’t disappointed. Tall and moves well and has an awkward but effective kicking style. Will definitely see AFL action this season.

David Neitz - dropped a couple of sitters against the Hawks but looked reasonably solid. Kicked three in a half against the Tigers' Joel Bowden before coming off with stomach pains. Otherwise looks reasonably fit and ready for his eighth season as skipper.

Daniel Ward - has a fair bit to prove to himself and his teammates and is attacking the game with some purpose. His disposal lets him down.

Paul Johnson - right now is third in line for a ruck spot and while he is more mobile than Mark Jamar, the Russian appears to be the favoured option as Jeff White’s back up.

Colin Sylvia - is pre-season has been curtailed by a recurring groin problem. Is expected back in about two weeks but could take longer.

Adem Yze - most veterans take a while to get going early and Yze is no exception. His form to date playing both forward and in the middle has been uninspiring to say the least.

Lynden Dunn - hasn't gotten into gear in any of the matches so far.

Ricky Petterd - a player with real poise and balance and not afraid to have a dip, Petterd has shown some real signs of promise with Sandringham but will take time.

Travis Johnstone - a broken toe kept him out of the first two games but his return against the Tigers was sublime. His body looks stronger and with it, he seems to have gathered a bit of pace as well. Good signs.

Chris Johnson - based on what he has shown to date, Johnson is on the way to being the club’s big improver this year. Bound to be a regular for a long time.

Brad Green - post season surgery has him back in town. His kicking in particular is back to its very best.

Clint Bartram - taking a long time to recover from the ankle injury suffered against the Crows in round 22 last year and is still a few weeks away from a return.

Colin Garland - Tasmanian recruit finding his feet at Sandringham. Is a fair way off but appears to have a big up side.

Daniel Bell - has generally been very good, fast, hard and tough and looks like becoming a fixture in defence.

Brent Moloney - slowly coming back after a year hampered by a shoulder and then a debilitating groin injury. His pace is still suspect but will benefit from working under Bohdan Babijczuk.

James McDonald - slowly building up but hasn’t shown 2006 form yet.

Russell Robertson - another veteran who has floated through the pre-season games without doing anything spectacular.

Nathan Brown - is running well through the lines but his disposal still lacks penetration.

Heath Neville - just went at Sandringham at the weekend.

Jared Rivers - a strong game in defence against Hawthorn in the Nab Cup. The Demons will be looking at him to surpass his Rising Cup form of 2004 and lift a notch to achieve football stardom.

Isaac Weetra - hasn't been seen under match conditions at this stage.

Michael Newton - a bit of an enigma, this bloke looks to have everything but the application necessary to make it in the big time. Showed some good signs mainly on a wing for the Zebras at the weekend.

Simon Godfrey - to be brutally honest I think this hard working tough on baller will struggle to make the grade due to the presence of younger, more skilful types at the club.

Paul Wheatley - first game at Sandringham and wasn’t particularly impressive at all.

Cameron Bruce - the versatile utility is working towards a solid start to the season. Will be an invaluable factor in the team's line up.

Byron Pickett - the subject of a bit of mirth and ridicule over the pre-season because he hasn't quite shaped up in the same manner as most of the others. However, that's Byron and he showed at Sandringham on Sunday that, as long as he can regain close to full fitness, he will be a menacing factor as the season wears on.

Jeff White - missed the Nab Cup game against the Hawks but remains undoubtedly the club's number one ruckman. Against the Tigers on Saturday, he showed something by moving forward and kicking a few goals.

Ryan Ferguson - has his limitations but is a real goer, is versatile and looks a bit stronger this year. Has poise and courage and can dispose of the ball. A place in the first 22 beckons.

Aaron Davey - start to season set back by an ankle injury sustained in the Indigenous All Stars game. Is slowly getting back into it and the club will be hoping he can take a few more steps and particularly start dominating in finals games (but that’s a fair way off at present).

Matthew Warnock - after a poor Nab Cup game against the Hawks, he injured an ankle against the Crows and will miss a few weeks.

Shane Neaves - second string ruckman to Paul Johnson in the Sandringham match. A long term prospect.

Mark Jamar - seems to have improved his ruckwork but still doesn't do enough around the ground. Unless he improves in this regard, he could find his spot under pressure from the more mobile Johnson.

Nathan Carroll - looked good in pre season training but a little shaky against the Hawks. Contested strongly against the Tigers and will be a feature in the Demon backline for a few years to come.

Daniel Hayes - yet to be sighted in the practice matches.

Jace Bode - out for a couple of weeks with a back injury.

Matthew Whelan – recovering from injury which hampered his pre-season. Will be a factor in the Demon defence again in 2007.