OVER THE RAINBOW

by The Oracle

The last time I wrote a preview of a Melbourne game, I noted that we were into the month of May and the Demons had yet to break their duck for the 2007 season. That was a few weeks ago when they were preparing to take on one of the top teams in the competition in Port Adelaide. Today we are closing in on the end of the month and nothing's changed except for the fact that the defeats keep piling up. We're sitting on 0-8 and nearing the point in time when supporters are beginning to wonder if it's worth winning matches at all because there's the reward of a top four draft pick somewhere over the rainbow at the end of the season.

The club has been everywhere but on the winning list so far this season and the place where it has most resided is in hell because just about everything that can go wrong goes worse than we expected. Judging by this week's team changes with a further three injury caused omissions, there's no pot of gold to won anywhere for the Melbourne Football Club they way it's travelling at the moment.

On Sunday at the MCG, the Demons will be wearing black armbands over the loss of former Club Director Peter Hayes whose tragic and unfortunate passing just about sums up the sort of season we, as a club, have been having. I say this without wishing to diminish the meaning of a loss of life but it is a fact that many of us are pretty passionate about our team and what's been happening hurts. Our condolences go out to Peter's family and let's hope that things will finally turn around for Neale Daniher, his team and all of us at the Melbourne Football Club when the boys run out to face the Kangaroos.

THE GAME: Melbourne v. Kangaroos at the MCG – 27 May 2007 at 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD:

Overall: Melbourne 83 wins Kangaroos 59 wins 1 draw

At the G: Melbourne 54 wins Kangaroos 29 wins

Since 2000: Melbourne 8 wins Kangaroos 3 wins

The Coaches: Daniher 4 wins Laidley 1 win

MEDIA:

TV Channel 7 (delayed telecast commencing at 3.00pm)

RADIO 3AW MMM

THE BETTING: Melbourne to win $2.35 Kangaroos to win $1.55

LAST TIME THEY MET: Melbourne 20.12.132 d Kangaroos 12.10.82, Round 20, 2006, at MCG

The Demons played poorly in the first half and went in at the main break 20 points in arrears. After that however, it was all Melbourne as the Kangaroos, with very little to fight for, were blown off the park principally by David Neitz who booted eight goals and Aaron Davey who snagged four. Nathan Jones was impressive in one of his first few games for the club.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

Backs Daniel Ward Nathan Carroll Ricky Petterd

Half Backs James Frawley Ben Holland Daniel Bell

Centreline Travis Johnstone James McDonald Aaron Davey

Half Forwards Brad Green Russell Robertson Cameron Bruce

Forwards Adem Yze David Neitz Matthew Bate

Followers Jeff White Simon Godfrey Nathan Jones

Interchange Clint Bizzell Lynden Dunn Paul Johnson Brad Miller

Emergencies Nathan Brown Chris Johnson Brad Miller

In Clint Bizzell James Frawley Ben Holland Russell Robertson

Out Ryan Ferguson (broken thumb) Colin Sylvia (hamstring soreness) Matthew Whelan (foot) Nathan Brown (omitted)

New James Frawley (North Ballarat)

KANGAROOS

Backs Daniel Pratt Michael Firrito Scott McMahon

Half Backs Jesse Smith Shannon Watt Jess Sinclair

Centreline Adam Simpson Andrew Swallow Brady Rawlings

Half Forwards Daniel Harris Aaron Edwards Corey Jones

Forwards Lindsay Thomas Leigh Brown Drew Petrie

Followers Hamish McIntosh Shannon Grant Brent Harvey

Interchange Glenn Archer Matt Campbell Josh Gibson Blake Grima

Emergencies Kasey Green David Hale Ed Lower

In Archer

Out Green

Field umpires McLaren Kamolins Pannell

BREAKTHROUGH

All of the signs are pointing to a Kangaroo victory. The Roos have won five on the trot, are playing with confidence and they welcome back club icon Glenn Archer who sat out last week for family reasons. On the other hand, Melbourne loses three more players from the West Coast debacle, all with injuries to go with Brent Moloney who strained his groin during the previous game and Jared Rivers who pulled out before the game. Neither of them have recovered from their injuries and nor has future skipper Brock McLean come up from his injury incurred in round 1. So what we basically have is five more injuries to a squad that was already straining under the weight a bad season and playing like that as well.

My optimism however is raised by the return of Russell Robertson, a major revamp to the back line and the fact that the Demons have matched up well against the Kangaroos in recent years. In fact, they have won their last four encounters and haven't lowered their colours to the Roos since 2003 (and they should have won that one anyway!).

The return of Robertson is significant for the Demons who have struggled to kick winning scores since the Neitz/Robertson forward duet was separated in round 2. With Robbo back in harness, things are going to be a lot more difficult for the opposition. It's hard double teaming on Neita when you have Robbo prancing around the place like a jack in the box and he showed that he has recoved with a sparkling four goal performance last week at Sandringham. I have no doubt that an extra forward of quality would have come in very handy in those narrow defeats against the Power and the Bulldogs.

Neitz has been particularly quiet in the past fortnight against quality full backs in Harris and Glass. Michael Firrito has been in fine form this season for the Kangaroos so Neitz will need to be on his game but I have a strong feeling that he will relish the return to the G and the fact that he has a size and strength advantage over his opponent. All we really need now is for the umpires to acknowledge that Neita also has a back and to be aware that opponents often put their hands in the vicinity of that part of his anatomy too!

Hamish McIntosh is a big man who is having a reasonably good season but he comes up against an opponent on Sunday in Jeff White who has a lot of pride in his performance and would have spent the past week brooding over the humiliation caused to him and fellow ruckman Paul Johnson by Dean Cox and Mark Seaby. White is one who won't let his team down after last week's effort.

That back line revamp is significant. The change might be regarded only as subtle but the emergence of the club's first choice from the 2006 National Draft, James Frawley at the expense of veteran Nathan Brown signals that the club is changing direction. Doggy's been a tremendous servant of the club but he's going to find it hard to return. With Frawley and young Ricky Petterd lining up in defence, there's a message there for a number of others if they don't pull their weight. Old heads will roll and be replaced by younger men in the absence of a dramatic turn around in form. That applies not just to the defence but to the whole side.

With their backs to the wall, a number of Melbourne players need to perform in order for their team to rediscover the pot of gold and I think this week will see them take a step in the right direction.

Melbourne by 7 points.