THE WEEK THE EARTH MOVED

[Demonland 73,140]

by Scoop Junior

By half time last Friday night, it was pretty clear that this was going to be an earth shattering week for the Melbourne Football Club. There was simply no other possibility after such a dispirited, insipid and unprofessional performance from the team up to that stage of the game.

However, nobody could have envisaged the events that took place from Saturday morning to Thursday afternoon. Starting with Paul Gardner's fervent criticism of the football department, to media speculation about Neale Daniher's future, to an announcement of a five-week review of the on-field staff, to rumours of a discontented Daniher and then to Daniher calling a press conference on Wednesday afternoon and announcing that he will not seek re-appointment at the end of the year. The momentum was building with each event and the big shockwave was the revelation that Daniher would not be coaching the Demons in 2008. And there was more...

As Melbourne supporters gathered their thoughts about the end of the Daniher era and the fact that it would now occur over the remaining 10 rounds of the season, there was one more earthquake - the news that Friday night's match against the Bombers would be Daniher's last as coach of the Melbourne Football Club.

It is amazing how quickly things can turn in footy. After a great win over Collingwood on Queen's Birthday, it appeared as though the Demons were back in town. While the heat would have been on Daniher at the end of the season even if the team finished off the year well, it seemed as though the side had turned the corner. A win over Richmond, followed by winnable matches against the Dons, Blues, Lions and Roos, and the Dees could well have built some momentum and a case for Daniher in 2008.

While one game will never be determinative of a coach’s future, the performance against Richmond was unfortunately the straw that broke the camel's back. The problem for Daniher was that it was not a performance out of the blue. Too often in the past, Melbourne has failed to turn up to a game with the attitude, intensity and desire necessary to win a game of football. Losing to the bottom team by 49 points after being 10 goals down at half time, playing some of the most disgraceful footy you would like to see, is never going to bode well for a coach. When the coach is already under the microscope for similar performances in the past, is enduring an immensely disappointing season and is out of contract at the end of the year, it augurs very badly indeed.

While the writing was on the wall for Daniher, no one would have predicted the swift fall from grace. For Daniher to be coaching his last game on Friday night is not only an astounding change in position but is also a very sad moment for the Melbourne Football Club. Neale Daniher has given his heart and soul to Melbourne since 1998. He spruiked the club at a time that it was held in low regard by the media and the general footy public. He talked up Melbourne and was proud of his club. He has built up a good list over the years, never sacrificing early draft choices for instant success. He has helped develop the club from the laughing stock of the competition in 1997 to a team that had been regarded by many experts as a genuine premiership threat for the 2007 season.

There have been plenty of highs and lows under Daniher, right from his first game in charge – an Ansett Cup game against the Swans in New Zealand – to this, his last this weekend. The highs have been scintillating. My favourite moment of the Daniher era was the 2000 Qualifying Final win over Carlton. Down and out at three-quarter time against a powerhouse opposition, the young Melbourne side fought back and overran the Blues, with first-year players Bruce and Green kicking vital last-quarter goals. It was a special moment and one I will cherish forever.

But the best thing about Daniher's reign was that he always had the interests of the club at heart and never swayed from his determination to build a premiership side. Many thought the Demons would go close this year and while seemingly far away sitting in 15th position, it must be understood that only a few things need to go wrong for a team for the wheels to drop off. As Daniher said, some of these factors were in his control and others were not, but that's just the way it goes.

So thank you, Neale Daniher, for providing us supporters with enduring memories. Hopefully, the side can take the next step and stake a claim for a top four position, something that has eluded us since 2000. If we do, all supporters will know and appreciate that it was due to the hard work Daniher has put in over the years.

Friday night will be a sad occasion but, at the same time, it marks the beginning of a new era for the Demons. Hopefully, plenty of Melbourne fans get down to Telstra Dome to give Daniher due recognition for the work he has put in and to farewell a very good coach and a great bloke. He has without question left the Melbourne Football Club in far better position than he found it.

THE GAME

Essendon v Melbourne at Telstra Dome – 29 June 2007 at 7.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Essendon 123 wins Melbourne 77 wins 2 draws

At the Dome Essendon 1 win Melbourne 1 win

Since 2000: Essendon 7 wins Melbourne 4 wins

MEDIA

TV Channel 7 at 8.30pm (delayed telecast)

RADIO 3AW MMM 774ABC SEN K-Rock

THE BETTING

Essendon to win $1.55 Melbourne to win $2.30

LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 16.15.111 d Essendon 10.15.75, Round 12, 2006, at Telstra Dome

It's hard to believe that only twelve months ago, Melbourne was within striking distance of a top four place when it routinely disposed of a ragged, bottom of the ladder Essendon team. The Demons opened the game slowly and didn't get into gear until midway through the second quarter. At the main break they held the lead by a slender one point margin but after half time it was something of a cakewalk. James McDonald starred with 29 possessions and five tackles, Russell Robertson kicked a lazy four and David Neitz booted three goals as the Dees waltzed home against a ragged Bomber outfit to record the club's third consecutive victory over Sheedy's men.

THE TEAMS

ESSENDON

Backs Jay Nash Mal Michael Mark McVeigh

Half backs Andrew Welsh Dustin Fletcher Adam McPhee

Centreline Mark Bolton Jobe Watson Scott Camporeale

Half forwards James Hird Scott Lucas Henry Slattery

Forwards Jason Johnson Matthew Lloyd Alywn Davey

Followers Patrick Ryder Damien Peverill Jason Winderlich

Interchange Mark Johnson Jason Laycock Andrew Lovett Brent Stanton

Emergencies Kepler Bradley Ricky Dyson Angus Monfries

In Scott Camporeale Andrew Lovett Brent Stanton

Out David Hille (suspended) Chris Heffernan Angus Monfries

MELBOURNE

Backs Daniel Ward Nathan Carroll Paul Wheatley

Half backs Simon Godfrey Clint Bizzell Daniel Bell

Centreline Cameron Bruce James McDonald Travis Johnstone

Half forwards Brad Green Russell Robertson Aaron Davey

Forwards Colin Sylvia David Neitz Matthew Bate

Followers Jeff White Brock McLean Nathan Jones

Interchange Nathan Brown Paul Johnson Michael Newton Ricky Petterd

Emergencies Simon Buckley Chris Johnson Brad Miller

In Nathan Brown Travis Johnstone Michael Newton David Neitz

Out Adem Yze (hernia) Ben Holland (broken nose) James Byron Pickett

New Michael Newton (20 Murray Bushrangers)

THE FINAL CURTAIN FALLS

There is little doubt that the events of the past few days and particularly the fall of the final curtain of a ten year coaching career will overshadow the contest from Melbourne’s perspective. After all, there's very little to play for this season other than development for 2008.

Nevertheless, there will be plenty to watch for Demons fans. Young forward Michael Newton will make his long-awaited debut after 2½ years at the club. How he handles his first game, on the big stage against a determined Essendon outfit, will be interesting to observe. Ricky Petterd has maintained his position and should be given increased game time to help speed up his development but James Frawley has been dropped for this game along with Byron Pickett whose fitness did not measure up last week.

Matthew Bate has shown good signs as a permanent forward and will be looking to continue his form, while Brock McLean will be hungry to respond after his worst game for the club last week especially as he had the leadership role in David Neitz' absence.

Melbourne is clearly not as bad as the train wreck that was on display last week. It is inevitable that the Dees will be desperate from the get-go tomorrow night, but what will be interesting is how they respond if the Bombers skip ahead early. Last week, they capitulated and barely put up a fight as Richmond ran all over them in the first half. The least the team can do is fight to the very end for their coach, since they have been partially blamed for the situation he now finds himself in.

For Essendon, this is a big game. The Dons are 7-5 and fighting for a position in the top 8. They traditionally have an excellent record over the Dees, however, the last few years has seen Melbourne reversing the trend, winning four out of the past five encounters. Essendon was trounced in its last game by a motivated Port Adelaide outfit and will want to perform better against a similarly motivated opponent tomorrow night.

The result hardly means much at all for the Demons. What supporters want to see is a team fighting hard all night for their outgoing coach. They need to prove that last week's loss was an aberration and that the Melbourne Football Club will not tolerate that level of performance. The pressure is off, finals are gone, so hopefully the players can just come out and have a crack.

Also of interest to the fans will be the clash of brothers Aaron and Alwyn Davey and the 100th AFL game of a tough as nails footballer who, like Daniher, has given his all for the Demons - Simon Godfrey. It's a pity that this milestone will be overshadowed by other things.

As an era comes to a close, let’s reflect on the last 10 years and the many highlights under Neale Daniher because, by 10:15pm on Friday night, the final curtain will come down and it will all be over.