NOTHING CAN CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

[Demonland 73,140]

by Whispering Jack

It was a night when the clock should have stopped ticking six or seven seconds earlier but things never happen that way. They say after all, that nothing can change the shape of things to come.

The dream finish to Neale Daniher's coaching career didn't take place; his team lost in the inevitable way that was seemingly always scripted through his time at the club. For a decade his team lurched forward and backward, from one extreme to another waiting for the inevitable accident to happen and on this last night, it happened again.

Throughout his term as coach, Daniher has been fond of expounding the "time clock theory" to explain precisely where any given team list is placed in terms of its development and its capacity to challenge for a premiership. However, the theory has its flaws and doesn't contend with the vagaries of football and of matters beyond the control of a coach, be they injury crises, boardroom revolts, salary cap penalties, financial setbacks, weather conditions, rule changes, umpiring, fixturing issues and even the death of a player. Daniher has faced them all in his time. He took them in his stride, gave his all with passion and commitment, promoted his club vigorously, did his best for his players and his team and came out of it last night with dignity if not victory.

After a week of high drama the dream script should have seen Daniher's men come out and tear the Bombers apart but if 2007 has been a dream for Melbourne, then that dream was a wild nightmare from the very beginning. Playing against a full strength Essendon side, Melbourne's woeful run with injuries continued when Daniel Bell's hamstring went before the big crowd at the Telstra Dome had barely settled into their seats. One of the Demons' big improvers of the season, Bell brilliantly intercepted a pass meant for his opponent Scott Lucas, took his kick and then disappeared from the game. Melbourne's defence, already undermanned and undersized, was unable to contain the Bomber tall timber and Lucas was to become the match winner. By the end of the night, at least four others were struggling with their fitness. Meanwhile, the remainder of the first quarter was a repeat of the horrors of the first half against Richmond that provided the nail for the coffin of a coaching career at the club.

Trailing by 37 points at the first change, Daniher desperately made some moves in an attempt to inspire his charges and they came to the party. The game was a freewheeling affair and, in the absence of the modern day tactics of pushing players behind the ball to flood defences, Melbourne was able to fight its way back. David Neitz and Travis Johnstone, who both missed the Tiger debacle, hit their straps and James McDonald continued working hard around the stoppages where Melbourne was getting on top. The Demons ran and ran, created numerous scoring opportunities, got to within a point but fell away in the dying moments of the first half to concede three late goals. Still, they went into the half time break in much better shape than we feared after the first half hour.

The all-important third quarter was all Melbourne's. It comprehensively outplayed Essendon and, with Russell Robertson coming out of his early shell and booting three goals for the term, the Dees were on the brink of an historic and famous victory. All that was needed was that final death blow from which the Bombers, who were literally on their knees, would surely not be able to recover. Instead, the epitaph for Daniher's long coaching stint at the club was written in much the same way that his years at the club would come to be remembered.

Skipper David Neitz, still not at 100% following his injury woes of the season, suddenly acquired the kicking yips missing three shots at goal from within fifty metres that would have been routine if he were at the height of his powers. One of them slewed across the face of goals and didn't even score. Likewise, Russell Robertson missed a set shot that he should have gobbled up. Emerging youngsters Colin Sylvia and Matthew Bate also messed up an opportunity that should have seen a goal rammed home but the ball went astray. Debutant, Michael Newton, who was impressive but undertandably nervous in his first game at this level, dropped a simple chest mark in front of goal. Still, when Aaron Davey put Melbourne 17 points in front with a few minutes left to play, it should have been all over.

But the game unravelled for Melbourne and the accidents just kept on coming for Neale Daniher in the dying moments of his coaching career. A few lucky bounces went Essendon's way, there was some poor decision making from Melbourne players, horrific umpiring from a group that gave the Bombers an enormous 27-18 free kick advantage on the night (did not one of them see what 47,552 others saw when Cameron Bruce was tripped late in the game or were they just pulling our legs?) and Scott Lucas and fate stepped in for the final goal with six seconds left on the clock. For the second time, the Bombers had kicked three straight goals at the Lockett End of the Telstra Dome to finish off a quarter.

So time has finally run out for Neale Daniher. I can't say that he was a great coach. That is a description reserved for those who win premiership flags. I will say however, that he was a good coach and that he changed the shape of the club in his time at Melbourne. One only hopes that he leaves it a far better place than it was when he entered ten years ago but his true legacy will only be understood in the fullness of time.

Melbourne 2.2.14 9.4.58 16.9.105 18.15.123

Essendon 8.3.51 12.5.77 14.8.92 19.11.125

Goals

Melbourne Neitz Robertson 3 Davey Petterd Sylvia 2 Bate Bruce Godfrey Johnstone Newton Ward

Essendon Lucas 5 Lloyd 4 Davey Laycock Lovett McVeigh 2 Hird McPhee

Best

Melbourne McDonald Bruce Bate Jones Neitz Sylvia

Essendon Hird Laycock Lucas Lloyd Watson Fletcher

Injuries

Melbourne Neitz (knee) Green (knee) Bell (hamstring)

Essendon - nil

Reports - nil

Changes – nil

Umpires Margetts Grun Ryan

Crowd 47,552 at Telstra Dome