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I think losing Melksham, the form fall of Dunn and injury to Lamumba has robbed us of a lot of experience and leadership in the backline. The result of this is OMac, Hunt and Wagner have had to step up earlier in their development than would have been planned for.

WHEN WE WERE KINGS (LET'S RUMBLE) by Whispering Jack The death last week of the great boxer Muhammad Ali brought to mind the documentary film about the "Rumble in the Jungle", the famous world heavyweight championship match between Ali and George Foreman. Although that fight, held in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) took place in 1974, I have often associated the title of the movie with another set of champions from an entirely different sport and in a slightly different time frame: one that began two decades earlier right here in Melbourne. I refer to the champion football team that dominated this nation's leading sporting competition and won six premierships in the decade to 1964. When the Demons were kings, like Ali they tormented and dominated their adversaries and their main rival during that period was Collingwood. The football world was in awe of the Demons of the time. They were admired for the way they pulled themselves off the mat in the early 1950s and rose rapidly with a young team to make the grand final in 1954 (the year in which Cassius Clay, as Ali was then known, made his amateur boxing debut) which they lost to Footscray before going on to win five of the next six flags, beating the Magpies in three of those season deciders. Like Muhammad Ali however, they were not infallible - they lost the grand final of 1958 (at about the time when Cassius Clay was graduating from high school) to Collingwood who thereby prevented them from equalling the Magpies' record of four premierships in a row. Clay won the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics and in that year the Demons destroyed the Magpies on a wet grand final day, keeping them down to a record low two goals on that one day in September. It took them another four years to win their next premiership - the 1964 flag came in the same year that the "Louisville Lip" won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in an upset. An Australian lip, the great Magpie Lou Richards, compared the champion boxer with Melbourne's own champion skipper Ron Barassi, once dubbing him "Cassius Barassius". But after 1964, everything changed. Clay converted to Islam and officially took on the name, Muhammad Ali. Here in Australia, Barassi accepted an offer to coach Carlton and soon after ... the Demons stopped being kings. Their reign was over. By 1966, they were close to rock bottom. Ali's career also went into decline at that stage but not because he had lost his power. In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, he antagonized the establishment by refusing to be conscripted into the U.S. military on the basis of his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War. Ali was eventually arrested and in June of that year (in a week or so, it will be exactly 50 years ago) he was found guilty of draft evasion charges, sentenced to five years in prison and stripped of his boxing titles. Years later, he was exonerated on appeal to the US Supreme Court and it took another three years before he would regain his title in the "Rumble in the Jungle". Ali boxed on until he finally did lose his power and he retired in 1980. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Football Club languished, the hard times continued and despite some better days and an intermittent return to finals football, its fortunes again spiralled downwards for the past decade - perhaps, in line with Ali's declining health as he struggled with the effects of Parkinson's Disease? The Demons are slowly showing signs of recovery but sadly for Ali, it's all over now. In a few days’ time, he will be laid to his final resting place in his home town of Louisville and fittingly a few days after that, the old football rivalry will continue on the other side of the world. Like Melbourne, Collingwood has also been struggling of late. Times have changed since the glory days of the fifties and sixties when we were kings. Having grown from twelve clubs to eighteen, the competition is intense. It's a jungle out there. Let's rumble! THE GAME Melbourne v Collingwood at MCG Monday 13 June 2016 at 3.20pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 81 wins Collingwood 146 wins 5 drawn At the MCG Melbourne 61 wins Collingwood 79 wins 3 drawn Last Five Meetings Melbourne 2 wins Collingwood 3 wins The Coaches: Roos 2 wins Buckley 2 wins MEDIA TV Channel 7 Fox Footy Channel (Live at 3.00pm) Radio Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Melbourne $1.59 to win Collingwood $2.35 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 16.6.102 defeated Collingwood 9.13.67 at MCG in Round 4, 2016 The Demons, inspired by the great ruck/roving partnership of Max Gawn and Jack Viney, shot out to a five goal lead with a pulsating opening quarter and were never really troubled. They went on to win by 35 points. TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Jayden Hunt, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Billy Stretch, Oscar McDonald, Josh Wagner C: Tomas Bugg, Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince HF: Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg F: Sam Frost, Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson I/C: Ben Kennedy, Dean Kent, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney EMG: Jack Grimes, James Harmes, Viv Michie IN: Ben Kennedy, Jack Viney OUT: Jeff Garlett (omitted), James Harmes (omitted) COLLINGWOOD B: Brayden Maynard, Ben Reid, Jeremy Howe HB: Marley Williams, Jack Frost, Josh Smith C: Tom Phillips, Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom HF: Jordan deGoey, Jesse White, Travis Varcoe F: Ben Crocker, Mason Cox, Jarryd Blair FOLL: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp I/C: Levi Greenwood, Jonathon Marsh, Ben Sinclair, Jarrod Witts EMG: Nathan Brown, Matt Goodyear, Alan Toovey IN: Jonathon Marsh, Tom Phillips, Marley Williams, Jarrod Witts OUT: Travis Cloke (omitted), Matt Goodyear (omitted), Adam Oxley (omitted), Alan Toovey (omitted)

To be honest, it would have been easy to walk away from the Melbourne footy club in 2013 in hindsight. Be it him or whoever else wanted to leave. Now, I think you'd have to be slightly pushed to even consider leaving. The general closeness of this group is something not seen at many other clubs. I know for a fact from one of my Collingwood playing associates the he can only wish the Magpies were as tight knit as the demons are.

Was just looking at the stats for this from the weekend, and once more I note that we fielded the youngest and least experienced team against the Hawks who fielded the 3rd oldest & 2nd most experienced team of the round. The stats actually make for some interesting reading. Paints a good picture for us, Bulldogs, Adelaide & of course GWS. And it makes things look pretty grim for the likes of Fremantle, Richmond, St Kilda (given their performance) and it also outs Carlton's efforts into perspective (as well as Bolton has done). AGE: North Melbourne 27 years 11 months Geelong 26 years 4 months Hawthorn 26 years 2 months West Coast 26 years flat Fremantle 25 years 9 months Carlton 25 years 7 months Sydney 25 years 6 months Richmond 25 years 6 months Essendon 25 years 2 months St Kilda 24 years 11 months Collingwood 24 years 8 months Port Adelaide 24 years 8 months Adelaide 24 years 7 months GWS 24 years 5 months Gold Coast 24 years 4 monhts Western Bulldogs 24 years 4 months Brisbane 24 years 4 months Melbourne 23 years 7 months GAMES EXPERIENCE North Melbourne 151.3 Hawthorn 125.6 Geelong 120.8 West Coast 118.4 Sydney 104.9 Richmond 104.1 Fremantle 103.1 St Kilda 93.2 Carlton 90.1 GWS 87.1 Collingwood 86.3 Port Adelaide 86.1 Essendon 84.5 Adelaide 79 flat Gold Coast 79 flat Western Bulldogs 71.6 Brisbane 71.3 Melbourne 64.2 North played a 22 that had more then double the games experience that we fielded. We also fielded a team on average 9 months younger then any other in the comp. Encouraging signs of things to come hopefully!

I seriously hope that is not the reason they are playing OMac.

I was there on both occasions. My God I am old!

Grimes' consistent form should be rewarded. 14 tackles along with another 25 possessions. For heaven's sake, he's earned a game. Seeing him get shat on at selection is starting to really bother me.

Melkshem and Hurley would be great injections for next year's backline. Sound inclusions, lamentable terminology.

Exactly what I'm saying. He's not perfect. Like all of us, he can improve and if he's any sort of professional, that's what he'll be working on. If he thinks he's worth more than we are willing to pay then he should seek greener pastures. The club will do what is best for the club. My point is that he is far from the worst in the team and he does not deserve some of the bagging he has received on here. I'm all about objectivity. Let's take the emotion out of it and stick to the observable facts. Maybe some of his mistakes may occasionally lead to an opposition goal but this is no worse than mistakes in other parts of the ground. They just appear more costly. I would argue that mistakes like not seeing Jack Watts on his own 20 meters from goal and putting it on top of Hogan's head in a two on one contest is even more costly. Sometimes, it depends on which end of the ground the mistakes happen.

Is the MOST important get for the off season imho

1964

McDonald is a gun KPB for his age. If he had signed already everyone would be content. Our backline looks light on with him in it, and t would be even worse without him! Because he hasn't signed everyone is pulling his game to pieces and trying to make his contract situation less of a big deal. Sure he has flaws but so do most backs. Hell even when Chip was at his peak for us we'd still lament the odd brain fade. ( used to get caught holding the ball all the time trying to run the ball out of defence)

Frawley leaving made our Petracca/Brayshaw decision a whole lot easier and allowed us to set up our midfield for the next decade. I'm sure we can find a role player that can develop within our system and game style.

We've lost our last two so winning would be inconsistent.

Just taking a look at the VFL ladder, and apart from Casey being a game clear on top, I notice that 6 of Casey's 8 games played have been against teams in the top 8. Footscray (currently 7th) is the only top 8 team we're yet to play. Certainly bodes well for the Scorps for the remainder of the season. Top 4 spot is their's to loose you'd think.

I'm predicting that most of our players will age in time. It's a bold statement but I stand by it.

Be honest Stu, now that you and I, are BFF's and drinking buddies my goodwill has rubbed off on you and made you a better person. Who knows, we might even attend the GAT's closing down party together!

Ok Stan, but apart from beating the Lions what did the Romans ever do for us...

Mustard gas and pie floaters, ah, those were the days.

That umpire is a joke. He is a blight on the game, and his need to get his ugly head on TV constantly is getting boring. [censored] him off.

I really like Jayden Hunt and i think even if those three were all in and in form he'd still be in the side.

PLease. The weekend was not a game for marking fwds. Much better and easier for defenders. As for bad games, Ask the Hawk fans what he was like in his first year. He was terrible. Your recollection isn't very good.

Not sure all 17 are - are the WA clubs allowed to have pokies, I thought it was banned in WA? Realistically they should ban them again, they not only drain pensions back from those who can't afford it and create financial, mental health, family and domestic violence issues they also turn what used to be great community centres with live music into wastelands. BUt while they're legal I'd rather the MFC profit from them than Bruce Mathieson or whoever else owns the things.

Came to the club that had a terrible list Came to the club that was bereft in the coaching department Articulated what needed to be done and brought many youngsters along Gathered critical mass buy in around standards, expectations and positive psychology But, you keep at it....

Quality about Trengove I really like. Doesn't get particularly flustered.Has ability to think and use ball well. He's very cool dude in traffic. Very handy.

Nah was very confident both Frawley and Howe were goner. Think Howe was pushed as much as jumped to be honest.

I've been in Beijing since Feb. so haven't seen a live game this year. I've watched every game live via the AFL Global feed. The stats say he gives up half a free kick per game. he's given up 5 this year so far. This doesn't tie in with your view of his game. Even if every free kick he's given up came from a holding the ball decision and resulted in an opposition goal he would have conceded 5 goals for the season so far. Not a bad average I'd suggest given that umpires tend to look after forwards. Am I missing something?

Agree 'Adam', give up something good to get something that better suits your purpose... Not mentioning another club, Richmond....have failed to learn this lesson and may come to it way too late.

Oh dear................time to take a month or so away from Demonland again. Unfortunate because I enjoy reading so many people's comments and then I have to suffer this tripe!

Dawes bash fest. Hasn't really killed it, but he came to the club when it was at its lowest ebb and lifted standards in so many ways. But, let's sink the boots in....

Jeez, people are quick to turn on Garlett. He has been sensational for the vast majority of his time at Melbourne, and is the best small forward we've had in years. The form slump won't last and I'm confident he'll turn it on this week.

Frost on Cox sounds painful but not unexpected at this time of year.

This is what I hate about the AFL. On one hand they want to be the moral arbiter of everything, but on the other hand they are allowing clubs to profit off of the misfortune of others. But not just others - the misfortune of battling families. Gambling wrecks families, and it wrecks lives. The AFL are perfectly fine with the clubs under their banner to profit off of the hardship of the less fortunate. Anger shouldn't just be directed at the clubs, but at the AFL as a whole.

Pannell beaten.

I actually felt sorry for the Brisbane supporters around me because I could relate to their team being so bad but then I remembered they saw their team win three premierships in a row and then I stopped caring.

Surely addictive products are an area that does warrant deep regulation at least. It is conceivable that pokies could be offered in an ethical, non-life-destroying way, but then they wouldn't make much money would they? I mean, they are machines for stimulating addiction and 'servicing' that addiction in exchange for money. Setting aside personal philosophies on the role of government in modern society, anyone who chooses to make their money by exploiting addiction is an 4rse. Unfortunately, at the moment that still includes our football club. The sooner the better as far as establishing ourselves with more ethical and 'community club appropriate' alternative income streams.

Probably trying to get games into promising young players

Conditions sucked. It was like a misty, soupy morning on the Western Front circa 1916. Hard to judge a floater coming in. And yep - I give Jeffy the benefit of the doubt on everything.

Not that many years ago it was a game we sold to Brisbane. Now it is Alice Springs and even worse Darwin. Sure... there will be many that say "we should win anywhere" but this is a game of "inches" where every little bit counts. Time the club gave us the "donate this" and we will not play there figures or is it if we do not play there the AFL money disappears. Time for some true equalization perhaps !!

Tough one Pokie Machines nobody forces anyone to use them but i have known cafè owners who put the shop takings through machines after closing. Staff lose jobs but if they didn't exist gambling would just be blacker black market..

Hawthorn, the great family club. Yeah, right.

I just think Hogans manager is smart, lets be honest he is going to be easily the highest paid player at the MFC, and might be close to the highest paid player in the comp on his next contract, he would be silly not to milk every dollar he could for it, especially given he's already had a serious injury, this could set him up for life. I firmly believe both Hogan and Tmac will stay, but while i think when push comes to shove the club will pay Hogan what he asks for i think they'll only retain TMAC at the price they believe he is worth and won't break the bank, if he wants to chase coin elsewhere i think they'd be happy to let him. I see TMAC as the Levi casbault of the backline, he is a great mark, reads the ball well and has huge talent but his execution of basic skills lets him down and is imo the only thing holding him back from consistently being an AA level player.

Do you mean he gets caught holding the ball or just getting tackled and disposing of it? His stats show him averaging 0.54 frees against per game so it can't be that he's getting caught all that much. I know stats don't always tell the story but I think in this case, it's pretty clear that your assertion is a bit shaky.

I have been on about him for three years rjay. yes we got him when no one else would come. but let's not forget we out bid the Dogs and paid over the odds. He has been an average player when he has been on the field. He has played less than 30% of the available games since joining. Value for money? Terrible. The guy is a forward who cannot mark over head and a pinch hit ruckman who does want to pinch hit. Buggered if I can see his worth.

You're just taking the [censored] on here these days aren't you?

Dawes is privately educated and from a decent family. It's not that he can't ruck. It's that he doesn't want to. It's too passe.

Did not shirk the issue. What player did he shirk from? No one near him. Flew early and the floater didn't come. He is not lacking in courage. He will bounce back.

I like the one who says he's staying.

He mentioned in a post match interview with burgs that he played wing but saw himself moving into the mid as an inside mid. I see him as our sam mitchell. Tough inside mid, good by hand, good vision and a good organiser