Demonland

The statistics - Oskar Baker 2 goals 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 63 dream team points Tomas Bugg 1 goal 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 10 tackles 78 dream team points Kieren Byers 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 8 hit outs 39 dream team points Sean Dwyer 2 handballs 2 disposals 1 tackle 5 dream team points Sam Frost 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 6 hit outs 95 dream team points Jeff Garlett 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 87 dream team points Mitchell Gent 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points Dion Johnstone 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 2 tackles 42 dream team points Declan Keilty 1 kicks 3 handballs 4 disposals 1 marks 4 tackles 25 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 60 dream team points Mykelti Lefau 1 kicks 4 handballs 5 disposals 2 tackles 16 dream team points Jay Lockhart 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 58 dream team points Goy Lok 2 goals 1 behind 13 kicks 1 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 83 dream team points Ryan Morrison 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 70 dream team points James Munro 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles 1 hit out 53 dream team points Cameron Pedersen 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 11 hit outs 100 dream team points Harrison Petty 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 54 dream team points Angus Scott 2 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 9 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 77 dream team points Joel Smith 1 goal 5 kicks 12 handballs 17 disposals 1 marks 3 tackles 51 dream team points Timothy Smith 12 kicks 13 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 12 tackles 117 dream team points Billy Stretch 6 kicks 14 handballs 20 disposals 1 mark 9 tackles 86 dream team points Corey Wagner 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 85 dream team points Mitchell White 1 behind 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 6 tackles 99 dream team points

That’s all fffolks ...

We welcome your input into the discussion on today’s game.

Your votes please ... 6,5,4,3,2,1

Or after ......

Thanks Nasher. If anyone wants to donate to Demonland all proceeds will go to Nasher. http://demonland.com/forums/clients/donations/

Twitter is worse.

Viney not far off return.

I can understand how social media and the instant access that fans and critics have to celebrities and sports stars can have a negative impact on those people. The internet and anonymous (now not so anonymous with Facebook and Twitter) people bagging sports people is nothing new. People have been doing this on Fan sites for years. However with social media people now have direct access to the phones of these stars and they can be brutal and there aren't many jobs in the world where you receive instant and potential soul crushing feedback. I feel for Jake and others who have copped it directly. We've all been critical of sports people but I don't think I've ever contacted one directly to their device to tell them that I hope they die in a fire.

I mentioned that on the podcast the other night. He destroyed us in the second quarter but could not kick accurately. It kept the door open for us and we won.

Most weeks he can't hit the side of a barn. Stormtroopers have better accuracy. I doubt he will miss this week.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-suffers-major-injury-blow-with-young-star-christian-petracca-to-miss-with-infected-finger/news-story/d2b4f07221589f53f2281be8eb34b9fb MELBOURNE has suffered a huge blow ahead of Sunday’s clash against Essendon with Christian Petracca ruled out with an infected finger. It is understood Petracca underwent surgery on Thursday and is expected to return for Round 7.

Another game against Essendon. Another Away game against Essendon. Obviously we won't be wearing our regular strip so will we be allowed to wear the Royal Blue number or is will it be considered to have too much red in it? Will we be forced to brush the mothballs off the 2017 White Clash monstrosity?

Recently, I was at Carrara for the Commonwealth Games and while watching the women’s 10,000 metre final, it was clear that the runners on the outside of the front bunch were going to be the first to tire and when that happened, they fell by the wayside. It’s been the same of late with the Demons. On the big stage against Richmond on Tuesday night, they were plodding along that Members wing taking the long way home, often finding themselves cornered, under pressure and resorting to chains of risky handballs that would inevitably come unstuck allowing them to be picked off by waiting Tigers who would move the ball into the corridor and set up their attacks. There has to be something wrong as well when, despite the overwhelming dominance of Max Gawn in the ruck, and some solid quality in its onball division, Melbourne fails to achieve winning figures in terms of clearances from the midfield and from the stoppages. This feature is also compounded by the drying up of scoring opportunities through a lack of goal kicking power, despite the team having demonstrated earlier in the year, in both the pre season and the first few games, multiple goal scorers and a power key forward in Jesse Hogan. With Hogan often doing a lot of his work up to 100 metres from the goal face, he’s going to be productive in the middle but this leaves very little, if any, marking power up forward. Even when Sam Weideman was up there, it was so easy for the premiership winning defence to pick off the ball and repulse the Demon attacks. This was no better demonstrated by one of the most stunning statistics of Tuesday night. In the opening quarter, Melbourne had 19 entries into the forward fifty metre arc and managed a solitary goal - the snap from Jake Melksham at the two minute mark of the game. They should have set themselves for a good win with that number of forward opportunities - it turned out an epic fail that would bite hard by the end of the game. The Demons are fortunate in that on Sunday, they come up against an equally shambolic and disappointing side in Essendon which was poor when it lowered its colours to Collingwood on Anzac Day. One would hope that Simon Goodwin comes up with something different this week because if he allows his players to box themselves out of the inside running and take the same old ineffective options, the result will be the same as it has been for the last two weeks. THE GAME Essendon v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday, 29 April, 2018 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Essendon 129 wins Melbourne 82 wins 2 draws At Etihad Stadium Essendon 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The last five meetings 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Worsfold 0 wins Goodwin 1 win MEDIA TV – Fox Footy Channel - Live at 1.00pm RADIO - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 17.10.112 defeated Essendon 10.14.74 at Etihad Stadium, Round 6, 2017 Melbourne got itself back on the winner’s list after three losses in a row with a solid effort at Etihad Stadium. The Demons were helped by Joe Daniher’s yips in front of goal and Jack Watts’ accuracy - the much maligned forward booted four goals. THE TEAMS ESSENDON B: Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley, Adam Saad HB: Patrick Ambrose, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell ? Matt Guelfi, Jayden Laverde, Kobe Mutch HF: Ben McNiece, Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti F: David Zaharakis, Joe Daniher, Mark Baguley Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Devon Smith, Jackson Merrett I/C: Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, James Stewart, Emg: Dylan Clarke, Kyle Langford, Shaun McKernan, Jordan Ridley In: Patrick Ambrose, Jayden Laverde, Matthew Leuenberger, Ben McNiece, Kobe Mutch Out: Josh Begley (injured), Tom Bellchambers (rested), Josh Green (injured), Michael Hartley (rested), David Myers (rested) MELBOURNE B: Jake Lever, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Bernie Vince, Michael Hibberd, Jayden Hunt ? Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem HF: Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Jake Melksham F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Sam Weideman, James Harmes Foll: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver I/C: Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo Emg: Jeff Garlett, Joel Smith, Timothy Smith, Josh Wagner In: Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Jordan Lewis, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo Out: Jeff Garlett (omitted), Dean Kent (hamstring), Christian Petracca (finger), Billy Stretch (omitted), Josh Wagner (omitted) New: Charlie Spargo GETTING EVEN Some years ago, I attended a Melbourne Football Club luncheon where the keynote speaker was Chris Connolly, the former Demon player and Fremantle coach who more lately, was the back at the club as its football manager. As has been customary at this organisation, the place was in crisis at the time (both on and off the field) and Connolly was taking questions from the floor after his rather optimistic spiel about the club’s long term future (and it seems to me that the definition of “long term” in that context insofar as the Demons are concerned is ever expanding beyond expectations). One questioner took aim at the team make up after the previous week’s loss and suggested that it was time for heads to roll and for massive changes to be made. Connolly’s response was that in his estimation, a large shake up was unnecessary and further, that when a club makes five changes or more, the chances of a win were virtually zero. So this week, as two of the competition’s more disappointing teams face off against each other, Connolly’s words will be tested. Both sides have made five changes and, on that basis, there can only be one result - a draw. And that is my prediction for this week. That result is justified not only on the basis of the Connolly theory but on a factual basis. These two teams are evenly matched. At this stage of the season, the Bombers are 13th in the AFL ladder with 8 points and a percentage of 89.2, just 0.4% ahead of Melbourne in 14th place with the same number of premiership points. The Demons of course, are becoming used to lagging others in percentage by such a small margin to an extent that is very much to their detriment. Both sides are having trouble winning matches, their forward lines are more than somewhat dysfunctional and the only thing they seem to be good at of late, is total capitulation in the final quarter. After the Demons’ frustrating finish to 2017, one would have expected much better than what they’ve served up late in their games this year - at the very least a bit of fight at the end to save face. But it hasn’t happened. The Bombers are similarly, in total disarray. I would be heavily tempted normally to tip Melbourne on the basis that the team selection appears to help cover some of the gaping holes revealed in its structure over the past two weeks but the words of Chris Connolly keep ringing in my ears. So for this game, I can see Joe Daniher booting 8 goals (four on each of the McDonald brothers) but the Demons somehow snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. My tip - for the second week in a row, the AFL will see a drawn game.

THE LONG WAY HOME by Whispering Jack Recently, I was at Carrara for the Commonwealth Games and while watching the women’s 10,000 metre final, it was clear that the runners on the outside of the front bunch were going to be the first to tire and when that happened, they fell by the wayside. It’s been the same of late with the Demons. On the big stage against Richmond on Tuesday night, they were plodding along that Members wing taking the long way home, often finding themselves cornered, under pressure and resorting to chains of risky handballs that would inevitably come unstuck allowing them to be picked off by waiting Tigers who would move the ball into the corridor and set up their attacks. There has to be something wrong as well when, despite the overwhelming dominance of Max Gawn in the ruck, and some solid quality in its onball division, Melbourne fails to achieve winning figures in terms of clearances from the midfield and from the stoppages. This feature is also compounded by the drying up of scoring opportunities through a lack of goal kicking power, despite the team having demonstrated earlier in the year, in both the pre season and the first few games, multiple goal scorers and a power key forward in Jesse Hogan. With Hogan often doing a lot of his work up to 100 metres from the goal face, he’s going to be productive in the middle but this leaves very little, if any, marking power up forward. Even when Sam Weideman was up there, it was so easy for the premiership winning defence to pick off the ball and repulse the Demon attacks. This was no better demonstrated by one of the most stunning statistics of Tuesday night. In the opening quarter, Melbourne had 19 entries into the forward fifty metre arc and managed a solitary goal - the snap from Jake Melksham at the two minute mark of the game. They should have set themselves for a good win with that number of forward opportunities - it turned out an epic fail that would bite hard by the end of the game. The Demons are fortunate in that on Sunday, they come up against an equally shambolic and disappointing side in Essendon which was poor when it lowered its colours to Collingwood on Anzac Day. One would hope that Simon Goodwin comes up with something different this week because if he allows his players to box themselves out of the inside running and take the same old ineffective options, the result will be the same as it has been for the last two weeks. THE GAME Essendon v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday, 29 April, 2018 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Essendon 129 wins Melbourne 82 wins 2 draws At Etihad Stadium Essendon 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The last five meetings 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Worsfold 0 wins Goodwin 1 win MEDIA TV – Fox Footy Channel - Live at 1.00pm RADIO - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 17.10.112 defeated Essendon 10.14.74 at Etihad Stadium, Round 6, 2017 Melbourne got itself back on the winner’s list after three losses in a row with a solid effort at Etihad Stadium. The Demons were helped by Joe Daniher’s yips in front of goal and Jack Watts’ accuracy - the much maligned forward booted four goals. THE TEAMS ESSENDON B: Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley, Adam Saad HB: Patrick Ambrose, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell ? Matt Guelfi, Jayden Laverde, Kobe Mutch HF: Ben McNiece, Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti F: David Zaharakis, Joe Daniher, Mark Baguley Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Devon Smith, Jackson Merrett I/C: Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, James Stewart, Emg: Dylan Clarke, Kyle Langford, Shaun McKernan, Jordan Ridley In: Patrick Ambrose, Jayden Laverde, Matthew Leuenberger, Ben McNiece, Kobe Mutch Out: Josh Begley (injured), Tom Bellchambers (rested), Josh Green (injured), Michael Hartley (rested), David Myers (rested) MELBOURNE B: Jake Lever, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Bernie Vince, Michael Hibberd, Jayden Hunt ? Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem HF: Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Jake Melksham F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Sam Weideman, James Harmes Foll: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver I/C: Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo Emg: Jeff Garlett, Joel Smith, Timothy Smith, Josh Wagner In: Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Jordan Lewis, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo Out: Jeff Garlett (omitted), Dean Kent (hamstring), Christian Petracca (finger), Billy Stretch (omitted), Josh Wagner (omitted) New: Charlie Spargo GETTING EVEN Some years ago, I attended a Melbourne Football Club luncheon where the keynote speaker was Chris Connolly, the former Demon player and Fremantle coach who more lately, was the back at the club as its football manager. As has been customary at this organisation, the place was in crisis at the time (both on and off the field) and Connolly was taking questions from the floor after his rather optimistic spiel about the club’s long term future (and it seems to me that the definition of “long term” in that context insofar as the Demons are concerned is ever expanding beyond expectations). One questioner took aim at the team make up after the previous week’s loss and suggested that it was time for heads to roll and for massive changes to be made. Connolly’s response was that in his estimation, a large shake up was unnecessary and further, that when a club makes five changes or more, the chances of a win were virtually zero. So this week, as two of the competition’s more disappointing teams face off against each other, Connolly’s words will be tested. Both sides have made five changes and, on that basis, there can only be one result - a draw. And that is my prediction for this week. That result is justified not only on the basis of the Connolly theory but on a factual basis. These two teams are evenly matched. At this stage of the season, the Bombers are 13th in the AFL ladder with 8 points and a percentage of 89.2, just 0.4% ahead of Melbourne in 14th place with the same number of premiership points. The Demons of course, are becoming used to lagging others in percentage by such a small margin to an extent that is very much to their detriment. Both sides are having trouble winning matches, their forward lines are more than somewhat dysfunctional and the only thing they seem to be good at of late, is total capitulation in the final quarter. After the Demons’ frustrating finish to 2017, one would have expected much better than what they’ve served up late in their games this year - at the very least a bit of fight at the end to save face. But it hasn’t happened. The Bombers are similarly, in total disarray. I would be heavily tempted normally to tip Melbourne on the basis that the team selection appears to help cover some of the gaping holes revealed in its structure over the past two weeks but the words of Chris Connolly keep ringing in my ears. So for this game, I can see Joe Daniher booting 8 goals (four on each of the McDonald brothers) but the Demons somehow snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. My tip - for the second week in a row, the AFL will see a drawn game.

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In a week when the Melbourne Football Club signed up the Johnnie Walker label as a sponsor, it is interesting to note that the brand’s motto is “Keep Walking”. Contrast that with the performances of the club in the past fortnight, and a motto for the red and blue should be “Keep Talking”. After a disastrous showing against Hawthorn, the fans were promised a big turnaround. That was all talk and promises but what came out of it all? This week: The first quarter brought 7 shots at goal and a score of 1.5 compared with last week’s 10 shots and 5 majors. This week: Eight goals for the whole game; last week - six. This week: The second term saw us score 1.1 with the goal coming after 25 minutes; last week 4 behinds. This week: The opposition scores seven goals in the final quarter; last week, it was also seven. This week: The total score for the game was 56 points; last week it was 48. The list could go on, but the story is the same - lots of talk but no action. All talk and no walk. The result would have been even worse, but Richmond are not all that flash. Three of their wins this season have been against Melbourne, Carlton and Brisbane ... all in the bottom five of the ladder. For the coach to come out afterward and suggest there was a step forward is laughable, because the results are there for all to see. Once again the side was let down badly by a number of players. Dom Tyson is glacially slow, and continues to turn the ball over at critical points. Alex Neal-Bullen and James Harmes run all over the ground, have no impact on contests, then fail to deliver the ball at critical points. Billy Stretch simply should not have been in the side; his fumbling when in the open cost certain goals (both ways) and at least on two occasions this happened at critical junctures in the game. These players do not do enough work. When the defenders bring the ball to ground, do we see any of them picking up the crumbs cleanly? We certainly saw their Richmond counterparts doing exactly the same as Hawthorn did last week. How many goals have the opposition scored from the goal-square in these past 2 games? At centre bounces they walk or trot into the middle. Their opponents sprint to get to the contest or create the option outside. And we the fans wonder why Richmond seemed to have extra players free all the time! After the coaching debacle of last week, when the Hawks were allowed to use a set-up behind the ball for ½ the game, we would have expected some change. Again, all talk. Melbourne used the Members Stand wing exclusively for the whole game. Not a single switch of play in 100 minutes of football! Contrast that with the constant movement of other teams to open up the field. All our forward moves were stuttering, contest to contest and when they eventually broke down, Richmond rebounded easily and unopposed. Persisting with the “contested ball” focus is costing us dearly, as we are exposed time and time again, when the ball is brought outside. Max Gawn was dominant in the ruck, but actually too much with 56 hitouts, as he hit the ball into the open and into the Richmond game plan. The result, Richmond with more clearances for the game. And when we did get inside possession, the first option was to try to handball. Again, suiting the Richmond game plan as they have a bevy of players on the outside waiting to pounce. The non-selection of a second ruck option continues to leave us exposed when Max has to take a break. It means we rob the forward structure during that time, this week it being Sam Weideman. The Tigers must have loved it with Rance sitting happily in the backline, Hogan up the field and no-one else to mind. It’s little wonder with this set up that they can’t kick a winning score! It was only in the first 15 minutes of the third quarter that Melbourne put boot to ball as the first option in the contest. Result: the team got back to within seven points (and could have been even closer) before reverting to type and handing Richmond two easy goals in the final minutes as they tried to be smart, and turned the ball over, instead of just kicking the ball forward and putting on the pressure and going over their press. Once again the backs were fantastic. Oscar McDonald completely blanketed Riewoldt until junk time in the last. Jake Lever intercepted and spoilt opposition thrusts again and again. Michael Hibberd showed some return to the form of 2017, but knocked the stuffing out of himself with some really brave defending. But they couldn’t do it all on their own, and the lack of support from up the field is telling. When a first year player in Jack Higgins kicks three goals, and McIntosh playing on the wing kicks two, then a long hard look needs to be taken at who isn’t doing their job. Down the other end, the forward line is in disarray. While attempting to develop Jesse Hogan into a more threatening player upfield, it simply leaves a hole in front of goal. Weideman did enough in his first game of the year, but then he is called upon to ruck and we are back to square 1. Another body, in the form of Tom McDonald or Cam Pedersen needs to simply be planted in front of the big sticks, as a target or used as the backup ruck. We have a host of players who should make way for them as soon as possible. No one is immune - not even Jeff Garlett who has barely touched the ball in the past two games, and is providing little if any forward pressure. While the players and coaches are talking, sadly, yet again, it is the fans who will be doing the walking. No-one wants to pay to see the sort of rubbish being served up at the moment, and they will walk away, and “Keep Walking” or just stay home with Johnnie and enjoy themselves! Melbourne 1.5.11 2.6.18 5.8.38 8.8.56 Richmond 2.2.14 5.8.38 8.9.57 15.12.102 Goals Melbourne Melksham 4 Hogan 2 Garlett Harmes Richmond Higgins 3 Castagna Lambert Lloyd McIntosh Riewoldt 2,Cotchin Prestia Best Melbourne Oliver Hogan Melksham Jones Hibberd Gawn Richmond Martin Edwards Houli Lambert Grigg Higgins Injuries Melbourne Kent (hamstring) Hibberd (nose) Richmond Nil Reports Nil Umpires Foot, Rosebury, Williamson Official crowd 77,071 at the MCG

WALKING ... OR TALKING by George on the Outer In a week when the Melbourne Football Club signed up the Johnnie Walker label as a sponsor, it is interesting to note that the brand’s motto is “Keep Walking”. Contrast that with the performances of the club in the past fortnight, and a motto for the red and blue should be “Keep Talking”. After a disastrous showing against Hawthorn, the fans were promised a big turnaround. That was all talk and promises but what came out of it all? This week: The first quarter brought 7 shots at goal and a score of 1.5 compared with last week’s 10 shots and 5 majors. This week: Eight goals for the whole game; last week - six. This week: The second term saw us score 1.1 with the goal coming after 25 minutes; last week 4 behinds. This week: The opposition scores seven goals in the final quarter; last week, it was also seven. This week: The total score for the game was 56 points; last week it was 48. The list could go on, but the story is the same - lots of talk but no action. All talk and no walk. The result would have been even worse, but Richmond are not all that flash. Three of their wins this season have been against Melbourne, Carlton and Brisbane ... all in the bottom five of the ladder. For the coach to come out afterward and suggest there was a step forward is laughable, because the results are there for all to see. Once again the side was let down badly by a number of players. Dom Tyson is glacially slow, and continues to turn the ball over at critical points. Alex Neal-Bullen and James Harmes run all over the ground, have no impact on contests, then fail to deliver the ball at critical points. Billy Stretch simply should not have been in the side; his fumbling when in the open cost certain goals (both ways) and at least on two occasions this happened at critical junctures in the game. These players do not do enough work. When the defenders bring the ball to ground, do we see any of them picking up the crumbs cleanly? We certainly saw their Richmond counterparts doing exactly the same as Hawthorn did last week. How many goals have the opposition scored from the goal-square in these past 2 games? At centre bounces they walk or trot into the middle. Their opponents sprint to get to the contest or create the option outside. And we the fans wonder why Richmond seemed to have extra players free all the time! After the coaching debacle of last week, when the Hawks were allowed to use a set-up behind the ball for ½ the game, we would have expected some change. Again, all talk. Melbourne used the Members Stand wing exclusively for the whole game. Not a single switch of play in 100 minutes of football! Contrast that with the constant movement of other teams to open up the field. All our forward moves were stuttering, contest to contest and when they eventually broke down, Richmond rebounded easily and unopposed. Persisting with the “contested ball” focus is costing us dearly, as we are exposed time and time again, when the ball is brought outside. Max Gawn was dominant in the ruck, but actually too much with 56 hitouts, as he hit the ball into the open and into the Richmond game plan. The result, Richmond with more clearances for the game. And when we did get inside possession, the first option was to try to handball. Again, suiting the Richmond game plan as they have a bevy of players on the outside waiting to pounce. The non-selection of a second ruck option continues to leave us exposed when Max has to take a break. It means we rob the forward structure during that time, this week it being Sam Weideman. The Tigers must have loved it with Rance sitting happily in the backline, Hogan up the field and no-one else to mind. It’s little wonder with this set up that they can’t kick a winning score! It was only in the first 15 minutes of the third quarter that Melbourne put boot to ball as the first option in the contest. Result: the team got back to within seven points (and could have been even closer) before reverting to type and handing Richmond two easy goals in the final minutes as they tried to be smart, and turned the ball over, instead of just kicking the ball forward and putting on the pressure and going over their press. Once again the backs were fantastic. Oscar McDonald completely blanketed Riewoldt until junk time in the last. Jake Lever intercepted and spoilt opposition thrusts again and again. Mitch Hibberd showed some return to the form of 2017, but knocked the stuffing out of himself with some really brave defending. But they couldn’t do it all on their own, and the lack of support from up the field is telling. When a first year player in Jack Higgins kicks three goals, and McIntosh playing on the wing kicks two, then a long hard look needs to be taken at who isn’t doing their job. Down the other end, the forward line is in disarray. While attempting to develop Jesse Hogan into a more threatening player upfield, it simply leaves a hole in front of goal. Weideman did enough in his first game of the year, but then he is called upon to ruck and we are back to square 1. Another body, in the form of Tom McDonald or Cam Pedersen needs to simply be planted in front of the big sticks, as a target or used as the backup ruck. We have a host of players who should make way for them as soon as possible. No one is immune - not even Jeff Garlett who has barely touched the ball in the past two games, and is providing little if any forward pressure. While the players and coaches are talking, sadly, yet again, it is the fans who will be doing the walking. No-one wants to pay to see the sort of rubbish being served up at the moment, and they will walk away, and “Keep Walking” or just stay home with Johnnie and enjoy themselves! Melbourne 1.5.11 2.6.18 5.8.38 8.8.56 Richmond 2.2.14 5.8.38 8.9.57 15.12.102 Goals Melbourne Melksham 4 Hogan 2 Garlett Harmes Richmond Higgins 3 Castagna Lambert Lloyd McIntosh Riewoldt 2,Cotchin Prestia Best Melbourne Oliver Hogan Melksham Jones Hibberd Gawn Richmond Martin Edwards Houli Lambert Grigg Higgins Injuries Melbourne Kent (hamstring) Hibberd (nose) Richmond Nil Reports Nil Umpires Foot, Rosebury, Williamson Official crowd 77,071 at the MCG