Demonland

The Casey Scorpions gave their coach Justin Plapp a dream start to the 2016 season with an emphatic 24-goal win over stand alone neighbour Frankston. Led out by new skipper Jack Hutchins, the Scorpions put a very strong team out on the field including 16 AFL listed players. They were expected to be far too strong for the struggling Dolphins who came out full of aggression but that withered early and the home side took advantage to the fullest by increasing their lead at every change despite being short on rotations as a result of three injuries early in the game. Jack Trengove's long-awaited return from a two year foot injury was put on hold early after he was concussed in the opening moments by a blow from the opposition skipper which earned him a two match suspension. Worse still was the injury to young ruckman Mitch King who suffered a second ACL injury in three years. Also off the ground by the main break was Jay Kennedy-Harris with a hamstring injury. Despite losing their ruckman and giving away a huge advantage in height, the Scorpions won the overall ruck duels thanks to the double teaming of Declan Keilty and Cam Pedersen which allowed the team to dominate the stoppages with Alex Neal-Bullen and Angus Brayshaw which, in turn produced plenty of scoring opportunities and a record score for Casey against Frankston. Tim Smith (5 goals) and Sam Weideman (4) were the major recipients. Boom recruit Christian Petracca who missed last year with a knee reconstruction made an excellent return to the game picking up over 30 touches and kicking two goals and three behinds. It was a good day from a Melbourne perspective with many young players standing out. Jayden Hunt was given a free rein to showcase his pace on the flanks, Oscar McDonald was outstanding in defence and rookies Joel Smith and Mitch White showed plenty of promise and great endeavour. The more mature players in Colin Garland, Viv Michie and Dean Terlich provided the steadiness needed to guide the youngsters even though the game resembled a practice match at times. The VFL listed contingent also had a very good night with Tim Smith, who missed much of the latter half of 2015, outstanding up forward and James Munro hard in the clinches and a prolific ball getter, as was the dangerous Angus Scott. Declan Keilty underlined his promise in the ruck and around the ground capping the night off with three goals and the skipper was solid when required down back on a night where defenders had things easy due to the poor opposition. Youngster Connor Ambler, as 23rd player, also got into the action and did some nice things and finished with a goal on his debut. Despite the percentage boosting start it's hard to take away too much from the one sided start to the season and Saturday's curtain raiser against Collingwood (albeit across the road from the MCG) will be a much better test for the flying Scorpions. Peter Jackson VFL 2016 Casey Scorpions 3.7.25 8.9.57 15.12.102 27.17.179 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions T Smith 5 Weideman 4 Keilty 3 Brayshaw Michie Pedersen Petracca 2 Ambler Hulett Hunt Scott Terlich White K Wilson Best Casey Scorpions Brayshaw T Smith Neal-Bullen Petracca Munro Pedersen The Casey Scorpions Development League side was far too strong for its Frankston counterpart winning by 36 points AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 5.5.35 9.8.62 14.12.96 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions Hannon 5 Baker Batten Briggs Machaya 2 Cox Best Casey Scorpions Muir Hannon Pattison D Johnston Gordon Machaya Statistics Angus Brayshaw 2 goals 2 behinds 31 disposals 19 kicks 12 handballs 5 marks 8 tackles 139 dream team points Colin Garland 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 6 marks 1 tackle 65 dream team points Liam Hulett 1 goal 1 behind 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 2 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points Jayden Hunt 1 goal 27 disposals 16 kicks 11 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 101 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 4 disposals 3 kicks 1 handballs 3 tackles 20 dream team points [injured] Mitch King 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 2 hitouts 8 dream team points [injured] Oscar McDonald 18 disposals 13 kicks 5 handballs 8 marks 1 tackle 79 dream team points Viv Michie 2 goals 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points Alex Neale-Bullen 1 behind 34 disposals 19 kicks 15 handballs 8 marks 8 tackles 145 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 3 behinds 28 disposals 12 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 16 hitouts 125 dream team points Christian Petracca 2 goals 3 behinds 31 disposals 18 kicks 13 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 119 dream team points Joel Smith 16 disposals 6 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 65 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 13 kicks 8 handballs 10 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points Jack Trengove 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 7 dream team points [injured] Sam Weideman 4 goals 13 disposals 9 kicks 4 handballs 7 marks 81 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 14 kicks 7 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 106 dream team points

DREAM START AT NIGHT by Ice Station The Casey Scorpions gave their coach Justin Plapp a dream start to the 2016 season with an emphatic 24-goal win over stand alone neighbour Frankston. Led out by new skipper Jack Hutchins, the Scorpions put a very strong team out on the field including 16 AFL listed players. They were expected to be far too strong for the struggling Dolphins who came out full of aggression but that withered early and the home side took advantage to the fullest by increasing their lead at every change despite being short on rotations as a result of three injuries early in the game. Jack Trengove's long-awaited return from a two year foot injury was put on hold early after he was concussed in the opening moments by a blow from the opposition skipper which earned him a two match suspension. Worse still was the injury to young ruckman Mitch King who suffered a second ACL injury in three years. Also off the ground by the main break was Jay Kennedy-Harris with a hamstring injury. Despite losing their ruckman and giving away a huge advantage in height, the Scorpions won the overall ruck duels thanks to the double teaming of Declan Keilty and Cam Pedersen which allowed the team to dominate the stoppages with Alex Neal-Bullen and Angus Brayshaw which, in turn produced plenty of scoring opportunities and a record score for Casey against Frankston. Tim Smith (5 goals) and Sam Weideman (4) were the major recipients. Boom recruit Christian Petracca who missed last year with a knee reconstruction made an excellent return to the game picking up over 30 touches and kicking two goals and three behinds. It was a good day from a Melbourne perspective with many young players standing out. Jayden Hunt was given a free rein to showcase his pace on the flanks, Oscar McDonald was outstanding in defence and rookies Joel Smith and Mitch White showed plenty of promise and great endeavour. The more mature players in Colin Garland, Viv Michie and Dean Terlich provided the steadiness needed to guide the youngsters even though the game resembled a practice match at times. The VFL listed contingent also had a very good night with Tim Smith, who missed much of the latter half of 2015, outstanding up forward and James Munro hard in the clinches and a prolific ball getter, as was the dangerous Angus Scott. Declan Keilty underlined his promise in the ruck and around the ground capping the night off with three goals and the skipper was solid when required down back on a night where defenders had things easy due to the poor opposition. Youngster Connor Ambler, as 23rd player, also got into the action and did some nice things and finished with a goal on his debut. Despite the percentage boosting start it's hard to take away too much from the one sided start to the season and Saturday's curtain raiser against Collingwood (albeit across the road from the MCG) will be a much better test for the flying Scorpions. Peter Jackson VFL 2016 Casey Scorpions 3.7.25 8.9.57 15.12.102 27.17.179 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions T Smith 5 Weideman 4 Keilty 3 Brayshaw Michie Pedersen Petracca 2 Ambler Hulett Hunt Scott Terlich White K Wilson Best Casey Scorpions Brayshaw T Smith Neal-Bullen Petracca Munro Pedersen The Casey Scorpions Development League side was far too strong for its Frankston counterpart winning by 36 points AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 5.5.35 9.8.62 14.12.96 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions Hannon 5 Baker Batten Briggs Machaya 2 Cox Best Casey Scorpions Muir Hannon Pattison D Johnston Gordon Machaya Statistics Angus Brayshaw 2 goals 2 behinds 31 disposals 19 kicks 12 handballs 5 marks 8 tackles 139 dream team points Colin Garland 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 6 marks 1 tackle 65 dream team points Liam Hulett 1 goal 1 behind 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 2 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points Jayden Hunt 1 goal 27 disposals 16 kicks 11 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 101 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 4 disposals 3 kicks 1 handballs 3 tackles 20 dream team points [injured] Mitch King 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 2 hitouts 8 dream team points [injured] Oscar McDonald 18 disposals 13 kicks 5 handballs 8 marks 1 tackle 79 dream team points Viv Michie 2 goals 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points Alex Neale-Bullen 1 behind 34 disposals 19 kicks 15 handballs 8 marks 8 tackles 145 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 3 behinds 28 disposals 12 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 16 hitouts 125 dream team points Christian Petracca 2 goals 3 behinds 31 disposals 18 kicks 13 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 119 dream team points Joel Smith 16 disposals 6 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 65 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 13 kicks 8 handballs 10 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points Jack Trengove 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 7 dream team points [injured] Sam Weideman 4 goals 13 disposals 9 kicks 4 handballs 7 marks 81 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 14 kicks 7 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 106 dream team points

Jack Viney has wrested the lead away from Ben Kennedy - 36 Jack Viney 29 Ben Kennedy 27 Bernie Vince 21 Nathan Jones 16 Max Gawn 10 Heritier Lumumba Jack Watts 9 Jeff Garlett Tom McDonald Clayton Oliver 6 Dom Tyson 4 Dean Kent 3 Matt Jones 1 Jesse Hogan Neville Jetta

We beat them at last! COLLINGWOOD B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams HB: Alan Toovey, Jack Frost, Brayden Maynard C: Paul Seedsman, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom HF: Sam Dwyer, Darcy Moore, Jordan De Hoey F: Alex Fasolo, Brodie Grundy, Jamie Elliott Foll: Jarrod Witts, Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury I/C: Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood, Paul Seedsman, Travis Varcoe EMG: Jarryd Blair, Jonathon Marsh, Matthew Scharenberg IN: Taylor Adams, Sam Dwyer, Jamie Elliott, Paul Seedsman OUT: Jarryd Blair (omitted), Ben Kennedy (omitted), Adam Oxley (rested), Jesse White (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta HB: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe C: Jack Grimes, Dom Tyson, Heritier Lumumba HF: Angus Brayshaw, Chris Dawes, Bernie Vince F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: James Harmes, Viv Michie, Alex Neal-Bullen, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Mark Jamar, Matt Jones, Jordie McKenzie IN: Alex Neal-Bullen OUT: Billy Stretch (omitted)

HEARTBREAK IN HOBART by George on the Outer In the end it all came down to a hurried kick from Billy Stretch that slipped to the right of the goal post instead of the left. Had it gone the other way it would have been an ecstatic response from the Demon fans. But it was not to be, and they faced yet another heartbreaking loss. Not to say that the result could have so easily gone the other way as in the dying minutes, opportunities were squandered or lost….Vandenberg missing an easy snap, Watts passing instead of kicking for goal, the umpires failing to award an obvious mark to Harmes. But in a game defined by a strong wind to one end of the ground, the Demons just didn’t take those same opportunities all around the ground and in the preceding 95 minutes of football as well. It was a game of contrast. North had a 7 goal lead in the first quarter before Melbourne registered their first major. In recent times, that would have been the end of a Melbourne side, heads would have dropped and a further blow-out to be expected. But with the wind at their back in the second quarter the Demons responded and 9 goals saw them hit the front by the main break. When was the last time that this team kicked 9 goals in a quarter? Belief was back, but again with the wind, North were able to slam on another 7 of their own in the third, with the Demons kicking 3 to keep the game well and truly in sight for the final quarter. And a slog to the finish line it was. The Demons added another 6 goals but allowed North 4 against the wind. Dean Kent atoned for his appalling performance last week and put the side within 5 points and only 20 seconds on the clock. Again the mids won the contest and gave the team the chance. It was not to be. Importantly, this young side learnt some good lessons: · A game is never over until the final , no matter how far behind you may be. · Seconds count · Turnovers are critical, especially in the way the game is being played in 2016. · Each and every week you must play at 100% · There are no easy games. The contrast with the efforts and inputs from the previous week were stark. While the first quarter would have had Demons supporters saying something along the lines of “here we go again” or “all words and no action”, the second quarter erased those doubts. Likewise, this week the coaching staff must be commended for keeping a team 5 goals down after a single quarter enthused and eventually to lead at half time. And credit to Max Gawn. Pre-season he came out and said he wanted to set the standard, and the standard was Todd Goldstein. 63 hit-outs in an AFL match is unheard of. Especially against the best ruckman in the league. Goldstein kicked 5 goals ( although 1 was another howler free given by the umpires), but Max kicked 2 of his own, and had 17 contested possessions!. It was an exciting contest to watch all day. Probably neither beat the other on the day, but Max staked his claim to be at least the equal. Clayton Oliver showed once again why our recruiters thought him so valuable. 26 touches and 13 contested possessions from an 18 year old was something to be excited about. Let’s hope he doesn’t tire too soon during the season. Final comments…..when are we going to put a solid tag on Brent Harvey when playing North? It’s not that he is a brilliant player, but he just keeps getting touches and uncontested marks without a Demon player within cooee of him. 6 goals this week. …..what was the final margin? Bernie will probably face a nervous day as the MRP looks at an incident in the 3rd quarter. While we might be without him, there are probably 2 players at Casey ( AB and CP) itching to fill a hole in the middle. Collingwood next week, and what a chance to alleviate this weeks heartache. Let’s not fluff the chance 2 weeks in a row. NORTH MELBOURNE 8.2 10.4 17.7 21.10 (136) MELBOURNE 2.2 11.5 14.7 20.11 (131) GOALS North Melbourne: Harvey 6, Goldstein 5, Waite 4, Petrie 2, Gibson 2, Ziebell, Macmillan Melbourne: Kent 4, Watts 3, Hogan 3, Oliver 2, Gawn 2, Jones, vandenBerg, Dunn, Tyson, Harmes, Viney BEST North Melbourne: Harvey, Goldstein, Waite, Ziebell, Cunnington Melbourne: Vince, Viney, Oliver, Gawn, Hogan, Kent INJURIES North Melbourne: Taylor Garner (hamstring) Melbourne: Nil Reports: Nil Umpires: Nicholls, Kamolins, Ryan Official crowd: 12,607 at Blundstone Arena

In the end it all came down to a hurried kick from Billy Stretch that slipped to the right of the goal post instead of the left. Had it gone the other way it would have been an ecstatic response from the Demon fans. But it was not to be, and they faced yet another heartbreaking loss. Not to say that the result could have so easily gone the other way as in the dying minutes, opportunities were squandered or lost….Vandenberg missing an easy snap, Watts passing instead of kicking for goal, the umpires failing to award an obvious mark to Harmes. But in a game defined by a strong wind to one end of the ground, the Demons just didn’t take those same opportunities all around the ground and in the preceding 95 minutes of football as well. It was a game of contrast. North had a 7 goal lead in the first quarter before Melbourne registered their first major. In recent times, that would have been the end of a Melbourne side, heads would have dropped and a further blow-out to be expected. But with the wind at their back in the second quarter the Demons responded and 9 goals saw them hit the front by the main break. When was the last time that this team kicked 9 goals in a quarter? Belief was back, but again with the wind, North were able to slam on another 7 of their own in the third, with the Demons kicking 3 to keep the game well and truly in sight for the final quarter. And a slog to the finish line it was. The Demons added another 6 goals but allowed North 4 against the wind. Dean Kent atoned for his appalling performance last week and put the side within 5 points and only 20 seconds on the clock. Again the mids won the contest and gave the team the chance. It was not to be. Importantly, this young side learnt some good lessons: · A game is never over until the final , no matter how far behind you may be. · Seconds count · Turnovers are critical, especially in the way the game is being played in 2016. · Each and every week you must play at 100% · There are no easy games. The contrast with the efforts and inputs from the previous week were stark. While the first quarter would have had Demons supporters saying something along the lines of “here we go again” or “all words and no action”, the second quarter erased those doubts. Likewise, this week the coaching staff must be commended for keeping a team 5 goals down after a single quarter enthused and eventually to lead at half time. And credit to Max Gawn. Pre-season he came out and said he wanted to set the standard, and the standard was Todd Goldstein. 63 hit-outs in an AFL match is unheard of. Especially against the best ruckman in the league. Goldstein kicked 5 goals ( although 1 was another howler free given by the umpires), but Max kicked 2 of his own, and had 17 contested possessions!. It was an exciting contest to watch all day. Probably neither beat the other on the day, but Max staked his claim to be at least the equal. Clayton Oliver showed once again why our recruiters thought him so valuable. 26 touches and 13 contested possessions from an 18 year old was something to be excited about. Let’s hope he doesn’t tire too soon during the season. Final comments…..when are we going to put a solid tag on Brent Harvey when playing North? It’s not that he is a brilliant player, but he just keeps getting touches and uncontested marks without a Demon player within cooee of him. 6 goals this week. …..what was the final margin? Bernie will probably face a nervous day as the MRP looks at an incident in the 3rd quarter. While we might be without him, there are probably 2 players at Casey ( AB and CP) itching to fill a hole in the middle. Collingwood next week, and what a chance to alleviate this weeks heartache. Let’s not fluff the chance 2 weeks in a row. NORTH MELBOURNE 8.2 10.4 17.7 21.10 (136) MELBOURNE 2.2 11.5 14.7 20.11 (131) GOALS North Melbourne: Harvey 6, Goldstein 5, Waite 4, Petrie 2, Gibson 2, Ziebell, Macmillan Melbourne: Kent 4, Watts 3, Hogan 3, Oliver 2, Gawn 2, Jones, vandenBerg, Dunn, Tyson, Harmes, Viney BEST North Melbourne: Harvey, Goldstein, Waite, Ziebell, Cunnington Melbourne: Vince, Viney, Oliver, Gawn, Hogan, Kent INJURIES North Melbourne: Taylor Garner (hamstring) Melbourne: Nil Reports: Nil Umpires: Nicholls, Kamolins, Ryan Official crowd: 12,607 at Blundstone Arena

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DIRTY HANDS by The Oracle Melbourne ends its week of humiliation on Sunday with a trip across Bass Strait for a game against a team it has not beaten since Methuselah played in the Under 9s. To make things worse, North Melbourne is riding high after two solid wins, carrying few injuries and playing at its home away from home. The Kangaroos are chock full of confidence but on top of that are unlikely to treat an opposition with the same disrespect that the Demons showed Essendon in their encounter last Saturday (and for that matter, when they met last year). Melbourne was caught napping against Essendon when its expected midfield dominance failed to eventuate despite the fact that big Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels. Despite this, the Bombers won the ball out of the clearances and were also given far too much latitude on the outside by an undisciplined unit. I can only suppose that the Demons believed their own publicity after earning kudos from a virtually unblemished pre season and a come from behind win in the season opener against the Giants - achieved through some discipline on the ground including a willingness by all and sundry to go down and get their hands dirty. Coach Paul Roos has a lot of thinking to do with regard to how he can get his charges back into the headspace they occupied up until the Bomber debacle. It won't be easy if you consider the game starts at the first bounce and the opposition midfield will be a much tougher proposition than the one that beat it comprehensively last week. And that is where the challenge begins and it does so on the shoulders of the tallest man in the team. When the teams met last year Todd Goldstein gave big Max Gawn a football less amassing 50 hit outs and nearly doubling him in the possession count. The differential was enormous and it reflected in the overall dominance of the Kangaroo midfield. If Gawn has pretensions to becoming a top of the range exponent of the art of ruck work then he needs to take some big scalps and none could be bigger than the man he faces this week. In order for the team to have a chance of winning, the midfield will have to take the ball away more often from the stoppages and when they do, they must hit targets. The task is not beyond them but much will depend on whether the team is shell shocked, whether it has the desire to turn things around and to get its hands dirty. For this assignment, North in Hobart will be a tough proposition and I'm therefore tipping them to win by 25 points. THE GAME: North Melbourne v Melbourne on Sunday 10 August, 2016 at Blundstone Arena at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD: Overall North Melbourne 78 wins Melbourne 83 wins 1 draw At Blundstone Arena North Melbourne 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Last five times North Melbourne 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins The Coaches Scott 3 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1pm RADIO - SEN, ABC THE BETTING North Melbourne to win $1.30 Melbourne to win $3.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET North Melbourne 19.13.127 defeated Melbourne 14.8.92 at the MCG in Round 2015. North led by seven goals to two at the first break in a game that threatened to be a complete blowout but the Demons made a spirited comeback and by close to three quarter time threatened to snatch the lead. The Kangaroos steadied with a late goal to take a 10-point lead into the final break and ran out comfortable winners in the end. THE TEAMS North Melbourne Backs: M.Firrito R.Tarrant S.Wright Half Backs: S.Atley S.Thompson L.McDonald Centreline: N.Dal Santo D.Wells B.Jacobs Half Forwards: J.Ziebell J.Waite B.Harvey Forwards: S.Higgins D.Petrie L.Thomas Followers: T.Goldstein B.Cunnington A.Swallow Interchange From: L.Hansen T.Dumont A.Mullett T.Garner J.Macmillan S.Gibson B.Brown In: S.Thompson, A.Mullett, T.Dumont Melbourne Backs: N.Jetta, T.McDonald, T.Bugg Half Backs: M.Jones, H.Lumumba, C.Salem Centreline: B.Vince, D.Tyson, J.Harmes Half Forwards: J.Watts, A.Vandenberg, B.Kennedy Forwards: D.Kent, J.Hogan, J.Garlett Followers: M.Gawn, N.Jones, J.Viney Interchange From: C.Oliver, L.Dunn, B.Stretch, S.Frost, C.Pedersen, J.Grimes, J.Wagner In: L.Dunn, B.Stretch, S.Frost, J.Grimes, J.Wagner Out: C.Garland, A.Brayshaw

Melbourne ends its week of humiliation on Sunday with a trip across Bass Strait for a game against a team it has not beaten since Methuselah played in the Under 9s. To make things worse, North Melbourne is riding high after two solid wins, carrying few injuries and playing at its home away from home. The Kangaroos are chock full of confidence but on top of that are unlikely to treat an opposition with the same disrespect that the Demons showed Essendon in their encounter last Saturday (and for that matter, when they met last year). Melbourne was caught napping against Essendon when its expected midfield dominance failed to eventuate despite the fact that big Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels. Despite this, the Bombers won the ball out of the clearances and were also given far too much latitude on the outside by an undisciplined unit. I can only suppose that the Demons believed their own publicity after earning kudos from a virtually unblemished pre season and a come from behind win in the season opener against the Giants - achieved through some discipline on the ground including a willingness by all and sundry to go down and get their hands dirty. Coach Paul Roos has a lot of thinking to do with regard to how he can get his charges back into the headspace they occupied up until the Bomber debacle. It won't be easy if you consider the game starts at the first bounce and the opposition midfield will be a much tougher proposition than the one that beat it comprehensively last week. And that is where the challenge begins and it does so on the shoulders of the tallest man in the team. When the teams met last year Todd Goldstein gave big Max Gawn a football lesson amassing 50 hit outs and nearly doubling him in the possession count. The differential was enormous and it reflected in the overall dominance of the Kangaroo midfield. If Gawn has pretensions to becoming a top of the range exponent of the art of ruck work then he needs to take some big scalps and none could be bigger than the man he faces this week. In order for the team to have a chance of winning, the midfield will have to take the ball away more often from the stoppages and when they do, they must hit targets. The task is not beyond them but much will depend on whether the team is shell shocked, whether it has the desire to turn things around and to get its hands dirty. For this assignment, North in Hobart will be a tough proposition and I'm therefore tipping them to win by 25 points. THE GAME: North Melbourne v Melbourne on Sunday 10 August, 2016 at Blundstone Arena at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD: Overall North Melbourne 78 wins Melbourne 83 wins 1 draw At Blundstone Arena North Melbourne 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Last five times North Melbourne 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins The Coaches Scott 3 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1pm RADIO - SEN, ABC THE BETTING North Melbourne to win $1.30 Melbourne to win $3.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET North Melbourne 19.13.127 defeated Melbourne 14.8.92 at the MCG in Round 2015. North led by seven goals to two at the first break in a game that threatened to be a complete blowout but the Demons made a spirited comeback and by close to three quarter time threatened to snatch the lead. The Kangaroos steadied with a late goal to take a 10-point lead into the final break and ran out comfortable winners in the end. THE TEAMS NORTH MELBOURNE B: M.Firrito R.Tarrant S.Wright HB: S.Atley S.Thompson L.McDonald C: N.Dal Santo D.Wells B.Jacobs HF: J.Ziebell J.Waite B.Harvey F: S.Higgins D.Petrie L.Thomas FOLL: T.Goldstein B.Cunnington A.Swallow I/C: B.Brown T.Garner S.Gibson J.Macmillan EMG: T.Dumont L.Hansen A.Mullett IN: S.Thompson OUT: L.Hansen MELBOURNE B: N.Jetta T.McDonald T.Bugg HB: M.Jones H.Lumumba C.Salem C: B.Vince D.Tyson J.Harmes HF: J.Watts A.Vandenberg B.Kennedy F: D.Kent J.Hogan J.Garlett FOLL: M.Gawn N.Jones J.Viney I/C: C.Oliver L.Dunn S.Frost B.Stretch EMG: J.Grimes C.Pedersen J.Wagner IN: L.Dunn S.Frost B.Stretch OUT: A.Brayshaw C.Garland C. Pedersen

The Demons acquitted themselves well but only after a slow start forced them to play catch up football for most of the game and gave the Kangaroos the upper hand. MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta HB: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe C: Jack Grimes, Dom Tyson, Heritier Lumumba HF: Angus Brayshaw, Chris Dawes, Bernie Vince F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C (from): James Harmes, Matt Jones, Viv Michie, Alex Neal-Bullen EMG: Mark Jamar, Ben Newton, Billy Stretch IN: Matt Jones OUT: Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) NORTH MELBOURNE B: Sam Wright, Robbie Tarrant, Lachlan Hansen HB: Nick Dal Santo, Scott Thompson, Ben Jacobs C: Shaun Higgins, Jack Ziebell, Shaun Atley HF: Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Taylor Garner F: Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite, Lindsay Thomas FOLL: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow I/C: Sam Gibson, Luke McDonald, Aaron Mullett, Robin Nahas EMG: Majak Daw, Kayne Turner, Max Warren IN: Lachlan Hansen, Aaron Mullett, Robin Nahas OUT: Ryan Bastinac (omitted), Michael Firrito (suspended), Kayne Turner (omitted)