Demonland

The Casey Scorpions avenged their loss in last year's VFL Elimination Final and took second place on the competition ladder following a solid 17 point victory against Essendon VFL in blustery conditions at Windy Hill on Sunday. The Scorpions were given a boost when they won the toss and kicked with the advantage of a strong wind and, but for some wayward kicking for goal, could have had the game wrapped up much earlier. They led 4.8.32 to 2.0.12 at quarter time with a winning midfield despite the early loss of Angus Brayshaw who suffered a heavy knock to the head. The Bombers regrouped when their turn to kick with the advantage of the wind but they were held back for a significant part of the second term until a late surge saw them back in the game with a deficit of only four points at the main break. The Scorpions were held scoreless for the term. Casey's midfield led by Jack Trengove whose ability was acknowledged by a heavy tag throughout the afternoon, rookie Viv Michie and youngster Clayton Oliver and the brilliant Billy Stretch who proved a handful with his pace and skills. As a result, the Scorpions were able to draw away from the Bombers in the vital third term with five goals to a solitary major for the home side to set up a 30 point lead at the final break. The Scorpion defence successfully closed the Bombers down for most of the final term forcing them wide and keeping them down to just two goals with Ben Newton's goal after a 50 metre penalty in mid quarter virtually sealing the game. The standouts for the visitors were Oliver with 29 disposals and 16 tackles (who belied the decision to keep him out of the Melbourne line up after being managed by resting last week), Trengove with 28 touches and the prolific Michie (33 possessions) while Colin Garland, Mitch White and Oscar McDonald put their hands up to shore up the Demons' defence. Liam Hulett continued to show promise as a potential forward line partner for Jesse Hogan. Of the Casey listed players James Munro ran hard and collected 22 touches and Kody Wilson, though quiet for most of the afternoon, sparked the side with two vital third quarter goals. The team returns to Casey Fields for its first daytime home fixture next Sunday against the Northern Blues. Casey Scorpions 4.8.32 4.8.32 9.11.65 10.11.71 Essendon VFL 2.0.12 4.4.28 5.5.35 7.12.54 Goals Casey Scorpions Newton K Wilson 2 Garland Hulett Max King Michie Neal-Bullen Spencer Essendon VFL J Langford 2 Kommer McKernan McNiece J Merrett Thompson Best Casey Scorpions Michie Trengove Hulett Garland Spencer T Smith Essendon VFL Grima Coghlan Jamar Ambrose McNiece Redman Statistics Angus Brayshaw 3 disposals 1 kicks 2 handballs 2 tackles 15 dream team points [injured] Colin Garland 1 goal 18 disposals 14 kicks 4 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 81 dream team points Jack Grimes 23 disposals 11 kicks 12 handballs 5 tackles 74 dream team points Liam Hulett 1 goal 1 behind 15 disposals 13 kicks 2 handballs 7 marks 71 dream team points Max King 1 goal 2 behinds 13 disposals 6 kicks 7 handballs 3 marks 3 tackles 8 hit outs 63 dream team points Oscar McDonald 1 behind disposals 10 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 1 tackles 71 dream team points Viv Michie 1 goal 1 behind 33 disposals 19 kicks 14 handballs 4 marks 99 dream team points Alex Neal-Bullen 1 goal 1 behind 19 disposals 7 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 5 tackles 1 hit out 73 dream team points Ben Newton 2 goals 3 behinds 21 disposals 10 kicks 11 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 105 dream team points Clayton Oliver 29 disposals 8 kicks 21 handballs 3 marks 16 tackles 1 hit out 131 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 goal 11 disposals 4 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 2 tackles 22 hit outs 75 dream team points Billy Stretch 1 behind disposals kicks handballs marks tackles 93 dream team points Dean Terlich 19 disposals 12 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Jack Trengove 28 disposals 8 kicks 20 handballs 3 marks 9 tackles 108 dream team points Mitch White 22 disposals 11 kicks 11 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 92 dream team points Matt Jones did not play The Casey Development League team had a bye.

THE CASEY AVENGERS by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions avenged their loss in last year's VFL Elimination Final and took second place on the competition ladder following a solid 17 point victory against Essendon VFL in blustery conditions at Windy Hill on Sunday. The Scorpions were given a boost when they won the toss and kicked with the advantage of a strong wind and, but for some wayward kicking for goal, could have had the game wrapped up much earlier. They led 4.8.32 to 2.0.12 at quarter time with a winning midfield despite the early loss of Angus Brayshaw who suffered a heavy knock to the head. The Bombers regrouped when their turn to kick with the advantage of the wind but they were held back for a significant part of the second term until a late surge saw them back in the game with a deficit of only four points at the main break. The Scorpions were held scoreless for the term. Casey's midfield led by Jack Trengove whose ability was acknowledged by a heavy tag throughout the afternoon, rookie Viv Michie and youngster Clayton Oliver and the brilliant Billy Stretch who proved a handful with his pace and skills. As a result, the Scorpions were able to draw away from the Bombers in the vital third term with five goals to a solitary major for the home side to set up a 30 point lead at the final break. The Scorpion defence successfully closed the Bombers down for most of the final term forcing them wide and keeping them down to just two goals with Ben Newton's goal after a 50 metre penalty in mid quarter virtually sealing the game. The standouts for the visitors were Oliver with 29 disposals and 16 tackles (who belied the decision to keep him out of the Melbourne line up after being managed by resting last week), Trengove with 28 touches and the prolific Michie (33 possessions) while Colin Garland, Mitch White and Oscar McDonald put their hands up to shore up the Demons' defence. Liam Hulett continued to show promise as a potential forward line partner for Jesse Hogan. Of the Casey listed players James Munro ran hard and collected 22 touches and Kody Wilson, though quiet for most of the afternoon, sparked the side with two vital third quarter goals. The team returns to Casey Fields for its first daytime home fixture next Sunday against the Northern Blues. Casey Scorpions 4.8.32 4.8.32 9.11.65 10.11.71 Essendon VFL 2.0.12 4.4.28 5.5.35 7.12.54 Goals Casey Scorpions Newton K Wilson 2 Garland Hulett Max King Michie Neal-Bullen Spencer Essendon VFL J Langford 2 Kommer McKernan McNiece J Merrett Thompson Best Casey Scorpions Michie Trengove Hulett Garland Spencer T Smith Essendon VFL Grima Coghlan Jamar Ambrose McNiece Redman Statistics Angus Brayshaw 3 disposals 1 kicks 2 handballs 2 tackles 15 dream team points [injured] Colin Garland 1 goal 18 disposals 14 kicks 4 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 81 dream team points Jack Grimes 23 disposals 11 kicks 12 handballs 5 tackles 74 dream team points Liam Hulett 1 goal 1 behind 15 disposals 13 kicks 2 handballs 7 marks 71 dream team points Max King 1 goal 2 behinds 13 disposals 6 kicks 7 handballs 3 marks 3 tackles 8 hit outs 63 dream team points Oscar McDonald 1 behind disposals 10 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 1 tackles 71 dream team points Viv Michie 1 goal 1 behind 33 disposals 19 kicks 14 handballs 4 marks 99 dream team points Alex Neal-Bullen 1 goal 1 behind 19 disposals 7 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 5 tackles 1 hit out 73 dream team points Ben Newton 2 goals 3 behinds 21 disposals 10 kicks 11 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 105 dream team points Clayton Oliver 29 disposals 8 kicks 21 handballs 3 marks 16 tackles 1 hit out 131 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 goal 11 disposals 4 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 2 tackles 22 hit outs 75 dream team points Billy Stretch 1 behind disposals kicks handballs marks tackles 93 dream team points Dean Terlich 19 disposals 12 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Jack Trengove 28 disposals 8 kicks 20 handballs 3 marks 9 tackles 108 dream team points Mitch White 22 disposals 11 kicks 11 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 92 dream team points Matt Jones did not play The Casey Development League team had a bye.

It was a long, long time ago ... MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta HB: Christian Salem, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe C: Heritier Lumumba, Daniel Cross, Ben Newton HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jimmy Toumpas F: Jeff Garlett, Sam Frost, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson I/C: Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Max Gawn, Jack Grimes, Matt Jones NEW: Angus Brayshaw, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Heritier Lumumba, Ben Newton, Aaron vandenBerg GOLD COAST SUNS B: Jarrod B: Harbrow, Rory Thompson, Kade Kolodjashnij HB: Trent McKenzie, Steven May, Nick Malceski C: Jack Martin, Dion Prestia, Alex Sexton HF: Michael Rischitelli, Sam Day, Matt Shaw F: Harley Bennell, Daniel Gorringe, Touk Miller FOLL: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, David Swallow I/C: Mitch Hallahan, Jarrod Garlett, Adam Saad, Greg Broughton EMG: Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Seb Tape NEW: Jarrod Garlett, Mitch Hallahan, Nick Malceski, Touk Miller, Adam Saad

Jesse Hogan might have taken the chocolates but Jack Viney is streaking further ahead ... Progressive 77 Jack Viney 40 Max Gawn 37 Nathan Jones 36 Bernie Vince Jack Watts 34 Ben Kennedy 23 Dom Tyson 19 Jesse Hogan 15 Jeff Garlett Tom McDonald 10 Heritier Lumumba 9 Clayton Oliver Josh Wagner 6 Cam Pedersen 4 Neville Jetta Dean Kent 3 Tom Bugg Matt Jones

Turn up to Etihad we were told. It’s our home away from home ... Our home away from home! And, yes the fans did exactly that ... 27K at a home game at Etihad. Unheard of. Buy your memberships. Let’s break the record ... 37,500 Members ... Unheard of. The players and coaches turning up to match the enthusiasm exhibited by the fans ... Unheard of. Once again the opportunity to truly cement the future of the club, in both the short and the long term was thrown away by a half interested team and a simply incompetent coaching group. The excuse of a six day break will be trotted out, tired players etc. But if that was the case, then the solitary change from the winning side of last week was simply inadequate. Eleven of players who took to the field had less than 15 touches for the game. If the management of the workloads of the playing group was truly being carried out, then the tired and lethargic performance against the Saints would simply not have happened. Worse was that the players in this group included Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett, Dean Kent, Heritier Lumumba, Neville Jetta and Sam Frost. These are not the young inclusions in the side but supposedly hardened experienced players. And we had a wealth of available inclusions to fill at least some of those spots. Then to cap it off the coaching group persisted with the simply ludicrous zone defence system. Riewoldt, Bruce and Membery had a field day with uncontested marks and more of the same inside our defensive 50m zone. To play a zone defence, you need players who can switch at the drop of a hat from one opponent to another. With legs which looked like lead weights we saw time and time again defenders simply not on their man or not getting to the contest. OK so it didn’t work, but when it isn’t working then you change something. Like going man-on-man. No that wasn’t done. So why not put an extra man in defence. No that wasn’t done either until the third quarter when St.Kilda piled on eight goals! And then it was poor Jayden Hunt who got dropped back instead of one of our talls. So we saw Reiwoldt marking against Jetta, Bruce over Hunt, Membery over no one at all! Inside their 50, not one St.Kilda mark for the whole game was contested! That single quarter simply blew the game away but the alarm bells should have been ringing long before that as the Saints had piled on six goals in the second as well with us persisting with the zone. There were a few shining lights for the Demons. Jesse Hogan overcame his yips from last week and nailed 7 goals. Without his efforts the result would have been horrible. Eight marks, five of which were contested gave the team a genuine target up forward. Big Max managed 38 hitouts but he too wasn’t able to reach the standards that he set last week. Hickey and the St.Kilda mids simply negated everything that he worked at achieving. Jack Viney continued his fine form with another 30 disposals and was abley assisted by Nathan Jones with 31. Trouble was the next best mids in Tyson and Vince could only manage numbers in the low 20’s. Once again the fans were cheated. Once again they put in, and saw hope and aspiration simply squandered with incompetence. It simply isn’t good enough and now any hope of exceeding the 40K target for membership has been lost. Do you think any self-respecting fan will turn up to watch the rematch against the Saints at Etihad in July? No, the chance has been blown, well and truly. Melbourne 5.3.33 8.3.51 11.5.71 15.6.96 St Kilda 3.4.22 9.9.63 17.11.113 20.15.135 Goals Melbourne Hogan 7 Frost Watts 2 Bugg Jones, Kent Tyson St Kilda Membrey 5 Bruce Riewoldt 3 Acres Sinclair 2 Armitage Dunstan Gresham Newnes Weller Best Melbourne Hogan, Viney, Jones, Vince St Kilda Riewoldt Acres Steven Membrey Sinclair Armitage Changes Melbourne Nil St Kilda Nil Injuries Melbourne Harmes (corked thigh) Salem (concussion) St Kilda Ross (shoulder) Webster (thumb) Reports Melbourne Nil St Kilda Nil Umpires Brown, Meredith, Findlay Official crowd 27,260 at Etihad Stadium

THE GREAT FAN FRAUD by George on the Outer Turn up to Etihad we were told. It’s our home away from home ... Our home away from home! And, yes the fans did exactly that ... 27K at a home game at Etihad. Unheard of. Buy your memberships. Let’s break the record ... 37,500 Members ... Unheard of. The players and coaches turning up to match the enthusiasm exhibited by the fans ... Unheard of. Once again the opportunity to truly cement the future of the club, in both the short and the long term was thrown away by a half interested team and a simply incompetent coaching group. The excuse of a six day break will be trotted out, tired players etc. But if that was the case, then the solitary change from the winning side of last week was simply inadequate. Eleven of players who took to the field had less than 15 touches for the game. If the management of the workloads of the playing group was truly being carried out, then the tired and lethargic performance against the Saints would simply not have happened. Worse was that the players in this group included Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett, Dean Kent, Heritier Lumumba, Neville Jetta and Sam Frost. These are not the young inclusions in the side but supposedly hardened experienced players. And we had a wealth of available inclusions to fill at least some of those spots. Then to cap it off the coaching group persisted with the simply ludicrous zone defence system. Riewoldt, Bruce and Membery had a field day with uncontested marks and more of the same inside our defensive 50m zone. To play a zone defence, you need players who can switch at the drop of a hat from one opponent to another. With legs which looked like lead weights we saw time and time again defenders simply not on their man or not getting to the contest. OK so it didn’t work, but when it isn’t working then you change something. Like going man-on-man. No that wasn’t done. So why not put an extra man in defence. No that wasn’t done either until the third quarter when St.Kilda piled on eight goals! And then it was poor Jayden Hunt who got dropped back instead of one of our talls. So we saw Reiwoldt marking against Jetta, Bruce over Hunt, Membery over no one at all! Inside their 50, not one St.Kilda mark for the whole game was contested! That single quarter simply blew the game away but the alarm bells should have been ringing long before that as the Saints had piled on six goals in the second as well with us persisting with the zone. There were a few shining lights for the Demons. Jesse Hogan overcame his yips from last week and nailed 7 goals. Without his efforts the result would have been horrible. Eight marks, five of which were contested gave the team a genuine target up forward. Big Max managed 38 hitouts but he too wasn’t able to reach the standards that he set last week. Hickey and the St.Kilda mids simply negated everything that he worked at achieving. Jack Viney continued his fine form with another 30 disposals and was abley assisted by Nathan Jones with 31. Trouble was the next best mids in Tyson and Vince could only manage numbers in the low 20’s. Once again the fans were cheated. Once again they put in, and saw hope and aspiration simply squandered with incompetence. It simply isn’t good enough and now any hope of exceeding the 40K target for membership has been lost. Do you think any self-respecting fan will turn up to watch the rematch against the Saints at Etihad in July? No, the chance has been blown, well and truly. Melbourne 5.3.33 8.3.51 11.5.71 15.6.96 St Kilda 3.4.22 9.9.63 17.11.113 20.15.135 Goals Melbourne Hogan 7 Frost Watts 2 Bugg Jones, Kent Tyson St Kilda Membrey 5 Bruce Riewoldt 3 Acres Sinclair 2 Armitage Dunstan Gresham Newnes Weller Best Melbourne Hogan, Viney, Jones, Vince St Kilda Riewoldt Acres Steven Membrey Sinclair Armitage Changes Melbourne Nil St Kilda Nil Injuries Melbourne Harmes (corked thigh) Salem (concussion) St Kilda Ross (shoulder) Webster (thumb) Reports Melbourne Nil St Kilda Nil Umpires Brown, Meredith, Findlay Official crowd 27,260 at Etihad Stadium

Just getting ahead of myself ?

Did we get ahead of ourselves?

Cast your votes if you can ...

I'd rather see Pearl Jam play at the Tennis Centre.

Mick Malthouse thinks Rance should have gotten off because he's a nice guy. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/mick-malthouse-says-alex-rance-should-have-been-cleared-for-his-hit-on-jack-watts/news-story/12d1a48d8c9243cb15015434fa9728e2

No way Garlett would get in with AFL/McAvaney lovechilds Puopolo and Rioli in there.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-27/team-of-the-week-round-five Congratulations to Maxy and Jack for making the team two weeks in a row. Maxy has relegated ruck rival Todd Goldstein to the bench.

Melbourne has not beaten St Kilda in an AFL premiership match since the 2006 Elimination Final when it recorded a three goal victory at the MCG. The only current player to take part in that game was current skipper Nathan Jones who was taking part in only his 7th AFL game. As was befitting of his young age and inexperience, Jones' role that nigh was modest - he picked up a mere nine touches of the footy. On Saturday, he will play his 207th game for the club and is expected to make a much bigger contribution and to play in a winning team against the Saints again. Lynden Dunn is the only other player still with the Demons who was on the club's list that year although he did not take part in the finals match. However, he was on hand in Round 10 of that season when the Demons also beat the Saints. Dunn and Jones are the only players to have played in a winning Melbourne team against St Kilda (I'm excluding NAB Challenge matches from the equation). There is a handful of others at the club who have played in winning teams against the Saints when they were at other clubs. Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba were in a premiership winning team at Collingwood that beat St Kilda in the 2010 Grand Final while another former Magpie Ben Kennedy later made his debut in a victory over the Saints. Jeff Garlett, Bernie Vince, Ben Newton and the club's new serial pest Tommy Bugg have all had the same winning experience before joining the Demons. Of course, Paul Roos who is winless against them in three starts as coach of the Dees, won many when he was at the helm of the Swans. However, the reality is that when the team runs out on Saturday afternoon there will not be a single player who can say he has previously played with a teammate wearing the red and blue in a winning team against the opposition. That reality is about to change with 100 minutes of football. The Melbourne we have witnessed over the past three matches of football and indeed over most of the month or so before that is the product of the new reality for the club - a young team that attacks and defends with flair and excitement, that takes risks, plays with aggression and intensity and is developing some quality and class. That could not be said of its performances over most of the past decade (and indeed, the Essendon game which surely now must be considered an aberration). The team is getting better in leaps and bounds and what's more - it has found some consistency in performance. That cannot be said of its opposition this week. The Saints are also on the rise and were impressive in consecutive games against Collingwood and Hawthorn but they came down to earth with a thud against the Giants last week. They won't be easy pickings at Etihad where they have constantly had "the wood" over Melbourne but the Demons overcame their hoodoo there last year, never mind in the practice match conditions of the NAB Challenge not all that long ago. On Saturday, they will give the Saints a taste of the new reality. THE GAME Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium Saturday 30 April 2016 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 118 wins St Kilda 89 wins 1 drawn At Etihad Melbourne 3 wins St. Kilda 6 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 0 wins St. Kilda 5 wins The Coaches Roos 0 wins Richardson 3 wins MEDIA TV - RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $1.55 St. Kilda to win - $2.45 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 1211.83 defeated Melbourne 6.10.46 in Round 17, 2015 at the MCG A lot of questions were asked of the Demons after their pitiful effort in the last half against the Saints at the MCG in a game they were expected to win. Too many players simply didn't come out to play. Among the few who did were Jeremy Howe, Jack Viney and Daniel Cross and ironically two of that trio are no longer playing for the club. TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg HB: Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba, Christian Salem C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, Josh Wagner HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: James Harmes, Jayden Hunt, Cam Pedersen, Christian Petracca EMG: Colin Garland, Alex Neal-Bullen, Clayton Oliver IN: Christian Petracca OUT: Angus Brayshaw (omitted) NEW: Christian Petracca (20, Eastern Ranges) ST. KILDA B: Jarryn Geary, Sean Dempster, Jimmy Webster HB: Shane Savage, Sam Fisher, Leigh Montagna C: Jack Billings, David Armitage, Jack Newnes HF: Maverick Weller, Nick Riewoldt, Jade Gresham F: Jack Sinclair, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Dunstan, Jack Steven I/C: Blake Acres, Sam Gilbert, Minchington, Seb Ross EMG: Hugh Goddard, Billy Longer, Brodie Murdoch IN: Blake Acres, Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey OUT: Tom Lee (omitted), Jack Lonie (omitted), Paddy McCartin (managed)

THE NEW REALITY by Whispering Jack Melbourne has not beaten St Kilda in an AFL premiership match since the 2006 Elimination Final when it recorded a three goal victory at the MCG. The only current player to take part in that game was current skipper Nathan Jones who was taking part in only his 7th AFL game. As was befitting of his young age and inexperience, Jones' role that nigh was modest - he picked up a mere nine touches of the footy. On Saturday, he will play his 207th game for the club and is expected to make a much bigger contribution and to play in a winning team against the Saints again. Lynden Dunn is the only other player still with the Demons who was on the club's list that year although he did not take part in the finals match. However, he was on hand in Round 10 of that season when the Demons also beat the Saints. Dunn and Jones are the only players to have played in a winning Melbourne team against St Kilda (I'm excluding NAB Challenge matches from the equation). There is a handful of others at the club who have played in winning teams against the Saints when they were at other clubs. Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba were in a premiership winning team at Collingwood that beat St Kilda in the 2010 Grand Final while another former Magpie Ben Kennedy later made his debut in a victory over the Saints. Jeff Garlett, Bernie Vince, Ben Newton and the club's new serial pest Tommy Bugg have all had the same winning experience before joining the Demons. Of course, Paul Roos who is winless against them in three starts as coach of the Dees, won many when he was at the helm of the Swans. However, the reality is that when the team runs out on Saturday afternoon there will not be a single player who can say he has previously played with a teammate wearing the red and blue in a winning team against the opposition. That reality is about to change with 100 minutes of football. The Melbourne we have witnessed over the past three matches of football and indeed over most of the month or so before that is the product of the new reality for the club - a young team that attacks and defends with flair and excitement, that takes risks, plays with aggression and intensity and is developing some quality and class. That could not be said of its performances over most of the past decade (and indeed, the Essendon game which surely now must be considered an aberration). The team is getting better in leaps and bounds and what's more - it has found some consistency in performance. That cannot be said of its opposition this week. The Saints are also on the rise and were impressive in consecutive games against Collingwood and Hawthorn but they came down to earth with a thud against the Giants last week. They won't be easy pickings at Etihad where they have constantly had "the wood" over Melbourne but the Demons overcame their hoodoo there last year, never mind in the practice match conditions of the NAB Challenge not all that long ago. On Saturday, they will give the Saints a taste of the new reality. THE GAME Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium Saturday 30 April 2016 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 118 wins St Kilda 89 wins 1 drawn At Etihad Melbourne 3 wins St. Kilda 6 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 0 wins St. Kilda 5 wins The Coaches Roos 0 wins Richardson 3 wins MEDIA TV - RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $1.55 St. Kilda to win - $2.45 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 1211.83 defeated Melbourne 6.10.46 in Round 17, 2015 at the MCG A lot of questions were asked of the Demons after their pitiful effort in the last half against the Saints at the MCG in a game they were expected to win. Too many players simply didn't come out to play. Among the few who did were Jeremy Howe, Jack Viney and Daniel Cross and ironically two of that trio are no longer playing for the club. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg HB: Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba, Christian Salem C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, Josh Wagner HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: James Harmes, Jayden Hunt, Cam Pedersen, Christian Petracca EMG: Colin Garland, Alex Neal-Bullen, Clayton Oliver IN: Christian Petracca OUT: Angus Brayshaw (omitted) NEW: Christian Petracca (20, Eastern Ranges) ST. KILDA B: Jarryn Geary, Sean Dempster, Jimmy Webster HB: Shane Savage, Sam Fisher, Leigh Montagna C: Jack Billings, David Armitage, Jack Newnes HF: Maverick Weller, Nick Riewoldt, Jade Gresham F: Jack Sinclair, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Dunstan, Jack Steven I/C: Blake Acres, Sam Gilbert, Minchington, Seb Ross EMG: Hugh Goddard, Billy Longer, Brodie Murdoch IN: Blake Acres, Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey OUT: Tom Lee (omitted), Jack Lonie (omitted), Paddy McCartin (managed)

I have diplomatic immunity.

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-04-26/showboating-bugg Discuss.

I would lose a lot of respect for him if he did that. This is not an American sport yet.

A nice way to start off your work week. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-04-25/rd-5-all-the-goals

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/paul-roos-says-positive-and-excited-players-being-rewarded-with-wins/news-story/2cdf11c2fdb189992d85be3943814e51?from=herald%20sun_rss I found the last few lines of the article interesting and something to contemplate. Is there a role for Roosy post 2016 or should the handover be complete?

Jack Viney has skipped away to a handy lead after five games. 64 Jack Viney 38 Max Gawn 36 Bernie Vince 34 Ben Kennedy29 Jack Watts 24 Nathan Jones21 Dom Tyson 15 Jeff Garlett Tom McDonald 10 Heritier Lumumba 9 Clayton Oliver Josh Wagner4 Dean Kent3 Matt Jones Cam Pedersen2 Neville Jetta 1 Jesse Hogan

Melbourne was expected to beat St Kilda in their return game at the MCG against the team that had stolen victory in the dying moments when they met a month or so earlier. The Demons failed miserably. MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta HB: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, Heritier Lumumba HF: Aaron vandenBerg, Chris Dawes, Angus Brayshaw F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Watts Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Jack Grimes, James Harmes, Viv Michie, Billy Stretch EMG: Mark Jamar, Matt Jones, Alex Neal-Bullen IN: Jack Grimes, Viv Michie OUT: Jay Kennedy-Harris (omitted), Alex Neal-Bullen (omitted) ST. KILDA B: Jarryn Geary, Sam Gilbert, Sean Dempster HB: Shane Savage, Sam Fisher, Dylan Roberton C: Jack Newnes, David Armitage, Leigh Montagna HF: Luke Dunstan, Nick Riewoldt, Jack Sinclair F: Jack Lonie, Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin FOLL: Billy Longer, Jack Steven, Maverick Weller I/C: Hugh Goddard, Adam Schneider. Eli Templeton, Jimmy Webster EMG: Tom Hickey, Tim Membrey, Farren Ray IN: Adam Schneider OUT: Farren Ray

ALL ABOARD AGAIN by George on the Outer Three weeks ago as the Dee-Train was about to pull out of the station for the Essendon game, the wheels fell off the locomotive. Since then repairs and upgrades have seen a new powerhouse, a stronger engine-room and the full support of fans and administration pile on board for the on-track journey. For the past couple of years Richmond have finished the season as finalists, but they looked to be anything but after they encountered the full force of a charged Demon group. The tone for the match was set in the first couple of minutes with Max Gawn starting to take apart the newly returned Ivan Maric in ruck contests. The Bearded Behemoth simply outjumped, outmuscled, outran and outplayed his opponent as he went on his way to an 18 disposal, 47 hitout, 7 marks and 2 goal game. The fantasy football participants were beside themselves as he amassed 102 points by half-time! He finished the game with 142, and is truly on track to fulfil his aim of being the best ruckman in the league. Meanwhile Jack Viney has continued to grow and if there was ever a doubt that Melbourne have a seriously good A-grade player with this father-son selection, then this was the game that proved it - 37 possessions including 23 contested, which set a club record in itself, were the numbers that came from a gutsy never say die approach to the game. Single handedly he seemed to will his team mates into the game at times, and saw the goals from his efforts being posted again and again. But it was not just this pair in the mid-field that were playing with an intensity missing from the Melbourne sides in recent years. Dom Tyson played his best game for 2016 with 31 touches, Dean Kent with 25 and Bernie Vince with 24. This was the display that produced the results that Paul Roos has promised the fans and according to the plans he set out when he arrived. A strong off-field coaching group is now properly developing the young players when they come to the club. Fans were flabbergasted in past weeks when the likes of Josh Wagner and Jayden Hunt were selected over more experienced players but they have been solid contributors and play with the poise of 50 to 100 game veterans already. The response from the outer is exactly what we have been saying about Sydney and Hawthorn players for years ... "where have they been hiding these kids?" And the import players like Tomas Bugg, Jeff Garlett, Ben Kennedy and Heritier Lumumba are filling the gaps that were so obvious in the past. Fit and healthy now in 2016 we are getting the benefit of their skill, knowledge and football nous and it is producing results. None more so than Garlett who simply cut the Richmond defence to pieces with 4 goals of this own and a hand in a few more. The backline is simply holding together as a proper defensive unit. They are now backing each other instead of relying on individuals to beat their man. Tom McDonald is able to take those telling defensive marks because Lynden Dunn has cut out his man. The strength of this defensive unit made a sheer mockery of the Richmond forwards as they only managed goals from umpire interventions and costly turnovers. Nothing was more telling when the Melbourne coaches placed Neville Jetta on Ty Vickery and despite giving away a huge height advantage, Neville simply outjumped, harassed and outplayed his taller opponent. With Vickery out of the equation, our other defenders simply had a field day. Richmond only scored four goals for the whole game from their own efforts. The other 10 were from our turnovers. We can’t fault the defenders for that! The solemnity of the night and the Anzac-eve experience was something to behold and nearly 60,000 fans came along. One would suggest it to be far more moving than that seen at the Essendon-Collingwood game as the MCG was darkened and only lit by a memorial flame and the thousands of lights from the fans phones. Again a tribute to Peter Jackson and his team for putting together the concept and then carrying out the implementation of the idea. Let’s make sure the AFL doesn’t hijack this and hand it to other sides in the future. While we have broken the two in a row hoodoo, it is now not just about getting three in a row and more. It is now about winning games consistently. We have put together the side, who have shown they are capable of being a serious player in the competition. We suddenly have players in abundance to select from, as Christian Petracca, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Alex Neal-Bullen and others put in claims for an upgrade to the seniors week after week. The club has announced the membership total has exceeded its record. So it's all aboard again, but this time, it's for real. Melbourne 5.1.31 11.3.69 14.7.91 20.9.129 Richmond 2.3.15 7.5.47 11.9.75 14.12.96 Goals Melbourne Garlett 4 Vince Watts 3 Gawn Tyson 2 Brayshaw Bugg Frost Harmes Kent Salem Richmond Lloyd Riewoldt Vickery 3 Chaplin Ellis Martin, Miles Best Melbourne Gawn Viney Tyson Salem Kent N Jones Garlett Richmond Cotchin Miles Riewoldt Edwards Houli Lloyd Changes Melbourne Nil Richmond Brett Deledio (quad) replaced in the side by Jacob Townsend Injuries Melbourne Nil Richmond Jack Riewoldt (ankle) Reports Melbourne Nil Richmond Alex Rance for striking Jack Watts in the fourth quarter Umpires Stevic Stephens Chamberlain Official crowd 59,968 at the MCG

Three weeks ago as the Dee-Train was about to pull out of the station for the Essendon game, the wheels fell off the locomotive. Since then repairs and upgrades have seen a new powerhouse, a stronger engine-room and the full support of fans and administration pile on board for the on-track journey. For the past couple of years Richmond have finished the season as finalists, but they looked to be anything but after they encountered the full force of a charged Demon group. The tone for the match was set in the first couple of minutes with Max Gawn starting to take apart the newly returned Ivan Maric in ruck contests. The Bearded Behemoth simply outjumped, outmuscled, outran and outplayed his opponent as he went on his way to an 18 disposal, 47 hitout, 7 marks and 2 goal game. The fantasy football participants were beside themselves as he amassed 102 points by half-time! He finished the game with 142, and is truly on track to fulfil his aim of being the best ruckman in the league. Meanwhile Jack Viney has continued to grow and if there was ever a doubt that Melbourne have a seriously good A-grade player with this father-son selection, then this was the game that proved it - 37 possessions including 23 contested, which set a club record in itself, were the numbers that came from a gutsy never say die approach to the game. Single handedly he seemed to will his team mates into the game at times, and saw the goals from his efforts being posted again and again. But it was not just this pair in the mid-field that were playing with an intensity missing from the Melbourne sides in recent years. Dom Tyson played his best game for 2016 with 31 touches, Dean Kent with 25 and Bernie Vince with 24. This was the display that produced the results that Paul Roos has promised the fans and according to the plans he set out when he arrived. A strong off-field coaching group is now properly developing the young players when they come to the club. Fans were flabbergasted in past weeks when the likes of Josh Wagner and Jayden Hunt were selected over more experienced players but they have been solid contributors and play with the poise of 50 to 100 game veterans already. The response from the outer is exactly what we have been saying about Sydney and Hawthorn players for years ... "where have they been hiding these kids?" And the import players like Tomas Bugg, Jeff Garlett, Ben Kennedy and Heritier Lumumba are filling the gaps that were so obvious in the past. Fit and healthy now in 2016 we are getting the benefit of their skill, knowledge and football nous and it is producing results. None more so than Garlett who simply cut the Richmond defence to pieces with 4 goals of this own and a hand in a few more. The backline is simply holding together as a proper defensive unit. They are now backing each other instead of relying on individuals to beat their man. Tom McDonald is able to take those telling defensive marks because Lynden Dunn has cut out his man. The strength of this defensive unit made a sheer mockery of the Richmond forwards as they only managed goals from umpire interventions and costly turnovers. Nothing was more telling when the Melbourne coaches placed Neville Jetta on Ty Vickery and despite giving away a huge height advantage, Neville simply outjumped, harassed and outplayed his taller opponent. With Vickery out of the equation, our other defenders simply had a field day. Richmond only scored four goals for the whole game from their own efforts. The other 10 were from our turnovers. We can’t fault the defenders for that! The solemnity of the night and the Anzac-eve experience was something to behold and nearly 60,000 fans came along. One would suggest it to be far more moving than that seen at the Essendon-Collingwood game as the MCG was darkened and only lit by a memorial flame and the thousands of lights from the fans phones. Again a tribute to Peter Jackson and his team for putting together the concept and then carrying out the implementation of the idea. Let’s make sure the AFL doesn’t hijack this and hand it to other sides in the future. While we have broken the two in a row hoodoo, it is now not just about getting three in a row and more. It is now about winning games consistently. We have put together the side, who have shown they are capable of being a serious player in the competition. We suddenly have players in abundance to select from, as Christian Petracca, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Alex Neal-Bullen and others put in claims for an upgrade to the seniors week after week. The club has announced the membership total has exceeded its record. So it's all aboard again, but this time, it's for real. Melbourne 5.1.31 11.3.69 14.7.91 20.9.129 Richmond 2.3.15 7.5.47 11.9.75 14.12.96 Goals Melbourne Garlett 4 Vince Watts 3 Gawn Tyson 2 Brayshaw Bugg Frost Harmes Kent Salem Richmond Lloyd Riewoldt Vickery 3 Chaplin Ellis Martin, Miles Best Melbourne Gawn Viney Tyson Salem Kent N Jones Garlett Richmond Cotchin Miles Riewoldt Edwards Houli Lloyd Changes Melbourne Nil Richmond Brett Deledio (quad) replaced in the side by Jacob Townsend Injuries Melbourne Nil Richmond Jack Riewoldt (ankle) Reports Melbourne Nil Richmond Alex Rance for striking Jack Watts in the fourth quarter Umpires Stevic Stephens Chamberlain Official crowd 59,968 at the MCG