Demonland

Melbourne and Richmond are seeking to take ownership of the Anzac Day eve time slot but the clubs that had arguably the two longest football dynasties of the post war years each have a lot of work to do if they want their meetings to attain blockbuster status. The Tigers at least have been visible on the Friday night stage from time to time but for the Demons, it's almost two years since they graced an AFL venue on a Friday night. The reason the AFL gives for this apparent aberration is Melbourne's poor form but that excuse doesn't really hold because Carlton is a regular feature on the Friday night scene despite recent inferior form to that of Richmond and barely superior to Melbourne. Still, the fact remains that the Demons and the Tigers are burdened by their own ghosts of the past. They meet at the MCG on Friday night with long histories of modest achievement over the past thirty years. It's a long time since either won a finals match and while the Tigers have made it to the top eight twice in a row, they have not been particularly impressive in reaching that status. So far this year, neither team has set the world on fire with all their victories recorded against others who are currently winless. On paper, the Tigers look the winners. They demolished a rudderless Brisbane team that gave up without a yelp (and certainly not a roar) and they have the midfield weapons that could overpower the Demons in a similar fashion to how the Giants and the Crows have managed to fight back against them after poor starts in the past two games. Melbourne simply cannot afford to lose this game and Friday night will therefore be a true test of this team. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne on Friday 24 April 2015 at 7.50pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 103 wins Melbourne 73 wins Drawn 2 At MCG Richmond 68 wins Melbourne 61 wins Drawn 1 Past five meetings Richmond 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Roos 1 win MEDIA TV - Channel 7 and Fox Footy Channel at 7.30pm (live) Radio - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Richmond to win - $1.30 Melbourne to win - $3.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 14.7.91 defeated Richmond 9.20.74 Round 9, 2014 at the MCG Nathan Jones and Jack Watts were the heroes for Melbourne and while it was lucky to strike an inaccurate Richmond on this occasion, the team took advantage of its good fortune and powered home to a well fought win. THE TEAMS RICHMOND B: David Astbury, Jake Batchelor, Alex Rance HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Drummond C: Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn McIntosh HF: Steven Morris, Shane Edwards, Anthony Miles F: Jack Riewoldt, Ben Griffiths, Sam Lloyd FOLL: Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Taylor Hunt I/C: Matt Arnot, Nathan Gordon, Shaun Grigg, Matt McDonough EMG: Todd Elton, Ben Lennon, Ty Vickery IN: Matt Arnot, Nathan Drummond, Matt McDonough OUT: Chris Knights (hamstring), Troy Chaplin (calf), Chris Newman (back) NEW: Nathan Drummond MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta HB: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem C: Daniel Cross, Nathan Jones, Heritier Lumumba HF: Ben Newton, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett F: Dean Kent, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Viv Michie, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Jack Grimes, Cameron Pedersen, Jimmy Toumpas IN: Viv Michie OUT: Sam Frost (injured) Almost every preview of every game played at this level starts with the adage about the result being determined by the outcome of the midfield contests and for years it has been said that Melbourne is in the third world when it comes to its on ball division. A large measure of this is due to to its monumental recruiting and player development failures over the past decade and this was clearly recognised Paul Roos when he assumed the coaching reins. It shouldn't be underestimated that almost the totality of the club's recruiting since the end of the 2013 season has been aimed at improving the club's midfield stocks and a look at the side for the vital round four match bears this out. Moreover, it's clearly evident that over the past 25 matches, Melbourne's output in terms of winning contested possessions has Melbourne improved dramatically and, in this game - the club's first on a Friday night under Roos - provides it with the opportunity to show the football world in its main showcase time slot that it has the team to provide a contest not only in the midfield but all over the ground. The key contest will no doubt be the one between the two skippers. Hard nosed Nathan Jones hasn't been at his dominant best yet this season and he faces a big challenge against the talented and skillful Trent Cotchin but in a sign of the times, Jones no longer has to be THE dominant on baller because he has so much more support in this area and all over the ground than he did, say two years ago. He now has Bernie Vince and Dom Tyson. He has the enigmatic Heritier Lumumba, the young Angus Brayshaw, the canny Daniel Cross and the unknown warriors Ben Newton and Aaron vandenBerg all floating around to provide support and variety. The ruck duels should also be pivotal with Mark Jamar and Ivan Maric in good form. Whichever of these two gets on top and wins possession around the ground will go a long way to determining the dominance of his team's midfield. The contest between Tom McDonald and Jack Riewoldt should also be worth watching as well as the battle in Melbourne's forward line where Jesse Hogan is quickly catching the eye for his tireless running and strength in the marking contests. If he and Jeff Garlett can capitalise on the improvement in supply to the forward line and find their targets going goal wards, the Demons could win their first Friday night game in several years and start their movement out of the ghostly time slots they usually occupy on most weekends during the football season. Melbourne by 15 points

It was one of the most satisfying wins in recent times because the team played good footy for most of the game. THE TEAMS RICHMOND B: Troy Chaplin, David Astbury, Alex Rance HB: Bachar Houli, Ben Lennon, Steven Morris C: Shaun Grigg, Daniel Jackson, Reece Conca HF: Dustin Martin, Ben Griffiths, Brett Deledio F: Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery FOLL: Shaun Hampson, Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin I/C: Nathan Foley, Sam Lloyd, Matt McDonough, Nick Vlastuin EMG: Jake Batchelor, Nathan Gordon, Ricky Petterd IN: Nathan Foley, Ben Griffiths, Ben Lennon OUT: Aaron Edwards (omitted), Nathan Gordon (omitted), Chris Newman (calf) NEW: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights) MELBOURNE B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland HB: Dean Terlich, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes C: Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Daniel Cross HF: Jack Watts, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe F: Cam Pedersen, Chris Dawes, Rohan Bail FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson I/C: Matt Jones, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem EMG: Alex Georgiou, Jordie McKenzie, Jimmy Toumpas IN: Max Gawn, Aidan Riley OUT: Shannon Byrnes (foot), James Frawley (hamstring)

Toe injury. http://melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-04-20/frost-out-for-next-46-weeks

DOLPHINS SMASHED by KC from Casey It's only round one but things look promising for the Casey Scorpions who are perched on top of both the Senior and Development League ladders after resounding victories over stand alone neighbour Frankston at Casey Fields. The elements were not conducive to attractive football with heavy rain and strong winds making life tough for the players for most of the day. In the main game, the Scorpions effectively killed the match with a dominant first term against the wind. Their defence was tight and strong, constantly frustrating the visitors who managed a mere two points for the quarter and were stunned by the ferocity of their hosts in the early going. Cam Pedersen turned their opening quarter into a nightmare with a long goal against the tide and they never recovered. When Casey's turn with the wind came, Aidan Riley had a purple patch with two early goals and, but for some poor kicking for goal, the massacre would have been complete by half time. As it was, the lead was insurmountable and, despite some improvement in the third term when the Dolphins kicked two late goals, they were swamped in the final term by a dominant but inaccurate foe. Viv Michie had an outstanding game with his 29 possessions and nine tackles and Rohan Bail was classy at times with three goals including a classic effort against the breeze in the third quarter when he ran the ball out of defence, through the centre, passed it forward and continued to run all the way into the square where he retrieved the ball in a pack for a snapped goal. Evan Panozza played a great skipper's game in defence and Jack Fitzpatrick was again outstanding down back with 22 touches and 11 marks. The rucks completely mauled Frankston with Jake Spencer and Max Gawn (71 hit outs between them) far too strong for their counterparts. Gawn was also good up forward but his kicking for goal let him down badly. With a dominant ruck it was little wonder that the midfield had a day out. Michie, Riley, Matt Jones, Jimmy Toumpas, Jordie McKenzie, Jack Grimes and Scorpion Mitch Gent who was out injured for most of last year all had plenty of the football. Billy Stretch looks a real prospect for the future. His run and carry into the forward fifty was exciting while lightly built Dingley recruit Luke Walmsley again showed his class. The end result in the wet conditions - a 13.19.91 to 5.9.39 - was a just reward despite the inaccuracy but the Scorpions' real test will be in the weeks to come starting with a big test at the Whitten Oval against the reigning premier Footscray in a game which starts at noon next Sunday. Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 6.11.47 8.12.60 13.21.99 Frankston 0.2.2 1.4.10 4.8.32 5.9.39 Goals Casey Scorpions Bail 3 Pedersen Riley 2 Harmes Terlich Scott Gent Smith Gawn Frankston Gardiner 2 Cavarra Irving Wood Casey Scorpions Michie Bail Gent Panozza Fitzpatrick McKenzie Frankston Wood Wilsen Foote Cavarra Pickess Hockey Match Statistics Rohan Bail 3 goals 1 behind 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 1 hit outs 116 dream team points Jack Fitzpatrick 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 11 marks 93 dream team points Max Gawn 1 goal 5 behinds 17 disposals 11 kicks 6 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 31 hit outs 118 dream team points Jack Grimes 3 behinds 20 disposals 15 kicks 5 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 104 dream team points James Harmes 1 goal 11 disposals 7 kicks 4 handballs 0 marks 1 tackle 36 dream team points Matt Jones 1 behind 25 disposals 8 kicks 17 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 93 team points Jordie McKenzie 26 disposals 13 kicks 13 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 102 dream team points Viv Michie 29 disposals 13 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 9 tackles 118 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 2 behinds 15 disposals 12 kicks 3 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 4 hit outs 109 dream team points Aidan Riley 2 goals for 29 disposals 8 kicks 21 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles dream team 101 points Jake Spencer 1 behind 14 disposals 6 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 40 hit outs dream 93 team points Billy Stretch 24 disposals 12 kicks 12 handballs 2 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 18 disposals 14 kicks 4 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 80 dream team points Jimmy Toumpas 26 disposals 14 kicks 12 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points The Scorpions Development League team established early control in trying conditions against the young Dolphins. The team has great depth although given the poor opposition, the game should not necessarily be taken as a pointer for the season ahead. 2015 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 6.8.44 9.8.62 15.13.103 17.15.117 Frankston 1.0.6 2.2.14 2.2.14 2.3.15 Goals Casey Scorpions Waters 4 King 3 Moncrieff Morris Paredes 2 Battle Johnson Neal-Bullen White Best Casey Scorpions Gains Morris Thwaites King Corrigan Waters Frankston Tuddenham Bailey Valles Hammond Bastinac Halsall

Progressive totals after Round 3 and the T Mac juggernaut rolls on: 53. Tom McDonald 22. Jack Viney 17. Nathan Jones 16. Jesse Hogan Bernie Vince 11. Christian Salem 10. Colin Garland Neville Jetta 7. Daniel Cross 6. Jack Watts 5. Jeffrey Garlett 4. Mark Jamar Ben Newton 3. Aaron vandenBerg 2. Heritier Lubumba 1. Angus Brayshaw Colin Garland Lynden Dunn

It's only round one but things look promising for the Casey Scorpions who are perched on top of both the Senior and Development League ladders after resounding victories over stand alone neighbour Frankston at Casey Fields. The elements were not conducive to attractive football with heavy rain and strong winds making life tough for the players for most of the day. In the main game, the Scorpions effectively killed the match with a dominant first term against the wind. Their defence was tight and strong, constantly frustrating the visitors who managed a mere two points for the quarter and were stunned by the ferocity of their hosts in the early going. Cam Pedersen turned their opening quarter into a nightmare with a long goal against the tide and they never recovered. When Casey's turn with the wind came, Aidan Riley had a purple patch with two early goals and, but for some poor kicking for goal, the massacre would have been complete by half time. As it was, the lead was insurmountable and, despite some improvement in the third term when the Dolphins kicked two late goals, they were swamped in the final term by a dominant but inaccurate foe. Viv Michie had an outstanding game with his 29 possessions and nine tackles and Rohan Bail was classy at times with three goals including a classic effort against the breeze in the third quarter when he ran the ball out of defence, through the centre, passed it forward and continued to run all the way into the square where he retrieved the ball in a pack for a snapped goal. Evan Panozza played a great skipper's game in defence and Jack Fitzpatrick was again outstanding down back with 22 touches and 11 marks. The rucks completely mauled Frankston with Jake Spencer and Max Gawn (71 hit outs between them) far too strong for their counterparts. Gawn was also good up forward but his kicking for goal let him down badly. With a dominant ruck it was little wonder that the midfield had a day out. Michie, Riley, Matt Jones, Jimmy Toumpas, Jordie McKenzie, Jack Grimes and Scorpion Mitch Gent who was out injured for most of last year all had plenty of the football. Billy Stretch looks a real prospect for the future. His run and carry into the forward fifty was exciting while lightly built Dingley recruit Luke Walmsley again showed his class. The end result in the wet conditions - a 13.19.91 to 5.9.39 - was a just reward despite the inaccuracy but the Scorpions' real test will be in the weeks to come starting with a big test at the Whitten Oval against the reigning premier Footscray in a game which starts at noon next Sunday. Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 6.11.47 8.12.60 13.21.99 Frankston 0.2.2 1.4.10 4.8.32 5.9.39 Goals Casey Scorpions Bail 3 Pedersen Riley 2 Harmes Terlich Scott Gent Smith Gawn Frankston Gardiner 2 Cavarra Irving Wood Casey Scorpions Michie Bail Gent Panozza Fitzpatrick McKenzie Frankston Wood Wilsen Foote Cavarra Pickess Hockey Match Statistics Rohan Bail 3 goals 1 behind 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 1 hit outs 116 dream team points Jack Fitzpatrick 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 11 marks 93 dream team points Max Gawn 1 goal 5 behinds 17 disposals 11 kicks 6 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 31 hit outs 118 dream team points Jack Grimes 3 behinds 20 disposals 15 kicks 5 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 104 dream team points James Harmes 1 goal 11 disposals 7 kicks 4 handballs 0 marks 1 tackle 36 dream team points Matt Jones 1 behind 25 disposals 8 kicks 17 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 93 team points Jordie McKenzie 26 disposals 13 kicks 13 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 102 dream team points Viv Michie 29 disposals 13 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 9 tackles 118 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 2 behinds 15 disposals 12 kicks 3 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 4 hit outs 109 dream team points Aidan Riley 2 goals for 29 disposals 8 kicks 21 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles dream team 101 points Jake Spencer 1 behind 14 disposals 6 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 40 hit outs dream 93 team points Billy Stretch 24 disposals 12 kicks 12 handballs 2 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 18 disposals 14 kicks 4 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 80 dream team points Jimmy Toumpas 26 disposals 14 kicks 12 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points The Scorpions Development League team established early control in trying conditions against the young Dolphins. The team has great depth although given the poor opposition, the game should not necessarily be taken as a pointer for the season ahead. 2015 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 6.8.44 9.8.62 15.13.103 17.15.117 Frankston 1.0.6 2.2.14 2.2.14 2.3.15 Goals Casey Scorpions Waters 4 King 3 Moncrieff Morris Paredes 2 Battle Johnson Neal-Bullen White Best Casey Scorpions Gains Morris Thwaites King Corrigan Waters Frankston Tuddenham Bailey Valles Hammond Bastinac Halsall

I've loaded our Adelaide guest reporter Mel Rundle's match report both here and in the opening post to this thread.

My first thought when the final siren sounded was that although Melbourne beat Adelaide by four points in the corresponding game last year and lost by four goals this time, the Demons have actually improved over the past twelve months. After all, the Crows are a much more settled team this year under new coach Phil Walsh, they are in good form, are at top strength and the conditions and the umpiring suited them perfectly. With a partisan crowd of 43,713 roaring them on they took their chances and did enough to make the most of these advantages. They took control of the game early in the third quarter and ended up winners by 25 points. The margin however, did not do justice to the application and intensity that, for the most part, the Melbourne players put into this match. Unfortunately for them, the accuracy in front of goal which defined last year's win (11 goals from 15 shots) deserted them this time, particularly early on when they missed two sitters in their blistering opening quarter. At one stage during the term, they had notched up 11 inside 50s to 2; they had their chances but failed to take them and then let the Crows in for three late goals so that the game was very much in the balance at the first break instead of tightly in their grip. The status quo remained in the second quarter with the arm wrestle highlighted by the even battle in the ruck between Mark Jamar and Sam Jacobs with the Adelaide midfield just taking the honours. Jeremy Howe capably assisted Tom McDonald in defence and produced a trade mark "hanger" in the second quarter. Perhaps the result was dictated during the week when former Demon Scott Thompson was selected for his first game of the season and Brodie Smith recovered from a hamstring incurred last week to gain selection while Melbourne's Jack Viney was ruled out with a leg fracture. Thompson played a leading role in the midfield while Smith was handy kicking the crucial goal that opened the second half. With Tom McDonald doing a good job on Tex Walker and Bernie Vince nullifying Paddy Dangerfield, the Crows really needed that pair to get them back on top after the early Demon onslaught. Despite their hard work down the ground, the visitors struggled to put the score on the board with Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett each kicking two goals but missing an equal number of simple shots at goal which could have made all the difference in the end. A special mention must be made of the hard effort put on by Neville Jetta who often doesn't get enough credit. He did a great job in nullifying one of the competition's best goal sneaks in Eddie Betts for much of the game. The three quarter time all in brawl wasn't enough to inspire the young Melbourne team to turn the game around. Instead, it was some slick work from Walker that resulted in the all important first goal of the final term that gave his team enough of a buffer to stave off a challenge that never really came because the Demons lacked the finishing skills that so often make the difference between winning and losing matches. With both sides having 20 shots on goal for the match, it was clear how the Demons had blown their chances this time around. Yet when compared with the performances against Adelaide of both North Melbourne and Collingwood in the opening rounds, there is a lot for Paul Roos to work on this season. With the midfield improving (there's still more room for improvement there) and the defence now becoming a strength, the disappointment was the failure of last year's hero Chris Dawes, to impose himself on the game. Perhaps Roos needs to look at his forward structure to improve his team's chances of success in the future? Melbourne 3.4.22 4.6.30 6.9.45 7.13.55 Adelaide 3.1.19 5.3.33 9.4.58 12.8.80 Goals Melbourne Garlett Hogan 2 N Jones Kent Newton Adelaide Walker Ellis-Yolmen 2 Betts Brown Cameron Jenkins Lynch Mackay Smith Best Melbourne T McDonald N Jones Howe Vince Cross Vandenberg Adelaide Sloane Douglas Thompson Talia Mackay Ellis-Yoleman Changes Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Injuries Melbourne Sam Frost (foot) Adelaide Nil Substitutions Melbourne Angus Brayshaw replaced Sam Frost (left foot) in the second quarter. Matthew Wright replaced Charlie Cameron at three quarter time. Adelaide Reports Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Umpires Simon Meredith Dean Margetts Nicholas Foot Official crowd 43,713 at Adelaide Oval

Time to move across to post match discussion

LOST CHANCES by Mel Rundle My first thought when the final siren sounded was that although Melbourne beat Adelaide by four points in the corresponding game last year and lost by four goals this time, the Demons have actually improved over the past twelve months. After all, the Crows are a much more settled team this year under new coach Phil Walsh, they are in good form, are at top strength and the conditions and the umpiring suited them perfectly. With a partisan crowd of 43,713 roaring them on they took their chances and did enough to make the most of these advantages. They took control of the game early in the third quarter and ended up winners by 25 points. The margin however, did not do justice to the application and intensity that, for the most part, the Melbourne players put into this match. Unfortunately for them, the accuracy in front of goal which defined last year's win (11 goals from 15 shots) deserted them this time, particularly early on when they missed two sitters in their blistering opening quarter. At one stage during the term, they had notched up 11 inside 50s to 2; they had their chances but failed to take them and then let the Crows in for three late goals so that the game was very much in the balance at the first break instead of tightly in their grip. The status quo remained in the second quarter with the arm wrestle highlighted by the even battle in the ruck between Mark Jamar and Sam Jacobs with the Adelaide midfield just taking the honours. Jeremy Howe capably assisted Tom McDonald in defence and produced a trade mark "hanger" in the second quarter. Perhaps the result was dictated during the week when former Demon Scott Thompson was selected for his first game of the season and Brodie Smith recovered from a hamstring incurred last week to gain selection while Melbourne's Jack Viney was ruled out with a leg fracture. Thompson played a leading role in the midfield while Smith was handy kicking the crucial goal that opened the second half. With Tom McDonald doing a good job on Tex Walker and Bernie Vince nullifying Paddy Dangerfield, the Crows really needed that pair to get them back on top after the early Demon onslaught. Despite their hard work down the ground, the visitors struggled to put the score on the board with Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett each kicking two goals but missing an equal number of simple shots at goal which could have made all the difference in the end. A special mention must be made of the hard effort put on by Neville Jetta who often doesn't get enough credit. He did a great job in nullifying one of the competition's best goal sneaks in Eddie Betts for much of the game. The three quarter time all in brawl wasn't enough to inspire the young Melbourne team to turn the game around. Instead, it was some slick work from Walker that resulted in the all important first goal of the final term that gave his team enough of a buffer to stave off a challenge that never really came because the Demons lacked the finishing skills that so often make the difference between winning and losing matches. With both sides having 20 shots on goal for the match, it was clear how the Demons had blown their chances this time around. Yet when compared with the performances against Adelaide of both North Melbourne and Collingwood in the opening rounds, there is a lot for Paul Roos to work on this season. With the midfield improving (there's still more room for improvement there) and the defence now becoming a strength, the disappointment was the failure of last year's hero Chris Dawes, to impose himself on the game. Perhaps Roos needs to look at his forward structure to improve his team's chances of success in the future? Melbourne 3.4.22 4.6.30 6.9.45 7.13.55 Adelaide 3.1.19 5.3.33 9.4.58 12.8.80 Goals MelbourneGarlett Hogan 2 Jones Kent Newton Adelaide Walker Ellis-Yolmen 2 Betts Brown Cameron Jenkins Lynch Mackay Smith Best Melbourne T McDonald N Jones Howe Vince Cross Vandenberg Adelaide Sloane Douglas Thompson Talia Mackay Ellis-Yoleman Changes Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Injuries Melbourne Sam Frost (foot) Adelaide Nil Substitutions Melbourne Angus Brayshaw replaced Sam Frost (left foot) in the second quarter. Matthew Wright replaced Charlie Cameron at three quarter time. Adelaide Reports Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Umpires Simon Meredith Dean Margetts Nicholas Foot Official crowd 43,713 at Adelaide Oval

You can start casting your votes when the final siren sounds... 6 5 4 3 2 1

PATTERNS by Whispering Jack Halfway through the second quarter at StarTrack Oval last Saturday, the Demons were seemingly cruising through their game against the Giants. Leading by five goals and having kept their opponents down to a solitary goal, they loosened their hold on the game after Jeff Garlett had goaled at the ten minute mark. They allowed GWS too much latitude and it was only their poor finishing that kept them at bay. Late in the quarter and against the run of play, Ben Newton goaled to give his team a game high lead of 33 points in the shadows of half time. The game's defining moment however, came a minute and a half later when Cam McCarthy was provided with the opportunity to reply before the half time siren, the first of fourteen unanswered goal before Newton chimed in with his second and his team's last in a humiliating stanza of play. The pattern that was set late in the second term was familiar. Melbourne fans saw it some weeks ago during the NAB Challenge match in Ballarat against the Bulldogs when the team let slip an even larger lead standing by helplessly as that game was almost lost to another avalanche of goals. In other games, we have seen the team also commit dramatic lapses in play - in the first round at home, they were good enough to come back from these on three occasions but the question now is whether the pattern set at grounds far from home will be repeated and what can the coaches and players do to arrest a disturbing situation in which opposition teams are able to cut the team like butter through a knife. It won't be easy this Saturday against an in-form Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval because the Crows have established a pattern of their own which is to destroy all that comes before them. THE GAME Adelaide v Melbourne v at the Adelaide Oval Saturday 18 April, 2015 at 2.10 pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Adelaide 21 wins Melbourne 12 wins At Adelaide Oval Adelaide 0 wins Melbourne 1 win Past five meetings Adelaide 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Welsh 0 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 at 2:00pm (live) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING Adelaide to win - $1.05 Melbourne to win - $7.25 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 11.4.70 defeated Adelaide 9.13.67 Round 7, 2014 at Adelaide Oval The Demons hadn't won in Adelaide for more than a decade but the got the early jump on the Crows to lead by 28 points at the main break. Nathan Jones and Jack Grimes courageously led the side home and despite a second half fightback from the home team to cause a major upset. THE TEAMS Adelaide Crows B: Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Rory Laird HB: Jake Kelly, Kyle Hartigan, Brodie Smith C: Ricky Henderson, Scott Thompson, Matthew Jaensch HF: Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron F: Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Lynch FOLL: Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Nathan Van Berlo I/C: Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, David Mackay, Matthew Wright EMG: Matt Crouch, Mitch Grigg, Jarryd Lyons IN: Jake Kelly, Scott Thompson OUT: Kyle Cheney (hamstring), Mitch Grigg NEW: Kelly Melbourne B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem C: Daniel Cross, Heritier Lumumba, Sam Frost HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Bernie Vince F: Jeff Garlett, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Ben Newton, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Jack Grimes, Viv Michie, Jake Spencer IN: Jay Kennedy-Harris OUT: Jack Viney (leg) Over the past fortnight, the full force of the Adelaide Football Club has been unleashed upon North Melbourne and Collingwood, two clubs that were far more highly fancied this season than Melbourne. On that basis what are the chances of the Demons producing a second consecutive upset win over the Crows on their own home turf? Not much, say the pundits who include those who frame the odds and have decided that that the home side has seven times Melbourne's chances of winning. Much of this is due to the meltdown of the Demon midfield from the middle of the second term of their game against the powerful engine room of the Greater Western Sydney Giants who ran them off their feet at StarTrack Oval last week. Given that one of the few shining lights of that defeated Melbourne on ball brigade will be missing in action at Adelaide Oval, the negativity about their chances is understandable. And that's before one considers how the visitors will contend with the likes of Tex Walker and Paddy Dangerfield. They certainly need a major turnaround in form from the likes of Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince if they are to get to within 10 goals. Adelaide by 61 points.

It was back in May last year when Melbourne shocked the football world by breaking its long standing hoodoo against SA teams in Adelaide. Adelaide Crows B: Sam Shaw, Daniel Talia, Matthew Jaensch HB: Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan, Luke Brown C: Sam Kerridge, Patrick Dangerfield, David Mackay HF: Eddie Betts, James Podsiadly, Jared Petrenko F: Tom Lynch, Josh Jenkins, Matthew Wright FOLL: Sam Jacobs, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane I/C: Brent Reilly, Mitch Grigg, Rory Laird, Matt Crouch EMG: Brodie Martin, Andy Otten, Ben Rutten No Change Melbourne B: Tom McDonald, Lynden Dunn, Alex Georgiou HB: Jack Grimes, James Frawley, Dean Terlich C: Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince, Jack Watts HF: Rohan Bail, Cameron Pedersen, Matt Jones F: Jack Viney, Chris Dawes, Jeremy Howe FOLL: Mark Jamar, Daniel Cross, Nathan Jones I/C: Christian Salem, Neville Jetta, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Shannon Byrnes EMG: Mitchell Clisby, Max Gawn, Aidan Riley No Change

WHITEWASH by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions who finished a lowly second-last in 2014, ahead only of the now defunct Bendigo Gold, finished the practice match series off on Saturday with an emphatic victory over a lacklustre Werribee Tigers to go into next Sunday's opening game with a 3 - 2 preseason record. However, as an indicator of the season ahead, the game really provided nothing. The Tigers were a lifeless inept opposition which produced very little pressure and, as a consequence, there is very little one can say about the home side other than every player beat his opponent and did what was expected of him. Jack Grimes marshalled the forces and, with skipper Evan Panozza, led the team brilliantly. Grimes finished the game with 30 disposals and a neat goal. The other Demon listed players also had a picnic with Jordie McKenzie, Matt Jones, Viv Michie, Aidan Riley and Jimmy Toumpas all putting their hands up for a return to AFL ranks. Likewise, the talls in Jake Spencer, Max Gawn, Jack Fitzpatrick and Cam Pedersen all had a picnic. Dean Terlich got better as the game went on and youngster Billy Stretch showed touches of brilliance for the future. Some of the players whose disposal is often wayward in the intensity and heat of the battle at AFL level , were constantly hotting targets, indicating how much leeway their opponents were giving them. There were good signs from the VFL contingent with newcomers James Munro, Luke Walmsley and Tom Muir all impressing and young goal sneak Angus Scott kicking three goals. All in all, pleasing but not much of a pointer for the future because of the lack of opposition pressure which cause the match to result in a complete whitewash. Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 612.9.82 16.10.106 Werribee 0.1.1 1.1.7 1.1.7 2.3.15 Goals Michie Scott 3 Pedersen Toumpas 2 Gawn Grimes Muir Spencer Best Michie Grimes Toumpas Spencer Walmsley Scott Terlich

WHITEWASH by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions who finished a lowly second-last in 2014, ahead only of the now defunct Bendigo Gold, finished the practice match series off on Saturday with an emphatic victory over a lacklustre Werribee Tigers to go into next Sunday's opening game with a 3 - 2 preseason record. However, as an indicator of the season ahead, the game really provided nothing. The Tigers were a lifeless inept opposition which produced very little pressure and, as a consequence, there is very little one can say about the home side other than every player beat his opponent and did what was expected of him. Jack Grimes marshalled the forces and, with skipper Evan Panozza, led the team brilliantly. Grimes finished the game with 30 disposals and a neat goal. The other Demon listed players also had a picnic with Jordie McKenzie, Matt Jones, Viv Michie, Aidan Riley and Jimmy Toumpas all putting their hands up for a return to AFL ranks. Likewise, the talls in Jake Spencer, Max Gawn, Jack Fitzpatrick and Cam Pedersen all had a picnic. Dean Terlich got better as the game went on and youngster Billy Stretch showed touches of brilliance for the future. Some of the players whose disposal is often wayward in the intensity and heat of the battle at AFL level , were constantly hotting targets, indicating how much leeway their opponents were giving them. There were good signs from the VFL contingent with newcomers James Munro, Luke Walmsley and Tom Muir all impressing and young goal sneak Angus Scott kicking three goals. All in all, pleasing but not much of a pointer for the future because of the lack of opposition pressure which cause the match to result in a complete whitewash. Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 612.9.82 16.10.106 Werribee 0.1.1 1.1.7 1.1.7 2.3.15 Goals Michie Scott 3 Pedersen Toumpas 2 Gawn Grimes Muir Spencer Best Michie Grimes Toumpas Spencer Walmsley Scott Terlich

Progressive totals after Round 2 - and it's been an ominous start by T Mac: 36. Tom McDonald 22. Jack Viney 13. Nathan Jones 11. Christian Salem 10. Colin Garland Jesse Hogan 6. Jack Watts 5. Jeffrey Garlett 4. Daniel Cross 3. Aaron vandenBerg 2. Neville Jetta Ben Newton 1. Angus Brayshaw Lynden Dunn

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." ~ John Donne There are plenty of reasons not to like playing GWS at Star Track oval ( Manuka): 1. Having to listen to that god-awful Cossack dance of a club song; 2. Only 2 gates for entry and exit to the ground; 3. No pies or hot dogs for sale; 4. 1 drinks stand; 5. 1 ticket seller window; 6. 1 icecream stand; 7. Did I mention that god-awful Cossack dance of a club song? Well that Cossack song became even more unbearable when it sounded out around the ground at the end as well, following a complete and utter capitulation by the Demons after leading by more than five goals late in the second quarter. This gave the Demon fans one more good reason the hate the place ... Last week, the Demons set about removing some diabolical history, and finally won an opening round game for the first time in ten years. After conceding eleven goals straight and kicking a solitary major in a half of football, they are well on the way to plumbing new depths. Everything was there to be taken by the team and the club. A good opening game win, playing against a perennial bottom side full of youngsters, at least half the spectators decked out in Red and Blue and showing much more voice than their counterparts in orange. There was much hope and rightly so, after the suffering that the fans had faced for the past 7 years. And the fans had every reason to think there was something special about to happen. Similar to last week as the team ran onto the ground to the AC-DC theme of Hells Bells the bells of the local Catholic church rang out loud and strong. Trouble was that it was merely a wedding taking place, and those bells were more of a portent of things to come, with the words of John Donnes famous poem ringing true ... know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee ... your time is up Demons! After a promising first quarter when the team took all before it, and even the opening fifteen minutes of the second, all seemed well. Compatriots at the game noted that halfway through its second game, Melbourne had yet to lose a single quarter of football this season ... Then the bells started ringing again! Opportunities to seal the game were squandered, and despite being absolutely pantsed by Mark Jamar in the first quarter, Shane Mumford began a steady and relentless comeback in the ruck. A goal just before half-time to GWS was the start of an avalanche of goals that didnt stop until just before the final bell ... and thank goodness that Tom McDonald was playing in our backline, because the result may have been even more ugly without his constant rejection of the GWS attacks. Leadership was lacking when it was most needed, and the much vaunted leadership group was nowhere to be seen. Sadly, the captain appeared to be operating under an injury cloud ( I hope he was), for he had no spark, run or the normal levels of aggression that he displays week in week out. Jamar was still getting his hands on the ball in the middle, but Shiel, Treloar, Ward and Coniglio just kept sharking it, while our mids stood by looking on. There were at least nine successive clearances from the centre without a single Melbourne player touching the ball or the opposition player who had it in his hands. Particularly troubling was that nothing was done to stem this rampage. The same players were left in the middle, even when it was obvious that the GIants' pace was killing us. Surely it was the time to try something different, but it wasnt until the last quarter that Brayshaw, Garlett and Lumumba got a chance to show some spirit on behalf of the team by playing in the middle? But by then it was all over, and the hopes of the Demon fans who had travelled by road and air to support their team, not to mention the hordes of local supporters, were dashed well and truly YET AGAIN. How many time have the fans been asked to dig deep over these past hard years, and when the opportunity to lift the club from its doldrums is left up to the players they fail? So when the 2015 season draws to a close, and those same players want to know whether they will see season 2016, remember the tolling of the bells and remember that they toll for thee!! Melbourne 4.2.26 7.3.45 7.6.48 8.8.56 GWS Giants 0.2.2 2.6.18 11.8.74 15.11.101 Goals Melbourne Hogan Newton 2 Garlett Jamar Kent T McDonald GWS Giants McCarthy Shiel 3 Coniglio Smith 2 Cameron Mumford Scully Treloar Wilson Best Melbourne T McDonald Viney Salem Cross Tyson Lumumba GWS Giants Coniglio Kelly Haynes Greene Shaw Shiel Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Substitutions Melbourne Brayshaw replaced Vince in the fourth quarter. GWS GiantsWilson replaced Tomlinson in the second quarter. Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stevic Hat Pannell Official crowd 7,760 at the StarTrack Oval

HELLS BELLS by George on the Outer "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." John Donne There are plenty of reasons not to like playing GWS at Star Track oval ( Manuka): 1. Having to listen to that god-awful Cossack dance of a club song; 2. Only 2 gates for entry and exit to the ground; 3. No pies or hot dogs for sale; 4. 1 drinks stand; 5. 1 ticket seller window; 6. 1 icecream stand; 7. Did I mention that god-awful Cossack dance of a club song? Well that Cossack song became even more unbearable when it sounded out around the ground at the end as well, following a complete and utter capitulation by the Demons after leading by more than five goals late in the second quarter. This gave the Demon fans one more good reason the hate the place ... Last week, the Demons set about removing some diabolical history, and finally won an opening round game for the first time in ten years. After conceding eleven goals straight and kicking a solitary major in a half of football, they are well on the way to plumbing new depths. Everything was there to be taken by the team and the club. A good opening game win, playing against a perennial bottom side full of youngsters, at least half the spectators decked out in Red and Blue and showing much more voice than their counterparts in orange. There was much hope and rightly so, after the suffering that the fans had faced for the past 7 years. And the fans had every reason to think there was something special about to happen. Similar to last week as the team ran onto the ground to the AC-DC theme of Hells Bells the bells of the local Catholic church rang out loud and strong. Trouble was that it was merely a wedding taking place, and those bells were more of a portent of things to come, with the words of John Donnes famous poem ringing true ... know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee ... your time is up Demons! After a promising first quarter when the team took all before it, and even the opening fifteen minutes of the second, all seemed well. Compatriots at the game noted that halfway through its second game, Melbourne had yet to lose a single quarter of football this season ... Then the bells started ringing again! Opportunities to seal the game were squandered, and despite being absolutely pantsed by Mark Jamar in the first quarter, Shane Mumford began a steady and relentless comeback in the ruck. A goal just before half-time to GWS was the start of an avalanche of goals that didnt stop until just before the final bell ... and thank goodness that Tom McDonald was playing in our backline, because the result may have been even more ugly without his constant rejection of the GWS attacks. Leadership was lacking when it was most needed, and the much vaunted leadership group was nowhere to be seen. Sadly, the captain appeared to be operating under an injury cloud ( I hope he was), for he had no spark, run or the normal levels of aggression that he displays week in week out. Jamar was still getting his hands on the ball in the middle, but Shiel, Treloar, Ward and Coniglio just kept sharking it, while our mids stood by looking on. There were at least nine successive clearances from the centre without a single Melbourne player touching the ball or the opposition player who had it in his hands. Particularly troubling was that nothing was done to stem this rampage. The same players were left in the middle, even when it was obvious that the GIants' pace was killing us. Surely it was the time to try something different, but it wasnt until the last quarter that Brayshaw, Garlett and Lumumba got a chance to show some spirit on behalf of the team by playing in the middle? But by then it was all over, and the hopes of the Demon fans who had travelled by road and air to support their team, not to mention the hordes of local supporters, were dashed well and truly YET AGAIN. How many time have the fans been asked to dig deep over these past hard years, and when the opportunity to lift the club from its doldrums is left up to the players they fail? So when the 2015 season draws to a close, and those same players want to know whether they will see season 2016, remember the tolling of the bells and remember that they toll for thee!! Melbourne 4.2.26 7.3.45 7.6.48 8.8.56 GWS Giants 0.2.2 2.6.18 11.8.74 15.11.101 Goals Melbourne Hogan Newton 2 Garlett Jamar Kent T McDonald GWS Giants McCarthy Shiel 3 Coniglio Smith 2 Cameron Mumford Scully Treloar Wilson Best Melbourne T McDonald Viney Salem Cross Tyson Lumumba GWS Giants Coniglio Kelly Haynes Greene Shaw Shiel Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Substitutions Melbourne Brayshaw replaced Vince in the fourth quarter. GWS GiantsWilson replaced Tomlinson in the second quarter. Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stevic Hat Pannell Official crowd 7,760 at the StarTrack Oval

Voting for the second round of the DEMONLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR begins with the final siren. Votes on a 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis (best gets 6 and so on to sixth best which gets 1). As usual, we will select three sets of votes as the official Denonland votes for the round.

b708c9e3cd6c7603ffbc205f9dfd2e13 "> TEAM SELECTION: Chris Dawes and Bernie Vince are back in our team for round two.View the full team HERE: http://bit.ly/MFCteam Posted by Melbourne Football Club on Thursday, April 9, 2015

b708c9e3cd6c7603ffbc205f9dfd2e13 "> INTERSTATE: There will be short open training sessions and pre-match functions ahead of our round two and three games in... Posted by Melbourne Football Club on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

b708c9e3cd6c7603ffbc205f9dfd2e13 "> NEWS: Defender Tom McDonald received the maximum of 10 votes in the AFL Coaches' Association Player of the Year award... Posted by Melbourne Football Club on Wednesday, April 8, 2015

This week, Melbourne goes on the road to the AFL's final frontier, the national capital Canberra, where it takes on another of the AFL's new franchise clubs in the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Both clubs won their opening rounds but they are considered to be a long way behind the AFL's elite teams and in a different stratosphere completely to the reigning premier, Hawthorn. A win at StarTrak Oval, Manuka will mean a lot to the victor - it will provide confidence, credibility and an excellent starting point for the long year ahead. To the vanquished it will make the long year ahead feel even a little bit longer. Needless to say, a win is important for both clubs. Melbourne has been down for a long time and one wonders how long it can keep treading water. And even though they have been gifted so many drafting concessions in their formative years, the Giants are not without problems of their own - Difficult times for Greater Western Sydney For Melbourne, last week's win, albeit against an undermanned opposition with its main man severely restricted due to not having fully recovered from his shoulder injury, was therapeutic to its players, management and staff and most of all, its supporters to who the adjective "long-suffering" has well and truly outworn its welcome. After all these years there was a light at the end of the tunnel and it was neither a mirage nor an express train rumbling down the tracks on its way to cause wreckage and further untold damage to our collective pride. It was a supreme team effort. Every one of the twenty-two players including the seven debutants played his part and for the first time in a long while, the talk of the town around Melbourne is how do you fit two players - one returning from injury, the other from suspension - into the team and who would be the unlucky player or players omitted in order to make way for them. There's something else about this game that also needs to be said. At the last meeting between these teams, Melbourne wasn't just beaten badly, it was smashed and left badly bleeding after a shameful, shambolic display of ineptitude. Up to about two thirds of that team is likely to be playing at Manuka this Saturday and if they have any pride in their ability as footballers they will be out to atone for that performance. There are some obvious reasons why I am confident that they can reverse that horrific outcome. For one, the team has some marking targets and clever smalls up forward and for another, they are more focussed, aggressive and hitting the scoreboard. Although they were well beaten by the Giants last year, the Demons had only four scoring shots less than the winners. They have straightened up and are playing more direct football and though the home side will be no pushover, there's no reason why they shouldn't avenge their two 2014 losses to the AFL's newest franchise team to give themselves and their fans yet another much needed boost. THE GAME GWS Giants at StarTrack Oval, Saturday 11 April, 2015 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 3 wins Melbourne 3 wins At StarTrak Oval GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 1 win Past five meetings GWS Giants 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Cameron 2 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 at 2.00pm (live) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win - $1.46 Melbourne to win - $2.70 THE LAST TIME THEY MET GWS Giants 15.8.98 defeated Melbourne 3.16.34 at the MCG Round 21, 2014 This game saw Melbourne sink to its lowest ebb in a disappointing season. It was bad enough to lose on the MCG to the newest franchise team by 64 points but to score only three goals for the day and only one (against thirteen) in the final three quarters after starting the game as firm favourites was nothing short of humiliating. And it all happened on Members Appreciation Day. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS B: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Joel Patfull HB: Nick Haynes, Aidan Corr, Rhys Palmer C: Tommy Bugg, Callan Ward, Tom Scully HF: Lachie Whitfield, Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy F: Adam Treloar, Adam Tomlinson, Josh Kelly FOLL: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel I/C: Toby Greene, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith, Nathan Wilson EMG: Matt Buntine, Andrew Phillips, Zac Williams IN: Nathan Wilson OUT: Curtly Hampton (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem C: Daniel Cross, Heritier Lumumba, Ben Newton HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jack Viney F: Jeff Garlett, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Viv Michie, Jake Spencer IN: Chris Dawes, Bernie Vince OUT: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Jimmy Toumpas (both omitted) Melbourne impressed last week with an uncharacteristic style of ball movement that we've rarely witnessed in recent seasons. The defence held tight, particularly in the first half when it conceded only three goals to the Suns. The midfield was neat and impressive and shared the ball around so that it was not left to the few to carry the load and there was plenty of run and contested marking power up forward. The Giants will certainly test them out with their pace and movement in the middle of the ground thanks to the likes of Adam Treloar, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shields and Toby Greene while Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy and Adam Tomlinson will test the Melbourne defence. Shane Mumford gave the Demons a workout in the ruck last year and his duel with a rejuvenated Mark Jamar will be crucial to the outcome of this game. The Giants are playing their first home game at their home away from home, StarTrack Oval, Canberra. Their problem however, is that they don't really play well at this venue having just one win from nine games there. They played at Manuka three times last year without victory. Melbourne won there at their only meeting in round 21, 2012 when they emerged 25-point victors. The Dees have played five times in the ACT for two wins. Melbourne is in good form and has been further bolstered by the return from suspension of Chris Dawes and of Bernie Vince from a hamstring injury. These players should give the team the edge in experience which, combined with the fact that the Demons are buoyed with confidence, comfortable with this venue and are capable of using their new found aggression and size to advantage, should see them win their second successive game for a perfect start to the 2015 season. Melbourne by 17 points.

STARTRACK: THE FINAL FRONTIER by Whispering Jack This week, Melbourne goes on the road to the AFL's final frontier, the national capital Canberra, where it takes on another of the AFL's new franchise clubs in the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Both clubs won their opening rounds but they are considered to be a long way behind the AFL's elite teams and in a different stratosphere completely to the reigning premier, Hawthorn. A win at StarTrak Oval, Manuka will mean a lot to the victor - it will provide confidence, credibility and an excellent starting point for the long year ahead. To the vanquished it will make the long year ahead feel even a little bit longer. Needless to say, a win is important for both clubs. Melbourne has been down for a long time and one wonders how long it can keep treading water. And even though they have been gifted so many drafting concessions in their formative years, the Giants are not without problems of their own - Difficult times for Greater Western Sydney For Melbourne, last week's win, albeit against an undermanned opposition with its main man severely restricted due to not having fully recovered from his shoulder injury, was therapeutic to its players, management and staff and most of all, its supporters to who the adjective "long-suffering" has well and truly outworn its welcome. After all these years there was a light at the end of the tunnel and it was neither a mirage nor an express train rumbling down the tracks on its way to cause wreckage and further untold damage to our collective pride. It was a supreme team effort. Every one of the twenty-two players including the seven debutants played his part and for the first time in a long while, the talk of the town around Melbourne is how do you fit two players - one returning from injury, the other from suspension - into the team and who would be the unlucky player or players omitted in order to make way for them. There's something else about this game that also needs to be said. At the last meeting between these teams, Melbourne wasn't just beaten badly, it was smashed and left badly bleeding after a shameful, shambolic display of ineptitude. Up to about two thirds of that team is likely to be playing at Manuka this Saturday and if they have any pride in their ability as footballers they will be out to atone for that performance. There are some obvious reasons why I am confident that they can reverse that horrific outcome. For one, the team has some marking targets and clever smalls up forward and for another, they are more focussed, aggressive and hitting the scoreboard. Although they were well beaten by the Giants last year, the Demons had only four scoring shots less than the winners. They have straightened up and are playing more direct football and though the home side will be no pushover, there's no reason why they shouldn't avenge their two 2014 losses to the AFL's newest franchise team to give themselves and their fans yet another much needed boost. THE GAME GWS Giants at StarTrack Oval, Saturday 11 April, 2015 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 3 wins Melbourne 3 wins At StarTrak Oval GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 1 win Past five meetings GWS Giants 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Cameron 2 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 at 2.00pm (live) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win - $1.46 Melbourne to win - $2.70 THE LAST TIME THEY MET GWS Giants 15.8.98 defeated Melbourne 3.16.34 at the MCG Round 21, 2014 This game saw Melbourne sink to its lowest ebb in a disappointing season. It was bad enough to lose on the MCG to the newest franchise team by 64 points but to score only three goals for the day and only one (against thirteen) in the final three quarters after starting the game as firm favourites was nothing short of humiliating. And it all happened on Members Appreciation Day. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS B: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Joel Patfull HB: Nick Haynes, Aidan Corr, Rhys Palmer C: Tommy Bugg, Callan Ward, Tom Scully HF: Lachie Whitfield, Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy F: Adam Treloar, Adam Tomlinson, Josh Kelly FOLL: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel I/C: Toby Greene, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith, Nathan Wilson EMG: Matt Buntine, Andrew Phillips, Zac Williams IN: Nathan Wilson OUT: Curtly Hampton (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem C: Daniel Cross, Heritier Lumumba, Ben Newton HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jack Viney F: Jeff Garlett, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince, Aaron vandenBerg EMG: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Viv Michie, Jake Spencer IN: Chris Dawes, Bernie Vince OUT: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Jimmy Toumpas (both omitted) Melbourne impressed last week with an uncharacteristic style of ball movement that we've rarely witnessed in recent seasons. The defence held tight, particularly in the first half when it conceded only three goals to the Suns. The midfield was neat and impressive and shared the ball around so that it was not left to the few to carry the load and there was plenty of run and contested marking power up forward. The Giants will certainly test them out with their pace and movement in the middle of the ground thanks to the likes of Adam Treloar, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shields and Toby Greene while Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy and Adam Tomlinson will test the Melbourne defence. Shane Mumford gave the Demons a workout in the ruck last year and his duel with a rejuvenated Mark Jamar will be crucial to the outcome of this game. The Giants are playing their first home game at their home away from home, StarTrack Oval, Canberra. Their problem however, is that they don't really play well at this venue having just one win from nine games there. They played at Manuka three times last year without victory. Melbourne won there at their only meeting in round 21, 2012 when they emerged 25-point victors. The Dees have played five times in the ACT for two wins. Melbourne is in good form and has been further bolstered by the return from suspension of Chris Dawes and of Bernie Vince from a hamstring injury. These players should give the team the edge in experience which, combined with the fact that the Demons are buoyed with confidence, comfortable with this venue and are capable of using their new found aggression and size to advantage, should see them win their second successive game for a perfect start to the 2015 season. Melbourne by 17 points.