Demonland

6, 5 ... all the way to ... 1 And don't forget the Jones rule

JUGGERNAUT by Whispering Jack The Port Adelaide juggernaut which has cut a swathe through some of the AFL's leading lights in recent weeks takes on a different direction this Saturday. Their last three outings at Adelaide Oval have produced wins against quality opposition in the form of Geelong, Fremantle and Hawthorn (somewhere in between there was also a routine away victory over GWS Giants), but this week the Power head into uncharted territory in the centre of the country to take on a rested Melbourne team in Alice Springs. Ken Hinkley and his men will need to remind themselves that whilst they are taking on opposition that is nowhere near the quality of those his side has beaten of late, this is not the same Melbourne that it faced and gave a spanking to when they last met on the day he officially took the reins at his club a season and a half ago. Paul Roos has installed more than just a sense of belief into this outfit and, if you look at its season to date, there seems to be a definite pattern emerging. In the first three games, there was still some hesitancy among many of the team to fall into line with the new regime and players lapsed back into some of their past habits. Lacking the best of their tall forwards and ruckmen, the team performance was only marginally better than in its past couple of seasons with the result that it sat at the foot of the table with a 0 - 3 record and, thanks to a massive capitulation at the hands of the Eagles, a percentage in the 50s. Although it was early days, many were suggesting that the club would struggle to win a game. The coach was able to see the positives of these early games and when the team beat Carlton in Round 4, they had the support of most of the football world. It was a sympathy vote for the downtrodden but most had little belief that they could sustain winning form for very long. They did make a fairly good fist of things in the next couple of rounds against the Suns and the Swans at the MCG, both definite top four contenders. The infusion of tall, strong players - first Chris Dawes as a key forward, then Mark Jamar in the ruck - saw to it that the Demons were now becoming more than just competitive for long periods of time. The second group of three matches matches to date yielded a 1 - 2 record and the team was off the bottom. The trip to Adelaide saw an inspired Melbourne produce one of its best halves of football in years in the first, topped off with a gritty, determined battle to hold on and win its first game after a dozen barren years in that city. They were unlucky to lose an arm wrestle against the Bulldogs a week later but followed it up by winning a scrap of a game against Richmond. That made it 2 - 1 in the last group of three games and for a brief period the team found itself out of the bottom four. The scalps to date include two of last year's finallists and a team that was strongly touted to be there in September after also making top four in 2012. There should be no illusions for the Demons about the road ahead or the fact that they are about to face some tough challenges in the coming month but, for the first time in years, a clash against a top-of-the-table adversary doesn't fill me with as much apprehension as it would have done in the very recent past. Nor does the memory and the pain of Round 1, 2013. And that feeling is based on more than the mere fact that the team suddenly has belief in itself ... THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 31 May, 2014 at 1.40pm at TIO Treager Park, Alice Springs HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 11 wins Port Adelaide 15 wins At TIO Treager Park Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 0 wins Past five years Melbourne 3 wins Port Adelaide 5 wins The Coaches Roos 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $8.00 Port Adelaide to win - $1.08 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54 Round 1, 2013 at the MCG The Demons were hit with a sledgehammer on its home turf in the opening round. They were woeful with only a single goal after the main break, the only bright lights being the tireless work of Nathan Jones and the debut of Jack Viney. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Dean Terlich HB: Neville Jetta, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes C: Daniel Cross, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince HF: Rohan Bail, James Frawley, Jack Watts F: Cameron Pedersen, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Matt Jones, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Daniel Nicholson, Jimmy Toumpas IN: James Frawley, Neville Jetta OUT: Chris Dawes (suspended), Jimmy Toumpas (omitted) PORT ADELAIDE B: J Hombsch, A Carlile, J Impey HB: M Broadbent, J Trengove, J Pittard C: J Polec, T Boak, K Cornes HF: A Moore, J Westhoff, M White F: R Gray, J Schulz, C Wingard FOLL: M Lobbe, O Wines, B Ebert I/C: K Mitchell, J Neade, P Stewart, A.Young EMG: K Amon, S Gray, B Newton IN: P Stewart, A Moore, J Neade OUT: D Cassisi, A Monfries, H Hartlett A TOWN LIKE ALICE The location of this fixture, the first match in VFL-AFL history to be played for premiership points in Alice Springs, is at the heart of the AFL's Indigenous Round. Both clubs are well represented by indigenous players and the game also recognises the MFC's initiative in entering its partnership with the Northern Territory during the time when Jimmy Stynes led the club. Without wishing to dwell too much on the lamented Liam Jurrah as he languishes in prison (and rightly so because of his guilt for a serious offence) the circumstances, the place and the recent timing of racial taunts against Adam Goodes and Neville Jetta all highlight the fact that so much more work needs to be done in relation to the issues that divide this nation's community of peoples and in particular, problems in remote Aboriginal communities like Jurrah's home of Yuendumu which is down the road (give or take a few hundred kilometres) from where this game will be played. Melbourne welcomes back James Frawley who has some big shoes to fill in the form of those that belong to Chris Dawes who symbolised the team's revival his great physical presence earlier in the season. It's a big task but Paul Roos has faith in him as the primary forward target this week. "Dawesy has been in good form and we're going to miss him, there's no question, but certainly having Frawley come back you almost get a like-for-like [replacement]. They're different types but they're going to play similar positions," Roos said on during the week. Neville Jetta replaces Jimmy Toumpas (omitted) and will be relied upon to stop one of a few important opposition goal sneaks. Port Adelaide didn't get to the top of the table without reason and, as Roos pointed out, the "strength of Port is their evenness ... they don't have too many weaknesses." He will need to be able to identify and exploit any weaknesses this team might have if the Demons can proceed on their slow march forward. Port has lost Cassisi, Monfries and Hartlett but although this will help the Melbourne cause, it remains the outsiders to win. However, I expect that it's going to be another tight affair and, in those circumstances, anything can happen.

The Port Adelaide juggernaut which has cut a swathe through some of the AFL's leading lights in recent weeks takes on a different direction this Saturday. Their last three outings at Adelaide Oval have produced wins against quality opposition in the form of Geelong, Fremantle and Hawthorn (somewhere in between there was also a routine away victory over GWS Giants), but this week the Power head into uncharted territory in the centre of the country to take on a rested Melbourne team in Alice Springs. Ken Hinkley and his men will need to remind themselves that whilst they are taking on opposition that is nowhere near the quality of those his side has beaten of late, this is not the same Melbourne that it faced and gave a spanking to when they last met on the day he officially took the reins at his club a season and a half ago. Paul Roos has installed more than just a sense of belief into this outfit and, if you look at its season to date, there seems to be a definite pattern emerging. In the first three games, there was still some hesitancy among many of the team to fall into line with the new regime and players lapsed back into some of their past habits. Lacking the best of their tall forwards and ruckmen, the team performance was only marginally better than in its past couple of seasons with the result that it sat at the foot of the table with a 0 - 3 record and, thanks to a massive capitulation at the hands of the Eagles, a percentage in the 50s. Although it was early days, many were suggesting that the club would struggle to win a game. The coach was able to see the positives of these early games and when the team beat Carlton in Round 4, they had the support of most of the football world. It was a sympathy vote for the downtrodden but most had little belief that they could sustain winning form for very long. They did make a fairly good fist of things in the next couple of rounds against the Suns and the Swans at the MCG, both definite top four contenders. The infusion of tall, strong players - first Chris Dawes as a key forward, then Mark Jamar in the ruck - saw to it that the Demons were now becoming more than just competitive for long periods of time. The second group of three matches matches to date yielded a 1 - 2 record and the team was off the bottom. The trip to Adelaide saw an inspired Melbourne produce one of its best halves of football in years in the first, topped off with a gritty, determined battle to hold on and win its first game after a dozen barren years in that city. They were unlucky to lose an arm wrestle against the Bulldogs a week later but followed it up by winning a scrap of a game against Richmond. That made it 2 - 1 in the last group of three games and for a brief period the team found itself out of the bottom four. The scalps to date include two of last year's finallists and a team that was strongly touted to be there in September after also making top four in 2012. There should be no illusions for the Demons about the road ahead or the fact that they are about to face some tough challenges in the coming month but, for the first time in years, a clash against a top-of-the-table adversary doesn't fill me with as much apprehension as it would have done in the very recent past. Nor does the memory and the pain of Round 1, 2013. And that feeling is based on more than the mere fact that the team suddenly has belief in itself ... THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 31 May, 2014 at 1.40pm at TIO Treager Park, Alice Springs HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 11 wins Port Adelaide 15 wins At TIO Treager Park Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 0 wins Past five years Melbourne 3 wins Port Adelaide 5 wins The Coaches Roos 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $8.00 Port Adelaide to win - $1.08 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54 Round 1, 2013 at the MCG The Demons were hit with a sledgehammer on its home turf in the opening round. They were woeful with only a single goal after the main break, the only bright lights being the tireless work of Nathan Jones and the debut of Jack Viney. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Dean Terlich HB: Neville Jetta, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes C: Daniel Cross, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince HF: Rohan Bail, James Frawley, Jack Watts F: Cameron Pedersen, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Matt Jones, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Daniel Nicholson, Jimmy Toumpas IN: James Frawley, Neville Jetta OUT: Chris Dawes (suspended), Jimmy Toumpas (omitted) PORT ADELAIDE B: J Hombsch, A Carlile, J Impey HB: M Broadbent, J Trengove, J Pittard C: J Polec, T Boak, K Cornes HF: A Moore, J Westhoff, M White F: R Gray, J Schulz, C Wingard FOLL: M Lobbe, O Wines, B Ebert I/C: K Mitchell, J Neade, P Stewart, A.Young EMG: K Amon, S Gray, B Newton IN: P Stewart, A Moore, J Neade OUT: D Cassisi, A Monfries, H Hartlett A TOWN LIKE ALICE The location of this fixture, the first match in VFL-AFL history to be played for premiership points in Alice Springs, is at the heart of the AFL's Indigenous Round. Both clubs are well represented by indigenous players and the game also recognises the MFC's initiative in entering its partnership with the Northern Territory during the time when Jimmy Stynes led the club. Without wishing to dwell too much on the lamented Liam Jurrah as he languishes in prison (and rightly so because of his guilt for a serious offence) the circumstances, the place and the recent timing of racial taunts against Adam Goodes and Neville Jetta all highlight the fact that so much more work needs to be done in relation to the issues that divide this nation's community of peoples and in particular, problems in remote Aboriginal communities like Jurrah's home of Yuendumu which is down the road (give or take a few hundred kilometres) from where this game will be played. Melbourne welcomes back James Frawley who has some big shoes to fill in the form of those that belong to Chris Dawes who symbolised the team's revival his great physical presence earlier in the season. It's a big task but Paul Roos has faith in him as the primary forward target this week. "Dawesy has been in good form and we're going to miss him, there's no question, but certainly having Frawley come back you almost get a like-for-like [replacement]. They're different types but they're going to play similar positions," Roos said on during the week. Neville Jetta replaces Jimmy Toumpas (omitted) and will be relied upon to stop one of a few important opposition goal sneaks. Port Adelaide didn't get to the top of the table without reason and, as Roos pointed out, the "strength of Port is their evenness ... they don't have too many weaknesses." He will need to be able to identify and exploit any weaknesses this team might have if the Demons can proceed on their slow march forward. Port has lost Cassisi, Monfries and Hartlett but although this will help the Melbourne cause, it remains the outsiders to win. However, I expect that it's going to be another tight affair and, in those circumstances, anything can happen.

MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Tom Gillies Dan Nicholson Half backs Jack Watts James Frawley Colin Garland Centreline Jack Viney Jack Grimes Jimmy Toumpas Half forwards Jeremy Howe James Sellar Colin Sylvia Forwards Shannon Byrnes Mitch Clark David Rodan Followers Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Matthew Jones Cameron Pedersen Luke Tapscott Emergencies Aaron Davey Jake Spencer Dean Terlich New Shannon Byrnes (Geelong) Tom Gillies (Geelong) Matt Jones (Box Hill VFL) Cameron Pedersen (North Melbourne) David Rodan (Port Adelaide) Jimmy Toumpas (Woodville-West Torrens SANFL) Jack Viney (Casey VFL) PORT ADELAIDE Backs Tom Jonas Jackson Trengove Campbell Heath Half backs Jasper Pittard Cameron O'Shea Lewis Stevenson Centreline Matthew Broadbent Brad Ebert Kane Cornes Half forwards Justin Westhoff Paul Stewart Angus Monfries Forwards Chad Wingard Jay Schulz Jake Neade Followers Jarrad Redden Hamish Hartlett Travis Boak Interchange Matthew Lobbe Kane Mitchell Andrew Moore Oliver Wines Emergencies Jack Hombsch Daniel Stewart Aaron Young New Campbell Heath (Sydney) Kane Mitchell (Claremont WAFL) Angus Monfries (Essendon) Jake Neade (North Ballarat U18) Lewis Stevenson (West Coast) Oliver Wines (Murray U18)

La Dee-vina Comedia and old dee, What were you using to post? Phone or PC? If phone was it an iPhone or Android or other? If computer was it a PC or Mac or other? And yes the more you donate the less issues you will have in the future.

Thanks for the contribution. Enjoy the ad free site.

I think the double posts is a Demonland thing but I thought I had that under control. Is it still happening? If it happens again. Shoot me a PM and let me know which thread it occurred in and what platform you were using (eg: phone or PC and then what type iphone or android).

It's Westpace but I don't think it matters. The BSB is the Bank identifier. Also you can change your password in the settings of Demonland.

I sent you a PM with direct deposit details if that suits you better.

Casey falls short to Coburg Scorps Surrender ... here's one from Brent Diamond who writes for Fairfax. WJ thinks it's a poor article because it focusses more on the losers than the winners and there are a few mistakes (Michie "yet to make his debut" with Melbourne and Riley also plucked from Freo?) but it does cover the MFC players so for what it's worth, here it is - Demons improvement lifts spirits, says forward Jack Fitzpatrick 2014 Peter Jackson VFLCasey Scorpions 4.6.30 7.9.51 8.10.58 9.12.66Coburg 2.0.12 6.2.38 9.3.57 11.8.74Goals Casey Scorpions Evans 2 Barry Best Fitzpatrick Kent Nicholson Rosier Smith Coburg Featherstone 4 Anderson Christensen 2 Carnell McConnell Robertella Best Casey Scorpions Michie Evans Fitzpatrick Tapscott Nicholson Kent Coburg Featherstone Linton McConnell Blair Sturgess Christensen Statistics Casey had substantially more possessions, more inside 50s and more of everything except free kicks and scores on the board. The free kick situation seems to be a recurring problem. Is that due to a lack of discipline? * D. Barry 1 goal 1 behind 16 disposals 10 kicks 6 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 75 Dream Team Points * S. Blease 23 disposals 18 kicks 5 handballs 5 marks 1 tackle 83 Dream Team Points * M. Evans 2 goals 26 disposals 11 kicks 15 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 103 Dream Team Points * J. Fitzpatrick 1 goal disposals 11 kicks 7 handballs 7 marks 23 hit outs 98 Dream Team Points * A. Georgiou 15 disposals 7 kicks 8 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 51 Dream Team Points * J. Harmes 16 disposals 6 kicks 10 handballs 4 marks 1 tackles 45 Dream Team Points * J. Hunt 2 behinds 12 disposals 6 kicks 6 handballs 2 marks 1 tackle 39 Dream Team Points * D. Kent 1 goal 1 behind 28 disposals 18 kicks 10 handballs 6 marks 1 tackle 1 hit out 101 Dream Team Points * J. McKenzie 30 disposals 12 kicks 18 handballs 5 marks 6 tackles 108 Dream Team Points * V. Michie 2 behinds 31 disposals 18 kicks 13 handballs 7 marks 1 tackle 108 Dream Team Points * D. Nicholson 1 goal 26 disposals 9 kicks 17 handballs 6 marks 4 tackles 102 Dream Team Points * J. Strauss 20 disposals 13 kicks 7 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 79 Dream Team Points * L. Tapscott 1 behind 23 disposals 16 kicks 7 handballs 7 marks 84 Dream Team Points 2014 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 6.4.40 8.7.55 10.10.70 Coburg 4.3.27 10.5.65 12.6.78 13.9.87 Goals Casey Scorpions Lang 5 Gawley J McDonald Murray Rennie Saunders Coburg Brancatisano Cleary Morrow 2 Boyd Bzenic Hemala Madden Lindon Rogers Van Der Byl Best Casey Scorpions Lang Corry Saunders J McDonald Thwaites Welsh Coburg Hemala Brancatisano Brandt Rogers Phelps Golding

Thank you for your contribution. Thanks to everyone else who has contributed in the past few days.

I have just installed a new Work Friendly skin for those users who browse the site at work and would like it to blend in a little better than the red and blue of the normal site skin. The Work Friendly skin is sure to fool your boss and work colleagues into thinking that you are working and not goofing off on Demonland. This is an added benefit for those that sign up as Annual or Lifetime Member. Here is what the Work Friendly skin looks like:

Coburg take the points - disappointing for Casey which had a reasonable sized contingent of AFL players and faded out (not for the first time) after holding a five goal lead to go down to a lowly stand alone team. It's going to be a long, season ahead.

And now have moved ahead by 5 points.

[with credit to Charles Dickens ... re-written Paul Roos] It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way ... How apt are those words to describe the Demons fate for the past years. A team going nowhere.to Heaven or Hell. And indeed it has been the worst of times where the spring of hope was dashed by the winter of despair. But now the Tale of Two Cities has been re-written by Paul Roos. No longer is it London and Paris, but rather Sydney and Melbourne! We all know the Sydney story. A 72 year Premiership drought broken by Roos as coach. He adopted a relentless, structured, disciplined approach to the way football was played, and turned a group of ordinary, average footballers into ruthless role-players. What we saw in the game against Richmond, with his new charges, the Melbourne Demons, was a replica of the same formula. Players who last year were headed for the scrap heap, are re-born as integral cogs in the Roos machine. With the 3rd win for the Season the Demons have already exceeded their output for 2013, but it is the style of play that will win more, much more in the remainder of 2014. Today the standout was Cam Pedersen who marked and fought for everything that came his way. Only credited with 8 marks, most of them would have been contested with a 2 goal output to his balance sheet. 12 months ago he moved around the ground at glacial pace: today he is a different player and truly ripped the game apart at critical moments. Interestingly, it was probably the inclusion of Max Gawn that benefitted Pedersen most. Instead of having to pinch hit in the ruck, he was courtesy of Gawn, able to play a lethal role around the ground and in the forward line. Watts, Jamar, Vince, Tyson, Viney, Jones, Cross, Dawes, Salem ... etc. It was difficult to single out others for exceptional efforts, because there were simply so many contributors. This was the first time for many, many years that Demon supporters were not able to walk away from the game saying that player A or B failed to contribute. Today there were no spuds!!! And unlike previous Melbourne teams, when the opposition got back within 4 points in the last quarter, it would have signaled another capitulation. But not this Roos led team. They simply dug deeper, and now believe that once they have their noses in front, they never get beaten. Just like Sydney ... So now with what is unfolding before our eyes, is it too much to hope for a similar outcome in this new Roos fairytale? Sydney had to wait 72 years. We are at 50 and counting down!! Melbourne 1.3.9 4.5.29 9.6.60 14.7.91 Richmond 2.3.15 4.8.32 6.16.52 9.20.74 Goals Melbourne Watts 3 Pedersen Tyson 2 Dawes Kennedy-Harris M Jones N Jones Riley Vince Viney Richmond Edwards Lennon 2 Cotchin Jackson Lloyd Martin Riewoldt Best Melbourne Tyson N Jones Pedersen Viney Dawes Howe Watts Richmond Martin Jackson Cotchin Edwards Deledio Grigg Changes Melbourne Neville Jetta (gastro) replaced by Jimmy Toumpas Richmond Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil Richmond Astbury (knee) Cotchin (ankle) Reports Melbourne Nil Richmond Nil Umpires Ryan Matthews Fisher Crowd 56,910 at the MCG

A Tale of Two Cities by George on the Outer credit Charles Dickens……re-written Paul Roos It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way... How apt are those words to describe the Demons fate for the past years. A team going nowhere….to Heaven or Hell. And indeed it has been the worst of times where the spring of hope was dashed by the winter of despair. But now the Tale of Two Cities has been re-written by Paul Roos. No longer is it London and Paris, but rather Sydney and Melbourne! We all know the Sydney story. A 72 year Premiership drought broken by Roos as coach. He adopted a relentless, structured, disciplined approach to the way football was played, and turned a group of ordinary, average footballers into ruthless role-players. What we saw in the game against Richmond, with his new charges, the Melbourne Demons, was a replica of the same formula. Players who last year were headed for the scrap heap, are re-born as integral cogs in the Roos machine. With the 3rd win for the Season the Demons have already exceeded their output for 2013, but it is the style of play that will win more, much more in the remainder of 2014. Today the standout was Cam Pedersen who marked and fought for everything that came his way. Only credited with 8 marks, most of them would have been contested with a 2 goal output to his balance sheet. 12 months ago he moved around the ground at glacial pace: today he is a different player and truly ripped the game apart at critical moments. Interestingly, it was probably the inclusion of Max Gawn that benefitted Pedersen most. Instead of having to pinch hit in the ruck, he was courtesy of Gawn, able to play a lethal role around the ground and in the forward line. Watts, Jamar, Vince, Tyson, Viney, Jones, Cross, Dawes, Salem……etc…..It was difficult to single out others for exceptional efforts, because there were simply so many contributors. This was the first time for many, many years that Demon supporters were not able to walk away from the game saying that player A or B failed to contribute. Today there were no spuds!!! And unlike previous Melbourne teams, when the opposition got back within 4 points in the last quarter, it would have signaled another capitulation. But not this Roos led team. They simply dug deeper, and now believe that once they have their noses in front, they never get beaten. Just like Sydney…. So now with what is unfolding before our eyes, is it too much to hope for a similar outcome in this new Roos fairytale? Sydney had to wait 72 years. We are at 50 and counting down!! RICHMOND 2.3 4.8 6.16 9.20 (74) MELBOURNE 1.3 4.5 9.6 14.7 (91) GOALS Richmond: Lennon 2, Edwards 2, Jackson, Riewoldt, Martin, Lloyd, Cotchin Melbourne: Watts 3, Tyson 2, Pedersen 2, N. Jones, M. Jones, Riley, Dawes, Viney, Vince, Kennedy-Harris BEST Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Jackson, Cotchin, Melbourne: Tyson, N. Jones, Pedersen, Viney, Dawes, Howe, Watts INJURIES Richmond: Astbury (left knee), Cotchin (ankle) Melbourne: Neville Jetta (Gastro) replaced in selected side by Jimmy Toumpas. SUBSTITUTES Richmond: Shaun Hampson replaced by Ben Lennon in the third quarter Melbourne: Aidan Riley replaced by Jay Kennedy-Harris in the third quarter Reports: Nil Umpires: Fisher, Nicholls, Ryan Official crowd: 56,960 at the MCG

Nathan Jones & Dom Tyson both poll votes - progressive:- 98. Nathan Jones 84. Dom Tyson 43. Lynden Dunn 42. Jack Viney 37. Daniel Cross 27. Chris Dawes 26. Matt Jones Bernie Vince Jack Watts 25. James Frawley 23. Tom McDonald 20. Cam Pedersen 17. Jeremy Howe 12. Mark Jamar 11. Rohan Bail Jack Grimes 8. Jay Kennedy-Harris 6. Alexis Georgiou Jimmy Toumpas 4. Dean Terlich 3. Jack Trengove 2. Shannon Byrnes Neville Jetta Jake Spencer 1. Max Gawn

It's probably because it has such a large screen that it displayed the desktop site.

I hear ya. There's a treatment for that but the side affects are worse than the cure.

If you scroll to the bottom left corner of the page does it say "Use Mobile Version"? If so clock that. Not sure why it isn't loading automatically for you. What phone are you using?

98.6. That number isn't a reference to one's normal body temperature but to a percentage. It's a figure I made up because I can't be sure of the precise amount but it refers to what I assess is the percentage of match time that Melbourne seemed "up and about" last Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs whereas, in order to win, it required the full 100%. We'll debate that dubious free kick to the Bulldogs' Stewart Crameri that put them in front five minutes from the end but from that point on Melbourne fell suddenly into the old pattern where lapses of concentration and effort both in defence and in attack put paid to its winning chances. The heart was in the mouth as Matt Jones ran down the heart of the MCG only to falter with that kick for goal that would have restored the lead and given the team an enormous confidence boost so late in the game. It's worth pointing out that, at this stage of the season, Melbourne leads the competition in one statistic - it allows its opposition to score a goal from just 20% of inside 50s. Bearing that in mind, immediately after the Matt Jones behind, the Bulldogs were allowed to go effortlessly coast to coast against a defence that held so tight for most of the evening bringing back memories of recent calamities and, in no time at all, it was game, set and match. And that's what the game is about when you reach the point where you're doing better in percentage terms than the freezing point figure of 32 where Melbourne has been in terms of effort and ability for most of the last decade. These days, you must be running at your best every week; you need to produce 100% which is where Melbourne needs to be throughout this week's game against Richmond. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne on Saturday 17 May, 2014 at 1.40pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 103 wins Melbourne 72 wins Drawn 2 At MCG Richmond 68 wins Melbourne 60 wins Drawn 1 Past five years Richmond 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel 1:30pm (live) RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Richmond - $1.05 Melbourne to win - $5.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 15.16.106 defeated Melbourne 11.6.72 Round 8, 2013 at the MCG The Demons made a good fist of things for more than half a game before ultimately falling away to lose by 34 points. Aaron Davey was Melbourne's best. 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) TOM HAFEY The match has fittingly been designated as the tribute game to Tom Hafey who lost his battle with cancer earlier in the week. Before Hafey arrived on the scene to coach Richmond, the Tigers were a battling club regularly occupying a place at the foot of the VFL ladder. In those days, fifty years ago, our own Norm Smith was the leading coach in the sport with six premierships under his belt in the decade to 1964. Smith's mantle as the doyen of coaches was taken by Hafey who led the Tigers to the first of his four flags in 1967 and who then went on to reinvigorate the Collingwood Football Club. He was a model citizen who set an example of fitness and demanded high standards of behaviour that ushered in the professional era of our sport. May his soul rest in peace. NO QUESTION There's no question that the Tigers are the big disappointment of the competition to date. Having finally made it to the finals in 2013 only to be unceremoniously dumped out by "stand in" finallists Carlton, it was said that Richmond was approaching this season with a single-minded determination to not only atone for that embarrassing elimination final loss at the hands of their traditional rivals but also to go at least one or two steps beyond their final outcome for last season. They started the new year disastrously on the Gold Coast, extracted revenge against the Blues and scraped in against lowly Brisbane but were also spanked by Collingwood and Hawthorn before producing some gallantry in going down narrowly to Geelong at their last start. Defeat at the hands of Melbourne, their NAB Cup conqueror in February, could spell the end to their hopes and have their legion of fans up in arms and ready to consign their membership tickets to the microwave again. It was Melbourne's new look midfield that took Richmond by surprise when they met earlier in the year at that pre season game at Etihad Stadium. If the Tigers can't beat the Demons handsomely in this important sector then they simply can't win because Melbourne has a slight but discernable advantage over its opponent nearly everywhere else on the the field.

98.6 by Whispering Jack 98.6. That number isn't a reference to one's normal body temperature but to a percentage. It's a figure I made up because I can't be sure of the precise amount but it refers to what I assess is the percentage of match time that Melbourne seemed "up and about" last Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs whereas, in order to win, it required the full 100%. We'll debate that dubious free kick to the Bulldogs' Stewart Crameri that put them in front five minutes from the end but from that point on Melbourne fell suddenly into the old pattern where lapses of concentration and effort both in defence and in attack put paid to its winning chances. The heart was in the mouth as Matt Jones ran down the heart of the MCG only to falter with that kick for goal that would have restored the lead and given the team an enormous confidence boost so late in the game. It's worth pointing out that, at this stage of the season, Melbourne leads the competition in one statistic - it allows its opposition to score a goal from just 20% of inside 50s. Bearing that in mind, immediately after the Matt Jones behind, the Bulldogs were allowed to go effortlessly coast to coast against a defence that held so tight for most of the evening bringing back memories of recent calamities and, in no time at all, it was game, set and match. And that's what the game is about when you reach the point where you're doing better in percentage terms than the freezing point figure of 32 where Melbourne has been in terms of effort and ability for most of the last decade. These days, you must be running at your best every week; you need to produce 100% which is where Melbourne needs to be throughout this week's game against Richmond. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne on Saturday 17 May, 2014 at 1.40pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 103 wins Melbourne 72 wins Drawn 2 At MCG Richmond 68 wins Melbourne 60 wins Drawn 1 Past five years Richmond 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Roos 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel 1:30pm (live) RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Richmond - $1.05 Melbourne to win - $5.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 15.16.106 defeated Melbourne 11.6.72 Round 8, 2013 at the MCG The Demons made a good fist of things for more than half a game before ultimately falling away to lose by 34 points. Aaron Davey was Melbourne's best. 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) TOM HAFEY The match has fittingly been designated as the tribute game to Tom Hafey who lost his battle with cancer earlier in the week. Before Hafey arrived on the scene to coach Richmond, the Tigers were a battling club regularly occupying a place at the foot of the VFL ladder. In those days, fifty years ago, our own Norm Smith was the leading coach in the sport with six premierships under his belt in the decade to 1964. Smith's mantle as the doyen of coaches was taken by Hafey who led the Tigers to the first of his four flags in 1967 and who then went on to reinvigorate the Collingwood Football Club. He was a model citizen who set an example of fitness and demanded high standards of behaviour that ushered in the professional era of our sport. May his soul rest in peace. NO QUESTION There's no question that the Tigers are the big disappointment of the competition to date. Having finally made it to the finals in 2013 only to be unceremoniously dumped out by "stand in" finallists Carlton, it was said that Richmond was approaching this season with a single-minded determination to not only atone for that embarrassing elimination final loss at the hands of their traditional rivals but also to go at least one or two steps beyond their final outcome for last season. They started the new year disastrously on the Gold Coast, extracted revenge against the Blues and scraped in against lowly Brisbane but were also spanked by Collingwood and Hawthorn before producing some gallantry in going down narrowly to Geelong at their last start. Defeat at the hands of Melbourne, their NAB Cup conqueror in February, could spell the end to their hopes and have their legion of fans up in arms and ready to consign their membership tickets to the microwave again. It was Melbourne's new look midfield that took Richmond by surprise when they met earlier in the year at that pre season game at Etihad Stadium. If the Tigers can't beat the Demons handsomely in this important sector then they simply can't win because Melbourne has a slight but discernable advantage over its opponent nearly everywhere else on the the field.

That is the truth.