Demonland

This

It would be ironic and totally MFC if the deal didn't happen because of this.

Whilst we're posting about 80s footy music and production values, here's another classic:

Once you have seen and heard it, it cannot be unseen and unheard. From the late 80s

If you knew at the start of the season, that the Demons were bound for September action, then everyone would have been getting just a little excited. But when you then found out that: * we could only manage a lousy pair of wins for the season and * the September action involved playing the 4th worst team in the competition at 4.40 on a Sunday evening after every other game had finished, and * the off-field dramas continued to get even worse than 2012 then perhaps even more of us would have booked ski-holidays at the start of the year ( but the snow quality this year was about as good as the Demons!) Someone has got it in for us. Are we jinxed? Is the curse of the Red Fox real? It sure feels that way, but until players start performing and putting in the efforts that Norm Smith demanded from his protégés, then we will continue to put in sorry performances like the supporters witnessed again in the final match. Nine goals straight were recorded by the Dogs in the second quarter, and that was after we had scored the first. Familiar? We the fans have been watching that sort of performance all year. Players thinking that they have done enough in one quarter of football While some again might be excited by the fact that Jack Watts kicked four goals, it would really be something if he actually got the ball himself. He wont have Aaron Davey to drill it down his throat next year, and blind umpires wont hand out blatantly wrong free kicks to bolster his ego. Seven possessions for the day is simply not good enough! Col Sylvia has been promising to deliver and continuing to not do so, for ten seasons now. His lack of effort and willingness to do the team things was in sharp contrast to the gutsy performances from Luke Dalhouse, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and Daniel Cross. They just keep on giving and Col keeps on promising. And four of those five have been around just as long ! What a sorry state we will see ourselves without Davey next year. His exquisite skills with the ball over many years has been an absolute delight to the Demon fans. And in his final match he gave us plenty of glimpses of those highlights again. It is a true indictment on the rest of the team that the veteran was probably our B.O.G for the day. He gave his all during his career and didnt stop until he could do no more. We will miss him ... thanks for the memories Flash! For the Demon fans, the relief that Season 2013 is over was palpable. What a sad state of affairs, that this once great Club is glad to see the season over! Another re-build coming, with another 8-10 players to dropped from the list. The Demonland scribes can easily put together a list of players who wont be around next year, and the final number is probably closer to the double digit number. We simply have too many players who are not of AFL standard, and an equal number of lazy, contented spectators. The Bulldogs lack a lot of things in their side, but G & D isnt one of them. They have given their supporters some hope for 2014, especially with their performances in the latter half of the Season. The Melbourne supporters in contrast, have got nothing from the players and are pinning their hopes on a new coach, president, board, CEO ... But can any of them kick a football? Melbourne4.5.29 6.5.41 9.7.61 13.9.87 Western Bulldogs 4.3.27 13.6.84 14.8.92 16.11.107 Goals Melbourne Watts 4 Kent 2 Dunn Garland Howe M Jones N Jones Sellar Viney Western BulldogsDickson 3 Cooney Giansiracusa Hunter 2 Campbell Cross Grant Jones Liberatore Minson Wallis Best Melbourne Grimes Garland Trengove Viney Frawley M Jones Western Bulldogs Liberatore Boyd Cooney Murphy Minson Cross Dickson Injuries Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Changes Melbourne Chris Dawes (calf) replaced by James Sellar Western Bulldogs Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Hosking Armstrong Fisher Official Crowd 22,176 at Etihad Stadium Goodbye 2013 ... hello future

And congratulations to Nathan Jones who makes it back to back - DEMONLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2013 - FINAL STANDINGS 202. Nathan Jones 132. Colin Garland 111. Matt Jones 94. Jack Viney 86. James Frawley Colin Sylvia 78. Dean Terlich 57. Jeremy Howe 55. Jack Watts 44. Jack Grimes 37. Aaron Davey 33. Lynden Dunn Jack Trengove 30. Jimmy Toumpas 28. Tom McDonald 27. Max Gawn 26. Shannon Byrnes Jordie McKenzie 25. Mitch Clisby 23. Michael Evans Jack Fitzpatrick 21. Chris Dawes 16. Cam Pedersen Jake Spencer 13. Dean Kent James Magner Luke Tapscott 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 3. Mark Jamar 2. Rohan Bail Neville Jetta 1. Sam Blease

And that's it for Game Day until March next year. Thanks for your contributions folks!

SEPTEMBER ACTION ... OR ANOTHER SORRY EFFORT? by George on the Outer If you knew at the start of the season, that the Demons were bound for September action, then everyone would have been getting just a little excited. But when you then found out that: * we could only manage a lousy pair of wins for the season and * the September action involved playing the 4th worst team in the competition at 4.40 on a Sunday evening after every other game had finished, and * the off-field dramas continued to get even worse than 2012 then perhaps even more of us would have booked ski-holidays at the start of the year ( but the snow quality this year was about as good as the Demons!) Someone has got it in for us. Are we jinxed? Is the curse of the Red Fox real? It sure feels that way, but until players start performing and putting in the efforts that Norm Smith demanded from his protégés, then we will continue to put in sorry performances like the supporters witnessed again in the final match. Nine goals straight were recorded by the Dogs in the second quarter, and that was after we had scored the first. Familiar? We the fans have been watching that sort of performance all year. Players thinking that they have done enough in one quarter of football While some again might be excited by the fact that Jack Watts kicked four goals, it would really be something if he actually got the ball himself. He wont have Aaron Davey to drill it down his throat next year, and blind umpires wont hand out blatantly wrong free kicks to bolster his ego. Seven possessions for the day is simply not good enough! Col Sylvia has been promising to deliver and continuing to not do so, for ten seasons now. His lack of effort and willingness to do the team things was in sharp contrast to the gutsy performances from Luke Dalhouse, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and Daniel Cross. They just keep on giving and Col keeps on promising. And four of those five have been around just as long ! What a sorry state we will see ourselves without Davey next year. His exquisite skills with the ball over many years has been an absolute delight to the Demon fans. And in his final match he gave us plenty of glimpses of those highlights again. It is a true indictment on the rest of the team that the veteran was probably our B.O.G for the day. He gave his all during his career and didnt stop until he could do no more. We will miss him ... thanks for the memories Flash! For the Demon fans, the relief that Season 2013 is over was palpable. What a sad state of affairs, that this once great Club is glad to see the season over! Another re-build coming, with another 8-10 players to dropped from the list. The Demonland scribes can easily put together a list of players who wont be around next year, and the final number is probably closer to the double digit number. We simply have too many players who are not of AFL standard, and an equal number of lazy, contented spectators. The Bulldogs lack a lot of things in their side, but G & D isnt one of them. They have given their supporters some hope for 2014, especially with their performances in the latter half of the Season. The Melbourne supporters in contrast, have got nothing from the players and are pinning their hopes on a new coach, president, board, CEO ... But can any of them kick a football? Melbourne4.5.29 6.5.41 9.7.61 13.9.87 Western Bulldogs 4.3.27 13.6.84 14.8.92 16.11.107 Goals Melbourne Watts 4 Kent 2 Dunn Garland Howe M Jones N Jones Sellar Viney Western BulldogsDickson 3 Cooney Giansiracusa Hunter 2 Campbell Cross Grant Jones Liberatore Minson Wallis Best Melbourne Grimes Garland Trengove Viney Frawley M Jones Western Bulldogs Liberatore Boyd Cooney Murphy Minson Cross Dickson Injuries Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Changes Melbourne Chris Dawes (calf) replaced by James Sellar Western Bulldogs Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Hosking Armstrong Fisher Official Crowd 22,176 at Etihad Stadium Goodbye 2013 ... hello future

Last chance in 2013 to cast your votes ...

The Casey Scorpions were no match for Geelong in Friday night's qualifying final played in front of a 6,000 spectators at Simonds Stadium. The Cats who won by 49 points in the end not only had the advantage of the home crowd but also the edge in experience and size with a bevy of AFL listed players against the Scorpions who could only muster together seven Melbourne-listed players of who two have yet to debut and two others played no senior AFL football this year. Given the circumstances, Casey did well to stay with Geelong for a little over half a game and was well served by its VFL listed youngsters, many of who have spent much of the season in the development league team. Proceedings opened in slippery conditions which suited the smaller visitors who tasted first blood through a goal from the nippy Nathan Page. The Cats countered with two goals but the Scorps were up to the challenge with goals to the Toms, Gillies and Couch before a late goal to the home side put them 5 points up at the first break. With All Australian ruckman Mark Jamar dominating the ruck duels, Casey went out to the biggest lead (7 points) of the night early in the second term with goals from youngster Tom Corry and a second from Gillies who was a member of Geelong's VFL premiership team last year. This merely stung the Cats into action. They proceeded to produce the game's best patches of play with some fast, free flowing football to score four unanswered goals before Cam Pedersen, who was playing a strong game, drifted forward to kick a much needed goal before the half time siren. The rain came down heavily during the main break and persisted in patches for most of the rest of the night. The small contingent of Scorpion fans were given some early hope of a team revival when Will Petropoulos goalled to peg the margin back to single figures but the size and strength of the opposition was about to prevail. The Cats scored the next five goals to stretch their lead to 40 points by the final break and coasted to an easy victory in the end. The win was a triumph for Geelong coach Matthew Knights, ironically coming days after his successor became the first AFL coach to be banned from competition. Casey was best served by Pedersen (29 possessions) who unfortunately missed qualification for the finals by one game. Vice-captain Luke Tynan (26 touches) and Mitch Gent (25) were solid throughout. The Scorpions will be hoping for relief from the recent spate of injuries that has beset their team as they are due to welcome back several Melbourne listed players whose AFL duties finish at the weekend. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Dom Barry 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles Tom Couch 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 9 tackles 1 goal 1 Tom Gillies 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 2 goals 1 behind Mark Jamar 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 48 hit outs Cam Pedersen 18 kicks 10 handballs 28 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 14 hitouts 1 goal Rory Taggert 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle Josh Tynan 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 6.2.38 7.3.45 8.3.51 Geelong 3.6.24 7.11.53 12.13.85 14.16.100 Goals Casey Scorpions Gillies 2 Corry Couch Page Pedersen Petropoulos Plummer Geelong Kersten 4 Bathie Barham Walker Stringer 2 Horlin-Smith Hunt Best Casey Scorpions Gent Pedersen Petropoulos Plummer L Tynan Riseley Geelong Sheringham Brown Horlin-Smith Corrigan Hunt Banjanin The undermanned development league team was outclassed and have bowed out of the finals. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 2.2.14 4.2.26 5.2.32 Northern Blues 3.5.23 7.9.51 13.13.91 21.19.145 Goals Casey Scorpions Corrigan Jackson McInnes Meadows Neville Northern Blues Cattapan Soncin 3 Clark Dorman Dufficy Visser 2 Ballard Bonaddio Gleeson Lincoln Best Casey Scorpions Neville Godfrey McInnes Rutherford Hill Irwin Northern Blues Jenkins Cattapan Meese Ballard Dufficy Soncin

NO MATCH by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions were no match for Geelong in Friday night's qualifying final played in front of a 6,000 spectators at Simonds Stadium. The Cats who won by 49 points in the end not only had the advantage of the home crowd but also the edge in experience and size with a bevy of AFL listed players against the Scorpions who could only muster together seven Melbourne-listed players of who two have yet to debut and two others played no senior AFL football this year. Given the circumstances, Casey did well to stay with Geelong for a little over half a game and was well served by its VFL listed youngsters, many of who have spent much of the season in the development league team. Proceedings opened in slippery conditions which suited the smaller visitors who tasted first blood through a goal from the nippy Nathan Page. The Cats countered with two goals but the Scorps were up to the challenge with goals to the Toms, Gillies and Couch before a late goal to the home side put them 5 points up at the first break. With All Australian ruckman Mark Jamar dominating the ruck duels, Casey went out to the biggest lead (7 points) of the night early in the second term with goals from youngster Tom Corry and a second from Gillies who was a member of Geelong's VFL premiership team last year. This merely stung the Cats into action. They proceeded to produce the game's best patches of play with some fast, free flowing football to score four unanswered goals before Cam Pedersen, who was playing a strong game, drifted forward to kick a much needed goal before the half time siren. The rain came down heavily during the main break and persisted in patches for most of the rest of the night. The small contingent of Scorpion fans were given some early hope of a team revival when Will Petropoulos goalled to peg the margin back to single figures but the size and strength of the opposition was about to prevail. The Cats scored the next five goals to stretch their lead to 40 points by the final break and coasted to an easy victory in the end. The win was a triumph for Geelong coach Matthew Knights, ironically coming days after his successor became the first AFL coach to be banned from competition. Casey was best served by Pedersen (29 possessions) who unfortunately missed qualification for the finals by one game. Vice-captain Luke Tynan (26 touches) and Mitch Gent (25) were solid throughout. The Scorpions will be hoping for relief from the recent spate of injuries that has beset their team as they are due to welcome back several Melbourne listed players whose AFL duties finish at the weekend. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Dom Barry 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles Tom Couch 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 9 tackles 1 goal 1 Tom Gillies 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 2 goals 1 behind Mark Jamar 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 48 hit outs Cam Pedersen 18 kicks 10 handballs 28 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 14 hitouts 1 goal Rory Taggert 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle Josh Tynan 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 6.2.38 7.3.45 8.3.51 Geelong 3.6.24 7.11.53 12.13.85 14.16.100 Goals Casey Scorpions Gillies 2 Corry Couch Page Pedersen Petropoulos Plummer Geelong Kersten 4 Bathie Barham Walker Stringer 2 Horlin-Smith Hunt Best Casey Scorpions Gent Pedersen Petropoulos Plummer L Tynan Riseley Geelong Sheringham Brown Horlin-Smith Corrigan Hunt Banjanin The undermanned development league team was outclassed and have bowed out of the finals. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 2.2.14 4.2.26 5.2.32 Northern Blues 3.5.23 7.9.51 13.13.91 21.19.145 Goals Casey Scorpions Corrigan Jackson McInnes Meadows Neville Northern Blues Cattapan Soncin 3 Clark Dorman Dufficy Visser 2 Ballard Bonaddio Gleeson Lincoln Best Casey Scorpions Neville Godfrey McInnes Rutherford Hill Irwin Northern Blues Jenkins Cattapan Meese Ballard Dufficy Soncin

Please feel free to alert us about any additions to be made to the OP.

ADELAIDE In: James Battersby ® (Sturt) Eddie Betts (Carlton FA) Charlie Cameron ® (Swan Districts) Matt Crouch (North Ballarat Rebels) Jake Kelly ® (Oakleigh Chargers) Kyle Hartigan (promoted rookie) Riley Knight (Woodville-West Torrens) Rory Laird (promoted rookie) James Podsiadly (Geelong) Alex Spina ® (North Adelaide) Out: Ian Callinan (delisted) Graham Johncock (retired) Nick Joyce (delisted) Tim Klaosen ® (delisted) Tim McIntyre ® (delisted) Dylan Orval ® (delisted) Aidan Riley (Melbourne DFA) Richard Tambling (delisted) Bernie Vince (Melbourne) BRISBANE LIONS In: James Aish (Norwood (SA) Isaac Conway ® (Aspley) Tom Cutler (Oakleigh Chargers) Johnathan Freeman (academy selection) Darcy Gardiner (Geelong Falcons) Luke McGuane (Richmond DFA) Daniel McStay (Eastern Rangers) Zac O'Brien ® (Essendon VFL) Nick Robertson (West Perth) Archie Smith ® (Mt Gravatt) Lewis Taylor (Geelong Falcons) Trent West (Geelong) Out: Todd Banfield (delisted) Callum Bartlett (delisted) Simon Black (retired) Aaron Cornelius (delisted) Sam Docherty (Carlton) Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood) Billy Longer (St. Kilda) Niall McKeever (delisted) Jesse O'Brien (delisted) Richard Newell ® (delisted) Jared Polec (Port Adelaide) Stephen Wrigley ® (delisted) Elliot Yeo (West Coast) CARLTON In: Ciaran Byrne ® (Ireland iinternational rookie) Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle) Sam Docherty (Brisbane) Andrejs Everitt (Sydney) Cameron Giles (Woodville-West Torrens) Nick Holman (Murray Bushrangers) Blaine Johnson ® (South Fremantle) Luke Reynolds ® (Port Adelaide SA) Ciaran Sheehan ®(Ireland international rookie) Heath Scotland ® (Carlton) Dale Thomas (Collingwood FA) Cameron Wood ® (Williamstown) Out: Eddie Betts (Adelaide FA) Andrew Collins ® (delisted) Fraser Dale ® (delisted) Marcus Davies (delisted) Shaun Hampson (Richmond) Aaron Joseph (delisted) Jeremy Laidler (Sydney DFA) Patrick McCarthy (delisted) Luke Mitchell (delisted) Rhys O'Keeffe ® (delisted) Heath Scotland (delisted) COLLINGWOOD In: Taylor Adams (GWS Giants) Tony Armstrong (Sydney DFA) Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons) Corey Gault ® (Collingwood) Patrick Karnezis (Brisbane) Tom Langdon (Sandringham Dragons) Jonathon Marsh (East Fremantle) Adam Oxley (promoted rookie) Matthew Scharenberg (Glenelg) Jesse White (Sydney) Out: Alan Didak (delisted) Corey Gault (delisted) Michael Hartley ® (delisted) Ben Johnson (retired) Darren Jolly (delisted) Andrew Krakouer (delisted) Jackson Paine (Collingwood) Ben Richmond ® (delisted) Jordan Russell (delisted) Heath Shaw (GWS Giants) Dale Thomas (Carlton FA) ESSENDON In: Patrick Ambrose ® (Old Xaverians) Kurt Aylett (GWS Giants) Paul Chapman (Geelong) Lauchlan Dalgleish (promoted rookie) Shaun Edwards (GWS Giants) Orazio Fantasia (Norwood SA) Zach Merrett (Sandringham Dragons) Johnny Rayner ® (unregistered) Fraser Thurlow ® (Labrador) Out: Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs) Alwyn Davey (delisted) Luke Davis (delisted) Scott Gumbleton (Fremantle) David Hille (retired) Hal Hunter (delisted) Nathan Lovett-Murray (retired) FREMANTLE In: Michael Apeness (Eastern Rangers) Jacob Ballard ®(Northern Blues) Brady Grey (Burnie Dockers) Scott Gumbleton (Essendon) Alex Pearce (Devonport) Colin Sylvia (Melbourne FA) Matt Taberner (promoted rookie) Jacob Ballard ®(Northern Blues) Thomas Vandeleur ® (South Fremantle) Michael Wood ® (Subiaco) Out: Jesse Crichton (delisted) Peter Faulks (delisted) Alex Forster (delisted) Alex Howson ® (delisted) Josh Mellington (delisted) Viv Michie (Melbourne) Jayden Pitt (retired) Haiden Schloithe ® (delisted) GEELONG In: Zachary Bates ® West Adelaide) Nick Bourke ® (Geelong Falcons) George Burbury (promoted rookie) Jarrad Jansen (East Fremantle) Jake Kolondjashnij (Launceston) Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons) Michael Luxford ® (unregistered) James Toohey ® (Oakleigh Chargers) Josh Walker (promoted rookie) Out: Ryan Bathie ® (delisted) Paul Chapman (Essendon) Joel Corey (retired) Cameron Eardley ® (delisted) Josh Hunt (GWS Giants DFA) James Podsiadly (Adelaide) Trent West (Brisbane) GOLD COAST In: Jarred Ellis ® (Broadbeach) Louis Herbert ® (North Ballarat) Kade Kolondjashnij (Launceston) Sean Lemmens, 19, Port Adelaide SA) Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power) Jack Martin (GWS Minidraft 2012) Out: Jared Brennan (retired) Jacob Gilbee (delisted) Kyal Horsley (delisted) Liam Patrick (delisted) Maverick Weller (delisted) Joel Wilkinson (delisted) GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY In: Dylan Addison (Western Bulldogs DFA) Tom Boyd (Eastern Ranges) Josh Hunt (Geelong DFA) Josh Kelly (Sandringham Dragons) Rory Lobb Swan District) Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle) Shane Mumford (Sydney) Sam Schulz ® (GWS) Heath Shaw (Collingwood) Zachary Williams (promoted rookie) Out: Taylor Adams (Collingwood) Kurt Aylett (Essendon) Dean Brogan (retired) Josh Bruce (St. Kilda) Chad Cornes (retired) Sam Darley (Western Bulldogs) Shaun Edwards (Essendon) Josh Growden (delisted) Setanta OhAilpin (delisted) Joe Redfern ® (delisted) Sam Shulz (delisted) Bret Thornton (delisted) Dom Tyson (Melbourne) Gerard Ugle (delisted) HAWTHORN In: Jon Cegler (promoted rookie) Dayle Garlett (Swan Districts) Kurt Heatherley ® (New Zealand international rookie) William (Billy) Hartung (Dandenong Stingrays) Ben McEvoy (St Kilda) Will Langford (promoted rookie) Ben Ross ® (Werribee) James Sicily (Western Jets) Shem Tatupu ® (Oakleigh/New Zealand international rookie) Derick Wanganeen ® (Hawthorn) Zac Webster ® (Glenorchy) Dallas Willsmore ®(North Ballarat Rebels) Out: Max Bailey (retired) Andrew Boseley ® (delisted) Xavier Ellis (West Coast) Amos Frank ® (delisted) Lance Franklin (Sydney, FA) Brent Guerra (retired) Ciaran Kilkenny ® (returned to Ireland) Michael Osborne (retired) Shane Savage (St. Kilda) Derick Wanganeen ® (delisted) MELBOURNE In: Mitch Clisby (promoted rookie) Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs DFA) Alexis Georgiou ® (Norwood SA) James Harmes ® (Dandenong Stingrays) Jesse Hogan (GWS Minidraft 2012) Jayden Hunt (Brighton Grammar) Neville Jetta ® (Melbourne) Jay Kennedy-Harris (Oakleigh Chargers) Max King ® (Murray Bushrangers) Viv Michie (Fremantle) Aidan Riley (Adelaide DFA) Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons) Dom Tyson (GWS Giants) Bernie Vince (Adelaide) Out: Tom Couch ® (delisted) Aaron Davey (retired) Troy Davis (delisted) Tom Gillies (delisted) Neville Jetta (delisted) Joel Macdonald (retired) James Magner ® (delisted) David Rodan (retired) James Sellar (delisted) Nathan Stark ® (delisted) Colin Sylvia (Fremantle FA) Rory Taggert (delisted) Josh Tynan (delisted) NORTH MELBOURNE In: Ben Brown (Werribee) Nick Dal Santo (St. Kilda FA) Trent Dumont (Norwood SA) Luke McDonald (father-son selection) Robin Nahas (Richmond DFA) Joel Tippett ® (West Adelaide) Kayne Turner ® (Murray Bushrangers) Out: Luke Delaney (St. Kilda) Jordan Gysberts (delisted) Ayden Kennedy (delisted) Ben Mabon (delisted) Cameron Richardson ® (delisted) Will Sierakowski (delisted) Benjamin Speight ® (delisted) PORT ADELAIDE In: Karl Amon (Sandringham Dragons) Darcy Byrne-Jones (Oakleigh Chargers) Daniel Flynn ® (Ireland international rookie) Sam Gray ® (Port Adelaide SA) Mitch Harvey (North Adelaide) Jarman Impey (Murray Bushrangers) Jared Polec (Brisbane) Brent Renouf ® (Port Adelaide) Sam Russell ® (Geelong Falcons) Matt White (Richmond FA) Out: Nathan Blee (delisted) Danny Butcher ® (delisted) Brett Ebert (retired) Justin Hoskin ® (delisted) Darren Pfeiffer ® (delisted) Brent Renouf (delisted) Nick Salter (delisted) Daniel Stewart (delisted) Matt Thomas (delisted) RICHMOND In: Todd Banfield ® (Brisbane Lions) Nathan Gordon (North Adelaide) Shaun Hampson (Carlton) Ben Lennon (Northern Knights) Sam Lloyd (Frankston) Anthony Miles ® (GWS) Ricky Petterd (promoted rookie) Matt Thomas ® (Port Adelaide) Out: Tom Derickx (Sydney DFA) Sam Lonergan (retired) Luke McGuane (Brisbane DFA) Robin Nahas (North Melbourne DFA) Shane Tuck (retired) Steven Verrier ® (delisted) Matt White (Port Adelaide FA) ST. KILDA In: Blake Acres (West Perth) Jack Billings (Oakleigh Chargers) Josh Bruce (GWS Giants) Tom Curren (promoted rookie) Luke Delaney (North Melbourne) Luke Dunstan (Woodville-West Torrens) Jason Holmes ® (US international rookie) Billy Longer (Brisbane) Shane Savage (Hawthorn) Eli Templeton ® (Burnie Dockers) Mav Weller ® (Gold Coast) Out: Jason Blake (retired) Nick Dal Santo (North Melbourne FA) Jackson Ferguson ® (delisted) Tom Ledger (delisted) Jay Lever (delisted) Ben McEvoy (Hawthorn) Stephen Milne (retired) Justin Koschitzke (retired) Ahmed Saad (delisted) Jordan Staley ® (delisted) SYDNEY In: Aliir Allir (East Fremantle) Tom Derickx (Richmond DFA) Lance Franklin (Hawthorn FA) George Hewett (North Adelaide) Brandon Jack (promoted rookie) Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays) Jeremy Laidler (Carlton DFA) Patrick Mitchell ® (US) Toby Nankervis (North Launceston) Lloyd Perris ® (Academy rookie selection) Dane Rampe (promoted) Out: Tony Armstrong (Collingwood DFA) Jude Bolton (retired) Alex Brown (delisted) Andrejs Everitt (Carlton) Marty Mattner (retired) Mitch Morton (retired) Shane Mumford (GWS Giants) Jesse White (Collingwood) WEST COAST In: Tom Barrass (Claremont) Jamie Bennell (promoted rookie) Xavier Ellis (Hawthorn FA) Malcolm Karpany (Woodville-West Torrens) Will Maginness ®(Oakleigh Chargers) Jeremy McGovern (promoted rookie) Dylan Main (South Fremantle) Murray Newman (West Coast) Rohan Powell (Claremont) Dom Sheed (Subiaco) Simon Tunbridge (promoted rookie) Elliot Yeo (Brisbane) Out: Bradd Dalziell (delisted) Brad Dick (retired) Andrew Embley (retired) Ashton Hams (retired) Daniel Kerr (retired) Cale Morton (delisted) Murray Newman (delisted) Mark Nicoski (retired) Adam Selwood (retired) WESTERN BULLDOGS In: Marcus Bontempelli (Northern Knights) Stewart Crameri (Essendon) Sam Darley (GWS Giants) Matthew Fuller (Norwood SA) Brett Goodes (promoted rookie) Mitch Honeychurch (Eastern Rangers) Out: Dylan Addison (GWS Giants DFA) Daniel Cross (Melbourne DFA) Nick Lower (delisted) Lukas Markovic (delisted) Patrick Veszpremi (delisted)

Whoever it was at the AFL who decided to arrange the fixture in such a way that the last game of the home and away season would be a game between the AFLs 15th and 17th placed teams was most likely on the same gear that set Essendon up for a fall this week over the supplements scandal. This game should have been the jewel in the competitions crown a send-off to the season at twilight with darkening shadows suddenly illuminated by the switching on of lights and possibly a touch of fireworks. The game deserved a match up like Hawthorn v Sydney Swans or even the now dead rubber Essendon v Richmond. They should have left the best to last but instead theyre giving us a matchup between miserable Melbourne and its last victim, the Western Bulldogs. And we long suffering Demon fans who have been waiting for the season to end quickly since halfway through the second quarter of round two, are made to suffer longer even than the fans of the drug cheats. Beamer would call it karma. I call it ! Nine weeks ago, when the Dees headed them by more than seven goals at the midpoint of the final quarter at the MCG, you might have thought the Bulldogs' fans would be approaching this fixture with a similar mindset. Not so. The Doggies have gone through something of an epiphany since that night. First, there was the stirring run of seven unanswered goals that nearly snatched the points from Melbourne. Then they just fell in against GWS at Skoda and they followed that with admirable losses against the Bombers and the Hawks. They beat West Coast at home, troubled the Swans and knocked off Carlton and Adelaide before coming from way back at the Gabba to almost take the points against the in form Lions. Suddenly, the Bulldog coach Brendan McCartney is a genius and his team is a potential power house of the future. I don't know about that but what I do know is that the form lines of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have diverged remarkably over the past two months as we've drifted aimlessly and without purpose towards the end of the line for 2013 and it doesn't bode well for its prospects of a win this week unless something dramatic occurs between now and the start of the game. THE GAME Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday 1 September 2013 at 4.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Western Bulldogs 71 wins Melbourne 85 wins 1 draw At Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 6 wins Melbourne 6 wins Since 2000: Western Bulldogs 11 wins Melbourne 11 wins The Coaches: McCartney 0 wins Craig 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 4.30pm Radio - 3AW SEN ABC THE BETTING Western Bulldogs $1.08 to win Melbourne $8.00 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.13.103 defeated Western Bulldogs 15.10.100 at MCG in Round 14, 2013 The Demons controlled the game from early and led by 26 points at ½ time and 39 at ¾ time. Halfway through the final quarter the margin was up to 44 points at which time they put the cue in the rack allowing the fast-finishing Doggies to almost pull the game out of the fire. The talls in the Demon forward line had a night out with Watts (4), Dawes (3), Howe and Fitzpatrick (2 each) were among the goalkickers. TEAMS WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Liam Picken Jordan Roughhead Dale Morris Half backs Robert Murphy Tom Young Daniel Cross Centreline Adam Cooney Tom Liberatore Matthew Boyd Half forwards Daniel Giansiracusa Tom Campbell Nathan Hrovat Forwards Luke Dahlhaus Tory Dickson Jarrad Grant Followers Will Minson Mitch Wallis Ryan Griffin Interchange (from) Mark Austin Lachie Hunter Liam Jones Koby Stevens Michael Talia Jason Tutt Easton Wood In Adam Cooney Nathan Hrovat Liam Jones Michael Talia Out Dylan Addison MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jimmy Toumpas Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Colin Sylvia Forwards Dean Kent Chris Dawes Aaron Davey Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Max Gawn Jeremy Howe Neville Jetta Luke Tapscott Emergencies Rohan Bail James Sellar Rory Taggert In Max Gawn Neville Jetta Out Cameron Pedersen David Rodan (knee) TWO DAYS LATER ... The news that Melbourne could be close to securing a long-term deal with former Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos came like a bolt out of the blue as the final round of the season was about to begin. In quick time, the discussion about peptides, the WADA Code and Supreme Court writs was off the table and the focus turned to the real likelihood that the Demons had pulled off a major coup just when everyone was starting to believe the On the Couch co-host's 57 denials made so far this month about having any desire whatsoever to coach a team in the AFL next year. In one day, the Melbourne community went from contemplating the future under the tutelage of a steady, safe but somewhat boring Rodney Eade to discovering that the said Rocket had given the idea the rocket. Then we heard that another prospect for the coaching gig in Mark "Choco" Williams had been interviewed by the coaching selection panel and that the single word description of how Port Adelaide's premiership coach came across was "interesting". That's code for it didn't turn out as well as expected by one or both sides or "no dice". Then, just as we thought all was lost and were contemplating the appointment of some third or fourth choice stiff who would be greeted by irate fans threatening to burn down the northern stand, Roosy calmly and deliberately told a national television audience that he was a 50-50 chance of coaching the Demons next year. In football speak that's tantamount to him saying that he had already mapped out the preseason including trips to the Kokoda Track, Arizona and the South Pole, that the coach's desk was being prepared and polished and that the name P. Roos was already being stenciled on an office door at AAMI Park. The big question from the perspective of someone previewing the game against the Bulldogs is how will the players react to the news? In fact, its the only question to ask about this flakey group of players that has rarely risen above mediocrity over the six months of the current playing season. There's hardly a player in the team who will not be under the pump to perform knowing that they are playing for a place in the heart of the new coach if not for a position on next year's senior list and this is especially so in the case of out of contract players such as Colin Sylvia (also a free agent) and Jack Watts. Both have the opportunity to leave the club and sign on to play elsewhere in the pursuit of team success at other clubs - success that perhaps a week ago seemed so far out of sight for this club that it didn't matter. Suddenly, things have changed dramatically and this fixture against the Western Bulldogs takes on some significance for the future of the 22 players who will run out onto a ground where team success has been rare in the past six seasons. For the first time this year the light at the end of the tunnel is flickering at Melbourne and that's why I think they will walk off the ground having left the best for last. I'm tipping Melbourne to farewell the old and welcome in the new by winning this otherwise meaningless fixture by 4 points.

THE BEST TO LAST by Whispering Jack Whoever it was at the AFL who decided to arrange the fixture in such a way that the last game of the home and away season would be a game between the AFLs 15th and 17th placed teams was most likely on the same gear that set Essendon up for a fall this week over the supplements scandal. This game should have been the jewel in the competitions crown a send-off to the season at twilight with darkening shadows suddenly illuminated by the switching on of lights and possibly a touch of fireworks. The game deserved a match up like Hawthorn v Sydney Swans or even the now dead rubber Essendon v Richmond. They should have left the best to last but instead theyre giving us a matchup between miserable Melbourne and its last victim, the Western Bulldogs. And we long suffering Demon fans who have been waiting for the season to end quickly since halfway through the second quarter of round two, are made to suffer longer even than the fans of the drug cheats. Beamer would call it karma. I call it ! Nine weeks ago, when the Dees headed them by more than seven goals at the midpoint of the final quarter at the MCG, you might have thought the Bulldogs' fans would be approaching this fixture with a similar mindset. Not so. The Doggies have gone through something of an epiphany since that night. First, there was the stirring run of seven unanswered goals that nearly snatched the points from Melbourne. Then they just fell in against GWS at Skoda and they followed that with admirable losses against the Bombers and the Hawks. They beat West Coast at home, troubled the Swans and knocked off Carlton and Adelaide before coming from way back at the Gabba to almost take the points against the in form Lions. Suddenly, the Bulldog coach Brendan McCartney is a genius and his team is a potential power house of the future. I don't know about that but what I do know is that the form lines of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have diverged remarkably over the past two months as we've drifted aimlessly and without purpose towards the end of the line for 2013 and it doesn't bode well for its prospects of a win this week unless something dramatic occurs between now and the start of the game. THE GAME Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday 1 September 2013 at 4.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Western Bulldogs 71 wins Melbourne 85 wins 1 draw At Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 6 wins Melbourne 6 wins Since 2000: Western Bulldogs 11 wins Melbourne 11 wins The Coaches: McCartney 0 wins Craig 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 4.30pm Radio - 3AW SEN ABC THE BETTING Western Bulldogs $1.08 to win Melbourne $8.00 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.13.103 defeated Western Bulldogs 15.10.100 at MCG in Round 14, 2013 The Demons controlled the game from early and led by 26 points at ½ time and 39 at ¾ time. Halfway through the final quarter the margin was up to 44 points at which time they put the cue in the rack allowing the fast-finishing Doggies to almost pull the game out of the fire. The talls in the Demon forward line had a night out with Watts (4), Dawes (3), Howe and Fitzpatrick (2 each) were among the goalkickers. TEAMS WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Liam Picken Jordan Roughhead Dale Morris Half backs Robert Murphy Tom Young Daniel Cross Centreline Adam Cooney Tom Liberatore Matthew Boyd Half forwards Daniel Giansiracusa Tom Campbell Nathan Hrovat Forwards Luke Dahlhaus Tory Dickson Jarrad Grant Followers Will Minson Mitch Wallis Ryan Griffin Interchange Mark Austin Lachie Hunter Liam Jones Koby Stevens Emergencies Michael Talia Jason Tutt Easton Wood In Adam Cooney Liam Jones Out Dylan Addison Jason Tutt MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jimmy Toumpas Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Colin Sylvia Forwards Dean Kent Chris Dawes Aaron Davey Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Max Gawn Jeremy Howe Neville Jetta Luke Tapscott Emergencies Rohan Bail James Sellar Rory Taggert In Max Gawn Neville Jetta Out Cameron Pedersen David Rodan (knee) TWO DAYS LATER ... The news that Melbourne could be close to securing a long-term deal with former Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos came like a bolt out of the blue as the final round of the season was about to begin. In quick time, the discussion about peptides, the WADA Code and Supreme Court writs was off the table and the focus turned to the real likelihood that the Demons had pulled off a major coup just when everyone was starting to believe the On the Couch co-host's 57 denials made so far this month about having any desire whatsoever to coach a team in the AFL next year. In one day, the Melbourne community went from contemplating the future under the tutelage of a steady, safe but somewhat boring Rodney Eade to discovering that the said Rocket had given the idea the rocket. Then we heard that another prospect for the coaching gig in Mark "Choco" Williams had been interviewed by the coaching selection panel and that the single word description of how Port Adelaide's premiership coach came across was "interesting". That's code for it didn't turn out as well as expected by one or both sides or "no dice". Then, just as we thought all was lost and were contemplating the appointment of some third or fourth choice stiff who would be greeted by irate fans threatening to burn down the northern stand, Roosy calmly and deliberately told a national television audience that he was a 50-50 chance of coaching the Demons next year. In football speak that's tantamount to him saying that he had already mapped out the preseason including trips to the Kokoda Track, Arizona and the South Pole, that the coach's desk was being prepared and polished and that the name P. Roos was already being stenciled on an office door at AAMI Park. The big question from the perspective of someone previewing the game against the Bulldogs is how will the players react to the news? In fact, its the only question to ask about this flakey group of players that has rarely risen above mediocrity over the six months of the current playing season. There's hardly a player in the team who will not be under the pump to perform knowing that they are playing for a place in the heart of the new coach if not for a position on next year's senior list and this is especially so in the case of out of contract players such as Colin Sylvia (also a free agent) and Jack Watts. Both have the opportunity to leave the club and sign on to play elsewhere in the pursuit of team success at other clubs - success that perhaps a week ago seemed so far out of sight for this club that it didn't matter. Suddenly, things have changed dramatically and this fixture against the Western Bulldogs takes on some significance for the future of the 22 players who will run out onto a ground where team success has been rare in the past six seasons. For the first time this year the light at the end of the tunnel is flickering at Melbourne and that's why I think they will walk off the ground having left the best for last. I'm tipping Melbourne to farewell the old and welcome in the new by winning this otherwise meaningless fixture by 4 points.

The last time Melbourne played against the Western Bulldogs (on 29 June) they toyed with them for 3½ before putting the brakes on and allowing the Dogs to come back and almost win. Since then the Dishlickers have come good while the Dees seem to have gone back into their shell. Can the team regain its confidence and get up to win? MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitch Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Matt Jones Half forwards Aaron Davey Chris Dawes Sam Blease Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Jack Watts David Rodan Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Jeremy Howe Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies James Magner Cam Pedersen James Sellar In Max Gawn James Frawley Out Cam Pedersen Jake Spencer (suspended) WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Jason Johannisen Jordan Roughead Nick Lower Half backs Clay Smith Michael Talia Dale Morris Centreline Jackson Macrae Adam Cooney Ryan Griffen Half forwards Robert Murphy Jake Stringer Hunter Forwards Tory Dickson Liam Jones Luke Dahlhaus Followers Will Minson Matthew Boyd Tom Liberatore Interchange Ayce Cordy Daniel Giansiracusa Nathan Hrovat Mitchell Wallis

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