Demonland

Bartlett announced as President

It says something for the indomitable spirit of the Demon faithful that so many turned up last night to the club's sixth annual Foundation Heroes dinner and how so many contributed to their ailing club's cause. This has been the case ever since the late Jim Stynes and Don McLardy launched the concept which had already raised in excess of $6m and by last year had wiped off the black hole of millions of dollars in debt but now, the situation was in many ways more dire than ever before. Since last year's FH function things have gone downhill considerably. Having tragically lost Jim to cancer, the club lurched through the tanking enquiry and its aftermath and then the wheels fell off with the team underperforming so badly that we saw heads rolling and a projected profit of $200k turning into a sea of red ink and a potentially massive drain on club finances. The club faced a liquidity crisis. Peter Jackson, the club's new CEO explained to last night's attendees that we were now facing "reality". The club has gone cap in hand to the AFL for assistance which will tide it over until it can make a new start in 2014 operating under the new reality. We will have a new chairman, new board members, new coaches and some new and hopefully better players. But that will still not be enough. Jackson wants us to model ourselves on successful well run clubs like Geelong and Sydney. The key is "list management, list management and list management" and from that will follow "player development, player development and player development." The wheels are already rolling in that direction. The idea is to get the club out of the trough and never to go back there. We know that clubs like Geelong and Sydney and this week's opponent, Fremantle were once struggling both on and off the field. And as Todd Viney pointed out last night, today's powerhouse club Hawthorn was a laughing stock less than 10 years ago but by 2008 had won the flag. The host for the evening opened with the story of how his grandfather used to recall the team of 1953 that finished second last but morphed into a team that won six premierships in the decade to follow. If only we had a time machine and could go back to right the wrongs that we now know were done and which afflict our club to this day. We don't have the benefit of that but with a new regime coming into place and a young playing list that can and must improve with time and hard work, we're still alive and with the generosity and support of the growing band of Foundation Heroes we can still astound the football world with the resilience for which men like Jim Stynes who inspired the concept was so well known and respected. THE GAME Melbourne v Fremantle at the MCG, Sunday 18 August, 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 17 wins Fremantle 13 wins MCG Melbourne 7 wins Fremantle 4 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 9 wins Fremantle 13 wins The Coaches Craig 0 wins Lyon 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel (live at 1.00pm) RADIO SEN ABC THE BETTING Melbourne $17.00 to win Fremantle $1.01 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Fremantle 19.16.130 defeated Melbourne 6.4.40 Round 9, 2013 at Paterson Stadium Jack Watts kicked the first goal of the match and after that, Fremantle comprehensively blew Melbourne away. Jeremy Howe defies the odds and was the Demons' best with 27 possessions and two goals. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Matt Jones Tom McDonald James Strauss Centreline Jordie McKenzie Jack Trengove Jeremy Howe Half forwards Jack Viney Jack Watts Shannon Byrnes Forwards Colin Sylvia Jack Fitzpatrick Troy Davis Followers Jake Spencer Jack Grimes Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Aaron Davey Dean Kent Luke Tapscott Emergencies Max Gawn Cameron Pedersen David Rodan In Sam Blease Jeremy Howe Out Mitch Clisby (suspension) Daniel Nicholson FREMANTLE Backs Alex Silvagni Zac Dawson Paul Duffield Half backs Tendai Mzungu Michael Johnson Lee Spurr Centreline Nick Suban Ryan Crowley Danyle Pearce Half forwards David Mundy Chris Mayne Michael Walters Forwards Aaron Sandilands Matthew Pavlich Hayden Ballantyne Followers Zac Clarke Nathan Fyfe Matt de Boer Interchange Michael Barlow Stephen Hill Lachie Neale Tom Sheridan Emergencies Hayden Crozier Cameron Sutcliffe Matthew Taberner In Stephen Hill Out Cameron Sutcliffe I don't know whether it was by design or merely a co-incidence but we didn't hear much at Wednesday night's Foundation Heroes function about the playing side of the club. We saw a video presentation of the leaders Jack and Jack and Nathan Jones about how they prepare themselves in these times of adversity and some hopeful references of a better future from some of the speakers but there was precious little from stand in coach Neil Craig. Perhaps the organisers felt it might detract from the fundraising to focus too much on the reality of the on field disaster that 2013 will come to be known as for the club in the future. It's a pity we didn't hear from Craig because he's a straight shooter and always positive and constructive in what he says. Notwithstanding, some of those present might not have liked to hear what he had to say. At his presser he pointed out that the team needs to learn how to win again and that's an obvious one. So is the fact that it's the midfield where the team suffers so much in comparison with its opposition on a weekly basis. But I also suspect that Craig was kept out of the limelight because, despite his apparent popularity with the playing group, he's probably not in the running for the coaching role in 2014 and beyond. In that respect, there's a certain irony in the fact that the Demons take on the Dockers at the MCG this week. When they last confronted each other at this venue, the visitors were coached by Mark Harvey, were coming off an ordinary season and were badly affected by injury woes. Confidence and morale were low and they received a whipping to the tune of 89 points. They looked totally inept in the face of an attacking Melbourne line up against which they hardly raised a whimper - the exact opposite of what we're expecting this Sunday. In the interim, Fremantle went out an got themselves a coach who changed the mindset and style of the football team. He tinkered a little with the list and prepared them in his own inimitable way and now, Ross Lyon has taken the team forward in his own time machine. Two years down the track, they are heading for a top four (and possibly top two) placing that puts them well in the frame to win a flag in 2013. That's coming off an 89 point loss in June 2011 to a Melbourne side which a month earlier had been described as "bruise-free". There's not much more that one can say about this game. The two teams are travelling in different directions at this time. One has its sights set on a bigger prize; the other limping its way to season's end. At least the Demons showed a little fight up there on the Gold Coast last week and with some better accuracy in kicking for goal, could easily have won the game. They might learn a little about winning this week but mostly, it will be from the opposition. Fremantle by 58 points.

THE TIME MACHINE by Whispering Jack It says something for the indomitable spirit of the Demon faithful that so many turned up last night to the club's sixth annual Foundation Heroes dinner and how so many contributed to their ailing club's cause. This has been the case ever since the late Jim Stynes and Don McLardy launched the concept which had already raised in excess of $6m and by last year had wiped off the black hole of millions of dollars in debt but now, the situation was in many ways more dire than ever before. Since last year's FH function things have gone downhill considerably. Having tragically lost Jim to cancer, the club lurched through the tanking enquiry and its aftermath and then the wheels fell off with the team underperforming so badly that we saw heads rolling and a projected profit of $200k turning into a sea of red ink and a potentially massive drain on club finances. The club faced a liquidity crisis. Peter Jackson, the club's new CEO explained to last night's attendees that we were now facing "reality". The club has gone cap in hand to the AFL for assistance which will tide it over until it can make a new start in 2014 operating under the new reality. We will have a new chairman, new board members, new coaches and some new and hopefully better players. But that will still not be enough. Jackson wants us to model ourselves on successful well run clubs like Geelong and Sydney. The key is "list management, list management and list management" and from that will follow "player development, player development and player development." The wheels are already rolling in that direction. The idea is to get the club out of the trough and never to go back there. We know that clubs like Geelong and Sydney and this week's opponent, Fremantle were once struggling both on and off the field. And as Todd Viney pointed out last night, today's powerhouse club Hawthorn was a laughing stock less than 10 years ago but by 2008 had won the flag. The host for the evening opened with the story of how his grandfather used to recall the team of 1953 that finished second last but morphed into a team that won six premierships in the decade to follow. If only we had a time machine and could go back to right the wrongs that we now know were done and which afflict our club to this day. We don't have the benefit of that but with a new regime coming into place and a young playing list that can and must improve with time and hard work, we're still alive and with the generosity and support of the growing band of Foundation Heroes we can still astound the football world with the resilience for which men like Jim Stynes who inspired the concept was so well known and respected. THE GAME Melbourne v Fremantle at the MCG, Sunday 18 August, 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 17 wins Fremantle 13 wins MCG Melbourne 7 wins Fremantle 4 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 9 wins Fremantle 13 wins The Coaches Craig 0 wins Lyon 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel (live at 1.00pm) RADIO SEN ABC THE BETTING Melbourne $17.00 to win Fremantle $1.01 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Fremantle 19.16.130 defeated Melbourne 6.4.40 Round 9, 2013 at Paterson Stadium Jack Watts kicked the first goal of the match and after that, Fremantle comprehensively blew Melbourne away. Jeremy Howe defies the odds and was the Demons' best with 27 possessions and two goals. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Matt Jones Tom McDonald James Strauss Centreline Jordie McKenzie Jack Trengove Jeremy Howe Half forwards Jack Viney Jack Watts Shannon Byrnes Forwards Colin Sylvia Jack Fitzpatrick Troy Davis Followers Jake Spencer Jack Grimes Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Aaron Davey Dean Kent Luke Tapscott Emergencies Max Gawn Cameron Pedersen David Rodan In Sam Blease Jeremy Howe Out Mitch Clisby (suspension) Daniel Nicholson FREMANTLE Backs Alex Silvagni Zac Dawson Paul Duffield Half backs Tendai Mzungu Michael Johnson Lee Spurr Centreline Nick Suban Ryan Crowley Danyle Pearce Half forwards David Mundy Chris Mayne Michael Walters Forwards Aaron Sandilands Matthew Pavlich Hayden Ballantyne Followers Zac Clarke Nathan Fyfe Matt de Boer Interchange Michael Barlow Stephen Hill Lachie Neale Tom Sheridan Emergencies Hayden Crozier Cameron Sutcliffe Matthew Taberner In Stephen Hill Out Cameron Sutcliffe I don't know whether it was by design or merely a co-incidence but we didn't hear much at Wednesday night's Foundation Heroes function about the playing side of the club. We saw a video presentation of the leaders Jack and Jack and Nathan Jones about how they prepare themselves in these times of adversity and some hopeful references of a better future from some of the speakers but there was precious little from stand in coach Neil Craig. Perhaps the organisers felt it might detract from the fundraising to focus too much on the reality of the on field disaster that 2013 will come to be known as for the club in the future. It's a pity we didn't hear from Craig because he's a straight shooter and always positive and constructive in what he says. Notwithstanding, some of those present might not have liked to hear what he had to say. At his presser he pointed out that the team needs to learn how to win again and that's an obvious one. So is the fact that it's the midfield where the team suffers so much in comparison with its opposition on a weekly basis. But I also suspect that Craig was kept out of the limelight because, despite his apparent popularity with the playing group, he's probably not in the running for the coaching role in 2014 and beyond. In that respect, there's a certain irony in the fact that the Demons take on the Dockers at the MCG this week. When they last confronted each other at this venue, the visitors were coached by Mark Harvey, were coming off an ordinary season and were badly affected by injury woes. Confidence and morale were low and they received a whipping to the tune of 89 points. They looked totally inept in the face of an attacking Melbourne line up against which they hardly raised a whimper - the exact opposite of what we're expecting this Sunday. In the interim, Fremantle went out an got themselves a coach who changed the mindset and style of the football team. He tinkered a little with the list and prepared them in his own inimitable way and now, Ross Lyon has taken the team forward in his own time machine. Two years down the track, they are heading for a top four (and possibly top two) placing that puts them well in the frame to win a flag in 2013. That's coming off an 89 point loss in June 2011 to a Melbourne side which a month earlier had been described as "bruise-free". There's not much more that one can say about this game. The two teams are travelling in different directions at this time. One has its sights set on a bigger prize; the other limping its way to season's end. At least the Demons showed a little fight up there on the Gold Coast last week and with some better accuracy in kicking for goal, could easily have won the game. They might learn a little about winning this week but mostly, it will be from the opposition. Fremantle by 58 points.

Not our finest hour ... or two and a half. FREMANTLE Backs Lee Spurr Zac Dawson Michael Johnson Half back Garrick Ibbotson Luke McPharlin Alex Silvagni Centreline Cameron Sutcliffe Ryan Crowley Chris Duffield Half forwards Michael Barlow Chris Mayne Nathan Fyfe Forwards Matt de Boer Zachary Clarke Hayden Ballantyne Followers Jack Hannath David Mundy Danyle Pearce Interchange Hayden Crozier Tendai Mzungu Clancee Pearce Nick Suban Emergencies Viv Michie Josh Simpson Matt Taberner In Hayden Crozier Out Michael Walters (ankle) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Watts James Sellar Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Michael Evans Matt Jones Half forwards Luke Tapscott Jeremy Howe Neville Jetta Forwards Max Gawn Chris Dawes Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar Nathan Jones James Magner Interchange Rohan Bail Shannon Byrnes Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson Emergencies Tom Gillies Jake Spencer James Strauss In Shannon Byrnes Jack Watts Out Jimmy Toumpas (ankle) James Strauss

Title changed to provide the respect a 10 year player at this club deserves.

Casey travelled across to Frankston to meet its bayside neighbour and won an unusual encounter by 31 points to take a mortgage on a top four spot with two rounds left to play before the finals. The sun shone and conditions at ground level looked favourable but the white caps on the waters of Port Phillip Bay in the background signalled that swirly winds would be the order of the day and that they would favour the Kars Street end to which the home side kicked first. The Dolphins opened with an early goal but Casey replied after a James Magner mark in front. The game never hit any high notes for the rest of the term and became a battle of the defences with the Scorpions controlling the play through the agency of the likes of Luke Tynan, Joel Macdonald, James Sellar, Sam Blease and Neville Jetta. In hindsight, the first term against the wind which saw the Scorpions leading by a point set up their win. Casey controlled the second quarter but inaccuracy in front of goal saw their half time lead limited to only 24 points while it held Frankston scoreless for the term. Gawn was rucking well and taking marks around the ground while Magner and Rodan were winning the ball at stoppages. Still, the absence of Jesse Hogan was clear and obvious with nobody on the forward line able to take control with the big grab in the packs. Frankston came out after half time with a steely determination and completely turned the game around. They attacked the goals incessantly and put great pressure on the Casey defence which was forced into costly errors that reaped rewards for the home side that took little time to make up the gap and take a 19 point lead into the final break. They had kicked seven goals three behinds to nothing and had the local crowd full of voice and the Casey team stunned. What followed was a nine-goal final quarter onslaught by a Casey Scorpions team that was stunned into action after one of its worst quarters of football for the year. Certainly, the wind was an influence but the thought of being tipped out of the top four after such a good start to the season must have come into play. Neville Jetta got them going and goal followed goal. Suddenly, the lead was theirs. By mid-term the Scorps were 7 points up but the Dolphins were still fighting hard. The killer blow came when Tim Smith intercepted to run straight into goal for his second of the quarter. An altercation followed and a free in front was paid to Nathan Page. The double goal knocked the stuffing out of the home side and Casey finished with two more goals for a 31-point victory which also killed off the Dolphins chances of sneaking into the finals. Best for the Scorpions was Jetta who defended stoutly early and kicked two crucial final quarter goals at the end. Jimmy Toumpas picked up 25 touches and David Rodan 22. In the end, it was Casey's desire to work hard and get the hands on the footy first which was lacking in the third quarter but very much evident in the last that got it well across the line. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles Dominic Barry 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 1 behind Sam Blease 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 1 goal 1 behind Max Gawn 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 10 marks 2 tackles 34 hitouts 1 behind Neville Jetta 17 kicks 3 handballs 20 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 2 goals 2 behinds Joel Macdonald 16 kicks 5 handballs 21 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 1 hitout James Magner 6 kicks 13 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 2 goals David Rodan 15 kicks 7 handballs 22 disposals 8 marks 7 tackles 1 goal 1 behind James Sellar 8 kicks 10 handballs 18 disposals 12 marks 1 hitout 2 goals Rory Taggert 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle Jimmy Toumpas 18 kicks 7 handballs 25 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles Josh Tynan 1 kick 1 disposal 2 tackles (injured early) Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 5.8.38 5.8.38 14.13.97 Frankston 2.1.13 2.2.14 9.5.59 10.6.66 Goals Casey Scorpions Jetta Magner Sellar Smith 2 Best Blease Lang Matthews Page Rodan Frankston Best Casey Scorpions Jetta Rodan Macdonald Gawn Smith L Tynan Frankston Simpson Buchan Potts Hockey Dermott Irving The winning run of the Development League team came to an end when Frankston put on a six goals to nil final quarter to win by 25 points. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.4.28 9.7.61 9.8.62 Frankston 2.214 5.6.36 6.7.43 12.15.87 Goals Casey Scorpions Anderson Lindsay 2 Hughes Petropoulos Plummer P Rosier Troutman Frankston Bosward Giobbi Morrow 2 Bailey Cooper Haretuku Kennedy Rolfe Sykes Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Waters Roberts Fowler Petropoulos Rosier Frankston Haretuku Bosward Cooper Cunningham Rolfe Sykes VFL PLAYER REVIEW

WELL ACROSS THE LINE by KC from Casey Casey travelled across to Frankston to meet its bayside neighbour and won an unusual encounter by 31 points to take a mortgage on a top four spot with two rounds left to play before the finals. The sun shone and conditions at ground level looked favourable but the white caps on the waters of Port Phillip Bay in the background signalled that swirly winds would be the order of the day and that they would favour the Kars Street end to which the home side kicked first. The Dolphins opened with an early goal but Casey replied after a James Magner mark in front. The game never hit any high notes for the rest of the term and became a battle of the defences with the Scorpions controlling the play through the agency of the likes of Luke Tynan, Joel Macdonald, James Sellar, Sam Blease and Neville Jetta. In hindsight, the first term against the wind which saw the Scorpions leading by a point set up their win. Casey controlled the second quarter but inaccuracy in front of goal saw their half time lead limited to only 24 points while it held Frankston scoreless for the term. Gawn was rucking well and taking marks around the ground while Magner and Rodan were winning the ball at stoppages. Still, the absence of Jesse Hogan was clear and obvious with nobody on the forward line able to take control with the big grab in the packs. Frankston came out after half time with a steely determination and completely turned the game around. They attacked the goals incessantly and put great pressure on the Casey defence which was forced into costly errors that reaped rewards for the home side that took little time to make up the gap and take a 19 point lead into the final break. They had kicked seven goals three behinds to nothing and had the local crowd full of voice and the Casey team stunned. What followed was a nine-goal final quarter onslaught by a Casey Scorpions team that was stunned into action after one of its worst quarters of football for the year. Certainly, the wind was an influence but the thought of being tipped out of the top four after such a good start to the season must have come into play. Neville Jetta got them going and goal followed goal. Suddenly, the lead was theirs. By mid-term the Scorps were 7 points up but the Dolphins were still fighting hard. The killer blow came when Tim Smith intercepted to run straight into goal for his second of the quarter. An altercation followed and a free in front was paid to Nathan Page. The double goal knocked the stuffing out of the home side and Casey finished with two more goals for a 31-point victory which also killed off the Dolphins chances of sneaking into the finals. Best for the Scorpions was Jetta who defended stoutly early and kicked two crucial final quarter goals at the end. Jimmy Toumpas picked up 25 touches and David Rodan 22. In the end, it was Casey's desire to work hard and get the hands on the footy first which was lacking in the third quarter but very much evident in the last that got it well across the line. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles Dominic Barry 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 1 behind Sam Blease 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 1 goal 1 behind Max Gawn 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 10 marks 2 tackles 34 hitouts 1 behind Neville Jetta 17 kicks 3 handballs 20 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 2 goals 2 behinds Joel Macdonald 16 kicks 5 handballs 21 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 1 hitout James Magner 6 kicks 13 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 2 goals David Rodan 15 kicks 7 handballs 22 disposals 8 marks 7 tackles 1 goal 1 behind James Sellar 8 kicks 10 handballs 18 disposals 12 marks 1 hitout 2 goals Rory Taggert 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle Jimmy Toumpas 18 kicks 7 handballs 25 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles Josh Tynan 1 kick 1 disposal 2 tackles (injured early) Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 5.8.38 5.8.38 14.13.97 Frankston 2.1.13 2.2.14 9.5.59 10.6.66 Goals Casey Scorpions Jetta Magner Sellar Smith 2 Best Blease Lang Matthews Page Rodan Frankston Best Casey Scorpions Jetta Rodan Macdonald Gawn Smith L Tynan Frankston Simpson Buchan Potts Hockey Dermott Irving The winning run of the Development League team came to an end when Frankston put on a six goals to nil final quarter to win by 25 points. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.4.28 9.7.61 9.8.62 Frankston 2.214 5.6.36 6.7.43 12.15.87 Goals Casey Scorpions Anderson Lindsay 2 Hughes Petropoulos Plummer P Rosier Troutman Frankston Bosward Giobbi Morrow 2 Bailey Cooper Haretuku Kennedy Rolfe Sykes Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Waters Roberts Fowler Petropoulos Rosier Frankston Haretuku Bosward Cooper Cunningham Rolfe Sykes VFL PLAYER REVIEW

10 Goals 17 behinds with set shots sprayed at either side of the big sticks doesnt create the possibility of winning. And so it was for the Melbourne side against the Gold Coast Suns. The result was far better than the 10 goal thrashing we had to endure at our home ground earlier in the season, but losses are losses. We simply should have won this match, and to sit and watch Shannon Byrnes kill any hope with his errant kicking; to watch Dan Nicolson kick his 14th behind for the season running into an open goal is not the formula for success. At least Jack Fitzpatrick's howler in front of goals was reversed 30 seconds later after Jordie McKenzie crumbed the pack in the forward line. And what a delight it was to see Jordie in action again. While his kicking still leaves a lot to be desired, his relentless tagging of potentially this year's Brownlow Medallist and holding him to a mere 19 possessions was a first class effort. More importantly, he is someone who helps fills the hole in the middle that we all know we have. But a bigger hole filler is Jack Viney. The kid, and that is all he is today, is just as good as his old man, with his tenacious attack on ball and man. It has been a long first season for him but he is still in there at the end. With another season under his belt, we will start to see his true capabilities. If there was ever evidence that Neil Craig is a superior coach to Mark Neeld it is in the performance of Jake Spencer. Prior to the change, Spencer would not keep his eyes on the ball, constantly looking at the opposition ruckman and trying to second guess. Now he just goes for it. And when you are that big, you usually do! Why has it taken so long? The bonus is that the mids are finally given a chance, where they were only getting scraps before. May we see more of it ... However, Craigs positioning of players is still questionable. Why Troy Davis was in the forward line all night, having played all of his career in defense is incomprehensible. Ill give him slack for the Watts back move, as Jack hates having an opponent. The move gives him the freedom to use his skills, but guess what Jack? This is AFL level football and there are plenty of coaches already aware of your weaknesses. You wont get this chance against the good sides. When we go into a game without Frawley and Dawes and then lose Pederson and Howe before the game starts, you know its going to be difficult. Why James Magner cant get a run over the others brought in, is confusing to say the least - especially after he was upgraded just this week. You might think it was because we need to see who is worth keeping, but winning a game with your best players playing in their best positions might be a good starting point! Jack Fitzpatrick has become another positive since Neeld left, and thank goodness for that. He at least competes and brings the ball to ground. Its almost a bonus when he scores goals, but he has the endurance and marking capabilities to be far more threatening when he has a couple of other big bodies around him, hopefully next year. Other positives at this late stage of the season are Mitch Clisby, Dean Kent, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich. Clisby is a natural footballer with the brain to do the job. He is smart and can execute quickly, which is what is needed at AFL level. He will finish up in the middle when his body fills out. Jones, Kent and Terlich are further plusses, and can be forgiven for their occasional lapses as they find their way in their first season. Pity is that these three first year players are light-years ahead of some of their more senior and more highly paid teammates. The real downer from this game is that Melbourne have forgotten how to win. The chance was there, and all that was needed was that little bit extra. Especially with Gold Coast having three injured on the bench in the last quarter. It wasnt provided by those experienced players who we brought in for exactly that. The lapses of runs of goals to Gold Coast only happened while Nathan Jones was off the ground (usually getting another repair job done to his nose), and showed his immense value and courage to the team. If he can do it, why not others? Melbourne 3.2.20 5.6.36 8.11.59 10.17.77 Gold Coast Suns 2.4.16 5.9.39 10.11.71 13.12.90 Goals Melbourne Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Davey Fitzpatrick McKenzie Sylvia Tapscott Gold Coast Suns Brown 3 Sumner 2 Ablett Bennell Day Dixon Hall Stanley Swallow Thompson Best Melbourne Viney Nathan Jones McKenzie Spencer Garland Watts Gold Coast Swallow Prestia, Brown O'Meara Thompson McBurney Injuries Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Bock (leg) Day (quad) May (hamstring) Sexton (dislocated shoulder) Changes Melbourne Jeremy Howe (calf) and Cam Pedersen (ill) replaced by Dan Nicholson and James Strauss Gold Coast Matt Shaw (virus) replaced by Thomas Murphy Reports Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Nil Umpires McBurney Fila Foot Official Attendance 13,840 at Metricon Stadium

Congratulations to Nathan Jones who wins back to back Demonland Player of the Year awards. The interest is now in who will be runner up. PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 20 189. Nathan Jones 124. Colin Garland 111. Matt Jones 76. Colin Sylvia Jack Viney 75. James Frawley 72. Dean Terlich 57. Jeremy Howe 44. Jack Watts 28. Tom McDonald 27. Max Gawn 26. Shannon Byrnes Jack Grimes 25. Mitch Clisby Aaron Davey 23. Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes 19. Jack Fitzpatrick 17. Jordie McKenzie 16. Cam Pedersen 15. Jack Trengove 12. James Magner Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas 10. Dean Kent 9. Jake Spencer 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 3. Mark Jamar 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease

All over ... now to the post match discussion

Your votes please ... 6 5 4 3 2 1

COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE ... DIDN'T WIN by George on the Outer 10 Goals 17 behinds with set shots sprayed at either side of the big sticks doesnt create the possibility of winning. And so it was for the Melbourne side against the Gold Coast Suns. The result was far better than the 10 goal thrashing we had to endure at our home ground earlier in the season, but losses are losses. We simply should have won this match, and to sit and watch Shannon Byrnes kill any hope with his errant kicking; to watch Dan Nicolson kick his 14th behind for the season running into an open goal is not the formula for success. At least Jack Fitzpatrick's howler in front of goals was reversed 30 seconds later after Jordie McKenzie crumbed the pack in the forward line. And what a delight it was to see Jordie in action again. While his kicking still leaves a lot to be desired, his relentless tagging of potentially this year's Brownlow Medallist and holding him to a mere 19 possessions was a first class effort. More importantly, he is someone who helps fills the hole in the middle that we all know we have. But a bigger hole filler is Jack Viney. The kid, and that is all he is today, is just as good as his old man, with his tenacious attack on ball and man. It has been a long first season for him but he is still in there at the end. With another season under his belt, we will start to see his true capabilities. If there was ever evidence that Neil Craig is a superior coach to Mark Neeld it is in the performance of Jake Spencer. Prior to the change, Spencer would not keep his eyes on the ball, constantly looking at the opposition ruckman and trying to second guess. Now he just goes for it. And when you are that big, you usually do! Why has it taken so long? The bonus is that the mids are finally given a chance, where they were only getting scraps before. May we see more of it ... However, Craigs positioning of players is still questionable. Why Troy Davis was in the forward line all night, having played all of his career in defense is incomprehensible. Ill give him slack for the Watts back move, as Jack hates having an opponent. The move gives him the freedom to use his skills, but guess what Jack? This is AFL level football and there are plenty of coaches already aware of your weaknesses. You wont get this chance against the good sides. When we go into a game without Frawley and Dawes and then lose Pederson and Howe before the game starts, you know its going to be difficult. Why James Magner cant get a run over the others brought in, is confusing to say the least - especially after he was upgraded just this week. You might think it was because we need to see who is worth keeping, but winning a game with your best players playing in their best positions might be a good starting point! Jack Fitzpatrick has become another positive since Neeld left, and thank goodness for that. He at least competes and brings the ball to ground. Its almost a bonus when he scores goals, but he has the endurance and marking capabilities to be far more threatening when he has a couple of other big bodies around him, hopefully next year. Other positives at this late stage of the season are Mitch Clisby, Dean Kent, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich. Clisby is a natural footballer with the brain to do the job. He is smart and can execute quickly, which is what is needed at AFL level. He will finish up in the middle when his body fills out. Jones, Kent and Terlich are further plusses, and can be forgiven for their occasional lapses as they find their way in their first season. Pity is that these three first year players are light-years ahead of some of their more senior and more highly paid teammates. The real downer from this game is that Melbourne have forgotten how to win. The chance was there, and all that was needed was that little bit extra. Especially with Gold Coast having three injured on the bench in the last quarter. It wasnt provided by those experienced players who we brought in for exactly that. The lapses of runs of goals to Gold Coast only happened while Nathan Jones was off the ground (usually getting another repair job done to his nose), and showed his immense value and courage to the team. If he can do it, why not others? Melbourne 3.2.20 5.6.36 8.11.59 10.17.77 Gold Coast Suns 2.4.16 5.9.39 10.11.71 13.12.90 Goals Melbourne Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Davey Fitzpatrick McKenzie Sylvia Tapscott Gold Coast Suns Brown 3 Sumner 2 Ablett Bennell Day Dixon Hall Stanley Swallow Thompson Best Melbourne Viney Nathan Jones McKenzie Spencer Garland Watts Gold Coast Swallow Prestia, Brown O'Meara Thompson McBurney Injuries Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Bock (leg) Day (quad) May (hamstring) Sexton (dislocated shoulder) Changes Melbourne Jeremy Howe (calf) and Cam Pedersen (ill) replaced by Dan Nicholson and James Strauss Gold Coast Matt Shaw (virus) replaced by Thomas Murphy Reports Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Nil Umpires McBurney Fila Foot Official Attendance 13,840 at Metricon Stadium

This has already been one of the most remarkable weeks in the history of our code of football. We've seen headlines like this one - Essendon players given banned drugs which follows on the footsteps of this one from one and a half months ago - I took banned drug: Watson . Despite evidence that players took prohibited substances and the admission on television of the Bomber captain, we are being told of the likelihood that no player will be served with infraction notices over the club's supplements regime. And despite the fact that when news of the scandal broke on 5 February, Essendon coach James Hird declared he would take full responsibility for the clubs supplements program, he continues to hang on as coach with the full support of his club. The evidence of the use of banned substances is said to be only "circumstantial". As long as the sports science man at the centre of the drug scandal, Stephen Dank, avoids interrogation by ASADA, we may never find out exactly what was injected into the Essendon players inside that club's "vault" opposite Windy Hill last year. Even then, we may never know. The Bombers are one of the AFL's strongest clubs. They are wealthy, have a strong supporter base and in Hird, have a coach with an impressive record of 35½ wins from 63 matches. That, and the adulation of his fans and his club are keeping him from being the second coach to depart the AFL scene in 2013 although some are predicting that this will change soon. The first coach to go was our own Mark Neeld about who I wrote on the eve of Melbourne's first encounter with the Gold Coast Suns earlier in the year:- Mark Neeld never had much in common with James Hird. The latter was adored by all and sundry at his club and had the full support of its board, staff and players from the very start. He was a winner. Neeld has had his detractors from day one, he suffered from an atmosphere of bitterness and instability and inherited a poor and ill-disciplined list with which he struggled and which ultimately brought him down. The damage was in part self-inflicted; he showed very little on match days to inspire any confidence in his capacity to bring success to the club and he lasted exactly 1½ seasons. He was a loser. However, in the face of the supplements scandal one has to wonder whether Hird can remain a winner for much longer. Will the legacy of his time at his club become even more destructive than that left by Neeld at Melbourne? And for all of his failings, Neeld could never be accused of failing to look after his players as the Bombers have with theirs. With Neeld now gone and, in his absence, another humiliating loss at the hands of the AFL's other new franchise team fresh in their minds, the onus is on the players to produce something better this week. They have been losers for far too long. THE GAME Gold Coast v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday 10 August 2013 at 7.40pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Gold Coast 1 win Melbourne 3 wins Metricon Stadium Gold Coast 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 Gold Coast 1 win Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches McKenna 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel live at 7.30pm Radio SEN ABC THE BETTING Gold Coast $1.12 to win Melbourne $6.25 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Gold Coast Suns 16.18.114 defeated Melbourne 7.12.54 in round 7, 2013 at the MCG. The fitter, faster and more enthusiastic Suns jumped the Demons at the start and destroyed them utterly. Coach Mark Neeld was to last a further four weeks but this was really the end for him. THE TEAMS GOLD COAST SUNS Backs Trent McKenzie Sam May Seb Tape Half forwards Greg Broughton Rory Thompson Luke Russell Centreline Harley Bennell Gary Ablett Jarrod Harbrow Half forwards Jaeger O'Meara Sam Day Aaron Hall Forwards Campbell Brown Charlie Dixon Nathan Bock Followers Daniel Gorringe Danny Stanley David Swallow Interchange Dion Prestia Andrew Sexton Matt Shaw Tim Sumner Emergencies Jackson Allen Andrew Boston Thomas Murphy No change MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs James Strauss Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Grimes Jack Viney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jack Trengove Forwards Dean Kent Jack Fitzpatrick Luke Tapscott Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Troy Davis Dan Nicholson Emergencies Sam Blease In Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Dan Nicholson James Strauss Out Max Gawn Jeremy Howe (calf) Cam Pedersen Jimmy Toumpas DEPRESS CONFERENCE After 12 months of dominating the media for mostly all the wrong reasons the Melbourne Football Club hit the wall as far as the media goes when Neil Craig's press conference could only muster three journalists this week - Melbourne coach Neil Craig says players have opportunity to make club relevant in last four games of season. Yes, you do tend to become irrelevant when you lose a game by 37 points to a bunch of pimply faced young kids, many of them barely out of their teens but the humiliation sets in when you realise that of the trio, one's your own club historian and another was only there at gunpoint. Anyway, the club is working on ways to attract a bigger crowd to the next presser. Aside from offering free grog, one of the suggestions made by the MFC media working party was to have Neil Craig turn up wearing a Paul Roos mask. This would also serve the purpose of causing the confidence of the playing group to soar, Demon supporter forums would go into a frenzy and the number of assorted media people attending would not only go through the roof but most of them would, in all likelihood manage to stay awake and ask some decent questions for once. Anyway, that's not the club's most pressing problem at the moment. It's main task, and a mountainous one at that is to overcome the Gold Coast Suns on their home turf at Metricon Stadium and avoid becoming the first club in AFL history to lose in consecutive weeks to the franchise newbies. The bookies are convinced as they've installed the home team as the strongest favourite to win in its brief history. The Demons are deservedly listed at $6.25 and desperate to see the end of the season come in a little over three week's time. If the Suns could toy with this mob at the MCG in May, then surely a hot August night on the Gold Coast with Gary Ablett Junior in Brownlow winning form should see them winning by a big margin particularly given the lifeless efforts the Demons have produced in the last fortnight. Unless the playing group makes an effort and demonstrates some pride in itself, then the team will continue to generate more depressing scenes such as those at this week's presser when they were even short of attracting the proverbial three men and a dog. Gold Coast by 78 points.

WINNERS AND LOSERS by Whispering Jack This has already been one of the most remarkable weeks in the history of our code of football. We've seen headlines like this one - Essendon players given banned drugs which follows on the footsteps of this one from one and a half months ago - I took banned drug: Watson . Despite evidence that players took prohibited substances and the admission on television of the Bomber captain, we are being told of the likelihood that no player will be served with infraction notices over the club's supplements regime. And despite the fact that when news of the scandal broke on 5 February, Essendon coach James Hird declared he would take full responsibility for the clubs supplements program, he continues to hang on as coach with the full support of his club. The evidence of the use of banned substances is said to be only "circumstantial". As long as the sports science man at the centre of the drug scandal, Stephen Dank, avoids interrogation by ASADA, we may never find out exactly what was injected into the Essendon players inside that club's "vault" opposite Windy Hill last year. Even then, we may never know. The Bombers are one of the AFL's strongest clubs. They are wealthy, have a strong supporter base and in Hird, have a coach with an impressive record of 35½ wins from 63 matches. That, and the adulation of his fans and his club are keeping him from being the second coach to depart the AFL scene in 2013 although some are predicting that this will change soon. The first coach to go was our own Mark Neeld about who I wrote on the eve of Melbourne's first encounter with the Gold Coast Suns earlier in the year:- Mark Neeld never had much in common with James Hird. The latter was adored by all and sundry at his club and had the full support of its board, staff and players from the very start. He was a winner. Neeld has had his detractors from day one, he suffered from an atmosphere of bitterness and instability and inherited a poor and ill-disciplined list with which he struggled and which ultimately brought him down. The damage was in part self-inflicted; he showed very little on match days to inspire any confidence in his capacity to bring success to the club and he lasted exactly 1½ seasons. He was a loser. However, in the face of the supplements scandal one has to wonder whether Hird can remain a winner for much longer. Will the legacy of his time at his club become even more destructive than that left by Neeld at Melbourne? And for all of his failings, Neeld could never be accused of failing to look after his players as the Bombers have with theirs. With Neeld now gone and, in his absence, another humiliating loss at the hands of the AFL's other new franchise team fresh in their minds, the onus is on the players to produce something better this week. They have been losers for far too long. THE GAME Gold Coast v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday 10 August 2013 at 7.40pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Gold Coast 1 win Melbourne 3 wins Metricon Stadium Gold Coast 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 Gold Coast 1 win Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches McKenna 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel live at 7.30pm Radio SEN ABC THE BETTING Gold Coast $1.12 to win Melbourne $6.25 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Gold Coast Suns 16.18.114 defeated Melbourne 7.12.54 in round 7, 2013 at the MCG. The fitter, faster and more enthusiastic Suns jumped the Demons at the start and destroyed them utterly. Coach Mark Neeld was to last a further four weeks but this was really the end for him. THE TEAMS GOLD COAST SUNS Backs Trent McKenzie Sam May Seb Tape Half forwards Greg Broughton Rory Thompson Luke Russell Centreline Harley Bennell Gary Ablett Jarrod Harbrow Half forwards Jaeger O'Meara Sam Day Aaron Hall Forwards Campbell Brown Charlie Dixon Nathan Bock Followers Daniel Gorringe Danny Stanley David Swallow Interchange Dion Prestia Andrew Sexton Matt Shaw Tim Sumner Emergencies Jackson Allen Andrew Boston Thomas Murphy No change MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs James Strauss Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Grimes Jack Viney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jack Trengove Forwards Dean Kent Jack Fitzpatrick Luke Tapscott Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Troy Davis Dan Nicholson Emergencies Sam Blease In Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Dan Nicholson James Strauss Out Max Gawn Jeremy Howe (calf) Cam Pedersen Jimmy Toumpas DEPRESS CONFERENCE After 12 months of dominating the media for mostly all the wrong reasons the Melbourne Football Club hit the wall as far as the media goes when Neil Craig's press conference could only muster three journalists this week - Melbourne coach Neil Craig says players have opportunity to make club relevant in last four games of season. Yes, you do tend to become irrelevant when you lose a game by 37 points to a bunch of pimply faced young kids, many of them barely out of their teens but the humiliation sets in when you realise that of the trio, one's your own club historian and another was only there at gunpoint. Anyway, the club is working on ways to attract a bigger crowd to the next presser. Aside from offering free grog, one of the suggestions made by the MFC media working party was to have Neil Craig turn up wearing a Paul Roos mask. This would also serve the purpose of causing the confidence of the playing group to soar, Demon supporter forums would go into a frenzy and the number of assorted media people attending would not only go through the roof but most of them would, in all likelihood manage to stay awake and ask some decent questions for once. Anyway, that's not the club's most pressing problem at the moment. It's main task, and a mountainous one at that is to overcome the Gold Coast Suns on their home turf at Metricon Stadium and avoid becoming the first club in AFL history to lose in consecutive weeks to the franchise newbies. The bookies are convinced as they've installed the home team as the strongest favourite to win in its brief history. The Demons are deservedly listed at $6.25 and desperate to see the end of the season come in a little over three week's time. If the Suns could toy with this mob at the MCG in May, then surely a hot August night on the Gold Coast with Gary Ablett Junior in Brownlow winning form should see them winning by a big margin particularly given the lifeless efforts the Demons have produced in the last fortnight. Unless the playing group makes an effort and demonstrates some pride in itself, then the team will continue to generate more depressing scenes such as those at this week's presser when they were even short of attracting the proverbial three men and a dog. Gold Coast by 78 points.

I remember when we used to go into games against these new franchises and expected to win. Those days ended in round 7 this year. MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Daniel Nicholson Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Viney Matthew Jones Half forwards Jeremy Howe Chris Dawes Colin Sylvia Forwards Luke Tapscott Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Jake Spencer Michael Evans Nathan Jones Interchange Dean Kent Jordie McKenzie James Strauss James Sellar Emergencies Aaron Davey Troy Davis David Rodan In Chris Dawes James Sellar Out Jack Grimes (collar bone) Jack Trengove (calf) GOLD COAST SUNS Backs Trent McKenzie Tom Murphy Sam Day Half backs David Swallow Rory Thompson Broughton Centreline Matthew Shaw Gary Ablett Harbrow Half forwards: Harley Bennell Tom Lynch Jesse Lonergan Forwards Brandon Matera Steven May Aaron Hall Followers Zac Smith Jaeger OMeara Dion Prestia Interchange Jarrod Brennan Campbell Brown Jack Hutchins Danny Stanley Emergencies Clay Cameron Luke Russell Tim Sumner In Campbell Brown Jack Hutchins Steven May Out Charlie Dixon (ankle) Karmichael Hunt (hamstring) Michael Rischitelli

A lacklustre Casey Scorpions side lasted only one quarter of its top of the table clash with the rampant Cats from Corio before they were blown away in comprehensive fashion to the tune of 66 points at Casey Fields. Such is the domination of Geelong on the competition that it has gone three games clear on top of the ladder ahead of Williamstown, Box Hill and Casey, all on 10 wins with three rounds left to play. The teams went goal for goal in the opening term with the Scorpions looking for boom forward Jesse Hogan and finding him enough to warrant a switch of opponents before the first break by which time he had 2.1 on the board and his team led by 3 points against the straight shooting visitors. However, from quarter time onwards it became a one way street with the strong Geelong line up penetrating the midfield and kicking straight to rack up 6.3 to a solitary point to take a commanding lead into the sheds at half time. As they had done on one or two occasions before this year, the Scorps had gone into freefall in the second quarter. Any hopes of a Casey revival was soon snuffed out with the visitors snaring the opening two goals of the third quarter with AFL premiership players Chapman and Christiansen showing out for Geelong. The Scorpions were not spent yet making one final dash with a three goal spree in mid term through the agency of Jake Best (2) and Neville Jetta but the Cats regained their composure amid the dark and the gloom kicking six of the last seven as the game finished under lights and a thick black sky. It was their eighth consecutive win since they lowered their colours to the Scorpions by 13 points at Simonds Stadium in round 7. For Casey, Dan Nicholson picked up 29 touches. James Magner (25) and Sam Blease (22) battled hard. After playing three stand alone AFL affiliates in consecutive matches, the Scorps now take on a stand alone VFL club in a danger game next Sunday against the rapidly improving Dolphins at Frankston. They must win to secure a spot in the top four. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.4.28 7.8.50 8.11.59 Geelong4.0.24 10.3.63 16.8.104 19.11.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Hogan 2 Jetta Magner Nicholson Page Geelong Kersten 5 Hartman Murdoch Walker 2 Bathie Chapman Christensen Corrigan Hollmer Howe Stringer Thurlow Best Casey Scorpions Nicholson Magner Strauss Blease J Tynan Hill Geelong Murdoch Kersten Walker Stringer Bews Brown The Casey Development League team cemented its place in the top six and the finals with a 25 point win over Box Hill. Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 6.6.42 9.10.64 12.12.84 Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 4.2.26 4.4.28 9.5.59 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Anderson Corry Fowler Macdonald Lang Lindsay Pollard Rosier Troutman Box Hill Hawks Monkhorst Northe 2 Cunningham Exon Frank Goodwin Wood Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Pollard Macdonald Clay Riseley Smith Box Hill Hawks Thompson Collins Cunningham Exon Graham Miles

FREEFALL by KC from Casey A lacklustre Casey Scorpions side lasted only one quarter of its top of the table clash with the rampant Cats from Corio before they were blown away in comprehensive fashion to the tune of 66 points at Casey Fields. Such is the domination of Geelong on the competition that it has gone three games clear on top of the ladder ahead of Williamstown, Box Hill and Casey, all on 10 wins with three rounds left to play. The teams went goal for goal in the opening term with the Scorpions looking for boom forward Jesse Hogan and finding him enough to warrant a switch of opponents before the first break by which time he had 2.1 on the board and his team led by 3 points against the straight shooting visitors. However, from quarter time onwards it became a one way street with the strong Geelong line up penetrating the midfield and kicking straight to rack up 6.3 to a solitary point to take a commanding lead into the sheds at half time. As they had done on one or two occasions before this year, the Scorps had gone into freefall in the second quarter. Any hopes of a Casey revival was soon snuffed out with the visitors snaring the opening two goals of the third quarter with AFL premiership players Chapman and Christiansen showing out for Geelong. The Scorpions were not spent yet making one final dash with a three goal spree in mid term through the agency of Jake Best (2) and Neville Jetta but the Cats regained their composure amid the dark and the gloom kicking six of the last seven as the game finished under lights and a thick black sky. It was their eighth consecutive win since they lowered their colours to the Scorpions by 13 points at Simonds Stadium in round 7. For Casey, Dan Nicholson picked up 29 touches. James Magner (25) and Sam Blease (22) battled hard. After playing three stand alone AFL affiliates in consecutive matches, the Scorps now take on a stand alone VFL club in a danger game next Sunday against the rapidly improving Dolphins at Frankston. They must win to secure a spot in the top four. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.4.28 7.8.50 8.11.59 Geelong4.0.24 10.3.63 16.8.104 19.11.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Hogan 2 Jetta Magner Nicholson Page Geelong Kersten 5 Hartman Murdoch Walker 2 Bathie Chapman Christensen Corrigan Hollmer Howe Stringer Thurlow Best Casey Scorpions Nicholson Magner Strauss Blease J Tynan Hill Geelong Murdoch Kersten Walker Stringer Bews Brown The Casey Development League team cemented its place in the top six and the finals with a 25 point win over Box Hill. Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 6.6.42 9.10.64 12.12.84 Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 4.2.26 4.4.28 9.5.59 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Anderson Corry Fowler Macdonald Lang Lindsay Pollard Rosier Troutman Box Hill Hawks Monkhorst Northe 2 Cunningham Exon Frank Goodwin Wood Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Pollard Macdonald Clay Riseley Smith Box Hill Hawks Thompson Collins Cunningham Exon Graham Miles

With Colin Garland seemingly restricted by that ankle, it's possible that we're going to see a Jones double. PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 19 174. Nathan Jones 116. Colin Garland 111. Matt Jones 76. Colin Sylvia 75. James Frawley 70. Dean Terlich 61. Jack Viney 57. Jeremy Howe 40. Jack Watts 28. Tom McDonald 27. Max Gawn 26. Shannon Byrnes Jack Grimes 25. Mitch Clisby Aaron Davey 23. Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes 19. Jack Fitzpatrick 16. Cam Pedersen 15. Jack Trengove 12. James Magner Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas 8. Mitch Clark Dean Kent 7. David Rodan 5. Jake Spencer 4. Jordie McKenzie 3. Mark Jamar 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease

There has been much criticism and even some derision since the appointment as coach of the Greater Western Sydney Giants of Kevin Sheedy. He's too old, past his use by date, a spruiker for the club, a pot-stirrer and an embarrassing joke. The critics may well be right but at least he has the respect of his players and they of him. Hence, they have a reason to believe and hence those youngsters managed to prevail in a scrappy sub standard game over the pathetic rabble that has become the Melbourne Football Club - a hotchpotch of individuals, directionless, rudderless and playing at the moment with no heart and no soul. They don't even pretend to attempt to apply any defensive pressure any more; foolishly they were "freed up" when Mark Neeld was given his marching orders; given licence to play their own games. The result is that the tail now wags the dog - even more completely and utterly than ever before and that includes the latter stages of the Bailey era when they turned up to play when they felt like it. That might well have been necessary after the ongoing negativity of the first half of the current season and the resultant damage to player confidence caused by Neeld's style of coaching but at the same time, we seem to have taken our eyes completely off the defensive side of our game. More and more often, the opposition effortlessly streams out of Melbourne's forward line without any pressure being imposed whatsoever and it's like that everywhere on the ground. People bemoan our lack of a midfield but really the team is poor everywhere in terms of putting pressure on the opposition. However, it didn't start this week with the playing group but at the selection table with some nonsensical decision-making that set the scene for the team's 37 point defeat at the hands of the hitherto winless Giants. Firstly, the response to a heartless 20 goal defeat was to make only one compulsory change. Poor old Sam Blease deserved the chop for his inept display at Etihad but didn't he have any mates? Obviously not because it was be kind to Aaron Davey week after his embarrassing effort last week and a few others should have gone as well. It was also a time to ignore those youngsters pushing hard for a game at Casey who might have relished having a crack at a young inexperienced opposition. Well, I suppose there is the Gold Coast Suns as Melbourne's around the world tour continues next week. And then there was the decision to load up with the 200cm plus contingent against a team known for its youthful gut running which gave Collingwood a run for its money in that department for the better part of three quarters last week. That really was a stroke of genius ready to backfire - and backfire, it did. Melbourne, at least started well, got the ball out of the middle and made repeat entries into the forward line to lead by 13 points at the 25 minute mark of the first quarter. It could have been more but for some poor kicking and decision-making when going forward but then, as easy as you like, the Giants slammed on three goals in three minutes, all of them set up by hard running out of defence finished by confidence- boosting snap shots and contrasted with Jack Fitzpatrick's miss from five metres out on the run to set the scene for the day. Less than two hours later, the Giants were celebrating in their rooms singing the Russian national anthem and the Demons were in despair. Under siege, the team died of shame. Words can't describe the appreciation necessary for the likes of Nathan Jones and Jack Viney for their desperation and hard-nosed attack on the ball while many of their teammates spent the afternoon sunning themselves on a pleasant mid winter day in Sydney. If there is any justice, Viney will be rewarded with a NAB Rising Star nomination. In any other team, his effort would have translated into a 30+ possession performance and universal adulation. Other youngsters Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Kent tried hard: both could easily have finished with four goals each had they nailed some easy shots. Cam Pedersen is much maligned but he worked tirelessly and capped his day off with an inspirational goal. Tom McDonald's game under fire against Jeremy Cameron shouldn't be underestimated. Jake Spencer toiled hard in the ruck and Mitch Clisby showed he will be a player. There are too many players out there under some form of handicap. Jack Trengove missed the pre-season and just isn't right. His co-captain Jack Grimes missed two months in midseason. Neither are in the best condition to carry the load of leadership let alone play good football. Colin Garland has had a terrific season but he appeared to still be inconvenienced by that ankle injury. He probably should have had another week's rest but the powers that be obviously don't have any faith in Troy Davis while James Sellar lingers on the club's mystery injury list and Tom Gillies (remember him?) was named to play for the Casey twos this weekend. Melbourne continues to give up the ball with poor turnovers caused by even poorer decision-making and I don't see much inspiration or game changing moves from the coaches box. Earlier in the season, Melbourne famously kicked 12 goals in a quarter against the same opposition. This time round, it managed the same number of goals in the entire game. Can one believe in the club's much vaunted fitness guru after that? In short, there is no reason to believe in anything from the current set up. The only glimmer of belief comes from the fact that 364 days earlier, the Giants' last victim was Port Adelaide in Round 19, 2012 and a year later, that club sits in the top eight with recent wins over Sydney and Collingwood under its belt. Port sacked its coach at the time. Melbourne's already done that this year so Neil Craig is safe for the next month to preside over more humiliation before the next rebuild starts under the next coach because he won't have the initials NC. Whoever Melbourne eventually appoints as coach will need to restore the balance, clean out the deadwood and ensure that he puts the lazy culture of almost an entire decade behind the club for once and for all. Melbourne4.3.27 5.9.39 9.12.66 12.15.87 GWS Giants 5.1.31 9.3.57 12.7.79 19.10.124 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Clisby Howe Pedersen Spencer Trengove GWS Giants Cameron Ward 4 Smith 3 Giles Whitfield Giles 2 Adams Bugg Shiel Tomlinson, Adams Best Melbourne N Jones Pedersen Viney Clisby M Jones Kent GWS Giants Ward Treloar Cameron Hampton Smith Whitfield Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stuart Wenn Ben Ryan Jordan Bannister Official Attendance 8,308 at Skoda Stadium.

Enough already. Let's move on to POST MATCH DISCUSSION.

NO REASON TO BELIEVE by Whispering Jack There has been much criticism and even some derision since the appointment as coach of the Greater Western Sydney Giants of Kevin Sheedy. He's too old, past his use by date, a spruiker for the club, a pot-stirrer and an embarrassing joke. The critics may well be right but at least he has the respect of his players and they of him. Hence, they have a reason to believe and hence those youngsters managed to prevail in a scrappy sub standard game over the pathetic rabble that has become the Melbourne Football Club - a hotchpotch of individuals, directionless, rudderless and playing at the moment with no heart and no soul. They don't even pretend to attempt to apply any defensive pressure any more; foolishly they were "freed up" when Mark Neeld was given his marching orders; given licence to play their own games. The result is that the tail now wags the dog - even more completely and utterly than ever before and that includes the latter stages of the Bailey era when they turned up to play when they felt like it. That might well have been necessary after the ongoing negativity of the first half of the current season and the resultant damage to player confidence caused by Neeld's style of coaching but at the same time, we seem to have taken our eyes completely off the defensive side of our game. More and more often, the opposition effortlessly streams out of Melbourne's forward line without any pressure being imposed whatsoever and it's like that everywhere on the ground. People bemoan our lack of a midfield but really the team is poor everywhere in terms of putting pressure on the opposition. However, it didn't start this week with the playing group but at the selection table with some nonsensical decision-making that set the scene for the team's 37 point defeat at the hands of the hitherto winless Giants. Firstly, the response to a heartless 20 goal defeat was to make only one compulsory change. Poor old Sam Blease deserved the chop for his inept display at Etihad but didn't he have any mates? Obviously not because it was be kind to Aaron Davey week after his embarrassing effort last week and a few others should have gone as well. It was also a time to ignore those youngsters pushing hard for a game at Casey who might have relished having a crack at a young inexperienced opposition. Well, I suppose there is the Gold Coast Suns as Melbourne's around the world tour continues next week. And then there was the decision to load up with the 200cm plus contingent against a team known for its youthful gut running which gave Collingwood a run for its money in that department for the better part of three quarters last week. That really was a stroke of genius ready to backfire - and backfire, it did. Melbourne, at least started well, got the ball out of the middle and made repeat entries into the forward line to lead by 13 points at the 25 minute mark of the first quarter. It could have been more but for some poor kicking and decision-making when going forward but then, as easy as you like, the Giants slammed on three goals in three minutes, all of them set up by hard running out of defence finished by confidence- boosting snap shots and contrasted with Jack Fitzpatrick's miss from five metres out on the run to set the scene for the day. Less than two hours later, the Giants were celebrating in their rooms singing the Russian national anthem and the Demons were in despair. Under siege, the team died of shame. Words can't describe the appreciation necessary for the likes of Nathan Jones and Jack Viney for their desperation and hard-nosed attack on the ball while many of their teammates spent the afternoon sunning themselves on a pleasant mid winter day in Sydney. If there is any justice, Viney will be rewarded with a NAB Rising Star nomination. In any other team, his effort would have translated into a 30+ possession performance and universal adulation. Other youngsters Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Kent tried hard: both could easily have finished with four goals each had they nailed some easy shots. Cam Pedersen is much maligned but he worked tirelessly and capped his day off with an inspirational goal. Tom McDonald's game under fire against Jeremy Cameron shouldn't be underestimated. Jake Spencer toiled hard in the ruck and Mitch Clisby showed he will be a player. There are too many players out there under some form of handicap. Jack Trengove missed the pre-season and just isn't right. His co-captain Jack Grimes missed two months in midseason. Neither are in the best condition to carry the load of leadership let alone play good football. Colin Garland has had a terrific season but he appeared to still be inconvenienced by that ankle injury. He probably should have had another week's rest but the powers that be obviously don't have any faith in Troy Davis while James Sellar lingers on the club's mystery injury list and Tom Gillies (remember him?) was named to play for the Casey twos this weekend. Melbourne continues to give up the ball with poor turnovers caused by even poorer decision-making and I don't see much inspiration or game changing moves from the coaches box. Earlier in the season, Melbourne famously kicked 12 goals in a quarter against the same opposition. This time round, it managed the same number of goals in the entire game. Can one believe in the club's much vaunted fitness guru after that? In short, there is no reason to believe in anything from the current set up. The only glimmer of belief comes from the fact that 364 days earlier, the Giants' last victim was Port Adelaide in Round 19, 2012 and a year later, that club sits in the top eight with recent wins over Sydney and Collingwood under its belt. Port sacked its coach at the time. Melbourne's already done that this year so Neil Craig is safe for the next month to preside over more humiliation before the next rebuild starts under the next coach because he won't have the initials NC. Whoever Melbourne eventually appoints as coach will need to restore the balance, clean out the deadwood and ensure that he puts the lazy culture of almost an entire decade behind the club for once and for all. Melbourne4.3.27 5.9.39 9.12.66 12.15.87 GWS Giants 5.1.31 9.3.57 12.7.79 19.10.124 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Clisby Howe Pedersen Spencer Trengove GWS Giants Cameron Ward 4 Smith 3 Giles Whitfield Giles 2 Adams Bugg Shiel Tomlinson, Adams Best Melbourne N Jones Pedersen Viney Clisby M Jones Kent GWS Giants Ward Treloar Cameron Hampton Smith Whitfield Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stuart Wenn Ben Ryan Jordan Bannister Official Attendance 8,308 at Skoda Stadium.

Your votes please 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

THE PEOPLE SPEAK - HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN by The Demonland Crew compiled by The Oracle The Demonland crew speak about the Demons' game at Skoda. Will It be a day of shame? belzebub59: The journey of the Melbourne Football Club has come to this, a game against the leagues bottom club to be played at a former baseball ground come animal arena sited deep in enemy territory of Sydney's West. Despite the less than inspiring locale the greatest concern is that this lowly team doesn't embarrass us. Yes, you read it right, that the leagues least successful team doesn't humiliate us. The shame , the shame. How the mighty have fallen ! Fallen ... but how far? Demonfan26: Both teams have been a bit up and down but on the whole we have been okay since Craig took over. I expect to see a Dees win by between 30-40 points. Hoping for big games from Toumpas, Viney, Trengove and Nathan Jones against younger opposition. why you little: If Jeremy Cameron gets going we are in for a bad day. How can you predict what the Melbourne Football Club will do as last Saturday was not football. I want Neil Craig to be at his absolute best this weekend. If we get flogged against GW$ that will be THE rock bottom. I want to see some fight. Supermercado: We held Cameron to eight kicks and one goal last time, but there's plenty of weapons in that team if they get their tail up AND open up enough of a gap to insulate them against their traditional last quarter fade out. Expecting to lose so I'll either be right or surprised. hardtack: I don't think that the biggest factor working against us will be Jeremy Cameron (he can be contained by Garland and/or McDonald), but I do think SKODA Stadium will be. This is a small "boutique" ground that I believe has flukey winds and is one that we have never played on before. The average crowd size has been around the 8,000 mark, so at least not too many will be there to witness our demise (should it happen), in person. While lack of local knowledge will work against us, by the same token, the size of the ground means that we have a better chance of moving the ball into our forward 50 more frequently, and this could play to our advantage if Dawes, Watts and Fitzpatrick are on song. Dees should get up by 11 points in what will be a close and hard fought encounter. THE GAME GWS Giants at Skoda Stadium Saturday 3 August 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins At Skoda Stadium GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Sheedy 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel (live @ 1.30pm) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win $1.85 Melbourne to win $1.97 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.12.144 defeated GWS Giants 15.13.103 in Round 4 at the MCG DemonWA: A 12 goal last quarter from the last time they met should fill the boys with some confidence. GWS are in better form, but I hope the boys really play with some pride and don't allow themselves to be GWS' only scalp for the year. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS Backs Phil Davis Joshua Bruce Curtly Hampton Half backs Nicholas Haynes Tim Mohr Zachary Williams Centreline Dylan Shiel Adam Treloar Lachie Whitfield Half forwards Jeremy Cameron Adam Tomlinson Mark Whiley Forwards Devon Smith Dean Brogan Tomas Bugg Followers Jonathan Giles Callan Ward Tom Scully Interchange Taylor Adams Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Adam Kennedy Emergencies Sam Darley Stephen Gilham Nathan Wilson In Stephen Coniglio Lachie Whitfield Out Sam Darley Will Hoskin-Elliott (concussion) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Colin Garland Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Dean Kent Max Gawn Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson In Colin Garland Jake Spencer Dean Terlich Out Sam Blease Chris Dawes (calf) James Frawley (hamstring) Rolling Stone: Melbourne has hardly fired a shot this year despite having the man who was reputed to be the world's greatest fitness guru, David Misson whose job description is "Elite Performance Manager". When he was at Sydney they went through the weeks leading up to the finals and then right through to the big one with virtually no injuries, having to make only one change to their line up in the last ten weeks before the grand final. With a settled side like that, they were odds on to win a flag and win one they did. When he was appointed to the Melbourne job I thought "happy days are here again" but the reality has been no change. We just keep getting important players injured. Like James Frawley on the eve of a game v GWS which has this flash young FF kicking lots of goals. Last week it was Colin Garland and Dean Terlich was one of the mystery injuries of the week. What next. Things were looking up for a while and we had only one or two changes every week after Neil Craig took over but this week, I think there will be changes aplenty. And there will have to be if we are to get up and win in the long, cold shadow of Phil Scully at Skoda Stadium. Don't know why but I'm tipping Melbourne to win by a point. Die Hard Demon: We haven't played a game at Skoda stadium yet. Our interstate record is truly awful. Our players will succumb to the perceived pressure of "surely we can't lose this game"syndrome. I think it will be a 3-4 goal victory to GWS. Webber: I think it's known to everyone, us as supporters, the media, and undoubtedly the players, that this is GWS' best chance for a win this year. They kicked us around for 3 quarters at our home earlier this year, and will use that as evidence and motivation. Make no mistake, this is the Giants biggest game for the year. Our team knows it, and how we respond will reveal just how damaged we really are. If we're all honest, our psychological form this year would suggest we will crumble like the crumbliest of things. So there you have it folks. Skoda Stadium, Jeremy Cameron, our fitness programme, injuries to key players. Are the bookies right in installing GWS as favourite to win for the first time in their brief history? We'll know in a couple of days. [Thanks to all contributors]

The Demonland crew speak about the Demons' game at Skoda. Will It be a day of shame? belzebub59: The journey of the Melbourne Football Club has come to this, a game against the leagues bottom club to be played at a former baseball ground come animal arena sited deep in enemy territory of Sydney's West. Despite the less than inspiring locale the greatest concern is that this lowly team doesn't embarrass us. Yes, you read it right, that the leagues least successful team doesn't humiliate us. The shame , the shame. How the mighty have fallen ! Fallen ... but how far? Demonfan26: Both teams have been a bit up and down but on the whole we have been okay since Craig took over. I expect to see a Dees win by between 30-40 points. Hoping for big games from Toumpas, Viney, Trengove and Nathan Jones against younger opposition. why you little: If Jeremy Cameron gets going we are in for a bad day. How can you predict what the Melbourne Football Club will do as last Saturday was not football. I want Neil Craig to be at his absolute best this weekend. If we get flogged against GW$ that will be THE rock bottom. I want to see some fight. Supermercado: We held Cameron to eight kicks and one goal last time, but there's plenty of weapons in that team if they get their tail up AND open up enough of a gap to insulate them against their traditional last quarter fade out. Expecting to lose so I'll either be right or surprised. hardtack: I don't think that the biggest factor working against us will be Jeremy Cameron (he can be contained by Garland and/or McDonald), but I do think SKODA Stadium will be. This is a small "boutique" ground that I believe has flukey winds and is one that we have never played on before. The average crowd size has been around the 8,000 mark, so at least not too many will be there to witness our demise (should it happen), in person. While lack of local knowledge will work against us, by the same token, the size of the ground means that we have a better chance of moving the ball into our forward 50 more frequently, and this could play to our advantage if Dawes, Watts and Fitzpatrick are on song. Dees should get up by 11 points in what will be a close and hard fought encounter. THE GAME GWS Giants at Skoda Stadium Saturday 3 August 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins At Skoda Stadium GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Sheedy 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel (live @ 1.30pm) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win $1.85 Melbourne to win $1.97 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.12.144 defeated GWS Giants 15.13.103 in Round 4 at the MCG DemonWA: A 12 goal last quarter from the last time they met should fill the boys with some confidence. GWS are in better form, but I hope the boys really play with some pride and don't allow themselves to be GWS' only scalp for the year. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS Backs Phil Davis Joshua Bruce Curtly Hampton Half backs Nicholas Haynes Tim Mohr Zachary Williams Centreline Dylan Shiel Adam Treloar Lachie Whitfield Half forwards Jeremy Cameron Adam Tomlinson Mark Whiley Forwards Devon Smith Dean Brogan Tomas Bugg Followers Jonathan Giles Callan Ward Tom Scully Interchange Taylor Adams Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Adam Kennedy Emergencies Sam Darley Stephen Gilham Nathan Wilson In Stephen Coniglio Lachie Whitfield Out Sam Darley Will Hoskin-Elliott (concussion) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Colin Garland Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Dean Kent Max Gawn Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson In Colin Garland Jake Spencer Dean Terlich Out Sam Blease Chris Dawes (calf) James Frawley (hamstring) Rolling Stone: Melbourne has hardly fired a shot this year despite having the man who was reputed to be the world's greatest fitness guru, David Misson whose job description is "Elite Performance Manager". When he was at Sydney they went through the weeks leading up to the finals and then right through to the big one with virtually no injuries, having to make only one change to their line up in the last ten weeks before the grand final. With a settled side like that, they were odds on to win a flag and win one they did. When he was appointed to the Melbourne job I thought "happy days are here again" but the reality has been no change. We just keep getting important players injured. Like James Frawley on the eve of a game v GWS which has this flash young FF kicking lots of goals. Last week it was Colin Garland and Dean Terlich was one of the mystery injuries of the week. What next. Things were looking up for a while and we had only one or two changes every week after Neil Craig took over but this week, I think there will be changes aplenty. And there will have to be if we are to get up and win in the long, cold shadow of Phil Scully at Skoda Stadium. Don't know why but I'm tipping Melbourne to win by a point. Die Hard Demon: We haven't played a game at Skoda stadium yet. Our interstate record is truly awful. Our players will succumb to the perceived pressure of "surely we can't lose this game"syndrome. I think it will be a 3-4 goal victory to GWS. Webber: I think it's known to everyone, us as supporters, the media, and undoubtedly the players, that this is GWS' best chance for a win this year. They kicked us around for 3 quarters at our home earlier this year, and will use that as evidence and motivation. Make no mistake, this is the Giants biggest game for the year. Our team knows it, and how we respond will reveal just how damaged we really are. If we're all honest, our psychological form this year would suggest we will crumble like the crumbliest of things. So there you have it folks. Skoda Stadium, Jeremy Cameron, our fitness programme, injuries to key players. Are the bookies right in installing GWS as favourite to win for the first time in their brief history? We'll know in a couple of days. [Thanks to all contributors]

Here's your chance Demonlanders. It's time for the people to speak. You tell us who will win this Saturday between Melbourne and GWS Sydney. A selection of your comments will be published in our match preview on Thursday.