Demonland

It wasn't all that long ago when Mark Neeld reached the zenith of his coaching career when his Demons booted a record 12 goals in a quarter. By way of contrast, his replacement managed four for a whole game last Saturday, the same a fortnight before that. Go figure? MELBOURNE Backs Jack Watts James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Neville Jetta Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Jack Viney Half forwards Aaron Davey Mitch Clark Jeremy Howe Forwards Luke Tapscott Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Rohan Bail Michael Evans Matt Jones Cam Pedersen Emergencies James Sellar Jake Spencer Jimmy Toumpas GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Backs Adam Kennedy Tim Mohr Phil Davis Half backs Thomas Bugg Stephen Gilham Nick Haynes Centreline Tom Scully Callan Ward Rhys Palmer Half Forwards Jacob Townsend Jeremy Cameron Sam Reid Forwards Liam Summer Setanta O'hAilpin Sam Frost Followers Jonathan Giles Adam Treloar Dylan Shiel Interchange Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Anthony Miles Lachie Whitfield Emergencies Tim Golds Lachie Plowman Adam Tomlinson In Sam Frost Nick Haynes Anthony Miles Setanta O'hAilpin Rhys Palmer Jacob Townsend Out Dean Brogan (suspended) Curtly Hampton Will Hoskin-Elliott Jonathon Patton (knee) Lachie Plowman Devon Smith (suspended)

With Colin Garland out injured, Nathan Jones is a virtual certainty to take out back to back Demonland Player of the Year awards (and virtually everything else going at the club in 2013). PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 18 157. Nathan Jones 116. Colin Garland 106. Matt Jones 76. Colin Sylvia 75. James Frawley 70. Dean Terlich 57. Jeremy Howe 51. Jack Viney 40. Jack Watts 28. Tom McDonald 27. Max Gawn 26. Shannon Byrnes Jack Grimes 25. Aaron Davey 23. Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes 19. Jack Fitzpatrick 15. Jack Trengove 12. James Magner 11. Mitch Clisby Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 5. Cam Pedersen 4. Jordie McKenzie Jake Spencer 3. Mark Jamar Dean Kent 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease

Yes the Demons have done it again! Played one hundred minutes of football and managed a lousy four goals for a whole game. At least at Geelong a couple of weeks ago there was the reasonable excuse of a river running through the ground. We are truly setting the record books alight this year as this was our ninth game where we have kicked less than ten goals. And since this was round 18, thats ½ of the games played! How we dream of the old days. Saturday afternoon at the footy. Playing against another Melbourne based side. The memories ... and if it were the old days, the season would be over by now. Although our season has in truth long been over. Could it be that Mark Neeld really wasnt the problem? Darwin aftermath perhaps? Or is the truth much simpler: We just have a team full of absolute lazy spuds! The coach doesnt stop a player chasing, or contesting. Tropical heat doesnt mean you cant stand alongside your opponent, even more so if you didnt actually play in Darwin. The sheer number of spectators on the ground should have been brought to the attention of security. Sadly, even removing them wouldnt have made any difference to the score or the result. Fining them the $7K that was flashed up so often on the screen would have been a good starting point. Taking them to the Metropolitan Assessment Prison next door would have been an even better option. Nine Melbourne players had 10 possessions or less. What hope do we have when half the team is simply bludgeing? And bludgeing off the backs of Nathan Jones and Max Gawn who once again showed what is required at AFL level football. Or a young Jack Viney who is prepared to put in 110% even in his first year of football. Things were certainly not helped by our own ineptitude, with the grand total of 41 clangers for the team. No wonder North won by over twenty goals; they simply had a couple of extra players on the ground. Except they were wearing Red and Blue jumpers. Seven years of this we have been watching now. Any more of this and there will be more spectators on the ground than in the seats in the stands. Melbourne 1.0.6 3.2.20 4.4.28 4.4.28 North Melbourne 3.5.23 6.9.45 14.12.96 22.18.150 Goals Melbourne Byrnes Dawes Fitzpatrick Tapscott North Melbourne Bastinac Black 4 Adams Cunnington Goldstein Mullett Petrie Wells 2 Harvey Ziebell Best Melbourne Sylvia N Jones Frawley N Jones McDonald Dunn North Melbourne Cunnington Harvey Hansen Bastinac Goldstein Gibson Injuries Melbourne James Frawley (hamstring strain) North Melbourne Swallow (achilles) Changes Melbourne Dean Terlich replaced by Luke Tapscott North Melbourne Nil Reports Melbourne Nil North Melbourne Nil Umpires Findlay Bannister Burgess Official Attendance 16,959, at Etihad Stadium

We will add the outcome of the Development League game which is being played later today at Sandringham.

The Casey Scorpions have resurrected their hopes of a top two finish and home ground advantage in the first week of the finals with a narrow eight point victory over Collingwood at Victoria Park. With five rounds to go before the finals, it might have been a trifle early to go with thoughts of top two or final four finishes but, after some poor recent form and injuries restricting the number of AFL listed players to single figures (OK, ten if you count a certain unlisted Demon teenager whose presence in the team is never insignificant), things were threatening to unravel somewhat for the Scorpions. And it didn't help that the Magpies welcomed a few big names like Didak, Krakouer and Lynch to their formidable list or that about four other teams were breathing down Casey's neck for its spot near the top of the table. Collingwood won the toss and kicked to the Sherrin Stand end and the hosts were up for the challenge early, bursting out of the blocks with the first goal of the game. After a few tentative moves forward, Casey finally managed to answer through the agency of a mark and goal to Jesse Hogan. The Scorpions had much of the play for the remainder of the quarter but sprayed their shots for goal and inevitably, it was the home side that capitalised to take a four point lead into the first break. Despite Jake Spencer's dominance in the ruck, the Pies had much of the play and kicked the first of the second term after an early miss from Hogan before Best replied but the home side soon answered to regain a nine point lead. It was at this point that Hogan stepped up to the plate and took control of the game with his awesome presence and powerful marking. He gave off a couple to teammates, kicked a couple and missed one or two and when the dust settled his team held a 19 point half time lead. After the break, the game rarely hit any great heights with the tricky wind playing havoc with both sides. Collingwood went defensive on Hogan but, despite the double tagging, he continued to be a presence on the ground to finish with 25 possessions, 12 marks and three goals. The Scorpions maintained a 15 point three quarter time lead and virtually iced the game with the first two goals of the final term although a late Magpie fightback caused a few flutters. Nick Lang capped off a fine debut with two goals and 23rd player, Josh Scott from the Gippsland Power, would also be happy with a goal on debut. It was also pleasing to see former skipper Kyle Matthews burrowing away in the senior team as only he can do. Current captain Evan Panozza was steady as a rock in defence as usual. James Magner was given a tagging role on Magpie Kyle Martin (perhaps in anticipation of promotion from the rookie list) and kept him well in check for most of the game while picking up plenty of touches for himself. James Strauss (27 possessions), Josh Tynan (25) and Rory Taggert (2 goals) also did no harm to their chances for promotion particularly in view of the carnage that took place at Etihad Stadium an hour or so later. Next week sees the Scorpions playing in the match of the round against ladder leader Geelong at Casey Fields. Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 8.6.54 10.11.7113.12.90 Collingwood 2.2.14 5.5.35 8.8.56 12.10.82 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 3 Best Lang Spencer Taggert 2 Gent Scott Collingwood Boland Paine 3 Brett Broomhead Hellier Lynch Martin Mooney Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Magner Strauss Taggert Panozza Jetta Collingwood Didak Lynch Ramsay Oxley Allan Yagmoor Picture gallery: https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#album/dave.savell/5905166748088302257 Melbourne future star Jesse Hogan dominates Collingwood, leading Casey Scorpions to victory

RESURRECTED by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions have resurrected their hopes of a top two finish and home ground advantage in the first week of the finals with a narrow eight point victory over Collingwood at Victoria Park. With five rounds to go before the finals, it might have been a trifle early to go with thoughts of top two or final four finishes but, after some poor recent form and injuries restricting the number of AFL listed players to single figures (OK, ten if you count a certain unlisted Demon teenager whose presence in the team is never insignificant), things were threatening to unravel somewhat for the Scorpions. And it didn't help that the Magpies welcomed a few big names like Didak, Krakouer and Lynch to their formidable list or that about four other teams were breathing down Casey's neck for its spot near the top of the table. Collingwood won the toss and kicked to the Sherrin Stand end and the hosts were up for the challenge early, bursting out of the blocks with the first goal of the game. After a few tentative moves forward, Casey finally managed to answer through the agency of a mark and goal to Jesse Hogan. The Scorpions had much of the play for the remainder of the quarter but sprayed their shots for goal and inevitably, it was the home side that capitalised to take a four point lead into the first break. Despite Jake Spencer's dominance in the ruck, the Pies had much of the play and kicked the first of the second term after an early miss from Hogan before Best replied but the home side soon answered to regain a nine point lead. It was at this point that Hogan stepped up to the plate and took control of the game with his awesome presence and powerful marking. He gave off a couple to teammates, kicked a couple and missed one or two and when the dust settled his team held a 19 point half time lead. After the break, the game rarely hit any great heights with the tricky wind playing havoc with both sides. Collingwood went defensive on Hogan but, despite the double tagging, he continued to be a presence on the ground to finish with 25 possessions, 12 marks and three goals. The Scorpions maintained a 15 point three quarter time lead and virtually iced the game with the first two goals of the final term although a late Magpie fightback caused a few flutters. Nick Lang capped off a fine debut with two goals and 23rd player, Josh Scott from the Gippsland Power, would also be happy with a goal on debut. It was also pleasing to see former skipper Kyle Matthews burrowing away in the senior team as only he can do. Current captain Evan Panozza was steady as a rock in defence as usual. James Magner was given a tagging role on Magpie Kyle Martin (perhaps in anticipation of promotion from the rookie list) and kept him well in check for most of the game while picking up plenty of touches for himself. James Strauss (27 possessions), Josh Tynan (25) and Rory Taggert (2 goals) also did no harm to their chances for promotion particularly in view of the carnage that took place at Etihad Stadium an hour or so later. Next week sees the Scorpions playing in the match of the round against ladder leader Geelong at Casey Fields. Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 8.6.54 10.11.7113.12.90 Collingwood 2.2.14 5.5.35 8.8.56 12.10.82 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 3 Best Lang Spencer Taggert 2 Gent Scott Collingwood Boland Paine 3 Brett Broomhead Hellier Lynch Martin Mooney Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Magner Strauss Taggert Panozza Jetta Collingwood Didak Lynch Ramsay Oxley Allan Yagmoor Picture gallery: https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#album/dave.savell/5905166748088302257

Post Match Time

Cast your votes please - 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

ETIHAD INVADED BY SPECTATORS! ... CALL SECURITY by George on The Outer Yes the Demons have done it again! Played one hundred minutes of football and managed a lousy four goals for a whole game. At least at Geelong a couple of weeks ago there was the reasonable excuse of a river running through the ground. We are truly setting the record books alight this year as this was our ninth game where we have kicked less than ten goals. And since this was round 18, thats ½ of the games played! How we dream of the old days. Saturday afternoon at the footy. Playing against another Melbourne based side. The memories ... and if it were the old days, the season would be over by now. Although our season has in truth long been over. Could it be that Mark Neeld really wasnt the problem? Darwin aftermath perhaps? Or is the truth much simpler: We just have a team full of absolute lazy spuds! The coach doesnt stop a player chasing, or contesting. Tropical heat doesnt mean you cant stand alongside your opponent, even more so if you didnt actually play in Darwin. The sheer number of spectators on the ground should have been brought to the attention of security. Sadly, even removing them wouldnt have made any difference to the score or the result. Fining them the $7K that was flashed up so often on the screen would have been a good starting point. Taking them to the Metropolitan Assessment Prison next door would have been an even better option. Nine Melbourne players had 10 possessions or less. What hope do we have when half the team is simply bludgeing? And bludgeing off the backs of Nathan Jones and Max Gawn who once again showed what is required at AFL level football. Or a young Jack Viney who is prepared to put in 110% even in his first year of football. Things were certainly not helped by our own ineptitude, with the grand total of 41 clangers for the team. No wonder North won by over twenty goals; they simply had a couple of extra players on the ground. Except they were wearing Red and Blue jumpers. Seven years of this we have been watching now. Any more of this and there will be more spectators on the ground than in the seats in the stands. Melbourne 1.0.6 3.2.14 4.4.28 4.4.28 North Melbourne 3.5.23 6.9.41 14.12.9622.18.150 Goals Melbourne Byrnes Dawes Fitzpatrick Tapscott North Melbourne Bastinac Black 4 Adams Cunnington Goldstein Mullett Petrie Wells 2 Harvey Ziebell Best Melbourne Sylvia N Jones Frawley N Jones McDonald Dunn North Melbourne Cunnington Harvey Hansen Bastinac Goldstein Gibson Injuries Melbourne James Frawley (hamstring strain) North Melbourne Swallow (achilles) Changes Melbourne Dean Terlich replaced by Luke Tapscott North Melbourne Nil Reports MelbourneNil North Melbourne Nil Umpires Findlay Bannister Burgess Official Attendance 16,959, at Etihad Stadium

With a little bit of luck, North Melbourne will continue its recent record of domination over Melbourne when the two clubs meet at Etihad Stadium this weekend. On face value the timing of the game at 2:10pm on a Saturday afternoon suggests a return to traditional values but there is nothing truly traditional about this game. The venue is an enclosed stadium which has a roof that might be closed for the game depending on the weather conditions. Although this is Melbourne's "home" game, the ground is actually home to the "visiting" club and given that nobody remembers the last time that the Demons won a game at the place or indeed, when they last won a game against the Kangaroos, one wonders where the term "home ground advantage" fits into the equation. This has not been a particularly memorable year for either club. The horror stretch that Melbourne has endured over the past seven years is continuing and has been well documented but for North fans, it has also been a series of disasters and bad luck despite the club having a near injury-free list for the third or fourth year in a row. Last year, they had a dream fixture which helped them make it into the finals before they ran into a brick wall and a 16 goal crushing at Patersons Stadium at the hands of the Eagles. This year the luck of the draw eluded them. They have also played a number of quality games for 2½ quarters or so and then allowed opposition teams to come back from substantial deficits to win games at the last gasp. After a series of such games, they failed to reverse the trend by 1 point last week against Carlton when they came back from a six goal deficit late in the third term. Late in the evening, when the game was there to be won, an unlucky bounce robbed Brent Harvey of a chance to kick the winning goal for North. Such has been its luck for the whole season. But if there is to be any respite for the beleaguered Roos then it has to be this week against the Dees. It's not as if Melbourne hasn't improved by any of the usual measures since Neil Craig took over as coach. A change of coaching regime will do that simply because it brings in the refreshing winds of change usually after a difficult period in which self-doubt and a lack of confidence has prevailed over a losing group. However, it's often not enough to bring about sustainable improvement which might have to wait until the permanent new coach is appointed and installed. In the interim, the Demons are likely to meander through the season showing the odd glimpse of promise amid some more of the same frustrating shortcomings that have been their hallmark over the past five or so years. And all this points to the fact that Saturday promises to be North Melbourne's lucky day. THE GAME Melbourne v North Melbourne on Saturday 27th July 2013 at Etihad Stadium at 2.10 pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 83 wins North Melbourne 69 wins 1 draw At Etihad Stadium Melbourne 0 wins North Melbourne 6 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins North Melbourne 13 wins The Coaches Craig 0 wins Scott 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports Channel 3 live at 1:30pm. RADIO - TripleM THE BETTING Melbourne to win $15.00 North Melbourne to win $1.01 LAST TIME THEY MET North Melbourne 19.13.127 defeated Melbourne 11.7.73 at Etihad Stadium in Round 18, 2012 It was almost exactly a year ago to the day that these teams clashed at Etihad and the finals bound Kangaroos were in control from go to whoa as they coasted their way to a comfortable nine goal win to make it five wins from five encounters between the teams at this venue. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Shannon Byrnes Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Aaron Davey Chris Dawes Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Matt Jones Dean Kent Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer Luke Tapscott NORTH MELBOURNE Backs Lachlan Hansen Scott Thompson Cameron Delaney Half backs Aaron Mullett Nathan Grima Taylor Hine Centreline Daniel Wells Sam Gibson Shaun Atley Half forwards Ben Cunnington Drew Petrie Brent Harvey Forwards Aaron Black Robbie Tarrant Lindsay Thomas Followers Todd Goldstein Andrew Swallow Jack Ziebell Interchange Leigh Adams Ryan Bastinac Jamie Macmillan Brad McKenzie Emergencies Luke Delaney Ben Jacobs Sam Wright Had the Kangaroos won those five games lost by under a goal this season they would be 7th on the ladder and not in 13th place which is where they sit at the present time. Of course, my aunt would be my uncle if she had a hairy chest but what this means to me is that Melbourne is not taking on a team whose form is that of an outfit struggling in the bottom six in the competition. Had the breaks gone their way, this team could easily be in the mix to play deep into the finals. Whilst it is is true that under caretaker coach Neil Craig the Demons have shown some improvement, they continue to lag well below most sides in the competition in every key performance indicator. From centre clearances to inside 50s to average disposals and scores, they are far enough behind the likes of North Melbourne that they simply dont have the ammunition to crack even a quirky side like the Kangaroos on their home turf. This leaves us with but one conclusion. North Melbourne by 60 points.

A LUCKY DAY ... FOR SOME by JVM With a little bit of luck, North Melbourne will continue its recent record of domination over Melbourne when the two clubs meet at Etihad Stadium this weekend. On face value the timing of the game at 2:10pm on a Saturday afternoon suggests a return to traditional values but there is nothing truly traditional about this game. The venue is an enclosed stadium which has a roof that might be closed for the game depending on the weather conditions. Although this is Melbourne's "home" game, the ground is actually home to the "visiting" club and given that nobody remembers the last time that the Demons won a game at the place or indeed, when they last won a game against the Kangaroos, one wonders where the term "home ground advantage" fits into the equation. This has not been a particularly memorable year for either club. The horror stretch that Melbourne has endured over the past seven years is continuing and has been well documented but for North fans, it has also been a series of disasters and bad luck despite the club having a near injury-free list for the third or fourth year in a row. Last year, they had a dream fixture which helped them make it into the finals before they ran into a brick wall and a 16 goal crushing at Patersons Stadium at the hands of the Eagles. This year the luck of the draw eluded them. They have also played a number of quality games for 2½ quarters or so and then allowed opposition teams to come back from substantial deficits to win games at the last gasp. After a series of such games, they failed to reverse the trend by 1 point last week against Carlton when they came back from a six goal deficit late in the third term. Late in the evening, when the game was there to be won, an unlucky bounce robbed Brent Harvey of a chance to kick the winning goal for North. Such has been its luck for the whole season. But if there is to be any respite for the beleaguered Roos then it has to be this week against the Dees. It's not as if Melbourne hasn't improved by any of the usual measures since Neil Craig took over as coach. A change of coaching regime will do that simply because it brings in the refreshing winds of change usually after a difficult period in which self-doubt and a lack of confidence has prevailed over a losing group. However, it's often not enough to bring about sustainable improvement which might have to wait until the permanent new coach is appointed and installed. In the interim, the Demons are likely to meander through the season showing the odd glimpse of promise amid some more of the same frustrating shortcomings that have been their hallmark over the past five or so years. And all this points to the fact that Saturday promises to be North Melbourne's lucky day. THE GAME Melbourne v North Melbourne on Saturday 27th July 2013 at Etihad Stadium at 2.10 pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 83 wins North Melbourne 69 wins 1 draw At Etihad Stadium Melbourne 0 wins North Melbourne 6 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins North Melbourne 13 wins The Coaches Craig 0 wins Scott 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports Channel 3 live at 1:30pm. RADIO - TripleM THE BETTING Melbourne to win $15.00 North Melbourne to win $1.01 LAST TIME THEY MET North Melbourne 19.13.127 defeated Melbourne 11.7.73 at Etihad Stadium in Round 18, 2012 It was almost exactly a year ago to the day that these teams clashed at Etihad and the finals bound Kangaroos were in control from go to whoa as they coasted their way to a comfortable nine goal win to make it five wins from five encounters between the teams at this venue. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Shannon Byrnes Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Aaron Davey Chris Dawes Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Matt Jones Dean Kent Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer Luke Tapscott NORTH MELBOURNE Backs Lachlan Hansen Scott Thompson Cameron Delaney Half backs Aaron Mullett Nathan Grima Taylor Hine Centreline Daniel Wells Sam Gibson Shaun Atley Half forwards Ben Cunnington Drew Petrie Brent Harvey Forwards Aaron Black Robbie Tarrant Lindsay Thomas Followers Todd Goldstein Andrew Swallow Jack Ziebell Interchange Leigh Adams Ryan Bastinac Jamie Macmillan Brad McKenzie Emergencies Luke Delaney Ben Jacobs Sam Wright Had the Kangaroos won those five games lost by under a goal this season they would be 7th on the ladder and not in 13th place which is where they sit at the present time. Of course, my aunt would be my uncle if she had a hairy chest but what this means to me is that Melbourne is not taking on a team whose form is that of an outfit struggling in the bottom six in the competition. Had the breaks gone their way, this team could easily be in the mix to play deep into the finals. Whilst it is is true that under caretaker coach Neil Craig the Demons have shown some improvement, they continue to lag well below most sides in the competition in every key performance indicator. From centre clearances to inside 50s to average disposals and scores, they are far enough behind the likes of North Melbourne that they simply dont have the ammunition to crack even a quirky side like the Kangaroos on their home turf. This leaves us with but one conclusion. North Melbourne by 60 points.

The latest dope on the Essendon scandal - An independent panel will decide whether Essendon players are charged with doping offences.

They were surging towards the finals and had only one player on their injured list. We were struggling to keep our heads above water. It was an ordinary game from both sides. Truly forgettable. NORTH MELBOURNE Backs Scott McMahon Scott Thompson Michael Firrito Half backs Shaun Atley Nathan Grima Jamie Macmillan Centreline Ryan Bastinac Daniel Wells Ben Cunnington Half forwards Leigh Adams Robert Tarrant Samuel Wright Forwards Lachlan Hansen Drew Petrie Lindsay Thomas Followers Todd Goldstein Andrew Swallow Brent Harvey Interchange Liam Anthony Matt Campbell Sam Gibson Kieran Harper Emergencies Cruize Garlett Aaron Mullett Cameron Richardson No change MELBOURNE Backs Daniel Nicholson James Sellar Tom McDonald Half backs Joel Macdonald James Frawley Colin Garland Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Grimes Jack Trengove Half forwards Colin Sylvia Stef Martin Lynden Dunn Forwards Neville Jetta Jared Rivers Brad Green Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Jeremy Howe Brent Moloney James Strauss Emergencies Matthew Bate Jordan Gysberts James Magner In Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney James Sellar Out Tom Couch James Magner Ricky Petterd

The cold biting north wind coming in directly from the snowfields bode ill for the Casey Scorpions who fell to their second loss in a row and had fans scratching their heads about the team's dramatic fall from grace since their bye. Before the break, the Scorpions won five games on end in dominating fashion handing out a succession of beltings including a 15 goal win over next week's opponent Collingwood. Earlier on, they beat the Bombers at Windy Hill by 14 goals but, for the second week in a row, things were amiss at Scorpionland. As happened in the loss to Werribee, Casey was quick out of the blocks and scored the first three goals of the game. The first to Neville Jetta took less than a minute. The Scorps also kept the Bombers goalless for the opening term but, in reality, they hadn't done enough with first use of the wind. Essendon did all the attacking in the second quarter but it wasn't until the 26 minute mark until the lead was wrested away with a goal to former Territorian and Gippsland Power player Anthony Tipungwuti who trained with Casey early in the pre season. After another Bomber goal, the Scorpions managed their only score for the term, a goal to Luke Tapscott, his second, after an exciting run down the wing from Dom Barry. The deficit was just 3 points at the main break. Like the last goal of the first half, the next was scored against the breeze to give the Bombers a 9 point lead. Rory Taggert produced a magic goal evading tackles, then Jake Best put Casey in front with his second before skipper Evan Panozza, playing his 100th game, down for a goal. The game was lost in the next 15 minutes when the Scorps' surge stalled. They added just one goal to go into orange time with a lead of only 13 points which was never going to be enough. The Bombers took the lead 8 minutes into the final term and, despite a couple of attempts to surge back into the game, it was the opposition who showed the greater composure and discipline to hold on for an 11 point win. Casey was well served by Panozza in defence (26 possessions), James Magner as always was tough in the midfield and picked up 25 touches and James Sellar and Troy Davis put their hands up for AFL selection. Dan Nicholson picked up 21 disposals while Jake Spencer, returning from suspension, had 30 hit outs. The team wore pink guernseys in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and should be commended for its support of some great causes for the general community. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Dom Barry 5 kicks 11 handballs 16 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles Troy Davis 7 kicks 12 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 1 behind Tom Gillies 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks Jesse Hogan 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 1 hit out 1 goal Neville Jetta 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 1 goal Joel Macdonald did not play Jordie McKenzie 5 kicks 12 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles James Magner 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 1 mark 10 tackles 1 hit out Daniel Nicholson 8 kicks 13 handballs 21 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles James Sellar 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 2 hitouts Jake Spencer 2 kicks 7 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 30 hitouts James Strauss 9 kicks 13 handballs 22 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles Rory Taggert 10 kicks 11 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 1 goal Luke Tapscott 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 2 goals Josh Tynan 12 kicks 2 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 4.3.27 8.3.51 9.4.58 Essendon0.1.1 4.6.30 5.9.39 9.15.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Tapscott 2 Hogan Hughes Jetta Panozza Taggert Essendon Davey Hille 2 Brown Daniher Duscher Firman Tipungwuti Best Casey Scorpions Panozza Nicholson Sellar Davis Magner Tapscott Essendon Firman Hille Steinberg Kavanagh O'Brien Coghlan The Casey Scorpions Development League team posted a famous victory and secured their place in the top six after holding Sandringham scoreless in the first half and goalless until the final term Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 7.5.47 11.11.77 12.13.85 Sandringham0.0.0 0.0.0 0.1.1 2.4.16 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler Page Riseley 3 Anderson Lang Rosier Sandringham McKay Rist Best Casey Scorpions Pollard Boland Riseley Rosier Roberts Page Sandringham Maley Weikhardt Williams Beech Hodges McKay

HEAD SCRATCHERS by Ice Station The cold biting north wind coming in directly from the snowfields bode ill for the Casey Scorpions who fell to their second loss in a row and had fans scratching their heads about the team's dramatic fall from grace since their bye. Before the break, the Scorpions won five games on end in dominating fashion handing out a succession of beltings including a 15 goal win over next week's opponent Collingwood. Earlier on, they beat the Bombers at Windy Hill by 14 goals but, for the second week in a row, things were amiss at Scorpionland. As happened in the loss to Werribee, Casey was quick out of the blocks and scored the first three goals of the game. The first to Neville Jetta took less than a minute. The Scorps also kept the Bombers goalless for the opening term but, in reality, they hadn't done enough with first use of the wind. Essendon did all the attacking in the second quarter but it wasn't until the 26 minute mark until the lead was wrested away with a goal to former Territorian and Gippsland Power player Anthony Tipungwuti who trained with Casey early in the pre season. After another Bomber goal, the Scorpions managed their only score for the term, a goal to Luke Tapscott, his second, after an exciting run down the wing from Dom Barry. The deficit was just 3 points at the main break. Like the last goal of the first half, the next was scored against the breeze to give the Bombers a 9 point lead. Rory Taggert produced a magic goal evading tackles, then Jake Best put Casey in front with his second before skipper Evan Panozza, playing his 100th game, drifted down for a goal. The game was lost in the next 15 minutes when the Scorps' surge stalled. They added just one goal to go into orange time with a lead of only 13 points which was never going to be enough. The Bombers took the lead 8 minutes into the final term and, despite a couple of attempts to surge back into the game, it was the opposition who showed the greater composure and discipline to hold on for an 11 point win. Casey was well served by Panozza in defence (26 possessions), James Magner as always was tough in the midfield and picked up 25 touches and James Sellar and Troy Davis put their hands up for AFL selection. Dan Nicholson picked up 21 disposals while Jake Spencer, returning from suspension, had 30 hit outs. The team wore pink guernseys in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and should be commended for its support of some great causes for the general community. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Dom Barry 5 kicks 11 handballs 16 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles Troy Davis 7 kicks 12 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 1 behind Tom Gillies 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks Jesse Hogan 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 1 hit out 1 goal Neville Jetta 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 1 goal Joel Macdonald did not play Jordie McKenzie 5 kicks 12 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles James Magner 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 1 mark 10 tackles 1 hit out Daniel Nicholson 8 kicks 13 handballs 21 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles James Sellar 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 2 hitouts Jake Spencer 2 kicks 7 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 30 hitouts James Strauss 9 kicks 13 handballs 22 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles Rory Taggert 10 kicks 11 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 1 goal Luke Tapscott 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 2 goals Josh Tynan 12 kicks 2 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 4.3.27 8.3.51 9.4.58 Essendon0.1.1 4.6.30 5.9.39 9.15.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Tapscott 2 Hogan Hughes Jetta Panozza Taggert Essendon Davey Hille 2 Brown Daniher Duscher Firman Tipungwuti Best Casey Scorpions Panozza Nicholson Sellar Davis Magner Tapscott Essendon Firman Hille Steinberg Kavanagh O'Brien Coghlan The Casey Scorpions Development League team posted a famous victory and secured their place in the top six after holding Sandringham scoreless in the first half and goalless until the final term Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 7.5.47 11.11.77 12.13.85 Sandringham0.0.0 0.0.0 0.1.1 2.4.16 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler Page Riseley 3 Anderson Lang Rosier Sandringham McKay Rist Best Casey Scorpions Pollard Boland Riseley Rosier Roberts Page Sandringham Maley Weikhardt Williams Beech Hodges McKay

PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 17 146. Nathan Jones 116. Colin Garland 103. Matt Jones 70. Dean Terlich 67. James Frawley 59. Colin Sylvia 57. Jeremy Howe 51. Jack Viney 40. Jack Watts 26. Shannon Byrnes Jack Grimes 25. Aaron Davey Tom McDonald 23. Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes 19. Jack Fitzpatrick Max Gawn 15. Jack Trengove 12. James Magner 11. Luke Tapscott 9. Jimmy Toumpas 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 6. Lynden Dunn 5. Mitch Clisby Cam Pedersen 4. Jordie McKenzie Jake Spencer 3. Mark Jamar Dean Kent 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease

Surprise Surprise. Clark sidelined for remainder of 2013

Welcome back to the footballing world Dean Bailey. Tanks for tanking part of the fall. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-22/bailey-back-after-eternity?utm_medium=RSS

They didn't win. Really, they didn't even deserve to do so or even come that close for that matter and the Brisbane Lions were well below full strength with Jonathan Brown and two of their best midfielders out of the contest. But with the season now entering a prolonged junk time for the Melbourne Football Club and our thoughts firmly focussed on the trade and draft periods and the coming back room battles for control of a banana republic board that will, for some time remain subservient to the AFL army, there were some things you just had to take from a loss of less than 20 points. I could settle for the performance of James Frawley who prevailed over a defence which in better circumstances (i.e if we had a midfield that could occasionally win a centre clearance) would be regarded as first world. "Chip" was awesome on the night and he was well assisted by Colin Garland until the third quarter tragedy took place (more of that later). I could have also settled on Nathan Jones who is all class in a moribund midfield and who was worn all night by a glove called Andrew Raines and still managed to have an impact (even if limited) or on Colin Sylvia who worked hard in the hot humid evening to amass 27 touches. In the end however, I decided to dedicate the night to our Jacks - all five of them because together, they will lead this club forward. I don't know how the judges who award the NAB Rising Star can avoid giving young Viney the gong this week. Our youngest player led by example, took the hits and was often found at the bottom of the packs in his first AFL game in 10 weeks and only ran out of steam at the end. This is where the club's midfield revival starts. The club's ugly duckling Jack Fitzpatrick is turning into a swan, dangerous around goal with a haul of four, three of them in the opening term and it could have been more but for a little knee problem. Jack Watts gifted him one of those early goals and was terrific on the night with 21 touches (10 marks), even having to go into the ruck at times to help out Max Gawn and Jack F in the sapping heat. Jack Grimes had a negating role in the middle and did it well while his co-captain Jack Trengove lurked with intent, laid a dozen tackles and was a strong contributor. He's emerging out of a dirty first half of a season in which his preparation was hampered by a difficult foot injury. There was more. Max Gawn worked hard in the ruck and got his share of hit outs and while beaten around the ground by Leuenberger is on his way to a career as one of the game's better big men. The team effort was solid and a major improvement on last week. The quarter time score of 5.1.31 exceeded that of the deluge affected score from Simonds Stadium, they went inside 50 fifty times and for the second week in a row, kept the opposition to under 100 points. The last quarter and a half was played under the disadvantage of being a rotation short after a languishing Jimmy Toumpas was subbed off with Garland rolling an ankle a minute or so later. Bad luck but, in those tough conditions, it gave Brisbane that small advantage that allowed it to safely see out the game. Junk time and the MFC world tour continues next week with our second home game in a row away from home, this time at Etihad against a desperately unlucky North Melbourne team that will be keen to give another team a kicking after its train of tragedies and close defeats. A month ago I wouldn't have given the Demons a chance but now - who knows? Melbourne 5.1.31 6.5.41 10.7.67 11.9 75 Brisbane Lions 3.4.22 8.5.53 11.12.78 13.16.94 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick 4 Blease Davey 2 Byrnes Dawes N Jones Brisbane Lions Green Staker 3 Merrett Redden 2 Lisle Mayes, Zorko Best Melbourne Frawley Viney Fitzpatrick Sylvia Grimes Trengove Brisbane Lions Rockliff Hanley Leuenberger Redden Staker Green Injuries Melbourne Garland (ankle) Brisbane Lions Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Brisbane Lions Jonathan Brown and Mitch Golby replaced by Sam Docherty and Jordan Lisle Reports Melbourne Nil Brisbane Lions Nil Umpired Findlay Ryan Fila Official Crowd 7,615 at TIO Stadium

Game over - post match discussion here http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/34536-post-match-discussion/?p=790247

THE NIGHT OF THE JACKS by Whispering Jack They didn't win. Really, they didn't even deserve to do so or even come that close for that matter and the Brisbane Lions were well below full strength with Jonathan Brown and two of their best midfielders out of the contest. But with the season now entering a prolonged junk time for the Melbourne Football Club and our thoughts firmly focussed on the trade and draft periods and the coming back room battles for control of a banana republic board that will, for some time remain subservient to the AFL army, there were some things you just had to take from a loss of less than 20 points. I could settle for the performance of James Frawley who prevailed over a defence which in better circumstances (i.e if we had a midfield that could occasionally win a centre clearance) would be regarded as first world. "Chip" was awesome on the night and he was well assisted by Colin Garland until the third quarter tragedy took place (more of that later). I could have also settled on Nathan Jones who is all class in a moribund midfield and who was worn all night by a glove called Andrew Raines and still managed to have an impact (even if limited) or on Colin Sylvia who worked hard in the hot humid evening to amass 27 touches. In the end however, I decided to dedicate the night to our Jacks - all five of them because together, they will lead this club forward. I don't know how the judges who award the NAB Rising Star can avoid giving young Viney the gong this week. Our youngest player led by example, took the hits and was often found at the bottom of the packs in his first AFL game in 10 weeks and only ran out of steam at the end. This is where the club's midfield revival starts. The club's ugly duckling Jack Fitzpatrick is turning into a swan, dangerous around goal with a haul of four, three of them in the opening term and it could have been more but for a little knee problem. Jack Watts gifted him one of those early goals and was terrific on the night with 21 touches (10 marks), even having to go into the ruck at times to help out Max Gawn and Jack F in the sapping heat. Jack Grimes had a negating role in the middle and did it well while his co-captain Jack Trengove lurked with intent, laid a dozen tackles and was a strong contributor. He's emerging out of a dirty first half of a season in which his preparation was hampered by a difficult foot injury. There was more. Max Gawn worked hard in the ruck and got his share of hit outs and while beaten around the ground by Leuenberger is on his way to a career as one of the game's better big men. The team effort was solid and a major improvement on last week. The quarter time score of 5.1.31 exceeded that of the deluge affected score from Simonds Stadium, they went inside 50 fifty times and for the second week in a row, kept the opposition to under 100 points. The last quarter and a half was played under the disadvantage of being a rotation short after a languishing Jimmy Toumpas was subbed off with Garland rolling an ankle a minute or so later. Bad luck but, in those tough conditions, it gave Brisbane that small advantage that allowed it to safely see out the game. Junk time and the MFC world tour continues next week with our second home game in a row away from home, this time at Etihad against a desperately unlucky North Melbourne team that will be keen to give another team a kicking after its train of tragedies and close defeats. A month ago I wouldn't have given the Demons a chance but now - who knows? Melbourne 5.1.31 6.5.41 10.7.67 11.9 75 Brisbane Lions 3.4.22 8.5.53 11.12.78 13.16.94 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick 4 Blease Davey 2 Byrnes Dawes N Jones Brisbane Lions Green Staker 3 Merrett Redden 2 Lisle Mayes, Zorko Best Melbourne Frawley Viney Fitzpatrick Sylvia Grimes Trengove Brisbane Lions Rockliff Hanley Leuenberger Redden Staker Green Injuries Melbourne Garland (ankle) Brisbane Lions Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Brisbane Lions Jonathan Brown and Mitch Golby replaced by Sam Docherty and Jordan Lisle Reports Melbourne Nil Brisbane Lions Nil Umpired Findlay Ryan Fila Official Crowd 7,615 at TIO Stadium

Cast your votes please - 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

Ring the bell!

I can't believe that nobody has started a thread on this player yet so I'm doing so now with Whispering Jack's special draft feature: Every year WJ nominates his early favourite for Melbourne's first draft selection. In the past, he's gone for Nathan Jones, Ben McEvoy, Tom Scully (ok, he's not foolproof) and more recently, Jack Viney. This year, it's a player who's also a favourite of one of the game's true personalities. CHOCO'S CHOICE? by Whispering Jack If the stars align in a certain way, then come November, Mark Williams will be coach of the Melbourne Football Club and Matt Scharenberg will be its first selection in the AFL National Draft. According to this article Williams, who is one of the front runners for the Demons' coaching job, once described South Australian Scharenberg as "the best schoolboy footballer he had seen since Wayne Carey" - Matt Scharenberg could pip James Aish as the first South Australian drafted I first saw the 190cm, 89kg Scharenberg tearing it up in defence as a bottom ager for SA at last year's under 18 national carnival and I pictured him as potentially growing into a quality key defender but this year he has added an extra dimension of versatility to his game. He now looks they type who could fill many positions including that of the taller type midfielder and that's what makes him an attractive proposition for the Demons. There's been a lot of talk about midfielders in this year's draft discussion because most AFL clubs can't have enough of them (particularly in the 180-190cm range) and, in Melbourne's case, it has hardly any of quality in this category. And while most are concentrating on the likes of James Aish, Josh Kelly and Jack Billings in the draft's current quality street, I am tending toward's Choco's view. The reigning Brownlow Medallist stands at 191cm and Chris Judd is 189cm so if we're seriously looking for the prototype midfielder of the future, Scharenberg is of the right size and, on what I saw in this year's national carnival, has the skill set, the right physical and mental make up to excel as an on baller at the highest level. Scharenberg was a member of this year's championship winners, shared his State's MVP with midfielder Luke Dunstan and, albeit as a defender, made it back to back into the under-18 All-Australian team (a rare honour shared this year with Aish and Billings). Kelly and another hot midfield prospect Dom Sheed (the Larke Medallist) also earned AA status this year. Scharenberg is currently playing senior football at SANFL level with Glenelg and shone last week with more than 20 touches in a team that was well beaten. With Melbourne a possibility of gaining some draft assistance from the AFL at the end of the year, it's possible that this year's draft might well yield it with two of the best of this bunch and otherwise, there is further quality and depth in this year's midfield that might bring another to the club via its second round pick. But Scharenberg is going to be a hard choice to resist at the November draft especially if the coach happens to be the one who compared him to one of the modern era's greatest players.

Every year WJ nominates his early favourite for Melbourne's first draft selection. In the past, he's gone for Nathan Jones, Ben McEvoy, Tom Scully (ok, he's not foolproof) and more recently, Jack Viney. This year, it's a player who's also a favourite of one of the game's true personalities. CHOCO'S CHOICE? by Whispering Jack If the stars align in a certain way, then come November, Mark Williams will be coach of the Melbourne Football Club and Matt Scharenberg will be its first selection in the AFL National Draft. According to this article Williams, who is one of the front runners for the Demons' coaching job, once described South Australian Scharenberg as "the best schoolboy footballer he had seen since Wayne Carey" - Matt Scharenberg could pip James Aish as the first South Australian drafted I first saw the 190cm, 89kg Scharenberg tearing it up in defence as a bottom ager for SA at last year's under 18 national carnival and I pictured him as potentially growing into a quality key defender but this year he has added an extra dimension of versatility to his game. He now looks they type who could fill many positions including that of the taller type midfielder and that's what makes him an attractive proposition for the Demons. There's been a lot of talk about midfielders in this year's draft discussion because most AFL clubs can't have enough of them (particularly in the 180-190cm range) and, in Melbourne's case, it has hardly any of quality in this category. And while most are concentrating on the likes of James Aish, Josh Kelly and Jack Billings in the draft's current quality street, I am tending toward's Choco's view. The reigning Brownlow Medallist stands at 191cm and Chris Judd is 189cm so if we're seriously looking for the prototype midfielder of the future, Scharenberg is of the right size and, on what I saw in this year's national carnival, has the skill set, the right physical and mental make up to excel as an on baller at the highest level. Scharenberg was a member of this year's championship winners, shared his State's MVP with midfielder Luke Dunstan and, albeit as a defender, made it back to back into the under-18 All-Australian team (a rare honour shared this year with Aish and Billings). Kelly and another hot midfield prospect Dom Sheed (the Larke Medallist) also earned AA status this year. Scharenberg is currently playing senior football at SANFL level with Glenelg and shone last week with more than 20 touches in a team that was well beaten. With Melbourne a possibility of gaining some draft assistance from the AFL at the end of the year, it's possible that this year's draft might well yield it with two of the best of this bunch and otherwise, there is further quality and depth in this year's midfield that might bring another to the club via its second round pick. But Scharenberg is going to be a hard choice to resist at the November draft especially if the coach happens to be the one who compared him to one of the modern era's greatest players.