Demonland

INJECTED by Whispering Jack There's been much talk over the past week at another AFL club about injections. Questions have been raised about a systematic programme of injecting substances into players' bodies; whether it was legal and has it been responsible for that club's drastically improved performance this season? On a different level it's fair to say that there's also been a major injection of something at Melbourne over the past fortnight but there's no question about its legality or its cause and effect. The substance introduced by its wily and experienced caretaker coach Neil Craig is called "confidence". The players have been given new found freedom to play the game and it was reflected in their 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100) victory over the Western Bulldogs. Of course, nothing comes easily to the modern day Demons and it was almost a victory that wasn't. Despite leading by 44 points at the halfway mark of the final term after successive goals from Chris Dawes, Jack Watts and Jeremy Howe, they terrified their truly long suffering fans with the prospect of a defeat from the jaws of victory scenario when they almost dropped with exhaustion to concede seven consecutive goals before the final siren saved the day. It would be unfair to give all the credit to the new coach. The players had shown some glimpses during this horror season, most notably the season high 12 goal final quarter against GWS but, in many ways, I likened this game to an extension of the first quarter against the Magpies on Queens Birthday, Mark Neeld's last game. What Craig managed to do was to get them up for three and a half quarters rather than the one (and I'm allowing for the fact that this week's opposition is far inferior to Collingwood). He has done so off the field by changing the atmosphere, training them at different times, talking to them differently and more positively. Ironically, the less defensive minded approach has resulted in more prolific scoring and players like Jack Watts and Jack Trengove, playing with their shackles released, have come out of their shells and are starting to produce what we would expect from a number 1 and a number 2 draft choice. The defence is functioning much better and the giant step this week was the drop in uncertainty, poor decision making and disposal that led to so many turnovers under the previous coach. James Frawley, Colin Garland, Tom McDonald and Dean Terlich are starting to form what could become a very formidable backline in coming years. Up forward, Chris Dawes is beginning to justify the mad clamber to secure his release from the Pies and is finally being received in favourable light in comparison with his replacement at that club. Howe is taking more hangers and Watts and Jack Fitzpatrick have added some excitement to the forward line which will be strongly augmented by the return of Mitch Clark (one of these days) and next year, by a certain kid from Casey via WA. Which leads us to Melbourne's elephant on the football park - the midfield. Max Gawn gallantly led the ruck brigade but despite an herculean effort, he ran out of gas at the end and while for most of the day the team was beaten at the stoppages. Nathan Jones was his usual great self for most of the night and David Rodan produced some glittering cameos but, when it came to getting the ball out of the middle, it seemed to only happen rarely and then only by accident or a free kick. The midfield was monstered in those final 15 or 16 minutes and, its in that area that Craig will no doubt focus for the remainder of the season as will the club during the trade and draft period. There are further tests of Neil Craig's injection of confidence-building to come with fixtures against Sydney at the MCG followed by a visit to Skilled Stadium. Both opponents have strong, tough, skilled, gut running midfields. At least his young charges will be learning against the best. Melbourne 3.5.23 8.8.56 12.1284 15.13.103 Western Bulldogs 2.2.14 4.6.30 6.9.45 15.10.100 Goals Melbourne Watts 4 Dawes 3 Fitzpatrick Howe 2 Blease Gawn Blease N Jones Western Bulldogs Cooney Giansiracusa Griffen 3 Cordy 2 Macrae, Dahlhaus Dickson Macrae Minson Best Melbourne N Jones Watts Trengove Frawley Rodan McDonald Western Bulldogs Liberatore Cooney Griffen Boyd Murphy Minson Changes Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Injuries Melbourne Blease (ankle) Western Bulldogs Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires B Ryan H Ryan J Mollison Crowd 21,217 at the MCG

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

I don't think it's co-incidence that Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney this week joined Michael Voss in opposing AFL draft assistance for the Melbourne Football Club which has been struggling to be competitive on the field for years. Clubs like the Demons, the Bulldogs and the Lions, have had to battle in recent seasons to rebuild through drafts compromised by the introduction of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. McCartney and Voss are also aware that a priority selection given to Melbourne in this year's draft would cause their clubs to each drop one place further down the picking order so there's an altruistic aspect to their opposition. The Bulldogs finished in the top four as recently as 2010 while the Lions were finallists in 2009. Since then both clubs have headed south on the ladder but they haven't hit rock bottom like Melbourne. They ignore the fact that Melbourne's troubles have persisted longer and are far deeper in effect than those of their clubs. They ignore the fact that a weaker Melbourne can only damage the financial position of the AFL and the welfare of all clubs going into the future. The truth is that it makes sense to look after the weak. In McCartney's case, with a list that has many players who are aging with limited time left in the game, it's not particularly forward-looking for him to shun the possibility of AFL assistance. His club already gets significant financial assistance and without the salary cap and the draft his club would be dead in the water. He might well require some additional draft assistance if he can't adequately fill the void that will occur at the Western Oval over the next year or two when the likes of Robert Murphy and co call it a day. McCartney's little dig at this week's opponent might be strategic in the short term, but I see more hope for Melbourne in the future than for the Western Bulldogs. Almost exactly two years ago, these clubs fought out a life and death game at Etihad Stadium. Back then, the window was closing for the under-performing Dogs at the end of the Rodney Eade era while the Demons were an outside chance of making the finals under Dean Bailey. It was a must win game for the up and down pretenders whose hopes were dashed by the pressure exerted by the Western Bulldogs' experience. The false dawn expired that day with an 11 goal defeat and was destroyed utterly four weeks later by a far bigger margin at Skilled Stadium. The team that had been wracked by "bruise-free" was about to be finished off by internal dissension and politics. It also wasn't good enough, fit enough or strong enough and while this was all recognised by Mark Neeld, the core issues were never fully addressed and the situation of the team worsened. There's now yet another rebuild afoot at Melbourne where there does exist a well of as yet untapped talent which needs to be supplemented in the short term to maintain competitiveness while they develop. A mini draft along the lines of the GWS model would help without necessarily changing another club's draft position. The first signs of an easing of the pressure were evident against St. Kilda under the stewardship of Neil Craig last week.However, given that the team is still bedeviled by injuries to so many important and key players, I can't see them beating the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, but irrespective of whether or not the Demons receive AFL draft assistance this year, I expect them to leap past this week's opposition in the near future, beyond which I wonder what Brendan McCartney will do if his club finds itself in need of help. THE GAME Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at MCG Saturday 29 June 2013 at 7.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Melbourne 83 wins Western Bulldogs 71 wins 1 draw At MCG: Melbourne 43 wins Western Bulldogs 26wins Since 2000: Melbourne 10 wins Western Bulldogs 11 wins The Coaches: Craig 0 wins McCartney 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 3 Radio SEN ABC THE BETTING Melbourne to win $4.60 Western Bulldogs $1.20 LAST TIME THEY MET Western Bulldogs 13.10.88 defeated Melbourne 9.13.67 at MCG in Round 4, 2012 The Dees were in it from go to whoa and might have been closer late in the game but for the demise of an in form Mitch Clark who went for a hanger and landed on his head. The Doggies managed to hold tight and run out winners by 21 points. TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitch Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Matt Jones Half forwards Aaron Davey Chris Dawes Sam Blease Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Jack Watts David Rodan Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Jeremy Howe Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies James Magner Cam Pedersen James Sellar In Max Gawn James Frawley Out Cam Pedersen Jake Spencer (suspended) WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Jason Johannisen Jordan Roughead Nick Lower Half backs Clay Smith Michael Talia Dale Morris Centreline Jackson Macrae Adam Cooney Ryan Griffen Half forwards Robert Murphy Jake Stringer Hunter Forwards Tory Dickson Liam Jones Luke Dahlhaus Followers Will Minson Matthew Boyd Tom Liberatore Interchange Ayce Cordy Daniel Giansiracusa Nathan Hrovat Mitchell Wallis Emergencies Dylan Addison Daniel Cross Tom Young In Ayce Cordy Tory Dickson Mitchell Wallis Out Goodes (wrist) Lukas Markovic Liam Picken SISTER ACT by The Oracle Aaron DaveyBy late Saturday night, it will have been a big weekend for the Davey family. Alwyn Davey has already notched up a win with the Bombers over in Perth. Sister Bronwyn, will play in Melbournes inaugural womens team against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday night and a win in that game should be a given with her family talent, the partipation of Demonlands own Jasmine Garner and the first ever AFL womens number 1 draft pick Daisy Pearce. With that sort of quality, I expect the Demons to have little trouble in overcoming the dishlickers from out west. Inaugural Womens Clash Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs Saturday 29 June 2013, 5:10pm Venue: MCG By the time darkness sets in, big brother Aaron is expected to have made a major contribution to the new Demon cause under Neil Craig.We saw some improvement last week and there's more to come with the return of James Frawley and Max Gawn. I'm tipping a close, hard-fought struggle with the Bulldogs scraping home purely thanks to the superiority and experience of the likes of Boyd, Cooney, Griffin, Murphy and 2013 super sub Giansiracusa. Together, I expect these players to give the Dogs midfield dominance over Melbourne. That fleeting dominance will be gone soon and once that happens, their club will be desperate and in need of the help it now seeks to deny others. Western Bulldogs by 21 points (but enjoy it while you can).

HELP by The Oracle I don't think it's co-incidence that Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney this week joined Michael Voss in opposing AFL draft assistance for the Melbourne Football Club which has been struggling to be competitive on the field for years. Clubs like the Demons, the Bulldogs and the Lions, have had to battle in recent seasons to rebuild through drafts compromised by the introduction of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. McCartney and Voss are also aware that a priority selection given to Melbourne in this year's draft would cause their clubs to each drop one place further down the picking order so there's an altruistic aspect to their opposition. The Bulldogs finished in the top four as recently as 2010 while the Lions were finallists in 2009. Since then both clubs have headed south on the ladder but they haven't hit rock bottom like Melbourne. They ignore the fact that Melbourne's troubles have persisted longer and are far deeper in effect than those of their clubs. They ignore the fact that a weaker Melbourne can only damage the financial position of the AFL and the welfare of all clubs going into the future. The truth is that it makes sense to look after the weak. In McCartney's case, with a list that has many players who are aging with limited time left in the game, it's not particularly forward-looking for him to shun the possibility of AFL assistance. His club already gets significant financial assistance and without the salary cap and the draft his club would be dead in the water. He might well require some additional draft assistance if he can't adequately fill the void that will occur at the Western Oval over the next year or two when the likes of Robert Murphy and co call it a day. McCartney's little dig at this week's opponent might be strategic in the short term, but I see more hope for Melbourne in the future than for the Western Bulldogs. Almost exactly two years ago, these clubs fought out a life and death game at Etihad Stadium. Back then, the window was closing for the under-performing Dogs at the end of the Rodney Eade era while the Demons were an outside chance of making the finals under Dean Bailey. It was a must win game for the up and down pretenders whose hopes were dashed by the pressure exerted by the Western Bulldogs' experience. The false dawn expired that day with an 11 goal defeat and was destroyed utterly four weeks later by a far bigger margin at Skilled Stadium. The team that had been wracked by "bruise-free" was about to be finished off by internal dissension and politics. It also wasn't good enough, fit enough or strong enough and while this was all recognised by Mark Neeld, the core issues were never fully addressed and the situation of the team worsened. There's now yet another rebuild afoot at Melbourne where there does exist a well of as yet untapped talent which needs to be supplemented in the short term to maintain competitiveness while they develop. A mini draft along the lines of the GWS model would help without necessarily changing another club's draft position. The first signs of an easing of the pressure were evident against St. Kilda under the stewardship of Neil Craig last week.However, given that the team is still bedeviled by injuries to so many important and key players, I can't see them beating the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, but irrespective of whether or not the Demons receive AFL draft assistance this year, I expect them to leap past this week's opposition in the near future, beyond which I wonder what Brendan McCartney will do if his club finds itself in need of help. THE GAME Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at MCG Saturday 29 June 2013 at 7.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Melbourne 83 wins Western Bulldogs 71 wins 1 draw At MCG: Melbourne 43 wins Western Bulldogs 26wins Since 2000: Melbourne 10 wins Western Bulldogs 11 wins The Coaches: Craig 0 wins McCartney 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 3 Radio SEN ABC THE BETTING Melbourne to win $4.60 Western Bulldogs $1.20 LAST TIME THEY MET Western Bulldogs 13.10.88 defeated Melbourne 9.13.67 at MCG in Round 4, 2012 The Dees were in it from go to whoa and might have been closer late in the game but for the demise of an in form Mitch Clark who went for a hanger and landed on his head. The Doggies managed to hold tight and run out winners by 21 points. TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitch Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Matt Jones Half forwards Aaron Davey Chris Dawes Sam Blease Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Jack Watts David Rodan Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Jeremy Howe Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies James Magner Cam Pedersen James Sellar In Max Gawn James Frawley Out Cam Pedersen Jake Spencer (suspended) WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Jason Johannisen Jordan Roughead Nick Lower Half backs Clay Smith Michael Talia Dale Morris Centreline Jackson Macrae Adam Cooney Ryan Griffen Half forwards Robert Murphy Jake Stringer Hunter Forwards Tory Dickson Liam Jones Luke Dahlhaus Followers Will Minson Matthew Boyd Tom Liberatore Interchange Ayce Cordy Daniel Giansiracusa Nathan Hrovat Mitchell Wallis Emergencies Dylan Addison Daniel Cross Tom Young In Ayce Cordy Tory Dickson Mitchell Wallis Out Goodes (wrist) Lukas Markovic Liam Picken SISTER ACT by The Oracle – Aaron DaveyBy late Saturday night, it will have been a big weekend for the Davey family. Alwyn Davey has already notched up a win with the Bombers over in Perth. Sister Bronwyn, will play in Melbourne’s inaugural women’s team against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday night and a win in that game should be a given with her family talent, the partipation of Demonland’s own Jasmine Garner and the first ever AFL women’s number 1 draft pick Daisy Pearce. With that sort of quality, I expect the Demons to have little trouble in overcoming the dishlickers from out west. Inaugural Women’s Clash Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs Saturday 29 June 2013, 5:10pm Venue: MCG By the time darkness sets in, big brother Aaron is expected to have made a major contribution to the new Demon cause under Neil Craig. We saw some improvement last week and there's more to come with the return of James Frawley and Max Gawn. I'm tipping a close, hard-fought struggle with the Bulldogs scraping home purely thanks to the superiority and experience of the likes of Boyd, Cooney, Griffin, Murphy and 2013 super sub Giansiracusa. Together, I expect these players to give the Dogs midfield dominance over Melbourne. That fleeting dominance will be gone soon and once that happens, their club will be desperate and in need of the help it now seeks to deny others. Western Bulldogs by 21 points (but enjoy it while you can).

The headline may as well have read, "Taylor Swift not interested in Melbourne job".

MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Rohan Bail Colin Garland Luke Tapscott Centreline Matthew Bate Brent Moloney Nathan Jones Half forwards Jordie McKenzie Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Tom McDonald Mitchell Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Lynden Dunn Joel Macdonald Cale Morton James Sellar Emergencies Thomas Couch Jack Fitzpatrick Ricky Petterd In Joel Macdonald Brent Moloney Out Jack Grimes (suspended) Stef Martin WESTERN BULLDOGS Backs Dylan Addison Lukas Markovic Robert Murphy Half backs Easton Wood Ryan Hargrave Patrick Veszpremi Centreline Luke Dahlhaus Matthew Boyd Daniel Cross Half forwards Adam Cooney Liam Jones Daniel Giansiracusa Forwards Justin Sherman Ayce Cordy Nathan Djerrkura Followers William Minson Ryan Griffen Liam Picken Interchange Jarrad Grant Shaun Higgins Jordan Roughead Mitchell Wallis Emergencies Mark Austin Tory Dickson Thomas Liberatore In Justin Sherman Patrick Veszpremi Mitchell Wallis Out Brian Lake (suspension) Thomas Liberatore Clay Smith (soreness) Umpires Wenn Armstrong Bannister

The Casey Scorpions retained their place in the upper echelons of the VFL ladder with a casual demolition of the Coburg Tigers yesterday. The 47-point victory keeps the Scorps in third position behind Box Hill and Geelong with all three separated only by a small amount of percentage. The home team was in control from the outset building a 15 point lead at the first break before pressing the accelerator with a seven goal second term to march into the sheds at half time with a 44-point lead. Coburg rallied to an extent after the main break and managed to limit the damage as Casey strolled its way casually through the last half to add to its ascendency by a further three points. Although the windy conditions made life difficult in the second half, coach Rohan Welsh would have been hoping that his charges could keep up the same level of pressure during that period as it did in the first half of the game but otherwise, it was a solid effort as the club moves towards the business end of the season. Young Demon lister Jesse Hogan (it's well documented now that he cannot make his AFL debut until 2014) again underlined his sheer talent with a stellar performance that yielded four goals. He had a hand in quite a few other scoring efforts and missed a couple as well but it's hard to recall a teenager so dominant at this level. His strength is his marking but he also moves well at ground level and brings others around him into the game. His stats sheet reveals that he picked up 23 disposals, took 12 marks and kicked 4 goals 3 behinds and while some might criticise his kicking for goal, the swirly conditions did not help. The pleasing thing for have been that many of his Scorpion listed players made huge contributions to the team cause. With Tom Couch missing through injury, Jordan Pollard (32 touches) and Mitch Gent (25) stepped into the breach to assist James Magner (26) in a dominant midfield. Tim Smith (3 goals) and Jake Best (2) were dangerous around goals. Melbourne fans looking for a lift under the new coach would have been happy with the form of James Sellar who picked up 25 disposals) Neville Jetta worked hard as did ruckman Max Gawn (27 hit outs). The Scorpions have an engagement at home against the Northern Blues on Saturday before an ABC television audience. These occasions are rare (and somewhat inexplicable given the team's ladder position) and fans will be expecting a better performance that their last televised match against Box Hill earlier last month. Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 10.7.67 13.12.90 16.15.111 Coburg Tigers 1.2.8 3.5.23 5.8.38 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Smith 3 Hughes Petropoulos 2 Bail Best Gent Jetta Tapscott Coburg Tigers McBean 2 Arnot Carnell Clifton Lonergan McDonough Nahas Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Gent Pollard Sellar L Tynan Jetta Coburg Tigers Carnell Venditti Dea Derickx Arnot Clifton The Casey Development League team had a 38 point win to move into contention for a final's place. Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 5.8.38 12.13.85 12.18.90 Coburg Tigers 1.4.10 3.7.25 5.7.37 7.10.52 Goals Casey Scorpions Lang 3 Boland Rosier 2 Godfrey Dearaugo Godfrey Hill Lindsay McInnes Coburg Tigers Anderson Robinson 2 Brandt Cleary Yelland Best Casey Scorpions P Rosier Jackson Troutman Lindsay Lang Hill Coburg Tigers Robertella Egglestone Drake Yelland Easton Keogh

CASUAL CASEY by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions retained their place in the upper echelons of the VFL ladder with a casual demolition of the Coburg Tigers yesterday. The 47-point victory keeps the Scorps in third position behind Box Hill and Geelong with all three separated only by a small amount of percentage. The home team was in control from the outset building a 15 point lead at the first break before pressing the accelerator with a seven goal second term to march into the sheds at half time with a 44-point lead. Coburg rallied to an extent after the main break and managed to limit the damage as Casey strolled its way casually through the last half to add to its ascendency by a further three points. Although the windy conditions made life difficult in the second half, coach Rohan Welsh would have been hoping that his charges could keep up the same level of pressure during that period as it did in the first half of the game but otherwise, it was a solid effort as the club moves towards the business end of the season. Young Demon lister Jesse Hogan (it's well documented now that he cannot make his AFL debut until 2014) again underlined his sheer talent with a stellar performance that yielded four goals. He had a hand in quite a few other scoring efforts and missed a couple as well but it's hard to recall a teenager so dominant at this level. His strength is his marking but he also moves well at ground level and brings others around him into the game. His stats sheet reveals that he picked up 23 disposals, took 12 marks and kicked 4 goals 3 behinds and while some might criticise his kicking for goal, the swirly conditions did not help. The pleasing thing for have been that many of his Scorpion listed players made huge contributions to the team cause. With Tom Couch missing through injury, Jordan Pollard (32 touches) and Mitch Gent (25) stepped into the breach to assist James Magner (26) in a dominant midfield. Tim Smith (3 goals) and Jake Best (2) were dangerous around goals. Melbourne fans looking for a lift under the new coach would have been happy with the form of James Sellar who picked up 25 disposals) Neville Jetta worked hard as did ruckman Max Gawn (27 hit outs). The Scorpions have an engagement at home against the Northern Blues on Saturday before an ABC television audience. These occasions are rare (and somewhat inexplicable given the team's ladder position) and fans will be expecting a better performance that their last televised match against Box Hill earlier last month. Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 10.7.67 13.12.90 16.15.111 Coburg Tigers 1.2.8 3.5.23 5.8.38 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Smith 3 Hughes Petropoulos 2 Bail Best Gent Jetta Tapscott Coburg Tigers McBean 2 Arnot Carnell Clifton Lonergan McDonough Nahas Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Gent Pollard Sellar L Tynan Jetta Coburg Tigers Carnell Venditti Dea Derickx Arnot Clifton The Casey Development League team had a 38 point win to move into contention for a final's place. Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 5.8.38 12.13.85 12.18.90 Coburg Tigers 1.4.10 3.7.25 5.7.37 7.10.52 Goals Casey Scorpions Lang 3 Boland Rosier 2 Godfrey Dearaugo Godfrey Hill Lindsay McInnes Coburg Tigers Anderson Robinson 2 Brandt Cleary Yelland Best Casey Scorpions P Rosier Jackson Troutman Lindsay Lang Hill Coburg Tigers Robertella Egglestone Drake Yelland Easton Keogh

Really? I had a feeling you might have chosen Dawes.

I thought you meant the far fight of the entire banner. But yes you are correct it is on the right side of the "Demonland Logo".

Quick poll: Dawes or Frawley? Preference.

Colin Garland is making a big challenge to Nathan Jones' supremacy over the past 18 months: PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 13 108. Nathan Jones 103. Colin Garland 74. Matt Jones 55. Jeremy Howe 43. Colin Sylvia Dean Terlich 40. James Frawley 39. Jack Viney 26. Jack Grimes 24. Aaron Davey 23. Shannon Byrnes Michael Evans 21. Tom McDonald 16. Max Gawn 14. Chris Dawes 12. James Magner Jack Watts 11. Luke Tapscott 8. Mitch Clark Jack Trengove 6. Lynden Dunn 5. Cam Pedersen 4. Jordie McKenzie Jake Spencer 3. Mark Jamar Dean Kent 2. Rohan Bail Mitch Clisby David Rodan 1. Sam Blease Jimmy Toumpas

I'd really like to see "no change" one day but surely Frawley comes in this week.

We'll never know and actually, this thread is rather nonsensical. Craig's in the chair till the end of the season and we can also discuss that issue further on the POST MATCH DISCUSSION thread because this one's going nowhere.

Game over all right and we can discuss this on the POST MATCH DISCUSSION thread.Thanks folks!

A CHILL WIND IN DEMON HELL by George on the Outer The perseverance of football fans in Melbourne was tested to the limits again by the AFL when they scheduled a 4:40 game on a Saturday night in the depths of winter. They might complain about the lack of fans attending MFC matches, yet the same number (28K) turned up as against ladder leaders Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps they should look a little more closer to home as to why numbers are down, or do they have the same diabolical plan as they have perpetrated against Melbourne in store in the coming years for St. Kilda fans? The game itself wasnt much of a spectacle, and with 27 errors to EACH team at ¾ time, this was a fair indication of the quality of player capabilities of both sides. More importantly, neither side seemed capable of capitalizing on those errors to create a decisive advantage. Imagine such consequences if the opponent was Hawthorn, Sydney or Geelong? If it were not for a simply appalling opening by Melbourne, the game would have been far more of a contest, as once again, the players failed to concentrate on the simplest of things and show some genuine commitment until it was all too late. Once that happened the heads dropped and with the exception of Nathan Jones, Tom McDonald and Col Garland, going through the motions was the order of play. A new coach usually foreshadows some sort of revival, and for a time there was evidence of the old Adelaide defensive style being implemented courtesy of Neil Craig. That probably wasnt a bad thing as Melbourne were 42 points down in the first half and heading for another 15 goal shellacking. So if there was something to be gleaned from the game, perhaps this was it. Fans would have been pleased with the performance of Sylvia in the first half, but only saw a return to the half-hearted efforts in the second. Was Shannon Byrnes on the ground at all? He must not have been, given his contribution. Did Jeremy Howe trouble the doorman with his pass this week? Again nothing seen to have any effect for the team or on the game? Dan Nicholson continued his appalling lack of ability with another fluffed chance running into an open goal, bringing his season total to 1 goal 10 behinds from this precise scenario. And can we please have Jake Spencer left at Casey? One single kick for the game and more hit-outs delivered directly to opposition mids than his own is not what a ruckman is meant to do. It was only when McEvoy was subbed off at half time, that he was sighted. The team didnt score a goal in the first half while he rucked, while at least Fitzpatrick was able to direct the ball more to advantage in the limited time he was given. Until we get 18 players on the field who are 100% committed 100% of the time, we will never achieve the style and capabilities of teams like Hawthorn or Geelong. Each and every contest should be critical, but as mentioned previously, Garland, McDonald and Jones are the only ones who demonstrate this. Unfortunately Chris Dawes wasnt able to join this group after being felled behind play in the 3rd quarter, with a St. Kilda player due to front the MRP as a certainty. You can go into a game carrying a couple of players, but we already have first gamers like Clisby ( fine effort for a first up game ) alongside a bevy of first season rookies. When supposedly experienced players shirk their responsibilities we are left with probably a dozen putting in the required effort. Small wonder the results are what they are ... If nothing, this game proved that it wasnt Mark Neeld who was the problem. It is simply the cattle on the paddock. The end of season clean out that he promised is going to happen regardless, and probably with similar numbers to last year. Those who think they can top up their superannuation like others have done in the past at the MFC will be sadly misled. It was a chill wind blowing through the MCG on a wintery Melbourne night, but it will be an even colder wind for those sinners who keep creating a Demon Hell for their long suffering fans in the outer ... Melbourne 3.0.18 5.4.34 7.5.47 10.9.69 St. Kilda 7.2.44 10.3.63 15.6.96 16.8.104 Goals Melbourne Howe Watts 2 Blease Byrne Dawes Fitzpatrick Jones Kent St Kilda Riewoldt 3 Koschitzke Ray 2 Armitage Dempster Dennis-Lane Geary Jones Milera Montagna, Ross, Stanley Best Melbourne Garland McDonald Sylvia Terlich Clisby Jones. St Kilda Montagna Ray Steven Riewoldt Dal Santo Roberton Injuries Melbourne Nil St Kilda McEvoy (concussion) Changes Melbourne Nil St Kilda Sam Fisher replaced by Brodie Murdoch Reports Melbourne Jake Spencer for rough conduct against Ben McEvoy (second quarter) St Kilda Nil Umpires Dalgleish McInerney Ryan Crowd 28,751 at MCG.

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

I dare anyone to look at Jack's expression and tell him he doesn't deserve to be on there. For me he gives more effort than most of the other players.

A mate sent me this and it got me thinking about what could have been. What's done is done but who knows how things would have panned out in the alternate universe.

Are you sure?

http://www.afl.com.au/afl/stats/player-ratings/overall-standings#club/CD_T90 According to the AFL Player Rankings we only have 2 players in the Top 100 of the competition and only 5 in the top 200. The ratings are further explained here: http://www.afl.com.au/stats/player-ratings/ratings-explained

The whole time WYL was having his insulting little whinge he failed to notice the little Easter Egg that had been left. In fact no one has noticed or mentioned it.

i can't see him on there.