Demonland

I've just posted the first part of JVM's match preview for this week and it's titled "NO FIRE IN THE BELLY". If anyone should have fire in the belly then it would have to be James Magner. Clark's injury is a 6 to 8 weeker and inevitably with Melbourne those injuries turn out to take longer. If he can't come back due to being on the LTI then so be it - it gives him more time to heal. Magner should play this week.

NO FIRE IN THE BELLY by JVM When the media summed up Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions last week there were some who highlighted many acts by the Demons that demonstrated a lack of pressure applied to the opposition when they had the ball. Players hanging back and not attacking the ball carrier, failing to chase and run hard, leaving their men alone and allowing them to create space and/or make to leads and take easy marks. All this apart from the simple mistakes and skill errors that conceded easy goals. These were all instances of players not being prepared to work hard enough or worse still, lacking of any fire in the belly which, given what theyre paid to do and how much theyre paid, is extremely disappointing. Not only disappointing but strange after the team made a spirited start to the game and even stayed with the Lions for most of the first half but the writing was on the wall even then. The team is now well past 25 games into coach Mark Neeld's tenure but it remains one of the easiest teams to play against and not the hardest as he promised the fans when the ride began. Not long after that it was said that the team's level of fitness was inferior to that of most of the rest of the competition so preseason training was stepped up by increments, a little in the first year and another 15% in the next. But still that doesn't seem to be the answer except when pitted against Sheedy's pimply faced kids, the team has been unable to step up to the plate after half time. Last week, they fell into the hole after half time and stood by meekly allowing the Lions (whose own form up to that stage was appalling) to trample all over them This week, the Demons face up to a team that has struck a bit of form and promises to make mincemeat of any team it plays that has that necessary ingredient missing. If theres no fire in the belly among the playing group then Mark Neelds first meeting with his old master, Mick Malthouse, could well be the last. THE GAME Carlton v Melbourne at the MCG - Sunday 5 May, 2013 at 3.15pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Carlton 116 wins 2 draws Melbourne 88 wins At MCG Carlton 48 wins Melbourne 49 wins Since 2000 Carlton 10 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Malthouse 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Channel 7, Fox Footy Channel (live) Radio - 3AW Triple M THE BETTING Carlton to win $1.02 Melbourne to win $13.00 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Carlton15.17.107 defeated Melbourne 6.13.49 at the MCG, Round 9, 2012 The pattern of the game was not unfamiliar. Melbourne kept up with Carlton for most of the first half and was even in a threatening position midway through the third quarter before capitulating against a seven goal final term onslaught from Carlton. Nathan Jones was best afield for Melbourne and Mitch Clark booted three goals TEAMS CARLTON Backs Chris Yarran Michael Jamison Lachlan Henderson Half backs Zach Tuohy Dennis Armfield White Centreline Kane Lucas Mitch Robinson Kade Simpson Half forwards Chris Judd Andrew Walker Jeff Garlett Forwards Ed Curnow Shaun Hampson Jarrad Waite Followers Robert Warnock Marc Murphy Brock McLean Interchange Eddie Betts Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Heath Scotland Emergencies Tom Bell Sam Rowe In Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Jarrad Waite Out Andrew Carazzo Bryce Gibbs (hamstring) Sam Rowe MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Viney Matt Jones Half forwards Jeremy Howe Colin Sylvia Dean Kent Forwards Rohan Bail Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Michael Evans Daniel Nicholson James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Sam Blease Aaron Davey Cameron Pedersen In Lynden Dunn Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer James Strauss Jack Viney Out Sam Blease Aaron Davey Mark Jamar (groin) Cameron Pedersen David Rodan Jack Watts (hamstring) New Dean Kent (Perth) There was a time when you could preview a game by matching up the teams player for player and working out which of the two was stronger by deciding how many of one side were ahead of the other. The winner would in all likelihood, be the one that was in front in the majority of positions. It was a reasonably good guide but didn't always work because a team would often have a certain number of dominant players who would have sufficient influence over a game to override the disadvantage of depth of numbers. I have no such problems with a game like Carlton v Melbourne where the Blues not only have the extra advantage of having the champion or class players in their team but they also have the greater depth. They have the luxury of Murphy, Judd, McLean (at his peak), Scotland, Simpson, Robinson and co and the fact that Carazzo (late omission) and Gibbs out with injury is a mere bagatelle. Melbourne has Nathan Jones so if the opposition manages to cover him then it's all over red rover. At least we won't have a repeat of Jamar tapping the ball constantly to someone like Maloney. The changes at Melbourne (and there are six of them) wont do the trick. On top of having possible the worst midfield in the competition, the team is without important forward in Mark Jamar and Chris Dawes (along with Jack Watts whose brief stint up forward last week produced two goals) and while the injuries give some younger players an opportunity, the differential in class will be mo more pronounced than in this game. The injury hit forward line is problematic because the Dees have only managed an average of seven goals in their last four bruise free matches against the Blues. And if that's not enough to convince anybody then let's not forget that Carlton is ranked fourth in AFL for contested possessions this season, while Melbourne is last. Can't avoid it but this should be a percentage booster for both sides. Carlton by 41 points.

When the media summed up Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions last week there were some who highlighted many acts by the Demons that demonstrated a lack of pressure applied to the opposition when they had the ball. Players hanging back and not attacking the ball carrier, failing to chase and run hard, leaving their men alone and allowing them to create space and/or make to leads and take easy marks. All this apart from the simple mistakes and skill errors that conceded easy goals. These were all instances of players not being prepared to work hard enough or worse still, lacking of any fire in the belly which, given what theyre paid to do and how much theyre paid, is extremely disappointing. Not only disappointing but strange after the team made a spirited start to the game and even stayed with the Lions for most of the first half but the writing was on the wall even then. The team is now well past 25 games into coach Mark Neeld's tenure but it remains one of the easiest teams to play against and not the hardest as he promised the fans when the ride began. Not long after that it was said that the team's level of fitness was inferior to that of most of the rest of the competition so preseason training was stepped up by increments, a little in the first year and another 15% in the next. But still that doesn't seem to be the answer except when pitted against Sheedy's pimply faced kids, the team has been unable to step up to the plate after half time. Last week, they fell into the hole after half time and stood by meekly allowing the Lions (whose own form up to that stage was appalling) to trample all over them This week, the Demons face up to a team that has struck a bit of form and promises to make mincemeat of any team it plays that has that necessary ingredient missing. If theres no fire in the belly among the playing group then Mark Neelds first meeting with his old master, Mick Malthouse, could well be the last. THE GAME Carlton v Melbourne at the MCG - Sunday 5 May, 2013 at 3.15pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Carlton 116 wins 2 draws Melbourne 88 wins At MCG Carlton 48 wins Melbourne 49 wins Since 2000 Carlton 10 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Malthouse 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Channel 7, Fox Footy Channel (live) Radio - 3AW Triple M THE BETTING Carlton to win $1.02 Melbourne to win $13.00 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Carlton15.17.107 defeated Melbourne 6.13.49 at the MCG, Round 9, 2012 The pattern of the game was not unfamiliar. Melbourne kept up with Carlton for most of the first half and was even in a threatening position midway through the third quarter before capitulating against a seven goal final term onslaught from Carlton. Nathan Jones was best afield for Melbourne and Mitch Clark booted three goals TEAMS CARLTON Backs Chris Yarran Michael Jamison Lachlan Henderson Half backs Zach Tuohy Dennis Armfield White Centreline Kane Lucas Mitch Robinson Kade Simpson Half forwards Chris Judd Andrew Walker Jeff Garlett Forwards Ed Curnow Shaun Hampson Jarrad Waite Followers Robert Warnock Marc Murphy Brock McLean Interchange Eddie Betts Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Heath Scotland Emergencies Tom Bell Sam Rowe In Jaryd Cachia David Ellard Jarrad Waite Out Andrew Carazzo Bryce Gibbs (hamstring) Sam Rowe MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Viney Matt Jones Half forwards Jeremy Howe Colin Sylvia Dean Kent Forwards Rohan Bail Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Jake Spencer Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Interchange Michael Evans Daniel Nicholson James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Sam Blease Aaron Davey Cameron Pedersen In Lynden Dunn Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer James Strauss Jack Viney Out Sam Blease Aaron Davey Mark Jamar (groin) Cameron Pedersen David Rodan Jack Watts (hamstring) New Dean Kent (Perth) There was a time when you could preview a game by matching up the teams player for player and working out which of the two was stronger by deciding how many of one side were ahead of the other. The winner would in all likelihood, be the one that was in front in the majority of positions. It was a reasonably good guide but didn't always work because a team would often have a certain number of dominant players who would have sufficient influence over a game to override the disadvantage of depth of numbers. I have no such problems with a game like Carlton v Melbourne where the Blues not only have the extra advantage of having the champion or class players in their team but they also have the greater depth. They have the luxury of Murphy, Judd, McLean (at his peak), Scotland, Simpson, Robinson and co and the fact that Carazzo (late omission) and Gibbs out with injury is a mere bagatelle. Melbourne has Nathan Jones so if the opposition manages to cover him then it's all over red rover. At least we won't have a repeat of Jamar tapping the ball constantly to someone like Maloney. The changes at Melbourne (and there are six of them) wont do the trick. On top of having possible the worst midfield in the competition, the team is without important forward in Mark Jamar and Chris Dawes (along with Jack Watts whose brief stint up forward last week produced two goals) and while the injuries give some younger players an opportunity, the differential in class will be mo more pronounced than in this game. The injury hit forward line is problematic because the Dees have only managed an average of seven goals in their last four bruise free matches against the Blues. And if that's not enough to convince anybody then let's not forget that Carlton is ranked fourth in AFL for contested possessions this season, while Melbourne is last. Can't avoid it but this should be a percentage booster for both sides. Carlton by 41 points.

Tomorrow.

We actually gave them a run for their money till we died at ¾ time. CARLTON Backs Zac Tuohy Michael Jamison Aaron Joseph Half backs Bryce Gibbs Lachlan Henderson Chris Yarran Centreline Kade Simpson Chris Judd Heath Scotland Half forwards Dennis Armfield Matthew Kreuzer Andrew Walker Forwards Eddie Betts Shaun Hampson Jeff Garlett Followers Robert Warnock Mitch Robinson Brock McLean Interchange (from) Josh Bootsma Paul Bower Andrew Collins Ed Curnow David Ellard Kane Lucas Matthew Watson In Josh Bootsma Andrew Collins Aaron Joseph Kane Lucas Brock McLean Robert Warnock Matthew Watson Out Nick Duigan (calf) Marc Murphy (shoulder) Bret Thornton Jordan Russell MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jack Grimes Colin Garland Tom McDonald Centreline Rohan Bail Brent Moloney Sam Blease Half forwards Jack Trengove Jack Watts Brad Green Forwards Jeremy Howe Mitch Clark James Sellar Followers Mark Jamar Lynden Dunn Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Jamie Bennell Jordie McKenzie James Magner Dan Nicholson James Sellar Emergencies Troy Davis Joel Macdonald Luke Tapscott In Rohan Bail Lynden Dunn Dan Nicholson James Sellar Out Aaron Davey Liam Jurrah (ankle) Cale Morton Colin Sylvia

OK. I think most would have had enough of the personal attacks and abuse on this and some of the other threads around here. I'm referring to both sides of the argument. Please keep to the topic and please don't tempt fate by starting your brawling up again. Discuss Wilson and her articles but leave character assassination out of this. Thank you.

Melbourne has made it a habit of late to play its opponents into form. The Brisbane Lions are a case in point. I watched most of their game last week against North Melbourne and they were pathetic. They looked sluggish, ran to the wrong places when they did run and were outplayed by superior opposition. By a strange quirk of the draw they sit ahead of the Kangaroos on the AFL ladder today but I doubt whether that will last. But enough of that game. Back home at the Gabba they weathered Melbourne's efforts in the first quarter when the teams were on equal terms at the first break and were only a goal in front by half time but they were never going to lose. By then, it was clear that they had worked their way back into form by a team that simply appeared unable or unwilling enough to put in the hard work and the hard yards necessary to get on top in a game. Brisbane was leading the game significantly in most of the key indicators and in particular the disposal count where it was led by former Demon best and fairest Brent Moloney who put into the game significantly more effort than he had appeared to do at any time under coach Mark Neeld last year when he was at Melbourne. At least he was able to momentarily recapture the old combination of the Russian tapping the ball to Beamer in the middle although it wasn't to the effect intended back in the good old days when they dominated every second week. With Nathan Jones pretty well covered in the midfield, Melbourne struggled while the Lions prospered even without Simon Black and Daniel Rich. When things are going bad, they really go bad and things went pear shaped in the third quarter when the Lions inevitably got on top and the hapless Demons committed coach killing errors to let the home side effortlessly stride to a five goal buffer which they kept to the end. The sad part from my point of view is that, although the mature age newcomers like Matt Jones and Dean Terlich are being persevered with and doing well, there seems to be little improvement from the early twenty somethings and not much of an inclination to go with a youth policy. Injuries to Clark and Dawes don't help either as the club lurches into a never land of long term failure to improve. Melbourne 5.3.33 7.5.47 10.7.67 14.10.94 Brisbane 5.3.33 7.11.53 13.14.92 17.20.122 Goals Melbourne Gawn Howe Watts 2 Bail Davey Jamar Jones McKenzie Pedersen Rodan Tapscott Brisbane Brown Leuenberger Zorko 3 Cornelius 2 Adcock Bewick Paparone Polkinghorne Redden Rockliff Best MelbourneB yrnes Sylvia Terlich Watts Garland Gawn Brisbane Moloney Mayes Polkinghorne Leuenberger Zorko Rockliff Injuries Melbourne Nil Brisbane Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Brisbane Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Brisbane Polkinghorne (Brisbane) for tripping Byrnes in the second quarter Umpires McBurney Leppard Bannister Crowd 19,018 at Gabba

The game between two of the VFL's leading teams Casey and Williamstown was strongly influenced by Mother Nature and the strong winds she conjured up that swept across Casey Fields on Saturday night. The angry conditions that resulted provided a suitable backdrop to the Scorpions' theme for the night which was to support the White Ribbon Campaign against violence on women and the club deserves accolades for its involvement in such a worthy cause. It was fitting therefore that the home team would ultimately triumph against the elements and the opposition through hard work, particularly when defending against the strong breeze. The team managed only three goals against the wind but every one of them was significant in terms of the final outcome in a game where subtle changes of direction were significant. The Scorpions came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. With Jake Spencer winning in the ruck and feeding a hungry midfield, the team racked up the goals and had four on the board by mid term through the agency of Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan, a long bomb from Lynden Dunn and one from Rory Taggert. The visitors then settled defensively and managed to contain the damage to a couple of points for the rest of the term. Casey's cause was not helped when Hogan incurred a knock and left the field with a corkie. His night had ended and, from the team's point of view, the feeling was that a 26 point lead was hardly enough in these conditions. Sure enough, Williamstown wasted no time when its chances came to reel in the Casey advantage by halfway through the second quarter. The Scorpions were facing the possibility of a major half time deficit when, against the run of play, their other young West Australian Dean Kent, produced the highlight of the night. He gathered the ball in defence and ran like the wind that was blowing into his face. Several bounces later, he kicked truly to regain the lead and lift the spirits of his team. The Seagulls struck back but late in the quarter, Jack Fitzpatrick scored a handy goal to make it a two point deficit at the half. As they have done for most of this season the Scorpions turned on their best football in the third quarter. Fitzpatrick was again to the fore booting three further goals to add to the one he scored just before half time to ensure that his team would be defending a lead in excess of five goals in the final term. Casey closed the game down and with the visitors managing only a few points in the first half of the term, Danny Nicholls and Jake Best combined well for a goal to put the game beyond doubt. Willi managed a couple of late goals but could do nothing to prevent their hosts from moving to the top of the ladder with a well deserved 23 point victory. Nathan Page was the best of the Casey listed players. Luke Tynan was another who worked hard all night. Lynden Dunn was the star off half back. Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 6.5.41 13.8.86 14.8.92 Williamstown 0.2.2 6.7.43 7.10.52 9.15.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 4 Dawes Dunn Taggert 2 Best Hogan Kent Page Williamstown Cordy 3 Nastasi 2 Addison Grant Howard McCallum Best Casey Scorpions Dunn Couch Fitzpatrick Magner Page Spencer Williamstown Markovic Lockwood Addison Cordy Wood Sing The development league team came up against ladder leader Williamstown who were far too strong and ran away with the game in a frenetic final quarter to win by 69 points. Josh Tynan was Casey's best. Casey Scorpions 2.4.16 3.5.23 7.12.54 7.12.54 Williamstown 2.1.13 10.4.64 11.4.70 19.9.123 Goals Casey Scorpions Hughes 2 Barry McInnes McPhie Pollard Smith Williamstown Ball Coneay Deery 3 Anastasio Burgess 2 Giles Hetherington McConnon Norton Polizzi Williams Best Casey Scorpions Tynan Hill Troutman Pollard Hughes Lindsay Williamstown Hoghton Hetherington Giles Dorgan Deery Casley

WINDY NIGHT by K C from Casey The game between two of the VFL's leading teams Casey and Williamstown was strongly influenced by Mother Nature and the strong winds she conjured up that swept across Casey Fields on Saturday night. The angry conditions that resulted provided a suitable backdrop to the Scorpions' theme for the night which was to support the White Ribbon Campaign against violence on women and the club deserves accolades for its involvement in such a worthy cause. It was fitting therefore that the home team would ultimately triumph against the elements and the opposition through hard work, particularly when defending against the strong breeze. The team managed only three goals against the wind but every one of them was significant in terms of the final outcome in a game where subtle changes of direction were significant. The Scorpions came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. With Jake Spencer winning in the ruck and feeding a hungry midfield, the team racked up the goals and had four on the board by mid term through the agency of Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan, a long bomb from Lynden Dunn and one from Rory Taggert. The visitors then settled defensively and managed to contain the damage to a couple of points for the rest of the term. Casey's cause was not helped when Hogan incurred a knock and left the field with a corkie. His night had ended and, from the team's point of view, the feeling was that a 26 point lead was hardly enough in these conditions. Sure enough, Williamstown wasted no time when its chances came to reel in the Casey advantage by halfway through the second quarter. The Scorpions were facing the possibility of a major half time deficit when, against the run of play, their other young West Australian Dean Kent, produced the highlight of the night. He gathered the ball in defence and ran like the wind that was blowing into his face. Several bounces later, he kicked truly to regain the lead and lift the spirits of his team. The Seagulls struck back but late in the quarter, Jack Fitzpatrick scored a handy goal to make it a two point deficit at the half. As they have done for most of this season the Scorpions turned on their best football in the third quarter. Fitzpatrick was again to the fore booting three further goals to add to the one he scored just before half time to ensure that his team would be defending a lead in excess of five goals in the final term. Casey closed the game down and with the visitors managing only a few points in the first half of the term, Danny Nicholls and Jake Best combined well for a goal to put the game beyond doubt. Willi managed a couple of late goals but could do nothing to prevent their hosts from moving to the top of the ladder with a well deserved 23 point victory. Nathan Page was the best of the Casey listed players. Luke Tynan was another who worked hard all night. Lynden Dunn was the star off half back. Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 6.5.41 13.8.86 14.8.92 Williamstown 0.2.2 6.7.43 7.10.52 9.15.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 4 Dawes Dunn Taggert 2 Best Hogan Kent Page Williamstown Cordy 3 Nastasi 2 Addison Grant Howard McCallum Best Casey Scorpions Dunn Couch Fitzpatrick Magner Page Spencer Williamstown Markovic Lockwood Addison Cordy Wood Sing The development league team came up against ladder leader Williamstown who were far too strong and ran away with the game in a frenetic final quarter to win by 69 points. Josh Tynan was Casey's best. Casey Scorpions 2.4.16 3.5.23 7.12.54 7.12.54 Williamstown 2.1.13 10.4.64 11.4.70 19.9.123 Goals Casey Scorpions Hughes 2 Barry McInnes McPhie Pollard Smith Williamstown Ball Coneay Deery 3 Anastasio Burgess 2 Giles Hetherington McConnon Norton Polizzi Williams Best Casey Scorpions Tynan Hill Troutman Pollard Hughes Lindsay Williamstown Hoghton Hetherington Giles Dorgan Deery Casley

We need something next but let's discuss it on POST MATCH DISCUSSION

PLAYING TEAMS INTO FORM by The Oracle Melbourne has made it a habit of late to play its opponents into form. The Brisbane Lions are a case in point. I watched most of their game last week against North Melbourne and they were pathetic. They looked sluggish, ran to the wrong places when they did run and were outplayed by superior opposition. By a strange quirk of the draw they sit ahead of the Kangaroos on the AFL ladder today but I doubt whether that will last. But enough of that game. Back home at the Gabba they weathered Melbourne's efforts in the first quarter when the teams were on equal terms at the first break and were only a goal in front by half time but they were never going to lose. By then, it was clear that they had worked their way back into form by a team that simply appeared unable or unwilling enough to put in the hard work and the hard yards necessary to get on top in a game. Brisbane was leading the game significantly in most of the key indicators and in particular the disposal count where it was led by former Demon best and fairest Brent Moloney who put into the game significantly more effort than he had appeared to do at any time under coach Mark Neeld last year when he was at Melbourne. At least he was able to momentarily recapture the old combination of the Russian tapping the ball to Beamer in the middle although it wasn't to the effect intended back in the good old days when they dominated every second week. With Nathan Jones pretty well covered in the midfield, Melbourne struggled while the Lions prospered even without Simon Black and Daniel Rich. When things are going bad, they really go bad and things went pear shaped in the third quarter when the Lions inevitably got on top and the hapless Demons committed coach killing errors to let the home side effortlessly stride to a five goal buffer which they kept to the end. The sad part from my point of view is that, although the mature age newcomers like Matt Jones and Dean Terlich are being persevered with and doing well, there seems to be little improvement from the early twenty somethings and not much of an inclination to go with a youth policy. Injuries to Clark and Dawes don't help either as the club lurches into a never land of long term failure to improve. Melbourne 5.3.33 7.5.47 10.7.67 14.10.94 Brisbane 5.3.33 7.11.53 13.14.92 17.20.122 Goals Melbourne Gawn Howe Watts 2 Bail Davey Jamar Jones McKenzie Pedersen Rodan Tapscott Brisbane Brown Leuenberger Zorko 3 Cornelius 2 Adcock Bewick Paparone Polkinghorne Redden Rockliff Best MelbourneB yrnes Sylvia Terlich Watts Garland Gawn Brisbane Moloney Mayes Polkinghorne Leuenberger Zorko Rockliff Injuries Melbourne Nil Brisbane Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Brisbane Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Brisbane Polkinghorne (Brisbane) for tripping Byrnes in the second quarter Umpires McBurney Leppard Bannister Crowd 19,018 at Gabba

Your votes please!

Agreed. Tedious, boring and moo ... Old agendas that don't serve any purpose.

It seems that nobody is prepared to stay on topic. Therefore, the thread is closed.

If that's correct and the waiver document itself refers to AOD then surely any chance the Essendon players might have had of exoneration has evaporated entirely because the onus would have been on them to enquire?

Is there any danger that people could stick to the topic which is about a NEW CEO rather than point scoring about the old one who is now out of the picture?

THE PUZZLE by the Whispering Jack The forecast for Brisbane on Sunday is for a fine and partly cloudy day with the temperature reaching a maximum of 27 degrees. That's not too hot for the visiting Demons who spent most of the summer months training and playing in much warmer and even more humid conditions. The training was designed to help the team overcome the usual hardships encountered when playing under difficult circumstances, to improve fitness and give players the means of improving their skills particularly under duress but, when the NAB Cup practice matches and the the season proper began, things simply didn't turn out that way. The first game against Port Adelaide saw the Demons overrun by a young team that played with greater purpose and desire on the hallowed turf of the MCG. The home ground advantage and the mild conditions of the day did nothing to prevent a humiliating loss by 79 points. Nor was there any respite in the following week when the margin was a whopping 148 point defeat at the hands of the Bombers. It took until the third game against West Coast before we witnessed even a remotely competitive opening half. The team was clapped off after trailing by 10 points at the main break before helplessly ceding 11 goals in the third quarter on the way to a 94 point defeat. Amid the despair, there was bewilderment. The puzzle was that the team had undergone a pre season regime far superior to anything it had done previously and it had been quarantined from the off ground controversies that had beset it over the past two years. How could they be so bad and how could the rot be stopped? The easy answer as it often is in these cases, was to blame the coach and the football department, to turn to past failures in recruiting and player development and point the finger higher to those who run the club. The first victim in Melbourne's case was the chief executive officer but we all knew that his departure wasn't going to turn things around on the field. My best guess at the cause of the malaise was a massive lack of confidence in a team undergoing the transition in style between the game that had come naturally to many of them to that which the coach is trying to instil; a task made more difficult by a dearth of runners, particularly in the midfield. If this was indeed the key, then the introduction of two players whose profile in the eyes of the outside world of the football is fairly low (Rohan Bail and Michael Evans) would start to make a small difference. The run they added against the Eagles in the early part of the game was evident and contributed to Melbourne's improvement, albeit for only half a game. It was the same last week against vastly inferior opposition when half a game was enough to win this time. There's still a lot of work to do to get that midfield and other areas up to speed against the bulk of AFL teams but significantly, the final quarter against the Giants saw a return of confidence in spades all over the ground and never mind the fact that it was against a gang of juveniles who had run themselves into the ground. The Demons are now coming off a 12 goal final term in which everything they did came off superbly. Even the much maligned midfield was functioning perfectly and despite having to play in the heat and humidity of Brisbane this week, they come up against a team suffering its own crisis in confidence and without three players who played significant roles in their midfield destruction in the latter half of 2012 - Black, Rich and Handley. Of course, Brisbane coach Michael Voss would be far more concerned with his team's decline in form across the board than with the loss through injury of a few players. And if that loss of form coincides with a return of confidence at Melbourne after Sunday's final quarter heroics then the Dees must be a chance to win this one. Particularly in view of the fact that Voss is bemoaning the fact that he he's puzzled as to why his team can't reproduce the form they're showing on the training track when it comes to playing under match conditions. Now where have I heard that before? THE GAME Brisbane v Melbourne at The Gabba - Sunday, 28 April 2013 at 3.15 pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Brisbane 17 wins Melbourne 21 wins Gabba Brisbane 12 wins Melbourne 7 wins Since 2000 Brisbane 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Voss 2 win Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Channel 7 TV Fox Footy (live at 3:00pm AEST) RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Brisbane $1.15 Melbourne $5.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane Lions 18.14.122 defeated Melbourne 8.13.61 in Round 14, 2012 at the Gabba Hit hard by injury (Clark, Jones, Jamar and Davey all out from the previous game), the Demons had no answer to the rampant Lions and their dominant midfield. They also were forced to recast the defence after Tom McDonald was injured early in the game and J Brown ended up having a birthday. Strangely enough, you can get better odds from the bookies this week than you could the last time they met. THE TEAMS BRISBANE LIONS Backs Jed Adcock Daniel Merrett Elliot Yeo Half backs Joel Patfull Justin Clarke Mitch Golby Centreline James Polkinghorne Brent Moloney Sam Mayes Half forwards Marco Paparone Jonathan Brown Rohan Bewick Forwards Josh Green Aaron Cornelius Dayne Zorko Followers Matthew Leuenberger Jack Redden Andrew Raines Interchange (from) Jack Crisp Sam Docherty Patrick Karnezis Ryan Lester Billy Longer Ashley McGrath Tom Rockliff In Justin Clarke Aaron Cornelius Jack Crisp Patrick Karnezis Ryan Lester Billy Longer James Polkinghorne Elliot Yeo Out Pearce Hanley (suspend) Ryan Harwood Stefan Martin (injured) Nial McKeever Daniel Rich (injured) MELBOURNE Backs Jack Watts James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Colin Sylvia Sam Blease Half forwards Rohan Bail Cameron Pedersen Jeremy Howe Forwards David Rodan Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Michael Evans Nathan Jones Interchange Aaron Davey Matt Jones Jordie McKenzie Luke Tapscott Emergencies Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer James Strauss In Sam Blease Jordie McKenzie David Rodan Out Mitch Clark (foot) Neville Jetta (suspension) Jack Viney (rested) HYPOTHESIS by Whispering Jack I’m working on a hypothesis to explain what is necessary to achieve success in AFL football and, despite the lack of a substantive body of data to assist my research; I’m starting to be convinced that there is a correlation between being an accused drug cheat and winning games of football. You only need to look at the top of the ladder Bombers who, since early in February have lived under the pall of their own drug scandal involving peptides, out of premises injections and accusations about supplements taken by their coach and his previous involvement with shady characters. They’re unbeaten and now, on a weekly basis are handing out floggings to highly credentialed opponents like Collingwood who they tuned into mincemeat on Anzac Day. And the worse the news gets, the better they play. Essendon’s form is totally unexpected and, while several theories have arisen as to the cause of their substantial improvement over what they showed in the latter half of last year, the one that stands out for me is the drug furore. I consulted a leading researcher at a major university medical faculty who explained it all in a single word – “endorphins”. Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being. Essentially, the Bombers and their fans are currently floating on air. They’re feeling good. Now, if you look at Melbourne and apply my working hypothesis, it’s impossible to escape one incontrovertible fact. Until a week ago when news of the Danks/Bates connection broke and the Demons suddenly stood accused of … well something to do with SMS messages and chemist’s prescriptions ... the team stunk. An average losing margin over three weeks of 107 points stood as testament to that but when the smoke settled and the boys ran out on to the MCG rattling loudly as if they were full to the brim of a wide range of pills, it was obvious that a different Melbourne was out there wearing the red and blue. By the final quarter, every player was loaded to the gills with endorphin-inspired ecstasy. All I can say is that twelve goals in a quarter after so many low scoring final halves didn’t come out of the blue. On Sunday, the Brisbane Lions won’t know what hit them. Melbourne by 224 points. [Readers should not that the above was written with tongue slightly in cheek] It's been done before but here it is again for those lucky enough to be travelling to the Gabba - 3 Things You Should Know For Your Great Gabba Getaway Press Release

The forecast for Brisbane on Sunday is for a fine and partly cloudy day with the temperature reaching a maximum of 27 degrees. That's not too hot for the visiting Demons who spent most of the summer months training and playing in much warmer and even more humid conditions. The training was designed to help the team overcome the usual hardships encountered when playing under difficult circumstances, to improve fitness and give players the means of improving their skills particularly under duress but, when the NAB Cup practice matches and the the season proper began, things simply didn't turn out that way. The first game against Port Adelaide saw the Demons overrun by a young team that played with greater purpose and desire on the hallowed turf of the MCG. The home ground advantage and the mild conditions of the day did nothing to prevent a humiliating loss by 79 points. Nor was there any respite in the following week when the margin was a whopping 148 point defeat at the hands of the Bombers. It took until the third game against West Coast before we witnessed even a remotely competitive opening half. The team was clapped off after trailing by 10 points at the main break before helplessly ceding 11 goals in the third quarter on the way to a 94 point defeat. Amid the despair, there was bewilderment. The puzzle was that the team had undergone a pre season regime far superior to anything it had done previously and it had been quarantined from the off ground controversies that had beset it over the past two years. How could they be so bad and how could the rot be stopped? The easy answer as it often is in these cases, was to blame the coach and the football department, to turn to past failures in recruiting and player development and point the finger higher to those who run the club. The first victim in Melbourne's case was the chief executive officer but we all knew that his departure wasn't going to turn things around on the field. My best guess at the cause of the malaise was a massive lack of confidence in a team undergoing the transition in style between the game that had come naturally to many of them to that which the coach is trying to instil; a task made more difficult by a dearth of runners, particularly in the midfield. If this was indeed the key, then the introduction of two players whose profile in the eyes of the outside world of the football is fairly low (Rohan Bail and Michael Evans) would start to make a small difference. The run they added against the Eagles in the early part of the game was evident and contributed to Melbourne's improvement, albeit for only half a game. It was the same last week against vastly inferior opposition when half a game was enough to win this time. There's still a lot of work to do to get that midfield and other areas up to speed against the bulk of AFL teams but significantly, the final quarter against the Giants saw a return of confidence in spades all over the ground and never mind the fact that it was against a gang of juveniles who had run themselves into the ground. The Demons are now coming off a 12 goal final term in which everything they did came off superbly. Even the much maligned midfield was functioning perfectly and despite having to play in the heat and humidity of Brisbane this week, they come up against a team suffering its own crisis in confidence and without three players who played significant roles in their midfield destruction in the latter half of 2012 - Black, Rich and Handley. Of course, Brisbane coach Michael Voss would be far more concerned with his team's decline in form across the board than with the loss through injury of a few players. And if that loss of form coincides with a return of confidence at Melbourne after Sunday's final quarter heroics then the Dees must be a chance to win this one. Particularly in view of the fact that Voss is bemoaning the fact that he he's puzzled as to why his team can't reproduce the form they're showing on the training track when it comes to playing under match conditions. Now where have I heard that before? THE GAME Brisbane v Melbourne at The Gabba - Sunday, 28 April 2013 at 3.15 pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Brisbane 17 wins Melbourne 21 wins Gabba Brisbane 12 wins Melbourne 7 wins Since 2000 Brisbane 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Voss 2 win Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Channel 7 TV Fox Footy (live at 3:00pm AEST) RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Brisbane $1.15 Melbourne $5.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane Lions 18.14.122 defeated Melbourne 8.13.61 in Round 14, 2012 at the Gabba Hit hard by injury (Clark, Jones, Jamar and Davey all out from the previous game), the Demons had no answer to the rampant Lions and their dominant midfield. They also were forced to recast the defence after Tom McDonald was injured early in the game and J Brown ended up having a birthday. Strangely enough, you can get better odds from the bookies this week than you could the last time they met. THE TEAMS BRISBANE LIONS Backs Jed Adcock Daniel Merrett Elliot Yeo Half backs Joel Patfull Justin Clarke Mitch Golby Centreline James Polkinghorne Brent Moloney Sam Mayes Half forwards Marco Paparone Jonathan Brown Rohan Bewick Forwards Josh Green Aaron Cornelius Dayne Zorko Followers Matthew Leuenberger Jack Redden Andrew Raines Interchange (from) Jack Crisp Sam Docherty Patrick Karnezis Ryan Lester Billy Longer Ashley McGrath Tom Rockliff In Justin Clarke Aaron Cornelius Jack Crisp Patrick Karnezis Ryan Lester Billy Longer James Polkinghorne Elliot Yeo Out Pearce Hanley (suspend) Ryan Harwood Stefan Martin (injured) Nial McKeever Daniel Rich (injured) MELBOURNE Backs Jack Watts James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Grimes Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Colin Sylvia Sam Blease Half forwards Rohan Bail Cameron Pedersen Jeremy Howe Forwards David Rodan Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Michael Evans Nathan Jones Interchange from) Aaron Davey Matt Jones Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson Jake Spencer James Strauss Luke Tapscott In Sam Blease Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson David Rodan Jake Spencer James Strauss Out Mitch Clark (foot) Neville Jetta (suspension) Jack Viney (rested) HYPOTHESIS by Whispering Jack I’m working on a hypothesis to explain what is necessary to achieve success in AFL football and, despite the lack of a substantive body of data to assist my research; I’m starting to be convinced that there is a correlation between being an accused drug cheat and winning games of football. You only need to look at the top of the ladder Bombers who, since early in February have lived under the pall of their own drug scandal involving peptides, out of premises injections and accusations about supplements taken by their coach and his previous involvement with shady characters. They’re unbeaten and now, on a weekly basis are handing out floggings to highly credentialed opponents like Collingwood who they tuned into mincemeat on Anzac Day. And the worse the news gets, the better they play. Essendon’s form is totally unexpected and, while several theories have arisen as to the cause of their substantial improvement over what they showed in the latter half of last year, the one that stands out for me is the drug furore. I consulted a leading researcher at a major university medical faculty who explained it all in a single word – “endorphins”. Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being. Essentially, the Bombers and their fans are currently floating on air. They’re feeling good. Now, if you look at Melbourne and apply my working hypothesis, it’s impossible to escape one incontrovertible fact. Until a week ago when news of the Danks/Bates connection broke and the Demons suddenly stood accused of … well something to do with SMS messages and chemist’s prescriptions ... the team stunk. An average losing margin over three weeks of 107 points stood as testament to that but when the smoke settled and the boys ran out on to the MCG rattling loudly as if they were full to the brim of a wide range of pills, it was obvious that a different Melbourne was out there wearing the red and blue. By the final quarter, every player was loaded to the gills with endorphin-inspired ecstasy. All I can say is that twelve goals in a quarter after so many low scoring final halves didn’t come out of the blue. On Sunday, the Brisbane Lions won’t know what hit them. Melbourne by 224 points. [Readers should not that the above was written with tongue slightly in cheek] It's been done before but here it is again for those lucky enough to be travelling to the Gabba - 3 Things You Should Know For Your Great Gabba Getaway Press Release

And they've lost the letter ...

Not if we win by 10 goals or more.

A disheartened Melbourne team, hit by injury (they lost 4 key players to injury during the previous week and Tom McDonald early in the game) was monstered by a confident Brisbane Lions. BRISBANE LIONS Backs Josh Drummond Joel Patfull Ryan Harwood Half backs Mitch Golby Niall McKeever Jed Adcock Centreline Ryan Lester Daniel Rich Pearce Hanley Half forwards Simon Black Jonathan Brown Dayne Zorko Forwards James Polkinghorne Daniel Merrett Ashley McGrath Followers Ben Hudson Tom Rockliff Andrew Raines Interchange Rohan Bewick Josh Green Jared Polec Jack Redden Emergencies Jack Crisp Patrick Karnezis Elliot Yeo In Jared Polec Out Matt Maguire (elbow) MELBOURNE Backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Jared Rivers Half backs Daniel Nicholson Jack Watts Jack Grimes Centreline James Magner Jordie McKenzie Joel Macdonald Half forwards Jack Trengove James Sellar Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Colin Garland Luke Tapscott Followers Jake Spencer Brent Moloney Colin Sylvia Interchange Matthew Bate Sam Blease Lynden Dunn Stef Martin Emergencies Jamie Bennell (Mark Jamar & Nathan Jones replaced) In Rohan Bail Jamie Stef Martin Luke Tapscott Out Mitch Clark (foot) Aaron Davey (hamstring) Mark Jamar (calf) Nathan Jones (calf)

THREE IN A ROW FOR THE SCORPIONS by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions produced one of their finest performances in recent years when they led all the way to record an 82-point win against Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday. Before the game, most of the experts agreed that we were in for a close, hard fought game and this was certainly the case in the entertaining opening stanza. The Scorpions kicked the first three goals, two of them to elusive young small man Nathan Page but the Bombers came back to narrow the margin to a mere four points at the first break. With its midfield dominant, Casey bounded away in the second term as it rained goals. By half time, the visitors had opened up a 28 point lead and looked the goods. Jake Spencer (37 hitouts and six tackles) was dominant in the ruck and he was ably assisted by Jack Fitzpatrick, back from a bout of concussion, who kicked 3 goals and had 17 hitouts. Jordie McKenzie, David Rodan and James Magner were all prominent along with Rory Taggert who has missed so much football after his long layoff due to a back problem. Michael Riseley returned to the senior team with a solid four quarter performance. After the break, Casey continued to dominate all over the ground. Young sensation, Jesse Hogan who had been impressive with his strong marking and clever play, scored two quick goals setting off the scoring avalanche. By three quarter time, the visitors had 19 goals on the board and held an unassailable 69 point lead which was stretched further into a trouncing by the end of the day. Fans at the ground were treated to a glimpse of the future with Hogan and Essendon's Joe Daniher both demonstrating great raw potential. Both players scored four goals but Hogan is a year younger than the Bomber and cannot make his AFL debut until next year. He was excellent on the ground and in the air and finished with 19 disposals. Casey returns to home territory with a Saturday night clash against league leaders Williamstown. The two sides featured in a memorable game under lights to kick off the season last year and next weeks clash shows all the signs of more to come. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Sam Blease - has a good turn of speed and used it to advantage on the wing for Casey. 11 kicks, 5 handballs, 16 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle. Mitch Clisby - played well in defence and got lots of the ball. He cleared the ball out of defence crisply and mostly to the team's advantage. 11 kicks, 10 handballs, 21 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles. Tom Couch - had his usual busy day in and under the packs in the midfield and kicked two goals. 13 kicks, 10 handballs, 23 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals, 0 behinds. Troy Davis - did all the right things you want from a defender. Safe in the air and knows when and how to spoil. 5 kicks, 10 handballs, 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle. Jack Fitzpatrick - first game coming back from a bout of concussion and, with Jake Spencer, played his role in a dominant ruck combination and also kicked a few goals. 8 kicks, 4 handballs, 12 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 14 hit outs, 3 goals, 1 behind. Jesse Hogan - a key position player with great potential. Can't wait to see him, Clark, Howe and Dawes in the same forward line. Unfortunately, that won't be until 2014. Jesse Hogan 12 kicks, 7 handballs, 19 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 4 goals, 1 behind. Dean Kent - very quiet in the first half but worked hard in the second and also kicked a nice goal. 6 kicks, 5 handballs, 11 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 goal, 0 behinds. James Magner - his usual hard at it game in which he amassed possessions and was very good at the coal face in the packs.19 kicks, 14 handballs, 33 disposals, 7 marks, 8 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Jordie McKenzie - timely return from injury and worked hard all day showing terrific desperation although he still needs to improve his disposal. 14 kicks, 15 handballs, 29 disposals, 0 marks, 6 tackles. Daniel Nicholson - a solid game full of run. 11 kicks, 7 handballs, 18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hit out. David Rodan - the consummate professional did everything that was expected of him. Kicked three goals and is too good for this level but one wonders whether he can still cut it regularly at the level above. 9 kicks, 14 handballs, 23 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 goals, 0 behinds. Jake Spencer - Casey's best player. Dominated the ruck and worked hard around the ground chasing, spoiling and following up the play. 10 kicks, 9 handballs, 19 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 36 hit outs, 0 goals, 1 behind. James Strauss - an excellent game in defence and likely to travel to Brisbane to replace the suspended Neville Jetta. 9 kicks, 10 handballs, 19 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Rory Taggert - coming back from a debilitating back injury, Taggert is shoeing slow but definite signs of improvement every week and made an impact up forward with two goals. 10 kicks, 7 handballs, 17 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals, 2 behinds. Josh Tynan - another improver who signified his presence in defence. 14 kicks, 6 handballs, 20 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 11.6.72 19.9.123 25.12.162 Essendon 3.4.22 6.8.44 7.12.54 11.13.79 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Fitzpatrick Page Rodan 3 Best Couch Kearns Taggert 2 Kent Magner Strauss Tynan Essendon Daniher 4 Bate Duscher 2 Hams Jetta Thompson Best Casey Scorpions Rodan Spencer Hogan Riseley McKenzie Magner Essendon Daniher Hams Hardingham Steinberg Tipungwuti Coghlan The Casey AFL Development League team overturned their first round defeat to Frankston in a night game at Casey Fields by 52 points with Michael Boland starring. Casey Scorpions 0.1.1 1.2.8 8.6.54 12.11.83 Frankston 2.3.15 3.5.23 3.5.23 4.7.31 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Drew 2 Hughes Jackson McInnes Matthews Meadows Pollard Troutman Frankston Rennie 2 Farmer Forato Best Casey Scorpions Boland Waters Irwin Lindsay Corry Drew Frankston Cunningham Rennie Jennings Newman Farmer Forato

THREE IN A ROW FOR THE SCORPIONS by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions produced one of their finest performances in recent years when they led all the way to record an 82-point win against Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday. Before the game, most of the experts agreed that we were in for a close, hard fought game and this was certainly the case in the entertaining opening stanza. The Scorpions kicked the first three goals, two of them to elusive young small man Nathan Page but the Bombers came back to narrow the margin to a mere four points at the first break. With its midfield dominant, Casey bounded away in the second term as it rained goals. By half time, the visitors had opened up a 28 point lead and looked the goods. Jake Spencer (37 hitouts and six tackles) was dominant in the ruck and he was ably assisted by Jack Fitzpatrick, back from a bout of concussion, who kicked 3 goals and had 17 hitouts. Jordie McKenzie, David Rodan and James Magner were all prominent along with Rory Taggert who has missed so much football after his long layoff due to a back problem. Michael Riseley returned to the senior team with a solid four quarter performance. After the break, Casey continued to dominate all over the ground. Young sensation, Jesse Hogan who had been impressive with his strong marking and clever play, scored two quick goals setting off the scoring avalanche. By three quarter time, the visitors had 19 goals on the board and held an unassailable 69 point lead which was stretched further into a trouncing by the end of the day. Fans at the ground were treated to a glimpse of the future with Hogan and Essendon's Joe Daniher both demonstrating great raw potential. Both players scored four goals but Hogan is a year younger than the Bomber and cannot make his AFL debut until next year. He was excellent on the ground and in the air and finished with 19 disposals. Casey returns to home territory with a Saturday night clash against league leaders Williamstown. The two sides featured in a memorable game under lights to kick off the season last year and next weeks clash shows all the signs of more to come. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Sam Blease - has a good turn of speed and used it to advantage on the wing for Casey. 11 kicks, 5 handballs, 16 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle. Mitch Clisby - played well in defence and got lots of the ball. He cleared the ball out of defence crisply and mostly to the team's advantage. 11 kicks, 10 handballs, 21 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles. Tom Couch - had his usual busy day in and under the packs in the midfield and kicked two goals. 13 kicks, 10 handballs, 23 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals, 0 behinds. Troy Davis - did all the right things you want from a defender. Safe in the air and knows when and how to spoil. 5 kicks, 10 handballs, 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle. Jack Fitzpatrick - first game coming back from a bout of concussion and, with Jake Spencer, played his role in a dominant ruck combination and also kicked a few goals. 8 kicks, 4 handballs, 12 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 14 hit outs, 3 goals, 1 behind. Jesse Hogan - a key position player with great potential. Can't wait to see him, Clark, Howe and Dawes in the same forward line. Unfortunately, that won't be until 2014. Jesse Hogan 12 kicks, 7 handballs, 19 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 4 goals, 1 behind. Dean Kent - very quiet in the first half but worked hard in the second and also kicked a nice goal. 6 kicks, 5 handballs, 11 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 goal, 0 behinds. James Magner - his usual hard at it game in which he amassed possessions and was very good at the coal face in the packs.19 kicks, 14 handballs, 33 disposals, 7 marks, 8 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Jordie McKenzie - timely return from injury and worked hard all day showing terrific desperation although he still needs to improve his disposal. 14 kicks, 15 handballs, 29 disposals, 0 marks, 6 tackles. Daniel Nicholson - a solid game full of run. 11 kicks, 7 handballs, 18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hit out. David Rodan - the consummate professional did everything that was expected of him. Kicked three goals and is too good for this level but one wonders whether he can still cut it regularly at the level above. 9 kicks, 14 handballs, 23 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 goals, 0 behinds. Jake Spencer - Casey's best player. Dominated the ruck and worked hard around the ground chasing, spoiling and following up the play. 10 kicks, 9 handballs, 19 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 36 hit outs, 0 goals, 1 behind. James Strauss - an excellent game in defence and likely to travel to Brisbane to replace the suspended Neville Jetta. 9 kicks, 10 handballs, 19 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Rory Taggert - coming back from a debilitating back injury, Taggert is shoeing slow but definite signs of improvement every week and made an impact up forward with two goals. 10 kicks, 7 handballs, 17 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals, 2 behinds. Josh Tynan - another improver who signified his presence in defence. 14 kicks, 6 handballs, 20 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal, 0 behinds. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 11.6.72 19.9.123 25.12.162 Essendon 3.4.22 6.8.44 7.12.54 11.13.79 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Fitzpatrick Page Rodan 3 Best Couch Kearns Taggert 2 Kent Magner Strauss Tynan Essendon Daniher 4 Bate Duscher 2 Hams Jetta Thompson Best Casey Scorpions Rodan Spencer Hogan Riseley McKenzie Magner Essendon Daniher Hams Hardingham Steinberg Tipungwuti Coghlan The Casey AFL Development League team overturned their first round defeat to Frankston in a night game at Casey Fields by 52 points with Michael Boland starring. Casey Scorpions 0.1.1 1.2.8 8.6.54 12.11.83 Frankston 2.3.15 3.5.23 3.5.23 4.7.31 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Drew 2 Hughes Jackson McInnes Matthews Meadows Pollard Troutman Frankston Rennie 2 Farmer Forato Best Casey Scorpions Boland Waters Irwin Lindsay Corry Drew Frankston Cunningham Rennie Jennings Newman Farmer Forato

PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 4 56. Nathan Jones 26. Jack Grimes Jack Viney 23. Matt Jones 22. Jeremy Howe 13. Aaron Davey Colin Sylvia 11. Dean Terlich 10. Shannon Byrnes 9. Colin Garland 8. Mitch Clark 7. James Frawley 6. Michael Evans Max Gawn Tom McDonald 4. Jordie McKenzie 2. Mark Jamar Jack Trengove 1. Rohan Bail Sam Blease

Posters are asked to take extreme care when raising allegations about any player at this club. Refer to the code of conduct. We apply zero tolerance when clearly defamatory allegations are made and for this reason we have indefinitely banned one poster today. Thank you