Demonland

There's no greater challenge in football these days than to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium at a time when they are on a roll having beaten fellow top four contenders in Hawthorn and Fremantle in the past fortnight.. At first sight, the clash between the second placed Cats and the second last Demons would in those circumstances be a game of little interest to most in the football world. Come to think of it, the same could be said of the game on second and third sight as well. In fact, one would probably be certified as a contender for the funny farm if one suggested that Melbourne could even trouble a rampant Geelong on its home turf at a stadium where the ground arrangements are such that only a handful of visiting supporters are able to attend and, even then, they must do so in complete anonymity. This is a pity because while the local faithful will be paying homage to their hero Joel Selwood on his 150 AFL game milestone, many Melbourne fans will miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the chalking up of the identical number of games by two of their own favourites in Nathan Jones and Colin Sylvia. Jeremy Howe will also play his 50th AFL game. Unfortunately, the trio hasn't tasted much success at all after making the long trip down the highway to this venue (perhaps Sylvia might have done so when he was a mere pup but that's it) and it won't happen on Saturday afternoon. After all, Geelong has won 38 of its last 39 encounters at Simonds giving this veritable fortress the status of the most secure home ground in the country. And not a single Melbourne reader needs to be reminded that one of those 38 Geelong victories heralded two years of misery for their football club. With the Demons coming out of the fog under a new coach, a young team and with some new found determination evident in recent weeks it would be nice to say that they could take the game up to the Cats, even in the way they fought it out against the Swans last weekend. Unfortunately for Melbourne, the home team learned its lesson about complacency at the Gabba a few weeks ago and is unlikely to give an opponent an even break any time soon. In fact, it looks like a case of damage control with the bookies quoting $17.00 for the Dees to win. In that case, I think they will do well to keep the damage to under 50 points. Geelong by 49 points. THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 13 July 2013 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 124 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 36 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Geelong 14 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw The Coaches Scott 0 Craig 0 MEDIA TV Fox Sports 3 live at 2.00pm RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.01 Melbourne to win $17.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 17.17.119 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76 at Simonds Stadium in Round 6, 2012 It was a dark and dreary day and the memory of the meeting between these teams ten months earlier hung over the teams which produced a dour spectacle. Geelong managed to shrug off the persistent Demons thanks to the dominance of Stevie J, Chappie & the JPod. The Cats won by 7 goals but for Melbourne, at least it was a 143-point improvement. THE TEAMS GEELONG Backs Cameron Guthrie Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Travis Varcoe Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline Taylor Hunt Joel Selwood Mitch Duncan Half forwards Mathew Stokes James Podsiadly Billie Smedts Forwards Josh Caddy Tom Hawkins Steven Motlop Followers Dawson Simpson James Kelly Jimmy Bartel Interchange Mark Blicavs Steve Johnson Jordan Murdoch Jesse Stringer In Steve Johnson Travis Varcoe Billie Smedts Out Allen Christensen (hamstring) Joel Corey (concussion) Corey Enright (foot) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Sam Blease Jack Watts Matt Jones Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Chris Dawes Jeremy Howe Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies Jordie McKenzie Cameron Pedersen David Rodan In Sam Blease Out David Rodan THE YEAR SO FAR by Sam the Stats Man It seems that things are looking up for the Demons although the results have yet to translate much on the scoreboard. Still, one win in the past three games is better than what we were getting earlier this year. Here, is my look at the players statistically over the first fifteen rounds of 2013:- BAIL, Rohan MFC 8 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 3 goals - after slowly overcoming issues with concussion, lost form and injured his knee after going down to Casey. BARRY, Dominic CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 3 games, 4 goals - well-spoken young man developing with the Scorpions. BLEASE, Sam MFC 6 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 6 games, 3 goals - struggled so far with form and injury. BYRNES, Shannon MFC 11 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - mixed performances from the former Cat. CLARK, Mitch MFC 4 games, 7 goals - injured after Round 4. CLISBY, Mitch* MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games 0 goals - has impressed in his three outings since being elevated from the rookie list. COUCH, Tom * CSFC Seniors 9 games, 6 goals - starring at Casey but unable to get upgraded off the rookie list at the moment. DAVEY, Aaron MFC 12 games, 13 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - has had a better year than expected but still a way off his best. DAVIS, Troy CSFC Seniors 9 games, 1 goal - on the cusp of getting a senior run. Has been moved forward at Casey, perhaps to test his versatility. DAWES, Chris MFC 8 games, 9 goals, CSFC Seniors 2 games, 5 goals - starting to make an impact at the club after a preseason interrupted by injury. DUNN, Lynden MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - the regular team pest seems to have established a role down back. EVANS, Michael MFC 9 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - was looking really good but a foot injury has put him out for a month. FITZPATRICK, Jack MFC 5 games, 6 goals, 5 games, 16 goals - has broken into the AFL side and grabbed his chance. Developing cult hero status as a marking forward come relief ruckman. FRAWLEY, James MFC 12 games, 0 goals - having a solid year as a key defender but there are some issues with his hammy. GARLAND, Colin MFC 14 game, 1 goal - cream rising to the top as a valuable defender in a unit that's often under intense pressure. GAWN, Max MFC 8 games, 7 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 7 goals - really coming on well and promising to live up to his potential as a quality ruckman now that his injury woes appear to be behind him. GILLIES, Tom MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 0 goals - after a couple of lacklustre performances early on, he has settled down in the VFL but has competition in the key defensive posts. GRIMES, Jack MFC 7 games, 1 goal - the skipper has missed a number of games with a broken collar bone and has only just returned. HOGAN, Jesse ** CSFC Seniors 10 games, 30 goals - impressing with everything he does at Casey. HOWE, Jeremy MFC 14 games, 22 goals - the team's top goal kicker is still a spectacular mark but also needs to impose himself more on every game. JAMAR, Mark MFC 9 games, 2 goals - dominates the ruck but his output around the ground has been below average. Out of action with a foot injury. JETTA, Neville MFC 4 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 5 goals - seems to be struggling to rise above VFL level at this stage. JONES, Matthew MFC 14 games, 2 goals - an inspired mature age draft selection who would be getting greater accolades for his debut if he was at a more successful club. JONES, Nathan MFC 14 games, 6 goals - still the team's outstanding performer who is the first to face a tag each week. KENT, Dean MFC 7 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 4 goals - taking small steps in the big fishbowl but showing more promise with every passing game. MACDONALD, Joel MFC 1 game, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - a toe injury has curtailed his season to date but is now ready to go. McDONALD, Tom MFC 9 games, 0 goals - started the season slowly but has blossomed in recent weeks after coming back from injury. MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 0 goals - dogged by injury in recent times and also continues to have issues with his disposal. MAGNER, James MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 9 games, 4 goals - had two games as an uplifted rookie but seems to have fallen out of favour. NICHOLSON, Daniel MFC 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - getting a run at AFL and showing some improvement. PEDERSEN, Cameron MFC 7 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 1 goal - still struggles to hold a spot with the Demons but starring at Casey. RODAN, David MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 5 goals - a few plucky games from the little terrier. SELLAR, James MFC 6 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 4 game, 0 goals - struggling to hold down a place at AFL level. SPENCER, Jake MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 4 goals - was starting to show some form after breaking back into the side but now finds himself under a three-week suspension. STARK, Nathan * CSFC DL 5 games, 1 goal - had a late start to the season due to injury, played a few games in the develop league and injured again. STRAUSS, James MFC 4 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals disappointing in his fifth year at the club. SYLVIA, Colin MFC 11 games, 6 goals - a reasonable season interrupted by a three week break through suspension. TAGGERT, Rory CSFC Seniors 9 games, 11 goals, CSFC DL 1 game, 1 goal - a couple of good games at Casey could see him get an opportunity at the top level before the year is out. TAPSCOTT, Luke MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 game, 9 goals - dropped in form as of late and is back with the Casey Scorpions. TERLICH, Dean MFC 13 games, 0 goals - a revelation who keeps improving week by week in defence. TOUMPAS, Jimmy MFC 8 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 1 goal - slowly coming to grips with AFL football. Has shown glimpses of the sublime skills that made him an early draft pick. TRENGOVE, Jack MFC 12 games, 8 goals - interrupted preseason and poor early but is gradually returning to the standards of his first two seasons. TYNAN, Josh CSFC Seniors 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 2 games, 0 goals - slow start but making up lost ground quickly with the Scorpions. VINEY, Jack MFC 6 games, 1 goal - showed some promise before injuring his toe and missing several weeks. WATTS, Jack MFC 10 games, 12 goals - coming good after a dirty start. WESTRUPP, Maia ** CSFC DL 5 games, 0 goals - New Zealander learning the trade with the Casey development league team. * rookie listed ** special category

We actually worked hard and surprised ourselves although we were never really in the hunt. Someone in the club's list management/recruiting area must have taken particular notice of Geelong's emergencies. GEELONG Backs Matthew Scarlett Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Corey Enright Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline James Kelly Allen Christensen Joel Corey Half forwards Mitch Duncan James Podsiadly Steven Motlop Forwards Steve Johnson Tom Hawkins Mitch Brown Followers Trent West Jimmy Bartel Paul Chapman Interchange Cameron Guthrie Joel Selwood Billie Smedts Jesse Stringer Emergencies Shannon Byrnes Tom Gillies George Horlin-Smith In Mitch Brown James Kelly Out Taylor Hunt (soreness) Mathew Stokes (ankle) MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Tom McDonald Colin Garland Jack Grimes Centreline Cale Morton Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Nathan Jones James Sellar Jeremy Howe Forward Colin Sylvia Mitch Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd In Mitch Clark James Frawley Out Joel Macdonald Jack Watts

PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 15 128. Nathan Jones 113. Colin Garland 86. Matt Jones 69. Dean Terlich 57. Jeremy Howe 48. James Frawley 43. Colin Sylvia 39. Jack Viney 30. Jack Watts 26. Jack Grimes 24. Aaron Davey 23. Shannon Byrnes Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes Tom McDonald 17. Max Gawn 12. Jack Fitzpatrick James Magner 11. Luke Tapscott 10. Jack Trengove 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 6. Lynden Dunn 5. Mitch Clisby Cam Pedersen 4. Jordie McKenzie Jake Spencer 3. Mark Jamar Dean Kent 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease Jimmy Toumpas

It was a strange game. After 11 minutes, the Sydney Swans had booted four of the game's first five goals and after that the two sides went goal for goal through to the end. Of course, the reigning premiers dominated the clearances at centre bounces and at stoppages around the ground and they went through passages (particularly in the second term where their kicking for goal was atrocious) but in the context of this year's results, a 31 point loss at the hands of such quality opposition was almost a win for the Demons. The Swans' poor kicking for goal was offset by some gift goals courtesy of the men in blue and this leads me to wonder whether the outcome was an encouraging result or just another defeat. Melbourne's well documented midfield deficiencies were exposed once again, this time against one of the best units in the business. Kennedy, McVeigh, Hannebery and K Jack were outstanding whereas the Demons' best on baller Nathan Jones, whilst still workmanlike, was pretty well covered. Mumford shaded Max Gawn in the ruck duels but the young emerging Demon worked hard around the ground where his contribution was more than useful. The pleasing part was that although comprehensively beaten in the game's engine room, Melbourne did well everywhere else. James Frawley was strong in defence until injured and the likes of Dean Terlich, Colin Garland and Tom McDonald more than held their own. Mitch Clisby, despite giving away that controversial goal with the non kick out that went wrong, continues to impress in the early days of his career. Jack Fitzpatrick, played his best game yet for the club up forward to finish with three goals. He presented well, marked cleanly and gave some good run at ground level. Jeremy Howe booted two, as did Chris Dawes and all that was needed to make it an even closer contest was a forward line crumber to milk a few sucker free kicks and score opportunist goals in the same vein as Sydney's B. Jack. Speaking of free kicks that end up in goals, there were a few rippers today that weren't paid which ended up in goals for the Swans. The most glaring was the holding the ball decision not paid against Tippett during the last quarter, that gave McVeigh a stolen goal that seemed to snuff out any resistance left in the Demons. There's definitely more spirit in the players. It was good to see the return of Jack Grimes. His co-skipper Jack Trengove is slowly working his way back to form and the fact that youngsters like Jimmy Toumpas, Dean Kent and Clisby are getting games into their young legs all add up to the fact that things are more encouraging and that it wasn't just another defeat. Melbourne 3.1.19 5.2.32 8.5.53 13.7.85 Sydney Swans 5.3.33 9.13.67 13.18.96 16.20.116 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick 3 Dawes Howe Watts 2 Davey N Jones Nicholson Trengove Sydney Swans B Jack 4 Bird Tippett 2 Everitt K Jack Lamb McVeigh Mitchell O'Keefe Parker Pyke Best MelbourneTerlich Fitzpatrick N Jones Trengove McDonald Gawn Sydney Swans K Jack O'Keefe Kennedy Mitchell McVeigh Bird B Jack Injuries Melbourne Frawley (hamstring tightness) Sydney Swans Reid (quad) Changes MelbourneNil SydneyNil Reports MelbourneNil SydneyNil Umpires Hay, Harris, Mollison Official crowd 26,216 at the MCG

6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 thanks

ENCOURAGING OR JUST ANOTHER DEFEAT? by JVM It was a strange game. After 11 minutes, the Sydney Swans had booted four of the game's first five goals and after that the two sides went goal for goal through to the end. Of course, the reigning premiers dominated the clearances at centre bounces and at stoppages around the ground and they went through passages (particularly in the second term where their kicking for goal was atrocious) but in the context of this year's results, a 31 point loss at the hands of such quality opposition was almost a win for the Demons. The Swans' poor kicking for goal was offset by some gift goals courtesy of the men in blue and this leads me to wonder whether the outcome was an encouraging result or just another defeat. Melbourne's well documented midfield deficiencies were exposed once again, this time against one of the best units in the business. Kennedy, McVeigh, Hannebery and K Jack were outstanding whereas the Demons' best on baller Nathan Jones, whilst still workmanlike, was pretty well covered. Mumford shaded Max Gawn in the ruck duels but the young emerging Demon worked hard around the ground where his contribution was more than useful. The pleasing part was that although comprehensively beaten in the game's engine room, Melbourne did well everywhere else. James Frawley was strong in defence until injured and the likes of Dean Terlich, Colin Garland and Tom McDonald more than held their own. Mitch Clisby, despite giving away that controversial goal with the non kick out that went wrong, continues to impress in the early days of his career. Jack Fitzpatrick, played his best game yet for the club up forward to finish with three goals. He presented well, marked cleanly and gave some good run at ground level. Jeremy Howe booted two, as did Chris Dawes and all that was needed to make it an even closer contest was a forward line crumber to milk a few sucker free kicks and score opportunist goals in the same vein as Sydney's B. Jack. Speaking of free kicks that end up in goals, there were a few rippers today that weren't paid which ended up in goals for the Swans. The most glaring was the holding the ball decision not paid against Tippett during the last quarter, that gave McVeigh a stolen goal that seemed to snuff out any resistance left in the Demons. There's definitely more spirit in the players. It was good to see the return of Jack Grimes. His co-skipper Jack Trengove is slowly working his way back to form and the fact that youngsters like Jimmy Toumpas, Dean Kent and Clisby are getting games into their young legs all add up to the fact that things are more encouraging and that it wasn't just another defeat. Melbourne 3.1.19 5.2.32 8.5.53 13.7.85 Sydney Swans 5.3.33 9.13.67 13.18.96 16.20.116 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick 3 Dawes Howe Watts 2 Davey N Jones Nicholson Trengove Sydney Swans B Jack 4 Bird Tippett 2 Everitt K Jack Lamb McVeigh Mitchell O'Keefe Parker Pyke Best MelbourneTerlich Fitzpatrick N Jones Trengove McDonald Gawn Sydney Swans K Jack O'Keefe Kennedy Mitchell McVeigh Bird B Jack Injuries Melbourne Frawley (hamstring tightness) Sydney Swans Reid (quad) Changes MelbourneNil SydneyNil Reports MelbourneNil SydneyNil Umpires Hay, Harris, Mollison Official crowd 26,216 at the MCG

We have created a new board for Trade/Free Agency/Draft discussion aptly named The Find a Friend for Jesse Board. Please use this board for all discussions relating to these topics. You can find the board here: The Find a Friend for Jesse Board

As from tomorrow ... all free agency, trade and draft talk can be found on The Find a Friend for Jesse Board, a special board designated for the club's recruiting in 2013 and beyond.

The Finance industry has a favourite allusion to unforeseen events as Black Swan events which is another way of saying we didnt see it coming or we lost your money through no fault of ours The weekend game and result against the Sydney Swans might be forebodingly black, given their systematic destruction of Carlton last week and because the Demons come into the game with only two wins for the season, against the Swans making a serious run for another Premiership! And those two wins were hardly convincing, being against sides immediately above and below them on the ladder at the far Southern end of the competition. Had he not been ruled out with his injury, it's highly likely that the Swans would have rested their star attraction, Adam Goodes anyway (after all his nemesis Cale Morton is no longer playing for the Demons). Their already extensive injury list of Rhyce Shaw (abdomen), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee), Lewis Jetta (shin), Sam Reid (quad) and ruckman Shane Mumford (face) should have given any other side a fighting chance and yet, with all these players absent, Carlton were systematically taken apart last week - and in appalling conditions to boot! What chance then a lowly Demons side? Well, we all live in hope of a repeat of this game: With only one more home game at the G scheduled this year, and a win last week to raise the spirits, the Melbourne fans should turn up hoping a Black Swan event might strike the Sydney Ducks just as it did in 2010. ... but then Black Swan events are meant to be once in a lifetime THE GAME Melbourne v Sydney at the MCG Sunday 7 July at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 92 wins Sydney 107 wins 2 draws At MCG Melbourne 49 wins Sydney 39 wins 2 draws Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins Sydney 13 wins 1 draw The Coaches Neil Craig 0 John Longmire 0 MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel (Live at 1:00pm) RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $15.00 Sydney to win $1.01 LAST TIME THEY MET Sydney 21.13.138 defeated Melbourne 5.7.37 at the SCG in Round 8, 2012 It was a humiliation of epic proportions. A heavy defeat remembered by Demon fans only for the fact that it was Liam Jurrah's last hurrah and for Jeremy Howe's mark of the year. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitch Clisby Centreline Matt Jones Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Dean Kent Chris Dawes David Rodan Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Daniel Nicholson Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Cam Pedersen James Sellar James Strauss In Jack Grimes Out Sam Blease (ankle) SYDNEY SWANS Backs Nick Smith Ted Richards Dane Rampe Half backs Nick Malceski Heath Grundy Jarrad McVeigh Centreline Dan Hannebery Josh Kennedy Andrejs Everitt Half forwards Ben McGlynn Sam Reid Jude Bolton Forwards Mike Pyke KurtTippett Luke Parker Followers Shane Mumford Kieren Jack, Ryan O'Keefe Interchange Craig Bird Brandon Jack Jed Lamb Tom Mitchell Emergencies Tony Armstrong Mitch Morton Jesse White In Shane Mumford Sam Reid Out Xavier Richards (quad) Jesse White Although the Swans won last year's grand final and their round 9 clash against the Magpies at the G, you have to go back to the middle of the last decade to find a Sydney victory over Melbourne at the home of football (not forgetting that three Demon home games were "sold" to Canberra in the late 00's). The last two games at the ground between these sides produced a couple of diametrically opposite results:- Round 17, 2010 - Melbourne 22.10.142 defeated Sydney 10.9.69 Round 1, 2011 - Melbourne 11.18.84 drew with Sydney 11.18.84 Since the drawn game, the teams have met only once and again the result was quite the opposite of the one it preceded when the Swans recorded that 101 point victory at the SCG. This week's result is likely to be a Swans win in the range between the 2011 and 2012 results.

The last time Melbourne played Sydney was up in the Harbour City and the Dees were flogged royally. These were the teams:- MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jack Grimes Colin Garland, Tom McDonald Centreline Cale Morton Brent Moloney Nathan Jones Half forwards Jack Trengove Jack Watts Liam Jurrah Forwards Jeremy Howe Mitch Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Colin Sylvia Interchange Jamie Bennell Sam Blease Brad Green James Magner Emergencies Rohan Bail Lynden Dunn James Sellar In Sam Blease Brad Green Liam Jurrah Jack Watts Out Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Jack Fitzpatrick Ricky Petterd SYDNEY SWANS Backs Martin Mattner Ted Richards Rhyce Shaw Half backs Nicholas Smith Heath Grundy Jarrad McVeigh Centreline Lewis Jetta Josh P Kennedy Nick Malceski Half forwards Ryan O'Keefe Tommy Walsh Daniel Hannebery Forwards Ben McGlynn Sam Reid Trent Dennis-Lane Followers Mike Pyke Kieren Jack Jude Bolton Interchange Craig Bird Alex Johnson Luke Parker Lewis Roberts-Thomson Emergencies Andrejs Everitt Jesse White In Mike Pyke Lewis Roberts-Thomson Tommy Walsh Out Andrejs Everitt Mark Seaby Jesse White New Tommy Walsh (St Kilda)

Here's the link: Former Sydney coach Paul Roos says rumours of his interest in Demons job are off the mark

Nathan Jones increases his lead:- PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 14 120. Nathan Jones 103. Colin Garland 74. Matt Jones 57. Jeremy Howe Dean Terlich 44. James Frawley 43. Colin Sylvia 39. Jack Viney 28. Jack Watts 26. Jack Grimes 24. Aaron Davey 23. Shannon Byrnes Michael Evans 21. Chris Dawes Tom McDonald 16. Max Gawn 12. James Magner 11. Luke Tapscott 10. Jack Trengove 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 6. Lynden Dunn 5. Cam Pedersen 4. Jordie McKenzie Jake Spencer 3. Mitch Clisby Mark Jamar Dean Kent 2. Rohan Bail 1. Sam Blease Jimmy Toumpas

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

The scene on entering the Casey Fields sporting complex was surreal. The entire area was covered in a blanket of mist; there was no movement at all and yet, a feeling of expectation hung over the crispy, cold early afternoon air. The Casey Scorpions ran out wearing their old, traditional Springvale Football Club jumper. Their opponents were somewhat incongruously dressed in the Preston red of old prompting the question as to why they are now called the Blues? As the teams ran onto the ground, there was a feeling that something special was about to happen. It wasn't as if young rising star Jesse Hogan announced himself to the football world with his six goal performance that highlighted Casey's 28-point victory. The powerfully built forward had already done that in his days as a junior, having made the AFL Under 18 All Australian team with a year left in those ranks. He had already kicked five goals earlier in the season against Geelong VFL. On this day however, he displayed all of his attributes as a player of enormous promise in front of a big audience on ABC TV and he stood out, literally like a gorilla in the mist. The youngster kicked the first two goals of the game, took strong contested grabs, finished with 23 possessions and 10 marks, crashed through packs, led with acceleration and monstered AFL credentialed opponents. Even as he strutted his stuff in the lifting fog of a still rustic tree lined oval in Cranbourne, all eyes were trained on the big amphitheater 45 kilometres away where he will soon ply his trade. The game wasn't all about Hogan. The Scorpions, with their midfield dominant, raced away to score the opening three goals of the game before the accurate Blues scraped their way back into the game and, for a brief while, wrested the lead away from their hosts. However, that was merely the signal for the Scorps to get on their bikes and push out to a 16-point lead at the final break before cruising to a 13.14 (92) to 9.10 (64) victory. The defence led by Cam Petersen (8 marks), skipper Evan Panozza, the Tynan brothers and an improving James Strauss held sway and the midfield dominated despite the presence of Carlton's Carazzo and Bell among the opposition. James Magner collected 29 possessions, Danny Nicholls 27 and Tom Couch was close behind with 26. The improving Mitch Gent played his role with 22 touches. Local district cricket captain Jake Best was dangerous with two goals as was Luke Tapscott who also chipped in with two of his own. Rory Taggert is shrugging off his injury woes and was busy, particularly at the end. The VFL's split round gives the Scorpions a week's break and affords coach Rohan Welsh time to plan his team's run into the finals knowing he has some potent weapons to help conduct the campaign ahead. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail 1 kick 2 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark Dominic Barry 4 kicks 9 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles Tom Couch 10 kicks 16 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles Troy Davis 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 2 hit outs 1 goal 3 behinds Tom Gillies 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 3marks Jesse Hogan 17 kicks 6 handballs 23 disposals 10 marks 3 tackles 6 goals 2 behinds Neville Jetta 5 kicks 8 handballs 1 3 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 1 hit out 1 behind James Magner 17 kicks 12 handballs 29 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles Cam Pedersen 11 kicks 11 handballs 22 disposals 8 marks 4 tackles James Strauss 10 kicks 13 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 2 handballs Rory Taggert 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 5 tackles 1 goal Luke Tapscott 14 kicks 4 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 2 goals Josh Tynan 14 kicks 10 handballs 24 disposals 4 marks 2 goals Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 6.6.42 10.9.69 13.14.92 Northern Blues 2.0.12 6.0.36 8.5.53 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 6 Best Tapscott 2 Davis Smith Taggert Northern Blues Warnock Wilson 2 Buckley Laidler Lincoln Mitchell Rowe Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Strauss Pedersen Gent Nicholls Tapscott Northern Blues Meese McInnes Wilson Graham Duigan Carrazzo The AFL Victoria Development League team won by a comfortable 27 points in a low scoring game in the curtain raiser. The fourth placed Northern Blues were kept goalless in the second half. Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 5.4.34 5.7.37 7.10.52 Northern Blues, 2.0.12 3.3.21 3.5.23 3.7.25 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler 4 Boland Lang Riseley Northern Blues Dorman 2 Dirago Best Casey Scorpions Troutman Roberts Lang Fusinato Boland Fowler Northern Blues McDonald Dirago Cattapan Gleeson Currie Posar

GORILLA IN THE MIST by KC from Casey The scene on entering the Casey Fields sporting complex was surreal. The entire area was covered in a blanket of mist; there was no movement at all and yet, a feeling of expectation hung over the crispy, cold early afternoon air. The Casey Scorpions ran out wearing their old, traditional Springvale Football Club jumper. Their opponents were somewhat incongruously dressed in the Preston red of old prompting the question as to why they are now called the Blues? As the teams ran onto the ground, there was a feeling that something special was about to happen. It wasn't as if young rising star Jesse Hogan announced himself to the football world with his six goal performance that highlighted Casey's 28-point victory. The powerfully built forward had already done that in his days as a junior, having made the AFL Under 18 All Australian team with a year left in those ranks. He had already kicked five goals earlier in the season against Geelong VFL. On this day however, he displayed all of his attributes as a player of enormous promise in front of a big audience on ABC TV and he stood out, literally like a gorilla in the mist. The youngster kicked the first two goals of the game, took strong contested grabs, finished with 23 possessions and 10 marks, crashed through packs, led with acceleration and monstered AFL credentialed opponents. Even as he strutted his stuff in the lifting fog of a still rustic tree lined oval in Cranbourne, all eyes were trained on the big amphitheater 45 kilometres away where he will soon ply his trade. The game wasn't all about Hogan. The Scorpions, with their midfield dominant, raced away to score the opening three goals of the game before the accurate Blues scraped their way back into the game and, for a brief while, wrested the lead away from their hosts. However, that was merely the signal for the Scorps to get on their bikes and push out to a 16-point lead at the final break before cruising to a 13.14 (92) to 9.10 (64) victory. The defence led by Cam Petersen (8 marks), skipper Evan Panozza, the Tynan brothers and an improving James Strauss held sway and the midfield dominated despite the presence of Carlton's Carazzo and Bell among the opposition. James Magner collected 29 possessions, Danny Nicholls 27 and Tom Couch was close behind with 26. The improving Mitch Gent played his role with 22 touches. Local district cricket captain Jake Best was dangerous with two goals as was Luke Tapscott who also chipped in with two of his own. Rory Taggert is shrugging off his injury woes and was busy, particularly at the end. The VFL's split round gives the Scorpions a week's break and affords coach Rohan Welsh time to plan his team's run into the finals knowing he has some potent weapons to help conduct the campaign ahead. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail 1 kick 2 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark Dominic Barry 4 kicks 9 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles Tom Couch 10 kicks 16 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles Troy Davis 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 2 hit outs 1 goal 3 behinds Tom Gillies 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 3marks Jesse Hogan 17 kicks 6 handballs 23 disposals 10 marks 3 tackles 6 goals 2 behinds Neville Jetta 5 kicks 8 handballs 1 3 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 1 hit out 1 behind James Magner 17 kicks 12 handballs 29 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles Cam Pedersen 11 kicks 11 handballs 22 disposals 8 marks 4 tackles James Strauss 10 kicks 13 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 2 handballs Rory Taggert 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 5 tackles 1 goal Luke Tapscott 14 kicks 4 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 2 goals Josh Tynan 14 kicks 10 handballs 24 disposals 4 marks 2 goals Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 6.6.42 10.9.69 13.14.92 Northern Blues 2.0.12 6.0.36 8.5.53 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 6 Best Tapscott 2 Davis Smith Taggert Northern Blues Warnock Wilson 2 Buckley Laidler Lincoln Mitchell Rowe Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Strauss Pedersen Gent Nicholls Tapscott Northern Blues Meese McInnes Wilson Graham Duigan Carrazzo The AFL Victoria Development League team won by a comfortable 27 points in a low scoring game in the curtain raiser. The fourth placed Northern Blues were kept goalless in the second half. Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 5.4.34 5.7.37 7.10.52 Northern Blues, 2.0.12 3.3.21 3.5.23 3.7.25 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler 4 Boland Lang Riseley Northern Blues Dorman 2 Dirago Best Casey Scorpions Troutman Roberts Lang Fusinato Boland Fowler Northern Blues McDonald Dirago Cattapan Gleeson Currie Posar

Let's discuss it in post match

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.