Demonland

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

It was looking like another week from Hell for the Demon supporters Nineteen points down at ¾ time against the other cellar dweller on the league ladder, with a more dispirited and heartless performance on show up to that point. The opening music of Enter Sandman was prophetic as the Demons sought to put their supporters to sleep. But a Nathan Jones goal early, followed by a Max Gawn grab in the goal-square and suddenly the game was on again, instead of being all over. Even then an unaccountable performance by certain individuals, and a goal to GWS allowed the momentum to be sucked from the Demons, yet again. Finally it was the two Cols who stood up! Firstly, Col Garland who decided that enough was enough and marked strongly on the wing against four others. Had he not, the ball was surely to finish up with another GWS score. Then Col Sylvia also decided that enough was enough and burst through the centre pack to connect with Michael Evans and another major resulted. Another attack then repulsed by Garland alone and the life and hope of GWS disappeared as they watched the Demons pile on their greatest single quarter score in the history of the club. With all the talk about performance enhancing drugs in the past week, it was that old fashioned drug called guts and determination that produced the result. However, if the message had gone out earlier, the pain wouldnt have been so hard to suffer as the 20K of Melbourne fans watched only a couple of solitary gutsy performances by the likes of Nathan and Matt Jones and Mitch Clark that kept the team in any sort of decent position up to the ¾ time break. In contrast there were some simply appalling displays on show. Cameron Mooney is right to suggest Jack Watts needs to be given an accountable role. He continues to fluff around in the backline, expecting others to do the work, while he refuses to man up when needed. Neville Jetta is in the side for his pace, but his speed today was comparable to treacle moving. He will probably get some time on the sidelines by the MRC courtesy of a stupid hit on Lachie Whitfield. The Demons were cut to pieces in the middle. Mark Jamar continues to disappoint, and fails to provide any advantage to his team with his hit-outs. Who would believe he did so 31 times today? Trouble was his more junior opponent had 29 hitouts, and were it not for Max Gawn getting twice the number as his opponents, then the ruck contests would have favoured GWS. Mark could find himself as a 3rd option for ruck if he keeps playing the way he has been this season. He could start by jumping off the ground at contests instead of trying to body out, and then not getting a hand on the ball. The centre-line continues to be problematic. With Jack Viney under some sort of cloud today, we simply didnt have enough talent to put in the centre square. Jones x 2 were superb with 28 and 21 disposals respectively, and both kick the ball when under pressure. Sharp contrast to the handball nellies who almost invariably turn it over. When you have giants of the non-Sydney variety in the goal-square the quicker and easiest way to get it to them is by foot. It shouldnt take brain surgeons to work that out. It was good to winyes. Yet it was hardly a convincing win when the likes of Brogan, Patton and Hoskins-Elliot werent there. We were taken apart by Tom Scully and the contrast to his 11 possession performance last week against the Saints, demonstrates the lack of pressure that was applied around the packs. It was good to be able to eke out a win without Clark & Viney on the ground in the final quarter. It was good for the 20K of Melbourne supporters who showed up, yet again, to demonstrate their solidarity. It was good ... because a win enhances performance. It is the drug that we need to build ANY sort of belief and confidence. The players now know they can turn around and are capable of electrifying scoreboard performances ... if they just set their minds on it. With the equally impressive performance by Casey against Essendon, there will be plenty of players genuinely vying for senior selection. There are senior players who will be offering their roles to those more hungry than was shown in their performances of the first ¾ of todays game. It is Guts and Determination that is the drug of choice. There can be no other way. Melbourne 4.5.29 7.7.49 10.10.70 22.12.144 Greater Western Sydney 3.3.31 8.8.56 13.11.89 15.13.103 Goals Melbourne Howe 4 Byrnes Evans 3 Davey Gawn Pedersen 2 Bail Clark Jamar N Jones Sylvia Trengove Greater Western Sydney O'hAilpin 5 Palmer 2 Cameron Giles Greene Scully Shiel Sumner Treloar Ward Best Melbourne Garland Sylvia N Jones M Jones Gawn Grimes Clark Greater Western Sydney Scully Shiel Treloar Whitfield O'hAilpin Greene Ward Injuries Melbourne TBC Greater Western Sydney TBC Changes Melbourne Nil Greater Western Sydney Nil Substitutes Melbourne Aaron Davey replaced Jack Viney in the third quarter Greater Western Sydney Anthony Miles replaced Nick Haynes at three-quarter time Reports Melbourne Neville Jetta reported for engaging in rough conduct on Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney) Greater Western Sydney Nil Umpires Bannister, Margetts, Harris Official crowd 20,018 at the MCG

MORE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING? by George on the Outer It was looking like another week from Hell for the Demon supporters Nineteen points down at ¾ time against the other cellar dweller on the league ladder, with a more dispirited and heartless performance on show up to that point. The opening music of Enter Sandman was prophetic as the Demons sought to put their supporters to sleep. But a Nathan Jones goal early, followed by a Max Gawn grab in the goal-square and suddenly the game was on again, instead of being all over. Even then an unaccountable performance by certain individuals, and a goal to GWS allowed the momentum to be sucked from the Demons, yet again. Finally it was the two Cols who stood up! Firstly, Col Garland who decided that enough was enough and marked strongly on the wing against four others. Had he not, the ball was surely to finish up with another GWS score. Then Col Sylvia also decided that enough was enough and burst through the centre pack to connect with Michael Evans and another major resulted. Another attack then repulsed by Garland alone and the life and hope of GWS disappeared as they watched the Demons pile on their greatest single quarter score in the history of the club. With all the talk about performance enhancing drugs in the past week, it was that old fashioned drug called guts and determination that produced the result. However, if the message had gone out earlier, the pain wouldnt have been so hard to suffer as the 20K of Melbourne fans watched only a couple of solitary gutsy performances by the likes of Nathan and Matt Jones and Mitch Clark that kept the team in any sort of decent position up to the ¾ time break. In contrast there were some simply appalling displays on show. Cameron Mooney is right to suggest Jack Watts needs to be given an accountable role. He continues to fluff around in the backline, expecting others to do the work, while he refuses to man up when needed. Neville Jetta is in the side for his pace, but his speed today was comparable to treacle moving. He will probably get some time on the sidelines by the MRC courtesy of a stupid hit on Lachie Whitfield. The Demons were cut to pieces in the middle. Mark Jamar continues to disappoint, and fails to provide any advantage to his team with his hit-outs. Who would believe he did so 31 times today? Trouble was his more junior opponent had 29 hitouts, and were it not for Max Gawn getting twice the number as his opponents, then the ruck contests would have favoured GWS. Mark could find himself as a 3rd option for ruck if he keeps playing the way he has been this season. He could start by jumping off the ground at contests instead of trying to body out, and then not getting a hand on the ball. The centre-line continues to be problematic. With Jack Viney under some sort of cloud today, we simply didnt have enough talent to put in the centre square. Jones x 2 were superb with 28 and 21 disposals respectively, and both kick the ball when under pressure. Sharp contrast to the handball nellies who almost invariably turn it over. When you have giants of the non-Sydney variety in the goal-square the quicker and easiest way to get it to them is by foot. It shouldnt take brain surgeons to work that out. It was good to winyes. Yet it was hardly a convincing win when the likes of Brogan, Patton and Hoskins-Elliot werent there. We were taken apart by Tom Scully and the contrast to his 11 possession performance last week against the Saints, demonstrates the lack of pressure that was applied around the packs. It was good to be able to eke out a win without Clark & Viney on the ground in the final quarter. It was good for the 20K of Melbourne supporters who showed up, yet again, to demonstrate their solidarity. It was good ... because a win enhances performance. It is the drug that we need to build ANY sort of belief and confidence. The players now know they can turn around and are capable of electrifying scoreboard performances ... if they just set their minds on it. With the equally impressive performance by Casey against Essendon, there will be plenty of players genuinely vying for senior selection. There are senior players who will be offering their roles to those more hungry than was shown in their performances of the first ¾ of todays game. It is Guts and Determination that is the drug of choice. There can be no other way. Melbourne 4.5.29 7.7.49 10.10.70 22.12.144 Greater Western Sydney 3.3.31 8.8.56 13.11.89 15.13.103 Goals Melbourne Howe 4 Byrnes Evans 3 Davey Gawn Pedersen 2 Bail Clark Jamar N Jones Sylvia Trengove Greater Western Sydney O'hAilpin 5 Palmer 2 Cameron Giles Greene Scully Shiel Sumner Treloar Ward Best Melbourne Garland Sylvia N Jones M Jones Gawn Grimes Clark Greater Western Sydney Scully Shiel Treloar Whitfield O'hAilpin Greene Ward Injuries Melbourne TBC Greater Western Sydney TBC Changes Melbourne Nil Greater Western Sydney Nil Substitutes Melbourne Aaron Davey replaced Jack Viney in the third quarter Greater Western Sydney Anthony Miles replaced Nick Haynes at three-quarter time Reports Melbourne Neville Jetta reported for engaging in rough conduct on Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney) Greater Western Sydney Nil Umpires Bannister, Margetts, Harris Official crowd 20,018 at the MCG

Six players in order 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... please

I have a feeling that one way or another today is going to be an important one on the club's history.

Nobody rang the connections of Black Caviar when WJ suggested the mare would make a popular CEO either - wonder why?

THE RAT'S CLACKER CUP by JVM Jack Trengove was almost effusive about his team's first half against the Eagles last week repeatedly saying things to the effect that it was "some of the most enjoyable footy I've played in years". And really, apart from a few lapses at the end of each of the first two quarters, their play was a thing to behold except for the fact that they were still ten points in arrears at the main break. The fans liked it too because they applauded the team off the ground. Perhaps they should have kept the applause for later in the day because after half time, their team was monstered by bigger and much stronger bodied opponents and it reverted to type. The team was pressured into making error upon error as the West Coast Eagles piled in goal after goal outscoring the hapless Demons by 14 goals in one half of football. The coaches had no idea as to how to stem the bleeding and, for the third week in a row, Melbourne was utterly destroyed. This week, the pressure hits Mark Neeld and his young charges tenfold. Playing at home against the fledgling GWS Giants, they have little to gain and everything to lose. A loss of any sort against this bunch of mainly pimply faced teenagers missing a handful of their bigger bodied players like Patton (injured) and Brogan (suspended) is unacceptable. A win against this new franchise is unlikely to mean a great deal. The result of the game is therefore irrelevant and in that respect, not many people really give a rat's clacker about the outcome. What matters for Melbourne is the way in which the team approaches this game. After a poor debut season under coach Mark Neeld, the fans were entitled to expect substantial improvement this year. The players should have been fitter, stronger, more skilled and playing with greater confidence. None of that has been evident in the three games to date which have seen their average losing margin skyrocket to 107 points. And nothing short of a spectacular turnaround in form and attitude will save heads from rolling. THE GAME Melbourne v. GWS Giants at the MCG Sunday 21 April 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 0 wins At the MCG Melbourne 1 win GWS Giants 0 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 0 wins The Coaches Neeld 2 wins Sheedy 0 wins MEDIA TV - Channel 7 & Fox Footy Channel, 1:00pm live. RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.58 to GWS Giants to win $2.40 [Note: Inside Football's Robert Shaw has GWS as his safe bet of the week] LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 11.18.84 defeated GWS Giants 9.5.59 in Round at Manuka Melbourne was by far the superior team in size and skill but did the Giants field their best possible team and were they concentrating on other prizes like Lauchie Whitfield? The AFL, which had already launched a tanking inquisition against the Demons weren't taking any notice. Once the Giants had the game well and truly lost, they made a spirited fightback and even Tom Scully looked half good, kicking a goal in the last quarter. Nobody really cared. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Jack Watts James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Neville Jetta Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Jack Viney Half forwards Aaron Davey Mitch Clark Jeremy Howe Forwards Luke Tapscott Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Rohan Bail Michael Evans Matt Jones Cam Pedersen Emergencies James Sellar Jake Spencer Jimmy Toumpas GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Backs Adam Kennedy Tim Mohr Phil Davis Half backs Thomas Bugg Stephen Gilham Nick Haynes Centreline Tom Scully Callan Ward Rhys Palmer Half Forwards Jacob Townsend Jeremy Cameron Sam Reid Forwards Liam Summer Setanta O'hAilpin Sam Frost Followers Jonathan Giles Adam Treloar Dylan Shiel Interchange Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Anthony Miles Lachie Whitfield Emergencies Tim Golds Lachie Plowman Adam Tomlinson In Sam Frost Nick Haynes Anthony Miles Setanta O'hAilpin Rhys Palmer Jacob Townsend Out Dean Brogan (suspended) Curtly Hampton Will Hoskin-Elliott Jonathon Patton (knee) Lachie Plowman Devon Smith (suspended) THE COACH KILLERS by JVM Last year's wooden spooners aren't much chop. Their buffoon of a coach who passed his use bye date a decade ago gets his thrills from denigrating the opposition in order to drum some enthusiasm up in an area that was once heavily into rugby league but which has fast become a world football stronghold thanks to the success story that is the Western Sydney Wanderers FC. In comparison, Sheedy's mob have been nothing short of abject failures, led by their red nosed clown of a coach and their highly paid boy wonder whose old man's pay cheque is included in the club's bloated salary cap. The only major triumph in their short history to date is that they managed to send Port Adelaide's Matthew Primus into the football wilderness after his side lost to the Giants' in round 19 last year. Mark Neeld's Demons will almost certainly make their coach Sheedy's second scalp on the space of less than half a season if they fail tomorrow. And because the smell of failure has followed Melbourne around both on and off the field for well over half a decade now, its on the cards that the kids from western Sydney could write the final epitaph to the Demon coach's brief, unspectacular and troubled AFL coaching career. The big question is how will the Melbourne players react to yet another week in which their club has been in the news again and for all the wrong reasons. We've seen the Bombers respond with some scintillating football that's done great things to hearten and lift the spirits of their supporters. By contrast, Melbourne has shown little other than a bit of fight for most of their first half against the Eagles before capitulating in disastrous fashion in the second half. The Demons have otherwise failed in every test of character they've faced so far this season. We know that players like Colin Sylvia, James Frawley, Jack Watts, Colin Garland and Mark Jamar are just so much better than what they've served up so far. If they can't improve on that against the young Giants who this week lost a couple of their real giants in Patton and Brogan then they will have given Sheedy a rare victory, lost the faith of their team's supporters and killed their coach. I don't think they're that bad so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt about whether they really give a dead rat's clacker. Melbourne by 10 points.

Jack Trengove was almost effusive about his team's first half against the Eagles last week repeatedly saying things to the effect that it was "some of the most enjoyable footy I've played in years". And really, apart from a few lapses at the end of each of the first two quarters, their play was a thing to behold except for the fact that they were still ten points in arrears at the main break. The fans liked it too because they applauded the team off the ground. Perhaps they should have kept the applause for later in the day because after half time, their team was monstered by bigger and much stronger bodied opponents and it reverted to type. The team was pressured into making error upon error as the West Coast Eagles piled in goal after goal outscoring the hapless Demons by 14 goals in one half of football. The coaches had no idea as to how to stem the bleeding and, for the third week in a row, Melbourne was utterly destroyed. This week, the pressure hits Mark Neeld and his young charges tenfold. Playing at home against the fledgling GWS Giants, they have little to gain and everything to lose. A loss of any sort against this bunch of mainly pimply faced teenagers missing a handful of their bigger bodied players like Patton (injured) and Brogan (suspended) is unacceptable. A win against this new franchise is unlikely to mean a great deal. The result of the game is therefore irrelevant and in that respect, not many people really give a rat's clacker about the outcome. What matters for Melbourne is the way in which the team approaches this game. After a poor debut season under coach Mark Neeld, the fans were entitled to expect substantial improvement this year. The players should have been fitter, stronger, more skilled and playing with greater confidence. None of that has been evident in the three games to date which have seen their average losing margin skyrocket to 107 points. And nothing short of a spectacular turnaround in form and attitude will save heads from rolling. THE GAME Melbourne v. GWS Giants at the MCG Sunday 21 April 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 0 wins At the MCG Melbourne 1 win GWS Giants 0 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 0 wins The Coaches Neeld 2 wins Sheedy 0 wins MEDIA TV - Channel 7 & Fox Footy Channel, 1:00pm live. RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.58 to GWS Giants to win $2.40 [Note: Inside Football's Robert Shaw has GWS as his safe bet of the week] LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 11.18.84 defeated GWS Giants 9.5.59 in Round at Manuka Melbourne was by far the superior team in size and skill but did the Giants field their best possible team and were they concentrating on other prizes like Lauchie Whitfield? The AFL, which had already launched a tanking inquisition against the Demons weren't taking any notice. Once the Giants had the game well and truly lost, they made a spirited fightback and even Tom Scully looked half good, kicking a goal in the last quarter. Nobody really cared. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Jack Watts James Frawley Dean Terlich Half backs Neville Jetta Tom McDonald Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Jack Viney Half forwards Aaron Davey Mitch Clark Jeremy Howe Forwards Luke Tapscott Max Gawn Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Rohan Bail Michael Evans Matt Jones Cam Pedersen Emergencies James Sellar Jake Spencer Jimmy Toumpas GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Backs Adam Kennedy Tim Mohr Phil Davis Half backs Thomas Bugg Stephen Gilham Nick Haynes Centreline Tom Scully Callan Ward Rhys Palmer Half Forwards Jacob Townsend Jeremy Cameron Sam Reid Forwards Liam Summer Setanta O'hAilpin Sam Frost Followers Jonathan Giles Adam Treloar Dylan Shiel Interchange Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Anthony Miles Lachie Whitfield Emergencies Tim Golds Lachie Plowman Adam Tomlinson In Sam Frost Nick Haynes Anthony Miles Setanta O'hAilpin Rhys Palmer Jacob Townsend Out Dean Brogan (suspended) Curtly Hampton Will Hoskin-Elliott Jonathon Patton (knee) Lachie Plowman Devon Smith (suspended) THE COACH KILLERS by JVM Last year's wooden spooners aren't much chop. Their buffoon of a coach who passed his use bye date a decade ago gets his thrills from denigrating the opposition in order to drum some enthusiasm up in an area that was once heavily into rugby league but which has fast become a world football stronghold thanks to the success story that is the Western Sydney Wanderers FC. In comparison, Sheedy's mob have been nothing short of abject failures, led by their red nosed clown of a coach and their highly paid boy wonder whose old man's pay cheque is included in the club's bloated salary cap. The only major triumph in their short history to date is that they managed to send Port Adelaide's Matthew Primus into the football wilderness after his side lost to the Giants' in round 19 last year. Mark Neeld's Demons will almost certainly make their coach Sheedy's second scalp on the space of less than half a season if they fail tomorrow. And because the smell of failure has followed Melbourne around both on and off the field for well over half a decade now, its on the cards that the kids from western Sydney could write the final epitaph to the Demon coach's brief, unspectacular and troubled AFL coaching career. The big question is how will the Melbourne players react to yet another week in which their club has been in the news again and for all the wrong reasons. We've seen the Bombers respond with some scintillating football that's done great things to hearten and lift the spirits of their supporters. By contrast, Melbourne has shown little other than a bit of fight for most of their first half against the Eagles before capitulating in disastrous fashion in the second half. The Demons have otherwise failed in every test of character they've faced so far this season. We know that players like Colin Sylvia, James Frawley, Jack Watts, Colin Garland and Mark Jamar are just so much better than what they've served up so far. If they can't improve on that against the young Giants who this week lost a couple of their real giants in Patton and Brogan then they will have given Sheedy a rare victory, lost the faith of their team's supporters and killed their coach. I don't think they're that bad so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt about whether they really give a dead rat's clacker. Melbourne by 10 points. Demons' plan 'working perfectly': Neeld

Interesting story in the Casey Weekly - Casey's young gun puts on master class

The Demons prevailed by 25 points despite going the snooze at ¾ time after which the GWS Giants managed five goals straight in the last quarter at Manuka. Not sure if Sheedy wanted to win though but nobody cares about teams tanking because it doesn't ever happen, does it? GWS GIANTS Backs Adam Kennedy Phil Davis Matthew Buntine Half backs Curtly Hampton Chad Cornes Sam Darley Centreline Tom Scully Luke Power Will Hoskin-Elliott Half forwards Tim Golds Nick Haynes Shaun Edwards Forwards Devon Smith Israel Folau Taylor Adams Followers Jonathan Giles Anthony Miles Toby Greene Interchange Steve Clifton James McDonald Andrew Phillips Dom Tyson MELBOURNE Backs Joel Macdonald James Sellar Tom McDonald Half backs James Strauss James Frawley Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Jordie McKenzie Jack Grimes Half forwards Lynden Dunn Brad Green Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Jared Rivers Sam Blease Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Thomas Couch Neville Jetta Luke Tapscott Jack Watts