Demonland

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

Given that the rumour remains unconfirmed as Grapeviney points out, the only option available is to kill this thread unless and until concrete evidence is provided. Probably should have done it sooner.

PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 3 Nathan Jones is already starting to show that he's a good thing to go back to back while two first year players lead the following pack. 39. Nathan Jones 26. Jack Viney 23. Matt Jones 21. Jack Grimes 16. Jeremy Howe 13. Aaron Davey 11. Dean Terlich 10. Colin Sylvia 8. Mitch Clark 7. James Frawley 6. Tom McDonald 4. Jordie McKenzie 2. Mark Jamar 1. Rohan Bail Sam Blease Colin Garland

Melbourne fans upset about the events of the opening rounds of the AFL season have something to be optimistic about in the form of youngster Jesse Hogan who the club picked up in last year's GWS mini-draft. Hogan, who is ineligible to play for the Demons under the AFL draft rules booted four goals and took 13 marks in a best on ground performance for the Casey Scorpions who dominated the first three quarters of their game against North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium. It looks like the club has certainly struck gold with the strongly built youngster. The Scorpions, who lost Tom Couch, Jack Fitzpatrick and Will Petropoulos before the game and were unable to use any of the three Melbourne emergencies for the AFL game, wilted in the end against the fast finishing Roosters but held on to retain their unbeaten record for the season. Demon fans will also be heartened by the performance of Max Gawn who is on the comeback trail after his second knee reconstruction. Gawn, whose preseason was also affected by hamstring problems has had to shoulder most of the ruck responsibilities in the absence of Fitzpatrick and Jake Spencer who has twice been the emergency for the AFL game and has dominated with his ruckwork and sound play around the ground. James Strauss, with his run out of defence and accurate passing also impressed along with WA youngster Dean Kent while James Magner again put in a solid performance in the midfield. Best of the Scorpoon listed players was the much improved Mitch Gent and tough small man Danny Nicholls. Casey has a tough game coming up next Saturday at Winfy Hill against the stand alone Bombers who split with Bendigo Gold at the end of last year. Casey Scorpions 2.7.19 10.11.71 13.12.90 13.17.95 North Ballarat 2.5.17 4.7.31 7.11.53 12.14.86 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Smith 2 Barry Best Blease Page Pollard Strauss Taggert North Ballarat Clifton 3 George 2 Black Darmody Driscoll Jacobs Rippon Schache Searl Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Gawn Nicholls Strauss Panozza Kent North Ballarat Clifton George Sewell Keeble Driscoll Jacobs The Casey Development League team celebrated their first win for the season in the curtain raiser. Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 5.7.37 9.9.63 11.10.76 North Ballarat 1.0.6 2.3.15 5.5.35 6.9.45 Goals Casey Scorpions Long Meadows 3 Drew Fowler McFarlane Matthews Troutman North Ballarat Baird Carey Graham Murphy Semens Youl Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Hill Corry Rosier Rutherford Drew North Ballarat Horbury Currie Graham Carey Scott Youl

It doesn't happen often that a team can lose a game by a margin in excess of 15 goals and still describe it as a "percentage booster" but such is the mediocrity of the Melbourne Football Club at the present time that this is precisely what happened when the Demons took on the West Coast Eagles at the MCG for their Round 3, 2013 visit to purgatory. Not only that, but the game afforded coach Mark Neeld the opportunity of claiming "a little win" which was how he described Melbourne's response to a week that began with a train wreck crushing at the hands of a team of suspected druggies, was followed by the public execution of the club's CEO at the bidding of the AFL, a disappearing trick when the lads bonded at the Hotel Sorrento followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields and a rousing final training run at Gosch's Paddock. The result was another tragic, unacceptable soul destroying loss but at least it was by less than 100 points. The team looked reasonably competitive for most of the first half, led by 9 points halfway through the second term when Jeremy Howe goaled, trailed by only 10 (points) at the half and even booted its highest score for the season but it also bled profusely in the third quarter giving away 11 goals to the rampant Eagles. Which brings me to Hotel Sorrento which is also the name of an Aussie movie about a family forced to confront their own demons and in covering that subject the film takes us through an exploration of the word "melancholy" - one that a reviewer claimed "perfectly suits Hotel Sorrento's tone and pace". The word also perfectly suits the place in which the Melbourne Football Club and its supporters are situated at the present time. We are deluded if we think that after two games in a season, the removal of the CEO by a hatchet mob is going to achieve anything. Make him responsible for failings which you can sheet home to him if they exist but the heroics of those who anonymously attacked him behind keyboards and secretive firewalls is not going to achieve a single thing on the field but weaken us off it. What Melbourne needs is more players with the ability to run and spread, with skills, determination and mature bodies to compete for 120 minutes and not 45. It won't happen overnight and perhaps Neeld is right in claiming his tiny victory but there are not enough of the vital ingredients that instil success at the present time to make enough of a difference. The signs were there when the Eagles were able to score freely at the end of each of the first two quarters that the landslide to come was inevitable. In the early stages, Nathan Jones was the instigator wininng 17 disposals up to half time on his way to 28 for the game. Jack Viney again showed his great potential despite an early ankle injury. The inclusion of Rohan Bail and the return after more than a year out of Michael Evans have the team some more run. Neville Jetta, while not outstanding, added the grunt and determination. The team was more balanced this week but it needs more oomph from the likes of James Frawley and Colin Garland in defence. I don't understand the exile to the stands of Jack Watts before moving him forward at least one time to see if he can do something in the place where he once earned # 1 draft selection. But then again, I don't understand much of what is happening at the Melbourne Football Club lately. All I know is that next week we need to see a win and it must not be tiny. Melbourne 4.1.25 9.2.56 10.3.63 13.5.83 West Coast Eagles 5.3.33 10.6.66 21.9.135 27.15.177 Goals Melbourne Clark 3 Sylvia Trengove 2 Byrnes Davey Evans Howe Sellar Tapscott West Coast Darling Kennedy 5 Cox Hams LeCras 3 Sinclair 2 Cripps Embley Gaff Hill Hurn Masten Best Melbourne N Jones Sylvia Viney M Jones Grimes Terlich West Coast Kennedy Cox Darling Priddis Masten Hurn Changes Melbourne Nil West Coast Waters (calf) replaced in selected side by Jacob Brennan Injuries Melbourne Bail (concussion) West Coast Hams (lower leg) Reports Nil Umpires Harris Pannell Fisher Official crowd 18,571 at the MCG

A LITTLE WIN by The Oracle It doesn't happen often that a team can lose a game by a margin in excess of 15 goals and still describe it as a "percentage booster" but such is the mediocrity of the Melbourne Football Club at the present time that this is precisely what happened when the Demons took on the West Coast Eagles at the MCG for their Round 3, 2013 visit to purgatory. Not only that, but the game afforded coach Mark Neeld the opportunity of claiming "a little win" which was how he described Melbourne's response to a week that began with a train wreck crushing at the hands of a team of suspected druggies, was followed by the public execution of the club's CEO at the bidding of the AFL, a disappearing trick when the lads bonded at the Hotel Sorrento followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields and a rousing final training run at Gosch's Paddock. The result was another tragic, unacceptable soul destroying loss but at least it was by less than 100 points. The team looked reasonably competitive for most of the first half, led by 9 points halfway through the second term when Jeremy Howe goaled, trailed by only 10 (points) at the half and even booted its highest score for the season but it also bled profusely in the third quarter giving away 11 goals to the rampant Eagles. Which brings me to Hotel Sorrento which is also the name of an Aussie movie about a family forced to confront their own demons and in covering that subject the film takes us through an exploration of the word "melancholy" - one that a reviewer claimed "perfectly suits Hotel Sorrento's tone and pace". The word also perfectly suits the place in which the Melbourne Football Club and its supporters are situated at the present time. We are deluded if we think that after two games in a season, the removal of the CEO by a hatchet mob is going to achieve anything. Make him responsible for failings which you can sheet home to him if they exist but the heroics of those who anonymously attacked him behind keyboards and secretive firewalls is not going to achieve a single thing on the field but weaken us off it. What Melbourne needs is more players with the ability to run and spread, with skills, determination and mature bodies to compete for 120 minutes and not 45. It won't happen overnight and perhaps Neeld is right in claiming his tiny victory but there are not enough of the vital ingredients that instil success at the present time to make enough of a difference. The signs were there when the Eagles were able to score freely at the end of each of the first two quarters that the landslide to come was inevitable. In the early stages, Nathan Jones was the instigator wininng 17 disposals up to half time on his way to 28 for the game. Jack Viney again showed his great potential despite an early ankle injury. The inclusion of Rohan Bail and the return after more than a year out of Michael Evans have the team some more run. Neville Jetta, while not outstanding, added the grunt and determination. The team was more balanced this week but it needs more oomph from the likes of James Frawley and Colin Garland in defence. I don't understand the exile to the stands of Jack Watts before moving him forward at least one time to see if he can do something in the place where he once earned # 1 draft selection. But then again, I don't understand much of what is happening at the Melbourne Football Club lately. All I know is that next week we need to see a win and it must not be tiny. Melbourne 4.1.25 9.2.56 10.3.63 13.5.83 West Coast Eagles 5.3.33 10.6.66 21.9.135 27.15.177 Goals Melbourne Clark 3 Sylvia Trengove 2 Byrnes Davey Evans Howe Sellar Tapscott West Coast Darling Kennedy 5 Cox Hams LeCras 3 Sinclair 2 Cripps Embley Gaff Hill Hurn Masten Best Melbourne N Jones Sylvia Viney M Jones Grimes Terlich West Coast Kennedy Cox Darling Priddis Masten Hurn Changes Melbourne Nil West Coast Waters (calf) replaced in selected side by Jacob Brennan Injuries Melbourne Bail (concussion) West Coast Hams (lower leg) Reports Nil Umpires Harris Pannell Fisher Official crowd 18,571 at the MCG

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

If your friends have a smartphone then they can update us directly. Tell them to hit up demonland.com and sign up for an account.

KC from Casey has called in sick. Anyone going to the VFL game to keep us up with the scores.

Can we turn something around today? Will the bugler still be there? The beards? Anything?

IN: Bail, Tapscott, Jetta, Pedersen, Evans Out: Gillies (Groin), Rodan, Blease, Watts, Nicholson

Just received this email from "Jeremy Howe" introcuding the MFC's new website just for kids - deezone.com.au If you have kids (and even if you don't) check it out.