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THE GREEN MILE by Whispering Jack The last home game of the season is to be played at the ungodly hour of 4.40pm on a Sunday night in late winter and, because it's against Adelaide and the forecast is for a shower or two, one wonders whether a crowd will turn up to farewell Brad Green who will play his 254th game proudly wearing the number 18 guernsey for the last time in a distinguished career with the Melbourne Football Club. It would be a shame if the Demon faithful fail to turn up to celebrate the occasion. This season has been a long, hard and eventful one but for all the wrong reasons. While the passion and the generosity of the Melbourne fans at Tuesday night's Foundation Heroes Dinner was encouraging, the curtain will come down this week on the difficult era in which Green played in a pall of gloom but, as always, there is hope for better times on the horizon. Brad Green arrived at the Melbourne Football Club at another low moment in its history at the end of the last century. The Demons had recently admitted to breaching the AFL's salary cap and, as a consequence, were sanctioned by way of fines and the loss of their first draft pick at the 1999 National Draft which would have been selection five. Ironically, that pick was given to Fremantle who selected Leigh Brown of the Gippsland Power who is currently an assistant coach at Melbourne. The club's first pick that year became selection 19 and it chose wisely when it named young Brad Green from the Tasmanian Under 18s. Green was a versatile young all round sportsman who had played representative cricket and soccer as a teenager, captaining the Australian under-15 cricket team. He was scouted by Manchester United and spent time in training at Old Trafford before deciding to concentrate on our game. Years into his career, commentators would always reprise the connection with the great soccer club whenever they were caught short for words while Green was present on the playing field. Things immediately turned around for the club in Green's first year as it rose from 14th to make the 2000 Grand Final where it fell to a great side in Essendon, a tough, match-hardened team brim full of experience that lost only one game that year and took the opportunity to maul its younger opponents into submission on its way to the premiership. The young Green, who was a star in the other finals and had booted four goals in the semi final against Carlton was bashed in the throat and ended in hospital. He hadn't lasted a quarter in the season's ultimate game. It was ironical that when Melbourne's current coach spoke at this week's Foundation Heroes Dinner, he highlighted the fact that the team he now has at his disposal suffered from its inexperience of an average of roughly sixty games per player against the leading clubs whose make up is nearly double that figure - a differential of two to three seasons per player on average. This was not dissimilar to the gulf between the two participants that one day in September, a dozen years away in a year in which Green, Cameron Bruce, Paul Wheatley and Matthew Whelan were all introduced to the club from a draft in which it was deprived of its first pick. Green grew with the club and established himself in a number of roles. He was equally adept in the middle, in defence, on a wing, half forward or deep in the forward line where his accurate kicking for goal was a feature of his game. The club was strong enough to contest the finals in most of those early years under Neale Daniher but never enough to make it to the last two weeks in September (actually, that 2000 grand final was played in the first week of September due to the forthcoming Olympic Games in Sydney). In 2006, the Demons finished fifth but were the highest placed of all the Victorian teams. Off the field, the club had endured in-fighting when two separate factions emerged in the wake of the dismissal of Joseph Gutnick as its chairman and further controversy affected its fortunes when Gabriel Szondy suddenly resigned amid accusations of incompetence and mismanagement of the CEO. Rarely during the past decade or so have the Demons been without some form of off-field wrangling and controversy which still manages to dog them to this very day. At the start of 2007, hopes for the team were high but it fell into a form of football recession, one from which it is yet to emerge. Wooden spoons and early draft picks followed and these have led to charges of cheating and the current round of tanking allegations. On the ground, the club has failed to rise above twelfth position in the past six seasons and it currently sits close to the foot of the ladder. Through all of the gloom, Brad Green stood out like a beacon in a stellar career that has now spanned more than 250 games and 348 goals (hopefully, he will make it to 350 on Sunday evening). In 2010, he had his best season, kicking 55 goals and taking 153 marks. He made the All-Australian squad and won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal along with the Ron Barassi Leadership Award and the "Heart and Soul" Award stamping him as the ideal successor for the captaincy of the Demons, after the retirement of James McDonald. He skippered his country in the round ball 2011 International Rules series against Ireland and was the only Australian to kick a goal during the series with many commentators describing this goal as a "captain's goal". His leaving is soured to an extent by the club's recent history. When the club fell on hard times and was close to broke during its 150th season in 2008, a new Board headed by the legendary Jimmy Stynes took over to lead its fight for survival. The debt was broken and the club was ultimately able to provide its players with better facilities and an upgrade in the amount of personnel available but some discontentment in the background culminated in the now infamous loss at Geelong on 30 July 2011 that led to the sacking of coach Dean Bailey. In the wash up that followed the appointment of the new coach, Green lost the captaincy and his place in the leadership group for this year and was then struck by injury and loss of form that wiped out most of the first half of his current and final season that even saw him playing a few games with the Casey Scorpions. He returned in the way that great players do and recently kicked a bag against Gold Coast as the team stormed to a seven goal win at the MCG. And so the time has come for Brad Green and one suspects, some of the other club elders as a new generation emerges to take up fresh challenges in changing times. I look upon the end of his illustrious career in much the same way as that of the biblical Moses who took a whole generation through the wilderness but never made it to the Promised Land. THE GAME Melbourne v Adelaide at the MCG 26 August 2012 at 4.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 11 wins Adelaide 19 wins At MCG Melbourne 7 wins Adelaide 5 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 6 wins Adelaide 11 wins The coaches Neeld 0 wins Sanderson 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel – live at 4.30pm. RADIO SEN ABC774 3AW Triple M THE BETTING Melbourne to win $6.00 Adelaide to win $1.13 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.17.149 defeated Adelaide 8.5.53 at the MCG Round 7, 2011 Less than 20,000 fans (actually 19,987) turned up to watch the Demons demolish a poor Adelaide outfit at the MCG but the game turned out to be a disaster for the Demons even though they won by 16 goals. Jack Grimes injured his foot only minutes from the start and missed the rest of the year and Mark Jamar was also injured during the game and forced to miss several weeks. Jack Trengove was reported and suspended for a sling tackle on Patrick Dangerfield. Ricky Petterd, Colin Sylvia kicked four goals each and Liam Jurrah three while Brent Moloney was his team's best. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Joel Macdonald Colin Garland Tom McDonald Half backs Jack Watts, James Frawley, Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Jordie McKenzie Jack Grimes Half forwards Sam Blease Jared Rivers Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Brad Green Neville Jetta Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Daniel Nicholson James Sellar James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Matthew Bate Tom Couch Jordan Gysberts In Daniel Nicholson Out Tom Couch Milestone: James Frawley 100 games ADELAIDE Backs Graham Johncock Ben Rutten Sam Shaw Half backs Brodie Smith Daniel Talia Michael Doughty Centreline Bernie Vince Nathan van Berlo David Mackay Half forwards Jared Petrenko Taylor Walker Richard Douglas Forwards Jason Porplyzia Kurt Tippett Matthew Wright Followers Sam Jacobs Scott Thompson Patrick Dangerdfield Interchange Luke Brown Ian Callinan Brent Reilly Aidan Riley Emergencies Josh Jenkins Tom Lynch Jarryd Lyons In Jason Porplyzia Aidan Riley Brodie Smith Out Chris Knights Josh Jenkins Rory Sloane (elbow) The Demons have already played their part in the downfall of one premiership contender earlier in the year when they caused a major shock in beating the Bombers. Ever since that game Essendon has been in freefall and if you composed a ladder for the second half of the year it would sit below Melbourne in the pecking order. Now it's the moment of truth for Adelaide whose credentials in the top four have been questioned because its fixture looked much easier than the other contenders. A week ago, the Crows were coasting towards a top two finish and a home final in the first week of the finals with Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast left on their roster but their shock loss to the Brisbane Lions after holding a 38 point quarter time lead has served as a wake up call. They now need to win both remaining games and do so by reasonable margins to strengthen their position going into the finals. Melbourne has languished through the season without showing much credibility and will be aiming to finish the season strongly to hold it in good stead for the future. The Demons' record against the Crows on the MCG is good and the last time they met, it was an easy 16 goal win for the home side. Times have changed but with Adelaide suddenly shaky, Melbourne has another opportunity to upset a premiership contender. And what a great way that would be to send of a great servant of the club like Brad Green? For the Demons to get over the Crows they must get on top in the midfield against an opponent that boasts the dynamic Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield together with an array of foot soldiers who can run and spread as well as any in the land. It is their midfield, its improvement and its consistency that has been instrumental in lifting them from the depths under the adept coaching of Brenton Sanderson. It also has a strong spine with Walker and Tippett dangerous up forward and Rutten and the much improved Talia down back. In comparison, the Demons don't have the midfield depth and while they are solid in defence, they've struggled all year up forward and more so since the injuries to Mitch Clark, Ricky Petterd and the demise of Liam Jurrah. For these reasons and the fact that the Crows have too much to lose if it can't come home with the four points, I'm tipping them to win but not by much. Adelaide by 11 points.

Folks - WJ has a tribute to Brad Green on his match preview here. Please continue the discussion there and let's give the great man the send off he deserves. Thanks

THE GREEN MILE by Whispering Jack The last home game of the season is to be played at the ungodly hour of 4.40pm on a Sunday night in late winter and, because it's against Adelaide and the forecast is for a shower or two, one wonders whether a crowd will turn up to farewell Brad Green who will play his 254th game proudly wearing the number 18 guernsey for the last time in a distinguished career with the Melbourne Football Club. It would be a shame if the Demon faithful fail to turn up to celebrate the occasion. This season has been a long, hard and eventful one but for all the wrong reasons. While the passion and the generosity of the Melbourne fans at Tuesday night's Foundation Heroes Dinner was encouraging, the curtain will come down this week on the difficult era in which Green played in a pall of gloom but, as always, there is hope for better times on the horizon. Brad Green arrived at the Melbourne Football Club at another low moment in its history at the end of the last century. The Demons had recently admitted to breaching the AFL's salary cap and, as a consequence, were sanctioned by way of fines and the loss of their first draft pick at the 1999 National Draft which would have been selection five. Ironically, that pick was given to Fremantle who selected Leigh Brown of the Gippsland Power who is currently an assistant coach at Melbourne. The club's first pick that year became selection 19 and it chose wisely when it named young Brad Green from the Tasmanian Under 18s. Green was a versatile young all round sportsman who had played representative cricket and soccer as a teenager, captaining the Australian under-15 cricket team. He was scouted by Manchester United and spent time in training at Old Trafford before deciding to concentrate on our game. Years into his career, commentators would always reprise the connection with the great soccer club whenever they were caught short for words while Green was present on the playing field. Things immediately turned around for the club in Green's first year as it rose from 14th to make the 2000 Grand Final where it fell to a great side in Essendon, a tough, match-hardened team brim full of experience that lost only one game that year and took the opportunity to maul its younger opponents into submission on its way to the premiership. The young Green, who was a star in the other finals and had booted four goals in the semi final against Carlton was bashed in the throat and ended in hospital. He hadn't lasted a quarter in the season's ultimate game. It was ironical that when Melbourne's current coach spoke at this week's Foundation Heroes Dinner, he highlighted the fact that the team he now has at his disposal suffered from its inexperience of an average of roughly sixty games per player against the leading clubs whose make up is nearly double that figure - a differential of two to three seasons per player on average. This was not dissimilar to the gulf between the two participants that one day in September, a dozen years away in a year in which Green, Cameron Bruce, Paul Wheatley and Matthew Whelan were all introduced to the club from a draft in which it was deprived of its first pick. Green grew with the club and established himself in a number of roles. He was equally adept in the middle, in defence, on a wing, half forward or deep in the forward line where his accurate kicking for goal was a feature of his game. The club was strong enough to contest the finals in most of those early years under Neale Daniher but never enough to make it to the last two weeks in September (actually, that 2000 grand final was played in the first week of September due to the forthcoming Olympic Games in Sydney). In 2006, the Demons finished fifth but were the highest placed of all the Victorian teams. Off the field, the club had endured in-fighting when two separate factions emerged in the wake of the dismissal of Joseph Gutnick as its chairman and further controversy affected its fortunes when Gabriel Szondy suddenly resigned amid accusations of incompetence and mismanagement of the CEO. Rarely during the past decade or so have the Demons been without some form of off-field wrangling and controversy which still manages to dog them to this very day. At the start of 2007, hopes for the team were high but it fell into a form of football recession, one from which it is yet to emerge. Wooden spoons and early draft picks followed and these have led to charges of cheating and the current round of tanking allegations. On the ground, the club has failed to rise above twelfth position in the past six seasons and it currently sits close to the foot of the ladder. Through all of the gloom, Brad Green stood out like a beacon in a stellar career that has now spanned more than 250 games and 348 goals (hopefully, he will make it to 350 on Sunday evening). In 2010, he had his best season, kicking 55 goals and taking 153 marks. He made the All-Australian squad and won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal along with the Ron Barassi Leadership Award and the "Heart and Soul" Award stamping him as the ideal successor for the captaincy of the Demons, after the retirement of James McDonald. He skippered his country in the round ball 2011 International Rules series against Ireland and was the only Australian to kick a goal during the series with many commentators describing this goal as a "captain's goal". His leaving is soured to an extent by the club's recent history. When the club fell on hard times and was close to broke during its 150th season in 2008, a new Board headed by the legendary Jimmy Stynes took over to lead its fight for survival. The debt was broken and the club was ultimately able to provide its players with better facilities and an upgrade in the amount of personnel available but some discontentment in the background culminated in the now infamous loss at Geelong on 30 July 2011 that led to the sacking of coach Dean Bailey. In the wash up that followed the appointment of the new coach, Green lost the captaincy and his place in the leadership group for this year and was then struck by injury and loss of form that wiped out most of the first half of his current and final season that even saw him playing a few games with the Casey Scorpions. He returned in the way that great players do and recently kicked a bag against Gold Coast as the team stormed to a seven goal win at the MCG. And so the time has come for Brad Green and one suspects, some of the other club elders as a new generation emerges to take up fresh challenges in changing times. I look upon the end of his illustrious career in much the same way as that of the biblical Moses who took a whole generation through the wilderness but never made it to the Promised Land. THE GAME Melbourne v Adelaide at the MCG 26 August 2012 at 4.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 11 wins Adelaide 19 wins At MCG Melbourne 7 wins Adelaide 5 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 6 wins Adelaide 11 wins The coaches Neeld 0 wins Sanderson 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel – live at 4.30pm. RADIO SEN ABC774 3AW Triple M THE BETTING Melbourne to win $6.00 Adelaide to win $1.13 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.17.149 defeated Adelaide 8.5.53 at the MCG Round 7, 2011 Less than 20,000 fans (actually 19,987) turned up to watch the Demons demolish a poor Adelaide outfit at the MCG but the game turned out to be a disaster for the Demons even though they won by 16 goals. Jack Grimes injured his foot only minutes from the start and missed the rest of the year and Mark Jamar was also injured during the game and forced to miss several weeks. Jack Trengove was reported and suspended for a sling tackle on Patrick Dangerfield. Ricky Petterd, Colin Sylvia kicked four goals each and Liam Jurrah three while Brent Moloney was his team's best. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Joel Macdonald Colin Garland Tom McDonald Half backs Jack Watts, James Frawley, Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Jordie McKenzie Jack Grimes Half forwards Sam Blease Jared Rivers Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Brad Green Neville Jetta Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Daniel Nicholson James Sellar James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Matthew Bate Tom Couch Jordan Gysberts In Daniel Nicholson Out Tom Couch Milestone: James Frawley 100 games ADELAIDE Backs Graham Johncock Ben Rutten Sam Shaw Half backs Brodie Smith Daniel Talia Michael Doughty Centreline Bernie Vince Nathan van Berlo David Mackay Half forwards Jared Petrenko Taylor Walker Richard Douglas Forwards Jason Porplyzia Kurt Tippett Matthew Wright Followers Sam Jacobs Scott Thompson Patrick Dangerdfield Interchange Luke Brown Ian Callinan Brent Reilly Aidan Riley Emergencies Josh Jenkins Tom Lynch Jarryd Lyons In Jason Porplyzia Aidan Riley Brodie Smith Out Chris Knights Josh Jenkins Rory Sloane (elbow) The Demons have already played their part in the downfall of one premiership contender earlier in the year when they caused a major shock in beating the Bombers. Ever since that game Essendon has been in freefall and if you composed a ladder for the second half of the year it would sit below Melbourne in the pecking order. Now it's the moment of truth for Adelaide whose credentials in the top four have been questioned because its fixture looked much easier than the other contenders. A week ago, the Crows were coasting towards a top two finish and a home final in the first week of the finals with Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast left on their roster but their shock loss to the Brisbane Lions after holding a 38 point quarter time lead has served as a wake up call. They now need to win both remaining games and do so by reasonable margins to strengthen their position going into the finals. Melbourne has languished through the season without showing much credibility and will be aiming to finish the season strongly to hold it in good stead for the future. The Demons' record against the Crows on the MCG is good and the last time they met, it was an easy 16 goal win for the home side. Times have changed but with Adelaide suddenly shaky, Melbourne has another opportunity to upset a premiership contender. And what a great way that would be to send of a great servant of the club like Brad Green? For the Demons to get over the Crows they must get on top in the midfield against an opponent that boasts the dynamic Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield together with an array of foot soldiers who can run and spread as well as any in the land. It is their midfield, its improvement and its consistency that has been instrumental in lifting them from the depths under the adept coaching of Brenton Sanderson. It also has a strong spine with Walker and Tippett dangerous up forward and Rutten and the much improved Talia down back. In comparison, the Demons don't have the midfield depth and while they are solid in defence, they've struggled all year up forward and more so since the injuries to Mitch Clark, Ricky Petterd and the demise of Liam Jurrah. For these reasons and the fact that the Crows have too much to lose if it can't come home with the four points, I'm tipping them to win but not by much. Adelaide by 11 points.

We won by 15 goals and it was the day Jack Grimes was injured and Jack Trengove reported for a sling tackle. MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Matthew Warnock Clint Bartram Half backs Nathan Jones Colin Garland Luke Tapscott Centreline Ricky Petterd Jack Grimes Colin Sylvia Half forwards Jack Watts Liam Jurrah Addam Maric Forwards Brad Green Matthew Bate Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Jack Trengove Interchange Jordan Gysberts Lynden Dunn Austin Wonaeamirri Rohan Bail Emergencies Joel Macdonald Michael Newton Neville Jetta In Ricky Petterd Matthew Bate Matthew Warnock Addam Maric Out Jared Rivers (ankle) Cale Morton Stef Martin Jamie Bennell ADELAIDE Backs Graham Johncock Ben Rutten Michael Doughty Half backs Matthew Jaensch Luke Thompson Nathan van Berlo Centreline Brodie Smith Brent Reilly Ricky Henderson Half forwards Chris Knights Shaun McKernan Richard Douglas Forwards Taylor Walker Kurt Tippett Matthew Wright Followers Sam Jacobs Scott Thompson Patrick Dangerfield Interchange Jared Petrenko Christopher Schmidt Rory Sloane Brad Symes Emergencies Jack Gunston Ivan Maric James Sellar In Jared Petrenko Rory Sloane Christopher Schmidt Out, Phil Davis (Shoulder) Brodie Martin Richard Tambling (Suspension)

Tanking debate Do you believe GWS tanked in 2012? Vote <> Yes Vote <> No NEW GAME UNDER SCRUTINY IN GWS TANKING PROBE - EXCLUSIVE by Michael Whorener and Mark Robbersonofabich, August 19, 2017 A NEW suspect game has emerged as the AFL probes tanking claims against GWS. Tanking debate The Giants lost to Melbourne in Canberra in Round 21, 2012, after making numerous changes over a two week period following their second and last win (against Port Adelaide) of the club's inaugural season of AFL competition. They included a total of eight changes for the game against Gold Coast (already under the scrutiny of investigators) in which the Suns coasted to a five goal victory overturning their 27-point Round 7 loss from earlier in the year. A respected former AFL coach is believed to have told the enquiry that he was "reeling in shock" when he learned that more changes to the Giants' line up were pending the following week for the Demons game after three key players Jonathan Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Dylan Shiels had their seasons brought to an abrupt and mysterious end after they were sent to have surgery for various suddenly-incurred ailments. Captain Callan Ward who ultimately won the club championship that season as well as the number one pick from the previous year's draft Stephen Coniglio were among the eight changes from the previous week while gun midfielder Adam Treloar was omitted for the Demons' game raising the eyebrows of many astute football observers from the Western Sydney area. Insiders have revealed that a member of the club's staff (who is also a relative of one of the playing list) was so disturbed by the events of the time that he went on an eating binge putting on 10 kilograms in the five days leading up to the Melbourne game and it is rumoured that his flight to Canberra on the day before the match had to be turned back because it was carrying excess baggage. Sources close to the club are said to have claimed under conditions of anonymity that they were privy to a conversation with a cousin of a senior GWS official the night before the match which indicated steps had been taken to reduce the prospect of a win.The conversation at a Canberra hotel centred around concerns the GWS would win too many games in 2012, costing them the first pick at the national draft."We'll be right, we've made plenty of changes and Lachie is in the bag," he is alleged to have said, most likely referring to former GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield who was selected with the Giants' first pick in the 2012 National Draft. "Eight changes, we'll be right" Associates of the club have said they would consider submitting to formal interview as part of the AFL's tanking probe. Our investigation has revealed: ■ FORMER Melbourne captain James McDonald and a playing member of the first GWS squad in 2012 has been interviewed by the AFL and denies tanking took place. ■ ONE of GWS's club doctors from 2012 said "Blind Freddy could tell the team wasn't picked for optimal performance" late in the season. ■ TWO of the eight changes for the Gold Coast match were made after team selection. ■ AT one stage of the Manuka match players were rotated on and then off before having the opportunity to take up their positions on the ground. As a result, a record number of 256 rotations were made for the game, a figure which stands in stark contrast to the zero number of interchanges in Round 11 when GWS had the bye. ■ THE Giants would not comment yesterday when asked about the Canberra game or the tanking investigation. Asked about the Manuka match last night, an AFL spokesman said: "We are not providing a running commentary on the investigation or confirming who or how many people we have spoken to". The AFL inquiry, has involved interviews with a number of past and present Giants officials and players.The only person interviewed who was prepared to say anything was Blind Freddie whose only comment was, "I saw nothing!" Whitfield is one of the players believed to have been interviewed. Ironically, he left the Giants after two controversial seasons in Western Sydney to join the Tassie Mappers, a new franchise playing out of Hobart and Launceston, for what was believed to be a then record sum. Expert commentators have pointed to several suspicious aspects of the game including these tell-tale signs: • ISRAEL FOLAU - the GWS rugby league convert seemed lost on the field in the opening half and had less Dream Team points in the game's first fifty minutes than Jack Watts who was on the Demons' bench and still wearing his green sub's vest at the time. Folau had just three touches when he was finally subbed off after seeing Melbourne off to an unassailable lead. Critics claim that Folau was given a contract with the Giants for reasons not connected with his ability to play the game. It is understood that the club's founders originally settled on the colour orange so that Folau would resemble a witches hat around around which opposition teams could play. One commentator said on radio at the time of Folau, "He doesn't know how to compete. He doesn't know what to do out there. Right now, again, he is a statue watching the birds." Despite claims that using a player lacking any ability like Folau was tantamount to lying down, Sheedy was adamant about his player's value pointing out that his efforts kept pests like Seagulls away from the playing arena and this was good for the environment. Cynics point to the fact that once Folau was subbed off in the final term, the Giants outscored the Demons. • NO JACKET, NO WINDSOCK AND NO MARTIANS Despite the freezing conditions (snow fell the day before), Giants coach Kevin Sheedy failed to bring his club jacket to the ground - proof that he had no intention of waving it in his customary fashion when his team tastes a victory, pointing to the fact that the coach knew that it was not going to happen against the Demons. It was also noted that the Manuka Oval windsock had not been dismantled for the game and not a single UFO sighting was reported in the days leading up to the game. • TOM SCULLY'S 50M PENALTY - consummate professionals earning in excess of $1m a season do not give away 50m penalties in front of goal. Our informant advised that the former Demon had been unnerved during the game by the constant booing and jeering happening on the other side of the fence. He also revealed that the main offenders were members of the GWS's own cheer squad. Photo: Young GWS midfielder Tom Scully arrives for the infamous game at Manuka Oval against Melbourne on 18 August, 2012 For his part, Sheedy was adamant he would never coach a team to a wooden spoon and he fulfilled that promise a week and a half later when he resigned on the eve of the final round leaving his deputy Mark "Choko" Williams with that honour when they lost the last game of the year to North Melbourne by what was briefly a record AFL margin until they lost to the Demons on the MCG early in 2013. The investigation is continuing. * * * * * * * * * THE Round 21 Manuka Oval game is also also known for its inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the Melbourne Football Club's ten most ugly wins in the more than 150 years of its history. The windy conditions made things tough for the players and it was a scrap from start to finish. The Demons took control by the middle of the first quarter and by the first break, they held an 8 point lead which they stretched to 18 at half time before kicking away to a lead of 39 points at the final break and then scored the first goal of the final term before deciding to follow the lead of their hosts and play dead through to junk time when a few late Giants goals reduced the winning margin to a paltry 25 points in the slopfest. The critics had a field day as they skewered the winning team for taking their feet off the Giants' throats in the final stanza claiming that such conduct was "unacceptable" (conveniently forgetting having labelled their 8 goal final quarter against the Saints the week before as "irrelevant"). The tragic performance of the losers was forgotten altogether until the current tanking investigation began last month. Better players in this game for Melbourne were Lynden Dunn who rose like Phoenix from the ashes of his abandoned mustache, the two co-skippers Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove who were really beginning to grow into their leadership roles and jumping Jeremy Howe who added to his weekly highlights reel and booted three goals. It could have been many more had he managed to handle the blustery conditions in a game in which his team finished with 29 scoring shots to 14. Little could we imagine that the Demons were on their way to bigger and brighter things so soon after that dismal day in the nation's capital but that's another story for another time. Melbourne 3.4.22 6.10.46 9.13.67 11.18.84 GWS Giants 2.2.14 4.4.28 4.5.29 9.5.59 Goals Melbourne Howe 3 Rivers Sellar Trengove 2 Green Grimes GWS Giants Greene 2 Adams Davis Giles McDonald Phillips Power Smith Best Melbourne Dunn Howe Grimes Trengove Macdonald Sylvia GWS Giants Greene Giles Power Adams Phillips Cornes Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Ryan Armstrong Harris Official crowd 7,561 at Manuka Oval The views in this article are not necessarily those of the authors, Demonland, the AFL or its clubs.

CASEY TAKES A TOP FOUR SPOT by KC from Casey Collingwood's former home ground Victoria Park might be looking a little worse for wear these days but it was a fitting scene for Brett Lovett's 150th game as a VFL coach on Saturday. The old ground where the man who now is at the helm of the Casey Scorpions fought many of his toughest battles as a player, was the backdrop to his team's latest challenge after consecutive home defeats saw them falling to from top to third spot on the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL ladder. Lovett's team responded in fine style emphatically bouncing back to winning form to prevail over the VFL Magpies by 45 points in the wet and blustery conditions. The Scorps welcomed back co-captain Kyle Matthews who has been out of the senior side since the opening round of the season with shoulder injuries and Michael Riseley who returned from a trip overseas to support his brother at the Olympics. Both were welcome additions to the side with Riseley featuring in the best players and the skipper picking up 18 touches and five hardball gets in his comeback game. The Pies had a strong complement of 16 AFL listed players including Brent Macaffer, Andrew Krakouer and Ben Johnson which exactly doubled the number of Demons running out for this game with the Scorpions. The discrepancy was offset in part by the presence of experienced campaigners in Brent Moloney and Matthew Bate who each had 23 possessions and made significant contributions to the team effort. The early going was dominated by the Scorpions kicking towards the Yarra Falls end and aided by the breeze although its swirly nature made scoring goals a difficult assignment for most of the day. Jack Fitzpatrick who booted five in a losing team last week was toubled by the windy conditions and was again off target early in the piece. Will Petropoulos finally got things ticking with the opening goal and Casey added two more whilst keeping the home team goalless for the term. The game remained a scramble in the heavy conditions as Collingwood struggled to find the goals and when they finally scored one 24 minutes into the second quarter, Josh Tynan immediately returned the favour. Just when Casey looked like going into the main break with a solid advantage, the game was turned on its head in the last minute before half time when two Magpie goals reduced their lead to just four points. As has been the case all year, Lovett's team did not panic and instead, it methodically set about taking apart the opposition with its disciplined hard attack on the football after the break. David Collins was the star picking up 28 hard won possessions in the heavy going while youngster Luke Hill amassed 32 hit outs against the highly regarded Magpie pair of Cameron Wood and Jarrod Witts. Jack Viney was a terrier in the packs collecting 24 touches including a game high 11 hard ball gets while young Tom Corry was impressive on debut with seven inside 50's. Danny Nicholls, another who recently returned from injury, was a solid contributor as was Petropoulos who finished with two handy goals. Hill's presence in the ruck has allowed Fitzpatrick to spend more time up forward and the young Demon finally responded when he hit the target with a soccer goal. Tim Smith put in a great cameo performance kicking two goals for the term and by the end of the third quarter, the Scorps held a comfortable 20-point lead. The question whether the leeway provided a sufficient buffer given that Collingwood was kicking to what had been the scoring end was answered in the affirmative with Casey kicking four unanswered goals to run over an opposition that managed only one late consolation goal in junk time by which time. By then, the Scorpions had secured their top four spot. HOW THE DEMONS FARED With only eight AFL listed players compared with 16 in the Collingwood side there might have been concerns about a repeat of the two previous weeks against the Blues and the Cats but quality games from Bate and Moloney helped Casey to a position of dominance for most of the game. Matthew Bate (10 kicks, 13 handballs, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal) - one of his team's best playing mainly in a midfield role. Lucas Cook (2 kicks, 6 handballs, 2 tackles) - the conditions didn't really suit the lanky forward who struggled to get into the game. Troy Davis (12 kicks, 2 handballs, 6 marks) - a solid game in a defence which kept its opponent down to five goals for the day. Jack Fitzpatrick (8 kicks, five handballs, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 18 hit outs, 1 goal) - had his chances to kick three or four goals in the tough swirly conditions. Also provided good back up in the ruck. Brent Moloney (16 kicks, 7 handballs, 5 marks, 4 tackles) - his class stood out in this company where he got plenty of inside ball and kicked long with good effect. Jai Sheahan (19 kicks, 3 handballs, 4 marks, 1 tackle) - is returning to his early season form in defence. Ran hard and delivered the ball cleanly. Josh Tynan (9 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 goals) - still making his way on return from injury and did well with two timely goals for the match. Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 4.6.30 7.11.53 11.19.85 Collingwood 0.2.2 3.8.26 4.9.33 5.10.40 Goals Casey Scorpions Petropoulos Smith Tynan 2 Bate Collins Fitzpatrick Hill McGough Collingwood Cribbin Thomas Wallace Witts Yagmoor Best Casey Scorpions Hill Collins Riseley Corry Bate Petropoulos Collingwood Gault Thomas Krakouer Riddle Ferraro Wallace The Development League team had a bye but are well placed for the finals.

CASEY TAKES A TOP FOUR SPOT by KC from Casey Collingwood's former home ground Victoria Park might be looking a little worse for wear these days but it was a fitting scene for Brett Lovett's 150th game as a VFL coach on Saturday. The old ground where the man who now is at the helm of the Casey Scorpions fought many of his toughest battles as a player, was the backdrop to his team's latest challenge after consecutive home defeats saw them falling to from top to third spot on the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL ladder. Lovett's team responded in fine style emphatically bouncing back to winning form to prevail over the VFL Magpies by 45 points in the wet and blustery conditions. The Scorps welcomed back co-captain Kyle Matthews who has been out of the senior side since the opening round of the season with shoulder injuries and Michael Riseley who returned from a trip overseas to support his brother at the Olympics. Both were welcome additions to the side with Riseley featuring in the best players and the skipper picking up 18 touches and five hardball gets in his comeback game. The Pies had a strong complement of 16 AFL listed players including Brent Macaffer, Andrew Krakouer and Ben Johnson which exactly doubled the number of Demons running out for this game with the Scorpions. The discrepancy was offset in part by the presence of experienced campaigners in Brent Moloney and Matthew Bate who each had 23 possessions and made significant contributions to the team effort. The early going was dominated by the Scorpions kicking towards the Yarra Falls end and aided by the breeze although its swirly nature made scoring goals a difficult assignment for most of the day. Jack Fitzpatrick who booted five in a losing team last week was toubled by the windy conditions and was again off target early in the piece. Will Petropoulos finally got things ticking with the opening goal and Casey added two more whilst keeping the home team goalless for the term. The game remained a scramble in the heavy conditions as Collingwood struggled to find the goals and when they finally scored one 24 minutes into the second quarter, Josh Tynan immediately returned the favour. Just when Casey looked like going into the main break with a solid advantage, the game was turned on its head in the last minute before half time when two Magpie goals reduced their lead to just four points. As has been the case all year, Lovett's team did not panic and instead, it methodically set about taking apart the opposition with its disciplined hard attack on the football after the break. David Collins was the star picking up 28 hard won possessions in the heavy going while youngster Luke Hill amassed 32 hit outs against the highly regarded Magpie pair of Cameron Wood and Jarrod Witts. Jack Viney was a terrier in the packs collecting 24 touches including a game high 11 hard ball gets while young Tom Corry was impressive on debut with seven inside 50's. Danny Nicholls, another who recently returned from injury, was a solid contributor as was Petropoulos who finished with two handy goals. Hill's presence in the ruck has allowed Fitzpatrick to spend more time up forward and the young Demon finally responded when he hit the target with a soccer goal. Tim Smith put in a great cameo performance kicking two goals for the term and by the end of the third quarter, the Scorps held a comfortable 20-point lead. The question whether the leeway provided a sufficient buffer given that Collingwood was kicking to what had been the scoring end was answered in the affirmative with Casey kicking four unanswered goals to run over an opposition that managed only one late consolation goal in junk time by which time. By then, the Scorpions had secured their top four spot. HOW THE DEMONS FARED With only eight AFL listed players compared with 16 in the Collingwood side there might have been concerns about a repeat of the two previous weeks against the Blues and the Cats but quality games from Bate and Moloney helped Casey to a position of dominance for most of the game. Matthew Bate (10 kicks, 13 handballs, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal) - one of his team's best playing mainly in a midfield role. Lucas Cook (2 kicks, 6 handballs, 2 tackles) - the conditions didn't really suit the lanky forward who struggled to get into the game. Troy Davis (12 kicks, 2 handballs, 6 marks) - a solid game in a defence which kept its opponent down to five goals for the day. Jack Fitzpatrick (8 kicks, five handballs, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 18 hit outs, 1 goal) - had his chances to kick three or four goals in the tough swirly conditions. Also provided good back up in the ruck. Brent Moloney (16 kicks, 7 handballs, 5 marks, 4 tackles) - his class stood out in this company where he got plenty of inside ball and kicked long with good effect. Jai Sheahan (19 kicks, 3 handballs, 4 marks, 1 tackle) - is returning to his early season form in defence. Ran hard and delivered the ball cleanly. Josh Tynan (9 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 goals) - still making his way on return from injury and did well with two timely goals for the match. Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 4.6.30 7.11.53 11.19.85 Collingwood 0.2.2 3.8.26 4.9.33 5.10.40 Goals Casey Scorpions Petropoulos Smith Tynan 2 Bate Collins Fitzpatrick Hill McGough Collingwood Cribbin Thomas Wallace Witts Yagmoor Best Casey Scorpions Hill Collins Riseley Corry Bate Petropoulos Collingwood Gault Thomas Krakouer Riddle Ferraro Wallace The Development League team had a bye but are well placed for the finals.

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

It seems like only yesterday ... MELBOURNE Backs James Sellar James Frawley Jared Rivers Half backs Daniel Nicholson Tom McDonald Jack Watts Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Jeremy Howe Lynden Dunn Nathan Jones Forwards Mitch Clark Colin Garland Colin Sylvia Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Interchange Matthew Bate Aaron Davey Joel Macdonald James Magner Emergencies Sam Blease Troy Davis Cale Morton In Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Aaron Davey Joel Macdonald Out Sam Blease Brad Green (hip) Cale Morton Luke Tapscott (suspension) GWS GIANTS Backs Jack Hombsch Tim Mohr Sam Darley Half backs Shaun Edwards Phil Davis Toby Greene Centreline Tom Scully Callan Ward Adam Treloar Half forwards Taylor Adams Jeremy Cameron Rhys Palmer Forwards Nathan Wilson Jonathan Patton Mark Whiley Followers Dean Brogan James McDonald Dylan Shiel Interchange Tomas Bugg Jonathan Giles Devon Smith Luke Power Emergencies Chad Cornes WIlliam Hoskin-Elliot Andrew Phillips In Jonathan Giles Jack Hombsch Nathan Wilson Out Chad Cornes (rested) Andrew Phillips Sam Schulz (calf)

NO CLOSE SHAVE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions have finally played in a game that was close on the scoreboard but this time they lost. History will record that Geelong came to Casey Fields and scored a fourteen point victory on a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon but the reality is that the Cats dominated totally for three quarters and that the Scorpions' big quarter for the day - the second - was never going to be enough to enable them to take the four premiership points on offer. Instead, their lacklustre performance saw them tumbling from first to third on the competition ladder and they are in possible danger of missing out on a top four spot with the finals a matter of three weeks away. The game started in a not too dissimilar vein to last week. Geelong looked strong on attack through the middle while Casey was wasteful, mainly through a couple of missed shots from Jack Fitzpatrick who was at least able to find target as the game went on. At the quarter time break, the visitors held a four goal lead. The second quarter opened dramatically with Liam Jurrah entering the field for the first time and scoring a goal within thirty seconds. With young Luke Hill dominating on his way to a 51 hit out game, the Casey midfield took the ascendency. Tom Couch, Jordan Gysberts and lively youngster Jack Viney were winning the ball well and, with plenty of avenues to go forward, the goals came at frequent intervals. Fitzpatrick, Lucas Cook and Leigh Williams all impressed during this term and by half time the home side appeared to have assumed total control with a 20 point lead after an eight goal to one second quarter. After half time the wheels slowly fell off and Geelong took command. An injury to Leigh Williams did not help matters and nor did the fact that Jurrah, coming back from a long stint on the sidelines, was being used sparingly. Casey toiled manfully and maintained a lead for most of the third quarter but Geelong's AFL experienced players kept coming and with two late goals, they snatched the lead by a point in the shadows of three quarter time. Despite a good solo five goal effort from Fitzpatrick, some strong work from Evan Panozza and Jai Sheahan down back and a promising display from Aiden Lindsay in his first game, the Scorps were unable to stem the tide. Geelong maintained a tight grip on the game in the final stanza and this time there was no dramatic last minute home team comeback to snatch victory. In fact, it was no close shave and the final margin of 14 points was flattering. Tom Couch made a welcome return from injury with 29 disposals including 5 tackles. David Collins had 24 touches, one more than Jordan Gysberts while Michael Evans, Fitzpatrick and Sheahan each had 20 possessions. The Scorpions have just six days to recover for Saturday's ABC televised game against Collingwood at Victoria Park in a must win game. They are likely to find themselves opposed to suspended Magpie Dane Swan. HOW THE DEMONS FARED As the number of MFC-listed players dwindles, so do Casey's stocks. Another injury today, this time to Leigh Williams while Liam Jurrah, on comeback from injury, was only used sparingly. Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - didn't have a great impact apart from one strong mark that resulted in his only goal. Tom Couch (15 kicks, 14 handballs, 3 marks, 5 tackles) - never stopped working all day and deserves another chance at AFL level for that performance. Troy Davis (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks) - appears to have slipped in confidence as the season has worn on. Michael Evans (14 kicks, 6 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles) - a very encouraging effort for Pickles who has come back solidly after missing most of the season with a back injury. Jack Fitzpatrick (13 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks, 23 hit outs, 5 goals) - after a dubious start when two gettable shots at goal produced one point, Fitzpatrick came good with some solid marking in a five goal game. Jordan Gysberts (9 kicks, 14 handballs, 4 tackles, 2 goals) - fought hard in the midfield where he is good at getting the football and went forward to kick a couple of nice goals. Liam Jurrah (3 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 goal) - used only sparingly on his comeback and looked at least a month away from being fully fit. Proved he still has the magic but one wonders why he doesn't concentrate on the personal issues in his life and comes back when these have been dealt with. Jai Sheahan (16 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks) - a tremendous response after injury an a couple of development league games. Needs to play out the season at this level and is a definite prospect. Josh Tynan (6 kicks, 3 handballs) - looked a fair way off the pace. Leigh Williams (5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks, 1 goal) - was playing what was probably his best game at the club until he injured his ankle. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 10.6.66 11.8.74 14.11.95 Geelong 6.2.38 7.4.46 11.9.75 16.13.109 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 5 Gysberts 2 Collins Cook Gent Jurrah Nicholls Viney Wiilliams Geelong Kersten 5 Blicavs Hollmer 3 Byrnes 2 Brown Gleeson Maas Best Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Couch Gysberts Sheahan Collins Lindsay Geelong Kersten Stringer Gillies Horlin-Smith Brown Byrnes The development league team played its game at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. They were 29 points up at ¾ time but couldn't hold off the fast finishing Zebras who won by 2 points. Casey Scorpions 6.2.38 6.6.42 14.7.91 19.9.123 Sandringham 4.1.25 6.4.40 9.9.63 18.17.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Weekes 4 Galvin 3 Eddy Fieldsend Lang Pollard Thompson 2 McInnes Salton Sandringham Fallon Maley 3 Coleman Soriano Staley 2 Andreoli Beech La Rocca Mavric Stapleton Widdowson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Lang Pollard Rosier Petropoulos McInnes Sandringham Plostins Maley Michaliades Jones Beech Staley

NO CLOSE SHAVE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions have finally played in a game that was close on the scoreboard but this time they lost. History will record that Geelong came to Casey Fields and scored a fourteen point victory on a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon but the reality is that the Cats dominated totally for three quarters and that the Scorpions' big quarter for the day - the second - was never going to be enough to enable them to take the four premiership points on offer. Instead, their lacklustre performance saw them tumbling from first to third on the competition ladder and they are in possible danger of missing out on a top four spot with the finals a matter of three weeks away. The game started in a not too dissimilar vein to last week. Geelong looked strong on attack through the middle while Casey was wasteful, mainly through a couple of missed shots from Jack Fitzpatrick who was at least able to find target as the game went on. At the quarter time break, the visitors held a four goal lead. The second quarter opened dramatically with Liam Jurrah entering the field for the first time and scoring a goal within thirty seconds. With young Luke Hill dominating on his way to a 51 hit out game, the Casey midfield took the ascendency. Tom Couch, Jordan Gysberts and lively youngster Jack Viney were winning the ball well and, with plenty of avenues to go forward, the goals came at frequent intervals. Fitzpatrick, Lucas Cook and Leigh Williams all impressed during this term and by half time the home side appeared to have assumed total control with a 20 point lead after an eight goal to one second quarter. After half time the wheels slowly fell off and Geelong took command. An injury to Leigh Williams did not help matters and nor did the fact that Jurrah, coming back from a long stint on the sidelines, was being used sparingly. Casey toiled manfully and maintained a lead for most of the third quarter but Geelong's AFL experienced players kept coming and with two late goals, they snatched the lead by a point in the shadows of three quarter time. Despite a good solo five goal effort from Fitzpatrick, some strong work from Evan Panozza and Jai Sheahan down back and a promising display from Aiden Lindsay in his first game, the Scorps were unable to stem the tide. Geelong maintained a tight grip on the game in the final stanza and this time there was no dramatic last minute home team comeback to snatch victory. In fact, it was no close shave and the final margin of 14 points was flattering. Tom Couch made a welcome return from injury with 29 disposals including 5 tackles. David Collins had 24 touches, one more than Jordan Gysberts while Michael Evans, Fitzpatrick and Sheahan each had 20 possessions. The Scorpions have just six days to recover for Saturday's ABC televised game against Collingwood at Victoria Park in a must win game. They are likely to find themselves opposed to suspended Magpie Dane Swan. HOW THE DEMONS FARED As the number of MFC-listed players dwindles, so do Casey's stocks. Another injury today, this time to Leigh Williams while Liam Jurrah, on comeback from injury, was only used sparingly. Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - didn't have a great impact apart from one strong mark that resulted in his only goal. Tom Couch (15 kicks, 14 handballs, 3 marks, 5 tackles) - never stopped working all day and deserves another chance at AFL level for that performance. Troy Davis (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks) - appears to have slipped in confidence as the season has worn on. Michael Evans (14 kicks, 6 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles) - a very encouraging effort for Pickles who has come back solidly after missing most of the season with a back injury. Jack Fitzpatrick (13 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks, 23 hit outs, 5 goals) - after a dubious start when two gettable shots at goal produced one point, Fitzpatrick came good with some solid marking in a five goal game. Jordan Gysberts (9 kicks, 14 handballs, 4 tackles, 2 goals) - fought hard in the midfield where he is good at getting the football and went forward to kick a couple of nice goals. Liam Jurrah (3 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 goal) - used only sparingly on his comeback and looked at least a month away from being fully fit. Proved he still has the magic but one wonders why he doesn't concentrate on the personal issues in his life and comes back when these have been dealt with. Jai Sheahan (16 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks) - a tremendous response after injury an a couple of development league games. Needs to play out the season at this level and is a definite prospect. Josh Tynan (6 kicks, 3 handballs) - looked a fair way off the pace. Leigh Williams (5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks, 1 goal) - was playing what was probably his best game at the club until he injured his ankle. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 10.6.66 11.8.74 14.11.95 Geelong 6.2.38 7.4.46 11.9.75 16.13.109 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 5 Gysberts 2 Collins Cook Gent Jurrah Nicholls Viney Wiilliams Geelong Kersten 5 Blicavs Hollmer 3 Byrnes 2 Brown Gleeson Maas Best Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Couch Gysberts Sheahan Collins Lindsay Geelong Kersten Stringer Gillies Horlin-Smith Brown Byrnes The development league team played its game at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. They were 29 points up at ¾ time but couldn't hold off the fast finishing Zebras who won by 2 points. Casey Scorpions 6.2.38 6.6.42 14.7.91 19.9.123 Sandringham 4.1.25 6.4.40 9.9.63 18.17.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Weekes 4 Galvin 3 Eddy Fieldsend Lang Pollard Thompson 2 McInnes Salton Sandringham Fallon Maley 3 Coleman Soriano Staley 2 Andreoli Beech La Rocca Mavric Stapleton Widdowson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Lang Pollard Rosier Petropoulos McInnes Sandringham Plostins Maley Michaliades Jones Beech Staley

CENTIMETRE IMPERFECT by Whispering Jack The point has been made on more than one occasion during the past week of the importance of experience in achieving ultimate success in our game. It's a point usually made by coaches of young struggling teams and was the theme this week of discussion by both the Western Bulldog's coach Brendan McCartney and Melbourne's Mark Neeld who explained immediately after his side's 25-point loss to the Saints that they "had (an average of) 117 games per player on the field and we had 60 and that's what happens." It also happens that teams with superior experience often have a strong edge in class and an ability to exploit their opponent's weaknesses and this is what happened in the game. At the start, the Saints attacked the ball with ferocity and were able to put sufficient pressure on the Demons to run away to a four goal lead by mid quarter. Melbourne had worked hard and contested well but was forced into error, usually involving little more than a few centimetres between a perfectly executed piece of play and a turnover and opposition goal. Then, the game changed with the departure of Nick Riewoldt with a knee injury. Over the course of the next half a game, the Demons worked their way back but they lacked the experienced game turner who could sway the game in their favour totally. And so, they battled their way through the remainder of the first term, throughout the second and for almost ten minutes into the third, they held sway but all of the momentum was insufficient to push them into the lead. When they kicked their second goal after six minutes into the third half, they were within sniffing distance – a mere four points down. It was at this point that the game changed again and St. Kilda retook the initiative, thanks to the class of their experienced players in dal Santo, Hayes, Fisher and Montagna who led the way to blast out eight unanswered goals in a half hour stretch that put the game well and truly beyond doubt. Beau Wilkes kicked five goals and was good but it was the team leaders who were so decisive in turning things around. To their credit, the Demons toiled away to peg the Saints' lead back to 25 points which was about the same place where they were at the fourteen minute mark of the first term when Riewoldt had hobbled off the ground. The teams even finished with the same number of inside 50's as well as tackles. Melbourne led the contested possessions and the efficiency count. The numbers suggest that the team is starting to make some progress after a poor start to the season. When you consider that the Saints were just two points or a single umpiring decision away from beating Collingwood a week earlier, the signs are good. Sitting in the stands when the score was St. Kilda 5.6.36 to Melbourne's 4.8.32 I wondered what might have been if it had its full back (James Frawley), full forward (Mitch Clark), two first dibs ruckmen (Mark Jamar and Stephan Martin), the versatile Jack Watts and the livewire Liam Jurrah fit and available for the game (not to mention half a dozen others who would be vying for contention if not for their injuries). But that's conjecture for another time. In this game Sammy Blease came of age and justified his first round draft selection for the first time. Not only for his five goals (which could easily have been six or seven) but for the defensive aspect of his play and the fact that he played out a full game. Melbourne's much maligned midfield also showed signs that it was coming out of its almost moribund state. Nathan Jones has been good all year and if he continues to improve at this rate, will come close to nudging elite status. The two skippers in Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove continued to show that they can take further strides forward in the future. Who know? One day people might speak of their appointment as joint captains at such a young age as an inspired move. There were a few highlights from other young players in Jeremy Howe, Luke Tapscott, James Strauss and, although Tom McDonald had a torrid day down back, he also demonstrated that he can step up in the future to a much higher level. If anything, the Demons were let down by their experienced players. A few of them are nearing the end but Joel Macdonald and Jared Rivers were fantastic and, on their form, one wonders why on earth there are any reservations about signing them on to new contracts immediately. Melbourne 0.3.3 2.7.19 4.9.33 12.10.82 St. Kilda 4.2.26 5.5.35 12.11.83 16.11.107 Best Melbourne Blease 5 Sellar 2 Dunn Green Howe Jetta Sylvia St. Kilda Wilkes 5 Cripps Koschitzke Milne Saad 2 Goddard Riewoldt Steven Best Melbourne Blease Jones Grimes Rivers MacDonald Trengove St. Kilda Wilkes Dal Santo Armitage Dempster Geary Hayes Injuries Melbourne Nil. St. Kilda Nick Riewoldt (knee) Changes Melbourne James Frawley (quad) replaced by Matthew Bate St. Kilda Farren Ray (back) and Clint Jones replaced by Reports Melbourne Nil. St. Kilda Nil. Umpires Stewart Hosking Kamolins Official crowd 23,464 at MCG If you want a real laugh I recommend the play GROUCHO commencing on 15 August 2012 for a short season at Chapel Off Chapel. If Demonlanders book tickets and confirm their booking and ticket number with Demonland by PM, a donation of $4.00 per ticket will be made to a charity connected with mental health. Opening night now a sellout!

Who would have thought it? Nathan Jones has stretched his lead to a whopping 128 points! 209 Nathan Jones 81 Mitch Clark 80 Jared Rivers 76 Jack Grimes 75 Jack Watts 70 Jeremy Howe 62 Tom McDonald James Magner 50 Jordie McKenzie 45 Sam Blease James Frawley 40 Colin Sylvia 31 Stef Martin 30 Brad Green 29 Dan Nicholson 27 Matthew Bate 26 Jack Trengove 21 Joel Macdonald 20 Colin Garland 19 Cale Morton 16 Jake Spencer 15 Clint Bartram 14 Rohan Bail 12 Lynden Dunn 9 Neville Jetta 8 James Sellar 4 Luke Tapscott 3 Brent Moloney 1 Aaron Davey

Games's over. Please go to - Post Match Discussion Thanks

CENTIMETRE IMPERFECT by Whispering Jack The point has been made on more than one occasion during the past week of the importance of experience in achieving ultimate success in our game. It's a point usually made by coaches of young struggling teams and was the theme this week of discussion by both the Western Bulldog's coach Brendan McCartney and Melbourne's Mark Neeld who explained immediately after his side's 25-point loss to the Saints that they "had (an average of) 117 games per player on the field and we had 60 and that's what happens." It also happens that teams with superior experience often have a strong edge in class and an ability to exploit their opponent's weaknesses and this is what happened in the game. At the start, the Saints attacked the ball with ferocity and were able to put sufficient pressure on the Demons to run away to a four goal lead by mid quarter. Melbourne had worked hard and contested well but was forced into error, usually involving little more than a few centimetres between a perfectly executed piece of play and a turnover and opposition goal. Then, the game changed with the departure of Nick Riewoldt with a knee injury. Over the course of the next half a game, the Demons worked their way back but they lacked the experienced game turner who could sway the game in their favour totally. And so, they battled their way through the remainder of the first term, throughout the second and for almost ten minutes into the third, they held sway but all of the momentum was insufficient to push them into the lead. When they kicked their second goal after six minutes into the third half, they were within sniffing distance – a mere four points down. It was at this point that the game changed again and St. Kilda retook the initiative, thanks to the class of their experienced players in dal Santo, Hayes, Fisher and Montagna who led the way to blast out eight unanswered goals in a half hour stretch that put the game well and truly beyond doubt. Beau Wilkes kicked five goals and was good but it was the team leaders who were so decisive in turning things around. To their credit, the Demons toiled away to peg the Saints' lead back to 25 points which was about the same place where they were at the fourteen minute mark of the first term when Riewoldt had hobbled off the ground. The teams even finished with the same number of inside 50's as well as tackles. Melbourne led the contested possessions and the efficiency count. The numbers suggest that the team is starting to make some progress after a poor start to the season. When you consider that the Saints were just two points or a single umpiring decision away from beating Collingwood a week earlier, the signs are good. Sitting in the stands when the score was St. Kilda 5.6.36 to Melbourne's 4.8.32 I wondered what might have been if it had its full back (James Frawley), full forward (Mitch Clark), two first dibs ruckmen (Mark Jamar and Stephan Martin), the versatile Jack Watts and the livewire Liam Jurrah fit and available for the game (not to mention half a dozen others who would be vying for contention if not for their injuries). But that's conjecture for another time. In this game Sammy Blease came of age and justified his first round draft selection for the first time. Not only for his five goals (which could easily have been six or seven) but for the defensive aspect of his play and the fact that he played out a full game. Melbourne's much maligned midfield also showed signs that it was coming out of its almost moribund state. Nathan Jones has been good all year and if he continues to improve at this rate, will come close to nudging elite status. The two skippers in Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove continued to show that they can take further strides forward in the future. Who know? One day people might speak of their appointment as joint captains at such a young age as an inspired move. There were a few highlights from other young players in Jeremy Howe, Luke Tapscott, James Strauss and, although Tom McDonald had a torrid day down back, he also demonstrated that he can step up in the future to a much higher level. If anything, the Demons were let down by their experienced players. A few of them are nearing the end but Joel Macdonald and Jared Rivers were fantastic and, on their form, one wonders why on earth there are any reservations about signing them on to new contracts immediately. Melbourne 0.3.3 2.7.19 4.9.33 12.10.82 St. Kilda 4.2.26 5.5.35 12.11.83 16.11.107 Best Melbourne Blease 5 Sellar 2 Dunn Green Howe Jetta Sylvia St. Kilda Wilkes 5 Cripps Koschitzke Milne Saad 2 Goddard Riewoldt Steven Best Melbourne Blease Jones Grimes Rivers MacDonald Trengove St. Kilda Wilkes Dal Santo Armitage Dempster Geary Hayes Injuries Melbourne Nil. St. Kilda Nick Riewoldt (knee) Changes Melbourne James Frawley (quad) replaced by Matthew Bate St. Kilda Farren Ray (back) and Clint Jones replaced by Reports Melbourne Nil. St. Kilda Nil. Umpires Stewart Hosking Kamolins Official crowd 23,464 at MCG If you want a real laugh I recommend the play GROUCHO commencing on 15 August 2012 for a short season at Chapel Off Chapel. If Demonlanders book tickets and confirm their booking and ticket number with Demonland by PM, a donation of $4.00 per ticket will be made to a charity connected with mental health. Opening night now a sellout!

Please cast your votes as the Demonland POTY nears it's exciting climax. 6,5,4,3,2,1. Thanks

Welcome to the 2012 version of Hatch, Match & Despatch. Please feel to make suggestions as to inclusions but they must be based on official announcements and not guesswork, gossip or wishful thinking

ADELAIDE In: Angus Graham (Richmond), draft selection 54 Out: Michael Doughty (retired); Chris Knights (Richmond); Brad Symes, Will Young (delisted); draft selection 43 Draft selections: 20, 54, 64, 83, 101, 119, 137 BRISBANE LIONS In: Brent Moloney (restricted free agent), Stefan Martin (Melbourne) Out: Josh Drummond (retired), Amon Buchanan (retired); Cheynee Stiller, James Hawksley, Sam Sheldon, Bryce Retzlaff (delisted); Brad Harvey, Josh Dyson (delisted rookies), draft selections 53, 73 Draft selections: 8, 24, 33, 91, 109, 127 CARLTON In: Draft selection 71 Out: Jordan Russell (Collingwood); Bret Thornton, Rohan Kerr, Paul Bower (delisted); Nick Heyne (delisted rookie); Matthew Lodge (delisted NSW scholarship player); Blake Bray (delisted NSW scholarship player) Draft selections: 11, 36, 56, 71, 76, 94, 112 COLLINGWOOD In: Quinten Lynch (West Coast), Clinton Young (Hawthorn), Jordan Russell (Carlton), NAB AFL Draft selections 18, 21, 39 Out: Chris Dawes (Melbourne), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Tom Young (Western Bulldogs); Simon Buckley Jonathon Ceglar Kirk Ugle Luke Rounds Kirk Ugle Cameron Wood (delisted); Paul Cribbin, Daniel Farmer, Shae McNamara, Lachlan Smith, Trent Stubbs (delisted rookies); draft selections 42, 48, 58 Draft selections: 18, 19, 21, 39, 82 ESSENDON In: Joe Daniher (father-son), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda), draft selection 52 Out: Angus Monfries (Port Adelaide); Mark McVeigh (retired); Ricky Dyson, Brent Prismall, Ariel Steinberg (delisted), Anthony Long, Brendan Lee (delisted rookies); Draft selections: 10 (committed to Joe Daniher), 35, 52, 55, 75, 93, 111, 129 FREMANTLE In: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide), draft selection 37 Out: Greg Broughton (Gold Coast); Antoni Grover (retired); Jay van Berlo (delisted); Gavin Roberts, Jordan Wilson-King (delisted rookies); draft selection 60 Draft selections: 17, 37, 40, 80, 98 GEELONG In: Josh Caddy (Gold Coast), Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne), Jared Rivers (Melbourne) Out: Simon Hogan, Matthew Scarlett, David Wojcinski (retired); Orren Stephenson, Tom Gillies (delisted); Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne); draft selections 36, 59, first-round compensation pick for losing Gary Ablett Draft selections: 16, 79, 97 GOLD COAST In: Tom Murphy (Hawthorn), Greg Broughton (Fremantle), Jack Martin (GWS trade incentive selection), 2011 compensation selection end round one (R Palmer), 2010 compensation selection round one (G.Ablett), draft selections 13, 57, 59, 60 Out: Josh Caddy (Geelong), Tom Hickey (St Kilda); Josh Fraser, Andrew McQualter (retired); Sam Iles, Lewis Moss, Piers Flanagan, Alik Magin, Hayden Jolly (delisted); Michael Coad (delisted rookie), compensation selection end round one (J Brennan), Draft picks 2, 26, 47, 69 Draft selections: 13, 57, 59, 60, 87, 105, 123 GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY In: Stephen Gilham (Hawthorn); draft selections 2, 3, 12, 14, 28, 65 Out: James McDonald, Luke Power (retired); Dean Brogan, Steve Clifton, Israel Folau, Tim Segrave (delisted); Jack Hombsch, Jake Neade (Port Adelaide); Jack Martin* (Gold Coast); Jesse Hogan*, Dominic Barry (Melbourne); Tom Lee** (St Kilda), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn); draft selections 20, 24, 29, 43, 68 Draft selections: 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 28, 65, 69, 86, 104, 122 * denotes GWS 17-year-old list concession mini-draft ** denotes GWS pre-selection HAWTHORN In: Jed Anderson (GWS NT zone selection), Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs), Matt Spangher (Sydney Swans), draft selections 29, 68, 72 Out: Chance Bateman, Cameron Bruce (retired); Jarrad Boumann, Michael Osborne (delisted); Broc McCauley, Adam Pattison, Tom Schneider (delisted rookie); Stephen Gilham (Greater Western Sydney), Thomas Murphy (Gold Coast), Clinton Young (Collingwood); draft selections 22, 44, 65 Draft selections: 28, 65, 66, 84, 102 MELBOURNE In: Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), Jack Viney (father-son), Dominic Barry (GWS NT zone selection), Chris Dawes (Collingwood), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Tom Gillies (Geelong), Jesse Hogan (GWS trade incentive selection), draft selection 49 Out: Clint Bartram, Brad Green (retired); Jordan Gysberts (North Melbourne), Brent Moloney (Brisbane Lions), Stef Martin (Brisbane Lions), Cale Morton (West Coast Eagles), Jared Rivers (Geelong); Matthew Bate, Jamie Bennell, Lucas Cook, Liam Jurrah, Ricky Petterd (delisted); Kelvin Lawrence, Jai Sheahan, Leigh Williams (delisted rookies); draft selections 3, 14, 27 (committed to Jack Viney), 48, 88 Draft selections: 4, 27, 49, 53, 70, 73, 77, 88, 106, 124 NORTH MELBOURNE In: Jordan Gysberts (Melbourne); Majak Daw, Sam Gibson and Aaron Mullett (rookie upgrades); draft selections 42, 48, 63 Out: Hamish McIntosh (Geelong), Aaron Edwards (Richmond), Cameron Pedersen (Melbourne); Matt Campbell, Cruize Garlett, Ben McKinley, Ben Speight, Ben Warren (delisted); Malcolm Lynch, Brad Mangan, Gavin Urquhart (delisted rookies) Draft selections: 15, 38, 42, 48, 58, 63, 78, 96, 114, 132 PORT ADELAIDE In: Angus Monfries (Essendon), Jack Hombsch (GWS), Jake Neade (GWS NT zone selection), Lewis Stevenson (West Coast), Campbell Heath (Sydney Swans), draft selections 30, 31, 85 Out: Troy Chaplin (Richmond), Danyle Pearce (Fremantle), David Rodan (Melbourne); Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips, Steven Salopek, Jacob Surjan (delisted); Mitch Curnow, Jarrad Irons, Daniel Webb, (delisted rookies); draft selections 52, 29, 72, 88 Draft selections: 7, 30, 31, 85, 90, 108, 126. RICHMOND In: Troy Chaplin (Port Adelaide), Chris Knights (Adelaide), Aaron Edwards (North Melbourne), draft selection 43 Out: Angus Graham (Adelaide); Dean McDonald, Brad Miller, Kelvin Moore (retired); Andrew Browne, Jeromey Webberley, Dan Connors (delisted); Addam Maric, Piva Wright, Gibson Turner (delisted rookies); draft selection 50, 74 Draft selections: 9, 32, 34, 43, 92, 110, 128 ST KILDA In: Tom Hickey (Gold Coast), Tom Lee (Claremont), Trent Dennis-Lane (Sydney Swans), draft selections 25, 26, 41, 44 Out: Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Jamie Cripps (West Coast); Sam Crocker, Jason Gram, Nicky Winmar, Brett Peake, Dean Polo (delisted); Daniel Archer (delisted rookie); draft selections 12, 37, 57 Draft selections: 25, 26, 41, 44, 77, 95, 113, 131 SYDNEY SWANS In: Draft selections 47, 66, 72 Out: Jarred Moore, Mark Seaby (delisted); Eugene Kruger, Jack Lynch, Dylan McNeil (delisted rookies); Campbell Heath (Port Adelaide), Matt Spangher (Hawthorn), Trent Dennis-Lane (St Kilda); draft selections 72, 85 Draft selections: 23, 45, 47, 66, 67, 103, 121, 139 WEST COAST In: Sharrod Wellingham (Collingwood), Jamie Cripps (St Kilda), Cale Morton (Melbourne), draft selections 46 and 62 Out: Quinten Lynch (Collingwood), Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs), Lewis Stevenson (Port Adelaide); Andrew Strijk, Gerrick Weedon (delisted); Anton Hamp, Callum Papertalk, Michael Mascoulis (delisted rookies); draft selections 18, 41 Draft selections: 46, 61, 62, 81, 99 WESTERN BULLDOGS In: Lachie Hunter (father-son), Koby Stevens (West Coast), draft selection 22 Out: Brian Lake (Hawthorn); Nathan Djerrkura, Lindsay Gilbee, Ryan Hargrave, Zephaniah Skinner (retired); Tom Hill, Andrew Hooper, Brodie Moles, James Mulligan, Justin Sherman (delisted); draft selections 27, 44, 71 Draft selections: 5, 6 (GWS compensation for Callan Ward), 22, 50 (committed to Hunter), 51 (GWS compensation for Sam Reid), 89, 107 and 125 MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB LIST CHANGES - 2012 2013 Melbourne squad Primary list 1. Bail, Rohan 2. Barry, Dominic 3. Blease, Sam 4. Byrnes, Shannon 5. Clark, Mitch 6. Davey, Aaron 7. Davis, Troy 8. Dawes, Chris 9. Dunn, Lynden 10. Evans, Michael 11. Fitzpatrick, Jack 12. Frawley, James 13. Garland, Colin 14. Gawn, Max 15. Gillies, Tom 16. Grimes, Jack 17. Howe, Jeremy 18. Jamar, Mark 19. Jetta, Neville 20. Jones, Matt 21. Jones, Nathan 22. Kent, Dean 23. Macdonald, Joel 24. McDonald, Tom 25. McKenzie, Jordie 26. Nicholson, Daniel 27. Pedersen, Cameron 28. Rodan, David 29. Sellar, James 30. Spencer, Jake 31. Strauss, James 32. Sylvia, Colin 33. Taggert, Rory 34. Tapscott, Luke 35. Terlich, Dean 36. Toumpas, Jimmy 37. Trengove, Jack 38. Tynan, Josh 39. Viney, Jack 40. Watts, Jack Rookie list 41. Couch, Tom 42. Magner, James 43. TBC at NAB AFL Rookie Draft on December 11 44. TBC at NAB AFL Rookie Draft on December 11 ARRIVALS Unrestricted free agent: Shannon Byrnes (Geelong Cats) Father/son selection: Jack Viney (Casey Scorpions) Northern Territory zone selection traded by Greater Western Sydney: Dominic Barry (North Ballarat Rebels) Trade period: Chris Dawes (Collingwood),Cameron Pedersen (North Melbourne) David Rodan (Port Adelaide) Rookie elevation: Michael Evans, Daniel Nicholson Delisted free agent: Tom Gillies (Geelong Cats) NAB AFL Draft: Matt Jones (Box Hill Hawks), Dean Kent (Perth), Dean Terlich (Norwood), Jimmy Toumpas (Woodville West Torrens) NAB AFL Rookie Draft: TBC *Note: Jesse Hogan (Claremont) was acquired as a 17-year-old trade incentive selection via Greater Western Sydney. He will officially be included on Melbourne’s primary list in 2014. DEPARTURES Retired: Clint Bartram, Brad Green (veteran - outside list) Unrestricted free agent: Jared Rivers (Geelong Cats) Restricted free agent: Brent Moloney (Brisbane Lions) Trade period: Jordan Gysberts (North Melbourne), Stef Martin (Brisbane Lions), Cale Morton (West Coast Eagles) Delisted: Matthew Bate, Jamie Bennell, Lucas Cook, Liam Jurrah, Kelvin Lawrence (second-year rookie), Ricky Petterd, Jai Sheahan (rookie), Leigh Williams (rookie)]

I've just posted an article Whispering Jack on the Drafting and Trading Board that's relevant to this discussion:- RECRUITING LESSONS FROM THE PAST: ENDING PURGATORY?

RECRUITING LESSONS FROM THE PAST: ENDING PURGATORY? by Whispering Jack Jake Niall's article in the Age Demons in purgatory about a decision the Melbourne Football Club is reported to have taken to put contract discussions with several players on hold until October to enable it to "test the free-agency and trading waters", has generated some interesting discussion in football circles. There is little doubt that Mark Neeld will be looking to re-shape his playing list at the end of his first season at the coaching helm and the introduction of free-agency creates the possibility that a club in the right position to exploit the new rules can effect a major overhaul of its list in a relatively short period of time. For a club to defer contract negotiations in the manner described in Niall's article is a brave, bold and dangerous decision but it evokes the memory of a time in the game's past when a downtrodden club used a new rule in such a way that it's fortunes were revived in a short space of time and many would say that saved it from extinction. The club was North Melbourne. The rule was the VFL's 10 Year Rule and it all began forty years ago. Former Melbourne great Brian Dixon coached the Kangaroos to a wooden spoon in 1972. They finished with 1 win, 21 defeats and a percentage of 62.9. Their skipper was David Dench, then the youngest captain in the history of the game. At the time, the team had no star players; Dench and Keith Greig were in their football infancy, Wayne Shimmelbusch was some months away from making his debut and Sam Kekovich who had once shown promise of greatness was weighed down with injury. North had never won a premiership, never had a Brownlow Medallist, and never had a leading goal kicker. Yet, three years later, they won the VFL premiership and by 1977 had picked up their second flag. In order to achieve this, they turned to another former Demon great in Ron Barassi (already a dual premiership coach at Carlton) to replace Dixon and they exploited the new rule to recruit three experienced champions to the club. The results were astounding. The rule allowed automatic clearances to players who had served at one club for ten continuous years. The Roos swooped on Geelong's Doug Wade, South Melbourne's John Rantall and Essendon's Barry Davis in an audacious move that must go down in history as the greatest recruiting coup the game has ever seen. The irony was that North Melbourne had voted against the introduction of the rule but their young and dynamic leadership of President Allen Aylett, Committeman Albert Mantello and Secretary Ron Joseph acted swiftly once it was in force, interviewing all 22 players who were eligible within 48 hours of the rule's implementation. This is how it was described in the magazine "Football Life" in an April, 1973 edition:- Other players to switch clubs under the 10 Year Rule were St. Kilda's Carl Ditterich (to Melbourne) and Bulldog George Bisset (Collingwood) but these moves paled into insignificance compared to the impact the new recruits had on the North Melbourne Football Club. With a new coach, new players and a new training and playing regime, the Kangaroos improved dramatically in 1973 finishing with 11 wins, 10 losses and a draw to miss the finals by half a game. Greig won the Brownlow Medal and Wade finished second in the VFL goal kicking with 73 goals for the season. They fared even better in 1974 with 16 wins, six losses and a grand final appearance against Richmond. Greig won his second Brownlow Medal and Wade kicked 103 goals to become the club's first leading goalkicker and the first to top the century. A year later they defeated Hawthorn by 55 points in the 1975 grand final to win their first flag after losing the first four matches of the season and needless to say, all three of the club's recruits under the 10 year rule (it was abolished at the end of 1973) played significant roles in the club's new era. It remains to be seen whether it is possible in the AFL's highly competitive environment for one club to exploit the introduction of free-agency so dramatically as North Melbourne did with the 10 year rule forty years ago. It would be akin to a club picking up Travis Cloke, Brendan Goddard and Travis Boak (the latter is out of contract but not a free agent) in the one hit. This could only be done by a club with lots of salary cap room which Melbourne is understood to have and which would also be assisted by a policy of delaying player signings until after the trade period. The club's newly announced drive to amass a recruiting "war chest" is also consistent with this possibility. I'm not suggesting that the Demons are chasing this trio or that they will succeed in luring even one big name into the fold but the club's circumstances and the lessons of the past ensure that the coming months promise some interesting times.

RECRUITING LESSONS FROM THE PAST: ENDING PURGATORY? by Whispering Jack Jake Niall's article in the Age Demons in purgatory about a decision the Melbourne Football Club is reported to have taken to put contract discussions with several players on hold until October to enable it to "test the free-agency and trading waters", has generated some interesting discussion in football circles. There is little doubt that Mark Neeld will be looking to re-shape his playing list at the end of his first season at the coaching helm and the introduction of free-agency creates the possibility that a club in the right position to exploit the new rules can effect a major overhaul of its list in a relatively short period of time. For a club to defer contract negotiations in the manner described in Niall's article is a brave, bold and dangerous decision but it evokes the memory of a time in the game's past when a downtrodden club used a new rule in such a way that it's fortunes were revived in a short space of time and many would say that saved it from extinction. The club was North Melbourne. The rule was the VFL's 10 Year Rule and it all began forty years ago. Former Melbourne great Brian Dixon coached the Kangaroos to a wooden spoon in 1972. They finished with 1 win, 21 defeats and a percentage of 62.9. Their skipper was David Dench, then the youngest captain in the history of the game. At the time, the team had no star players; Dench and Keith Greig were in their football infancy, Wayne Shimmelbusch was some months away from making his debut and Sam Kekovich who had once shown promise of greatness was weighed down with injury. North had never won a premiership, never had a Brownlow Medallist, and never had a leading goal kicker. Yet, three years later, they won the VFL premiership and by 1977 had picked up their second flag. In order to achieve this, they turned to another former Demon great in Ron Barassi (already a dual premiership coach at Carlton) to replace Dixon and they exploited the new rule to recruit three experienced champions to the club. The results were astounding. The rule allowed automatic clearances to players who had served at one club for ten continuous years. The Roos swooped on Geelong's Doug Wade, South Melbourne's John Rantall and Essendon's Barry Davis in an audacious move that must go down in history as the greatest recruiting coup the game has ever seen. The irony was that North Melbourne had voted against the introduction of the rule but their young and dynamic leadership of President Allen Aylett, Committeman Albert Mantello and Secretary Ron Joseph acted swiftly once it was in force, interviewing all 22 players who were eligible within 48 hours of the rule's implementation. This is how it was described in the magazine "Football Life" in an April, 1973 edition:- Other players to switch clubs under the 10 Year Rule were St. Kilda's Carl Ditterich (to Melbourne) and Bulldog George Bisset (Collingwood) but these moves paled into insignificance compared to the impact the new recruits had on the North Melbourne Football Club. With a new coach, new players and a new training and playing regime, the Kangaroos improved dramatically in 1973 finishing with 11 wins, 10 losses and a draw to miss the finals by half a game. Greig won the Brownlow Medal and Wade finished second in the VFL goal kicking with 73 goals for the season. They fared even better in 1974 with 16 wins, six losses and a grand final appearance against Richmond. Greig won his second Brownlow Medal and Wade kicked 103 goals to become the club's first leading goalkicker and the first to top the century. A year later they defeated Hawthorn by 55 points in the 1975 grand final to win their first flag after losing the first four matches of the season and needless to say, all three of the club's recruits under the 10 year rule (it was abolished at the end of 1973) played significant roles in the club's new era. It remains to be seen whether it is possible in the AFL's highly competitive environment for one club to exploit the introduction of free-agency so dramatically as North Melbourne did with the 10 year rule forty years ago. It would be akin to a club picking up Travis Cloke, Brendan Goddard and Travis Boak (the latter is out of contract but not a free agent) in the one hit. This could only be done by a club with lots of salary cap room which Melbourne is understood to have and which would also be assisted by a policy of delaying player signings until after the trade period. The club's newly announced drive to amass a recruiting "war chest" is also consistent with this possibility. I'm not suggesting that the Demons are chasing this trio or that they will succeed in luring even one big name into the fold but the club's circumstances and the lessons of the past ensure that the coming months promise some interesting times.

A BIG LAUGH by The Oracle This season has produced very little for Melbourne supporters to smile about as the club has been hit by disasters off the field and pushed from pillar to post on it. The calamities that have affected the Demons have certainly been well documented and little of it has been funny. This is why I was somewhat puzzled to see the three talking heads on On The Couch giggling away with amusement after showing a film clip of Melbourne Chairman that selectively focussed on part of the comments he made to members at a lunch before last week's game against the Gold Coast Suns concerning the tanking controversy initiated by an interview on the programme with former player Brock McLean. Of course, they would not be laughing if they had to respond to the substantive matters McLardy discussed and about which On The Couch omitted to mention; namely the issues surrounding list management that are a fundamental to our game and which affect most clubs from time to time. And we all know that Melbourne has not been alone here although the panel was apparently collectively inflicted by amnesia about how McLean's current club rorted the system so that they forgot to ask him why, if he held such high principles, did he move on to the Blues of all clubs after leaving the Demons? What McLardy said was reported in the Melbourne Age in rebuttal of claims that McLean had declared on the programme that Melbourne deliberately lost games to gain valuable draft picks (actually McLean described what happened as not tanking but "experimenting" but the facts should never get in the way of a good story) – Demons re-sign key players, Schwab:- I understand how three people with a megaphone and an agenda can misrepresent the club's position and ignore the thrust of what McLardy said but it wasn't funny and it reflected poorly on the presenters of On The Couch. As the great Groucho Marx would say: "I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." I reckon Groucho must have been thinking about the three clowns on On The Couch. Unfortunately for them, Melbourne produced some winning form last weekend against the Gold Coast Suns. Sure, it wasn't a flashy or convincing win but the margin was 42 points. One might think a win of that size would mean the club could avoid criticism from the usual suspects but a few decided the loss was shameful; the winning margin should have been double that and Melbourne's effort is therefore deemed a failure and indicative of a poor culture. Never mind that the Suns' recent form hasn't been all that bad. On 8 July, they lost to Geelong by 14 points, a week later they beat Richmond by 2 points and after that lost to the Lions by 11 points. Their only recent thumping was at the hands of ladder leader Sydney. The media circus continues with another one-sided stab against Melbourne in today's Age concerning the retirement of Brad Green who has been a great servant of the club and yesterday announced he was leaving at the end of the season. The press conference was conducted with great professionalism and in the style of the club champion the 251 gamer conducted himself throughout his illustrious career. In the circumstances, it was disappointing for the Age to immediately jump in and focus on the whether Melbourne had been disloyal to Green suggesting it should have kept him on irrespective form or the player's drive to continue on further. It will be a matter of much amusement to see whether such an approach will be taken in the case of other impending retirements at clubs like the Western Bulldogs in the weeks to come. To the media gurus who think they know everything, I say you're not funny but you certainly are a joke. Thanks for giving me a big laugh! And now, it's on to the MCG and the Saints who are starting at the ridiculous odds of $1.06 to win. That's funny too. THE GAME St. Kilda v Melbourne at MCG Saturday 11 August, 2012 at 1:45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall St. Kilda 84 wins Melbourne 118 wins 1 drawn At MCG St. Kilda 32 wins Melbourne 58 wins Since 2000 St. Kilda 9 wins Melbourne 9 wins The Coaches Watters 1 win Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm Channel 7 (delayed at 3.00pm) RADIO 3AW Triple M THE BETTING St. Kilda to win $1.06 Melbourne to win $9.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 12.12.84 defeated Melbourne 10.6.66 Round 5, 2012 at the MCG The teams slugged it out for three quarters going goal for goal in wet conditions on a Saturday night. Mitch Clark was missed and he would have been handy at full forward in the last quarter when the Demons failed to score. THE TEAMS ST. KILDA Backs Jarryn Geary James Gwilt Tom Simpkin Half backs Sean Dempster Sam Fisher Sam Gilbert Centreline Farren Ray Lenny Hayes Brendon Goddard Half forwards Ahmed Saad Nick Riewoldt Nick Dal Santo Forwards Stephen Milne Justin Koschitzke Sam Dunell Followers Ben McEvoy David Armitage Leigh Montagna Interchange Jason Gram Clinton Jones Jack Steven Beau Wilkes Emergencies Jamie Cripps Tom Ledger Dean Polo In Beau Wilkes Out Dean Polo MELBOURNE Backs Joel Macdonald James Sellar Tom McDonald Half backs Lynden Dunn Matthew Bate Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Brent Moloney Sam Blease Half forwards Neville Jetta Jared Rivers Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Brad Green Colin Sylvia Followers Jake Spencer Jack Grimes Nathan Jones Interchange Jordie McKenzie James Magner James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Michael Evans Jack Fitzpatrick Jordan Gysberts In Matthew Bate Neville Jetta Jordie McKenzie Out James Frawley (quad) Jordan Gysberts Cale Morton (shoulder) It's a pity from Melbourne's point of view that Stephen Milne is free to play on Saturday after being fined $3,000 by St Kilda for making a homophobic comment towards Harry O'Brien. The little pest always seems to be the first to kick a goal (or two) in St. Kilda v Melbourne games and the Dees best bet to control the damage he might inflict, Clint Bartram, is languishing on their long injured list which last week stretched to about 15 players. By way of contrast, the Saints have close to a full list of players from which to select their team this week. According to this week's Age, it reads like this: ST KILDA Adam Schneider (hamstring) 1 wk Rhys Stanley (hamstring) 1-2 wks Darren Minchington (hip) season This compares well with the miraculous situation over at Arden Street where this is the situation on an almost weekly basis:- NORTH MELBOURNE Leigh Adams (shoulder) test Tom Curran (foot) season [a late addition to this list is Hamish McIntosh who faces LARS surgery on his knee which also rules him out for the season] The end result is that a full strength St. Kilda which needs to make every post a winner is taking on an emaciated Melbourne which is variously considered as tanking, experimenting, suffering from a losing culture (even when it wins games by seven goals). The game will still have its points of interest. Nathan Jones is having a stellar season and has set a great example to many of his teammates as to how to go about things from the very start of the pre season and right through the highs and mainly the lows of the year. It's a pity that very few have followed that example although Tom McDonald is one who has worked hard to make himself a valued member of the team. He took on Nick Riewoldt last time the teams met and acquitted himself well enough to be given the task again. The two skippers have been under fire for most of the year but are slowly coming of age. Their experience in difficult times will hold them in good stead in the years to come when the team takes on a different shape. Against the Saints, Grimes plays only his 50th game. Trengove reached that mark a few weeks ago. One day their appointment as joint captains may well be seen as an inspired move. At the other end of the scale a rejuvenated Green should continue to kick goals but the Demon forward line is bereft of star players. We might see another mark of the year from high flyer Jeremy Howe but, in reality, there's not enough goal kicking capacity for me to say the Demons will get close to causing an upset. The result is a foregone conclusion - an absolute no brainer with the Saints to win and win well. St. Kilda by 40 points If you want a real laugh I recommend the play GROUCHO commencing on 15 August 2012 for a short season at Chapel Off Chapel. If Demonlanders book tickets and confirm their booking and ticket number with Demonland by PM, a donation of $4.00 per ticket will be made to a charity connected with mental health.

A BIG LAUGH by The Oracle This season has produced very little for Melbourne supporters to smile about as the club has been hit by disasters off the field and pushed from pillar to post on it. The calamities that have affected the Demons have certainly been well documented and little of it has been funny. This is why I was somewhat puzzled to see the three talking heads on On The Couch giggling away with amusement after showing a film clip of Melbourne Chairman that selectively focussed on part of the comments he made to members at a lunch before last week's game against the Gold Coast Suns concerning the tanking controversy initiated by an interview on the programme with former player Brock McLean. Of course, they would not be laughing if they had to respond to the substantive matters McLardy discussed and about which On The Couch omitted to mention; namely the issues surrounding list management that are a fundamental to our game and which affect most clubs from time to time. And we all know that Melbourne has not been alone here although the panel was apparently collectively inflicted by amnesia about how McLean's current club rorted the system so that they forgot to ask him why, if he held such high principles, did he move on to the Blues of all clubs after leaving the Demons? What McLardy said was reported in the Melbourne Age in rebuttal of claims that McLean had declared on the programme that Melbourne deliberately lost games to gain valuable draft picks (actually McLean described what happened as not tanking but "experimenting" but the facts should never get in the way of a good story) – Demons re-sign key players, Schwab:- I understand how three people with a megaphone and an agenda can misrepresent the club's position and ignore the thrust of what McLardy said but it wasn't funny and it reflected poorly on the presenters of On The Couch. As the great Groucho Marx would say: "I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." I reckon Groucho must have been thinking about the three clowns on On The Couch. Unfortunately for them, Melbourne produced some winning form last weekend against the Gold Coast Suns. Sure, it wasn't a flashy or convincing win but the margin was 42 points. One might think a win of that size would mean the club could avoid criticism from the usual suspects but a few decided the loss was shameful; the winning margin should have been double that and Melbourne's effort is therefore deemed a failure and indicative of a poor culture. Never mind that the Suns' recent form hasn't been all that bad. On 8 July, they lost to Geelong by 14 points, a week later they beat Richmond by 2 points and after that lost to the Lions by 11 points. Their only recent thumping was at the hands of ladder leader Sydney. The media circus continues with another one-sided stab against Melbourne in today's Age concerning the retirement of Brad Green who has been a great servant of the club and yesterday announced he was leaving at the end of the season. The press conference was conducted with great professionalism and in the style of the club champion the 251 gamer conducted himself throughout his illustrious career. In the circumstances, it was disappointing for the Age to immediately jump in and focus on the whether Melbourne had been disloyal to Green suggesting it should have kept him on irrespective form or the player's drive to continue on further. It will be a matter of much amusement to see whether such an approach will be taken in the case of other impending retirements at clubs like the Western Bulldogs in the weeks to come. To the media gurus who think they know everything, I say you're not funny but you certainly are a joke. Thanks for giving me a big laugh! And now, it's on to the MCG and the Saints who are starting at the ridiculous odds of $1.06 to win. That's funny too. THE GAME St. Kilda v Melbourne at MCG Saturday 11 August, 2012 at 1:45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall St. Kilda 84 wins Melbourne 118 wins 1 drawn At MCG St. Kilda 32 wins Melbourne 58 wins Since 2000 St. Kilda 9 wins Melbourne 9 wins The Coaches Watters 1 win Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm Channel 7 (delayed at 3.00pm) RADIO 3AW Triple M THE BETTING St. Kilda to win $1.06 Melbourne to win $9.50 THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 12.12.84 defeated Melbourne 10.6.66 Round 5, 2012 at the MCG The teams slugged it out for three quarters going goal for goal in wet conditions on a Saturday night. Mitch Clark was missed and he would have been handy at full forward in the last quarter when the Demons failed to score. THE TEAMS ST. KILDA Backs Jarryn Geary James Gwilt Tom Simpkin Half backs Sean Dempster Sam Fisher Sam Gilbert Centreline Farren Ray Lenny Hayes Brendon Goddard Half forwards Ahmed Saad Nick Riewoldt Nick Dal Santo Forwards Stephen Milne Justin Koschitzke Sam Dunell Followers Ben McEvoy David Armitage Leigh Montagna Interchange Jason Gram Clinton Jones Jack Steven Beau Wilkes Emergencies Jamie Cripps Tom Ledger Dean Polo In Beau Wilkes Out Dean Polo MELBOURNE Backs Joel Macdonald James Sellar Tom McDonald Half backs Lynden Dunn Matthew Bate Colin Garland Centreline Jack Trengove Brent Moloney Sam Blease Half forwards Neville Jetta Jared Rivers Rohan Bail Forwards Jeremy Howe Brad Green Colin Sylvia Followers Jake Spencer Jack Grimes Nathan Jones Interchange Jordie McKenzie James Magner James Strauss Luke Tapscott Emergencies Michael Evans Jack Fitzpatrick Jordan Gysberts In Matthew Bate Neville Jetta Jordie McKenzie Out James Frawley (quad) Jordan Gysberts Cale Morton (shoulder) It's a pity from Melbourne's point of view that Stephen Milne is free to play on Saturday after being fined $3,000 by St Kilda for making a homophobic comment towards Harry O'Brien. The little pest always seems to be the first to kick a goal (or two) in St. Kilda v Melbourne games and the Dees best bet to control the damage he might inflict, Clint Bartram, is languishing on their long injured list which last week stretched to about 15 players. By way of contrast, the Saints have close to a full list of players from which to select their team this week. According to this week's Age, it reads like this: ST KILDA Adam Schneider (hamstring) 1 wk Rhys Stanley (hamstring) 1-2 wks Darren Minchington (hip) season This compares well with the miraculous situation over at Arden Street where this is the situation on an almost weekly basis:- NORTH MELBOURNE Leigh Adams (shoulder) test Tom Curran (foot) season [a late addition to this list is Hamish McIntosh who faces LARS surgery on his knee which also rules him out for the season] The end result is that a full strength St. Kilda which needs to make every post a winner is taking on an emaciated Melbourne which is variously considered as tanking, experimenting, suffering from a losing culture (even when it wins games by seven goals). The game will still have its points of interest. Nathan Jones is having a stellar season and has set a great example to many of his teammates as to how to go about things from the very start of the pre season and right through the highs and mainly the lows of the year. It's a pity that very few have followed that example although Tom McDonald is one who has worked hard to make himself a valued member of the team. He took on Nick Riewoldt last time the teams met and acquitted himself well enough to be given the task again. The two skippers have been under fire for most of the year but are slowly coming of age. Their experience in difficult times will hold them in good stead in the years to come when the team takes on a different shape. Against the Saints, Grimes plays only his 50th game. Trengove reached that mark a few weeks ago. One day their appointment as joint captains may well be seen as an inspired move. At the other end of the scale a rejuvenated Green should continue to kick goals but the Demon forward line is bereft of star players. We might see another mark of the year from high flyer Jeremy Howe but, in reality, there's not enough goal kicking capacity for me to say the Demons will get close to causing an upset. The result is a foregone conclusion - an absolute no brainer with the Saints to win and win well. St. Kilda by 40 points If you want a real laugh I recommend the play GROUCHO commencing on 15 August 2012 for a short season at Chapel Off Chapel. If Demonlanders book tickets and confirm their booking and ticket number with Demonland by PM, a donation of $4.00 per ticket will be made to a charity connected with mental health.

We made a good fist of this game for three quarters while Mitch Clark was out with concussion MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Cale Morton Colin Garland Jack Grimes Centreline Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney Tom McDonald Half forwards Nathan Jones James Sellar Jeremy Howe Forwards Colin Sylvia Lynden Dunn Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Joel Macdonald Jack Watts Emergencies Jack Fitzpatrick Ricky Petterd Luke Tapscott In Jack Grimes Colin Sylvia Out Mitchell Clark (concussion) Luke Tapscott ST. KILDA Backs Jason Blake Sam Gilbert Jarryn Geary Half backs Sean Dempster Sam Fisher Tom Simpkin Centreline Brendon Goddard Lenny Hayes Nick Dal Santo Half forwards Leigh Montagna Nick Riewoldt Jack Steven Forwards Terry Milera Rhys Stanley Stephen Milne Followers Ben McEvoy Dean Polo Clinton Jones Interchange David Armitage Jamie Cripps Jason Gram Jack Newnes Emergencies Tom Ledger Arryn Siposs Beau Wilkes In Jason Gram Out Justin Koschitzke (suspended)