Demonland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHO ARE WE AGAIN? by Whispering Jack Just over twelve months ago on the eve of the Round 2 West Coast Eagles game in Perth, I wrote that the way in which Melbourne approached that particular fixture would define the playing group, given its poor start to the season under then new coach Mark Neeld. The result was an even more insipid performance by the team than the week before and it was followed by more of the same for the majority of the season. A full year later, the team in a different form with a number of new faces repeated the dose in Round 2 against Essendon. This time, it was another defeat in excess of 100 points but far worse and in front of an angry MCG crowd. What we gathered from that was an undercurrent of disaffection between the playing group and those who control it. That means the board and administration, the coaches and yes, ultimately the supporter group. The disconnect was there to see - a repeat of the disgrace that came to be known as "186", a day when the players appeared to down tools and withdraw their labour. Alternatively, if you want to be charitable it was at the very least, a failure to perform to even the minimum acceptable standard in the sport. The supporters were not only let down - they were treated with contempt. If the board, or the administration or the football department deserved that sort of treatment, the supporters certainly did not. Some of the fans will never come back and though I would never put myself in that category, I can hardly say that I blame them. Those who defend the players might well say they owe the supporters nothing; that there were issues that they needed to deal with (and that might well be the case) but what we saw on the playing field was unprofessional and nothing short of deplorable. The thing that most football fans can't really abide from supposed professionals taking the field in their club colours is not doing the basics like running, chasing, tackling and putting pressure on their own opponents. These things are the non-negotiables of our game. I usually disagree with much of what Patrick Smith writes but not when he drew the analogy between Melbourne's ineptitude last week and Essendon's sparkling performance. If one of the two playing groups out there was entitled to rebel against those in control of their club, it should have been the Bombers whose players were led up the garden path in such a scandalous manner when injected out of club premises with substances whose legality and identity they apparently can't now be completely assured of by their club hierarchy. Some might argue that this provides justification for players to rebel against the club for the contempt with which they were treated. But they acted as professionals with a duty to the club that pays their wages, to their loyal supporters and to themselves. Their refusal to tank defined that playing group. This can't be said of the playing group at Melbourne which has now drawn blood in the form of the departing CEO and caused substantial distress to their young coach. Even if there are issues with his coaching, is this how sane and rational people deal with such a situation. Are they now satisfied having blown the lid off the season and brought themselves and their club into disrepute or am I reading this wrongly and our playing group is just inept and incompetent? There's far more to this than just the playing group and a young coach struggling to impose a new systems and standards at the club. We are fractured and hurt by factions that carry with them a destructive mindset that has persisted for close on five decades since the time we dominated the competition and the code. Whatever way you look at it, having fallen in the estimation of the football world, the Demons need to work their butts off to rise again. Perhaps they might heed the words of American author and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: Now is the time to rise ... THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG - Saturday 13 April 2013 at 2:10pm (AEST). HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 15 wins West Coast 28 wins At MCG Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 7 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 12 wins The Coaches Neeld 0 wins Worsfold 1 win MEDIA TV Fox Sports Channel at 2pm (live) RADIO THE BETTING West Coast to win $1.03 Melbourne to win $12.00 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 25.16.166 defeated Melbourne 9.4.58 at Patersons Stadium, Round 2, 2012 The Eagles handed out a thrashing, winning by a club record 108 points at Patersons Stadium, dominating the possessions 447-313, not to mention the free kick count which, at one stage read 21-1. Mitch Clark booted five goals and was one of the few shining lights in the gloom of the West. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Neville Jetta, James Frawley, Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Trengove, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland Centreline Michael Evans, Jack Grimes, Jack Viney Half forwards Matt Jones, Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe Forwards Aaron Davey James Sellar Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Rohan Bail Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies David Rodan Jake Spencer Jack Watts In Rohan Bail Michael Evans Neville Jetta Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Out Sam Blease Tom Gillies (groin) Daniel Nicholson David Rodan Jack Watts WEST COAST Backs Schofield Glass A Selwood Half backs Hurn Brown Waters Centreline Gaff Priddis Masten Half forwards Embley Kennedy Hams Forwards Darling Hill Le Cras Followers Cox S Selwood Shuey Interchange Butler Cripps Kerr Sinclair Emergencies Brennan Dalziell Wilson In Kerr Le Cras Out Dalziell Sheppard (shoulder) IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD by Whispering Jack If we were living in a perfect world, this week would have been the ideal one for Melbourne to confront the West Coast Eagles. The visitors are coming off a six day break from a tough game played in 32 degree heat and have travelled across the continent to play on a ground where they haven't won a game since they surprised Melbourne in the first half of their wooden spoon season of 2010. Since then, the Eagles have lost seven consecutive games on the MCG. Like Melbourne, the Eagles are 0-2 and have not been particularly impressive to date, although admittedly they lost at the hands of some strong opposition. They have some key on field personnel missing and a couple back from injury who might be suspect if put under enough pressure. And there lies the crux of the problem. Pressure. In its two games thus far, the Demons have exerted absolutely zero pressure on their opponents. For a team that has ostensibly trained hard for two pre seasons to develop this aspect of the game, they have given absolutely nothing and on Saturday, they come up against one of the very teams that exposed them so badly in this very area twice in the season before Mark Neeld became coach. Melbourne has selected a marginally better side on paper than the one which has failed abysmally in the past two weeks. The defence is a little less stacked with talls who have no run and exert little defensive pressure. The same can be said of the midfield which has been so static but which remains particularly young and inexperienced. Above all, one must ask whether anything has happened to this group in the past seven days to change its shattered mindset? The removal of the CEO who, on the face of it has ensured that the club's off field finances are "tracking very well" according to the AFL and kept himself apart from the workings of the football department since it was restructured at the end of 2011? Hardly. A day and night of bonding at the Sorrento Hotel followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields? Perhaps. The shame of being booed off the ground by their own supporters, then to be pilloried mercilessly in the media, deservedly so for their sub standard efforts and failure to have a crack or the fear of being the next players demoted? This is the professional era in sport. Many of us were surprised last year when players with plentiful experience at various AFL clubs were delisted but failed to find suitors. It would not surprise if the same thing happened again this year. The Demons need to learn that they are all playing for their football lives if not their team and club and that if they continue to serve up that which they've shown to date, its going to be all over for many of them by year's end. Based on the events of the past week, I can see a little improvement but against a far more desperate Eagles that need the four points and percentage on offer, I don't expect enough improvement to overcome this team's crisis in confidence or for it to show the pride and character of the Bombers who continue to play like professionals despite their own crisis surrounding the club and coach and in which they find themselves right in the middle. Two weeks ago I predicted that Melbourne would be the most unpredictable side in the competition but it's not a perfect world and I was wrong. They now are sadly, the most predictable. West Coast by 72 points.

Just over twelve months ago on the eve of the Round 2 West Coast Eagles game in Perth, I wrote that the way in which Melbourne approached that particular fixture would define the playing group, given its poor start to the season under then new coach Mark Neeld. The result was an even more insipid performance by the team than the week before and it was followed by more of the same for the majority of the season. A full year later, the team in a different form with a number of new faces repeated the dose in Round 2 against Essendon. This time, it was another defeat in excess of 100 points but far worse and in front of an angry MCG crowd. What we gathered from that was an undercurrent of disaffection between the playing group and those who control it. That means the board and administration, the coaches and yes, ultimately the supporter group. The disconnect was there to see - a repeat of the disgrace that came to be known as "186", a day when the players appeared to down tools and withdraw their labour. Alternatively, if you want to be charitable it was at the very least, a failure to perform to even the minimum acceptable standard in the sport. The supporters were not only let down - they were treated with contempt. If the board, or the administration or the football department deserved that sort of treatment, the supporters certainly did not. Some of the fans will never come back and though I would never put myself in that category, I can hardly say that I blame them. Those who defend the players might well say they owe the supporters nothing; that there were issues that they needed to deal with (and that might well be the case) but what we saw on the playing field was unprofessional and nothing short of deplorable. The thing that most football fans can't really abide from supposed professionals taking the field in their club colours is not doing the basics like running, chasing, tackling and putting pressure on their own opponents. These things are the non-negotiables of our game. I usually disagree with much of what Patrick Smith writes but not when he drew the analogy between Melbourne's ineptitude last week and Essendon's sparkling performance. If one of the two playing groups out there was entitled to rebel against those in control of their club, it should have been the Bombers whose players were led up the garden path in such a scandalous manner when injected out of club premises with substances whose legality and identity they apparently can't now be completely assured of by their club hierarchy. Some might argue that this provides justification for players to rebel against the club for the contempt with which they were treated. But they acted as professionals with a duty to the club that pays their wages, to their loyal supporters and to themselves. Their refusal to tank defined that playing group. This can't be said of the playing group at Melbourne which has now drawn blood in the form of the departing CEO and caused substantial distress to their young coach. Even if there are issues with his coaching, is this how sane and rational people deal with such a situation. Are they now satisfied having blown the lid off the season and brought themselves and their club into disrepute or am I reading this wrongly and our playing group is just inept and incompetent? There's far more to this than just the playing group and a young coach struggling to impose a new systems and standards at the club. We are fractured and hurt by factions that carry with them a destructive mindset that has persisted for close on five decades since the time we dominated the competition and the code. Whatever way you look at it, having fallen in the estimation of the football world, the Demons need to work their butts off to rise again. Perhaps they might heed the words of American author and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: Now is the time to rise ... THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG - Saturday 13 April 2013 at 2:10pm (AEST). HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 15 wins West Coast 28 wins At MCG Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 7 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 12 wins The Coaches Neeld 0 wins Worsfold 1 win MEDIA TV Fox Sports Channel at 2pm (live) RADIO THE BETTING West Coast to win $1.03 Melbourne to win $12.00 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 25.16.166 defeated Melbourne 9.4.58 at Patersons Stadium, Round 2, 2012 The Eagles handed out a thrashing, winning by a club record 108 points at Patersons Stadium, dominating the possessions 447-313, not to mention the free kick count which, at one stage read 21-1. Mitch Clark booted five goals and was one of the few shining lights in the gloom of the West. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Neville Jetta, James Frawley, Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Trengove, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland Centreline Michael Evans, Jack Grimes, Jack Viney Half forwards Matt Jones, Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe Forwards Aaron Davey James Sellar Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Rohan Bail Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies David Rodan Jake Spencer Jack Watts In Rohan Bail Michael Evans Neville Jetta Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Out Sam Blease Tom Gillies (groin) Daniel Nicholson David Rodan Jack Watts WEST COAST Backs Schofield Glass A Selwood Half backs Hurn Brown Waters Centreline Gaff Priddis Masten Half forwards Embley Kennedy Hams Forwards Darling Hill Le Cras Followers Cox S Selwood Shuey Interchange Butler Cripps Kerr Sinclair Emergencies Brennan Dalziell Wilson In Kerr Le Cras Out Dalziell Sheppard (shoulder) IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD by Whispering Jack If we were living in a perfect world, this week would have been the ideal one for Melbourne to confront the West Coast Eagles. The visitors are coming off a six day break from a tough game played in 32 degree heat and have travelled across the continent to play on a ground where they haven't won a game since they surprised Melbourne in the first half of their wooden spoon season of 2010. Since then, the Eagles have lost seven consecutive games on the MCG. Like Melbourne, the Eagles are 0-2 and have not been particularly impressive to date, although admittedly they lost at the hands of some strong opposition. They have some key on field personnel missing and a couple back from injury who might be suspect if put under enough pressure. And there lies the crux of the problem. Pressure. In its two games thus far, the Demons have exerted absolutely zero pressure on their opponents. For a team that has ostensibly trained hard for two pre seasons to develop this aspect of the game, they have given absolutely nothing and on Saturday, they come up against one of the very teams that exposed them so badly in this very area twice in the season before Mark Neeld became coach. Melbourne has selected a marginally better side on paper than the one which has failed abysmally in the past two weeks. The defence is a little less stacked with talls who have no run and exert little defensive pressure. The same can be said of the midfield which has been so static but which remains particularly young and inexperienced. Above all, one must ask whether anything has happened to this group in the past seven days to change its shattered mindset? The removal of the CEO who, on the face of it has ensured that the club's off field finances are "tracking very well" according to the AFL and kept himself apart from the workings of the football department since it was restructured at the end of 2011? Hardly. A day and night of bonding at the Sorrento Hotel followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields? Perhaps. The shame of being booed off the ground by their own supporters, then to be pilloried mercilessly in the media, deservedly so for their sub standard efforts and failure to have a crack or the fear of being the next players demoted? This is the professional era in sport. Many of us were surprised last year when players with plentiful experience at various AFL clubs were delisted but failed to find suitors. It would not surprise if the same thing happened again this year. The Demons need to learn that they are all playing for their football lives if not their team and club and that if they continue to serve up that which they've shown to date, its going to be all over for many of them by year's end. Based on the events of the past week, I can see a little improvement but against a far more desperate Eagles that need the four points and percentage on offer, I don't expect enough improvement to overcome this team's crisis in confidence or for it to show the pride and character of the Bombers who continue to play like professionals despite their own crisis surrounding the club and coach and in which they find themselves right in the middle. Two weeks ago I predicted that Melbourne would be the most unpredictable side in the competition but it's not a perfect world and I was wrong. They now are sadly, the most predictable. West Coast by 72 points.

Big 30 or 40 goal turn around expected now that we've changed things at the top. WEST COAST EAGLES Backs Beau Waters Darren Glass Will Schofield Half backs Adam Selwood Eric Mackenzie Shannon Hurn Centreline Andrew Gaff Matthew Priddis Matthew Rosa Half forwards Ashton Hams Quinten Lynch Jack Darling Forwards Josh Hill Josh Kennedy Chris Masten Followers Dean Cox Luke Shuey Daniel Kerr Interchange Andrew Embley Nic Naitanui Scott Selwood Ashley Smith Emergencies Sam Butler Patrick McGinnity Gerrick Weedon No change. MELBOURNE Backs Clint Bartram James Frawley Joel Macdonald Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Jamie Bennell Centreline Nathan Jones Jack Grimes Jack Watts Half forwards Jeremy Howe James Sellar Ricky Petterd Forwards Brad Green Mitchell Clark Lynden Dunn Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Stefan Martin Jordie McKenzie Emergencies Aaron Davey Tom McDonald Josh Tynan In Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Ricky Petterd James Sellar Out Sam Blease Aaron Davey Brent Moloney (injured) Josh Tynan New James Sellar (Adelaide)

I've amended my original post to take that into account.

Round 1 VFL player review I know it's the assessment of one of the club's assistant coaches but 20 disposals for a kid in his first real game after a long period with debilitating back issues doesn't sound too bad to me. There's no shame in playing in the VFL 2's when coming back from injury - a number of players have done it in the past, albeit not at times when it seems that every keyboard warrior wants to be known for having the ability to criticise heavily and kick people when they're down. Rory Taggert: Rory played in the Casey Development side and worked extremely hard. He finished with 20 disposals and laid a number of good tackles.

Round 1 VFL player reviewCam Pedersen: Cam was required to play in defence, as Troy Davis withdrew from the game with illness. In a much improved performance, Cam finished with 21 disposals and took 11 marks, which included a couple going back with the flight. Cam will take plenty of confidence from this game.

Kent played well for Casey yesterday but according to the club's VFL report ... Dean Kent: Played under duress with illness and showed some grit to play a solid game. He kicked an exceptional goal and again backed his speed to take the game on, winning 15 disposals and 7 inside 50s.

Do the Melbourne Storm use that pool too? Doesn't look like it's affected them. http://www.nrl.com/HoldenCup/Ladder/tabid/10718/Default.aspx

CASEY UP TO THE TASK by KC from Casey After a long hot summer for the Casey Scorpions in which their very existence was challenged, the on field team gave new coach Rohan Welsh a win in his first game at the helm at Casey Fields against Frankston on Saturday. The 68 point win was a fillip for the club after a less than spectacular series of practice matches saw many of the pundits predicting a gloomy season for the club. The experts were proved wrong by a team that showed it was up to the task of playing a strong brand of winning football and the result was a true confidence booster for many of the young players on display seeking to develop their careers at either AFL or VFL level and for the club itself. We saw some outstanding performances from the likes of Luke Tapscott (6 goals), Max Gawn in the ruck and midfielders in James Magner, Tom Couch and Michael Evans and the emergence of a real prospect in Ben Kearns, a teenager from the Gippsland Power who kicked 5 goals. Mitch Gent was another of the Casey younger brigade who underlined his improvement during the off season. The game was played in perfect conditions and the first quarter was a real shootout with the home side booting eight goals to six to take a lead of 11 points at the first break. Casey skipped away in the second term with a dominant midfield and accurate kicking for goal and were untroubled as they won every quarter on their way to a resounding victory. One of the features of the game was the hunger of many of the players sensing the opportunity to gain AFL promotion in the wake of Melbourne's poor performances in the opening rounds. Tapscott was a standout while Gawn showed great skill both in ruck and up forward. Rohan Bail showed good toe and confidence for one who had been sidelined from contact work for the better part of two months while recovering from concussion. It was also a day for Demon rookies with Magner, Couch and newcomer Mitch Clisby amassing the possessions. One of the highlights of the game was the goal kicked from outside 50 by Dean Kent on the run after taking a couple of bounces. Newcomer Jesse Hogan looks the goods as a key forward of the future while Cam Pedersen overcame the disappointment of a poor first up effort at AFL level last week with a commanding performance in defence. The Scorpions have been known in recent years for nurturing and developing local talent and, apart from the outstanding debut of Kearns, the game also saw solid first up efforts from Leongatha's Jake Best and Cranbourne's Michael Boland. While some seasoned veterans opened the season playing in the development league, the youth policy seems to be paying off although we are sure to see some of the regulars pushing for places as the season unfolds. Casey will play North Ballarat next Saturday at Eureka Stadium at 2pm. Casey Scorpions 8.2.50 14.4.88 19.8.122 23.11.149 Frankston 6.3.39 8.5.53 10.8.68 12.9.81 Goals Casey Scorpions Tapscott 6 Kearns 5 Bail Best Gawn Hogan 2 Evans Jetta Kent Magner Frankston Lourey 4 Alwan 3 Delahunty Lloyd 2 Gallagher Best Casey Scorpions Tapscott Gawn Gent Kearns Evans Magner Frankston Lourey Lloyd Alwan Irving Bosward Gallagher Round 1 VFL player review The development side was outgunned in the final quarter by a determined Dolphins outfit. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 5.2.32 8.2.50 9.3.57 Frankston 2.2.14 6.8.44 7.10.52 12.14.86 Goals Casey Scorpions Hughes 3 Matthews 2 Lang Meadows Nicholls Taggert Frankston Calvert 4 Maynard Miller 2 Johnson Matheson Sykes Tuddenham Best Casey Scorpions Nicholls Pollard Hill Waters Troutman Rutherford Frankston Newman Boland Sutton Calvert Beech Maynard

After a long hot summer for the Casey Scorpions in which their very existence was challenged, the on field team gave new coach Rohan Welsh a win in his first game at the helm at Casey Fields against Frankston on Saturday. The 68 point win was a fillip for the club after a less than spectacular series of practice matches saw many of the pundits predicting a gloomy season for the club. The experts were proved wrong by a team that showed it was up to the task of playing a strong brand of winning football and the result was a true confidence booster for many of the young players on display seeking to develop their careers at either AFL or VFL level and for the club itself. We saw some outstanding performances from the likes of Luke Tapscott (6 goals), Max Gawn in the ruck and midfielders in James Magner, Tom Couch and Michael Evans and the emergence of a real prospect in Ben Kearns, a teenager from the Gippsland Power who kicked 5 goals. Mitch Gent was another of the Casey younger brigade who underlined his improvement during the off season. The game was played in perfect conditions and the first quarter was a real shootout with the home side booting eight goals to six to take a lead of 11 points at the first break. Casey skipped away in the second term with a dominant midfield and accurate kicking for goal and were untroubled as they won every quarter on their way to a resounding victory. One of the features of the game was the hunger of many of the players sensing the opportunity to gain AFL promotion in the wake of Melbourne's poor performances in the opening rounds. Tapscott was a standout while Gawn showed great skill both in ruck and up forward. Rohan Bail showed good toe and confidence for one who had been sidelined from contact work for the better part of two months while recovering from concussion. It was also a day for Demon rookies with Magner, Couch and newcomer Mitch Clisby amassing the possessions. One of the highlights of the game was the goal kicked from outside 50 by Dean Kent on the run after taking a couple of bounces. Newcomer Jesse Hogan looks the goods as a key forward of the future while Cam Pedersen overcame the disappointment of a poor first up effort at AFL level last week with a commanding performance in defence. The Scorpions have been known in recent years for nurturing and developing local talent and, apart from the outstanding debut of Kearns, the game also saw solid first up efforts from Leongatha's Jake Best and Cranbourne's Michael Boland. While some seasoned veterans opened the season playing in the development league, the youth policy seems to be paying off although we are sure to see some of the regulars pushing for places as the season unfolds. Casey will play North Ballarat next Saturday at Eureka Stadium at 2pm. Casey Scorpions 8.2.50 14.4.88 19.8.122 23.11.149 Frankston 6.3.39 8.5.53 10.8.68 12.9.81 Goals Casey Scorpions Tapscott 6 Kearns 5 Bail Best Gawn Hogan 2 Evans Jetta Kent Magner Frankston Lourey 4 Alwan 3 Delahunty Lloyd 2 Gallagher Best Casey Scorpions Tapscott Gawn Gent Kearns Evans Magner Frankston Lourey Lloyd Alwan Irving Bosward Gallagher The development side was outgunned in the final quarter by a determined Dolphins outfit. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 5.2.32 8.2.50 9.3.57 Frankston 2.2.14 6.8.44 7.10.52 12.14.86 Goals Casey Scorpions Hughes 3 Matthews 2 Lang Meadows Nicholls Taggert Frankston Calvert 4 Maynard Miller 2 Johnson Matheson Sykes Tuddenham Best Casey Scorpions Nicholls Pollard Hill Waters Troutman Rutherford Frankston Newman Boland Sutton Calvert Beech Maynard

PROGRESS VOTING ROUND 2 21. Nathan Jones 18. Jack Grimes 17. Jack Viney 16. Jeremy Howe Matt Jones 13. Aaron Davey 7. James Frawley 5. Mitch Clark Dean Terlich 4. Jordie McKenzie 2. Mark Jamar 1. Sam Blease Colin Garland

I didn't see this coming either. Ten minutes into the game we were looking shaky but level at one goal each. Ten minutes later Essendon had broken our backs and then our hearts went too. There's nothing much more to say. MELBOURNE not much ESSENDON a lot more. If you have a thirst for further knowledge about this game then click here.

That's all folks. Game well and truly over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVtv-CbHdwU Apologies for the sound and video quality as it was filmed with my iPhone off the TV.