Demonland

DERAILED by Whispering Jack There's a certain sameness creeping into Melbourne's 2012 campaign. It starts with the team striving hard but playing patchy football punctuated by some glaring mistakes for one and a half quarters. Then the wheels fall off for the next one and a half quarters so that by three quarter time, we've all given up the ghost and might as well head homewards because the game's over. And when it's really over the statistics tell a lamentable tale. The Tigers ran all over the Demons from the midpoint of term two when the scoreboard had Melbourne up by a goal. This was the pivotal time in the game when the Richmond midfield really took over, lifted a notch and ran over a soft languid opposition. Whereas hitherto the Demons were in the game despite multiple skill and decision-making errors, suddenly it was the superiority of the Tiger on ball division that allowed them to change the dynamics of the game and to turn it into a one horse race. Melbourne looked a spent force and played that way until the final siren sounded to end another tragic day's play. The statistics that mattered overwhelmingly favoured Richmond which led disposals 427-268, inside 50's by 65-30 and tackles 75-53. Melbourne came close in contested ball but the remaining statistics indicate deep seated problems in the way the team is structured and that virtually nothing is being done during game day when the wheels start falling off to turn the game back into the team's favour. That happened predictably at the mid point of the second quarter when the Richmond midfield simply took over and ran their Melbourne counterparts off their feet. I have been watching the midfields of the other clubs in various matches over the early rounds and even the new franchises are already superior to that which is being presented by the Demons which is nothing short of shambolic. Even in the days of tanking, things were not so bad there and, unless some run can be introduced to help Nathan Jones, things will only get worse. It's a major worry that the club's season has effectively been derailed after just three rounds. I have nothing more to add. Melbourne 2.3.15 5.6.36 6.6.42 11.8.74 Richmond 4.4.28 6.8.44 15.11.101 20.13.133 Goals Melbourne Clark Dunn Howe Trengove 2 Jones Sellar Watts Richmond Cotchin Miller 3 Conca Deledio Nahas 2 Grigg Houli Jackson I Maric Martin Riewoldt Tuck Vickery Best Melbourne Howe Frawley Jones Watts Richmond Grigg Tuck Conca Foley Nahas Cotchin Injuries Melbourne Jack Grimes (concussion) Richmond Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Richmond Nil Reports Melbourne Jack Grimes for rough conduct on Daniel Jackson Richmond Nil Umpires Schmitt Armstrong Mitchell Crowd 49,826 at the MCG

DEMONLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Round 3 Place your votes for the Demonland Player of the Year 2012 after the final siren. Votes to be given on a 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis

More good news: If we beat Richmond by 14 goals today then we leap above Collingwood on the ladder.

Thread closed. Enough is enough.

Standings after Round 2 32. James Magner 19. Mitch Clark Nathan Jones 12. Jack Trengove, 10. Jack Watts 8. Jeremy Howe 6. Jared Rivers 4. James Frawley Stef Martin 3. Joel Macdonald 2. Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Lynden Dunn Tom McDonald 1. Clint Bartram

Just a reminder to Demonland tipsters not to forget their tips.

Sorry it's late but I had some issue uploading to the site earlier this week. Also you will note that if you get all 9 correct you get a bonus 3 points. This will allow people later on to catch up.

Standings after Round 2

CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE by The Oracle It was twelve months ago that Melbourne played in that horrendous game against Hawthorn when it appeared totally shell-shocked in a third quarter from hell. Then followed a roller coaster ride for much of the season before the club encountered the big dip into oblivion which continues to haunt the club to this very day. Despite a new coach, a truckload of new assistants and sports scientists, the club seems beset by a crisis in confidence not made any easier thanks to a number of off field well documented disasters. Last week, the club came close to hitting rock bottom losing to the Eagles by a record 108 points to the Eagles at Paterson's Stadium. The performance was horrible and not far away from the worst of the past few years - the infamous 30 July, 2011 game against Geelong at Skilled Stadium or whatever they call that wretched place these days. This time the Demons gave the Eagles access to 78 inside 50s, failed to effect a single tackle inside their own 50 and gave their opponent a record winning margin. Fortunately for Melbourne, while Richmond's form has been encouraging so far this year, the Tigers are not in the same ball park as the Eagles, the MCG is a more welcoming venue than Paterson's Stadium and the weather is likely to be more comfortable than the 31 degree heat of Perth. That still might not be enough to Melbourne's crisis of confidence. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne at the MCG Saturday 15 April 2012 at 1.45pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 100 wins Melbourne 79 wins At MCG Richmond 66 wins Melbourne 59 wins Since 2000 Richmond 11 wins Melbourne 9 wins The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm Channel 7 (delayed at 3pm) RADIO - ABC774 SEN TripleM THE BETTING Richmond $1.28 to win Melbourne $3.85 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 17.15.117 defeated Melbourne 17.8.110 at the MCG, Round 22, 2011 The stage was set early in the game when the Tigers jumped out of the blocks and had three goals on the board - two from free kicks - before the Demons started playing. The difference was 26 points by half time but a Melbourne fightback, triggered by a dynamic Colin Sylvia (5 goals) saw it take an 8 point lead into the final term. The Tigers regained momentum in the final term and held on to win by 7 points. THE TEAMS RICHMOND Backs Steven Morris Alex Rance Chris Newman Half backs Bachar Houli Dylan Grimes Brandon Ellis Centreline Shaun Grigg Dustin Martin Daniel Jackson Half forwards Brett Deledio Tyrone Vickery Shane Edwards Forwards Brad Miller Jack Riewoldt Robin Nahas Followers Ivan Maric Trent Cotchin Nathan Foley Interchange Jake Batchelor Reece Conca Addam Maric Shane Tuck Emergencies Matt Dea Angus Graham Matthew White In Addam Maric Out Jake King (knee) MELBOURNE WEBJET DEMONS Backs Clint Bartram James Sellar James Frawley Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Tom McDonald Centreline Nathan Jones Jack Grimes Rohan Bail Half forwards Jeremy Howe Jack Watts Cale Morton Forwards Aaron Davey Mitchell Clark Matthew Bate Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Lynden Dunn Jordie McKenzie Stefan Martin Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jack Fitzpatrick Brad Green Joel Macdonald In Aaron Davey Stefan Martin Cale Morton Luke Tapscott Out Jamie Bennell Brad Green Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd Umpires J Schmitt J Armstrong A Mitchell THE TURNING OF THE WHEEL There have been developments in the past 24 hours which undoubtedly will play a role in turning around both the on and off field fortunes of the Melbourne Football Club in what has so far been a disastrous start to season 2012. On Thursday morning the club announced the appointment of Tim Lamb as a national recruiting officer. Many might ask "Tim who?" but at least the announcement was positive news for once after more than a month of negative media. Something a little positive for a change. Things got appreciatively better in the evening w Melbourne has secured Australia's No.1 online travel agent Webjet as its joint major sponsor when the club announced that it had secured Australia's No.1 online travel agent Webjet as its "joint major sponsor" to feature on the front of its guernsey and training apparel. That's great news after the club's ditching of a sponsor last week because of racist comments published on the facebook page of its CEO. And the reference to a "joint major sponsor" suggests that there might be more good news on the way in the form in the near future another major sponsor announcement. But what's that got to do with this week's game against the Tigers? Well, some might say "very little" but if there is an overall cloud of doom and gloom hanging over the club then every piece of good news to lift the playing group will help. This is particularly so if, as I maintain above, that the Demons have being undergoing a crisis in confidence. Any sign of that dark cloud dissipating could mark the beginning of something new. The turning of the wheel. Of course, there needs to be a lot more to lift a team that's suffered a couple of soul destroying defeats and I believe that team selection this week brought about some necessary changes in balance and an infusion of a different mix of player which is definitely going to help things against Richmond. Mark Jamar laboured last week when he was forced to take on the combined ruck might of Cox and Naitanui at Paterson's Stadium. Stef Martin's return will therefore be invaluable. The addition of Cale Morton and Luke Tapscott, both former first round draft picks and both capable of adding some variety to the team mix. Then there's Aaron Davey who comes into the side and frankly, is fighting to restore his standing as one of the club's quality players after an injury interrupted 2011 that was also attended by some poor form. With the Jason Mifsud controversy off his back, let's hope that he can now return to form and play with some of that old determination and flair that marked his career over the previous six or seven seasons. The return to the MCG and some more mild conditions after battling in 30 degree heat on consecutive weeks will help as will some encouragement from opposition coach Damien Hardwick who told reporters: "They're actually playing OK footy." I think that was somewhat tongue in cheek from a coach whose only worry might be that his charges attack the game with an element of complacency but it does demonstrate that the concern is that a flaky team like Melbourne might actually hit back this week. And whilst I believe the Demons will do that and return to a level of competitiveness in this game and in the weeks to come, it might not be enough against the Tigers whose strength (its midfield) will be too much for the Demons most glaring weakness. Richmond by 10 points.

Got to love a dodgy on the fly last minute photoshop job via the MFC official site.

CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE by The Oracle It was twelve months ago that Melbourne played in that horrendous game against Hawthorn when it appeared totally shell-shocked in a third quarter from hell. Then followed a roller coaster ride for much of the season before the club encountered the big dip into oblivion which continues to haunt the club to this very day. Despite a new coach, a truckload of new assistants and sports scientists, the club seems beset by a crisis in confidence not made any easier thanks to a number of off field well documented disasters. Last week, the club came close to hitting rock bottom losing to the Eagles by a record 108 points to the Eagles at Paterson's Stadium. The performance was horrible and not far away from the worst of the past few years - the infamous 30 July, 2011 game against Geelong at Skilled Stadium or whatever they call that wretched place these days. This time the Demons gave the Eagles access to 78 inside 50s, failed to effect a single tackle inside their own 50 and gave their opponent a record winning margin. Fortunately for Melbourne, while Richmond's form has been encouraging so far this year, the Tigers are not in the same ball park as the Eagles, the MCG is a more welcoming venue than Paterson's Stadium and the weather is likely to be more comfortable than the 31 degree heat of Perth. That still might not be enough to Melbourne's crisis of confidence. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne at the MCG Saturday 15 April 2012 at 1.45pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 100 wins Melbourne 79 wins At MCG Richmond 66 wins Melbourne 59 wins Since 2000 Richmond 11 wins Melbourne 9 wins The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm Channel 7 (delayed at 3pm) RADIO - ABC774 SEN TripleM THE BETTING Richmond $1.28 to win Melbourne $3.85 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 17.15.117 defeated Melbourne 17.8.110 at the MCG, Round 22, 2011 The stage was set early in the game when the Tigers jumped out of the blocks and had three goals on the board - two from free kicks - before the Demons started playing. The difference was 26 points by half time but a Melbourne fightback, triggered by a dynamic Colin Sylvia (5 goals) saw it take an 8 point lead into the final term. The Tigers regained momentum in the final term and held on to win by 7 points. THE TEAMS RICHMOND Backs Steven Morris Alex Rance Chris Newman Half backs Bachar Houli Dylan Grimes Brandon Ellis Centreline Shaun Grigg Dustin Martin Daniel Jackson Half forwards Brett Deledio Tyrone Vickery Shane Edwards Forwards Brad Miller Jack Riewoldt Robin Nahas Followers Ivan Maric Trent Cotchin Nathan Foley Interchange Jake Batchelor Reece Conca Addam Maric Shane Tuck Emergencies Matt Dea Angus Graham Matthew White In Addam Maric Out Jake King (knee) MELBOURNE WEBJET DEMONS Backs Clint Bartram James Sellar James Frawley Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Tom McDonald Centreline Nathan Jones Jack Grimes Rohan Bail Half forwards Jeremy Howe Jack Watts Cale Morton Forwards Aaron Davey Mitchell Clark Matthew Bate Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Lynden Dunn Jordie McKenzie Stefan Martin Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jack Fitzpatrick Brad Green Joel Macdonald In Aaron Davey Stefan Martin Cale Morton Luke Tapscott Out Jamie Bennell Brad Green Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd Umpires J Schmitt J Armstrong A Mitchell THE TURNING OF THE WHEEL There have been developments in the past 24 hours which undoubtedly will play a role in turning around both the on and off field fortunes of the Melbourne Football Club in what has so far been a disastrous start to season 2012. On Thursday morning the club announced the appointment of Tim Lamb as a national recruiting officer. Many might ask "Tim who?" but at least the announcement was positive news for once after more than a month of negative media. Something a little positive for a change. Things got appreciatively better in the evening w Melbourne has secured Australia's No.1 online travel agent Webjet as its joint major sponsor when the club announced that it had secured Australia's No.1 online travel agent Webjet as its "joint major sponsor" to feature on the front of its guernsey and training apparel. That's great news after the club's ditching of a sponsor last week because of racist comments published on the facebook page of its CEO. And the reference to a "joint major sponsor" suggests that there might be more good news on the way in the form in the near future another major sponsor announcement. But what's that got to do with this week's game against the Tigers? Well, some might say "very little" but if there is an overall cloud of doom and gloom hanging over the club then every piece of good news to lift the playing group will help. This is particularly so if, as I maintain above, that the Demons have being undergoing a crisis in confidence. Any sign of that dark cloud dissipating could mark the beginning of something new. The turning of the wheel. Of course, there needs to be a lot more to lift a team that's suffered a couple of soul destroying defeats and I believe that team selection this week brought about some necessary changes in balance and an infusion of a different mix of player which is definitely going to help things against Richmond. Mark Jamar laboured last week when he was forced to take on the combined ruck might of Cox and Naitanui at Paterson's Stadium. Stef Martin's return will therefore be invaluable. The addition of Cale Morton and Luke Tapscott, both former first round draft picks and both capable of adding some variety to the team mix. Then there's Aaron Davey who comes into the side and frankly, is fighting to restore his standing as one of the club's quality players after an injury interrupted 2011 that was also attended by some poor form. With the Jason Mifsud controversy off his back, let's hope that he can now return to form and play with some of that old determination and flair that marked his career over the previous six or seven seasons. The return to the MCG and some more mild conditions after battling in 30 degree heat on consecutive weeks will help as will some encouragement from opposition coach Damien Hardwick who told reporters: "They're actually playing OK footy." I think that was somewhat tongue in cheek from a coach whose only worry might be that his charges attack the game with an element of complacency but it does demonstrate that the concern is that a flaky team like Melbourne might actually hit back this week. And whilst I believe the Demons will do that and return to a level of competitiveness in this game and in the weeks to come, it might not be enough against the Tigers whose strength (its midfield) will be too much for the Demons most glaring weakness. Richmond by 10 points.

Late 2011. It was one of those games we were expected to win ... but we didn't. MELBOURNE Backs Colin Garland James Frawley Clint Bartram Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers Joel Macdonald Centreline Sam Blease Brent Moloney Tom Scully Half forwards Jack Trengove Stef Martin Jeremy Howe Forwards Ricky Petterd Jack Watts Brad Green Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Neville Jetta Liam Jurrah Jordie McKenzie Cale Morton Daniel Nicholson In Jamie Bennell Brad Green Neville Jetta Liam Jurrah Out Luke Tapscott (soreness) RICHMOND Backs Bachar Houli Alex Rance Will Thursfield Half backs Brett Deledio Jayden Post Matt Dea Centreline Trent Cotchin Dustin Martin Shaun Grigg Half forwards Daniel Jackson Tyrone Vickery Shane Edwards Forwards Robin Nahas Jack Riewoldt Jake King Followers Angus Graham Shane Tuck Nathan Foley Interchange (from) Mitchell Farmer Brad Miller Mitch Morton Ben Nason Jamie O'Reilly Jeromey Webberley Matthew White In Ben Nason Jamie O'Reilly Jeromey Webberley Matthew White Out Jake Batchelor (Shoulder)

CASEY CLIFFHANGER - PART THREE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions' incredible start to the 2012 season continued with yet another exciting finish - this time by the closest possible margin of 1 point against Frankston at Casey Fields on Sunday. It follows narrow winning margins of 2 and 6 points respectively in the Scorpions' previous games and remarkably, despite posting three wins and no losses, Casey has now conceded one goal more than it has scored for the season. The Scorpions made their task all the more difficult with errant kicking for goal while the Dolphins were deadly accurate all day until late in the game when they had a couple of narrow misses. Frankston set the tone for the game with two goals in the early minutes before Casey steadied and gained some composure. Unfortunately, it struggled in front of goal despite dominating the rest of the opening quarter while, on a rare foray forward, the Dolphins managed their third straight to lead at the first break 3.0.18 to 2.5.17. Rian McGough was on the end of a chain of good play to put the Scorps in front early in the second term but the plucky Dolphins were far more direct in their approach on goal and fought back with the next two goals. The hosts continued to be wasteful in front of goal despite dominating possession and it was only late in the quarter that they found their targets. Jack Fitzpatrick who had been good in the ruck, marked strongly and kicked his team's fifth goal and when Matt Fieldsend kicked truly on the siren, Casey led 6.9.45 to 6.1.37. Frankston came back full of determination to boot the opening goal of the third term while Casey continued to be wasteful in front of goal. Fitzpatrick showed great pace for a big man but his shot just missed, then he kicked out on the full with his next. The Scorpions continued to attack for little result as the game ebbed and flowed and a nice goal from Will Petropoulos settled the team down. At the final break Casey had more than doubled Frankston's scoring shots but was only up by 13 points. The Scorpions were being well served by Wade Lees and Tom Couch who dominated possessions with 31 each. Danny Nicholls was good around the ground and last year's reserves best and fairest winner, Luke Tynan was playing his best game for the club. Cale Morton was excellent and in always giving himself time to set up play from out of defence, was an important player at this stage of proceedings. The final quarter was again a slog for the home side which had plenty of possession but struggled to convert as the opposition crowded their forward fifty. The teams traded goals and halfway through the term Casey led by 14 points before Frankston moved the ball coast to coast for a goal. And so it continued with the Scorpions unable to convert when they went forward and the Dolphins kicking truly at almost every opportunity, a couple of late misses and the final bell robbing them of the opportunity to steal victory. Special mention must be made of young defenders in Troy Davis, Jai Sheahan and Luke Tynan who were cool in the crisis late in the game and Tim Smith who was excellent on his return after a long lay off with injury. The Scorpions might have slipped under the radar so far this year as they have not yet been involved in either the VFL telecasts or radio broadcasts but next Sunday's home game against Bendigo promises to be a ripper. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Only nine Demons turned out for Casey on Sunday after James Strauss and Josh Tynan failed to take their places in the team. Presumably, Strauss failed to come up again after copping a bad knock a fortnight ago while Tynan arrived late on the flight after the Melbourne game in Perth. Aaron Davey was not selected for the VFL while the other emergency for the Demons, Tom McDonald had replaced the injured Stef Martin at Paterson's Stadium. Dan Nicholson was under suspension for drinking during his rehab. In all, 15 Melbourne listed players were not available to take part in games this weekend. Sam Blease - a real enigma. He has pace to burn which is in short supply at Melbourne at the moment but he made some poor decisions and coughed up the ball a bit. Frustrating and as much as someone with his flair and speed are needed by the Demons, I can't see him moving up this week. Thomas Couch - a ball magnet at this level and he picked up numerous possessions but he's similar to a few of the players already in the Demon midfield. Troy Davis - after being touched up in one or two NAB Cup games, Davis has gone back to the VFL where he continues to impress. He is creative, contests well, has good pace and looks to have a good future. Jack Fitzpatrick - played well in the ruck (23 hit outs) and around the ground (17 disposals) and came close to kicking goal of the year with a great run from a flank. Marking is improving but still needs to work on his kicking. Kelvin Lawrence - flashes in and out of the game and needs to do more. Cale Morton - was always in the game sweeping the ball in defence and although he didn't always hit his target did enough to get promotion. Jai Sheahan - another defender with a future, Sheahan's development will be watched closely. He hasn't put in a bad game yet in defence at Casey. Luke Tapscott - tackled and shepherded strongly and showed composure when the team needed it. That said, it still wasn't his best of days although that might be due to the fact that he took one or two heavy knocks in play. Leigh Williams - playing in his first game, Williams struggled to keep up with the game's tempo and struggled to hold his marks but found his footing and kicked a goal in the last quarter. Needed the run. Casey Scorpions 2.5.17 6.9.45 8.14.62 9.16.70 Frankston 3.0.18 6.1.37 8.1.49 11.3.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Riseley 2 Fieldsend Fitzpatrick McGough Petropoulos Salton Smith Williams Frankston Kitchin 3 Haretuku 2 Appleford Clark Greeley Martin Matheson Potts Best Casey Scorpions Lees L Tynan Couch Nicholls Morton Smith Frankston Kitchin Martin Van Unen Osborne Irving Miller Disposals Couch Lees 31 Davis Nicholls 24 Collins 22 Sheahan, 21 Morton 20 Casey's Development League team broke the ice against Frankston. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 6.5.41 7.8.50 11.11.77 Frankston 1.1.7 3.2.20 5.5.35 7.7.49 Goals Casey Scorpions McPhie 3 Clay Lang Plummer 2 Hill Rosier Frankston Orr Uzarevic 2 Boland Policha Sykes Best Casey Scorpions Plummer Page Patti Lang Rosier McPhie Frankston Corp Jaroszczuk Lombardozzi Heddles Smrdel Ndongo

CASEY CLIFFHANGER - PART THREE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions' incredible start to the 2012 season continued with yet another exciting finish - this time by the closest possible margin of 1 point against Frankston at Casey Fields on Sunday. It follows narrow winning margins of 2 and 6 points respectively in the Scorpions' previous games and remarkably, despite posting three wins and no losses, Casey has now conceded one goal more than it has scored for the season. The Scorpions made their task all the more difficult with errant kicking for goal while the Dolphins were deadly accurate all day until late in the game when they had a couple of narrow misses. Frankston set the tone for the game with two goals in the early minutes before Casey steadied and gained some composure. Unfortunately, it struggled in front of goal despite dominating the rest of the opening quarter while, on a rare foray forward, the Dolphins managed their third straight to lead at the first break 3.0.18 to 2.5.17. Rian McGough was on the end of a chain of good play to put the Scorps in front early in the second term but the plucky Dolphins were far more direct in their approach on goal and fought back with the next two goals. The hosts continued to be wasteful in front of goal despite dominating possession and it was only late in the quarter that they found their targets. Jack Fitzpatrick who had been good in the ruck, marked strongly and kicked his team's fifth goal and when Matt Fieldsend kicked truly on the siren, Casey led 6.9.45 to 6.1.37. Frankston came back full of determination to boot the opening goal of the third term while Casey continued to be wasteful in front of goal. Fitzpatrick showed great pace for a big man but his shot just missed, then he kicked out on the full with his next. The Scorpions continued to attack for little result as the game ebbed and flowed and a nice goal from Will Petropoulos settled the team down. At the final break Casey had more than doubled Frankston's scoring shots but was only up by 13 points. The Scorpions were being well served by Wade Lees and Tom Couch who dominated possessions with 31 each. Danny Nicholls was good around the ground and last year's reserves best and fairest winner, Luke Tynan was playing his best game for the club. Cale Morton was excellent and in always giving himself time to set up play from out of defence, was an important player at this stage of proceedings. The final quarter was again a slog for the home side which had plenty of possession but struggled to convert as the opposition crowded their forward fifty. The teams traded goals and halfway through the term Casey led by 14 points before Frankston moved the ball coast to coast for a goal. And so it continued with the Scorpions unable to convert when they went forward and the Dolphins kicking truly at almost every opportunity, a couple of late misses and the final bell robbing them of the opportunity to steal victory. Special mention must be made of young defenders in Troy Davis, Jai Sheahan and Luke Tynan who were cool in the crisis late in the game and Tim Smith who was excellent on his return after a long lay off with injury. The Scorpions might have slipped under the radar so far this year as they have not yet been involved in either the VFL telecasts or radio broadcasts but next Sunday's home game against Bendigo promises to be a ripper. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Only nine Demons turned out for Casey on Sunday after James Strauss and Josh Tynan failed to take their places in the team. Presumably, Strauss failed to come up again after copping a bad knock a fortnight ago while Tynan arrived late on the flight after the Melbourne game in Perth. Aaron Davey was not selected for the VFL while the other emergency for the Demons, Tom McDonald had replaced the injured Stef Martin at Paterson's Stadium. Dan Nicholson was under suspension for drinking during his rehab. In all, 15 Melbourne listed players were not available to take part in games this weekend. Sam Blease - a real enigma. He has pace to burn which is in short supply at Melbourne at the moment but he made some poor decisions and coughed up the ball a bit. Frustrating and as much as someone with his flair and speed are needed by the Demons, I can't see him moving up this week. Thomas Couch - a ball magnet at this level and he picked up numerous possessions but he's similar to a few of the players already in the Demon midfield. Troy Davis - after being touched up in one or two NAB Cup games, Davis has gone back to the VFL where he continues to impress. He is creative, contests well, has good pace and looks to have a good future. Jack Fitzpatrick - played well in the ruck (23 hit outs) and around the ground (17 disposals) and came close to kicking goal of the year with a great run from a flank. Marking is improving but still needs to work on his kicking. Kelvin Lawrence - flashes in and out of the game and needs to do more. Cale Morton - was always in the game sweeping the ball in defence and although he didn't always hit his target did enough to get promotion. Jai Sheahan - another defender with a future, Sheahan's development will be watched closely. He hasn't put in a bad game yet in defence at Casey. Luke Tapscott - tackled and shepherded strongly and showed composure when the team needed it. That said, it still wasn't his best of days although that might be due to the fact that he took one or two heavy knocks in play. Leigh Williams - playing in his first game, Williams struggled to keep up with the game's tempo and struggled to hold his marks but found his footing and kicked a goal in the last quarter. Needed the run. Casey Scorpions 2.5.17 6.9.45 8.14.62 9.16.70 Frankston 3.0.18 6.1.37 8.1.49 11.3.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Riseley 2 Fieldsend Fitzpatrick McGough Petropoulos Salton Smith Williams Frankston Kitchin 3 Haretuku 2 Appleford Clark Greeley Martin Matheson Potts Best Casey Scorpions Lees L Tynan Couch Nicholls Morton Smith Frankston Kitchin Martin Van Unen Osborne Irving Miller Disposals Couch Lees 31 Davis Nicholls 24 Collins 22 Sheahan, 21 Morton 20 Casey's Development League team broke the ice against Frankston. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 6.5.41 7.8.50 11.11.77 Frankston 1.1.7 3.2.20 5.5.35 7.7.49 Goals Casey Scorpions McPhie 3 Clay Lang Plummer 2 Hill Rosier Frankston Orr Uzarevic 2 Boland Policha Sykes Best Casey Scorpions Plummer Page Patti Lang Rosier McPhie Frankston Corp Jaroszczuk Lombardozzi Heddles Smrdel Ndongo

RUMOURS by William from West Perth Rumour has it that over the off season Melbourne footballers trained harder and longer than they had ever done before. They ran long distances, sprinted, worked with weights and did it all to exacting programmes devised by some of the best credentialled sports scientists in the business. At the same time they were supposed to have worked on honing their skillsets and learning a new whiz bang game plan that would turn them from whacky and unpredictable pretenders into the hardest team in the competition to play against. Two weeks into the football season, we now know them only to be rumours. The blokes spent most of summer sitting on beaches, feasting on ice creams and sipping piña coladas. That's how it appeared as they went through the motions against a powerful, highly disciplined and motivated West Coast Eagles who thumped them mercilessly from pillar to post at Paterson's Stadium on their way to a record 108 point victory. Melbourne's resistance was pathetic from go to whoa (in the Demons' case, the whoa happened midway through the second term). The skills were deplorable as was the lack of pressure, poor tackling and the oh so predictable manner of delivery of the ball forward. Indeed, the biggest surprise was the fact that its full forward Mitch Clark managed to boot five goals (admittedly a couple were in junk time) given that he was often pitted against two opponents when the ball was shoddily delivered somewhere remotely near to his position on the ground. There were a few others such as James Magner and Nathan Jones who contributed but for the most part, the rest of the team would have been better of managing the 30 degree heat at Cottesloe Beach. The should have been joined by the umpires. It's true that West Coast's pressure caused the Demons to give away a number of free kicks but the Eagles didn't take long to cotton on to the fact that if they ducked their heads into a tackle, there were any number of gratuitous free kicks on offer. They tell me one of the umpires (Leppard) carries the nickname "Def" but fair dinkum, they might as well add "Blind" as well. Not that Melbourne was ever going to win or that there's any rule that states the number of free kicks should be equal but 21-1 at half time is virtually enough to ensure game, set and match to the beneficiaries. It sure doesn't do wonders for the confidence of a team that's been battered black and blue both on and off the field in the past week. Still, umpires, heat and a game plan that doesn't make sense aside, it was truly a deplorable performance and it certainly doesn't auger well for the rest of the year or decade if you must know. Melbourne 1.1.7 4.2.26 6.2.38 9.4.58 West Coast Eagles 4.3.27 11.8.74 19.14.128 25.16.166 Goals Melbourne Clark 5 Dunn Jones 2 West Coast Eagles Darling Lynch 4 Hams Hill S Selwood 3 Waters 2 Gaff Kennedy Kerr Naitanui A Selwood Shuey Best Melbourne Magner Jones Clark Watts McDonald West Coast S Selwood Priddis Hurn Gaff Shuey Darling Changes Melbourne Martin (hip) replaced by McDonald West Coast Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil West Coast Embley (shoulder) Reports MelbourneNil West Coast Nil Umpires Farmer Fila Leppard Crowd 35,674 at Subiaco

RUMOURS by William from West Perth Rumour has it that over the off season Melbourne footballers trained harder and longer than they had ever done before. They ran long distances, sprinted, worked with weights and did it all to exacting programmes devised by some of the best credentialled sports scientists in the business. At the same time they were supposed to have worked on honing their skillsets and learning a new whiz bang game plan that would turn them from whacky and unpredictable pretenders into the hardest team in the competition to play against. Two weeks into the football season, we now know them only to be rumours. The blokes spent most of summer sitting on beaches, feasting on ice creams and sipping piña coladas. That's how it appeared as they went through the motions against a powerful, highly disciplined and motivated West Coast Eagles who thumped them mercilessly from pillar to post at Paterson's Stadium on their way to a record 108 point victory. Melbourne's resistance was pathetic from go to whoa (in the Demons' case, the whoa happened midway through the second term). The skills were deplorable as was the lack of pressure, poor tackling and the oh so predictable manner of delivery of the ball forward. Indeed, the biggest surprise was the fact that its full forward Mitch Clark managed to boot five goals (admittedly a couple were in junk time) given that he was often pitted against two opponents when the ball was shoddily delivered somewhere remotely near to his position on the ground. There were a few others such as James Magner and Nathan Jones who contributed but for the most part, the rest of the team would have been better of managing the 30 degree heat at Cottesloe Beach. The should have been joined by the umpires. It's true that West Coast's pressure caused the Demons to give away a number of free kicks but the Eagles didn't take long to cotton on to the fact that if they ducked their heads into a tackle, there were any number of gratuitous free kicks on offer. They tell me one of the umpires (Leppard) carries the nickname "Def" but fair dinkum, they might as well add "Blind" as well. Not that Melbourne was ever going to win or that there's any rule that states the number of free kicks should be equal but 21-1 at half time is virtually enough to ensure game, set and match to the beneficiaries. It sure doesn't do wonders for the confidence of a team that's been battered black and blue both on and off the field in the past week. Still, umpires, heat and a game plan that doesn't make sense aside, it was truly a deplorable performance and it certainly doesn't auger well for the rest of the year or decade if you must know. Melbourne 1.1.7 4.2.26 6.2.38 9.4.58 West Coast Eagles 4.3.27 11.8.74 19.14.128 25.16.166 Goals Melbourne Clark 5 Dunn Jones 2 West Coast Eagles Darling Lynch 4 Hams Hill S Selwood 3 Waters 2 Gaff Kennedy Kerr Naitanui A Selwood Shuey Best Melbourne Magner Jones Clark Watts McDonald West Coast S Selwood Priddis Hurn Gaff Shuey Darling Changes Melbourne Martin (hip) replaced by McDonald West Coast Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil West Coast Embley (shoulder) Reports MelbourneNil West Coast Nil Umpires Farmer Fila Leppard Crowd 35,674 at Subiaco

Place your votes for the Demonland Player of the Year 2012 after the final siren. Votes to be given on a 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis.

Thanks for your votes. Leader Board after Round 1 17. James Magner 10. Jack Trengove, Jack Watts 5. Jeremy Howe, Nathan Jones 4. Stef Martin 3. Mitch Clark, James Frawley, Joel Macdonald 2. Rohan Bail 1. Clint Bartram

How about approaching Bank of Melbourne for BoJ sponsorship. They're solid and reputable and should be impressed with the way we as a club have handled some pretty tough issues.

Demonland has blocked all advertisements from Energy Watch from appearing on the site in solidarity with the club's decision to dump the sponsor.

Also wins him the Mystery Injury of the Week!

WHO ARE WE? by Whispering Jack A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Melbourne's NAB Cup win over Collingwood when we were all so excited about the direction the club was taking under new coach Mark Neeld. It might have been a Mickey Mouse NAB Cup game in which both teams were missing regular key players, but there were definite signs that the hard work of summer was about to pay some dividends. It's hard to believe that only one month has elapsed since that time of unbridled optimism for the immediate future of the Melbourne Football Club. Since then the club has lurched from one disaster after another starting with the Liam Jurrah crisis and reaching a crescendo with a disastrous situation created by Jason Mifsud, an AFL official talking out of school to media person Grant Thomas who promptly published untrue allegations against Demon coach Mark Neeld. What should be a major crisis for the AFL and it's leadership has been turned into an opportunity for diverse groups and individuals to dump on one of its clubs. In the interim, Melbourne has barely raised a whimper on the field copping a couple of NAB Cup wallopings and a humiliating 41 point drubbing at home against the Brisbane Lions who finished in 15th place last year. Moreover, the club has been subjected to a blaze of criticism from good judges of football and from the bad. David King claims that "Melbourne has been masquerading as a football club for years". Robert Shaw says "Jack Watts was hijacked by the Melbourne Football Club at 17 years of age ... straight into an institution." Others accuse the playing group of being mentally and physically fragile, lacking in talent and demonstrating a shortage of the pride, passion and interest necessary to achieve success. Some of the criticism is justified but some of it is muddled and without any depth of thought or insight. The usual response when a team gets a lashing from the press is to return fire and prove the pundits wrong. Melbourne's problem is that it faces a the difficult task of rejuvenation in what has become it's "house of hell" - Paterson's Stadium - a cursed place where not a single current Melbourne player has seen victory. It last won there in Round 19, 2002. A few years before that, the Demons did manage to produce a shock victory over the Eagles in Perth with an undermanned and depleted side. That was in round 14, 1998 when Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated West Coast 11.13.79 in Robbo's break out game. It would be an understatement to say that the club needs a repeat of the heroics the team produced on that day. Demon coach Mark Neeld has ridden the waves of last week's disasters with class. He was impressive in handling the after match presser last Saturday and has been strong on the Mifsud issue correctly shunning the advice of AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to take legal action over Thomas' comments. Neeld is resolute. He isn't interested in pursuing personal vendettas or engaging in witch hunts over who leaked the story to the AFL official who passed on the malicious gossip to someone who wasn't too particular about fact checking, a practice employed by most reputable journalists before going to print. He knows he has to keep focussed on the main purpose of his job and that is to develop his list, to win games and ultimately, premierships. The greatest coach in the club's history was brought down in the midst of preoccupation with a defamation action, a situation from which it has never fully recovered. The team Neeld takes across the Nullarbor must not be distracted by the off field events. The players need to show that they're prepared to have a dip as they did a month ago against one of the competition's flag favourites. Their performance this week against the Eagles could well define the direction they will take in the coming months and years. It will prove who we are as a club. - Ralph Waldo Emerson (American author and poet) THE GAME West Coast Eagles v Melbourne at Paterson's Stadium - Saturday 7 April 2012 at 4:40pm (AEST). HEAD TO HEAD Overall West Coast 27 wins Melbourne 15 wins At Patersons Stadium West Coast 13 wins Melbourne 5 wins Since 2000 West Coast 11 wins Melbourne 7 wins The Coaches Worsfold 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA Fox Footy Channel live at 4.30 pm (Victoria) RADIO SEN ABC774 THE BETTING West Coast to win $1.06 Melbourne to win $9.00 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 16.14.110 defeated Melbourne 9.8.62 at Etihad Stadium Round 21, 2011 The Demons were two weeks into the post Dean Bailey era and after a competitive first twenty minutes or so, managed to sink into the standard insipid fare they produced at the time. Jeremy Howe was a stand out and Sam Blease showed some flashes but for the most part it was dross. THE TEAMS 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) Umpires L Farmer M Leppard G Fila RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35 "Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good They’ll stone ya just a-like they said they would They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all alone But I would not feel so all alone Everybody must get stoned" - by Bob Dylan I couldn't help thinking about this Dylan song every time I picked up a newspaper or switched on the radio or television set this week. And just so you don't get any wrong impressions, the writer has said of his work that the reference to stoning was in the biblical sense. It seems no matter what happens, whether the truth is told about us or not, whether we do the honourable thing or not, we're going to get "stoned" and the critics are out there like vultures circling their prey particularly because we're vulnerable at the moment. And perhaps it's because of that vulnerability that the West Coast Eagles are treating this game with a touch of caution. They happen to be almost the flavour of the month after coming into last season as the previous year's wooden spooner, rising to preliminary finalists and opening last week with a big away from home win against the Bulldogs (who should prepare themselves for a stoning if they fail in Adelaide on Saturday). The Eagles don't have an A class midfield like the other premiership contenders but it's handy and has some emerging young contenders like Shuey, Gaff and Masten to go with experienced hands in Priddis, Kerr, Scott Selwood and Rosa. The Eagles also have what many would call the competition's predominant ruck division in Cox and Naitanui. The comparison with Melbourne couldn't be starker if you go on last week's form where it got nothing from its ruck division or from its onballers at the stoppages. When you then consider that the Demons couldn't better the Eagles at home two years ago when they were wooden spooners, it suggests we're in for another one-sided contest again this weekend. While the indications are that the team hasn't bottomed out after the disruptions of the past month and the process of adjusting to a new style of play, there are some glimmers of hope on the horizon. The two young co-captains are in the starting midfield. Jack Grimes had about four minutes there in last year's Adelaide game before he was injured. There are many who believe he has the capacity to add some flair to the Demon on ball division. Likewise, Trengove who had an interrupted pre season and showed some early good signs last week is ready to take another step forward in the midfield. Nathan Jones is progressing well in his second year in a leadership role and James Magner was a revelation in his debut last week. With players like these stepping up to the plate, there is no reason why club could not improve quickly around the stoppages and reverse the disasters of the last half of last week's game. It's a tough ask especially with Melbourne winning only 4 of its past 28 games on the road (and half of them were on neutral territory). On the other hand, the Demons have a strong defence when it gets its act together and it’s been augmented this week by the size of James Sellar. Similarly, the attack now has a tall key in Mitch Clark who took a while to get going last week. This week Ricky Petterd and Lynden Dunn come in to assist him and we’re all waiting for Jack Watts and Jeremy Howe to take the extra step forward. I keep coming back to that 1998 game when the Demons won against all odds in the west. I think of how competent and composed the current squad looked against Collingwood a month ago and how the team dominated possession in the latter half of last week’s first term but failed to score goals to match their ascendency. These are all long shots but if they click, the score will be a lot closer than many of the experts who are stoning us right now would have us all think. West Coast by 16 points.

WHO ARE WE? by Whispering Jack A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Melbourne's NAB Cup win over Collingwood when we were all so excited about the direction the club was taking under new coach Mark Neeld. It might have been a Mickey Mouse NAB Cup game in which both teams were missing regular key players, but there were definite signs that the hard work of summer was about to pay some dividends. It's hard to believe that only one month has elapsed since that time of unbridled optimism for the immediate future of the Melbourne Football Club. Since then the club has lurched from one disaster after another starting with the Liam Jurrah crisis and reaching a crescendo with a disastrous situation created by Jason Mifsud, an AFL official talking out of school to media person Grant Thomas who promptly published untrue allegations against Demon coach Mark Neeld. What should be a major crisis for the AFL and it's leadership has been turned into an opportunity for diverse groups and individuals to dump on one of its clubs. In the interim, Melbourne has barely raised a whimper on the field copping a couple of NAB Cup wallopings and a humiliating 41 point drubbing at home against the Brisbane Lions who finished in 15th place last year. Moreover, the club has been subjected to a blaze of criticism from good judges of football and from the bad. David King claims that "Melbourne has been masquerading as a football club for years". Robert Shaw says "Jack Watts was hijacked by the Melbourne Football Club at 17 years of age ... straight into an institution." Others accuse the playing group of being mentally and physically fragile, lacking in talent and demonstrating a shortage of the pride, passion and interest necessary to achieve success. Some of the criticism is justified but some of it is muddled and without any depth of thought or insight. The usual response when a team gets a lashing from the press is to return fire and prove the pundits wrong. Melbourne's problem is that it faces a the difficult task of rejuvenation in what has become it's "house of hell" - Paterson's Stadium - a cursed place where not a single current Melbourne player has seen victory. It last won there in Round 19, 2002. A few years before that, the Demons did manage to produce a shock victory over the Eagles in Perth with an undermanned and depleted side. That was in round 14, 1998 when Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated West Coast 11.13.79 in Robbo's break out game. It would be an understatement to say that the club needs a repeat of the heroics the team produced on that day. Demon coach Mark Neeld has ridden the waves of last week's disasters with class. He was impressive in handling the after match presser last Saturday and has been strong on the Mifsud issue correctly shunning the advice of AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to take legal action over Thomas' comments. Neeld is resolute. He isn't interested in pursuing personal vendettas or engaging in witch hunts over who leaked the story to the AFL official who passed on the malicious gossip to someone who wasn't too particular about fact checking, a practice employed by most reputable journalists before going to print. He knows he has to keep focussed on the main purpose of his job and that is to develop his list, to win games and ultimately, premierships. The greatest coach in the club's history was brought down in the midst of preoccupation with a defamation action, a situation from which it has never fully recovered. The team Neeld takes across the Nullarbor must not be distracted by the off field events. The players need to show that they're prepared to have a dip as they did a month ago against one of the competition's flag favourites. Their performance this week against the Eagles could well define the direction they will take in the coming months and years. It will prove who we are as a club. - Ralph Waldo Emerson (American author and poet) THE GAME West Coast Eagles v Melbourne at Paterson's Stadium - Saturday 7 April 2012 at 4:40pm (AEST). HEAD TO HEAD Overall West Coast 27 wins Melbourne 15 wins At Patersons Stadium West Coast 13 wins Melbourne 5 wins Since 2000 West Coast 11 wins Melbourne 7 wins The Coaches Worsfold 0 wins Neeld 0 wins MEDIA Fox Footy Channel live at 4.30 pm (Victoria) RADIO SEN ABC774 THE BETTING West Coast to win $1.06 Melbourne to win $9.00 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 16.14.110 defeated Melbourne 9.8.62 at Etihad Stadium Round 21, 2011 The Demons were two weeks into the post Dean Bailey era and after a competitive first twenty minutes or so, managed to sink into the standard insipid fare they produced at the time. Jeremy Howe was a stand out and Sam Blease showed some flashes but for the most part it was dross. THE TEAMS 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 Tom McDonald Jordie McKenzie Emergencies Aaron Davey Josh Tynan (Stef Martin) In Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Tom McDonald Ricky Petterd James Sellar Out Sam Blease Aaron Davey Stef Martin Brent Moloney (injured) Josh Tynan New James Sellar (Adelaide) Umpires L Farmer M Leppard G Fila RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35 "Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good They’ll stone ya just a-like they said they would They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all alone But I would not feel so all alone Everybody must get stoned" - by Bob Dylan I couldn't help thinking about this Dylan song every time I picked up a newspaper or switched on the radio or television set this week. And just so you don't get any wrong impressions, the writer has said of his work that the reference to stoning was in the biblical sense. It seems no matter what happens, whether the truth is told about us or not, whether we do the honourable thing or not, we're going to get "stoned" and the critics are out there like vultures circling their prey particularly because we're vulnerable at the moment. And perhaps it's because of that vulnerability that the West Coast Eagles are treating this game with a touch of caution. They happen to be almost the flavour of the month after coming into last season as the previous year's wooden spooner, rising to preliminary finalists and opening last week with a big away from home win against the Bulldogs (who should prepare themselves for a stoning if they fail in Adelaide on Saturday). The Eagles don't have an A class midfield like the other premiership contenders but it's handy and has some emerging young contenders like Shuey, Gaff and Masten to go with experienced hands in Priddis, Kerr, Scott Selwood and Rosa. The Eagles also have what many would call the competition's predominant ruck division in Cox and Naitanui. The comparison with Melbourne couldn't be starker if you go on last week's form where it got nothing from its ruck division or from its onballers at the stoppages. When you then consider that the Demons couldn't better the Eagles at home two years ago when they were wooden spooners, it suggests we're in for another one-sided contest again this weekend. While the indications are that the team hasn't bottomed out after the disruptions of the past month and the process of adjusting to a new style of play, there are some glimmers of hope on the horizon. The two young co-captains are in the starting midfield. Jack Grimes had about four minutes there in last year's Adelaide game before he was injured. There are many who believe he has the capacity to add some flair to the Demon on ball division. Likewise, Trengove who had an interrupted pre season and showed some early good signs last week is ready to take another step forward in the midfield. Nathan Jones is progressing well in his second year in a leadership role and James Magner was a revelation in his debut last week. With players like these stepping up to the plate, there is no reason why club could not improve quickly around the stoppages and reverse the disasters of the last half of last week's game. It's a tough ask especially with Melbourne winning only 4 of its past 28 games on the road (and half of them were on neutral territory). On the other hand, the Demons have a strong defence when it gets its act together and it’s been augmented this week by the size of James Sellar. Similarly, the attack now has a tall key in Mitch Clark who took a while to get going last week. This week Ricky Petterd and Lynden Dunn come in to assist him and we’re all waiting for Jack Watts and Jeremy Howe to take the extra step forward. I keep coming back to that 1998 game when the Demons won against all odds in the west. I think of how competent and composed the current squad looked against Collingwood a month ago and how the team dominated possession in the latter half of last week’s first term but failed to score goals to match their ascendency. These are all long shots but if they click, the score will be a lot closer than many of the experts who are stoning us right now would have us all think. West Coast by 16 points.

We copped a flogging at Etihad in August just a weeks after 186. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Luke Tapscott James Frawley Clint Bartram Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Joel Macdonald Centreline Jack Trengove Lynden Dunn Aaron Davey Half forwards Brad Green Jeremy Howe Tom Scully Forwards Colin Sylvia Mark Jamar Jack Watts Followers Stef Martin Brent Moloney Nathan Jones Interchange Sam Blease Jordie McKenzie Cale Morton Ricky Petterd Emergencies Max Gawn Tom McDonald Daniel Nicholson In Sam Blease Mark Jamar Cale Morton Colin Sylvia Out Matthew Bate Max Gawn Jordan Gysberts (scaphoid) James Strauss WEST COAST EAGLES Backs Will Schofield Eric Mackenzie Shannon Hurn Half backs Scott Selwood Mitch Brown Ashley Smith Centreline Andrew Embley Matthew Priddis Brad Ebert Half forwards Andrew Gaff Josh Kennedy Mark Nicoski Forwards Nic Naitanui Quinten Lynch Mark Le Cras Followers Dean Cox Daniel Kerr Adam Selwood Interchange Jack Darling Ashton Hams Patrick McGinnity Luke Shuey Emergencies Bradd Dalziell Chris Masten Brad Sheppard In Ashton Hams Josh Kennedy Eric Mackenzie Out Darren Glass (soreness) Chris Masten Matthew Rosa (knee)

Below of the results of the tipping for Round 1. It's not too late to join the competition and the only penalty is that you will start with the lowest score minus 1 which is 0. Yes someone only submitted one tip for the round and got it right. On the bright side if you tip all nine games right you get a bonus 3 points. Here are the details for joining the competition: We are now using Footytips.com.au. You will need to create a new Username and Password and then join the Demonland comp using the information below. Competition Name: Demonland Password: demons For more details, go to: http://www.footytips...onland&p=demons Anyway back to results of week one.