Demonland

Kinda like Marty McFly in Back to the Future.

This one was on TAC Future Stars from a few weeks ago. It was based on the AFL teams' respective ladder positions after round 22: 1. GWS - Jonathon Patton 2. GWS - Stephen Coniglio 3. GWS - Chad Wingard 4. Port - Dom Tyson 5. GWS - Billy Longer 6. Gold Coast - Taylor Adams 7. GWS - Devon Smith 8. Brisbane - Toby Greene 9. GWS - Will Hoskin-Elliot 10. Adelaide - Matthew Buntine 11. GWS - Hayden Crozier 12. Melbourne - Todd Elton 13. GWS - Nic Haynes 14. Richmond - Elliot Kavanagh 15. GWS - Daniel Markworth 16. Bulldogs - Liam Sumner 17. Fremantle - Sam Docherty 18. Kangaroos - Brad McKenzie 19. Essendon - Mitchell Grigg 20. Swans Tom Mitchell F/S 21. Saints - Seb Ross 22. Carlton - Adam Tomlinson 23. West Coast - Clay Smith 24. Hawthorn - Michael Talia 25. Geelong - Josh Tynan 26. Collingwood - Brandon Ellis

ADELAIDE New Luke Brown (GWS nominated player trade) Brad Crouch (North Ballarat) # Josh Jenkins (Essendon) Tom Lynch (St. Kilda) Lewis Johnston (Sydney) Rookie elevation Aidan Riley Matt Wright Draft Picks 27 41 46 64 82 89 Delisted Myke Cook James Craig Tim Milera ® Lachlan Roach ® Chris Schmidt ® James Sellar Jake von Bertouch ® Will Young Traded Tony Armstrong (Sydney) Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) Ivan Maric (Richmond) GWS Uncontracted Signing Phil Davis (Compensation - a 1st round selection) Retired Brad Moran Scott Stevens # Under 17 Mini Draft BRISBANE New Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs) Jordan Lisle (Hawthorn) Dayne Zorko (GCS Qld Zone selection) Rookie elevation Mitch Golby Draft Picks 8 12 30 47 69 Delisted Matt Austin Donald Barry ® Xavier Clarke Tom Collier Brendan Fevola Broc McCauley ® Bart McCulloch ® Albert Proud ® Traded Mitch Clark (Melbourne) Luke Power (GWS) Retired Jamie Charman Luke Power CARLTON New Dylan Buckley (father-son) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 22 44 62 Delisted Mark Austin Jaryd Cachia Joe Dare Setanta O'hAilpin Wade Twomey Retired Ryan Houlihan COLLINGWOOD New Martin Clark (GWS nominated player trade via Ireland) Jamie Elliott (GWS nominated player trade via Murray Under 18) Peter Yagmoor (GCS Qld Zone selection) Rookie elevation International Caolan Mooney ® NSW Scholarship Upgrade Jarrod Witts Draft Picks 50 65 67 Delisted Brad Dick Daniel Farmer John McCarthy Trent Stubbs Retired Leigh Brown Leon Davis Tom Hunter ® ESSENDON New Rookie elevation Stewart Crameri Draft Picks 19 31 59 75 Delisted Anthony Long Jay Neagle ® Michael Quinn ® Taite Silverlock ® Tyson Slattery ® James Webster ® Traded Josh Jenkins ® (Adelaide) Retired Darcy Daniher Andrew Welsh Mark Williams FREMANTLE New Rookie elevation Nick Lower Draft Picks 16 20 29 58 71 72 83 Delisted Justin Bollenhagen Ben Bucovaz ® Clayton Hinkley Joel Houghton Clancee Pearce Tim Ruffles ® Hamish Shepheard ® Casey Sibosado ® GWS Uncontracted Signing Rhys Palmer (Compensation - an end of 1st round selection). Retired Roger Hayden Byron Schammer GEELONG New Jed Bews (father-son) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 32 34 48 66 78 86 Delisted Retired Mark Blake Marcus Drum Cameron Ling Darren Milburn Cameron Mooney Brad Ottens GOLD COAST New Jaeger O’Meara # Matthew Warnock (West Coast) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 24 80 88 91 Zone Selection Jackson Allen Alex Sexton Delisted Nathan Ablett Roland Ah Chee ® Michael Coad Jake Crawford ® Joseph Daye Alex Keath Marc Lock Jack Stanlake Jack Stanley ® Joel Tippett ® Traded Peter Yagmoor (Queensland Zone) Dayne Zorko (Queensland Zone) Retired Daniel Harris # Under 17 Mini Draft GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY New Kurt Aylett (Zone Selection) Dean Brogan (Port Adelaide) Josh Bruce (Zone Selection) Tomas Bugg (17 year old selection) Jeremy Clayton (17 year old selection) Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide) Sam Darley (17 year old selection) Phil Davis (Adelaide) Shaun Edwards (Zone Selection) Tim Golds (17 year old selection) Joshua Growden (17 year old selection) Cutley Hampton (Zone Selection) Jack Hombsch (17 year old selection) Adam Kennedy (Previously nominated via Western Jets) James McDonald (Melbourne) Anthony Miles (Zone Selection) Tim Mohr (Previously nominated via Casey Scorpions) Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) Luke Power (Brisbane Lions) Sam Reid (Western Bulldogs) Sam Schulz (Zone Selection) Tom Scully (Melbourne) Dylan Shiel (17 year old selection) Jacob Townsend (Zone Selection) Adam Treloar (17 year old selection) Gerard Ugle (17 year old selection) Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs) Mark Whiley (Zone Selection) Nathan Wilson (17 year old selection) Rookie elevation Stephen Clifton Jonathan Giles Draft Picks 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 13 14 56 79 87 90 92 93 94 95 96 Delisted Traded Jarrad Boumann Luke Brown Marty Clarke Jamie Elliott Terry Milera Steven Morris Ahmed Saad (all GWS Pre-listed) Retired HAWTHORN New Jarrad Boumann Jack Gunston Rookie elevation Luke Bruest Draft Picks 33 38 53 77 Delisted Paul Johnson ® Rick Ladson Jack Mahony ® Sam Menegola ® Riley Milne ® Jarryd Morton Jordan Williams Traded Jordan Lisle (Brisbane) Brent Renouf (Port Adelaide) Will Sierakowski ® (North Melbourne) Retired MELBOURNE New Mitch Clark (Brisbane) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 36 52 54 72 90 Delisted Cameron Johnston ® Tom McNamara ® Addam Maric Michael Newton ® Austin Wonaeamirri Traded Matthew Warnock (Gold Coast) (GWS) Uncontracted Signing Tom Scully (Compensation - a 1st round selection and a mid-1st round selection) Retired Robert Campbell ® NORTH MELBOURNE New Will Sierakowski (Hawthorn) Rookie elevation Luke Delaney Cameron Pedersen Draft Picks 18 40 74 84 Delisted Ed Lower Brayden Norris Ben Ross Matthew Scott ® Gavin Urquhart Marcus White ® Retired Brady Rawlings PORT ADELAIDE New Brad Ebert (West Coast) Brent Renouf (Hawthorn) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 6 45 51 81 Delisted Jason Davenport Callum Hay ® Daniel Motlop Marlon Motlop Matthew Westhoff ® Traded Dean Brogan (GWS) Chad Cornes (GWS) Retired Danny Meyer Michael Pettigrew RICHMOND New Ivan Maric (Adelaide) Steven Morris (GWS nominated player trade) Rookie elevation International John Heslin ® Draft Picks 15 26 55 Delisted Pat Contin ® Mitch Farmer Robbie Hicks ® Tom Hislop ® Ben Jakobi ® Ben Nason Jamie O’Reilly ® Troy Taylor Nick Westhoff ® Traded Mitch Morton (Sydney) Retired Will Thursfield ST KILDA New Terry Milera (GWS nominated player trade) Ahmed Saad (GWS nominated player trade via Northern Bullants) Rookie elevation Draft Picks 25 35 37 42 60 68 76 Delisted Jason Blake Paul Cahill Zac Dawson Ryan Gamble Nick Heyne Will Johnson Alistair Smith Traded Tom Lynch (Adelaide) Tommy Walsh (Sydney) Retired Steven Baker Robert Eddy Michael Gardiner Andrew McQualter SYDNEY SWANS New Tony Armstrong (Adelaide) Tom Mitchell (Father-son) Mitch Morton (Richmond) Tommy Walsh (St. Kilda) Rookie elevation Nathan Gordon Draft Picks 21 43 61 85 Delisted Paul Bevan Daniel Currie Ben Haren ® Campbell Heath Chris McKaigue ® Max Otten Byron Sumner Traded Lewis Johnston (Adelaide) Retired Craig Bolton Daniel Bradshaw Tadhg Kennelly WEST COAST New Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs) Rookie elevation Ashton Hams Draft Picks 23 28 63 Delisted Tim Houlihan ® Jordan Jones Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls ® Traded Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide) Retired Brett Jones WESTERN BULLDOGS New Rookie elevation Draft Picks 17 39 49 57 70 73 Delisted Brennan Stack GWS Uncontracted Signing Callan Ward (Compensation - a 1st round selection) Sam Reid (Compensation -a 3rd round selection) Traded Josh Hill (West Coast) Ben Hudson (Brisbane) Retired Mitch Hahn ® Barry Hall

Well it's that time of the year again. Please post all Draft and Trade Talk in the new forum: The Finding Another Jack Trengove Board All Draft and Trade Talk in this forum will be moved to the forum linked above.

Not shadows. We'll never be a club to be feared if that sort of thing comes from official sources.

END GAME by Whispering Jack I debated with myself for several weeks on the subject of whether or not I should book a flight to Adelaide for Sunday's historic Adelaide Oval clash against Port Adelaide but, in the end I decided: why bother? I had liked the idea of viewing an AFL match from the outer one more time and there were some real traditional values in attending a game at this venue especially given that they're going to spend squillions on turning this charming old ground into just another concrete cauldron by 2014. After all, Port Adelaide is a proud old football club whose initial incarnation happened circa 1870 which makes them almost as old and as proud as us. However, any thoughts I might have had of going interstate for the final game of the season were obliterated when 186 happened. The club fractured (yet again), more players were injured and others appeared to be going through the motions. All of a sudden, the end of the season couldn't come quick enough and I put an end to thoughts of a cheap flight and a cheap hotel and decided instead that I would watch this last game of the year in exactly the way in which the AFL wants us to watch it - live on television (unless you happen to be situated in parts of NSW or Queensland where you watch a delayed telecast or please yourself). When I made the decision to stay put and watch this spectacle from the comfort of my own home, I also realised this clash had more to offer in terms of traditional values than I first thought. Looking at ladder positions and a future for each club of no finals with nothing to look forward to but the draft combines, the trade week and ultimately the national draft, I knew that there was indeed reason to go back to the traditional values of a few years ago to reintroduce that famous match day tactic - the tank. Would Port go for first round national pick # 4 ahead of # 6 ahead of avoiding the wooden spoon or would Melbourne opt for a spot close to the top eight ahead of pick # 12 in the event that it lost? In the end, these vexing questions were made irrelevant as the matter was taken out of the hands of the combatants by one of the most diabolical displays of pathetic umpiring ever seen on an AFL/VFL ground. You might think I'm bitter and twisted at the final outcome. Clutching straws at a traditional default position of the typical angry, beaten football fan so I'll simply quote straight from that staid old newspaper, the Melbourne Age, whose correspondent stated in muted tones: "For the record, the final free-kick count was amazingly one-sided, 28-13 in Port's favour." This understatement describes the sort of thing that you might expect when a highly partisan crowd is packed into a ground like sardines helping the adjudicators make decisions but surely it's not too much of an ask to expect consistency in decision-making from the umpires on simple holding the ball and marking decisions? Of course, Melbourne can't blame the umpires alone because it's own incompetence had as much to do with the outcome as anything else. The Demons kept the Power down to 43 inside 50s against its own 54 which usually heralds a win of significant proportions. Instead, the scoreboard tells a story of inefficiency in front of goal but that's only a part of it. The failure of the midfield to win the ball is demonstrated by the fact that the rucks dominated the hit outs 55-37 but the clearances were lost by 41-43. Earlier in the year, this sort of thing was killing the team against the stronger sides but now it's happening even against the lower ranked clubs. Melbourne was dominant in the early stages of the game but was wasteful in front of goals. By halfway through the opening term, the game should have been blown away from Port's grasp but instead, through poor finishing and some inept decision-making, Melbourne led by only 2.6.18 to 1.0.6. The telling blow was the innocuous free paid late to Port's Travis Boak right on the quarter time siren. He took his kick from well outside 50 but you just knew, as he lined up for the torp, that it would sail through right over the goal umpire's hat and that this was exactly the lift that would propel the home team to a handy lead by halfway through the second quarter. The Demons rebounded well after Brad Green's first goal and the goals came more freely but the team was still unfortunate not to have been further in front than a single point at the main break. There was definitely a smattering of déjà vu in this game as umpire Schmitt, who should have been sent no further west than Bordertown to umpire this week after what he served up against the Demons last week when they took on the Suns (why do we get the bozos two weeks in a row?), robbed Jeremy Howe of what should have been mark of the round and a certain team lifting goal at a telling point of the game. And so it went on. Port regathered the momentum, Melbourne responded and almost got on top before a soft free or two or a Demon fumble and turnover changed the tide for the last time and, even in the dying moments, they were spraying their shots at goal. Melbourne finished with more of most things in the game but not the four points. It was exposed in all of the places where it has been exposed for most of the year. The leadership was poor, the midfield inadequate and without any guns up forward. This was expected perhaps, in the light of the number of players missing but even with Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie and Nathan Jones working their hardest, the team lacked the polish necessary to get the ball cleanly out of the stoppages. The defence held up well in the circumstances. James Frawley and Jarrod Rivers kept their opponents in check and were their usual reliable selves. Unfortunately, Sam Blease copped a knock on the head and couldn't replicate last week's rising star heroics before he was subbed off. The season that promised so much in February when the Demons last ventured into Adelaide and beat both of its AFL teams in the NAB Cup opener is over. That it turned out to be something of a disaster is also an understatement. I certainly never expected things to pan out so poorly and my only hope is that it was an aberration - a darkness before a brand new dawn. We took five first year players over for the game. Jack Fitzpatrick is raw but I sense will one day form part of a very formidable ruck/forward combination with Max Gawn who was left in Melbourne where he put in an impressive solo ruck effort in the VFL. The young talent is there but it needs a Svengali-like coach and strong on-field leadership to take the next step forward. The lessons of 2011 need to be learned. We started the year believing we would be improvers, that the finals were waiting for us but, in the end, the scenario was reminiscent of this saying: "If everything is going well, you've obviously overlooked something." In the optimism and euphoria of February, it's clear that so much was overlooked and the year's end game gives the ultimate proof to that proposition. Melbourne 3.6.24 7.11.53 10.12.72 15.14.104 Port Adelaide Goals Melbourne Green Jones McKenzie Martin 2, Bate Fitzpatrick Howe Jamar Jetta Morton Trengove Port Adelaide Westhoff 4 Ebert 3 Boak Rodan 2 Banner Gray Lobbe Motlop Salopek Schulz Best Melbourne Moloney Trengove Bate Rivers McKenzie Frawley Jones Port Adelaide Westhoff Ebert Gray Motlop Carlile Trengove Boak Injuries Melbourne Blease (slight concussion) Port Adelaide Carlile (thigh) Butcher (back) Surjan (ankle/cut leg) Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Stewart Ryan Schmitt Crowd 29,340 at Adelaide Oval

Trengove ... that is. Picked up the votes in the last round to just pip Jack Watts. I think he'll be a pretty popular winner too! 132. Jack Trengove 130. Jack Watts 113. Nathan Jones 109. Brent Moloney 103. Stefan Martin 94. Jared Rivers 78. Colin Sylvia 64. James Frawley 62. Jordie McKenzie 58. Ricky Petterd 49. Colin Garland Jeremy Howe 39. Mark Jamar 38. Rohan Bail Brad Green 29. Jordan Gysberts 28. Luke Tapscott 26. Joel Macdonald 23. Sam Blease 20. Jamie Bennell 17. Liam Jurrah 15. Tom Scully 13. Neville Jetta 12. Cale Morton 11. Addam Maric 8. Aaron Davey 7. Michael Evans 5. Matthew Bate 4. Lynden Dunn 3. Clint Bartram Michael Newton 2. Jack Grimes Dan Nicholson 1. Tom McDonald Matthew Warnock

BIG NAMES FALL TO THE LURE OF THE GIANTS "GWS coach Kevin Sheedy told the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph at the weekend the club planned to appoint co-captains next year. Scully is expected to be one." If that's true then the GWS recruiting drive to date has been an epic failure.

Game and season over ... Post match thread now open here

Your votes here ... Please make them count. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...

END GAME by Whispering Jack I debated with myself for several weeks on the subject of whether or not I should book a flight to Adelaide for Sunday's historic Adelaide Oval clash against Port Adelaide but, in the end I decided: why bother? I had liked the idea of viewing an AFL match from the outer one more time and there were some real traditional values in attending a game at this venue especially given that they're going to spend squillions on turning this charming old ground into just another concrete cauldron by 2014. After all, Port Adelaide is a proud old football club whose initial incarnation happened circa 1870 which makes them almost as old and as proud as us. However, any thoughts I might have had of going interstate for the final game of the season were obliterated when 186 happened. The club fractured (yet again), more players were injured and others appeared to be going through the motions. All of a sudden, the end of the season couldn't come quick enough and I put an end to thoughts of a cheap flight and a cheap hotel and decided instead that I would watch this last game of the year in exactly the way in which the AFL wants us to watch it - live on television (unless you happen to be situated in parts of NSW or Queensland where you watch a delayed telecast or please yourself). When I made the decision to stay put and watch this spectacle from the comfort of my own home, I also realised this clash had more to offer in terms of traditional values than I first thought. Looking at ladder positions and a future for each club of no finals with nothing to look forward to but the draft combines, the trade week and ultimately the national draft, I knew that there was indeed reason to go back to the traditional values of a few years ago to reintroduce that famous match day tactic - the tank. Would Port go for first round national pick # 4 ahead of # 6 ahead of avoiding the wooden spoon or would Melbourne opt for a spot close to the top eight ahead of pick # 12 in the event that it lost? In the end, these vexing questions were made irrelevant as the matter was taken out of the hands of the combatants by one of the most diabolical displays of pathetic umpiring ever seen on an AFL/VFL ground. You might think I'm bitter and twisted at the final outcome. Clutching straws at a traditional default position of the typical angry, beaten football fan so I'll simply quote straight from that staid old newspaper, the Melbourne Age, whose correspondent stated in muted tones: "For the record, the final free-kick count was amazingly one-sided, 28-13 in Port's favour." This understatement describes the sort of thing that you might expect when a highly partisan crowd is packed into a ground like sardines helping the adjudicators make decisions but surely it's not too much of an ask to expect consistency in decision-making from the umpires on simple holding the ball and marking decisions? Of course, Melbourne can't blame the umpires alone because it's own incompetence had as much to do with the outcome as anything else. The Demons kept the Power down to 43 inside 50s against its own 54 which usually heralds a win of significant proportions. Instead, the scoreboard tells a story of inefficiency in front of goal but that's only a part of it. The failure of the midfield to win the ball is demonstrated by the fact that the rucks dominated the hit outs 55-37 but the clearances were lost by 41-43. Earlier in the year, this sort of thing was killing the team against the stronger sides but now it's happening even against the lower ranked clubs. Melbourne was dominant in the early stages of the game but was wasteful in front of goals. By halfway through the opening term, the game should have been blown away from Port's grasp but instead, through poor finishing and some inept decision-making, Melbourne led by only 2.6.18 to 1.0.6. The telling blow was the innocuous free paid late to Port's Travis Boak right on the quarter time siren. He took his kick from well outside 50 but you just knew, as he lined up for the torp, that it would sail through right over the goal umpire's hat and that this was exactly the lift that would propel the home team to a handy lead by halfway through the second quarter. The Demons rebounded well after Brad Green's first goal and the goals came more freely but the team was still unfortunate not to have been further in front than a single point at the main break. There was definitely a smattering of déjà vu in this game as umpire Schmitt, who should have been sent no further west than Bordertown to umpire this week after what he served up against the Demons last week when they took on the Suns (why do we get the bozos two weeks in a row?), robbed Jeremy Howe of what should have been mark of the round and a certain team lifting goal at a telling point of the game. And so it went on. Port regathered the momentum, Melbourne responded and almost got on top before a soft free or two or a Demon fumble and turnover changed the tide for the last time and, even in the dying moments, they were spraying their shots at goal. Melbourne finished with more of most things in the game but not the four points. It was exposed in all of the places where it has been exposed for most of the year. The leadership was poor, the midfield inadequate and without any guns up forward. This was expected perhaps, in the light of the number of players missing but even with Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie and Nathan Jones working their hardest, the team lacked the polish necessary to get the ball cleanly out of the stoppages. The defence held up well in the circumstances. James Frawley and Jarrod Rivers kept their opponents in check and were their usual reliable selves. Unfortunately, Sam Blease copped a knock on the head and couldn't replicate last week's rising star heroics before he was subbed off. The season that promised so much in February when the Demons last ventured into Adelaide and beat both of its AFL teams in the NAB Cup opener is over. That it turned out to be something of a disaster is also an understatement. I certainly never expected things to pan out so poorly and my only hope is that it was an aberration - a darkness before a brand new dawn. We took five first year players over for the game. Jack Fitzpatrick is raw but I sense will one day form part of a very formidable ruck/forward combination with Max Gawn who was left in Melbourne where he put in an impressive solo ruck effort in the VFL. The young talent is there but it needs a Svengali-like coach and strong on-field leadership to take the next step forward. The lessons of 2011 need to be learned. We started the year believing we would be improvers, that the finals were waiting for us but, in the end, the scenario was reminiscent of this saying: "If everything is going well, you've obviously overlooked something." In the optimism and euphoria of February, it's clear that so much was overlooked and the year's end game gives the ultimate proof to that proposition. Melbourne 3.6.24 7.11.53 10.12.72 15.14.104 Port Adelaide Goals Melbourne Green Jones McKenzie Martin 2, Bate Fitzpatrick Howe Jamar Jetta Morton Trengove Port Adelaide Westhoff 4 Ebert 3 Boak Rodan 2 Banner Gray Lobbe Motlop Salopek Schulz Best Melbourne Moloney Trengove Bate Rivers McKenzie Frawley Jones Port Adelaide Westhoff Ebert Gray Motlop Carlile Trengove Boak Injuries Melbourne Blease (slight concussion) Port Adelaide Carlile (thigh) Butcher (back) Surjan (ankle/cut leg) Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Stewart Ryan Schmitt Crowd 29,340 at Adelaide Oval

ABANDONED by KC from Casey When Lyndon Dunn kicked Casey's fifth goal at the eleven minute mark of the second quarter to give his team a 5.3.33 to 3.5.23 lead, things were looking rosy for the Scorpions in their VFL qualifying clash at TEAC Oval against undefeated Port Melbourne. They had weathered the first quarter kicking into a stiff breeze by going goal for goal with the premiership favourite and trailed by only two points when the siren sounded to signal the change of ends. Brendan Fevola had already registered two goals, Max Gawn was not only winning the ruck contests but was also wowing the crowd with his agility and his persistence and Evan Panozza, Tim Mohr and Matthew Warnock were holding together a tight defence. With the Scorpions about to take their turn with the wind, a fired up Brad Gotch focussed on attack. "When Fev is leading out at you, hit him in the face and honour his leads!" There was an air of confidence about the group and everything pointed to an possible upset result after Kelvin Lawrence dribbled through an early goal from the boundary and ten minutes later when Dunn kicked his goal. However, things suddenly went awry and even the elements turned against the Scorpions. Years ago, Demis Roussos sang about his friend the wind but on Saturday, it was no friend of the Scorpions. In fact, it abandoned them when what had previously been a difficult to counter stiff breeze moderated and then the floodgates opened. Within minutes Port's Burstin tapped the ball through goal to regain the lead and Batsanis showed it was possible to even score goals with kicks from outside the fifty metre arc. The Borough's superior experience and midfield run showed out and the game's momentum turned as Port scored six unanswered goals against its shell shocked opponents. Only a late goal to Fevola gave them some hope as they trudged dispirited into the rooms at half time. The Scorpions really couldn't blame the elements for their demise. They stumbled and fumbled as Port Melbourne continued to hold the initiative after the main break to boot 8.5.53 to their mere three points in the third quarter. Port then added a further seven in the last to complete the rout with Fevola booting all three of Casey's second half goals to finish with six out of nine in a team that was totally crushed. He was their only goalkicker after Dunn's goal early in the second quarter and one of the few in the tram who could hold their heads high as the Borough's run and midfield dominance led it to an emphatic 97 point victory. Michael Stockdale was one of the few who worked hard all day against the odds in difficult circumstances and was his team's leading possession gatherer with 25 touches. The Scorpions now have a week to regroup before they meet Werribee in the first semi final and can take some solace from the possibility of regaining between six to eight AFL listed players including ruckman Robert Campbell who was a late withdrawal for Saturday's game. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Injuries and suspensions at Melbourne continued to haunt the Scorpions who were left with a season's low eight Demons for the first final of their campaign. Troy Davis – tried hard in defence but had little impact on the game. Lynden Dunn - like many of his teammates, he had a quiet day after taking some nice marks early and kicking a goal in the second quarter. Max Gawn – had his job cut out for him after Robert Campbell withdrew but did well on two former AFL ruckmen in Skipper and Fanning and more than held his own in the ruck. Impressed with his agility around the ground. Kelvin Lawrence – showed a bit of pace and flashed in and out of play but didn’t do enough on the day. Joel Macdonald – equal top possession gatherer among the Demons with Macnamara, he worked hard but his effectiveness was limited. Tom McNamara – started slowly but worked his way into the game under difficult circumstances. Michael Newton – it was a difficult day for his return after three months on the sidelines and he looked rusty. Matthew Warnock - was excellent at full back and worked tirelessly all day. Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 6.4.40 6.7.43 9.9.63 Port Melbourne 3.4.22 9.7.61 17.12.114 24.16.160 Goals Casey Scorpions Fevola 6 Dunn Gawn Lawrence Port Melbourne McMahon 5 Rose 4 Burstin Dwyer 3 Cain 2 Lynch 2 Batsanis Fanning Galea McGrath Pinwill Best Casey Scorpions Panozza Fevola Stockdale Mohr Warnock Lees Port Melbourne Valenti Fanning Pinwill Brewer Batsanis Skipper The stunning second half of the season winning run of the Casey reserves came to a tragic end when they were pipped by a point on the siren of their elimination final against the Coburg Tigers. The Scorpions will rue their errant kicking when they booted 3.9 to 1.0 with the benefit of a gale in the third term but full marks go to the Tigers for mastering the conditions and the rules to come home with a wet sail after trailing by five goals at the last break. After Coburg levelled the scores, a Casey goal saw the Scorps hold a six point lead with 14 seconds left in the game when the Tigers goaled to again tie up the scores at the 34 minute mark. Under the "Golden Score" rule play continued until the next score - a point to a Coburg player which effectively ended Casey's great run. It was a tough finish for coach Steve O'Brien who nevertheless deserves kudos for masterminding the team's first finals appearance in many years, one which saw it achieve victories over all of the competition's leading teams. Mark Weekes and Kieren McShane (4 goals) were the team's best on the day. Casey Scorpions 6.0.36 7.2.44 10.1 .71 11.13.79 Coburg Tigers 1.2.8 5.5.35 6.5.41 12.8.80 Goals Casey Scorpions McShane 4 Costigan 3 Tynan 2 Carew Dowse Coburg Tigers Murphy 3 Cartelli Hore Lirosi Thomas 2 P Ambrose Casey Scorpions Weekes McShane Tynan Patti Corry Allen Coburg Tigers Cartelli Kahlefeldt Duhau Thomas Dahl Murphy

ABANDONED by KC from Casey When Lyndon Dunn kicked Casey's fifth goal at the eleven minute mark of the second quarter to give his team a 5.3.33 to 3.5.23 lead, things were looking rosy for the Scorpions in their VFL qualifying clash at TEAC Oval against undefeated Port Melbourne. They had weathered the first quarter kicking into a stiff breeze by going goal for goal with the premiership favourite and trailed by only two points when the siren sounded to signal the change of ends. Brendan Fevola had already registered two goals, Max Gawn was not only winning the ruck contests but was also wowing the crowd with his agility and his persistence and Evan Panozza, Tim Mohr and Matthew Warnock were holding together a tight defence. With the Scorpions about to take their turn with the wind, a fired up Brad Gotch focussed on attack. "When Fev is leading out at you, hit him in the face and honour his leads!" There was an air of confidence about the group and everything pointed to an possible upset result after Kelvin Lawrence dribbled through an early goal from the boundary and ten minutes later when Dunn kicked his goal. However, things suddenly went awry and even the elements turned against the Scorpions. Years ago, Demis Roussos sang about his friend the wind but on Saturday, it was no friend of the Scorpions. In fact, it abandoned them when what had previously been a difficult to counter stiff breeze moderated and then the floodgates opened. Within minutes Port's Burstin tapped the ball through goal to regain the lead and Batsanis showed it was possible to even score goals with kicks from outside the fifty metre arc. The Borough's superior experience and midfield run showed out and the game's momentum turned as Port scored six unanswered goals against its shell shocked opponents. Only a late goal to Fevola gave them some hope as they trudged dispirited into the rooms at half time. The Scorpions really couldn't blame the elements for their demise. They stumbled and fumbled as Port Melbourne continued to hold the initiative after the main break to boot 8.5.53 to their mere three points in the third quarter. Port then added a further seven in the last to complete the rout with Fevola booting all three of Casey's second half goals to finish with six out of nine in a team that was totally crushed. He was their only goalkicker after Dunn's goal early in the second quarter and one of the few in the tram who could hold their heads high as the Borough's run and midfield dominance led it to an emphatic 97 point victory. Michael Stockdale was one of the few who worked hard all day against the odds in difficult circumstances and was his team's leading possession gatherer with 25 touches. The Scorpions now have a week to regroup before they meet Werribee in the first semi final and can take some solace from the possibility of regaining between six to eight AFL listed players including ruckman Robert Campbell who was a late withdrawal for Saturday's game. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Injuries and suspensions at Melbourne continued to haunt the Scorpions who were left with a season's low eight Demons for the first final of their campaign. Troy Davis – tried hard in defence but had little impact on the game. Lynden Dunn - like many of his teammates, he had a quiet day after taking some nice marks early and kicking a goal in the second quarter. Max Gawn – had his job cut out for him after Robert Campbell withdrew but did well on two former AFL ruckmen in Skipper and Fanning and more than held his own in the ruck. Impressed with his agility around the ground. Kelvin Lawrence – showed a bit of pace and flashed in and out of play but didn’t do enough on the day. Joel Macdonald – equal top possession gatherer among the Demons with Macnamara, he worked hard but his effectiveness was limited. Tom McNamara – started slowly but worked his way into the game under difficult circumstances. Michael Newton – it was a difficult day for his return after three months on the sidelines and he looked rusty. Matthew Warnock - was excellent at full back and worked tirelessly all day. Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 6.4.40 6.7.43 9.9.63 Port Melbourne 3.4.22 9.7.61 17.12.114 24.16.160 Goals Casey Scorpions Fevola 6 Dunn Gawn Lawrence Port Melbourne McMahon 5 Rose 4 Burstin Dwyer 3 Cain 2 Lynch 2 Batsanis Fanning Galea McGrath Pinwill Best Casey Scorpions Panozza Fevola Stockdale Mohr Warnock Lees Port Melbourne Valenti Fanning Pinwill Brewer Batsanis Skipper The stunning second half of the season winning run of the Casey reserves came to a tragic end when they were pipped by a point on the siren of their elimination final against the Coburg Tigers. The Scorpions will rue their errant kicking when they booted 3.9 to 1.0 with the benefit of a gale in the third term but full marks go to the Tigers for mastering the conditions and the rules to come home with a wet sail after trailing by five goals at the last break. After Coburg levelled the scores, a Casey goal saw the Scorps hold a six point lead with 14 seconds left in the game when the Tigers goaled to again tie up the scores at the 34 minute mark. Under the "Golden Score" rule play continued until the next score - a point to a Coburg player which effectively ended Casey's great run. It was a tough finish for coach Steve O'Brien who nevertheless deserves kudos for masterminding the team's first finals appearance in many years, one which saw it achieve victories over all of the competition's leading teams. Mark Weekes and Kieren McShane (4 goals) were the team's best on the day. Casey Scorpions 6.0.36 7.2.44 10.1 .71 11.13.79 Coburg Tigers 1.2.8 5.5.35 6.5.41 12.8.80 Goals Casey Scorpions McShane 4 Costigan 3 Tynan 2 Carew Dowse Coburg Tigers Murphy 3 Cartelli Hore Lirosi Thomas 2 P Ambrose Casey Scorpions Weekes McShane Tynan Patti Corry Allen Coburg Tigers Cartelli Kahlefeldt Duhau Thomas Dahl Murphy

WJ and the Doctor are wandering around time and the universe. The last time we came across them WJ was considering the future. Now he goes back almost a century in time for some repairs and possible healing? A HIGHWAY OF DEMONS by Whispering Jack CHAPTER NINE - BLEAKTOWN "Your breath is sweet Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky. Your back is straight, your hair is smooth On the pillow where you lie. But I don't sense affection No gratitude or love Your loyalty is not to me But to the stars above." - One More Cup of Coffee by Bob Dylan I went out one morning to breathe the air around the derelict old town. It was set dreamlike in the far southwestern corner of the Lone Star state known as the "badlands" where one could ride on horseback all day and never encounter another soul. I was warned never to stray too far south across the rugged terrain to where the river marked the natural border between the United States and Mexico but stray, I did. On this morning, I was drawn away from the ruins of the old township of Bleaktown although I had misgivings about coming face to face with the bad hombres said to be wandering around the area. They would slip silently in the night across from the other side of the majestic bending waterway known as the Río Bravo del Norte or the Rio Grande, desperate men lured across the border by their greed hoping to acquire fortunes by plunder. Some others came to work in the silver mines that dotted this part of Texas, many of them simply refugees fleeing from the turbulence and the violence of the Mexican revolution. There was a rule in these parts that you trusted nobody and kept your distance from strangers. The year was 1913. It was a time when troubles to the south produced folk heroes like Pancho Villa or Emiliano Zapata; dark, swarthy men with pock-marked faces whose sleek mustachioed images inspired fear as much as did their ominous firepower. Legend had it that Villa once roamed in the badlands with eight men, two pounds of coffee, some sugar, and five hundred rounds of rifle ammunition stealing horses and killing innocent men and women at the drop of a hat. I had more than enough reason to stay close to the safety of home base but I was young, foolish and bored. I happened upon him on my way to the valley below where we had settled the Tardis a week earlier to enable The Doctor to carry out routine mechanical repairs originally estimated to take "a couple of hours". They were still waiting to be completed. In the long hours, I had little to do but wile away my time playing out boyhood cowboy fantasies of tracking down Comanche Indians and saving frightened townsfolk from deadly enemies. At least I was in the right place and the right time. On a narrow dusty track in the desert half an hour out of town, I sensed the watching eyes of dozens of large black birds wheeling above in the morning sky, their raucous cawing disturbing the serenity of the gray-blue canyon and heralding the arrival of the stranger from south of the border. He was young, perhaps in his very early twenties walking with the slightest impression of a limp. There was an intensity in those greyish eyes that never smiled although his pleasant appearance offered little about which to be apprehensive. Still, I sensed both evil and danger. However, it was his invitation for me to share in the pot of coffee he was boiling that put me entirely at ease. We sat among the red flowering ocotillos shaded by a solitary tree with the sight of the distant Chisos mountains embedded far in the background and we drank coffee while he told his sorry tale of subterfuge, lies and ultimately, tragedy. The stranger was a bullfighter from a small town near Ciudad de México, a place we know as Mexico City. Chosen for his first bullfight as "matador" while still in his teens, he plied his trade at the city's most famous bullrings and he became famous years before his time. He was adored in every corner of society, known for his skills at handling the big animals, training for hour upon hour without distraction. The need to bring the large beast to heel in front of those admirers became his obsession. As the stranger poured a second offering of the steaming liquid into my tin cup, I noticed the tatoo image of a skull seared deeply into his forearm. His life had changed with the arrival of the man with the long black coat. The man possessed a shiny new motor vehicle, chewed on a long Cuban cigar and uttered fancy words when he spoke. He showed the young bullfighter bags of silver from the mines he owned in Texas and offered him many pieces of that substance if he agreed to join his new enterprise in the north. The young man spoke that night with his father who had always been his close confidante and mentor and he became convinced even against his natural inclinations that his future lay in the promised land on the other side of the river. And so he bade farewell to his family, his good friends and his adoring fans. His pockets bulged with greenbacks and with just a nagging, little care lingering on his mind, he crossed the Río Bravo del Norte to ultimately find his doom. It is needless to say that the reality of what lay ahead could never match dreams built on promises no more substantial than the desert sands that stretched around us as far as the eye could see. And it came to pass that on the day of our meeting he was still trying to find his way back to the place from whence he came. Having sold his soul to others, he was hopelessly lost and there we were, both of us with no future and no direction home. TO BE CONTINUED

WJ and the Doctor are wandering around time and the universe. The last time we came across them WJ was considering the future. Now he goes back almost a century in time for some repairs and possible healing? A HIGHWAY OF DEMONS by Whispering Jack CHAPTER NINE - BLEAKTOWN "Your breath is sweet Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky. Your back is straight, your hair is smooth On the pillow where you lie. But I don't sense affection No gratitude or love Your loyalty is not to me But to the stars above." - One More Cup of Coffee by Bob Dylan I went out one morning to breathe the air around the derelict old town. It was set dreamlike in the far southwestern corner of the Lone Star state known as the "badlands" where one could ride on horseback all day and never encounter another soul. I was warned never to stray too far south across the rugged terrain to where the river marked the natural border between the United States and Mexico but stray, I did. On this morning, I was drawn away from the ruins of the old township of Bleaktown although I had misgivings about coming face to face with the bad hombres said to be wandering around the area. They would slip silently in the night across from the other side of the majestic bending waterway known as the Río Bravo del Norte or the Rio Grande, desperate men lured across the border by their greed hoping to acquire fortunes by plunder. Some others came to work in the silver mines that dotted this part of Texas, many of them simply refugees fleeing from the turbulence and the violence of the Mexican revolution. There was a rule in these parts that you trusted nobody and kept your distance from strangers. The year was 1913. It was a time when troubles to the south produced folk heroes like Pancho Villa or Emiliano Zapata; dark, swarthy men with pock-marked faces whose sleek mustachioed images inspired fear as much as did their ominous firepower. Legend had it that Villa once roamed in the badlands with eight men, two pounds of coffee, some sugar, and five hundred rounds of rifle ammunition stealing horses and killing innocent men and women at the drop of a hat. I had more than enough reason to stay close to the safety of home base but I was young, foolish and bored. I happened upon him on my way to the valley below where we had settled the Tardis a week earlier to enable The Doctor to carry out routine mechanical repairs originally estimated to take "a couple of hours". They were still waiting to be completed. In the long hours, I had little to do but wile away my time playing out boyhood cowboy fantasies of tracking down Comanche Indians and saving frightened townsfolk from deadly enemies. At least I was in the right place and the right time. On a narrow dusty track in the desert half an hour out of town, I sensed the watching eyes of dozens of large black birds wheeling above in the morning sky, their raucous cawing disturbing the serenity of the gray-blue canyon and heralding the arrival of the stranger from south of the border. He was young, perhaps in his very early twenties walking with the slightest impression of a limp. There was an intensity in those greyish eyes that never smiled although his pleasant appearance offered little about which to be apprehensive. Still, I sensed both evil and danger. However, it was his invitation for me to share in the pot of coffee he was boiling that put me entirely at ease. We sat among the red flowering ocotillos shaded by a solitary tree with the sight of the distant Chisos mountains embedded far in the background and we drank coffee while he told his sorry tale of subterfuge, lies and ultimately, tragedy. The stranger was a bullfighter from a small town near Ciudad de México, a place we know as Mexico City. Chosen for his first bullfight as "matador" while still in his teens, he plied his trade at the city's most famous bullrings and he became famous years before his time. He was adored in every corner of society, known for his skills at handling the big animals, training for hour upon hour without distraction. The need to bring the large beast to heel in front of those admirers became his obsession. As the stranger poured a second offering of the steaming liquid into my tin cup, I noticed the tatoo image of a skull seared deeply into his forearm. His life had changed with the arrival of the man with the long black coat. The man possessed a shiny new motor vehicle, chewed on a long Cuban cigar and uttered fancy words when he spoke. He showed the young bullfighter bags of silver from the mines he owned in Texas and offered him many pieces of that substance if he agreed to join his new enterprise in the north. The young man spoke that night with his father who had always been his close confidante and mentor and he became convinced even against his natural inclinations that his future lay in the promised land on the other side of the river. And so he bade farewell to his family, his good friends and his adoring fans. His pockets bulged with greenbacks and with just a nagging, little care lingering on his mind, he crossed the Río Bravo del Norte to ultimately find his doom. It is needless to say that the reality of what lay ahead could never match dreams built on promises no more substantial than the desert sands that stretched around us as far as the eye could see. And it came to pass that on the day of our meeting he was still trying to find his way back to the place from whence he came. Having sold his soul to others, he was hopelessly lost and there we were, both of us with no future and no direction home. TO BE CONTINUED

Luke Darcy has written this very nice piece of the AFL website - Value of loyalty. It's worth reflecting upon at this time.

Brad Green and James Frawley are the only players from our Demonland masthead who are playing on Sunday v Port Adelaide.

WHAT'S NEW by JVM The picturesque Adelaide Oval has witnessed many gripping test and international cricket matches over the years along with some local football, rugby and soccer. It has also hosted athletics, baseball, cycling, hockey and tennis as well as archery, highland games and even quoits. Some famous musical acts have performed there as well. KISS played there in 1980, Michael Jackson in 1996, Elton John in 1998 and more lately, Pearl Jam, AC/DC and Wolfmother. The Foo Fighters will be on stage in December. The ground's current capacity is not all that flash but there are plans to redevelop the ground and to drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century but, in the meantime, the AFL has selected the venue to host its first AFL contest with Port Adelaide to meet Melbourne in the deadest of dead rubbers of what can only be described as an underwhelming season for both clubs. The home side is broke and relying mainly on a massive injection of funds from the AFL to keep the wheels turning in future seasons. The hope is that the move of the two local AFL clubs to the Adelaide Oval will bring them salvation but for the Power, the concessions to the new expansion franchises stand in the way of any immediate on field progress. They showed glimmers of improved form last week against Essendon at Etihad when they led by 34 points seven minutes into the final term only to concede 7.5 in the ensuing 23 minutes. The ray of hope for Port is young key position forward John Butcher but he happens to be out of contract and homesick. If the Power loses on Sunday and finishes with the wooden spoon, it's first national draft pick will be number four; it's second in the twenties. A win means that it starts at selection number six. Hardly, the stuff that you would tank in the last game for but, there's barely any incentive for winning either. Melbourne remains a club fractured and hurt by the events surrounding the departure of coach Dean Bailey. The wounds it sustained are deep but can be healed by a wise selection of coach and the infusion of the right personnel both on and off the field. The Demons will also benefit by the impending resolution, one way or the other, of the situation concerning Tom Scully. The club has a fundamentally sound young list waiting for the right person to come along and fashion it into a winning combination. Next year ... So two teams both focussed on the future meet in a round 24 game that holds very little meaning in terms of 2011. What's new? THE GAME Port Adelaide v Melbourne Sunday 4 September 2011 at the Adelaide Oval 3.10pm AEST HEAD TO HEAD Overall Port Adelaide 12 wins Melbourne 11 wins At Adelaide Oval Port Adelaide 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 Port Adelaide 10 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Primus 0 wins Viney 0 wins MEDIA TV - Channel 7 Live from 3.00 pm. Radio - 3AW TripleM THE BETTING Port Adelaide to win $2.50 Melbourne to win $1.53 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 17.11.113 defeated Port Adelaide 14.8.92 Round 17, 2011 at TIO Stadium, Darwin Melbourne hit the ground running and took a good early lead in the the tropical heat of Darwin. The enthusiastic Demons maintained the ascendency for much of the game but slowed appreciably in the final term when they allowed Port Adelaide to peg them back by a few goals but the result was never really in doubt. Liam Jurrah was in graet form early and he finished with three goals as did Addam Maric and Ricky Petterd. THE TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE Backs Troy Chaplin Alipate Carlile Tom Logan Half backs Jacob Surjan Jackson Trengove Cameron O'Shea Centreline Steven Salopek Travis Boak Danyle Pearce Half forwards Brett Ebert John Butcher Robert Gray Forwards Daniel Motlop Jay Schulz Justin Westhoff Followers Matthew Lobbe Domenic Cassisi David Rodan Interchange (from) Mitchell Banner Matthew Broadbent Dean Brogan Kane Cornes Thomas Jonas Matt Thomas Aaron Young In Dean Brogan Kane Cornes Aaron Young Out New Aaron Young (Eastern Ranges) MELBOURNE Backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Sam Blease Half backs Clint Bartram Jared Rivers Colin Garland Centreline Jamie Bennell Jordie McKenzie Nathan Jones Half forwards Jack Trengove Jack Watts Brad Green Forwards Rohan Bail Stefan Martin Neville Jetta Followers Mark Jamar Cale Morton Brent Moloney Interchange Matthew Bate Jack Fitzpatrick Jeremy Howe Luke Tapscott Emergencies Joel Macdonald Tom McNamara Daniel Nicholson In Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Jack Fitzpatrick Out Liam Jurrah (wrist) Tom McNamara Tom McNamara New Jack Fitzpatrick (Western Jets) Leaving aside the Mickey Mouse opening round of this year’s NAB Cup, it's been a long while since Melbourne, last won a game in Adelaide. Indeed, a number of the youngsters on the current Demons’ list were still a year or two away from their teens when their team accomplished a real victory for four premiership points in the City of Churches. This game won’t quite be the same for Melbourne because, after all, the first-ever AFL match at Adelaide Oval, will be played kilometres away from AAMI Stadium. In any event, the Power haven’t been travelling well either at home or away this year. They have recorded only two wins for the season and the victory over Adelaide in Round 4 was their only home win this year. They have lost eleven games on end and yet, there are some who believe that Port Power are back in town on the strength of last week’s defeat at the hands of Essendon after leading by 34 points well into the final term. If you believe that’s a welcome return to form, then Melbourne’s five goal win over Gold Coast last Sunday to break a losing streak of five goals would also be regarded as one of the most miraculous turnarounds in the history of the game. Well, not really although it was good to see Brad Green returning to a semblance of form and it’s a timely return as well because the Demons will be relying on their skipper to score enough goals to provide them with a winning score. Remember, the three players who each kicked three goals when Melbourne beat Port Adelaide in Darwin earlier this year, Liam Jurrah, Addam Maric and Ricky Petterd will all be missing on Sunday. If the Demons can take advantage of their ruck strength and convert that into clearances from stoppages and clean forward moves, then perhaps they will find Green and co enough times to win their ninth game for the season and give themselves bragging rights as an improver on paper for 2011. We all know that this is a deceptive viewpoint in the light of the horrors of Melbourne’s past month but perhaps it will presage a real turnaround next year. Melbourne by 8 points.

Both clubs have gone through tough times since their meeting in mid July but I can assure you that Sam Blease won't get dropped for this one: MELBOURNE Backs James Strauss James Frawley Daniel Nicholson Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Nathan Jones Centreline Jack Trengove Colin Sylvia Tom Scully Half forwards Ricky Petterd Liam Jurrah Cale Morton Forwards Brad Green Jack Watts Stefan Martin Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Interchange Jordan Gysberts Jeremy Howe Addam Maric Luke Tapscott Emergencies Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Max Gawn In Addam Maric Luke Tapscott Out Jamie Bennell Sam Blease (both omitted) PORT ADELAIDE Backs Tom Logan Jackson Trengove Cameron O'Shea Half backs Nick Salter Troy Chaplin Hamish Hartlett Centreline Ben Jacobs Travis Boak Kane Cornes Half forwards David Rodan Jay Schulz Brett Ebert Forwards Danyle Pearce Chad Cornes Robbie Gray Followers Matthew Lobbe Domenic Cassisi Matt Thomas Interchange Mitch Banner Hitchcock Michael Pettigrew Steven Salopek Emergencies Matthew Broadbent Daniel Stewart Jacob Surjan In Michael Pettigrew Steven Salopek Out Matthew Broadbent Daniel Stewart (both omitted)

Only two players can win the 2011 Demonland Player of the Year. The issue will be decided at a venue where AFL has never been played before - Adelaide Oval. 130. Jack Watts 122. Jack Trengove 111. Nathan Jones 103. Stefan Martin 92. Brent Moloney Jared Rivers 78. Colin Sylvia 58. Ricky Petterd 54. Jordie McKenzie 50. James Frawley 49. Colin Garland 47. Jeremy Howe 39. Mark Jamar 38. Brad Green 35. Rohan Bail 29. Jordan Gysberts 28. Luke Tapscott 26. Joel Macdonald 23 Sam Blease 20. Jamie Bennell 17. Liam Jurrah 15. Tom Scully 13. Neville Jetta 12. Cale Morton 11. Addam Maric 8. Aaron Davey 7. Michael Evans 4. Lynden Dunn 3. Clint Bartram Michael Newton 2. Jack Grimes Dan Nicholson 1. Tom McDonald Matthew Warnock

Game over - post match discussion here thanks folks -

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS by Whispering Jack The hero of Melbourne's first win since its long ago trip to tropical Darwin was captain Brad Green who booted four invaluable goals against the Gold Coast Suns. Green's contribution was instrumental in securing an unconvincing and wonky 30-point first victory for caretaker coach Todd Viney and the beleaguered Demons in the penultimate round of the season. Melbourne seemingly held control in the opening stanza and, but for some severe marking yips that seemed to spread through the team like wildfire, it should have been much further than 19 points in front at quarter time. Green, who started shakily missing his first shot at goal, finally scored his first immediately before the main break at a time when the slow starting Suns pressed for the lead after dominating the contested ball for most of the second term and, at one stage got to within a point of their hosts. It was Green who kick-started the team early in the second half for what is now becoming its one fighting quarter per game and which yielded six goals. It was Green again who kicked the sealer when Gold Coast threatened in the final term and in this regard, Brad Green the captain, restored some much needed respect to his team with the way he went about accumulating his 18 possessions and nine marks on the way to four straight goals after what surely must have been one of the most difficult periods in his experience as a player with the club culminating in his being named as the sub a week ago against Richmond. Whatever the rationale behind that move, Green rose above it this week and led the team back onto the winner's list. And, after what’s taken place in this season of hope that has gone so badly pear shaped in the past month or so, I think I can allow myself the liberty of falling back on the old cliché about winners being grinners. One would have to be grinning after watching one’s team pick up the four points in what was such an embarrassingly poor exhibition of football from both sides (not to mention the umpires who matched the standard of the game perfectly) that it produced many more yawns from the bored crowd than cheers. The Demons won the game because of their superior defence. Colin Garland, Sam Blease and James Frawley were dashingly magnificent while Tom McDonald gave a good account of himself and showed strong potential in his debut game with 18 disposals and six marks. Melbourne also dominated the ruck contests with Mark Jamar and Stef Martin winning a combined 49 hit outs but things went awry from there because Gold Coast was far superior and won the clearances. As a result, the domination of the Demon big men at these contests was completely nullified and, looking forward to the future, this must be a worrying sign for the club. Whoever takes over as the coach in 2012 will require not only selective recruiting of midfielders who can win the footy at contests but also some expert assistance to turn around the massive midfield black hole that exists at the club. There were times during the game when the Suns won the contested ball out of defence and then moved it down the ground at will with pace cutting swathes through the Demon lines – yet another cause for concern to the coaches. Fortunately, opposition on the day is not yet polished enough to take advantage of such situations and Melbourne’s defence was able to hold firm. When you’re having a bad run it’s amazing how bad luck follows you around. Melbourne has had its fair share of injuries and more recently suspensions but it still didn’t need Liam Jurrah to hurt his shoulder/arm after flying for a great mark in the third term. It was the mark of the man that he kept his composure for his shot at goal (which failed to add to his first half tally of three) before ambling off the ground clutching arm and shoulder to be subbed for the day. Fortunately, his replacement, Jeremy Howe, worked hard when he got his chances and kicked two valuable goals while Jurrah was last seen with his arm in a sling. Since the heroics of Ricky Petterd in the opening round, the sub rule hasn’t exactly worked well for the Demons. Sam Blease started his career wearing the green vest against the Western Bulldogs, came on late in the game and failed to make an impression during the feature length junk time of that game. Since he’s come back into the side, Blease has been a revelation with his run and carry, his speed and his accuracy. At least the Demon defence in future years will be a strength with the likes of him, Luke Tapscott and Jack Grimes and James Strauss returning from injury. The use of Green as a sub last week might have been instrumental in sending him a message of sorts but I have a feeling that it also might have cost the club the four points against Richmond. Still, what the hell when the four points don't mean very much at this stage of proceedings? Apart from the midfield, a strong marking key forward would have to be another prime target for the recruiters. It should be an interesting trade period. Indeed, the coming weeks are crucial for the club. A new coach with a fresh approach is needed to polish a young team that seems to have lost its focus. All credit to Todd Viney for taking the job as a caretaker but the club really needs an outsider to come in and sort out this lot otherwise we won’t be grinning very much in the years to come despite the promise of our youth. Melbourne 4.3.27 7.5.47 13.7.85 17.10.112 Gold Coast Suns 1.2.8 6.5.41 7.8.50 12.10.82 Goals Melbourne Green 4 Jurrah Moloney 3 Howe 2 Garland Jetta Jones Martin Tapscott Gold Coast Suns Bennell Rischitelli Russell Smith 2 N Ablett Thompson Stanley Swallow Best Melbourne Blease Garland Green Jones Jurrah Frawley Gold Coast Suns Rischitelli G Ablett Swallow Iles Prestia Stanley Injuries Melbourne Jurrah (shoulder) Gold Coast Suns Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Suns Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Suns Nil Umpires Schmitt Stewart Ritchie Crowd 21,534 at MCG

Howe's the sub!

Discussion on the Casey game and its team can continue on the match review thread - THE E WORD. Thanks.

THE E WORD by KC from Casey with Whispering Jack "Emotion" is a word that isn't found in the dictionaries of some of the hardnosed people who operate at the pointy end of elite sports but, on Saturday at Casey Fields, it was there in bucket loads as the Scorpions surprised the pundits and thrashed the Bullants by exactly 100 points. The story of the day started with the return after almost two years in the football wilderness of courageous Casey co-captain Kyle Matthews but there are many other stories to tell from the game. Mathews suffered head injuries including a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain in an attack outside a Hawthorn hotel left him in a coma in March, 2010. He worked hard to return to the game after a 12-month absence but suffered further setbacks in the form of two hamstring injuries and a fractured fibula (from a mid-season scratch match). He was in line for senior selection last week against Werribee after three reserves games but his brother's wedding meant that his senior comeback was delayed a further week. The wait was worth it and his triumphant return came almost two years to the day after his last game which was his team's disastrous loss in the 2009 elimination final against Collingwood. Wearing a head guard and looking like a kid with his slight build, Matthews took the game by the scruff of the neck and set the example for his team with his second, third and sometimes fourth efforts that can only be described as sublime. His desperation, his attack on the football and the way he threw his body into every contest permeated through the team and inspired the group to produce its finest performance for the season. Matthews set the example through the midfield and up forward where he had five goals on the board by the final break at which time he had earned a rest and the opportunity to watch his team coast home against an opposition which until very recently was considered a top four certainty. The Bullants had every reason to feel confident when they arrived at the ground, their team brimming with AFL experience. They had 15 Carlton listed players, many with aspirations of taking part in the finals at elite level while suspensions and injuries at Melbourne kept Casey's AFL list down to a season's low of ten players. The early part of the game suggested that the Bullants' size and greater experience would prevail. At the midpoint of the opening term, they had McLean and Russell dominating possessions and things looked ominous after goals to Hampson and Houlihan gave them an eleven point lead - 3.1.19 to 1.2.8. Casey's lone goal had been kicked by Lynden Dunn. However, the game was dramatically turned on its head by the brilliance of Matthews and red headed Demon Matthew Bate. The pair were the catalysts for the turnaround which started when the day's other big emotional story Brendan Fevola kicked his first goal after accepting a fine pass from Rohan Bail. It was the first of ten for Fevola after a week in which it was revealed that he had yet to attract any interest from any AFL club for 2012 and in which his father Ange made a plea to the Demons to give his son a chance at AFL redemption in 2012. Fevola came to the club as an overweight tormented soul, missed the early part of the season, struggled for form and finally hit his straps with two double figure totals in the run home to finish four goals shy of the Frosty Miller trophy for the VFL's top goal kicker. Moreover, he's been a model citizen on and off the field and has well and truly justified the faith put into him by the Scorpions' board. He seems contented in his life and his work and was paid the ultimate compliment on Ten's Before the Game programme which crossed to the Casey rooms to award him the player of the day prize where he revealed he had lost 16kg since March on the same diet that has given Shane Warne a new slim line figure. The star forward saw off three quality AFL opponents in Jamison, Bower and Watson and finished with 17 possessions and ten marks. His 10.2 haul included angle goals, snaps and a couple that just dribbled through the big sticks. Posters of the man affectionately known as "The Fev" were for $10.00 and, by the game's latter stages, he even had the large contingent of Carlton fans on hand at the ground applauding as he destroyed the defenders who were unfortunate enough to be pitted against him. Casey won every quarter on its way to claiming a top four placing and an appointment with undefeated Port Melbourne for next week's qualifying final at North Port. The emotion of the day did not end there. Bate who has had a tough time finding the form to get an AFL game but has been very good at the Scorpions blitzed in the midfield with 38 possessions (14 in the final quarter), Bail starred with his pace and long kicking picking up 27 touches and Dan Nicholson (25 disposals) provided great run. Kelvin Lawrence also showed brilliance and some scintillating running and passing. The big men Robert Campbell and young Max Gawn dominated in the ruck and around the ground while beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick bobbed up with four goals and demonstrated amazing pace for one so tall. These big stories overshadowed the tale of Casey's dominant defence led by Matthew Warnock who was well backed up by Demon youngster Troy Davis who overcome a thyroid problem to rise to prominence in the Scorpion backline and underscore his future potential at a higher level and the much improved Tim Mohr who is bound for the AFL draft combine in October. There's more because Matthews' inspiration also lifted many of his fellow Casey listed players to their personal best games of the season. His ever reliable co-skipper James Wall dominated his wing with 24 possessions, Danny Nicholls (who also overcame a serious injury to break back into the team), Rian McGough, Dave Collins and Will Petropoulos played out their respective roles and 23 year old debutant Jess Bolton will never forget his own impressive debut in senior ranks. Wade Lees captured another big scalp in shutting out Ed Curnow. The win was also a tribute to the work of coach Brad Gotch. Mindful of the fact that there's much work to do in the month ahead he fired his charges up at the last break urging them to go on with it and not to let up. "Good sides don't hold back." They didn't hold back and their coach's message will remain on the mind of every player as the team takes on the undefeated minor premiers in the big one next weekend. HOW THE DEMONS FARED There were only ten MFC listed players in the Casey 23 and they were all part of this fine team effort as Melon22 describes: Rohan Bail – was dynamic in his third game back from injury; his disposal all day was exquisite and ran out the game really well to show he is almost back to full fitness. Definitely ready to come back into the Demons line up but I am sure Brad Gotch would love to have his class for the crucial game against Port Melbourne next week. Matthew Bate – the dominant player for Casey in a brilliant team display. Because of injuries and suspension to the Demons, Matty was played in the midfield where he excelled. When he did spend time forward he was too strong and quick for his opponents in what was a brilliant all-round display. If he is called up for the Demons it would be a devastating blow for Casey’s chances as Matty always gives his all and has been probably been Casey’s best player this year. Robbie Campbell – formed a formidable ruck partnership with Gawn and dominated the hit outs all day. His agility and second efforts around the clearances have significantly improved over the last few weeks and he is starting to regain the kind of form that could see him on a senior AFL list next year. Troy Davis – one of his best displays for Casey this year, dominated across half back and was able to give good run out of defence as well. Troy plays with a great intensity and always hits the contest hard. He was a little sloppy with his kicking which slightly marred a fantastic performance. Lynden Dunn – played at CHF and he will be disappointed that he wasn’t able join in the demolition of the Bullants as much as he would have wanted but did kick two nice goals. Jack Fitzpatrick – kicked 4 goals including one brilliant snap on the run in an enterprising display from the big man. He has shown enough in small glimpses to suggest that he has a big future as a key forward. Max Gawn – shared the ruckwork evenly with Robbie Campbell and contributed to the dominant display with some sublime tap work. He is getting himself in some dangerous areas around the ground and becoming involved in the play as a target coming out of defense. Kelvin Lawrence – played on a wing and was energetic without having a great influence on the game. Missed a couple of early shots at goal which he would have been disappointed with. Daniel Nicholson – was played across half back with stints in the midfield. Displayed a great amount of energy all day and was always willing to run and carry. Managed to be a lot tidier in his disposal this week but had a couple of opportunities to finish his runs with a goal but unfortunately wasn't able to capitalise. Matthew Warnock – was on AFL calibre forwards in Hampson and Setenta O’Halpin and had the better of them for most of the day in a very impressive display. Casey Scorpions 4.6.30 13.8.86 19.10.124 28.12.180 Northern Bullants 3.3.21 5.3.33 7.8.50 11.14.80 Goals Casey Scorpions Fevola 10 Matthews 5 Fitzpatrick 4 Bate Dunn Petropoulos 2 Bail McGough Wall Northern Bullants Lambert Saad 2 Arrowsmith Austin Biffin Hampson Houlihan Iacobucci O'hAilpin Best Casey Scorpions Bate Bail Fevola Mohr Lees Matthews Northern Bullants Lucas McLean Iacobucci Russell Lambert Dare The Casey reserves made it ten games on end with a seven goal victory over the Bullants, the team that beat them way back in round one, well before the Scorpions began flexing their muscles on the way to their first finals series since moving from Springvale. Tom Corry starred in the midfield and was ably backed up by Matt Fieldsend while Blake Carew bobbed up with four goals. Aaron Purves finished the home and away series as the top goal kicker in the VFL Reserves competition. Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 8.4.52 13.7.85 18.13.121 Northern Bullants 2.6.18 3.10.22 7.13.55 11.13.79 Goals Casey Scorpions Carew 4 McShane 3 Dowse Waite 2 Baumgartner Clay Hill Lindsay Newton Purves J Roberts Northern Bullants Bray Casboult Marcon 2 Bransgrove Dorman Dufficy McLellan Wilson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Fieldsend McShane Pollard Dowse Purdy Northern Bullants A Gianfagna Dirago Marcon Gale Lincoln Bransgrove