Demonland

I'll start the ball rolling today with this post. I'm hoping that Beamer plays and shows no Ill effects from last week's corkie. I'm hoping we can get off to a decent start and I'm hoping we get the four points. That's all!

The last time the two teams met was at Manuka (ACT) when Melbourne played the last of three annual home matches in Canberra. The Demons lost all three such games from 2007 to 2009. This was the 2009 lineup:- MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Matthew Warnock James Frawley Half backs Brent Moloney Jared Rivers Cameron Bruce Centreline Clint Bartram James McDonald Aaron Davey Half forwards Jamie Bennell Michael Newton Cale Morton Forwards Brad Miller Matthew Bate Liam Jurrah Followers Stefan Martin Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Interchange (from) Rohan Bail Kyle Cheney Neville Jetta Paul Johnson Jordie McKenzie Shane Valenti Matthew Whelan In Rohan Bail Kyle Cheney Paul Johnson Jordie McKenzie Brad Miller Michael Newton Shane Valenti Matthew Whelan Out Jack Grimes (back) Brad Green (scaphoid) Mark Jamar (quad) Brock McLean (knee) Russell Robertson New Rohan Bail (Mt Gravatt) Jordie McKenzie (Geelong Falcons) SYDNEY Backs Ed Barlow Lewis Roberts-Thomson Craig Bolton Half backs Rhyce Shaw Heath Grundy Martin Mattner Centreline Nick Smith Brett Kirk Jarrad McVeigh Half forwards Ryan O'Keefe Adam Goodes Luke Ablett Forwards Jesse White Michael O'Loughlin Daniel Hannebery Followers Darren Jolly Kieran Jack Jude Bolton Interchange (from) Paul Bevan Craig Bird Amon Buchanan Jarred Moore Michael Pyke Kristin Thornton Patrick Veszpremi In Amon Buchanan Jarred Moore Michael Pyke Kristin Thornton Out Ted Richards (chest)

THE PEOPLE SPEAK by JVM and the Demonlanders The calling of the Federal Election by Prime Minister Julia Gillard showed that our government wants to let the people decide the course of the future of this great nation of ours. So what else could we at Demonland do but let you the people decide upon Melbourne's clash with interstate rival Sydney? This week's game is an important one for the Swans because they still have an outside chance of forcing their way into the top four and, with the Dockers and the Dogs playing against each other in this round, a win is vital for them. I would call it a four point game! The optimists among us would say that it's also a vital one for the Demons because they're still a mathematical possibility to make the finals. I was originally confident for them in this game because at least have the home state advantage but then a Demonlander asked when was the last time we beat Sydney in Melbourne? Answer: Round 5, 2001. It's been a while! Of course, there haven't been that many clashes between the two at the G given that Melbourne sold it's home ground advantage to play three games at Manuka Oval and a few of their earlier fixtures were played at the Docklands. The Demonland crew might be a little divided on who is going to win but there's agreement on the fact that this game is going to be a barometer of how the club is travelling. Choko believes that this game, "more than any other this season, will demonstrate where we are at." Here's why: We all know that we have beaten a few sides when they're down and we have performed unexpectedly well on a number of occasions against fancied opposition. Yet, when we have played sides that are "slightly better" than us, we have often been well beaten. To me, the sides we show our greatest vulnerability against are the ones who won't let us play the way we want to play. We struggled against Adelaide's zone (we should have lost to them twice really), North Melbourne's narrow zone that stopped us playing through the middle, and Hawthorn's zones to space. West Coast is an exception where we were simply carp. Sydney likewise play a close checking stoppage based game that relies on not letting the opposition play the way it wants to play. It will be a real test of maturity to see if our players can think their way through it. I think we will be up for the physical contest at the stoppages, although a Sunday game in Perth may see us fade. But the numbers Sydney put behind the ball and the manner in which we respond will be the greatest indication of how well developed our game plan is, how well the players implement it and who is an on-field leader. The stakes are high for Sydney. I think we will fail again. Sydney by 27. Demon WA agrees that this game will tell us "a lot about the Dees; where they are at as a side, and how far they have come from two years of receiving back to back timber cutlery." However, Demon WA thinks the outcome will go our way: On the back of some promising performances over the last 3 weeks, the more optimistic Dees supporters can look towards this weekend's game with the belief that snatching a win against the more fancied Swans is a realistic possibility. Hard fought, competitive losses against top four teams in the Saints and Freo, along with the solid win against the struggling Bombers, seem to indicate that our form is on the up. Dean Bailey's men will yet again go into the game speaking of the need to start well and the desire to play four quarters of competitive football. Key youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove look set to miss again through injury, and as such, the fitness of Brent Moloney may be a key to the Dee's hopes, with the big fella's work at clearances being all important against the tough-at-it Swans. Sydney have been in very good form themselves in recent weeks; dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes has made a return to the midfield and his impact in these games has been telling. The running halfback flankers, Malceski and Kennelly have been firing of late and can also be contributed to the Swans' recent form. With Nathan Jones being used as somewhat of a tagger in recent months I wouldn't mind seeing him go to either of these half back flankers. This would allow him to have a few more opportunities to contribute on the scoreboard, and any free kicks awarded to the opposition would be less likely to result directly into goals! There are a few key matchups; the ruck battle between Mark Jamar and Shane Mumford (which could be the difference between who gets the nod for a possible second All Australian ruck position) and they way the Dees go about trying to minimise the impact of Adam Goodes - perhaps a Dunn/ Frawley match up depending on what part of the ground Goodes goes? All match ups aside though, the winner on the weekend will be whoever can play competitive, high pressure football for the longest. Hopefully after last week's disappointment the lads will bounce back with a sustained, high intensity effort. The Dee's play their best footy at the MCG, which is a trend they will no doubt be hoping will continue to ring true. Dees by 16 points Grandson of a gun believes that this week's game is going to be "much closer than some outsiders predict and will come down in the most part to four key matchups for each team." For Sydney it's all about starving Davey, Green, Sylvia and Watts of the ball. They know that if they can block up the corridor and crowd Davey then he won't be able to scythe through them like hot butter (a la Pies and Bulldogs). I see McVeigh taking him first. Likewise if they can prevent Watts from working up as a target and using his good field kicking to hit targets inside Melbourne's 50 then they are well on their way. (I expect Grundy to have first crack). Sylvia and Green both have the potential to blow games apart and if they are well held then Melbourne will really struggle to kick a winning score. Malceski for Sylvia and Kennelly for Green. For Melbourne it's all about Goodes, Grundy, O'Keefe and Shaw. Goodes has hit form, he is a star when he is on song and Melbourne desperately needs to shut down his drive. Dunn will get first crack in the midfield. Frawley if he goes forward. Grundy is their backline general and coupled to a lesser extent with Malceski, gives them the run and carry. Expect him to line up on Watts or perhaps even try and expose Jurrah defensively. Melbourne has to play through his man at every opportunity to make him accountable. O'Keefe is the Paul Chapman of Sydney and is seriously dangerous when he gets going. Jones to take him if he goes into the middle at the start. Garland if he slides down forward. Finally, Rhyce Shaw. He has played forward recently with great effect. Six goals in six quarters of footy up forward. All of a sudden he has another string to his bow and gives potency to their sometimes impotent forward line. A big job for Bartram here. Taking his scalp will go a long way to a Demon win! This may also be known as the NAB Rising Star Cup as probably the two biggest favorites go head to head. Hannebury v Scully. It would be great to see them line up mono e mono and just go for it. I'll back the Scull to run rings around him (literally). I see a shock upset and the Demons coming home with a 9 point win. THE GAME Melbourne v Sydney at the MCG Sunday 25 July 2010 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 91 wins Sydney 106 wins 1 draw At MCG Melbourne 48 wins Sydney 39 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 6 wins Sydney 12 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 Roos 2 MEDIA TV Channel 7 - delayed telecast at 3.00pm. RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.30 Sydney to win $1.62 LAST TIME THEY MET Sydney Swans 10.8.68 defeated Melbourne 6.14.50 at Manuka in Round 17, 2009 I'll bet that very few in the smallish crowd who attended this game in the nation's capital almost exactly 12 months ago to the day would believe that Kevin 07 would be dead in the water as Labor leader year later. As for the Libs, I have no idea who was running the show over there at the time. Anyhow, I don't think many people knew or cared who was going to win this contest on a cold, gray and drab Canberra day because the Swans were having a poor season and the Demons were heading for a wooden spoon. The game was so forgettable that I've erased any thoughts I might have had of it from the memory banks. MEMORY LANE Tall Defence remembers the game played in Round 4 2006. After losing their opening three games of the season Melbourne travelled to the SCG to face the reigning premiers in a must win match if they were to get their season back on track. With new recruit Byron Pickett at his best Melbourne caused a huge boil over and won by 5 points and went on to play in a semi final that season. Will this weekend see the present day Dees have a win to revive their slim finals hopes? While I think they can win I still think it's too late for finals hopes. THE TEAMS The last time the two teams met was at Manuka (ACT) when Melbourne played the last of three annual home matches in Canberra. The Demons lost all three such games from 2007 to 2009. This was the 2009 lineup:- MELBOURNE Backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jordie McKenzie James Frawley Joel Macdonald Centreline Jamie Bennell Cameron Bruce Brad Green Half forwards Lynden Dunn Cale Morton Tom Scully Forwards Colin Sylvia Jack Watts Liam Jurrah Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Aaron Davey Interchange Rohan Bail Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Addam Maric Emergencies Matthew Bate Austin Wonaeamirri Matthew Warnock. In Addam Maric Out Matthew Bate SYDNEY Backs Rhyce Shaw Ted Richards Martin Mattner Half backs Paul Bevan Heath Grundy Tadhg Kennelly Centreline Nick Malceski Brett Kirk Kieren Jack Half forwards Ryan O'Keefe Mike Pyke Josh Kennedy Forwards Ben McGlynn Adam Goodes Jarred Moore Followers Shane Mumford Jude Bolton Jarrad McVeigh Interchange Daniel Hannebery Lewis Jetta Brett Meredith Jesse White Emergencies Trent Dennis-Lane Sam Reid Gary Rohan In Lewis Jetta Out Nick 426 Smith (hamstring - 4 to 6 weeks) New Sam Reid (Murray Bushrangers) [THE PEOPLE GIVE THEIR VERDICT Back to our previews and DeezMan believes that a "possible (and very likely) scenario of Melbourne going into the match with all of Grimes, McDonald, Moloney and Trengove not playing would be a massive downer!" As it happens, Beamer has been selected but who knows if he will run out onto the G when the game begins on Sunday afternoon? On the other hand, Junior will play for Casey against the VFL Magpies a few kilometres down the road at Victoria Park. DeezMan continues: Sydney has one of the hardest midfields going around in Captain Kirk, Goodes, O'Keefe and Bolton (not to mention tough nut Jack and Hannebery!!). Melbourne without its toughest player in Moloney and without its most courageous player in its very own captain would be a significant loss to the side. Remember that the combo of Jamar/Moloney has been so crucial to its wins and overall competitiveness). Although we still have Jones in the middle and in-and-under tough nugget McKenzie as well, including Beamer and Junior alongside those two would be instrumental! Sydney pulled of a ripper against the Blues at Etihad last weekend and they'll use that coming into the game against the Dees. Melbourne is coming back from a trip to Perth and a game against Top 4 side Freo which it played very well! Can the Dees start off well??? Can they keep Goodes quiet? I think Sydney has our measure and they really should triumph in their second game in Melbourne in a row. The Dees have too many big and very important out's. BUT... if one of Junior and Moloney both pull up ok... consider the Dees in with a very VERY good shot. Demon Jack16 Dunn seems to be the match up for Goodes. He will be required in the midfield due to some absences so this move seems to sort itself out. Skull & Jordie will need big games which both are certainly well capable of. Nathan Jones will need to lead by example in there. Our main forward targets...Watts, Bate & Jurrah saw plenty of the ball last week & were lively with all 3 probably having decent chances to have more of an impact on the game than each did. This is positive for us & hopefully if they see the same amount this week they can finish off that work, they all worked fairly hard and were never really in each others' space. Bennell complements them well and this could be a real strength. I reckon these four (plus Rick Petterd/Tapscott) will be a real handful in years to come. With these four playing dangerous it will allow Col Sylvia & Brad Green to push further & be rotated into the midfield which we will need against the Swans this week. I'm confident that our backline can handle any combination thrown up by their forward set up. It has started to go without saying.......we need to bl00dy start well, go Dees!! We win by 16 Mad_Melbourne believes it's "all about hitting our targets, kicking well when necessary, not overusing the handball, and applying pressure to the opposition." When Melbourne play this style of footy we are competitive with all teams, we need to dictate play with hard running midfielders being the key to our success. Aaron Davey is well overdue for a blinder of a game, and Sydney has recently hit form so it will be a good test. So there you have it. The Demonlanders have spoken. Thanks folks! As for me, I retain my optimism. If Richmond can beat this crowd at the G as they did a few weeks back, then so can we! Melbourne by 10 points.

THE PEOPLE SPEAK by JVM and the Demonlanders The calling of the Federal Election by Prime Minister Julia Gillard showed that our government wants to let the people decide the course of the future of this great nation of ours. So what else could we at Demonland do but let you the people decide upon Melbourne's clash with interstate rival Sydney? This week's game is an important one for the Swans because they still have an outside chance of forcing their way into the top four and, with the Dockers and the Dogs playing against each other in this round, a win is vital for them. I would call it a four point game! The optimists among us would say that it's also a vital one for the Demons because they're still a mathematical possibility to make the finals. I was originally confident for them in this game because at least have the home state advantage but then a Demonlander asked when was the last time we beat Sydney in Melbourne? Answer: Round 5, 2001. It's been a while! Of course, there haven't been that many clashes between the two at the G given that Melbourne sold it's home ground advantage to play three games at Manuka Oval and a few of their earlier fixtures were played at the Docklands. The Demonland crew might be a little divided on who is going to win but there's agreement on the fact that this game is going to be a barometer of how the club is travelling. Choko believes that this game, "more than any other this season, will demonstrate where we are at." Here's why: We all know that we have beaten a few sides when they're down and we have performed unexpectedly well on a number of occasions against fancied opposition. Yet, when we have played sides that are "slightly better" than us, we have often been well beaten. To me, the sides we show our greatest vulnerability against are the ones who won't let us play the way we want to play. We struggled against Adelaide's zone (we should have lost to them twice really), North Melbourne's narrow zone that stopped us playing through the middle, and Hawthorn's zones to space. West Coast is an exception where we were simply carp. Sydney likewise play a close checking stoppage based game that relies on not letting the opposition play the way it wants to play. It will be a real test of maturity to see if our players can think their way through it. I think we will be up for the physical contest at the stoppages, although a Sunday game in Perth may see us fade. But the numbers Sydney put behind the ball and the manner in which we respond will be the greatest indication of how well developed our game plan is, how well the players implement it and who is an on-field leader. The stakes are high for Sydney. I think we will fail again. Sydney by 27. Demon WA agrees that this game will tell us "a lot about the Dees; where they are at as a side, and how far they have come from two years of receiving back to back timber cutlery." However, Demon WA thinks the outcome will go our way: On the back of some promising performances over the last 3 weeks, the more optimistic Dees supporters can look towards this weekend's game with the belief that snatching a win against the more fancied Swans is a realistic possibility. Hard fought, competitive losses against top four teams in the Saints and Freo, along with the solid win against the struggling Bombers, seem to indicate that our form is on the up. Dean Bailey's men will yet again go into the game speaking of the need to start well and the desire to play four quarters of competitive football. Key youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove look set to miss again through injury, and as such, the fitness of Brent Moloney may be a key to the Dee's hopes, with the big fella's work at clearances being all important against the tough-at-it Swans. Sydney have been in very good form themselves in recent weeks; dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes has made a return to the midfield and his impact in these games has been telling. The running halfback flankers, Malceski and Kennelly have been firing of late and can also be contributed to the Swans' recent form. With Nathan Jones being used as somewhat of a tagger in recent months I wouldn't mind seeing him go to either of these half back flankers. This would allow him to have a few more opportunities to contribute on the scoreboard, and any free kicks awarded to the opposition would be less likely to result directly into goals! There are a few key matchups; the ruck battle between Mark Jamar and Shane Mumford (which could be the difference between who gets the nod for a possible second All Australian ruck position) and they way the Dees go about trying to minimise the impact of Adam Goodes - perhaps a Dunn/ Frawley match up depending on what part of the ground Goodes goes? All match ups aside though, the winner on the weekend will be whoever can play competitive, high pressure football for the longest. Hopefully after last week's disappointment the lads will bounce back with a sustained, high intensity effort. The Dee's play their best footy at the MCG, which is a trend they will no doubt be hoping will continue to ring true. Dees by 16 points Grandson of a gun believes that this week's game is going to be "much closer than some outsiders predict and will come down in the most part to four key matchups for each team." For Sydney it's all about starving Davey, Green, Sylvia and Watts of the ball. They know that if they can block up the corridor and crowd Davey then he won't be able to scythe through them like hot butter (a la Pies and Bulldogs). I see McVeigh taking him first. Likewise if they can prevent Watts from working up as a target and using his good field kicking to hit targets inside Melbourne's 50 then they are well on their way. (I expect Grundy to have first crack). Sylvia and Green both have the potential to blow games apart and if they are well held then Melbourne will really struggle to kick a winning score. Malceski for Sylvia and Kennelly for Green. For Melbourne it's all about Goodes, Grundy, O'Keefe and Shaw. Goodes has hit form, he is a star when he is on song and Melbourne desperately needs to shut down his drive. Dunn will get first crack in the midfield. Frawley if he goes forward. Grundy is their backline general and coupled to a lesser extent with Malceski, gives them the run and carry. Expect him to line up on Watts or perhaps even try and expose Jurrah defensively. Melbourne has to play through his man at every opportunity to make him accountable. O'Keefe is the Paul Chapman of Sydney and is seriously dangerous when he gets going. Jones to take him if he goes into the middle at the start. Garland if he slides down forward. Finally, Rhyce Shaw. He has played forward recently with great effect. Six goals in six quarters of footy up forward. All of a sudden he has another string to his bow and gives potency to their sometimes impotent forward line. A big job for Bartram here. Taking his scalp will go a long way to a Demon win! This may also be known as the NAB Rising Star Cup as probably the two biggest favorites go head to head. Hannebury v Scully. It would be great to see them line up mono e mono and just go for it. I'll back the Scull to run rings around him (literally). I see a shock upset and the Demons coming home with a 9 point win. THE GAME Melbourne v Sydney at the MCG Sunday 25 July 2010 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 91 wins Sydney 106 wins 1 draw At MCG Melbourne 48 wins Sydney 39 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 6 wins Sydney 12 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 Roos 2 MEDIA TV Channel 7 - delayed telecast at 3.00pm. RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.30 Sydney to win $1.62 LAST TIME THEY MET Sydney Swans 10.8.68 defeated Melbourne 6.14.50 at Manuka in Round 17, 2009 I'll bet that very few in the smallish crowd who attended this game in the nation's capital almost exactly 12 months ago to the day would believe that Kevin 07 would be dead in the water as Labor leader year later. As for the Libs, I have no idea who was running the show over there at the time. Anyhow, I don't think many people knew or cared who was going to win this contest on a cold, gray and drab Canberra day because the Swans were having a poor season and the Demons were heading for a wooden spoon. The game was so forgettable that I've erased any thoughts I might have had of it from the memory banks. MEMORY LANE Tall Defence remembers the game played in Round 4 2006. After losing their opening three games of the season Melbourne travelled to the SCG to face the reigning premiers in a must win match if they were to get their season back on track. With new recruit Byron Pickett at his best Melbourne caused a huge boil over and won by 5 points and went on to play in a semi final that season. Will this weekend see the present day Dees have a win to revive their slim finals hopes? While I think they can win I still think it's too late for finals hopes. The last time the two teams met was at Manuka (ACT) when Melbourne played the last of three annual home matches in Canberra. The Demons lost all three such games from 2007 to 2009. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jordie McKenzie James Frawley Joel Macdonald Centreline Jamie Bennell Cameron Bruce Brad Green Half forwards Lynden Dunn Cale Morton Tom Scully Forwards Colin Sylvia Jack Watts Liam Jurrah Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Aaron Davey Interchange Rohan Bail Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Addam Maric Emergencies Matthew Bate Austin Wonaeamirri Matthew Warnock. In Addam Maric Out Matthew Bate SYDNEY Backs Rhyce Shaw Ted Richards Martin Mattner Half backs Paul Bevan Heath Grundy Tadhg Kennelly Centreline Nick Malceski Brett Kirk Kieren Jack Half forwards Ryan O'Keefe Mike Pyke Josh Kennedy Forwards Ben McGlynn Adam Goodes Jarred Moore Followers Shane Mumford Jude Bolton Jarrad McVeigh Interchange Daniel Hannebery Lewis Jetta Brett Meredith Jesse White Emergencies Trent Dennis-Lane Sam Reid Gary Rohan In Lewis Jetta Out Nick 426 Smith (hamstring - 4 to 6 weeks) New Sam Reid (Murray Bushrangers) THE PEOPLE GIVE THEIR VERDICT Back to our previews and DeezMan believes that a "possible (and very likely) scenario of Melbourne going into the match with all of Grimes, McDonald, Moloney and Trengove not playing would be a massive downer!" As it happens, Beamer has been selected but who knows if he will run out onto the G when the game begins on Sunday afternoon? On the other hand, Junior will play for Casey against the VFL Magpies a few kilometres down the road at Victoria Park. DeezMan continues: Sydney has one of the hardest midfields going around in Captain Kirk, Goodes, O'Keefe and Bolton (not to mention tough nut Jack and Hannebery!!). Melbourne without its toughest player in Moloney and without its most courageous player in its very own captain would be a significant loss to the side. Remember that the combo of Jamar/Moloney has been so crucial to its wins and overall competitiveness). Although we still have Jones in the middle and in-and-under tough nugget McKenzie as well, including Beamer and Junior alongside those two would be instrumental! Sydney pulled of a ripper against the Blues at Etihad last weekend and they'll use that coming into the game against the Dees. Melbourne is coming back from a trip to Perth and a game against Top 4 side Freo which it played very well! Can the Dees start off well??? Can they keep Goodes quiet? I think Sydney has our measure and they really should triumph in their second game in Melbourne in a row. The Dees have too many big and very important out's. BUT... if one of Junior and Moloney both pull up ok... consider the Dees in with a very VERY good shot. Demon Jack16 Dunn seems to be the match up for Goodes. He will be required in the midfield due to some absences so this move seems to sort itself out. Skull & Jordie will need big games which both are certainly well capable of. Nathan Jones will need to lead by example in there. Our main forward targets...Watts, Bate & Jurrah saw plenty of the ball last week & were lively with all 3 probably having decent chances to have more of an impact on the game than each did. This is positive for us & hopefully if they see the same amount this week they can finish off that work, they all worked fairly hard and were never really in each others' space. Bennell complements them well and this could be a real strength. I reckon these four (plus Rick Petterd/Tapscott) will be a real handful in years to come. With these four playing dangerous it will allow Col Sylvia & Brad Green to push further & be rotated into the midfield which we will need against the Swans this week. I'm confident that our backline can handle any combination thrown up by their forward set up. It has started to go without saying.......we need to bl00dy start well, go Dees!! We win by 16 Mad_Melbourne believes it's "all about hitting our targets, kicking well when necessary, not overusing the handball, and applying pressure to the opposition." When Melbourne play this style of footy we are competitive with all teams, we need to dictate play with hard running midfielders being the key to our success. Aaron Davey is well overdue for a blinder of a game, and Sydney has recently hit form so it will be a good test. So there you have it. The Demonlanders have spoken. Thanks folks! As for me, I retain my optimism. If Richmond can beat this crowd at the G as they did a few weeks back, then so can we! Melbourne by 10 points.

A DIFFERENT DRAFT by Whispering Jack It's amazing what the passing of twelve months can do. This time last year (and also the year before) Melbourne fans were probably more interested in what was happening at suburban parks where junior football was being played than they were with the events at the MCG. The prize of the first pick of the best young talent in the land was an alluring one and the fact that last year, the second best young player might also be included in the draft package made it all the better. The end result (decided months later after the trade period) of four picks in the first eighteen was the icing on the cake. However, this year we're all travelling to the beat of a different draft. The fact that the Demons are gradually moving away from the bottom of the ladder (partially a result of the infusion of recently drafted youth) has much to do with the difference in attitude to this year's festival of young talent but the main factor has been the impending introduction of the Gold Coast Suns to the 2011 AFL roster. The AFL wants its new franchise teams to have the best possible chance of achieving early success in the competition so the concessions available to the Suns and to Greater Western Sydney next year have been far reaching. The Gold Coast already fields a team in the VFL comprised of young local talent, a handful of players picked in last year's rookie draft led by Daniel Harris, zone selections like Liam Jurrah's NT cousin Liam Patrick, a clutch full of 17 year old talent (all now 18) picked up by way of special nominations and some odds and sods from here and there in the form of ex-Cat Nathan Ablett and rugby's Karmichael Hunt. They already have one AFL premiership player more that Melbourne in young Nathan and are hoping to collect more of them in his brother Gary Junior and possibly Hawk Campbell Brown through the rule which gives the Gold Coast the right to take one uncontracted player from each of the sixteen existing clubs. They say they plan to pick up eight players this way and it will cost them nothing because the AFL is picking up the tab and doling out compensation by way of future draft picks to the affected clubs. The Coasters got a big push when they were allowed to preselect twelve 17 year olds (turning 18 by 30 April this year) after last year's drafts. This gave them first choice over a swag of talent including the likes of then bottom age stars Joshua Toy and Brandon Matera whose removal from the draft pool has weakened the list of players to be drafted in the forthcoming drafts. Some of these youngsters are already getting VFL games to accelerate their development programme. One of the nominated 12, Demon Premier cricketer Alex Keath has opted out after deciding on a different career path in the world of cricket. Then come the draft concessions that give the Gold Coast the first three picks and more in the November draft. Not surprisingly, the draft meeting will be held this year at the Gold Coast Convention Centre at Broadbeach and one can only ask the other clubs whether it's all worth their while turning up (it is - see Part II coming soon)! Well, here is the order of selection for the first round of which Gold Coast Suns gets nine picks:- 1 - Gold Coast Suns, #2 - Gold Coast Suns, #3 - Gold Coast Suns, #4 - 16th, #5 - Gold Coast Suns, #6 - 15th, #7 - Gold Coast Suns, #8 - 14th, #9 - Gold Coast Suns, #10 - 13th, #11 - Gold Coast Suns, #12 - 12th, #13 - Gold Coast Suns, #14 - 11th, #15 - Gold Coast Suns, #16 - 10th, #17 - 9th, #18 - 8th, #19 - 7th, #20 - 6th, #21 - 5th, #22 - 4th, #23 - 3rd, #24 - 2nd, #25 - 1st. After that comes the priority pick (if the Eagles decide to tank fail to add to their current four wins) and then Gold Coast Suns get the first pick of each succeeding round. The AFL concessions to Gold Coast franchise reached an inane point last year when they were permitted to nominate their first selection for the 2011 draft before the 2010 draft took place. Melbourne already had picks 1 and 2 locked away for the latter after trade week in October but the Demons were not allowed to announce their picks prior to draft day. Go figure? The Gold Coast Suns selected 2009 Larke Medallist David Swallow (brother of North's Andrew) who has been learning the ropes in its VFL team. They have also announced that this year's winner of the same award for the best player of the Under 18 Championships, Harley Bennell (cousin of Melbourne's Jamie), will be one of their first three chosen players. If SA's Sam Day chooses footy ahead of basketball, then he's the likely third man. So there we are. It's a different draft and it leaves me wondering how Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne got by 85 years ago when they entered the competition. Oh, that's right, North fans had to wait half a century before they saw the skipper of their club lift up a premiership cup. KEY DRAFT DATES Friday October 1, 2pm - Father/Son nominations lodged with the AFL. Monday October 4, 10am - Father/Son bidding meeting (Gold Coast Suns not entitled to participate). Monday October 4 - Monday October 11 - AFL exchange period (In addition to normally permitted exchanges, Gold Coast Suns may exchange players nominated as 17-year-olds in 2009 who have not accepted a contract offer, players nominated as rookies in 2009 who have not accepted a contract offer, the right to list a player who has previously nominated for the Draft under rule 35.5 and the right to list a priority zone selection from Queensland or the Northern Territory under rule 35.6). Thursday October 7, 2pm - Gold Coast FC may include on its primary list up to one listed player from each club (or more than one if the other club agrees) provided the player is uncontracted for the 2011 season. Friday October 29, 2pm - List lodgement one. Rookie promotion to primary list, retained second year and third year rookies, scholarship player transfer to primary list or rookie list; international scholarship player transfer to primary list or rookie list. Gold Coast players contracted under rule 35.2 (local talent) may be included on the club primary list or rookie list with their consent, Gold Coast FC contracted nominated 17 year-olds included on the primary list, Gold Coast FC nominated 17 year-olds who have not accepted a contract may be included on the primary list, Gold Coast FC 2009 rookies who accept a contract offer may be included on the primary list or rookie list. Friday November 5, 2pm - Out of contract listed primary list players draft nomination deadline. Friday November 5, 2pm - Draft nomination deadline for new or expired (after three years) nominations. Friday November 5, 2pm - Nomination of use of compensatory selection by clubs that lose an uncontracted player to Gold Coast FC. Wednesday November 10, 2pm - List lodgement two. Friday November 12, 2pm - Delisted primary list draft nomination deadline. Friday November 12, 2pm - Non-retained rookie draft nomination deadline. Friday November 12 - Priority zone selections, Queensland and NT. Thursday November 18 - NAB AFL Draft selection meeting, Gold Coast Convention Centre. Tuesday November 23, 2pm - Out of contract primary list draft nomination deadline. Tuesday November 23, 2pm -International player inclusion on rookie list deadline. Tuesday November 23, 2pm - Players not registered for three years inclusion on rookie list deadline. Tuesday November 23, 2pm - NSW scholarship player and international scholarship player inclusion on rookie list deadline. Wednesday November 24, 2pm - List lodgement three and TPP estimates. Tuesday November 30, 2pm - Delisted primary list draft nomination deadline. Tuesday November 30 - Previously listed players or draft nominated players deadline. Gold Coast FC may nominate up to 10 players whose nomination is current for the 2010 draft but who have not previously been on a club list or a primary list. Tuesday November 30, 2pm - GWS zone access. Team GWS to nominate up to 16 draft-eligible players from NSW/ACT outside the current NSW scholarship region. Tuesday December 7, 10am - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft meeting (Microsoft Live meeting). Tuesday December 7, 10.10am - Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast FC and Sydney Swans pre-selected rookie nominations. Tuesday December 7, 10.15am - NAB AFL Rookie Draft meeting (Microsoft Live meeting). Team GWS have selections 1-8 and Gold Coast FC has selection nine and the first selection in each subsequent round. Friday December 10, 2pm - Team GWS to nominate up to 12 17-year-olds born between January 1 and April 30, 1993

The Lollipop Lion is hip?

We did this last year and ended up with a couple of great match previews. You're invited to contribute your thoughts. Any length - short or long. Tell us who you think and why? Tell us about the match ups for the game. Tell us about the strategies. OR Tell us about your special memories of Dees v Swans contests from the past including last year's game at Manuka. Best efforts will be included in the Demonland Match Preview.

James Frawley is making a run for the player of the year leadership. Who will be first to get the ton? 99.772 Mark Jamar 88.368 James Frawley 75.042 Brent Moloney 71.971 Brad Green 70.951 James McDonald 64.773 Jack Grimes 59.078 Jack Trengove 48.976 Tom Scully 47.655 Colin Sylvia 41.130 Aaron Davey 33.878 Matthew Bate 33.199 Jordie McKenzie 33.014 Cameron Bruce 22.896 Jamie Bennell 20.656 Ricky Petterd 19.690 Lynden Dunn 19.525 Nathan Jones 17.321 Joel Macdonald 17.257 Jordan Gysberts 17.065 Matthew Warnock 12.546 Clint Bartram 9.077 Rohan Bail 8.500 Cale Morton 8.073 Neville Jetta 7.064 Brad Miller 6.353 Jack Watts 4.872 Colin Garland 4.752 Cale Morton 1.732 Paul Johnson 0.866 Jared Rivers

SHRINK! by William from West Perth Melbourne (the football team) comes to Perth once or twice a year and when that happens I get a rare opportunity to support in person the football team of my youthful days. However, there are some pitfalls involved in this; mainly because said football team has great difficulty winning any matches over here. My expectations this week were no different and the game against the Purple Haze opened much as I anticipated. Since Melbourne returned from its steamy escapade up in Darwin in Round 8, it has become oh, so predictable, conceding at least the first goal of every game (and often much more) to the opposition. Why should things be any different at any time when the team travels out here to a place where it has failed to register a win against either of the local sides since 2004? So predictable are the Demons that I put them on my list of dead set certainties: 1. Death and Taxes, 2. Vision of Julia Gillard appearing on the front page of every newspaper after the weekend hugging and kissing a baby, and 3. Melbourne stuffing up the start of yet another game. And so it came to pass that bang, bang, bang (snip, snip, snip - ed.) ... the first three goals of the game were in the Docker's bag before the Demons were out of snooze mode; the clock hadn't even ticked past the ten minute mark! I sat there with my two companions (both Eagles fans still celebrating Mark Le Cras' amazing haul the night before), my face resting in cupped hands and me muttering expletives about umpires and ... well, before I knew it, we were in the shadows of half time, that (snip) little pest Hayden Ballantyne (why couldn't he have kept his interchange antics for this week?) had just kicked his third and the team was down by 44 points. By then, we had witnessed all of the usual cock ups. Last week it was Jared Rivers who stuffed up a simple short pass for an embarrassing Bomber goal. This week it was Cam Bruce's turn to kick across the face of goal and give away an easy one. We did it all. Stupid free kicks, one or two of them soft, umpire # 8 (snip). They were wallowing in the mire, the yellow maggots were hurting us as much as the purple people and the game was over. Or was it? Jamie Bennell kicked his second goal, the siren went, and we wandered off to a bar for liquid refreshments and an opportunity to calmly and rationally discuss what could be done to turn things around for the ailing Demons and enable them to fight their way back into a game which appeared to be firmly in Fremantle's control. That was about the time when I hit upon a brilliant idea to help stem the weekly tide that sees the Demons give away goal after goal before finding themselves chasing tail and playing catch up football. Surely, enlisting the services of a psychiatrist could do the trick? What I really needed was a hot line to Dean Bailey to break the news to him. I would have to told him to forget telling the newspapers that he was changing the pre game routine or reminding us how many games in a row we've lost in a row at Subiaco or AAMI Stadium or telling the supporters that "the team is determined to end its worrying Subiaco Oval hoodoo against AFL top-four fancy Fremantle in the west today." Forget that (snip) Dean ... just do something about it and hire a shrink to fix the problem. After all, you yourself said it all after the game: "If you're not prepared to fight your way into the game from the start you are going to be chasing the opposition for the whole game and that's what we did." So why not get an eminent psychiatrist in to talk to the players and convince them that when they go out to play it's really half time and they're already six goals down. That should rev them up and get them going. If that doesn't work then why not give them all a (snip) rocket up their (snip) which is what Bails must have done during the main break because the minute they stepped back onto the field of play in the third quarter, you could sense that something big was about to go down and it was really big! Melbourne took the game on and with a superb brand of running, free- flowing, fast paced football, they banged on six goals in the first 17 minutes of the term to reduce the deficit from 39 points to a solitary point. Even without the aid of a shrink, they had drawn to the very brink of what would have been an impossible victory and one that would almost have rivaled the one at the MCG against this mob two years ago. Aaron Davey and Liam Jurrah came good with two goals each, Tom Scully was running rings around the Docker midfield and Nathan Jones came to life in the absence of injured teammate Brent Moloney. Colin Sylvia came to life as well while the steadiness of Jordie McKenzie (fantastic for someone so young and really still a rookie) and James Frawley were important. But just as the impossible was about to happen for the Demons, stage fright set in. Ryan Crowley gave the Dockers a vital goal just before three-quarter time break and Jack Watts failed to score with a difficult angle shot after the siren. Brad Green kicked the first for the final term and the Demons soon got to within a point again. Then, for the rest of the quarter it was an arm wrestle as the teams traded points and tragically (for me and the few hundred red and blue faithful at the ground and the thousands watching in homes and pubs somewhere else) Lynden Dunn and Jack Watts both missed set shots that would have put Melbourne in front. In the end, the (snip) pest kicked a left footer that bounced through and the game was over. Fremantle 11.16.82 to Melbourne 10.11.71. Anyway, Dr. McZyff. That's my story for the day. What's yours? By the way, did I ever tell you that this is really a comfortable couch? Melbourne 1.28 3.5.23 9.8.62 10.11.71 Fremantle 6.3.39 9.8.62 10.10.70 11.16.82 Goals Melbourne Bennell Davey Jurrah 2 Green Johnson Jones Sylvia Fremantle Ballantyne 4 Mundy 2 Duffield Fyfe Hasleby Palmer Best Melbourne McKenzie Frawley Davey Jones Scully Sylvia Fremantle Ballantyne Hill Mundy Duffield Ibbotson Palmer Injuries Melbourne Moloney (corked thigh) Green (finger) Fremantle Roberton (ankle) Bradley (knee) Changes Melbourne Nil Fremantle Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Fremantle Nil Umpires Margetts Rosebury Dalgleish Crowd 32,816 at Subiaco Oval

SHRINK! by William from West Perth Melbourne (the football team) comes to Perth once or twice a year and when that happens I get a rare opportunity to support in person the football team of my youthful days. However, there are some pitfalls involved in this; mainly because said football team has great difficulty winning any matches over here. My expectations this week were no different and the game against the Purple Haze opened much as I anticipated. Since Melbourne returned from its steamy escapade up in Darwin in Round 8, it has become oh, so predictable, conceding at least the first goal of every game (and often much more) to the opposition. Why should things be any different at any time when the team travels out here to a place where it has failed to register a win against either of the local sides since 2004? So predictable are the Demons that I put them on my list of dead set certainties: 1. Death and Taxes, 2. Vision of Julia Gillard appearing on the front page of every newspaper after the weekend hugging and kissing a baby, and 3. Melbourne stuffing up the start of yet another game. And so it came to pass that bang, bang, bang (snip, snip, snip - ed.) ... the first three goals of the game were in the Docker's bag before the Demons were out of snooze mode; the clock hadn't even ticked past the ten minute mark! I sat there with my two companions (both Eagles fans still celebrating Mark Le Cras' amazing haul the night before), my face resting in cupped hands and me muttering expletives about umpires and ... well, before I knew it, we were in the shadows of half time, that (snip) little pest Hayden Ballantyne (why couldn't he have kept his interchange antics for this week?) had just kicked his third and the team was down by 44 points. By then, we had witnessed all of the usual cock ups. Last week it was Jared Rivers who stuffed up a simple short pass for an embarrassing Bomber goal. This week it was Cam Bruce's turn to kick across the face of goal and give away an easy one. We did it all. Stupid free kicks, one or two of them soft, umpire # 8 (snip). They were wallowing in the mire, the yellow maggots were hurting us as much as the purple people and the game was over. Or was it? Jamie Bennell kicked his second goal, the siren went, and we wandered off to a bar for liquid refreshments and an opportunity to calmly and rationally discuss what could be done to turn things around for the ailing Demons and enable them to fight their way back into a game which appeared to be firmly in Fremantle's control. That was about the time when I hit upon a brilliant idea to help stem the weekly tide that sees the Demons give away goal after goal before finding themselves chasing tail and playing catch up football. Surely, enlisting the services of a psychiatrist could do the trick? What I really needed was a hot line to Dean Bailey to break the news to him. I would have to told him to forget telling the newspapers that he was changing the pre game routine or reminding us how many games in a row we've lost in a row at Subiaco or AAMI Stadium or telling the supporters that "the team is determined to end its worrying Subiaco Oval hoodoo against AFL top-four fancy Fremantle in the west today." Forget that (snip) Dean ... just do something about it and hire a shrink to fix the problem. After all, you yourself said it all after the game: "If you're not prepared to fight your way into the game from the start you are going to be chasing the opposition for the whole game and that's what we did." So why not get an eminent psychiatrist in to talk to the players and convince them that when they go out to play it's really half time and they're already six goals down. That should rev them up and get them going. If that doesn't work then why not give them all a (snip) rocket up their (snip) which is what Bails must have done during the main break because the minute they stepped back onto the field of play in the third quarter, you could sense that something big was about to go down and it was really big! Melbourne took the game on and with a superb brand of running, free- flowing, fast paced football, they banged on six goals in the first 17 minutes of the term to reduce the deficit from 39 points to a solitary point. Even without the aid of a shrink, they had drawn to the very brink of what would have been an impossible victory and one that would almost have rivaled the one at the MCG against this mob two years ago. Aaron Davey and Liam Jurrah came good with two goals each, Tom Scully was running rings around the Docker midfield and Nathan Jones came to life in the absence of injured teammate Brent Moloney. Colin Sylvia came to life as well while the steadiness of Jordie McKenzie (fantastic for someone so young and really still a rookie) and James Frawley were important. But just as the impossible was about to happen for the Demons, stage fright set in. Ryan Crowley gave the Dockers a vital goal just before three-quarter time break and Jack Watts failed to score with a difficult angle shot after the siren. Brad Green kicked the first for the final term and the Demons soon got to within a point again. Then, for the rest of the quarter it was an arm wrestle as the teams traded points and tragically (for me and the few hundred red and blue faithful at the ground and the thousands watching in homes and pubs somewhere else) Lynden Dunn and Jack Watts both missed set shots that would have put Melbourne in front. In the end, the (snip) pest kicked a left footer that bounced through and the game was over. Fremantle 11.16.82 to Melbourne 10.11.71. Anyway, Dr. McZyff. That's my story for the day. What's yours? By the way, did I ever tell you that this is really a comfortable couch? Melbourne 1.28 3.5.23 9.8.62 10.11.71 Fremantle 6.3.39 9.8.62 10.10.70 11.16.82 Goals Melbourne Bennell Davey Jurrah 2 Green Johnson Jones Sylvia Fremantle Ballantyne 4 Mundy 2 Duffield Fyfe Hasleby Palmer Best Melbourne McKenzie Frawley Davey Jones Scully Sylvia Fremantle Ballantyne Hill Mundy Duffield Ibbotson Palmer Injuries Melbourne Moloney (corked thigh) Green (finger) Fremantle Roberton (ankle) Bradley (knee) Changes Melbourne Nil Fremantle Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Fremantle Nil Umpires Margetts Rosebury Dalgleish Crowd 32,816 at Subiaco Oval

Please let us have your votes ...

IN AND UNDER by KC from Casey The signs were ominous for the Casey Scorpions early in their match against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields as a chilly northerly wind swept down their beleaguered ground. The surface showed the scars of the recent heavy rains in the Cranbourne area that saw the venue of their last home game moved but it provided few problems for the players. The same could not be said of the tricky winds that the Scorpions struggled to handle in the early phase of the game. Casey had first use of the strong breeze but had trouble in going forward let alone scoring. Port Melbourne used the ball well kicking into the wind and working hard in and under the packs to get the footy and its intensity and desperation was on show from the start. The young Scorpion ruck duo of Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Cleven, with half a dozen senior VFL games between them, had their hands full with the bigger bodied, experienced ex-AFL ruckmen David Fanning and Dylan McLaren who gave their teammates first use of the ball at the stoppages and Port took first blood after James Taylor kicked defensively across goal. By halfway through the first quarter, it led 2.2.14 to 0.1.1. Addam Maric and Luke Tapscott kicked goals to narrow the margin but Casey's poor disposal coming out of defence was still causing it grief and, as a consequence, Port Melbourne had well and truly set up an important victory by hanging on to hold a one point lead at the first break. Coach Brad Gotch called on his players to play smarter when kicking into the wind and they responded early in the second quarter with the first three goals of the quarter. Brad Miller started things going with a goal off the ground and then Austin Wonaeamirri, who had been quiet, marked at the end of a nice chain of slick kicks. Maric was starring at this stage and combined with Tapscott for another nice goal and suddenly, the Scorpions goals led by 14 points - 5.2.32 to 2.6.18. However, at this point, there was yet another momentum swing. Port took over, their ruckmen lifted a notch or two giving their onballers an armchair ride and the Borough completely dominated the second half of the term after scoring their first major at the 15 minute mark. Goal after goal followed and the flow was only temporarily stemmed when Ben MacReadie, who was having a good game, accepted a pass from skipper Matthew Wall. A goal after the siren gave the visitors a three goal buffer as the players went into the sheds at half time. By that time, Port had kicked six of the last seven goals in just half of the quarter. To make matters worse, the Scorpions again conceded the first goal despite having the advantage of the stiff breeze. They were simply being outplayed. Port Melbourne was winning in the air and was cleaner with the football and it locked Casey down for the first twelve minutes of the term when Wonaeamirri scored his second. This was the lifter and Maric chimed in for his third, followed by a goal Neville Jetta after a 50 metre penalty. When Miller booted his second at the 23 minute mark, scores were level. Playing just his second game of the season, Wade Lees kicked a nice goal followed by another from Rian McGough and the home team held a thirteen point lead at the final break. The game was there to be won but it needed a massive effort against the strengthening wind. Port Melbourne struck first with a goal in the first minute but Evan Panozza, who had been rock solid in defence, followed his man down to goal and the Scorpions squandered a couple of opportunities before the momentum shifted again in mid term. The Borough took control, kicked the last six goals of the game and finished strongly to record a well deserved by 25 point win. Despite the emphatic finish, they probably secured their win with the statement they made with their great opening quarter. MacReadie was the big possession winner with 16 kicks, 9 handballs and 5 marks and Danny Nicholls continued his consistent line of form with 19 disposals (15 and 4) and took two marks. Unfortunately, there were too many players who didn't work hard enough on the day as evidenced by the large number of players who failed to make it to double figures on the possession stats sheets. The level of Port's dominance was shown by its 100 disposals to 70 against the wind in the first quarter and 76 to 59 in the last when the game was there to be won. For the Casey Scorpions, it was a disappointing return home and the team now has an eight day break to rest up and regroup for what has become a vital match up against fourth placed Collingwood. With the Borough breathing down both their necks, neither side can afford to give away the four points on offer. HOW THE DEMONS FARED by Whispering Jack Daniel Bell (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 1 mark) - has been good in recent weeks in a run with role but lowered his colours badly this time. Jack Fitzpatrick (0 kicks, 7 handballs, 0 marks) - was given a difficult assignment in stopping Port Melbourne's seasoned ruck duo and, while he had his moments, struggled to match their strength and experience in the end. Neville Jetta (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - apart from a nice goal and a few individual efforts, had a quiet day and won't get promoted on that performance. Addam Maric (9 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks, 3 goals) - was Casey's best player for the first three quarters during which time he lit up the ground with some brilliant play across half forward. He kicked Casey's first goal with some classy play and set up the next for Luke Tapscott. He combined well with his fellow forwards to bring his team back into the game early in the second quarter and again when in the third quarter. Also created some run and hit targets playing down the field but, like most of his teammates, he drifted out of the game at the end. Tom McNamara (15 kicks, 1 handball, 3 marks) - held the fort in defense early with Matthew Warnock and was solid under pressure all day. Brad Miller (9 kicks, 7 handballs, 8 marks, 2 goals) - took a while to get going but eventually worked his way into the game. Took some solid marks and booted two goals and was his team's only focal point in attack. Missed a few including a crucial shot in the last quarter. Luke Tapscott (13 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks, 1 goal) - surprised with his class and the drive he gave especially considering how much of the season he missed after his hip operation. Is hard at it and exceptionally long kick of the footy. Matthew Warnock (5 kicks, 6 handballs, 4 marks) - had his hands full with the Port Melbourne big men but stuck to his task and was one of his team's best. Austin Wonaemirri (6 kicks, 0 handballs, 2 marks, 2 goals) - had a slow start but came good with some clever forward play and a nice goal in the second quarter. Worked hard but needs to be more consistent through the game. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 6.2.38 12.5.77 13.9.87 Port Melbourne 2.3.15 8.8.56 9.10.64 16.16.112 Goals Casey Scorpions Maric 3 Miller Wonaemirri 2 Jetta Lees McGough Panozza Tapscott Wall Port Melbourne Scipione 4 Bentick Burstin McMahon Sinclair 2 Bonaddio Debruin Fanning Schultz Casey Scorpions MacReadie Miller Warnock McNamara Maric Nicholls Port Melbourne Fanning McLaren Bentick Valenti Wall Pinwill The reserves took on Port Melbourne for the third time this season and, despite a good start against the breeze, were overpowered by an experienced opponent that had a the luxury of a goal kicking full forward who kicked six goals. To their credit, they the Scorpions came back to narrow the gap to 8 points at the end after the visitors held a 6 goal lead midway through the final term. David Bell continued his brilliant run to be his team's best but only a whisker ahead of Brad Sykes who was dangerous around goal all game and finished with five goals. Sam Blease showed flashes of brilliance on a wing and later in the middle. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 8.4.52 10.6.66 15.9.99 Port Melbourne 3.5.23 7.9.51 11.13.79 15.17.107 Goals Casey Scorpions Sykes 5 Hillberge Petropoulos 2 Lillie Patti Purdy Smith Tynan Waite Port Melbourne Pitt 6 Bean Purcell 2 Castricum Deledio Dwyer Keely Neville Best Casey Scorpions David Bell Sykes Plummer Blease Burke Petropoulos Port Melbourne Pitt Purcell Suckling Dalton Thornton Neville

IN AND UNDER by KC from Casey The signs were ominous for the Casey Scorpions early in their match against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields as a chilly northerly wind swept down their beleaguered ground. The surface showed the scars of the recent heavy rains in the Cranbourne area that saw the venue of their last home game moved but it provided few problems for the players. The same could not be said of the tricky winds that the Scorpions struggled to handle in the early phase of the game. Casey had first use of the strong breeze but had trouble in going forward let alone scoring. Port Melbourne used the ball well kicking into the wind and working hard in and under the packs to get the footy and its intensity and desperation was on show from the start. The young Scorpion ruck duo of Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Cleven, with half a dozen senior VFL games between them, had their hands full with the bigger bodied, experienced ex-AFL ruckmen David Fanning and Dylan McLaren who gave their teammates first use of the ball at the stoppages and Port took first blood after James Taylor kicked defensively across goal. By halfway through the first quarter, it led 2.2.14 to 0.1.1. Addam Maric and Luke Tapscott kicked goals to narrow the margin but Casey's poor disposal coming out of defence was still causing it grief and, as a consequence, Port Melbourne had well and truly set up an important victory by hanging on to hold a one point lead at the first break. Coach Brad Gotch called on his players to play smarter when kicking into the wind and they responded early in the second quarter with the first three goals of the quarter. Brad Miller started things going with a goal off the ground and then Austin Wonaeamirri, who had been quiet, marked at the end of a nice chain of slick kicks. Maric was starring at this stage and combined with Tapscott for another nice goal and suddenly, the Scorpions goals led by 14 points - 5.2.32 to 2.6.18. However, at this point, there was yet another momentum swing. Port took over, their ruckmen lifted a notch or two giving their onballers an armchair ride and the Borough completely dominated the second half of the term after scoring their first major at the 15 minute mark. Goal after goal followed and the flow was only temporarily stemmed when Ben MacReadie, who was having a good game, accepted a pass from skipper Matthew Wall. A goal after the siren gave the visitors a three goal buffer as the players went into the sheds at half time. By that time, Port had kicked six of the last seven goals in just half of the quarter. To make matters worse, the Scorpions again conceded the first goal despite having the advantage of the stiff breeze. They were simply being outplayed. Port Melbourne was winning in the air and was cleaner with the football and it locked Casey down for the first twelve minutes of the term when Wonaeamirri scored his second. This was the lifter and Maric chimed in for his third, followed by a goal Neville Jetta after a 50 metre penalty. When Miller booted his second at the 23 minute mark, scores were level. Playing just his second game of the season, Wade Lees kicked a nice goal followed by another from Rian McGough and the home team held a thirteen point lead at the final break. The game was there to be won but it needed a massive effort against the strengthening wind. Port Melbourne struck first with a goal in the first minute but Evan Panozza, who had been rock solid in defence, followed his man down to goal and the Scorpions squandered a couple of opportunities before the momentum shifted again in mid term. The Borough took control, kicked the last six goals of the game and finished strongly to record a well deserved by 25 point win. Despite the emphatic finish, they probably secured their win with the statement they made with their great opening quarter. MacReadie was the big possession winner with 16 kicks, 9 handballs and 5 marks and Danny Nicholls continued his consistent line of form with 19 disposals (15 and 4) and took two marks. Unfortunately, there were too many players who didn't work hard enough on the day as evidenced by the large number of players who failed to make it to double figures on the possession stats sheets. The level of Port's dominance was shown by its 100 disposals to 70 against the wind in the first quarter and 76 to 59 in the last when the game was there to be won. For the Casey Scorpions, it was a disappointing return home and the team now has an eight day break to rest up and regroup for what has become a vital match up against fourth placed Collingwood. With the Borough breathing down both their necks, neither side can afford to give away the four points on offer. HOW THE DEMONS FARED by Whispering Jack Daniel Bell (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 1 mark) - has been good in recent weeks in a run with role but lowered his colours badly this time. Jack Fitzpatrick (0 kicks, 7 handballs, 0 marks) - was given a difficult assignment in stopping Port Melbourne's seasoned ruck duo and, while he had his moments, struggled to match their strength and experience in the end. Neville Jetta (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - apart from a nice goal and a few individual efforts, had a quiet day and won't get promoted on that performance. Addam Maric (9 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks, 3 goals) - was Casey's best player for the first three quarters during which time he lit up the ground with some brilliant play across half forward. He kicked Casey's first goal with some classy play and set up the next for Luke Tapscott. He combined well with his fellow forwards to bring his team back into the game early in the second quarter and again when in the third quarter. Also created some run and hit targets playing down the field but, like most of his teammates, he drifted out of the game at the end. Tom McNamara (15 kicks, 1 handball, 3 marks) - held the fort in defense early with Matthew Warnock and was solid under pressure all day. Brad Miller (9 kicks, 7 handballs, 8 marks, 2 goals) - took a while to get going but eventually worked his way into the game. Took some solid marks and booted two goals and was his team's only focal point in attack. Missed a few including a crucial shot in the last quarter. Luke Tapscott (13 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks, 1 goal) - surprised with his class and the drive he gave especially considering how much of the season he missed after his hip operation. Is hard at it and exceptionally long kick of the footy. Matthew Warnock (5 kicks, 6 handballs, 4 marks) - had his hands full with the Port Melbourne big men but stuck to his task and was one of his team's best. Austin Wonaemirri (6 kicks, 0 handballs, 2 marks, 2 goals) - had a slow start but came good with some clever forward play and a nice goal in the second quarter. Worked hard but needs to be more consistent through the game. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 6.2.38 12.5.77 13.9.87 Port Melbourne 2.3.15 8.8.56 9.10.64 16.16.112 Goals Casey Scorpions Maric 3 Miller Wonaemirri 2 Jetta Lees McGough Panozza Tapscott Wall Port Melbourne Scipione 4 Bentick Burstin McMahon Sinclair 2 Bonaddio Debruin Fanning Schultz Casey Scorpions MacReadie Miller Warnock McNamara Maric Nicholls Port Melbourne Fanning McLaren Bentick Valenti Wall Pinwill The reserves took on Port Melbourne for the third time this season and, despite a good start against the breeze, were overpowered by an experienced opponent that had a the luxury of a goal kicking full forward who kicked six goals. To their credit, they the Scorpions came back to narrow the gap to 8 points at the end after the visitors held a 6 goal lead midway through the final term. David Bell continued his brilliant run to be his team's best but only a whisker ahead of Brad Sykes who was dangerous around goal all game and finished with five goals. Sam Blease showed flashes of brilliance on a wing and later in the middle. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 8.4.52 10.6.66 15.9.99 Port Melbourne 3.5.23 7.9.51 11.13.79 15.17.107 Goals Casey Scorpions Sykes 5 Hillberge Petropoulos 2 Lillie Patti Purdy Smith Tynan Waite Port Melbourne Pitt 6 Bean Purcell 2 Castricum Deledio Dwyer Keely Neville Best Casey Scorpions David Bell Sykes Plummer Blease Burke Petropoulos Port Melbourne Pitt Purcell Suckling Dalton Thornton Neville

It's our standard opening gambit.

FIRST STEPS by Whispering Jack By sheer co-incidence, the Herald Sun featured a story about Chris Dawes on precisely the same day that young Demon draftee Max Gawn played his first game after recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for well over a year. When Gawn took his place in the Scorpions' reserves against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday, he was following almost exactly in the Collingwood forward's footsteps. Dawes was drafted from Sandringham Dragons to the Magpies with pick 28 in the 2006 national draft after a knee reconstruction. Collingwood knew at the time that he would have to sit out the following season. He made his AFL debut in 2008 with six games and managed only four last year. The strongly built Magpie forward is finally becoming a regular in the AFL and doubled his pre 2010 games tally in his team's big win against St. Kilda. Meanwhile, Gawn, who was drafted from the Sandringham Dragons with pick 34 while recovering from a reconstruction last year, achieved his own modest milestone. This was his first VFL game: one played on an outer suburban ground that itself has been under a bit of a cloud after taking a battering from this year's heavier than usual Cranbourne rainfalls. Both the footballer and the football ground were making their comebacks when the Scorpion reserves ran out onto the Casey Fields main oval that sported half a dozen sandy patches that until recently were muddy glue pots which threatened the club's capacity to play home matches for the remainder of the season. Gawn's own return game has taken some time to come around. He hasn't graced a football field in action since May 2, 2009 when he went down with the knee injury against the Geelong Falcons. A setback or two along the way has mandated a conservative approach with Melbourne's young big man who was measured at 206.8cm at last year's national draft camp. They say he's now around 208cm which puts him behind only Fremantle's Aaron Sandiland on the list of AFL talls. Further, he's not a stringbean like many young rookie ruckmen as his weight is already heading northward of 100kg! I don't take much notice of You Tube highlights reels and it wasn't until well after he was drafted that I saw the Max Gawn version. Let me say that I was suitably impressed not just with this young man's size but with his skill, athleticism and the agility he displayed. Take away the knee injury and this kid, who had been included in the Vic Metro Under-18 squad after dominating both in the ruck and as a forward with the Dragons, could possibly have been snapped up in the top 10. Gawn was finally ready to go after enduring a frustrating eight months after draft day but it would have been an absolute miracle had he come out and starred in the half game he had been allocated for his comeback. There were no great expectations and he didn't get much of the footy (1 kick and 3 handballs), sharing the ruck duties with former Gippsland Falcon Chris Wylie in ten minute rotations. However, he did show good rucking skills and gave his teammates first use of the football at the stoppages, particularly at the centre bounces. This enabled the Scorpions to surprise Port Melbourne with a strong opening quarter and, when his stint ended on schedule at half time, they still led their finals bound visitors by a point There's no doubt that we are going to see a lot more of the Melbourne big man as he learns his trade (and he still has a lot to learn). The game was the first step on what is likely to be a long journey for both player and club. It's a journey that will be shared with one of yesterday's teammates in on baller Sam Blease who also suffered a debilitating long term injury breaking a leg while having a kick in the schoolyard last year. He was drafted at 17 and, like fellow 2008 draftee Jack Watts, was in the early stages of mixing the final year of his schooling with preparing to become a footballer at the elite level. Blease came back with the Casey reserves earlier in the season but had to take an extra rest after feeling pain in his leg. He is now in his third game on return and getting more game time every week. He was patchy early but gradually worked his way into the game after starting on a wing. When the coach threw Blease into the middle in the final quarter, he showed some good flashes of speed and disposal skills and was instrumental in his team's late comeback that saw it come to within eight points at the end after the Borough threatened to run away to a big victory. He finished with 14 kicks for the day. Gawn and Blease weren't the only players on show on this day who are in recovery mode. Fellow draftees 201cm Jack Fitzpatrick and utility Luke Tapscott played in Casey's senior team on the recovery trail from their respective injuries. Fitzpatrick has been fighting an ongoing battle with chronic fatigue syndrome but suffered a shoulder injury after a best on ground performance with the reserves earlier in the year and is showing promise in a rucking role. He was part of a very inexperienced ruck combination that struggled against Port's seasoned ex-AFL ruck duo Fanning and McLaren. Tapscott, who underwent a hip operation in the off season and is a month into his comeback, showed some of the class and toughness that had good judges describing him as a "young Paul Chapman". He's a prodigious kick and booted a nice goal to get his team back on an even keel after a slow start. The youngsters on show at Casey represent their club's own quest for recognition and success after years of stuggle. Over at Collingwood, Chris Dawes played a small role in his team's win that pushed them to the top of the table but, at Melbourne, the battle has only just begun. ▶ Whispering Jack is Max Gawn's 2010 MFC sponsor.

FIRST STEPS by Whispering Jack By sheer co-incidence, the Herald Sun featured a story about Chris Dawes on precisely the same day that young Demon draftee Max Gawn played his first game after recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for well over a year. When Gawn took his place in the Scorpions' reserves against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday, he was following almost exactly in the Collingwood forward's footsteps. Dawes was drafted from Sandringham Dragons to the Magpies with pick 28 in the 2006 national draft after a knee reconstruction. Collingwood knew at the time that he would have to sit out the following season. He made his AFL debut in 2008 with six games and managed only four last year. The strongly built Magpie forward is finally becoming a regular in the AFL and doubled his pre 2010 games tally in his team's big win against St. Kilda. Meanwhile, Gawn, who was drafted from the Sandringham Dragons with pick 34 while recovering from a reconstruction last year, achieved his own modest milestone. This was his first VFL game: one played on an outer suburban ground that itself has been under a bit of a cloud after taking a battering from this year's heavier than usual Cranbourne rainfalls. Both the footballer and the football ground were making their comebacks when the Scorpion reserves ran out onto the Casey Fields main oval that sported half a dozen sandy patches that until recently were muddy glue pots which threatened the club's capacity to play home matches for the remainder of the season. Gawn's own return game has taken some time to come around. He hasn't graced a football field in action since May 2, 2009 when he went down with the knee injury against the Geelong Falcons. A setback or two along the way has mandated a conservative approach with Melbourne's young big man who was measured at 206.8cm at last year's national draft camp. They say he's now around 208cm which puts him behind only Fremantle's Aaron Sandiland on the list of AFL talls. Further, he's not a stringbean like many young rookie ruckmen as his weight is already heading northward of 100kg! I don't take much notice of You Tube highlights reels and it wasn't until well after he was drafted that I saw the Max Gawn version. Let me say that I was suitably impressed not just with this young man's size but with his skill, athleticism and the agility he displayed. Take away the knee injury and this kid, who had been included in the Vic Metro Under-18 squad after dominating both in the ruck and as a forward with the Dragons, could possibly have been snapped up in the top 10. Gawn was finally ready to go after enduring a frustrating eight months after draft day but it would have been an absolute miracle had he come out and starred in the half game he had been allocated for his comeback. There were no great expectations and he didn't get much of the footy (1 kick and 3 handballs), sharing the ruck duties with former Gippsland Falcon Chris Wylie in ten minute rotations. However, he did show good rucking skills and gave his teammates first use of the football at the stoppages, particularly at the centre bounces. This enabled the Scorpions to surprise Port Melbourne with a strong opening quarter and, when his stint ended on schedule at half time, they still led their finals bound visitors by a point There's no doubt that we are going to see a lot more of the Melbourne big man as he learns his trade (and he still has a lot to learn). The game was the first step on what is likely to be a long journey for both player and club. It's a journey that will be shared with one of yesterday's teammates in on baller Sam Blease who also suffered a debilitating long term injury breaking a leg while having a kick in the schoolyard last year. He was drafted at 17 and, like fellow 2008 draftee Jack Watts, was in the early stages of mixing the final year of his schooling with preparing to become a footballer at the elite level. Blease came back with the Casey reserves earlier in the season but had to take an extra rest after feeling pain in his leg. He is now in his third game on return and getting more game time every week. He was patchy early but gradually worked his way into the game after starting on a wing. When the coach threw Blease into the middle in the final quarter, he showed some good flashes of speed and disposal skills and was instrumental in his team's late comeback that saw it come to within eight points at the end after the Borough threatened to run away to a big victory. He finished with 14 kicks for the day. Gawn and Blease weren't the only players on show on this day who are in recovery mode. Fellow draftees 201cm Jack Fitzpatrick and utility Luke Tapscott played in Casey's senior team on the recovery trail from their respective injuries. Fitzpatrick has been fighting an ongoing battle with chronic fatigue syndrome but suffered a shoulder injury after a best on ground performance with the reserves earlier in the year and is showing promise in a rucking role. He was part of a very inexperienced ruck combination that struggled against Port's seasoned ex-AFL ruck duo Fanning and McLaren. Tapscott, who underwent a hip operation in the off season and is a month into his comeback, showed some of the class and toughness that had good judges describing him as a "young Paul Chapman". He's a prodigious kick and booted a nice goal to get his team back on an even keel after a slow start. The youngsters on show at Casey represent their club's own quest for recognition and success after years of stuggle. Over at Collingwood, Chris Dawes played a small role in his team's win that pushed them to the top of the table but, at Melbourne, the battle has only just begun. ▶ Whispering Jack is Max Gawn's 2010 MFC sponsor.

PRAISING PURPLE by Sam the Stats Man Mark Harvey's Fremantle Dockers are having a fantastic season. They finished in the bottom four last year and currently hold a much coveted place in the top four. Were it not for a glitch last weekend when they sent a depleted side to battle it out against Richmond at the MCG, their hold on fourth spot would have been rock solid. They have otherwise shown an ability to hold their own against the best of them at home (against Geelong) and away where they recently scored a comfortable win at Etihad Stadium against the Blues. Melbourne had also fought its way out of the bottom four but only just – and that thanks to a last start win against Essendon. The performance was exceptional and, although some might question as less than satisfactory, the fact that the Bombers were allowed to kick six of the last seven goals of the game, the Demons were clearly resting players for this week’s battle when they have to travel across the Nullarbor to take on the Dockers. Certainly, the hard working and much improved Mark Jamar would have relished the fact that he was able to rest his weary body while junk time was played out. He deserved it. Fremantle will gain back some players this week which is just as well because they were starting to look vulnerable under the weight of the injuries they suffered, in particular the loss of midfielder Michael Barlow with a broken leg. The team certainly lacked a great deal of run against the Tigers and will need to do better in this area against the Demons. It’s hard to believe that at their last meeting, the Dockers were comprehensively beaten by 63 points but that was at the MCG. This game is at Subiaco where Fremantle has won five in a row against their visitors and you have to go all the way back to 2004 when Peter Vardy kicked four goals and a young pimply faced Brock McLean was in his first season excelled in the wet to pump the Dockers. Melbourne’s forward line looks improved with the inclusion of Liam Jurrah and Colin Sylvia and the Demons will be motivated by the need to show that they are capable of winning away from home (they did beat Port Adelaide in Darwin earlier in the year but that was neutral territory). The problem is that they had the same motivation (and more because they were still more than just a mathematical chance to make the finals then) when they played Adelaide at AAMI Stadium a few weeks back and were comprehensively spanked. Unfortunately, you can’t trust them to win over there and the statistics bear this out. Fremantle by 33 points. THE GAME Fremantle v Melbourne at the MCG - Sunday 18 July 2010 at 4:40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Fremantle 13 wins Melbourne 12 wins At Subiaco Fremantle 7 wins Melbourne 3 wins Since 2000 Fremantle 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Harvey 1 win Bailey 2 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 live at 4.00 pm RADIO ABC774 SEN 3AW THE BETTING Fremantle to win $1.22 Melbourne to win $4.35 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 20.7.127 defeated Fremantle 9.10.64 at the MCG Round 20, 2009 The Demons were on song and, after a reasonably even first half, they roared away and almost doubled the Dockers' score in the end. Producing another exciting display, Liam Jurrah booted four goals while Aaron Davey was best on ground. The victory was enough to put many supporters on edge for another fortnight before the priority draft pick issue was finally determined. THE TEAMS FREMANTLE Backs Dylan Roberton Alex Silvagni Kepler Bradley Half backs Matthew de Boer Luke McPharlin Roger Hayden Centreline Garrick Ibbotson David Mundy Nathan Fyfe Half forwards Jay van Berlo Matthew Pavlich Stephen Hill Forwards Adam McPhee Michael Johnson Hayden Ballantyne Followers Aaron Sandilands Ryan Crowley Paul Duffield Interchange Greg Broughton Paul Hasleby Anthony Morabito Rhys Palmer Emergencies Clancee Pearce Nick Suban Chris Tarrant In Greg Broughton Nathan Fyfe Luke McPharlin Out Clancee Pearce Tim Ruffles Clancee Pearce (all omitted) MELBOURNE Backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jordie McKenzie James Frawley Cameron Bruce Centreline Jamie Bennell Nathan Jones Brad Green Half forwards Lynden Dunn Jack Watts Tom Scully Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate Liam Jurrah Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Aaron Davey Interchange Rohan Bail Paul Johnson Joel Macdonald Cale Morton Emergencies Kyle Cheney Addam Maric Matthew Warnock In Rohan Bail Addam Maric Cale Morton Matthew Warnock Out Kyle Cheney (omitted) Jack Trengove (hip) Melbourne's season has spluttered since its three wins in a row in late April but last week's win over Essendon was a tonic. Here's my reveiw of how he team's gone so far this year. BAIL, Rohan MFC – 3 games, 3 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games, 3 goals. Was one the early surprise packets but injuries intervened to restrict him over the past two months. Has been among the best in his two return games at Casey. BARTRAM, Clint MFC - 14 games 2 goals. Early on, he played some of his best football since his debut year but has been a little inconsistent of late. BATE, Matthew MFC - 13 games 18 goals. Is having a reasonably good year after an interrupted pre season but needs to narrow the gap between his best and his worst. BELL, Daniel Casey Seniors - 10 games 0 goals. The start to his season was hampered by a pre season AC injury and he has not been able to force his way into AFL ranks. His position at the club at the end of the year must be under question. BENNELL, Jamie MFC - 13 games 11 goals, Casey Seniors 1 game 0 goals. Has shown some flashes of brilliance but also went through a flat patch that saw him play for Casey on an occasion. BLEASE, Sam Casey Reserves - 5 games 3 goals. Making slow progress in the VFL reserves after suffering a few setbacks coming back from a bad foot injury. BRUCE, Cameron MFC - 14 games 4 goals. Has been a steady performer throughout the season and is improving like a vintage wine. Seems to have recovered his goalkicking ability of late. CHENEY, Kyle MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 10 games 0 goals. Has been solid in defence at Casey and recently pushed his way into AFL selection where has been steady without being outstanding. DAVEY, Aaron MFC - 15 games 5 goals. Not as predominant as he was last year but has had his good games. DUNN, Lynden MFC - 11 games 10 goals, Casey Seniors 2 games, 9 goals. Hot and cold so far this season but has shown improvement in his more recent games. FITZPATRICK, Jack Casey Seniors 3 games 1 goal, Casey Reserves - 4 games 5 goals. Slowly overcoming his early injury woes and has been performing well in the seniors at Casey. FRAWLEY, James MFC - 14 games 0 goals. Continues to grow in stature as a strong, fast young defender. GARLAND, Colin MFC - 13 games 1 goal. Slowly coming back to his best after missing most of last year. GAWN, Max Likely to return to football in the Casey Reserves for the first time since undergoing an ACL operation last year. GREEN, Brad MFC - 15 games 36 goals. Has shown outstanding leadership and courage and is the team's top goal kicker. GRIMES, Jack MFC - 14 games 0 goals. Outstanding season so far in defence. GYSBERTS, Jordan MFC - 3 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 5 games 2 goals. Earned a Rising Star nomination after a spectacular start to his career. Now out with an injury. HEALEY, Rhys Casey Seniors - 5 games 2 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game. 0 goals. Restricted by injuries again this year. HUGHES, Daniel MFC - 2 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors - 6 games 5 goals. Had an impressive debut with the Demons after such a long wait. Sidelined with an ankle injury. JAMAR, Mark MFC - 15 games 7 goals. Has grabbed the mantle of # 1 ruckman and has been touted as a possible contender for All Australian honours. JETTA, Neville MFC - 6 games 6 goals. Casey Seniors - 6 games 2 goals. Was good in patches after spending the early part of the season at Casey but has returned there after a downturn in his form. JOHNSON, Paul MFC - 3 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 8 games 6 goals. Relishing a return to the AFL after spending most of the first half of the season at Casey. JONES, Nathan MFC - 15 games 4 goals. Has been tried in a variety of roles this season and has played in all games. Still capable of stepping up a bit more. JURRAH, Liam MFC - 1 game 2 goals, Casey Reserves 2 games 3 goals. Added some excitement to the Demon forward line in a welcome return from the shoulder injury he incurred in a NAB Challenge game in Adelaide. MACDONALD, Joel MFC - 11 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games 3 goals. Has added variety to the defence along with some stability and looks likely to hold down a place there for the rest of the season. MCDONALD, James MFC - 11 games 4 goals. The veteran skipper's vintage season has been interrupted by a hamstring injury. MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC - 12 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors 2 games 0 goals. A revelation in his first full season. Should be first promotion off the rookie list at the end of the year. McNAMARA, Tom Casey Seniors - 10 games 1 goal. Showing improvement at Casey but has the job ahead of him to break into the Demon defence. MARIC, Addam Casey Seniors - 11 games 7 goals. Consistent performances at Casey have him pushing hard for AFL selection. MARTIN, Stefan MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games 7 goals, Casey Reserves 2 games 1 goal. Going through a disappointing season and is currently on the sidelines with a hip injury that has affected him for a while. MEESEN, John Long term injury. Will find it hard to maintain a place on the list given his time away from playing the game. MILLER, Brad MFC - 6 game 10 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 13 goals. Kicked 5 goals up in Darwin but has been up and down. Missed last week altogether with a back problem after a so-so display for Casey. MOLONEY, Brent MFC - 15 games 2 goals. Continues to be a tower of strength in the engine room where he is providing great leadership for the youngsters in the midfield. MORTON, Cale MFC 5 games 2 goals - Casey Seniors - 4 games 4 goals. Had some good games coming back from knee surgery but was surprisingly sent back to Casey for a couple of weeks. NEWTON, Michael MFC - 2 games 1 goal, Casey Seniors - 7 games 12 goals. Was getting back into form at Casey when struck by a quad injury. PETTERD, Ricky MFC - 6 games 12 goals. Added bite to the forward line early before damaging his shoulder and joining the list of players out with long term injuries. RIVERS, Jared MFC - 11 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 1 game 0 goals. Had some injury woes early and has struggled to come back to his best but has had some improved showings of late. SCULLY, Tom MFC - 14 games 4 goals. Great start to what should be a long and stellar career. SPENCER, Jake MFC - 2 game 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 2 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game 1 goal. Played forward in the opening game of the season without much success. Was improving at Casey in the first ruck role and finally gained promotion to the AFL only to suffer a back injury. STRAUSS, James MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 12 games 0 goals. Had a taste of AFL football and is promising. Now out with a hamstring injury. SYLVIA, Colin MFC - 9 games 12 goals, Casey Seniors 1game 3 goals. Was going gangbusters in his first couple of games after his broken jaw but then discovered a problem with his toe that kept him out for over a month. Great game on his return last week. TAPSCOTT, Luke Casey Seniors 1 game 0 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game 0 goals. Showing promise on return from a long term hip injury. TRENGOVE, Jack MFC - 14 games 7 goals. Along with Scully, one of the club's shining young lights. WARNOCK, Matthew MFC - 12 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 2 games, 0 goals. Very handy in defence this season and had some big scalps but went off the boil a little and was dropped to Casey where he dominated completely last week. WATTS, Jack MFC - 8 game 6 goals, Casey Seniors - 5 games 7 goals. There's no doubt that he has the speed, the skills and the football nous and he's showing some exciting glimpses of the future in every game. Will only get better as he bulks up. WONAEMIRRI, Austin MFC 2 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 7 goals, Casey Reserves - 2 games 4 goals Missed all of last year with knee and hamstring problems, the latter of which recurred during the pre season. Had a couple of games at top level but is still struggling to maintain consistency.

Full match preview and Sunday teams are now up on the OP.

PRAISING PURPLE by Sam the Stats Man Mark Harvey's Fremantle Dockers are having a fantastic season. They finished in the bottom four last year and currently hold a much coveted place in the top four. Were it not for a glitch last weekend when they sent a depleted side to battle it out against Richmond at the MCG, their hold on fourth spot would have been rock solid. They have otherwise shown an ability to hold their own against the best of them at home (against Geelong) and away where they recently scored a comfortable win at Etihad Stadium against the Blues. Melbourne had also fought its way out of the bottom four but only just – and that thanks to a last start win against Essendon. The performance was exceptional and, although some might question as less than satisfactory, the fact that the Bombers were allowed to kick six of the last seven goals of the game, the Demons were clearly resting players for this week’s battle when they have to travel across the Nullarbor to take on the Dockers. Certainly, the hard working and much improved Mark Jamar would have relished the fact that he was able to rest his weary body while junk time was played out. He deserved it. Fremantle will gain back some players this week which is just as well because they were starting to look vulnerable under the weight of the injuries they suffered, in particular the loss of midfielder Michael Barlow with a broken leg. The team certainly lacked a great deal of run against the Tigers and will need to do better in this area against the Demons. It’s hard to believe that at their last meeting, the Dockers were comprehensively beaten by 63 points but that was at the MCG. This game is at Subiaco where Fremantle has won five in a row against their visitors and you have to go all the way back to 2004 when Peter Vardy kicked four goals and a young pimply faced Brock McLean was in his first season excelled in the wet to pump the Dockers. Melbourne’s forward line looks improved with the inclusion of Liam Jurrah and Colin Sylvia and the Demons will be motivated by the need to show that they are capable of winning away from home (they did beat Port Adelaide in Darwin earlier in the year but that was neutral territory). The problem is that they had the same motivation (and more because they were still more than just a mathematical chance to make the finals then) when they played Adelaide at AAMI Stadium a few weeks back and were comprehensively spanked. Unfortunately, you can’t trust them to win over there and the statistics bear this out. Fremantle by 33 points. THE GAME Fremantle v Melbourne at the MCG - Sunday 18 July 2010 at 4:40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Fremantle 13 wins Melbourne 12 wins At Subiaco Fremantle 7 wins Melbourne 3 wins Since 2000 Fremantle 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins The Coaches Harvey 1 win Bailey 2 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 live at 4.00 pm RADIO ABC774 SEN 3AW THE BETTING Fremantle to win $1.22 Melbourne to win $4.35 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 20.7.127 defeated Fremantle 9.10.64 at the MCG Round 20, 2009 The Demons were on song and, after a reasonably even first half, they roared away and almost doubled the Dockers' score in the end. Producing another exciting display, Liam Jurrah booted four goals while Aaron Davey was best on ground. The victory was enough to put many supporters on edge for another fortnight before the priority draft pick issue was finally determined. THE TEAMS FREMANTLE Backs Dylan Roberton Alex Silvagni Kepler Bradley Half backs Matthew de Boer Luke McPharlin Roger Hayden Centreline Garrick Ibbotson David Mundy Nathan Fyfe Half forwards Jay van Berlo Matthew Pavlich Stephen Hill Forwards Adam McPhee Michael Johnson Hayden Ballantyne Followers Aaron Sandilands Ryan Crowley Paul Duffield Interchange Greg Broughton Paul Hasleby Anthony Morabito Rhys Palmer Emergencies Clancee Pearce Nick Suban Chris Tarrant In Greg Broughton Nathan Fyfe Luke McPharlin Out Clancee Pearce Tim Ruffles Clancee Pearce (all omitted) MELBOURNE Backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Jordie McKenzie James Frawley Cameron Bruce Centreline Jamie Bennell Nathan Jones Brad Green Half forwards Lynden Dunn Jack Watts Tom Scully Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate Liam Jurrah Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Aaron Davey Interchange Rohan Bail Paul Johnson Joel Macdonald Cale Morton Emergencies Kyle Cheney Addam Maric Matthew Warnock In Rohan Bail Addam Maric Cale Morton Matthew Warnock Out Kyle Cheney (omitted) Jack Trengove (hip) Melbourne's season has spluttered since its three wins in a row in late April but last week's win over Essendon was a tonic. Here's my reveiw of how he team's gone so far this year. BAIL, Rohan MFC – 3 games, 3 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games, 3 goals. Was one the early surprise packets but injuries intervened to restrict him over the past two months. Has been among the best in his two return games at Casey. BARTRAM, Clint MFC - 14 games 2 goals. Early on, he played some of his best football since his debut year but has been a little inconsistent of late. BATE, Matthew MFC - 13 games 18 goals. Is having a reasonably good year after an interrupted pre season but needs to narrow the gap between his best and his worst. BELL, Daniel Casey Seniors - 10 games 0 goals. The start to his season was hampered by a pre season AC injury and he has not been able to force his way into AFL ranks. His position at the club at the end of the year must be under question. BENNELL, Jamie MFC - 13 games 11 goals, Casey Seniors 1 game 0 goals. Has shown some flashes of brilliance but also went through a flat patch that saw him play for Casey on an occasion. BLEASE, Sam Casey Reserves - 5 games 3 goals. Making slow progress in the VFL reserves after suffering a few setbacks coming back from a bad foot injury. BRUCE, Cameron MFC - 14 games 4 goals. Has been a steady performer throughout the season and is improving like a vintage wine. Seems to have recovered his goalkicking ability of late. CHENEY, Kyle MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 10 games 0 goals. Has been solid in defence at Casey and recently pushed his way into AFL selection where has been steady without being outstanding. DAVEY, Aaron MFC - 15 games 5 goals. Not as predominant as he was last year but has had his good games. DUNN, Lynden MFC - 11 games 10 goals, Casey Seniors 2 games, 9 goals. Hot and cold so far this season but has shown improvement in his more recent games. FITZPATRICK, Jack Casey Seniors 3 games 1 goal, Casey Reserves - 4 games 5 goals. Slowly overcoming his early injury woes and has been performing well in the seniors at Casey. FRAWLEY, James MFC - 14 games 0 goals. Continues to grow in stature as a strong, fast young defender. GARLAND, Colin MFC - 13 games 1 goal. Slowly coming back to his best after missing most of last year. GAWN, Max Likely to return to football in the Casey Reserves for the first time since undergoing an ACL operation last year. GREEN, Brad MFC - 15 games 36 goals. Has shown outstanding leadership and courage and is the team's top goal kicker. GRIMES, Jack MFC - 14 games 0 goals. Outstanding season so far in defence. GYSBERTS, Jordan MFC - 3 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 5 games 2 goals. Earned a Rising Star nomination after a spectacular start to his career. Now out with an injury. HEALEY, Rhys Casey Seniors - 5 games 2 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game. 0 goals. Restricted by injuries again this year. HUGHES, Daniel MFC - 2 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors - 6 games 5 goals. Had an impressive debut with the Demons after such a long wait. Sidelined with an ankle injury. JAMAR, Mark MFC - 15 games 7 goals. Has grabbed the mantle of # 1 ruckman and has been touted as a possible contender for All Australian honours. JETTA, Neville MFC - 6 games 6 goals. Casey Seniors - 6 games 2 goals. Was good in patches after spending the early part of the season at Casey but has returned there after a downturn in his form. JOHNSON, Paul MFC - 3 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 8 games 6 goals. Relishing a return to the AFL after spending most of the first half of the season at Casey. JONES, Nathan MFC - 15 games 4 goals. Has been tried in a variety of roles this season and has played in all games. Still capable of stepping up a bit more. JURRAH, Liam MFC - 1 game 2 goals, Casey Reserves 2 games 3 goals. Added some excitement to the Demon forward line in a welcome return from the shoulder injury he incurred in a NAB Challenge game in Adelaide. MACDONALD, Joel MFC - 11 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games 3 goals. Has added variety to the defence along with some stability and looks likely to hold down a place there for the rest of the season. MCDONALD, James MFC - 11 games 4 goals. The veteran skipper's vintage season has been interrupted by a hamstring injury. MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC - 12 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors 2 games 0 goals. A revelation in his first full season. Should be first promotion off the rookie list at the end of the year. McNAMARA, Tom Casey Seniors - 10 games 1 goal. Showing improvement at Casey but has the job ahead of him to break into the Demon defence. MARIC, Addam Casey Seniors - 11 games 7 goals. Consistent performances at Casey have him pushing hard for AFL selection. MARTIN, Stefan MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 4 games 7 goals, Casey Reserves 2 games 1 goal. Going through a disappointing season and is currently on the sidelines with a hip injury that has affected him for a while. MEESEN, John Long term injury. Will find it hard to maintain a place on the list given his time away from playing the game. MILLER, Brad MFC - 6 game 10 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 13 goals. Kicked 5 goals up in Darwin but has been up and down. Missed last week altogether with a back problem after a so-so display for Casey. MOLONEY, Brent MFC - 15 games 2 goals. Continues to be a tower of strength in the engine room where he is providing great leadership for the youngsters in the midfield. MORTON, Cale MFC 5 games 2 goals - Casey Seniors - 4 games 4 goals. Had some good games coming back from knee surgery but was surprisingly sent back to Casey for a couple of weeks. NEWTON, Michael MFC - 2 games 1 goal, Casey Seniors - 7 games 12 goals. Was getting back into form at Casey when struck by a quad injury. PETTERD, Ricky MFC - 6 games 12 goals. Added bite to the forward line early before damaging his shoulder and joining the list of players out with long term injuries. RIVERS, Jared MFC - 11 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 1 game 0 goals. Had some injury woes early and has struggled to come back to his best but has had some improved showings of late. SCULLY, Tom MFC - 14 games 4 goals. Great start to what should be a long and stellar career. SPENCER, Jake MFC - 2 game 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 2 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game 1 goal. Played forward in the opening game of the season without much success. Was improving at Casey in the first ruck role and finally gained promotion to the AFL only to suffer a back injury. STRAUSS, James MFC - 2 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 12 games 0 goals. Had a taste of AFL football and is promising. Now out with a hamstring injury. SYLVIA, Colin MFC - 9 games 12 goals, Casey Seniors 1game 3 goals. Was going gangbusters in his first couple of games after his broken jaw but then discovered a problem with his toe that kept him out for over a month. Great game on his return last week. TAPSCOTT, Luke Casey Seniors 1 game 0 goals, Casey Reserves 1 game 0 goals. Showing promise on return from a long term hip injury. TRENGOVE, Jack MFC - 14 games 7 goals. Along with Scully, one of the club's shining young lights. WARNOCK, Matthew MFC - 12 games 0 goals, Casey Seniors - 2 games, 0 goals. Very handy in defence this season and had some big scalps but went off the boil a little and was dropped to Casey where he dominated completely last week. WATTS, Jack MFC - 8 game 6 goals, Casey Seniors - 5 games 7 goals. There's no doubt that he has the speed, the skills and the football nous and he's showing some exciting glimpses of the future in every game. Will only get better as he bulks up. WONAEMIRRI, Austin MFC 2 games 2 goals, Casey Seniors - 7 games 7 goals, Casey Reserves - 2 games 4 goals Missed all of last year with knee and hamstring problems, the latter of which recurred during the pre season. Had a couple of games at top level but is still struggling to maintain consistency.

THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Stefan Martin James Frawley Kyle Cheney Half backs Clint Bartram Jared Rivers Ricky Petterd Centreline James McDonald Lynden Dunn Cale Morton Half forwards Brent Moloney Brad Miler Nathan Jones Forwards Neville Jetta Matthew Bate Liam Jurrah Followers Paul Johnson Aaron Davey Colin Sylvia Interchange Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Brock McLean Tom McNamara Russell Robertson Jake Spencer Shane Valenti In Mark Jamar Liam Jurrah Jordie McKenzie Brock McLean Jared Rivers Russell Robertson Out Rohan Bail (quad) Cameron Bruce (wrist) Michael Newton (Achilles) FREMANTLE Backs Greg Broughton Chris Tarrant Jay van Berlo Half backs Antoni Grover Luke McPharlin Paul Duffield Centerline Garrick Ibbotson Paul Hasleby Chris Mayne Half forwards Stephen Hill Matt de Boer Dean Solomon Forwards Des Headland Matthew Pavlich Nic Suban Followers Aaron Sandilands Steven Dodd David Mundy Interchange (from) Kepler Bradley Marcus Drum Roger Hayden Brett Peake Clancee Pearce Byron Schammer Michael Walters

Mark Jamar has extended his lead while the skipper is dropping down the list during the period of his injury. 99.772 Mark Jamar 75.042 Brent Moloney 72.783 James Frawley 71.971 Brad Green 70.951 James McDonald 64.773 Jack Grimes 59.078 Jack Trengove 44.192 Colin Sylvia 38.586 Tom Scully 37.667 Aaron Davey 33.878 Matthew Bate 33.014 Cameron Bruce 29.736 Jordie McKenzie 20.656 Ricky Petterd 19.525 Nathan Jones 18.824 Lynden Dunn 18.567 Jamie Bennell 17.257 Jordan Gysberts 17.065 Matthew Warnock 11.680 Clint Bartram 8.662 Joel Macdonald 8.500 Cale Morton 8.211 Rohan Bail 8.073 Neville Jetta 7.064 Brad Miller 6.353 Jack Watts 4.872 Colin Garland 4.752 Cale Morton

I think it's more likely the player has his wires crossed and is talking about Campbell Brown or perhaps Gary Ablett.

BOOST by The Oracle Melbourne has been going through a rough trot since the balmy days of its magical three wins on end in April. The Demons' only win since then came in steamy Darwin when they fell in by a solitary point. There had been no victories in front of a home crowd for two and a half months when they took on the flagging Bombers at the MCG. Two sides bereft of confidence facing off against each other made for a fascinating contest but which would emerge with the boost of a much needed win? When Jared Rivers made a meal of a routine short pass to Jack Trengove after taking a safe mark early in the opening term, it was a case of deja vu all over again with Melbourne trailling by a goal in the first minute of the game. Then they threw away the script. Colin Sylvia, coming back after several weeks with a freak toe injury, took a courageous mark and a 50 metre penalty to even the score and, not long after, a botch up from a Bomber defender gifted Brad Green his first goal. Melbourne was on its way to winning its first opening term in several weeks. With Mark Jamar dominating the rucks, the Demons took a handy 16 point lead into the first break, a margin they managed to double thanks to some confidence boosting play led by veterans Green and Cameron Bruce aided by a lack of discipline from the Bombers that enabled Melbourne to benefit from a swag of 50m penalties. During the second term, the fans were treated to some more happy glimpses of the future with first year player Jack Trengove converting a set shot and then setting up Liam Jurrah for his first goal of the season after missing the first four months after suffering a shoulder injury in a practice match. For a club that has been short on star quality for so long, the signposts are pointing towards the heavens but let's not get too carried away just yet! After half time, the Bombers must have located the lost script from the first quarter when they kicked three goals in the first six minutes. They were almost back in the game when a lucky free kick and a goal to Jack Watts gave the Demons another boost. With Green starring in front of goal, they took back the initiative to have a handy buffer of 27 points at the final break. The Bombers had compounded their woes with some poor kicking for goal but much of that could be attributed to the pressure applied by Melbourne's defence. The Demons dominated the first half of the final term, scoring four goals and pushing their lead beyond 50 points before putting the cue in the rack. Given that they travel across the continent for next week's game against the Dockers, it was probably a fair idea to loosen the pressure rather than to move in for the kill. As a result Essendon scored six of the last seven goals in an elongated junk time. Jamar in the ruck, Sylvia (29 disposals and two goals) and Green (five goals) were the stars and Lynden Dunn a quiet achiever but there were some great signs from youngsters Trengove, Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie in the midfield. McKenzie's tackling was reminiscent of early in the season when his pressure was so important. James Frawley and Colin Garland were majestic in defence and Jurrah and Watts are heralding an exciting future for the Demon forward line. A week's a long time in football. A week ago, we were wondering from where Melbourne's next win would come. If the Demons can break their away from home interstate hoodoo next week, they'll be a game and a half away from the top eight. In this season where we have seen unlikely and unexpected winning runs from Hawthorn, Adelaide and Richmond, who knows what could happen from there once a team receives a much needed winning boost? Melbourne 6.2.38 10.6.66 14.7.91 19.8.122 Essendon 3.4.22 4.10.34 8.16.64 14.19.103 Goals Melbourne Green 5 Bruce Jamar Jurrah Sylvia Trengove 2 Bate Bennell Dunn Watts Essendon Neagle 3, Lovett-Murray Stanton 2, Davey Dyson Jetta Monfries Reimers Watson Zaharakis Best Melbourne Green Sylvia Jamar Bruce Trengove Dunn Essendon Zaharakis Lovett-Murray Winderlich Watson Injuries Melbourne Nil Essendon Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Essendon Scott Gumbleton, replaced in the selected side by Sam Lonergan Reports Melbourne Nil Essendon Nil Umpires Kennedy Armstrong Bowen Crowd 49,203 at the MCG