Demonland

SHELTER FROM THE STORM by Whispering Jack These past few days have been chaotic for sporting teams that bear the name of our city. Across the road and over the railway line from the MCG, where they used to set off fireworks when the team scored, there was a dark eerie silence. The ghosts were dancing in the place where the Storm had imploded a few days earlier under the weight of one of the nation's biggest ever sporting scandals but it was altogether different at the hub of sport where the team that carried such little expectation took further steps forward at the very beginning of its long journey. It must have been fate that had determined the point at which its promising future intersected and overtook a neighbour whose own tawdry conduct had just caused it to be stripped of a glorious past. Melbourne 15.13.103 defeat Brisbane 7.11.53. The Brisbane Lions and their twin key forwards have been running amok this season but they were brought down with a thud when David brandished his slingshot, aimed truly and decisively brought down the juggernaut. From the opening bounce it was clear that the Demons were intent on applying pressure to the Brisbane attack with its heavy reliance on the scoring power of Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola. The signs were good as James Frawley and Matthew Warnock stood firm against their men, each of who managed to get away for one goal in the first term but that was it for Brown. Fevola's night was a little more productive but he had a fascinating duel all night with Warnock. Colin Garland, Jack Grimes and Joel Macdonald gave tremendous support in defence and the latter would have been a happy man to have shoved the indignity of his delisting back in his former coach's face. In stark contrast to what was happening on the Brisbane forward line, Melbourne's goals came from numerous sources, a fact which would have pleased coach Dean Bailey no end. After fluffing up his first attempt to goal, Ricky Petterd took a couple of special contested marks for two first quarter goals and the Demons were away to an 11 point lead at the break. He was to score no more goals for the night but he did attract heavy guard. Travis Johnstone was sent down back and he rekindled some memories of the Demon past not only with his flashy play but with that beard and the holy man look, he portrayed a reasonable facsimile of his former club chairman Joe Gutnick. Meanwhile, sitting a few metres to my right and one row behind was the current chairman, Jimmy Stynes flanked by club legend Ron Barassi and CEO Cameron Schwab, all enjoying the proceedings as their team's resurgence unfolded in front of them. There was no time to reflect on past glories. They were viewing the future. It's coming soon! With Petterd now somewhat subdued, others were allowed to take stage up forward to add to the goal tally and to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the night. Matthew Bate, Jack Trengove and Aaron Davey all took their turns to be dangerous up forward. Trengove was brilliant everywhere. Mark Jamar dominated the rucks and Stefan Martin was proving his perfect foil. The experienced Lions midfield, led superbly by a silky smooth Simon Black, were still able to win more than their share of the clearances but skipper James McDonald, Brent Moloney and Nathan Jones were strong in the clinches and the younger midfield brigade responded. Trengove, Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie were all significant contributors. Cameron Bruce was everywhere. Colin Sylvia tackled hard and forcibly. Together, the Melbourne midfield broke the game wide open with five goals to one in the second quarter leaving the crowd of 36,396 in awe as the Demons took to the rooms at half time with a lead of six goals. They stretched it by another goal early in the third term before the Lions started clawing their way back into the contest but the relentless pressure and strong tackling of the home side meant that any thought of a Brisbane comeback would be shortlived. It was Melbourne that finished full of running and kept what was considered as the competition's most potent attack goalless in the final quarter. As a light drizzle fell on the ground, the Demons peppered the goals and finished with a winning margin of 50 points or more for the second week running. With final quarter goals to the team's oldest player in McDonald and its youngest in Scully, Melbourne made a stunning statement. The team whose stormy pre season was so wracked with injuries and poor form that it was universally consigned by the pundits to the scrapheap for two, three, four and more years is on the move. What is now emerging is a combination of the old, the new and everything in between coming together in a chaos made even more stunning by the fact that this is only the beginning. Our storm is over. Melbourne 4.2.26 9.6.60 12.7.79 15.13.103 Brisbane 2.3.15 3.6.24 7.9.51 7.11.53 Goals Melbourne Davey Petterd Sylvia Trengove 2 Bate Green Jamar Jones McDonald McKenzie Scully Brisbane Fevola 4 Brown Clark Drummond Best Melbourne Trengove Moloney Sylvia Bate McDonald Frawley Brisbane Black Johnstone Rischitelli Leuenberger Staker Patfull Injuries Melbourne Nil Brisbane Merrett (hamstring) Reports Nil Changes Melbourne Rohan Bail (quad) replaced by Stefan Martin Brisbane Justin Sherman (corked thigh) by Albert Proud Umpires Jennings Kennedy Wenn Crowd 36,396 at the MCG

You know the drill ...

LEADING FROM THE FRONT by JVM We're only four rounds into the season but a glance at the ladder certainly indicates that the Melbourne Football Club is looking a lot healthier than it has at this stage of the journey than at any time over the last half a decade. The cynics might add that this is due to the fact that the AFL programme has been kind enough to provide the Demons with the familiar territory of the MCG for all of its games to date and two poor opponents that have a combined record of zip and eight at this point in the journey. However, this doesn't explain the club's two polar opposite performances against more accomplished opposition in the opening rounds. Which was the aberration - the pitiful display against the Hawks or the heroic but ultimately disappointing one-point defeat at the hands of the Magpies? There are those who would argue that neither is an aberration and that inconsistent performance is what you should expect with young emerging football teams in the early phases of a rebuild. On the other hand, the lousy opening could be explained away as a case of early stage fright for a group that was just starting to find its way in the world and that since then, the ship has righted itself and is now steering on course and in the proper direction. There's plenty of evidence to support this view. In order to get a ship on course, you need a good skipper to lead the crew and, under James McDonald and his leadership group, the Demons have begun to blossom in 2010. Melbourne's leadership group for 2010 of skipper James McDonald, Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey, Brad Green, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers. With the exception of Miller (dropped after a poor display in round 1) and Rivers (injured since the Hawks' game), the team leaders have led by example over the past three weeks. Here are their average statistics per game in disposals and tackles for the season to date:- McDonald - 25 disposals, 8 tackles Bruce - 24 disposals, 3 tackles Davey - 21 disposals, 4 tackles Green - 20 disposals, 4 tackles Moloney - 26 disposals, 7 tackles The leadership by example exhibited by this group has filtered all the way through the club. We're seeing some major strides being made by the next tier of players in the 50-100 game category (which includes Moloney), none more visibly improved than Mark Jamar who has not only been outstanding in the ruck this season but who has also done it all virtually single-handedly. We're also seeing important contributions from Nathan Jones, Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock and more lately Clint Bartram and Colin Sylvia put in a five goal blinder on return after a month on the sidelines with a broken jaw. So it's not just the youth that has led the Melbourne resurgence but it's also the wiser heads and the middle-aged (in football terms) warriors who have also stepped up to the plate. That is not to take anything away from the young guns in the team ranging from James Frawley and Ricky Petterd now beginning to blossom in their fourth seasons to the likes of Jack Grimes and Jamie Bennell, surprise packets in Rohan Bail and Jordie McKenzie and the youthful brilliance of the Scullgove boys. And the beauty of this newly emerging Demon combination is that the influence and example of its mostly unsung leader is filtering through all levels of the club. Junior Mac always gets in and puts his body on the line at every contest. He leaves nothing on the track. The same can be said of Grimes, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and others who will also one day be leaders. Exciting stuff but how will this match reality when the team comes up against the undefeated Brisbane Lions who have a formidable attack and whose tails are up after disposing of one time flag favourites, the Western Bulldogs? THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane at The MCG - Saturday, 24 April 2010 at 7.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 16 wins Brisbane 10 wins MCG Melbourne 2 wins Brisbane 2 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 4 wins Brisbane 7 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 wins Voss 1 win MEDIA TV Fox Sports1 6.30pm RADIO MMM 3AW THE BETTING Suspended due to speculation over whether Jonathan would play. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane 16.15.111 defeated Melbourne 8.8.56 at The Gabba Round 13, 2009 It was a horror night for the Demons who were monstered by the home town Lions who were fully intent of extracting every bit of revenge for their shock loss late in the previous season. Jonathan Brown booted five goals and he was accompanied then by Daniel Bradshaw who snagged. Aaron Davey, Cale Morton and Cameron Bruce led the Demons’ resistance but they were completely overpowered by a bigger, better, stronger and more experienced outfit. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock James Frawley Half backs Cameron Bruce Colin Garland Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Clint Bartram Half forwards Brad Green Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate Rohan Bail Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Jordie McKenzie Tom Scully Emergencies Kyle Cheney Jordan Gysberts Stefan Martin No change BRISBANE Backs Ashley McGrath Daniel Merrett Joel Patfull Half backs Travis Johnstone Matt Maguire Josh Drummond Centreline Jared Brennan Daniel Rich Andrew Raines Half forwards Justin Sherman Jonathan Brown Jack Redden Forwards Todd Banfield Brendan Fevola Brent Staker Followers Matthew Leuenberger Michael Rischitelli James Polkinghorne Interchange Simon Black Mitch Clark James Hawksley Emergencies Matt Austin Albert Proud Troy Selwood In Simon Black Mitch Clark Ashley McGrath Out Luke Power (hip) Albert Proud Troy Selwood WHO'LL WIN? On the face of it, Brisbane is the undefeated form side of the AFL and the Lions should do it easily but they won't have it all their own way in only their second venture away from the Gabba for 2010, The Lions played some good football on their home turf last week against the Bulldogs but things might not be as comfortable on the unfamiliar territory of the G - a ground where the teams have met previously only four times and where the visitors last beat the Demons in Round 21, 1999. To make matters worse, they have one win from their past seven ventures to this ground and this is their home-and-away fixture at the home of football for 2010. On the other hand, the Lions have a dazzling forward line set up headed by twin towers Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola who will provide a tremendous challenge for Demon pair James Frawley and Matthew Warnock who have Colin Garland and former Lion in reserve just in case one of the first choice key backmen find the going tough. But the key to the game will be whether the improving Demon midfield can stand up to the Lions who will be strengthened by the return of Brownlow Medallist Simon Black. It was the Lions' on ball division that shook the Bulldogs in an electrifying second half. I think Melbourne will continue to do well but Brisbane should be a little too strong for the home side although one should not forget that the Demons nearly beat the Pies a few weeks ago when they were coming off a big win over the Doggies. Brisbane by 5 points. DISCUSS HERE: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20404

LEADING FROM THE FRONT by JVM We're only four rounds into the season but a glance at the ladder certainly indicates that the Melbourne Football Club is looking a lot healthier than it has at this stage of the journey than at any time over the last half a decade. The cynics might add that this is due to the fact that the AFL programme has been kind enough to provide the Demons with the familiar territory of the MCG for all of its games to date and two poor opponents that have a combined record of zip and eight at this point in the journey. However, this doesn't explain the club's two polar opposite performances against more accomplished opposition in the opening rounds. Which was the aberration - the pitiful display against the Hawks or the heroic but ultimately disappointing one-point defeat at the hands of the Magpies? There are those who would argue that neither is an aberration and that inconsistent performance is what you should expect with young emerging football teams in the early phases of a rebuild. On the other hand, the lousy opening could be explained away as a case of early stage fright for a group that was just starting to find its way in the world and that since then, the ship has righted itself and is now steering on course and in the proper direction. There's plenty of evidence to support this view. In order to get a ship on course, you need a good skipper to lead the crew and, under James McDonald and his leadership group, the Demons have begun to blossom in 2010. Melbourne's leadership group for 2010 of skipper James McDonald, Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey, Brad Green, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers. With the exception of Miller (dropped after a poor display in round 1) and Rivers (injured since the Hawks' game), the team leaders have led by example over the past three weeks. Here are their average statistics per game in disposals and tackles for the season to date:- McDonald - 25 disposals, 8 tackles Bruce - 24 disposals, 3 tackles Davey - 21 disposals, 4 tackles Green - 20 disposals, 4 tackles Moloney - 26 disposals, 7 tackles The leadership by example exhibited by this group has filtered all the way through the club. We're seeing some major strides being made by the next tier of players in the 50-100 game category (which includes Moloney), none more visibly improved than Mark Jamar who has not only been outstanding in the ruck this season but who has also done it all virtually single-handedly. We're also seeing important contributions from Nathan Jones, Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock and more lately Clint Bartram and Colin Sylvia put in a five goal blinder on return after a month on the sidelines with a broken jaw. So it's not just the youth that has led the Melbourne resurgence but it's also the wiser heads and the middle-aged (in football terms) warriors who have also stepped up to the plate. That is not to take anything away from the young guns in the team ranging from James Frawley and Ricky Petterd now beginning to blossom in their fourth seasons to the likes of Jack Grimes and Jamie Bennell, surprise packets in Rohan Bail and Jordie McKenzie and the youthful brilliance of the Scullgove boys. And the beauty of this newly emerging Demon combination is that the influence and example of its mostly unsung leader is filtering through all levels of the club. Junior Mac always gets in and puts his body on the line at every contest. He leaves nothing on the track. The same can be said of Grimes, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and others who will also one day be leaders. Exciting stuff but how will this match reality when the team comes up against the undefeated Brisbane Lions who have a formidable attack and whose tails are up after disposing of one time flag favourites, the Western Bulldogs? THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane at The MCG - Saturday, 24 April 2010 at 7.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 16 wins Brisbane 10 wins MCG Melbourne 2 wins Brisbane 2 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 4 wins Brisbane 7 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 wins Voss 1 win MEDIA TV Fox Sports1 6.30pm RADIO MMM 3AW THE BETTING Suspended due to speculation over whether Jonathan would play. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane 16.15.111 defeated Melbourne 8.8.56 at The Gabba Round 13, 2009 It was a horror night for the Demons who were monstered by the home town Lions who were fully intent of extracting every bit of revenge for their shock loss late in the previous season. Jonathan Brown booted five goals and he was accompanied then by Daniel Bradshaw who snagged. Aaron Davey, Cale Morton and Cameron Bruce led the Demons' resistance but they were completely overpowered by a bigger, better, stronger and more experienced outfit. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock James Frawley Half backs Cameron Bruce Colin Garland Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Clint Bartram Half forwards Brad Green Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate Rohan Bail Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Jordie McKenzie Tom Scully Emergencies Kyle Cheney Jordan Gysberts Stefan Martin No change BRISBANE Backs Ashley McGrath Daniel Merrett Joel Patfull Half backs Travis Johnstone Matt Maguire Josh Drummond Centreline Jared Brennan Daniel Rich Andrew Raines Half forwards Justin Sherman Jonathan Brown Jack Redden Forwards Todd Banfield Brendan Fevola Brent Staker Followers Matthew Leuenberger Michael Rischitelli James Polkinghorne Interchange Simon Black Mitch Clark James Hawksley Emergencies Matt Austin Albert Proud Troy Selwood In Simon Black Mitch Clark Ashley McGrath Out Luke Power (hip) Albert Proud Troy Selwood WHO'LL WIN? On the face of it, Brisbane is the undefeated form side of the AFL and the Lions should do it easily but they won't have it all their own way in only their second venture away from the Gabba for 2010, The Lions played some good football on their home turf last week against the Bulldogs but things might not be as comfortable on the unfamiliar territory of the G - a ground where the teams have met previously only four times and where the visitors last beat the Demons in Round 21, 1999. To make matters worse, they have one win from their past seven ventures to this ground and this is their home-and-away fixture at the home of football for 2010. On the other hand, the Lions have a dazzling forward line set up headed by twin towers Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola who will provide a tremendous challenge for Demon pair James Frawley and Matthew Warnock who have Colin Garland and former Lion in reserve just in case one of the first choice key backmen find the going tough. But the key to the game will be whether the improving Demon midfield can stand up to the Lions who will be strengthened by the return of Brownlow Medallist Simon Black. It was the Lions' on ball division that shook the Bulldogs in an electrifying second half. I think Melbourne will continue to do well but Brisbane should be a little too strong for the home side although one should not forget that the Demons nearly beat the Pies a few weeks ago when they were coming off a big win over the Doggies. Brisbane by 5 points.

If we're going to have a topic about a player, let's address it properly. The man's name is "Jack Watts" not "Watts"

They last met in mid 2009 when the Lions flogged the Dees under lights at the Gabba. BRISBANE Backs Jason Roe Daniel Merrett Jed Adcock Half backs Joel Patfull Lachlan Henderson Joel Macdonald Centreline Albert Proud Simon Black Daniel Rich Half forwards Michael Rischitelli Jonathan Brown James Polkinghorne Forwards Rhan Hooper Daniel Bradshaw Luke Power Followers Mitch Clark Cheynee Stiller Justin Sherman Interchange Jared Brennan Scott Harding Ashley McGrath Sam Sheldon Emergencies Jack Redden Matt Austin Tim Notting In Daniel Merrett Joel Patfull Out Tim Notting Troy Selwood (shoulder) MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Whelan Matthew Warnock Ricky Petterd Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers James Frawley Centreline Neville Jetta Brock McLean Jamie Bennell Half forwards Russell Robertson Brad Miller Matthew Bate Forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Liam Jungarray Jurrah Followers Paul Johnson Jack Grimes Cameron Bruce Interchange Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Cale Morton Jack Watts Emergencies Nathan Jones Lynden Dunn Shane Valenti In Ricky Petterd Matthew Warnock Out: Clint Bartram Kyle Cheney

The skipper has snuck into first place by a poofteenth over the Russian who also polled again this week: - 46.463 James McDonald 46.268 Mark Jamar 28.478 Jack Grimes 25.577 Brent Moloney 24.047 James Frawley 20.462 Colin Sylvia 17.301 Brad Green 14.826 Ricky Petterd 12.512 Jamie Bennell 12.491 Jordie McKenzie 10.850 Tom Scully 8.211 Rohan Bail 6.919 Aaron Davey 6.430 Jack Trengove 4.171 Lynden Dunn 3.410 Cameron Bruce 1.705 Joel Macdonald

The Casey board shouldn't be too hard to find. For those who need the assistance KC's article is here - INDIAN SUMMER

INDIAN SUMMER by KC from Casey The Indian summer came to Casey Fields on sunny Autumn Sunday afternoon for the game between the Scorpions and the Magpies in a game where the home side sought to avenge the humiliation of a massive defeat by in last year's VFL elimination final. Back then Casey was struggling for experience under the weight of the large injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne which left it well behind the eight ball in comparison to the opposition in terms of height strength and experience. This match was completely different and while the Magpies got the early jump they were soon pegged back and the match was even on the scoreboard at quarter time and the Scorpions took a seven point break into the rooms at the first break thanks to some clever play from their small men Michael Stockdale, former Pie Danny Nicholls and a touch of brilliance from Neville Jetta. Danny Hughes was in everything early setting up scoring opportunities and kicking a goal himself. Defender Tom McNamara went down with what appeared to be a rib injury in the first quarter and, though, he did return to the field, he was nowhere near as effective as last week. Acting skipper James Wall was solid as usual and a big factor in his team's ascendency at the half. Casey came out after the break full of running and appeared to have Collingwood's measure as it jumped ahead to lead by 20 points at three quarter time. Stefan Martin was dangerous up forward and repeated his three goal effort of round one. The visitors still had a fair bit of the ball but kicked 2.7 for the quarter so the Scorpion lead was probably a little deceptive and, to make matters worse, injury struck with centre half back Tim Mohr dislocating a shoulder during the third term and Wall also looked proppy. Unfortunately, this set the scene for a disastrous final quarter for Casey. The Scorpions were going down like nine pins at the end. Apart from those mentioned above, Rhys Healy cramped and Danny Hughes, who had played well, also looked injured and was noticeably limping. The Woods took control and dominated the stoppages with their strength, experience and superior run to the Scorpions whose rotations were limited with a diminished bench. They finished all over Casey scoring 4.8 to 0.2 in the final term to run out winners by ten points. The loss of Mohr proved crucial as the Scorpions had to reshuffle the line up in a vain search for a match up for Collingwood's big key forward in Dawes. The limited flexibility in the midfield in the hot conditions also hurt and the home side can consider itself fortunate that the opposition kicked so poorly for goal in the second half. From a Casey perspective Stockdale was played back, forward and rotated through the midfield and finished with three goals. The former Gippsland Power pocket dynamo is continuing the form he displayed last year and is improving his versatility. Nicholls showed again that he will be a great pick up in 2010, playing well through the midfield and forward before weight of numbers got him in the end. The Scorpions unveiled another first gamer from the Gippsland Under 18 TAC team in Luke Tynan who looked a senior VFL player in the making, particularly as he has had a limited pre-season. He had a few lapses with his ball use but will only get better with experience. Casey now embarks on the VFL's longest road trip with a game at Eureka Stadium at the weekend followed by a journey north to Labrador on the Gold Coast in a fortnight's time so the Scorpions can expect a continuation of the vastly different weather conditions they have been experiencing after one game under lights and another in the warmth of the Indian summer. Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 8.8.56 13.10.88 13.12.90 Collingwood 4.4.28 7.7.49 9.14.68 13.22.100 Goals Casey Scorpions Martin Stockdale 3 Jetta Nicholls 2 Hughes Taylor Wall Collingwood Dawes 3 Buckley Corrie 2 Frost Hunter McNamara O'Bree Reed Wood Best Casey Scorpions Wall Stockdale Nicholls Johnson Strauss Cheney Collingwood Dawes Blight Sundberg O'Bree Goldsack Brown HOW THE DEMONS FARED Kyle Cheney - solid, strong defender who was in his team's best again this week. Kicks 12 Handballs 8 Marks 9 Tackles 4 Jordan Gysberts - tall for a midfielder, Gysberts showed some signs of class and poise without dominating. He played the role of link man well and worked hard throughout and got better as the game went on. Kicks 14 Handballs 7 Marks 4 Tackles 3 Rhys Healey - had a great duel with his opponent and showed some potential. Kicks 4 Handballs 6 Marks 2 Tackles 2 Daniel Hughes - it was groundhog day for the club's longest serving rookie who marked strongly and moved well Kicks 15 Marks 14 Tackles 2 Goals 1 Neville Jetta - first game back after being out for several weeks with a groin injury and was eased into the game. When on, he was a livewire up forward and finished with two goals. Kicks 13 Handballs 1 Marks 4 Tackles 2 Goals 2 Paul Johnson - marked strongly and was a good back up for Spencer in the ruck. Kicks 15 Handballs 4 Marks 6 Tom McNamara - sustained a rib injury that didn't look good early and while he came back but was not as good as last week. Kicks 7 Handballs 3 Marks 3 Tackles 1 Addam Maric - had a mixed day with a couple of brilliant patches but was wasteful in front of goals which is disappointing as he was considered deadly in this aspect of his game at junior level. Kicks 14 Handballs 3 Marks 9 Tackles 1 Stefan Martin - another good game up for Martin who marked stronly and booted three goals. Pushing for AFL selection. Kicks 11 Handballs 4 Marks 6 Tackles 1 Brad Miller - spent time in both attack and defence but not at a level sufficient to gain promotion to the Melbourne team. Kicks 9 Handballs 8 Marks 9 Tackles 2 Jake Spencer - still developing, Spencer was probably the best ruckman on the ground. Kicks 3 Handballs 7 Marks 3 Tackles 3 James Strauss - constructive, creative and excellent with his disposal by foot, Strauss enhanced his prospects for promotion in the near future with a strong game. Kicks 24 Handballs 3 Marks 6 Tackles 2 Jack Watts - Watts got a dozen-odd possessions but was hot and cold and was beaten on the day. Kicks 7 Handballs 5 Marks 2 DISCUSS HERE: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20338 RESERVES DOWN IN CURTAIN RAISER The Reserves battled hard against a good side in Williamstown going down by 39 points in a high scoring curtain raiser. Like their senior counterparts, they struck injury problems losing three players to injury during the first quarter but they fought on well to minimise the damage to half time, especially as at one stage in the second quarter they were trailing by seven goals and looked as though they would be thrashed. The third quarter was very entertaining football with Willy kicking seven goals to Casey's six and the final result was not as bad as the scoreboard might have suggested given the Scorpions' limited bench in trying conditions. Ricky Plummer showed the right stuff and was Casey's best. Michael Riseley and Michael Johnson, both new to the club in 2010, played well for the second week in a row. Ben Waite, in his second game back from a foot injury kicked three and showed he isn't far from senior selection and lanky young Demon Jack Fitzpatrick started his career after a brief lay off with injury. Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 6.1.37 12.3.75 15.8.98 Williamstown 3.4.22 10.4.64 17.9.111 21.11.137 Goals Casey Scorpions Hillberge Smith Waite 3 McDonald 2 Fitzpatrick Petropoulos Plummer Riseley Williamstown Young 4 Dimartino 3 Cravino Fenton Panos Purton-Smith Rampe 2 Florance Lee McCallum Marangon Best Casey Scorpions Johnson Riseley Burke Plummer Clay Smith Williamstown Sing Purton-Smith Lee Cravino McCallum Mugavin DISCUSS HERE: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20338

INDIAN SUMMER by KC from Casey The Indian summer came to Casey Fields on sunny Autumn Sunday afternoon for the game between the Scorpions and the Magpies in a game where the home side sought to avenge the humiliation of a massive defeat by in last year's VFL elimination final. Back then Casey was struggling for experience under the weight of the large injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne which left it well behind the eight ball in comparison to the opposition in terms of height strength and experience. This match was completely different and while the Magpies got the early jump they were soon pegged back and the match was even on the scoreboard at quarter time and the Scorpions took a seven point break into the rooms at the first break thanks to some clever play from their small men Michael Stockdale, former Pie Danny Nicholls and a touch of brilliance from Neville Jetta. Danny Hughes was in everything early setting up scoring opportunities and kicking a goal himself. Defender Tom McNamara went down with what appeared to be a rib injury in the first quarter and, though, he did return to the field, he was nowhere near as effective as last week. Acting skipper James Wall was solid as usual and a big factor in his team's ascendency at the half. Casey came out after the break full of running and appeared to have Collingwood's measure as it jumped ahead to lead by 20 points at three quarter time. Stefan Martin was dangerous up forward and repeated his three goal effort of round one. The visitors still had a fair bit of the ball but kicked 2.7 for the quarter so the Scorpion lead was probably a little deceptive and, to make matters worse, injury struck with centre half back Tim Mohr dislocating a shoulder during the third term final and Wall also looked proppy. Unfortunately, this set the scene for a disastrous final quarter for Casey. The Scorpions were going down like nine pins at the end. Apart from those mentioned above, Rhys Healy cramped and Danny Hughes, who had played well, also looked injured and was noticeably limping. The Woods took control and dominated the stoppages with their strength, experience and superior run to the Scorpions whose rotations were limited with a diminished bench. They finished all over Casey scoring 4.8 to 0.2 in the final term to run out winners by ten points. The loss of Mohr proved crucial as the Scorpions had to reshuffle the line up in a vain search for a match up for Collingwood's big key forward in Dawes. The limited flexibility in the midfield in the hot conditions also hurt and the home side can consider itself fortunate that the opposition kicked so poorly for goal in the second half. From a Casey perspective Stockdale was played back, forward and rotated through the midfield and finished with three goals. The former Gippsland Power pocket dynamo is continuing the form he displayed last year and is improving his versatility. Nicholls showed again that he will be a great pick up in 2010, playing well through the midfield and forward before weight of numbers got him in the end. The Scorpions unveiled another first gamer from the Gippsland Under 18 TAC team in Luke Tynan who looked a senior VFL player in the making, particularly as he has had a limited pre-season. He had a few lapses with his ball use but will only get better with experience. Casey now embarks on the VFL's longest road trip with a game at Eureka Stadium at the weekend followed by a journey north to Labrador on the Gold Coast in a fortnight's time so the Scorpions can expect a continuation of the vastly different weather conditions they have been experiencing after one game under lights and another in the warmth of the Indian summer. Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 8.8.56 13.10.88 13.12.90 Collingwood 4.4.28 7.7.49 9.14.68 13.22.100 Goals Casey Scorpions Martin Stockdale 3 Jetta Nicholls 2 Hughes Taylor Wall Collingwood Dawes 3 Buckley Corrie 2 Frost Hunter McNamara O'Bree Reed Wood Best Casey Scorpions Wall Stockdale Nicholls Johnson Strauss Cheney Collingwood Dawes Blight Sundberg O'Bree Goldsack Brown HOW THE DEMONS FARED Kyle Cheney - solid, strong defender who was in his team's best again this week. Jordan Gysberts - tall for a midfielder, Gysberts showed some signs of class and poise without dominating. He played the role of link man well and worked hard throughout and got better as the game went on. Rhys Healey - had a great duel with his opponent and showed some potential. Daniel Hughes - it was groundhog day for the club's longest serving rookie who marked strongly and moved well Neville Jetta - first game back after being out for several weeks with a groin injury and was eased into the game. When on, he was a livewire up forward and finished with two goals. Paul Johnson - marked strongly and was a good back up for Spencer in the ruck. Tom McNamara - sustained a rib injury that didn't look good early and while he came back but was not as good as last week. Addam Maric - had a mixed day with a couple of brilliant patches but was wasteful in front of goals which is disappointing as he was considered deadly in this aspect of his game at junior level. Stefan Martin - another good game up for Martin who marked stronly and booted three goals. Pushing for AFL selection. Brad Miller - spent time in both attack and defence but not at a level sufficient to gain promotion to the Melbourne team. Jake Spencer - still developing, Spencer was probably the best ruckman on the ground. James Strauss - constructive, creative and excellent with his disposal by foot, Strauss enhanced his prospects for promotion in the near future with a strong game. Jack Watts - Watts got a dozen-odd possessions but was hot and cold and was beaten on the day. RESERVES DOWN IN CURTAIN RAISER The Reserves battled hard against a good side in Williamstown going down by 39 points in a high scoring curtain raiser. Like their senior counterparts, they struck injury problems losing three players to injury during the first quarter but they fought on well to minimise the damage to half time, especially as at one stage in the second quarter they were trailing by seven goals and looked as though they would be thrashed. The third quarter was very entertaining football with Willy kicking seven goals to Casey's six and the final result was not as bad as the scoreboard might have suggested given the Scorpions' limited bench in trying conditions. Ricky Plummer showed the right stuff and was Casey's best. Michael Riseley and Michael Johnson, both new to the club in 2010, played well for the second week in a row. Ben Waite, in his second game back from a foot injury kicked three and showed he isn't far from senior selection and lanky young Demon Jack Fitzpatrick started his career after a brief lay off with injury. Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 6.1.37 12.3.75 15.8.98 Williamstown 3.4.22 10.4.64 17.9.111 21.11.137 Goals Casey Scorpions Hillberge Smith Waite 3 McDonald 2 Fitzpatrick Petropoulos Plummer Riseley Williamstown Young 4 Dimartino 3 Cravino Fenton Panos Purton-Smith Rampe 2 Florance Lee McCallum Marangon Best Casey Scorpions Johnson Riseley Burke Plummer Clay Smith Williamstown Sing Purton-Smith Lee Cravino McCallum Mugavin

I have corrected the error so please change your profile setting back to Melbourne Time +10 GMT. If you are still having problems, let me know.

THE OLD, THE YOUNG AND THE IN BETWEEN by The Oracle Things have been falling into place nicely of late for the Melbourne Football Club. The Demons have shrugged off their opening round thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn and the dramatic one-point loss to Collingwood to win consecutive games and they now sit in ninth place separated from NAB Cup winners and pre season premiership favourites the Western Bulldogs only by percentage. Of course, at this stage of the season such things mean very little, but Melbourne's 55-point victory over Richmond has its significance for a club that has enjoyed such little in the way of success in the past three seasons. The Demons importance of the win can best be measured not only in terms of the winning margin but also in the way this team is developing. The signs are good because in this game the victory was achieved per medium of a solid team effort involving the old, the young and the in between of the club's list. Naturally, the performance needs to be looked at in the context of the opposition which is currently not in a good way following the well-documented disciplinary action taken by the Tigers last week against four players who played upon their hotel late at night after their game against Sydney. They also lost their skipper through injury during the week and, with three first-gamers in the team, were always going to struggle. By way of contrast, Melbourne's James McDonald led from the front amassing 14 disposals in the first term alone on his way to a match total of thirty and was the glue who held the team together under early fire. Brent Moloney was getting the ball everywhere, Nathan Jones was in everything, Brad Green was proving a handful and Mark Jamar single-handedly controlled the rucks. It was only poor kicking for goal during a second term which yielded six behinds and one out on the full that held Melbourne back to a single goal lead at the main break. The Dees made up for it in the third quarter when they blew the game apart with seven goals to nil to take a 50 point lead into a final term in which they coasted home. Once again the young brigade was impressive with Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie. Jack Grimes and surprise packet Rohan Bail showing out. The return haul of five goals from Colin Sylvia was superb while Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd and Lynden Dunn were all dangerous up foreyard. Petterd's Harmes-like tap for a Bate goal was one of the game's highlights and helped to quell the opposition when they were full of fight in the early stages. Despite the comprehensive victory, the Demons shouldn't get too carried away and they face a much bigger test on the Saturday night stage this week when they take on a rampant Brisbane with their twin talls Brown and Fevola in a game that will see the club take part in it's first really significant contest since the opening round of the 2007 season. Demon fans should pull out all stops to make it to the game because it will again be on for the young and old and the in between. Melbourne 8.1.49 8.7.55 15.11.101 20.13.133 Richmond 5.2.32 7.7.49 7.9.51 11.12.78 Goals Melbourne Sylvia 5 Green 4 Bate 3 Bail Petterd 2 Bartram Dunn Jamar McDonald Richmond Astbury Riewoldt 3 Morton Nason Tambling Taylor Tuck Best Melbourne McDonald Green Sylvia Jones Moloney Scully Jamar Richmond Moore Tuck Deledio Collins Jackson Cotchin Injuries Melbourne Nil Richmond Jackson (upper leg) Reports Melbourne Brent Moloney reported by umpire Scott McLaren for allegedly striking Ben Nason during the second quarter. Umpires Kennedy McLaren Grun Official crowd 42, 594 at MCG

THE OLD, THE YOUNG AND THE IN BETWEEN by The Oracle Things have been falling into place nicely of late for the Melbourne Football Club. The Demons have shrugged off their opening round thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn and the dramatic one-point loss to Collingwood to win consecutive games and they now sit in ninth place separated from NAB Cup winners and pre season premiership favourites the Western Bulldogs only by percentage. Of course, at this stage of the season such things mean very little, but Melbourne's 55-point victory over Richmond has its significance for a club that has enjoyed such little in the way of success in the past three seasons. The Demons importance of the win can best be measured not only in terms of the winning margin but also in the way this team is developing. The signs are good because in this game the victory was achieved per medium of a solid team effort involving the old, the young and the in between of the club's list. Naturally, the performance needs to be looked at in the context of the opposition which is currently not in a good way following the well-documented disciplinary action taken by the Tigers last week against four players who played upon their hotel late at night after their game against Sydney. They also lost their skipper through injury during the week and, with three first-gamers in the team, were always going to struggle. By way of contrast, Melbourne's James McDonald led from the front amassing 14 disposals in the first term alone on his way to a match total of thirty and was the glue who held the team together under early fire. Brent Moloney was getting the ball everywhere, Nathan Jones was in everything, Brad Green was proving a handful and Mark Jamar single-handedly controlled the rucks. It was only poor kicking for goal during a second term which yielded six behinds and one out on the full that held Melbourne back to a single goal lead at the main break. The Dees made up for it in the third quarter when they blew the game apart with seven goals to nil to take a 50 point lead into a final term in which they coasted home. Once again the young brigade was impressive with Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie. Jack Grimes and surprise packet Rohan Bail showing out. The return haul of five goals from Colin Sylvia was superb while Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd and Lynden Dunn were all dangerous up foreyard. Petterd's Harmes-like tap for a Bate goal was one of the game's highlights and helped to quell the opposition when they were full of fight in the early stages. Despite the comprehensive victory, the Demons shouldn't get too carried away and they face a much bigger test on the Saturday night stage this week when they take on a rampant Brisbane with their twin talls Brown and Fevola in a game that will see the club take part in it's first really significant contest since the opening round of the 2007 season. Demon fans should pull out all stops to make it to the game because it will again be on for the young and old and the in between. Melbourne 8.1.49 8.7.55 15.11.101 20.13.133 Richmond 5.2.32 7.7.49 7.9.51 11.12.78 Goals Melbourne Sylvia 5 Green 4 Bate 3 Bail Petterd 2 Bartram Dunn Jamar McDonald Richmond Astbury Riewoldt 3 Morton Nason Tambling Taylor Tuck Best Melbourne McDonald Green Sylvia Jones Moloney Scully Jamar Richmond Moore Tuck Deledio Collins Jackson Cotchin Injuries Melbourne Nil Richmond Jackson (upper leg) Reports Melbourne Brent Moloney reported by umpire Scott McLaren for allegedly striking Ben Nason during the second quarter. Umpires Kennedy McLaren Grun Official crowd 42, 594 at MCG

A big round this week given that the match ratio is higher than it's been for a while. 6,5,4,3,2,1 ...

Yes the game is scheduled to begin at 1:10pm

THE KADATJI MAN by Whispering Jack The celebration of the long journey of our indigenous players from all parts of the country to the hallowed turf of the MCG and onto the AFL stage continued on Monday night with a function in the Long Room. The evening, organised by the Women of Melbourne, was more than simply a night for the club's indigenous warriors Aaron Davey, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah, Austin Wonaeamirri, their families and friends - it was an event for all Demons and with the team's first victory of the year having come a little over 24 hours earlier, the atmosphere and the timing were perfect. Even the choice of an Adelaide fan, Angela Pippos, as hostess for the night was, shall we say, fitting. Age journalist Martin Flanagan was the key speaker. He spoke of his first visit to Yuendumu in the central Australian desert for a football carnival in 1987, a couple of years before Demon forward Liam Jungarrayi Jurrah was born a son of the Warlpiri tribe in the community located 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. That grand final of 1987 was abandoned during the first quarter after panic went through the crowd who heard that the kadatji man was among them. Flanagan explained that no one knows who the kadatji man is, only that he brings the possibility of death to those who have transgressed what Aboriginal people call the Law. Twenty years later, Flanagan was also on hand when a Collingwood coterie group, the Industrial Magpies, brought three Warlpiri men to Melbourne. Jurrah was one of them. Flanagan spoke of how the visitors were showed the scarred tree at the MCG which land has always been held sacred by its traditional owners and of the wonderment of the visitors at the big buildings in town, sights never seen in the red desert. Lynette Jetta, mother of Neville, followed Flanagan and turned her poetry of last year into beautiful song. Later, Chris Connolly promised that one day soon all five of our indigenous treasures would play together in the same team and then proceeded to interview Davey and Jurrah as only he can. The two Demons will be the faces of a new government programme to eliminate trachoma among indigenous children. Trachoma is a terrible blight that causes blindness and its effects on indigenous communities in the outback was dramatically described by noted ophthalmologist Dr. Hugh Taylor (an avid Demon fan, of course). The club's support of this programme and the involvement of Aaron and Liam is a significant part of our long journey and you can't help but feel pride to be involved even in a small way with the progress of this aspect of the club's development as a responsible organisation within general community. This, even more so given that the evening's event was taking place against a backdrop of crisis for the other AFL clubs that share with us the sacred turf on which the MCG stands. I have always regarded our guest clubs at the G as usurpers - the old enemy Collingwood, our recent tormentor Hawthorn and Richmond which happens to be Melbourne's opponent in its next game. As this night unfolds it becomes clear that all three of them are beset by deep seated issues just at a stage when we are starting to emerge from our troubled times. As I drive away from the G and hear the day's news on the radio I can't help but wonder whether the kadatji man is paying them all a visit tonight. Magpie coach Michael Malthouse is feeling the pressure of the issue of the succession of coach in waiting Nathan Buckley. His credibility is in tatters, forced to apologise for his abuse of Stephen Milne after initially denying any verbal contact with the Saints' serial pest in a heated exchange during a break in Friday night's game at Etihad Stadium. As if that isn't enough, Mick has compounded his sin by fibbing about not being a liar. The wheels aren't exactly falling off at the Westpac Centre but the pressure's on the Collingwood coach. Watch this space. For the Hawks, who humiliated us at the opening of the season but lost their next two games, their injury woes deepen. Shannon Gibson, recruited from North to plug a deep hole in the ailing defence, has ripped his hamstring. Buddy Franklin's appeal against suspension has just been dismissed by the Tribunal and he will miss this week against the Magpies in a major blow to the hopes of his team. Meanwhile, over at Punt Road, things are going from bad to much worse as the winless Tigers suspend four players who had a night on the turps and some fisticuffs at a plush Sydney hotel after the team was thrashed by the Swans. This is not what the board, the coach and supporters of a developing young team want at such an early stage of the season, particularly on the eve of a game against a team perceived to be a fellow "cellar dweller. Full credit to Richmond for taking a strong stand against troublemakers and miscreants within the club. It's sure to benefit the club in the long run but, at present, the contrast between the two clubs both on and off the field could not be more stark. For the time being they are labouring under a curse from which we have just been freed. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne at MCG - Sunday 18 April 2010 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 99 wins Melbourne 76 wins 2 draws At the MCG Richmond 65 wins Melbourne 57 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Richmond 10 wins Melbourne 6 wins The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 (live) 12.30 pm Radio ABC774 SEN THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.36 Richmond $3.15 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 12.14.86 d Melbourne 12.10.82 in Round 18, 2010 at the MCG This game became notorious for some interesting chess-like moves of players as well as what is euphemistically described in some parts as "list management" by the Demons' brain trust. The result was a closely-fought contest and what would have become either a famous or an infamous victory for Melbourne depending on your viewpoint (if you get my drift). Jordan McMahon, who earlier had missed two easy shots at goal, resolved the issue with a goal from fifty metres after the siren. There are some who will tell you that the mark awarded to McMahon that led to his match winning goal was also taken after the siren. As I remarked at the time, "shit happens." THE TEAMS RICHMOND Backs Shane Edwards Alex Rance Matthew Dea Half backs Mitchell Farmer Kelvin Moore Matt White Centreline Dustin Martin Brett Deledio Trent Cotchin Half forwards Troy Taylor Jack Riewoldt Mitch Morton Forwards Ben Nason Jayden Post Richard Tambling Followers Troy Simmonds Daniel Jackson Shane Tuck Interchange David Astbury Andrew Collins Tom Hislop Tyrone Vickery Emergencies Jake King Robin Nahas Graham Polak In David Astbury Andrew Collins Matthew Dea Mitchell Farmer Tom Hislop Troy Taylor Out Daniel Connors (club suspension) Ben Cousins (club suspension) Luke McGuane (club suspension) Chris Newman (leg) Dean Polo (club suspension) Relton Roberts New David Astbury (North Ballarat) Matthew Dea (North Ballarat) Troy Taylor (South Alice Springs/NT Thunder) MELBOURNE Backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock James Frawley Half backs Cameron Bruce Colin Garland Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Clint Bartram Half forwards Brad Green Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate, Rohan Bail Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange Jamie Bennell Joel MacDonald Jordie McKenzie Tom Scully Emergencies Kyle Cheney Michael Newton Jake Spencer In Colin Sylvia Out Michael Newton THE CLASH There's a feeling of absolute euphoria among some Demon supporters about the fact that their team won a game of football last weekend. It's true that their form has improved, that we have seen some encouraging performances from the many youngsters in the side and that there appears to be a hunger in the belly of the playing group not evident in probably four years. The past two weeks have produced fewer turnovers, less of the poor decision making and more positive football than at any time since coach Dean Bailey took the reins at the club. However, it's also true that the Demons laboured for a whole half to kick a measly goal and that it took until three minutes before the final siren before they could nail home their advantage against the crippled Crows whose rotations were limited and whose energy levels were therefore depleted well before the game's end. You have to expect inconsistency in young, emerging sporting teams. This applies to both the Demons and the Tigers in this week's clash at the MCG. But Richmond is clearly at a stage which Melbourne has now surpassed. The club has a defence that is rapidly developing with the likes of James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes and the surprise packet from Brisbane Joel Macdonald that is fast reaching an "A" standard among defences within the competition. The midfield is also gathering strength, particularly with the advent of impressive youngsters in Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Jordie McKenzie and the massive strides taken by Mark Jamar whose standing as a quality ruckman continues to rise on a weekly basis. Team leaders James McDonald, Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey and Brad Green are all producing around the ground and even the forward line, widely acknowledged as the club's weakest link, is showing some signs of life. The return of Colin Sylvia will be helpful and I sense that Michael Newton is working hard to fulfil the promise that's taking a long time to come to fruition. Perhaps his breakout game is just around the corner? The Tigers, on the other hand, have struggled and they are at least fortunate that they don't have many injury problems in view of this week's suspensions although, let's face it, only one of that quartet (Luke McGuane) has shown any real form this year. Among those under an injury cloud are their better players like Chris Newman and Will Thursfield who kept Barry Hall under wraps a fortnight ago. Brett Delidio, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin are all quality youngsters but the Tigers simply have too many deficiencies in their line up to match it with the Demons who will make it two in a row and possibly be in the "eight" by Sunday night! Melbourne by 31 points. Discuss Here: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20236

THE KADATJI MAN by Whispering Jack The celebration of the long journey of our indigenous players from all parts of the country to the hallowed turf of the MCG and onto the AFL stage continued on Monday night with a function in the Long Room. The evening, organised by the Women of Melbourne, was more than simply a night for the club's indigenous warriors Aaron Davey, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah, Austin Wonaeamirri, their families and friends - it was an event for all Demons and with the team's first victory of the year having come a little over 24 hours earlier, the atmosphere and the timing were perfect. Even the choice of an Adelaide fan, Angela Pippos, as hostess for the night was, shall we say, fitting. Age journalist Martin Flanagan was the key speaker. He spoke of his first visit to Yuendumu in the central Australian desert for a football carnival in 1987, a couple of years before Demon forward Liam Jungarrayi Jurrah was born a son of the Warlpiri tribe in the community located 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. That grand final of 1987 was abandoned during the first quarter after panic went through the crowd who heard that the kadatji man was among them. Flanagan explained that no one knows who the kadatji man is, only that he brings the possibility of death to those who have transgressed what Aboriginal people call the Law. Twenty years later, Flanagan was also on hand when a Collingwood coterie group, the Industrial Magpies, brought three Warlpiri men to Melbourne. Jurrah was one of them. Flanagan spoke of how the visitors were showed the scarred tree at the MCG which land has always been held sacred by its traditional owners and of the wonderment of the visitors at the big buildings in town, sights never seen in the red desert. Lynette Jetta, mother of Neville, followed Flanagan and turned her poetry of last year into beautiful song. Later, Chris Connolly promised that one day soon all five of our indigenous treasures would play together in the same team and then proceeded to interview Davey and Jurrah as only he can. The two Demons will be the faces of a new government programme to eliminate trachoma among indigenous children. Trachoma is a terrible blight that causes blindness and its effects on indigenous communities in the outback was dramatically described by noted ophthalmologist Dr. Hugh Taylor (an avid Demon fan, of course). The club's support of this programme and the involvement of Aaron and Liam is a significant part of our long journey and you can't help but feel pride to be involved even in a small way with the progress of this aspect of the club's development as a responsible organisation within general community. This, even more so given that the evening's event was taking place against a backdrop of crisis for the other AFL clubs that share with us the sacred turf on which the MCG stands. I have always regarded our guest clubs at the G as usurpers - the old enemy Collingwood, our recent tormentor Hawthorn and Richmond which happens to be Melbourne's opponent in its next game. As this night unfolds it becomes clear that all three of them are beset by deep seated issues just at a stage when we are starting to emerge from our troubled times. As I drive away from the G and hear the day's news on the radio I can't help but wonder whether the kadatji man is paying them all a visit tonight. Magpie coach Michael Malthouse is feeling the pressure of the issue of the succession of coach in waiting Nathan Buckley. His credibility is in tatters, forced to apologise for his abuse of Stephen Milne after initially denying any verbal contact with the Saints' serial pest in a heated exchange during a break in Friday night's game at Etihad Stadium. As if that isn't enough, Mick has compounded his sin by fibbing about not being a liar. The wheels aren't exactly falling off at the Westpac Centre but the pressure's on the Collingwood coach. Watch this space. For the Hawks, who humiliated us at the opening of the season but lost their next two games, their injury woes deepen. Shannon Gibson, recruited from North to plug a deep hole in the ailing defence, has ripped his hamstring. Buddy Franklin's appeal against suspension has just been dismissed by the Tribunal and he will miss this week against the Magpies in a major blow to the hopes of his team. Meanwhile, over at Punt Road, things are going from bad to much worse as the winless Tigers suspend four players who had a night on the turps and some fisticuffs at a plush Sydney hotel after the team was thrashed by the Swans. This is not what the board, the coach and supporters of a developing young team want at such an early stage of the season, particularly on the eve of a game against a team perceived to be a fellow "cellar dweller. Full credit to Richmond for taking a strong stand against troublemakers and miscreants within the club. It's sure to benefit the club in the long run but, at present, the contrast between the two clubs both on and off the field could not be more stark. For the time being they are labouring under a curse from which we have just been freed. THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne at MCG - Sunday 18 April 2010 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Richmond 99 wins Melbourne 76 wins 2 draws At the MCG Richmond 65 wins Melbourne 57 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Richmond 10 wins Melbourne 6 wins The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 (live) 12.30 pm Radio ABC774 SEN THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.36 Richmond $3.15 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Richmond 12.14.86 d Melbourne 12.10.82 in Round 18, 2010 at the MCG This game became notorious for some interesting chess-like moves of players as well as what is euphemistically described in some parts as "list management" by the Demons' brain trust. The result was a closely-fought contest and what would have become either a famous or an infamous victory for Melbourne depending on your viewpoint (if you get my drift). Jordan McMahon, who earlier had missed two easy shots at goal, resolved the issue with a goal from fifty metres after the siren. There are some who will tell you that the mark awarded to McMahon that led to his match winning goal was also taken after the siren. As I remarked at the time, "shit happens." THE TEAMS RICHMOND Backs Shane Edwards Alex Rance Matthew Dea Half backs Mitchell Farmer Kelvin Moore Matt White Centreline Dustin Martin Brett Deledio Trent Cotchin Half forwards Troy Taylor Jack Riewoldt Mitch Morton Forwards Ben Nason Jayden Post Richard Tambling Followers Troy Simmonds Daniel Jackson Shane Tuck Interchange David Astbury Andrew Collins Tom Hislop Tyrone Vickery Emergencies Jake King Robin Nahas Graham Polak In David Astbury Andrew Collins Matthew Dea Mitchell Farmer Tom Hislop Troy Taylor Out Daniel Connors (club suspension) Ben Cousins (club suspension) Luke McGuane (club suspension) Chris Newman (leg) Dean Polo (club suspension) Relton Roberts New David Astbury (North Ballarat) Matthew Dea (North Ballarat) Troy Taylor (South Alice Springs/NT Thunder) MELBOURNE Backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock James Frawley Half backs Cameron Bruce Colin Garland Lynden Dunn Centreline Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Clint Bartram Half forwards Brad Green Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Forwards Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate, Rohan Bail Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange Jamie Bennell Joel MacDonald Jordie McKenzie Tom Scully Emergencies Kyle Cheney Michael Newton Jake Spencer In Colin Sylvia Out Michael Newton THE CLASH There's a feeling of absolute euphoria among some Demon supporters about the fact that their team won a game of football last weekend. It's true that their form has improved, that we have seen some encouraging performances from the many youngsters in the side and that there appears to be a hunger in the belly of the playing group not evident in probably four years. The past two weeks have produced fewer turnovers, less of the poor decision making and more positive football than at any time since coach Dean Bailey took the reins at the club. However, it's also true that the Demons laboured for a whole half to kick a measly goal and that it took until three minutes before the final siren before they could nail home their advantage against the crippled Crows whose rotations were limited and whose energy levels were therefore depleted well before the game's end. You have to expect inconsistency in young, emerging sporting teams. This applies to both the Demons and the Tigers in this week's clash at the MCG. But Richmond is clearly at a stage which Melbourne has now surpassed. The club has a defence that is rapidly developing with the likes of James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes and the surprise packet from Brisbane Joel Macdonald that is fast reaching an "A" standard among defences within the competition. The midfield is also gathering strength, particularly with the advent of impressive youngsters in Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Jordie McKenzie and the massive strides taken by Mark Jamar whose standing as a quality ruckman continues to rise on a weekly basis. Team leaders James McDonald, Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey and Brad Green are all producing around the ground and even the forward line, widely acknowledged as the club's weakest link, is showing some signs of life. The return of Colin Sylvia will be helpful and I sense that Michael Newton is working hard to fulfil the promise that's taking a long time to come to fruition. Perhaps his breakout game is just around the corner? The Tigers, on the other hand, have struggled and they are at least fortunate that they don't have many injury problems in view of this week's suspensions although, let's face it, only one of that quartet (Luke McGuane) has shown any real form this year. Among those under an injury cloud are their better players like Chris Newman and Will Thursfield who kept Barry Hall under wraps a fortnight ago. Brett Delidio, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin are all quality youngsters but the Tigers simply have too many deficiencies in their line up to match it with the Demons who will make it two in a row and possibly be in the "eight" by Sunday night! Melbourne by 31 points.

I know that everyone has to start somewhere but I can't help wondering about Panos who was an All Australian KPF at last year's under 18 carnival and even touted a top 10 pick at one stage. His name bobbed up this week as a goalkicker in the VFL reserves. Meantime, the likes of Butcher, Griffiths and Fitzpatrick aren't even playing ATM. It shows how risky it is to use early picks on prospective tall forwards and suggests that you have to be both fortunate and patient when selecting some of them.

This was the blockbuster game that wrote Jordie McMahon's name into the annals of AFL history. Don't worry too much about selected positions because DB shuffled them all over the place:- MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Matthew Warnock Kyle Cheney Half Backs Jack Grimes Jared Rivers Cameron Bruce Centreline Clint Bartram James McDonald Aaron Davey Half Forwards Jamie Bennell Michael Newton Lynden Dunn Forwards Brad Miller Matthew Bate Stefan Martin Followers Paul Johnson Ricky Petterd Nathan Jones Interchange Neville Jetta Jake Spencer Shane Valenti Matthew Whelan Emergencies Simon Buckley Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia In James Frawley Jack Grimes Neville Jetta Jake Spencer Out Liam Jurrah (ankle) Jordie McKenzie (calf) Cale Morton (heel) Brent Moloney (groin) RICHMOND Backs Jake King Will Thursfield Chris Newman Half Backs Dean Polo Luke McGuane Matthew White Centreline Shane Edwards Trent Cotchin Brett Deledio Half Forwards Robin Nahas Jack Riewoldt Jayden Post Forwards Nathan Brown Mitch Morton Ben Cousins Followers Tyrone Vickery Daniel Jackson Richard Tambling Interchange Tom Hislop Jordan McMahon Kel Moore Adam Pattison Emergencies Mark Coughlan Alex Rance Shane Tuck In Kel Moore Out Jarrod Silvester (knee)

There's a good battle at the top. 30.922 Mark Jamar 28.478 Jack Grimes 24.047 James Frawley 19.181 James McDonald 15.596 Brad Green 14.826 Ricky Petterd 12.512 Jamie Bennell 12.491 Jordie McKenzie 6.919 Aaron Davey 6.430 Jack Trengove 5.735 Tom Scully 4.171 Lynden Dunn 1.390 Rohan Bail

Here's KC's Report - THE FIRST STING

THE FIRST STING by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions went into the new season very much an unknown factor with a new coach in Brad Gotch (the club's fourth in as many years) and with courageous skipper Kyle Matthews in the Alfred Hospital recovering from head injuries as a result of an incident outside a Hawthorn hotel last month. The club had a pressing need to cover for the departure of two quality key defenders in Alex Silvagni (Fremantle) and Peter Faulks (Williamstown) and there were residual issues following last year's finals fadeout in the face of a huge injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne. Whenever, there's a new coaching regime in place, it takes time for all of the pieces to come together but when Gotch's charges came under intense pressure in their VFL season opener against Geelong on Saturday night they immediately showed the big crowd in attendance at Casey Fields their capacity to answer every challenge placed in their way with a brilliant come from behind eight point victory. The Cats were quick out of the blocks with two early goals while the home team blazed away under the lights to kick five behinds in the first quarter. Geelong's early ascendancy was due mainly to its on ball division controlling the stoppages despite Jake Spencer's dominance in the ruck hit outs. The second term opened in much the same way as the first with the Cats pushing forward and hammering home their advantage with two early goals. Casey struggled when it went into attack until a free kick from a ruck infringement to Spencer midway through the term finally helped his team to open its goal kicking account for the season. This did not put an end to the Scorpions' wayward kicking for goal. Late in the term they had scored just one goal from eleven scoring shots before Stefan Martin hit the target. However, a Geelong goal on the siren maintained the Cats' 20-point at the main break. Now was the time for the team to answer the challenge put to them succinctly by the coach at half time and this time it was to be the Scorpions scoring two goals to open the term and bring the deficit down to single figures. The Cats responded but the Scorpions came back at them and were finishing off much better with their tails up at the final break. At this stage Martin had three goals, the defence was holding firm and young Michael Stockdale and ex-Collingwood recruit Danny Nicholls were getting on top of their opposition small men. The Scorps were ready for the first sting of the match. The Cats momentarily regained their composure with a goal early in the final quarter but the Scorpions were now playing their best football for the night and some brilliant passages of play saw them gradually claw away at the gap between the teams. They peppered away at goal, hit the lead for the first time at the 21 minute mark and were still in attack at the final siren. The Scorpions had finished all over their opposition with the last three goals of the night. The comeback victory was the result of a great team effort led by acting captain James Wall who never puts in a poor performance. He was well backed up by skilful left footer Ben Macreadie and the sublime youthful talent of Jack Watts who is destined for bigger things at another level of the game. Tom McNamara and Kyle Cheney who shadowed the dangerous Max Rooke were the pick of the defenders. The result was even more pleasing considering that Casey produced several newcomers to its senior team. Scorpion listed Matthew Fieldsend, Danny Nicholls, Ricky Plummer and Cameron Purdy joined Demons Jordan Gysberts and Rhys Healey as VFL debutants. Mitchell Dowse took part in his first game as a Casey listed player having played once under the 23rd man rule when a member of the Gippsland Power Under 18s TAC Cup squad. In the end it was a solid opening hit out for Casey which hosts first round loser Collingwood next Sunday. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Kyle Cheney - a solid game in defence from the tough redhead who nullified the dangerous Max Rooke. Jordan Gysberts - quiet and unobtrusive but has good balance and gives the ball off well by hand or by foot and shows promise for the future as a link man. Rhys Healey - not only did the job on Cats player Simon Hogan but showed out strongly with some creative play on the wing. Paul Johnson - in the early days of his comeback after a severe foot injury, Johnson did some handy things during his time on the ground. Tom McNamara - a solid game in defence and was close to Casey's best. Addam Maric - started slowly but was better after half time and helped turn the game with a beautiful goal from fifty metres out near the boundary. Stefan Martin - tall forward who, apart from a brief stint in defence, played deep and he could easily have kicked six but for the fact that he was off target early. Martin moved well and provided a target and his goal just before half time when he baulked an opponent and kicked accurately at last was a gem. He comes from a basketball background and still has a lot to learn but is shaping as a versatile customer who can play up forward, down back and in the ruck. Brad Miller - had his moments but generally struggled to have an impact on the game. Jake Spencer - dominated in the ruck for most of the game and worked hard around the ground. Kicked his team's first goal. James Strauss - superb delivery of the ball was a feature. Started a telling move for goal during the Scorps' comeback and looks to be a player of the future. Jack Watts - was in Casey's best playing at half forward and on wing. He picked up around 20 disposals, showed great pace and was both creative and effective. He is growing taller and bulking up and it won't be long before he returns to AFL ranks. Casey Scorpions 0.5.5 2.10.22 6.11.47 9.18.72 Geelong 2.5.17 6.6.42 8.8.56 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Martin 3 M Dowse MacReadie McGough Maric Spencer Taylor Geelong Johnson 3 Firman Hogan Raidme Smith A Varcoe West Best Casey Scorpions McNamara Stockdale Cheney Nicholls Watts MacReadie Geelong West Hogan Laidler Gillies Cuthill Christensen The Reserves travelled to windswept TEAC Oval, Port Melourne and had a good first half holding an 11 point lead at half time. However, the Borough runners held sway after half time and the Scorpions dropped away in the third term with the home side running over the top of them in the end. HOW THE DEMON DIDN'T FARE Sam Blease was ill earlier in the week and was unable to shake it off so his debut for Casey has been held back another week. Ryan Creed was the team's best while Ben Waite was strong at full forward with three goals. Casey Scorpions 5.4.34 6.6.42 9.8.62 11.13.79 Port Melbourne 0.1.1 4.7.31 7.8.50 16.14.110 Goals Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Creed Smith 2 Clay Costigan Hillberge McDonald Port Melbourne Debruin Sengstock 3 Casey-Leigh Keddell 2 Keely Muling Schultz Thornton Wall Woods Best Casey Scorpions Creed Jones Patti Leeds Tynan Burke Port Melbourne Neville McLaren Thornton Sengstock Keely Keddell

THE FIRST STING by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions went into the new season very much an unknown factor with a new coach in Brad Gotch (the club's fourth in as many years) and with courageous skipper Kyle Matthews in the Alfred Hospital recovering from head injuries as a result of an incident outside a Hawthorn hotel last month. The club had a pressing need to cover for the departure of two quality key defenders in Alex Silvagni (Fremantle) and Peter Faulks (Williamstown) and there were residual issues following last year's finals fadeout in the face of a huge injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne. Whenever, there's a new coaching regime in place, it takes time for all of the pieces to come together but when Gotch's charges came under intense pressure in their VFL season opener against Geelong on Saturday night they immediately showed the big crowd in attendance at Casey Fields their capacity to answer every challenge placed in their way with a brilliant come from behind eight point victory. The Cats were quick out of the blocks with two early goals while the home team blazed away under the lights to kick five behinds in the first quarter. Geelong's early ascendancy was due mainly to its on ball division controlling the stoppages despite Jake Spencer's dominance in the ruck hit outs. The second term opened in much the same way as the first with the Cats pushing forward and hammering home their advantage with two early goals. Casey struggled when it went into attack until a free kick from a ruck infringement to Spencer midway through the term finally helped his team to open its goal kicking account for the season. This did not put an end to the Scorpions' wayward kicking for goal. Late in the term they had scored just one goal from eleven scoring shots before Stefan Martin hit the target. However, a Geelong goal on the siren maintained the Cats' 20-point at the main break. Now was the time for the team to answer the challenge put to them succinctly by the coach at half time and this time it was to be the Scorpions scoring two goals to open the term and bring the deficit down to single figures. The Cats responded but the Scorpions came back at them and were finishing off much better with their tails up at the final break. At this stage Martin had three goals, the defence was holding firm and young Michael Stockdale and ex-Collingwood recruit Danny Nicholls were getting on top of their opposition small men. The Scorps were ready for the first sting of the match. The Cats momentarily regained their composure with a goal early in the final quarter but the Scorpions were now playing their best football for the night and some brilliant passages of play saw them gradually claw away at the gap between the teams. They peppered away at goal, hit the lead for the first time at the 21 minute mark and were still in attack at the final siren. The Scorpions had finished all over their opposition with the last three goals of the night. The comeback victory was the result of a great team effort led by acting captain James Wall who never puts in a poor performance. He was well backed up by skilful left footer Ben Macreadie and the sublime youthful talent of Jack Watts who is destined for bigger things at another level of the game. Tom McNamara and Kyle Cheney who shadowed the dangerous Max Rooke were the pick of the defenders. The result was even more pleasing considering that Casey produced several newcomers to its senior team. Scorpion listed Matthew Fieldsend, Danny Nicholls, Ricky Plummer and Cameron Purdy joined Demons Jordan Gysberts and Rhys Healey as VFL debutants. Mitchell Dowse took part in his first game as a Casey listed player having played once under the 23rd man rule when a member of the Gippsland Power Under 18s TAC Cup squad. In the end it was a solid opening hit out for Casey which hosts first round loser Collingwood next Sunday. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Kyle Cheney - a solid game in defence from the tough redhead who nullified the dangerous Max Rooke. Jordan Gysberts - quiet and unobtrusive but has good balance and gives the ball off well by hand or by foot and shows promise for the future as a link man. Rhys Healey - not only did the job on Cats player Simon Hogan but showed out strongly with some creative play on the wing. Paul Johnson - in the early days of his comeback after a severe foot injury, Johnson did some handy things during his time on the ground. Tom McNamara - a solid game in defence and was close to Casey's best. Addam Maric - started slowly but was better after half time and helped turn the game with a beautiful goal from fifty metres out near the boundary. Stefan Martin - tall forward who, apart from a brief stint in defence, played deep and he could easily have kicked six but for the fact that he was off target early. Martin moved well and provided a target and his goal just before half time when he baulked an opponent and kicked accurately at last was a gem. He comes from a basketball background and still has a lot to learn but is shaping as a versatile customer who can play up forward, down back and in the ruck. Brad Miller - had his moments but generally struggled to have an impact on the game. Jake Spencer - dominated in the ruck for most of the game and worked hard around the ground. Kicked his team's first goal. James Strauss - superb delivery of the ball was a feature. Started a telling move for goal during the Scorps' comeback and looks to be a player of the future. Jack Watts - was in Casey's best playing at half forward and on wing. He picked up around 20 disposals, showed great pace and was both creative and effective. He is growing taller and bulking up and it won't be long before he returns to AFL ranks. Casey Scorpions 0.5.5 2.10.22 6.11.47 9.18.72 Geelong 2.5.17 6.6.42 8.8.56 9.10.64 Goals Casey Scorpions Martin 3 M Dowse MacReadie McGough Maric Spencer Taylor Geelong Johnson 3 Firman Hogan Raidme Smith A Varcoe West Best Casey Scorpions McNamara Stockdale Cheney Nicholls Watts MacReadie Geelong West Hogan Laidler Gillies Cuthill Christensen The Reserves travelled to windswept TEAC Oval, Port Melourne and had a good first half holding an 11 point lead at half time. However, the Borough runners held sway after half time and the Scorpions dropped away in the third term with the home side running over the top of them in the end. HOW THE DEMON DIDN'T FARE Sam Blease was ill earlier in the week and was unable to shake it off so his debut for Casey has been held back another week. Ryan Creed was the team's best while Ben Waite was strong at full forward with three goals. Casey Scorpions 5.4.34 6.6.42 9.8.62 11.13.79 Port Melbourne 0.1.1 4.7.31 7.8.50 16.14.110 Goals Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Creed Smith 2 Clay Costigan Hillberge McDonald Port Melbourne Debruin Sengstock 3 Casey-Leigh Keddell 2 Keely Muling Schultz Thornton Wall Woods Best Casey Scorpions Creed Jones Patti Leeds Tynan Burke Port Melbourne Neville McLaren Thornton Sengstock Keely Keddell Discuss Here: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20177

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I TIPPETT THIS! by The Oracle Melbourne underlined the fact that it will be a major improver among the AFL's sixteen clubs when it beat the elements and an ailing Adelaide in its Round 3 clash in swirly windswept conditions at the MCG. While the Demons broke the ice for season 2010, the time has to crack open the champers has not come quite yet, because the game clearly demonstrated that the team has a fair way to go before it attains the level of skills required to go it with the elite clubs of the competition which the current Crows combination is certainly not. The conditions under which the game was played certainly dictated that the 23,335 hardy souls who braved the elements to attend the game were not going to witness an exhibition of pretty football. In fact, the first half was an absolute eyesore. Whereas a week ago, Melbourne and Collingwood fought out an epic contest under sunny Autumn skies, this contest reminded one of the old adage about our game being a winter game. The heavens opened as the game started, the winds squalled throughout and neither side was exactly on target with its disposal. Moreover, while the Magpies went on the attack last week to salvage the game against the persistent and somewhat unlucky Demons, the Crows did what they do best and produced their own particular brand of dour defensive football replete with tight zones and, once they forged a lead of around 20 points in the early parts of the second quarter, they seemed content to hold their ground to break the opposition, rather than to grind them into the dirt as would most top teams. This tactic almost succeeded when Adelaide added to its half time lead of 4.9.33 to 1.8.14 the first goal immediately after the main break to take a 25-point lead which, in terms of such a low scoring contest, seemed like an ever deepening chasm. Melbourne's only goal to that time, Brad Green's snap midway through the first term which broke a run of five behinds, was by then almost a distant memory. The Demons of last year and the year before would have pliantly succumbed but not this lot. Led by an underrated skipper in James McDonald, another dominant ruck performance from Mark Jamar and a group of youngsters headed by key poisition defender James Frawley and young sidekick Jack Grimes, the aggressive new Demons of 2010 laid down the challenge and kicked the next two goals to halve the deficit and suddenly, it was game on. Watching in the stands, you could sense the change in the game and you knew that Melbourne was in with a big chance to cause an upset. They had every cause to go on and win with a coach who had been under intense pressure just a week and a half earlier and an inspirational club president recovering from major surgery. And, importantly, they had something to prove for themselves. Adelaide was truly wilting both physically and mentally under Melbourne's determined onslaught that eventuaklly yielded four goals - two of them to Matthew Bate and one each to youngsters Jamie Bennell and Jack Trengove (his first in the bigtime). Suddenly, the Demons were in unfamiliar territory. They held a lead, albeit a narrow one, at three quarter time. The Crows looked bowed and beaten, their bench and rotations limited and yet, to their credit, it took most of the final term before the home team could break the deadlock and who better to kick a decisive goal than skipper James McDonald who received a long pass from Green with less than three minutes remaining? A minute later, a tap out from Jamar was roved by Nathan Jones and victory was secured. There were many heroes in this game which saw a very even contribution across the board from all twenty-two players. Particular mention must go to the defence and to the contribution of Matthew Warnock who kept Kurt Tippett goalless. A little over a month ago, in a practice match in Elizabeth, South Australia, it was Tippet's five-goal haul that made the difference in a tight game that was decided with half a minute to go. After that game I bravely predicted that the Demons would win their next encounter if they could stop the Crows' big forward so I can now honestly say, "I Tippet this!" Melbourne 1.5.11 1.8.14 5.11.41 7.15.57 Adelaide 2.5.17 4.9.33 5.10.40 5.11.41 Goals Melbourne Bate 2 Bennell Green Jones McDonald Trengove Adelaide Burton 3 Cooke Maric Best Melbourne Warnock Grimes Green Trengove Frawley McDonald AdelaideVince Goodwin Doughty Thompson Injuries Melbourne Nil Adelaide Bock (hamstring) Dangerfield (shoulder) Hentschel Reports Nil Changes Adelaide Schmidt replaced Stevens MelbourneGarland replaced Sylvia Umpires McBurney, Ryan, Armstrong Crowd 23,335 at the MCG Discuss Here - http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20130