Demonland

Congrats Finks. Hope she maintains that perfect record. Enjoy mate!

Your votes please 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...

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

For some stupid reason the only way I can get it to display the correct time is by changing it to the time for Osaka in Japan. That solves the issue when you are not logged in. If you log in you need to change the time in your settings to Osaka time +9:00.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES by JVM The teams named for the capital cities of two great footballing states clash on Sunday in a battle to decide which of them will break the ice for season 2010. MELBOURNE The team that has won two wooden spoons on end and occupied last place on the ladder after its woeful display in round 1 came within a whisker of pulling off the biggest upset of the decade against Collingwood. This might not be such a big deal given that we're only two weeks into this brand new decade but it would have been welcomed not only by Melbourne fans but also by most of the football world (Magpie fans excepted) especially when the Demons led by 11 points with time on about to start. However, the much hoped for but unexpected victory was not to be. The Pies conjured up a couple of unlikely goals and then a few dodgy umpiring decisions, a pass that went to the wrong target and a dropped mark all conspired to keep Melbourne winless. After playing with such relentless intensity for most of the game after a horror week, the result was nothing short of a tragedy. There is only one thing that could possibly be a greater tragedy for the club and that would be if the team came out on Sunday and reverted to all of its old habits of 2007 to 2009 and into round 1, 2010. The challenge facing Dean Bailey and his charges is to continue taking forward steps after last week's heartbreak. The message for the team from the city that represents the capital city of our great state will be don't look back! THE GAME Melbourne v. Adelaide at the MCG 11 April 2010 at 1.10pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 9 wins Adelaide 18 wins At MCG Melbourne 5 wins Adelaide 5 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 4 wins Adelaide 10 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 Craig 2 MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 1pm (live AEST) RADIO ABC774 SEN THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.05 Adelaide to win $1.78 LAST TIME THEY MET Adelaide 7.9.51 d Melbourne 4.10.34, Round 5, 2009, at MCG The game was as dull as the autumn twilight conditions that enveloped the MCG. The Crows were defensive and their hosts were super- defensive. By half time Adelaide had scored four goals to nil and the fans were bored to death. After that, the Demons made some forward thrusts and would have been right back in the game had they been able to convert a few easy chances in front of goal but in the end, it all petered out to a very forgettable 17-point Adelaide victory. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Warnock James Frawley Jamie Bennell Half backs James McDonald Joel Macdonald Lynden Dunn Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Half forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Cameron Bruce Forwards Tom Scully Ricky Petterd Clint Bartram Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange (from) Matthew Bate Kyle Cheney Colin Garland Nathan Jones Jordie McKenzie Michael Newton Jake Spencer In Kyle Cheney Colin Garland Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Out James Strauss ADELAIDE Backs Michael Doughty Ben Rutten Jared Petrenko Half backs Simon Goodwin Nathan Bock Richard Douglas Centreline Tyson Edwards Bernie Vince David Mackay Half forwards Jason Porplyzia Taylor Walker Patrick Dangerfield Forwards Andrew McLeod Kurt Tippett Trent Hentschel Followers Ivan Maric Scott Thompson Brent Reilly Interchange (from) Tony Armstrong Brett Burton Myke Cook Chris Knights Shaun McKernan Chris Schmidt Scott Stevens In Tony Armstrong Chris Knights Chris Schmidt Scott Stevens Out James Sellar (hamstring) Will Young New Chris Schmidt (Brisbane Lions) ADELAIDE Shortly before half time of its match against Collingwood in semi final week last year the Adelaide Football Club appeared destined for glory. The Crows held a lead of almost six goals and were enjoying a period of rare form having overwhelmed Carlton in the final round and then following that up with a demolition of Essendon in an elimination final. The prospect of the premiership cup returning to the City of Churches loomed as a distinct possibility. If ever a team that missed out on making the top four prior to the finals looked like making it all the way, it was the Crows. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Collingwood came back and eventually wore down a tiring Adelaide team landing the killer blow in the final moments of the game. Neil Craig's men seem not to have recovered. Their preseason was poor and punctuated by injury woes. They managed just one win (a get out of gaol last minute goal landing them a narrow victory on home territory against a depleted Melbourne team) in their four practice matches. Their two games to date in the AFL premiership season have been disasters. The team that represents the capital city of South Australia would like to look back to the first week in September of 2009 because it now is stuck between a rock and a hard place. And that is the tale of the two cities and their football teams to date in 2010. On Sunday, one of them will feel the joy of winning again. BREAKTHROUGH Both clubs will be desperate for a breakthrough victory and despite the fact that Adelaide has won eight of its last ten encounters with Melbourne, the cards seem to be stacked against them this week. The Crows will have had one day less recovery time than the Demons and they are coming off a difficult game played in near 30 degree heat at AAMI Stadium. Their confidence is low, they have injury and form problems and they don't often play at the MCG. Their perennial best player against Melbourne, Simon Goodwin who has averaged 28.3 disposals against them in their past three encounters, is under an injury cloud despite his bselection in the main side. The problem from my point of view is that, on the rare occasions when Melbourne has seemingly been in a position to cause an upset against more experienced or better credentialled sides, it has let itself and its supporters down to the point where there has been no breakthrough; only heartbreak. So despite the fact that I like the way the Demons played last week and I like their spirit and their intensity, I'm not yet ready to get on their bandwagon. The danger man is Dangerfield. I'm therefore predicting that Adelaide will somehow find a way to correct its poor form for the season to date and win by 7 points after a hard fought match.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES by JVM The teams named for the capital cities of two great footballing states clash on Sunday in a battle to decide which of them will break the ice for season 2010. MELBOURNE The team that has won two wooden spoons on end and occupied last place on the ladder after its woeful display in round 1 came within a whisker of pulling off the biggest upset of the decade against Collingwood. This might not be such a big deal given that we're only two weeks into this brand new decade but it would have been welcomed not only by Melbourne fans but also by most of the football world (Magpie fans excepted) especially when the Demons led by 11 points with time on about to start. However, the much hoped for but unexpected victory was not to be. The Pies conjured up a couple of unlikely goals and then a few dodgy umpiring decisions, a pass that went to the wrong target and a dropped mark all conspired to keep Melbourne winless. After playing with such relentless intensity for most of the game after a horror week, the result was nothing short of a tragedy. There is only one thing that could possibly be a greater tragedy for the club and that would be if the team came out on Sunday and reverted to all of its old habits of 2007 to 2009 and into round 1, 2010. The challenge facing Dean Bailey and his charges is to continue taking forward steps after last week's heartbreak. The message for the team from the city that represents the capital city of our great state will be don't look back! THE GAME Melbourne v. Adelaide at the MCG 11 April 2010 at 1.10pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 9 wins Adelaide 18 wins At MCG Melbourne 5 wins Adelaide 5 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 4 wins Adelaide 10 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 Craig 2 MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 1pm (live AEST) RADIO ABC774 SEN THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.05 Adelaide to win $1.78 LAST TIME THEY MET Adelaide 7.9.51 d Melbourne 4.10.34, Round 5, 2009, at MCG The game was as dull as the autumn twilight conditions that enveloped the MCG. The Crows were defensive and their hosts were super- defensive. By half time Adelaide had scored four goals to nil and the fans were bored to death. After that, the Demons made some forward thrusts and would have been right back in the game had they been able to convert a few easy chances in front of goal but in the end, it all petered out to a very forgettable 17-point Adelaide victory. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Warnock James Frawley Jamie Bennell Half backs James McDonald Joel Macdonald Lynden Dunn Centreline Rohan Bail Jack Trengove Aaron Davey Half forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Cameron Bruce Forwards Tom Scully Ricky Petterd Clint Bartram Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Brent Moloney Interchange (from) Matthew Bate Kyle Cheney Colin Garland Nathan Jones Jordie McKenzie Michael Newton Jake Spencer In Kyle Cheney Colin Garland Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Out James Strauss ADELAIDE Backs Michael Doughty Ben Rutten Jared Petrenko Half backs Simon Goodwin Nathan Bock Richard Douglas Centreline Tyson Edwards Bernie Vince David Mackay Half forwards Jason Porplyzia Taylor Walker Patrick Dangerfield Forwards Andrew McLeod Kurt Tippett Trent Hentschel Followers Ivan Maric Scott Thompson Brent Reilly Interchange (from) Tony Armstrong Brett Burton Myke Cook Chris Knights Shaun McKernan Chris Schmidt Scott Stevens In Tony Armstrong Chris Knights Chris Schmidt Scott Stevens Out James Sellar (hamstring) Will Young New Chris Schmidt (Brisbane Lions) ADELAIDE Shortly before half time of its match against Collingwood in semi final week last year the Adelaide Football Club appeared destined for glory. The Crows held a lead of almost six goals and were enjoying a period of rare form having overwhelmed Carlton in the final round and then following that up with a demolition of Essendon in an elimination final. The prospect of the premiership cup returning to the City of Churches loomed as a distinct possibility. If ever a team that missed out on making the top four prior to the finals looked like making it all the way, it was the Crows. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Collingwood came back and eventually wore down a tiring Adelaide team landing the killer blow in the final moments of the game. Neil Craig's men seem not to have recovered. Their preseason was poor and punctuated by injury woes. They managed just one win (a get out of gaol last minute goal landing them a narrow victory on home territory against a depleted Melbourne team) in their four practice matches. Their two games to date in the AFL premiership season have been disasters. The team that represents the capital city of South Australia would like to look back to the first week in September of 2009 because it now is stuck between a rock and a hard place. And that is the tale of the two cities and their football teams to date in 2010. On Sunday, one of them will feel the joy of winning again. BREAKTHROUGH Both clubs will be desperate for a breakthrough victory and despite the fact that Adelaide has won eight of its last ten encounters with Melbourne, the cards seem to be stacked against them this week. The Crows will have had one day less recovery time than the Demons and they are coming off a difficult game played in near 30 degree heat at AAMI Stadium. Their confidence is low, they have injury and form problems and they don't often play at the MCG. Their perennial best player against Melbourne, Simon Goodwin who has averaged 28.3 disposals against them in their past three encounters, is under an injury cloud despite his bselection in the main side. The problem from my point of view is that, on the rare occasions when Melbourne has seemingly been in a position to cause an upset against more experienced or better credentialled sides, it has let itself and its supporters down to the point where there has been no breakthrough; only heartbreak. So despite the fact that I like the way the Demons played last week and I like their spirit and their intensity, I'm not yet ready to get on their bandwagon. The danger man is Dangerfield. I'm therefore predicting that Adelaide will somehow find a way to correct its poor form for the season to date and win by 7 points after a hard fought match.

Remember that horrible twilight game at the G when we didn't score a goal in the first half but still had a chance to win midway through the final quarter? Last time they met MELBOURNE Backs Neville Jetta Matthew Warnock Clint Bartram Half backs James Frawley Stefan Martin Aaron Davey Centreline Jared Rivers Ricky Petterd Brock McLean Half forwards Cale Morton Michael Newton Nathan Jones Forwards Brad Miller Colin Sylvia Matthew Bate Followers John Meesen Cameron Bruce James McDonald Interchange Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Paul Johnson Brent Moloney Emergencies Kyle Cheney Addam Maric Russell Robertson ADELAIDE Backs Graham Johncock Ben Rutten Andrew Otten Half backs Michael Doughty Nathan Bock Nathan van Berlo Centreline Patrick Dangerfield Simon Goodwin David Mackay Half forwards Richard Douglas Taylor Walker Andrew McLeod Forwards Jason Porplyzia Kurt Tippett Bernie Vince Followers Jon Griffin Tyson Edwards Scott Thompson Interchange Myke Cook Jared Petrenko Brent Reilly Scott Stevens Emergencies Jarrhan Jacky Brad Moran Robert Shirley

Mark Jamar takes the lead after round 2: 17.019777 Mark Jamar 14.825581 Ricky Petterd 14.576023 Jack Grimes 12.490558 Jordie McKenzie 8.645796 Brad Green 6,918604 Aaron Davey 6.669052 James McDonald 5.735043 Tom Scully 4.583582 James Frawley 3.649573 Jack Trengove This round's votes (selected at random) came from: Nasher 6. Petterd 5. Jamar 4. Grimes 3. McKenzie 2. James McDonald 1. Green Titan_uranus 6. Grimes 5. Petterd 4. Davey 3. Jamar 2. Green 1. McKenzie Big_red_fire_engine 6. McKenzie 5. Jamar 4. Petterd 3. Davey 2. Frawley 1. Green This gave us votes as follows: 15. Petterd 13. Jamar 10. Grimes McKenzie 7. Davey 4. Green 2. Frawley James McDonald The votes were then weighted by multiplying the points for and dividing the points against for the round i.e. 85/86.

SUNFLOWERS by Whispering Jack Those final ten seconds seemed to last forever. Melbourne trailled by one point as Rohan Bail gained possession near the fifty metre line. His left foot kick appeared set to score but then it started to fall short towards the outstretched hands of Ricky Petterd. Time froze, the ball caressed his fingertips and then fell to the ground. The siren sounded and Petterd slammed his hands into the ground, his near perfect game marred by the knowledge that his team would have almost certainly won the match had the ball stuck in his hands. It's such a cruel game this football caper! We never considered the possibility of a close contest when we arrived for the game. You know all about young teams with their tendency towards providing inconsistent performances but this result was way beyond our expectations and yet the sorry realisation of what had taken place hit the senses like a sledghammer. After a whole season of indifference to defeat, the one-point loss at the hands of the old enemy Collingwood was gutwrenching. That's how it should be when you lose and the hurt on the faces of the players as they trudged off the ground told the story. After 100 minutes or so of application and intense pressure they knew now exactly what had to be done to win a game - a poofteenth more than what they did today. On the other hand, the fact that this group gave away so much in experience to one of the competition's leading teams, a regular finallist and a premiership contender, and was in the game until its dying seconds, is significant. It tells us that the team is regaining its self-belief. After last week's soul destroying humiliation at the hands of Hawthorn, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey was staring down at a blank canvas. The critics were clamouring that there was nothing there; that he and his players were heading for a bleak future. The picture is now more than somewhat brighter and the coach's vision is no longer dark but rather alive with vibrant colour because he knows that they really can compete. Despite Petterd's late missed mark, he was the game's best forward line player. He thrashed Collingwood defender Heath Shaw and his four goals was a great reward for a stunning performance on a Demon forward line badly weakened by injuries and loss of form. Elevated rookie Jordie McKenzie was outstanding again in only his fifth game for the club. His persistence, his creativity and his strong tackling were all exceptional. Brad Green followed up last week's courageous display with three second-half goals in his 200th game. He marshalled the forward line and played a major role in ensuring that the team would not wilt under Collingwood's pressure. In the end, it was Green who passionately addressed the young team before they fittingly carried him from the ground. However, the hero was ruckman Mark Jamar who single-handedly controlled the rucks and helped generate some much needed onball drive that has been missing for so long from the club's midfield. Years ago, in his early days at the club, Jamar was third fiddle to Jeff White and today's main opponent Darren Jolly who left the club and achieved premiership glory in Sydney. Today, he not only beat his old teammate but he also held sway against Josh Fraser who humbled the Demons on both occassions when they met last year. It's just a pity that his running shot for goal from ten metres out late in the second term missed everything. Melbourne's defence continues to gain in stature. James Frawley has good pace and can take on the talls and the smalls. He disposed of the dangerous Medhurst and provided his team with great run out of defence. Matthew Warnock was also steady and rock solid. And it's hard to believe that Jack Grimes was only playing his 14th game. He kept Alan Didak in check for most of the game and was creative in turning defence into attack. Aaron Davey returned to game after a poor opening game and showed that his old zest and zip was back as he constantly ran through the lines. Skipper James McDonald led from the front. Mention should be made of the fact that the Demons had four second game players in Rohan Bail, Tom Scully, James Strauss and Jack Trengove. They all contributed without being outstanding but what an experience it must have been for them to take part in a pressure cooker game in front of in excess of 50,000 people? There was plenty to like about the way Melbourne played and credit must go to coach Dean Bailey who kept his cool during the week despite being tormented by some in the media and many disaffected Demon supporters. Most of what he did today worked although he will no doubt be looking at ways to ensure that his charges keep up the pressure for the full four quarters. Lapses in the latter part of the third and final quarters proved costly today with the Magpies kicking the last two of each term. However, at least Bailey now has the opportunity to turn that blank canvas he faced last week in a blaze of colour. The flowers are beginning to bloom. Melbourne 4.5.29 6.6.42 9.11.65 12.13.85 Collingwood 2.2.14 7.5.47 10.10.70 12.14.86 Goals Melbourne Petterd 4 Green 3 Dunn 2 Bail Bennell Newton CollingwoodAnthony Davis Lockyer Pendlebury 2 Beams Cloke Fraser Medhurst Best Melbourne Jamar Petterd Grimes Davey McKenzie McDonald Frawley Collingwood Pendlebury Beams Lockyer Thomas O'Brien Sidebottom Injuries Melbourne Nil Collingwood Johnson (knee) Reports Melbourne Nil Collingwood Nil Changes Melbourne Jake Spencer (hip flexor) replaced by Clint Bartram Collingwood Shane O'Bree (virus) replaced by Dayne Beams Umpires Hay Jeffery Wenn Crowd 50,421 at the MCG

I think you forgot Jake Spencer!

Game over. Thread closed. Post match discussion here folks - http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19976

Please post your votes here ... 6,5,4,3,2,1

SUNFLOWERS by Whispering Jack Those final ten seconds seemed to last forever. Melbourne trailled by one point as Rohan Bail gained possession near the fifty metre line. His left foot kick appeared set to score but then it started to fall short towards the outstretched hands of Ricky Petterd. Time froze, the ball caressed his fingertips and then fell to the ground. The siren sounded and Petterd slammed his hands into the ground, his near perfect game marred by the knowledge that his team would have almost certainly won the match had the ball stuck in his hands. It's such a cruel game this football caper! We never considered the possibility of a close contest when we arrived for the game. You know all about young teams with their tendency towards providing inconsistent performances but this result was way beyond our expectations and yet the sorry realisation of what had taken place hit the senses like a sledghammer. After a whole season of indifference to defeat, the one-point loss at the hands of the old enemy Collingwood was gutwrenching. That's how it should be when you lose and the hurt on the faces of the players as they trudged off the ground told the story. After 100 minutes or so of application and intense pressure they knew now exactly what had to be done to win a game - a poofteenth more than what they did today. On the other hand, the fact that this group gave away so much in experience to one of the competition's leading teams, a regular finallist and a premiership contender, and was in the game until its dying seconds, is significant. It tells us that the team is regaining its self-belief. After last week's soul destroying humiliation at the hands of Hawthorn, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey was staring down at a blank canvas. The critics were clamouring that there was nothing there; that he and his players were heading for a bleak future. The picture is now more than somewhat brighter and the coach's vision is no longer dark but rather alive with vibrant colour because he knows that they really can compete. Despite Petterd's late missed mark, he was the game's best forward line player. He thrashed Collingwood defender Heath Shaw and his four goals was a great reward for a stunning performance on a Demon forward line badly weakened by injuries and loss of form. Elevated rookie Jordie McKenzie was outstanding again in only his fifth game for the club. His persistence, his creativity and his strong tackling were all exceptional. Brad Green followed up last week's courageous display with three second-half goals in his 200th game. He marshalled the forward line and played a major role in ensuring that the team would not wilt under Collingwood's pressure. In the end, it was Green who passionately addressed the young team before they fittingly carried him from the ground. However, the hero was ruckman Mark Jamar who single-handedly controlled the rucks and helped generate some much needed onball drive that has been missing for so long from the club's midfield. Years ago, in his early days at the club, Jamar was third fiddle to Jeff White and today's main opponent Darren Jolly who left the club and achieved premiership glory in Sydney. Today, he not only beat his old teammate but he also held sway against Josh Fraser who humbled the Demons on both occassions when they met last year. It's just a pity that his running shot for goal from ten metres out late in the second term missed everything. Melbourne's defence continues to gain in stature. James Frawley has good pace and can take on the talls and the smalls. He disposed of the dangerous Medhurst and provided his team with great run out of defence. Matthew Warnock was also steady and rock solid. And it's hard to believe that Jack Grimes was only playing his 14th game. He kept Alan Didak in check for most of the game and was creative in turning defence into attack. Aaron Davey returned to game after a poor opening game and showed that his old zest and zip was back as he constantly ran through the lines. Skipper James McDonald led from the front. Mention should be made of the fact that the Demons had four second game players in Rohan Bail, Tom Scully, James Strauss and Jack Trengove. They all contributed without being outstanding but what an experience it must have been for them to take part in a pressure cooker game in front of in excess of 50,000 people? There was plenty to like about the way Melbourne played and credit must go to coach Dean Bailey who kept his cool during the week despite being tormented by some in the media and many disaffected Demon supporters. Most of what he did today worked although he will no doubt be looking at ways to ensure that his charges keep up the pressure for the full four quarters. Lapses in the latter part of the third and final quarters proved costly today with the Magpies kicking the last two of each term. However, at least Bailey now has the opportunity to turn that blank canvas he faced last week in a blaze of colour. The flowers are beginning to bloom. Melbourne 4.5.29 6.6.42 9.11.65 12.13.85 Collingwood 2.2.14 7.5.47 10.10.70 12.14.86 Goals Melbourne Petterd 4 Green 3 Dunn 2 Bail Bennell Newton CollingwoodAnthony Davis Lockyer Pendlebury 2 Beams Cloke Fraser Medhurst Best Melbourne Jamar Petterd Grimes Davey McKenzie McDonald Frawley Collingwood Pendlebury Beams Lockyer Thomas O'Brien Sidebottom Injuries Melbourne Nil Collingwood Johnson (knee) Reports Melbourne Nil Collingwood Nil Changes Melbourne Jake Spencer (hip flexor) replaced by Clint Bartram Collingwood Shane O'Bree (virus) replaced by Dayne Beams Umpires Hay Jeffery Wenn Crowd 50,421 at the MCG

Yep. Definitely in his own in the ruck today.

THE GAME PLAN by JVM The story goes that Mick Malthouse sent his forward scout to the MCG last Saturday to spy on Melbourne, their opponents for the following week's round of AFL football. The scout was instructed to take particular note of the Demons' game plan, their structures and the general way in which they play in order to allow Mick to plan the game for this week. Apparently, the poor bloke never made it back to the Lexus Centre. It seems that he suffered a nervous breakdown at the ground and has been housed in a padded cell ever since. Fortunately for the Magpies, the lamented scout managed to get his message across before he succumbed to whatever it was that ailed him. An envelope arrived at the club yesterday addressed to Malthouse and marked "private and confidential". Inside the envelope was another envelope marked "MFC Game Plan". When it was opened a small white sheet of paper fell out. The coach picked up the sheet and then set it down with a worried look on his face. The page was blank. What did this mean? Was this blank white page the result of one poor man's failure to carry out his instructions or was there some deeper meaning? Nobody in the world really knows what's going on in the head of Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and the fear in the Magpie camp is that this is all part of some diabolical scheme to turn the tables on Collingwood after the club's dismal start to the season. Please don't ask me if I give this story any credibility. I've watched a few practice matches and, like the Collingwood forward scout, was there last Saturday to watch the Hawks. But like most of us, I still wouldn't have a clue. THE GAMECollingwood v Melbourne at the MCG Saturday 3 April 2010 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Collingwood 140 wins Melbourne 79 wins 4 draws At the G Collingwood 73 wins Melbourne 59 wins 2 draws Since 2000 Collingwood 7 wins Melbourne 5 wins The Coaches Malthouse 3 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 at 1:30 PM (live) RADIO 3AW MMM 774ABC SEN THE BETTING Collingwood to win $1.05 Melbourne to win $10.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Collingwood 19.12.126 d Melbourne 8.12.60 Round 12, 2009, at MCG Melbourne's form in the weeks leading up to last year's Queen's Birthday clash was promising enough for many commentators to believe that it was ready to cause a major upset. The selectors even rolled out first gamer Jack Watts for the occasion but, in overcast wintry conditions, the team was jumped by the Magpies who snagged the first seven goals to ruin the contest from the point of view of the Demon faithful and those who stayed to the end witnessed an 11 goal shellacking. Colin Sylvia's game in a losing rabble of a team was so outstanding that he picked up two Brownlow votes. THE TEAMS COLLINGWOOD Backs Alan Toovey Ben Reid Tarkyn Lockyer Half backs Harry O'Brien Nick Maxwell Heath Shaw Centreline Luke Ball Dane Swan Ben Johnson Half forwards Josh Fraser John Anthony Alan Didak Forwards Paul Medhurst Travis Cloke Leon Davis Followers Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dale Thomas Interchange Leigh Brown Shane O'Bree Steele Sidebottom Sharrod Wellingham Emergencies Dayne Beams Chris Dawes Brent Macaffer In Ben Reid Out Simon Prestigiacomo (quad) MELBOURNE Backs Jamie Bennell Matthew Warnock Lynden Dunn Half backs Jack Grimes James Frawley Joel Macdonald Centreline Aaron Davey Cameron Bruce Nathan Jones Half forwards James McDonald Matthew Bate Ricky Petterd Forwards Tom Scully Brad Green Jack Trengove Followers Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney Interchange Rohan Bail Michael Newton Jake Spencer James Strauss Emergencies Clint Bartram Jordan Gysberts Brad Miller In Rohan Bail Michael Newton Out Brad Miller Jared Rivers (knee) CAKEWALK Last week Collingwood kicked off the season with a strong win over NAB Cup premiers, the Western Bulldogs. The Magpies, close to full strength and playing with confidence, are talking in terms of "one week at a time" but their fans are thinking "premiership" as they return to the MCG, the place they now call "home". That hallowed ground is also home to Melbourne but judging by the way they played last week, you wouldn't know it. With one or two exceptions, the Demons were let down by their team leaders, got virtually nothing from their middle tier and managed a few rays of light from some of their younger brigade. The only place where they held up statistically was in their tackling but that also means that they must have been second to the ball more often than first. Fourth gamer Jordie McKenzie (11 tackles) leads the overall AFL tackle count after Round 1 with his skipper James McDonald in second place just one behind. The Demons have omitted Brad Miller and replaced him with Michael Newton who comes off the rookie list and moves to the interchange bench but is also a chance to start at full forward. Newton was once considered a likely forward and he even won a mark of the year competition in his debut senior season a few years ago. This could well be his last chance and luckily for him he will not be playing on Simon Prestigiacomo who is out injured. Presti is the glue who keeps the Magpie defence together and his absence gives Juice the opportunity to claw his way back into favour. He is a talent but has never quite grasped the opportunities when they have come his way. The only problem I see is that the way the Demons set themselves up, the ball might not quite get to where Newton might be playing. The other change is the loss of Jared Rivers to a knee injury which is rather strange given that he was seen leaving the MCG last Saturday clutching his ribs. Is there such a thing as a rib related knee injury? Rivers would normally be considered a big loss but it might not be too damaging because, based on last week, when Collingwood's small to medium sized forwards kicked 17 out of their 19 goals, his replacement with a medium sized defender might be helpful. The problem is that as long as Melbourne is in team building and development mode and as long as it has a deep list of injured players, fans are going to see performances below the standard necessary to match it with top four contenders like Collingwood. The fact that Colin Sylvia is still not back this week, doesn't help matters. One thing we do want to see is the team playing with purpose and enthusiasm and the players having a dip but whether they have a dip or not, whichever way you look at this game, it's difficult to come to any conclusion other than that it's going to be another one way affair and a cakewalk for the Pies. Collingwood by 65 points.

THE GAME PLAN by JVM The story goes that Mick Malthouse sent his forward scout to the MCG last Saturday to spy on Melbourne, their opponents for the following week's round of AFL football. The scout was instructed to take particular note of the Demons' game plan, their structures and the general way in which they play in order to allow Mick to plan the game for this week. Apparently, the poor bloke never made it back to the Lexus Centre. It seems that he suffered a nervous breakdown at the ground and has been housed in a padded cell ever since. Fortunately for the Magpies, the lamented scout managed to get his message across before he succumbed to whatever it was that ailed him. An envelope arrived at the club yesterday addressed to Malthouse and marked "private and confidential". Inside the envelope was another envelope marked "MFC Game Plan". When it was opened a small white sheet of paper fell out. The coach picked up the sheet and then set it down with a worried look on his face. The page was blank. What did this mean? Was this blank white page the result of one poor man's failure to carry out his instructions or was there some deeper meaning? Nobody in the world really knows what's going on in the head of Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and the fear in the Magpie camp is that this is all part of some diabolical scheme to turn the tables on Collingwood after the club's dismal start to the season. Please don't ask me if I give this story any credibility. I've watched a few practice matches and, like the Collingwood forward scout, was there last Saturday to watch the Hawks. But like most of us, I still wouldn't have a clue. THE GAMECollingwood v Melbourne at the MCG Saturday 3 April 2010 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Collingwood 140 wins Melbourne 79 wins 4 draws At the G Collingwood 73 wins Melbourne 59 wins 2 draws Since 2000 Collingwood 7 wins Melbourne 5 wins The Coaches Malthouse 3 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 at 1:30 PM (live) RADIO 3AW MMM 774ABC SEN THE BETTING Collingwood to win $1.05 Melbourne to win $10.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Collingwood 19.12.126 d Melbourne 8.12.60 Round 12, 2009, at MCG Melbourne's form in the weeks leading up to last year's Queen's Birthday clash was promising enough for many commentators to believe that it was ready to cause a major upset. The selectors even rolled out first gamer Jack Watts for the occasion but, in overcast wintry conditions, the team was jumped by the Magpies who snagged the first seven goals to ruin the contest from the point of view of the Demon faithful and those who stayed to the end witnessed an 11 goal shellacking. Colin Sylvia's game in a losing rabble of a team was so outstanding that he picked up two Brownlow votes. THE TEAMS COLLINGWOOD Backs Alan Toovey Ben Reid Tarkyn Lockyer Half backs Harry O'Brien Nick Maxwell Heath Shaw Centreline Luke Ball Dane Swan Ben Johnson Half forwards Josh Fraser John Anthony Alan Didak Forwards Paul Medhurst Travis Cloke Leon Davis Followers Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dale Thomas Interchange Leigh Brown Shane O'Bree Steele Sidebottom Sharrod Wellingham Emergencies Dayne Beams Chris Dawes Brent Macaffer In Ben Reid Out Simon Prestigiacomo (quad) MELBOURNE Backs Jamie Bennell Matthew Warnock Lynden Dunn Half backs Jack Grimes James Frawley Joel Macdonald Centreline Aaron Davey Cameron Bruce Nathan Jones Half forwards James McDonald Matthew Bate Ricky Petterd Forwards Tom Scully Brad Green Jack Trengove Followers Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney Interchange Rohan Bail Michael Newton Jake Spencer James Strauss Emergencies Clint Bartram Jordan Gysberts Brad Miller In Rohan Bail Michael Newton Out Brad Miller Jared Rivers (knee) CAKEWALK Last week Collingwood kicked off the season with a strong win over NAB Cup premiers, the Western Bulldogs. The Magpies, close to full strength and playing with confidence, are talking in terms of "one week at a time" but their fans are thinking "premiership" as they return to the MCG, the place they now call "home". That hallowed ground is also home to Melbourne but judging by the way they played last week, you wouldn't know it. With one or two exceptions, the Demons were let down by their team leaders, got virtually nothing from their middle tier and managed a few rays of light from some of their younger brigade. The only place where they held up statistically was in their tackling but that also means that they must have been second to the ball more often than first. Fourth gamer Jordie McKenzie (11 tackles) leads the overall AFL tackle count after Round 1 with his skipper James McDonald in second place just one behind. The Demons have omitted Brad Miller and replaced him with Michael Newton who comes off the rookie list and moves to the interchange bench but is also a chance to start at full forward. Newton was once considered a likely forward and he even won a mark of the year competition in his debut senior season a few years ago. This could well be his last chance and luckily for him he will not be playing on Simon Prestigiacomo who is out injured. Presti is the glue who keeps the Magpie defence together and his absence gives Juice the opportunity to claw his way back into favour. He is a talent but has never quite grasped the opportunities when they have come his way. The only problem I see is that the way the Demons set themselves up, the ball might not quite get to where Newton might be playing. The other change is the loss of Jared Rivers to a knee injury which is rather strange given that he was seen leaving the MCG last Saturday clutching his ribs. Is there such a thing as a rib related knee injury? Rivers would normally be considered a big loss but it might not be too damaging because, based on last week, when Collingwood's small to medium sized forwards kicked 17 out of their 19 goals, his replacement with a medium sized defender might be helpful. The problem is that as long as Melbourne is in team building and development mode and as long as it has a deep list of injured players, fans are going to see performances below the standard necessary to match it with top four contenders like Collingwood. The fact that Colin Sylvia is still not back this week, doesn't help matters. One thing we do want to see is the team playing with purpose and enthusiasm and the players having a dip but whether they have a dip or not, whichever way you look at this game, it's difficult to come to any conclusion other than that it's going to be another one way affair and a cakewalk for the Pies. Collingwood by 65 points.

Queens Birthday 2009 - who could ever forget? MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Whelan Matthew Warnock Daniel Bell Half backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Aaron Davey Centreline Jack Grimes Cale Morton Brock McLean Half forwards Colin Sylvia Russell Robertson Jack Watts Forwards Brad Green Matthew Bate Cameron Bruce Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney James McDonald Interchange Kyle Cheney Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Addam Maric Emergencies Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Michael Newton COLLINGWOOD Backs Harry O'Brien Simon Prestigiacomo Shannon Cox Half backs Nick Maxwell Leigh Brown Sharrod Wellingham Centreline Brad Dick Tarkyn Lockyer Dale Thomas Half forwards Scott Pendlebury Travis Cloke Leon Davis Forwards Alan Didak John Anthony Heath Shaw Followers Josh Fraser Dane Swan Shane O'Bree Interchange Nathan Brown Martin Clarke Steele Sidebottom Alan Toovey Emergencies Paul Medhurst Ben Reid Cameron Wood

What's with the Royal Blue floggers that the cheersquad wave after a goal. Bring back the dark blue!

Demonlanders - you have voted a new hero (just). Current standings on the weighted system:- 5.735043 Tom Scully 4.692308 Brad Green Jack Grimes and James McDonald 4.17094 Mark Jamar 3.649573 Jack Trengove 2.606838 James Frawley and Jordie McKenzie This rounds votes (selected at random) came from: Deemitch 6. James McDonald 5. Grimes 4. Scully 3. Trengove 2. Green 1. Jamar Sylvia Saint 6. Green 5. McKenzie 4. Scully 3. James McDonald 2. Grimes 1. Jamar Waynewussell 6. Jamar 5. Frawley 4. Trengove 3. Scully 2. Grimes 1. Green This gave us votes as follows: 11. Scully 9. Green 9. Grimes 9. James McDonald 8. Jamar 7. Trengove 5. Frawley 5. McKenzie The votes were then weighted by multiplying the points for and dividing the points against for the round i.e. 61/117. No correspondence will be entered into with frustrated mathematicians, parents of players or anyone else for that matter (although if there are flaws in claculation please send them by PM to Whispering_Jack who will probably be too busy with work to answer your queries.

73% of us tipped the Hawks this week.

I learnt long ago that if I was ever going to win the tipping competition that I have with my mates then I had to tip with my head and not my heart. If we only win 4 games this year then that's about 18 tips that I will be behind the leader. My theory has always been that I would obviously prefer to get my tip wrong and the Dees win.

I would have gotten 8.

Rank(LW) Tipster Points 1- Demonland 7 1- Wonnajurah 7 3- 45hg16 6 3- Alpha33 6 3- aronbrandon 6 3- Clyde_Cabbie 6 3- dalrot 6 3- demondeb 6 3- digga15 6 3- DrMubutu 6 3- GrandNewFlag 6 3- great_gatsby 6 3- lmswords 6 3- mrawesome 6 3- rogues31 6 3- Tim - Go Dees! 6 3- timmysim 6 3- Whispering_Jack 6 19- Andees_0 5 19- CarnTheDees 5 19- deanox 5 19- dee-luded 5 19- deemonkey 5 19- Deetom 5 19- H_T 5 19- herbsademon 5 19- robrien48 5 19- Top Bar 5 19- Vagg 5 30- Snakey Moses 4 31- demongorm 3 If you would like to join the Demonland Footy Tipping Competition you will only be penalised one point and start with the lowest score -1. Here are the joining details. Join our AFL 2010 Tipping Competition now: Go to www.OzTips.com Click the 'REGISTER' button on the homepage and set-up a Login (if you don't already have one with OzTips). Once you have successfully registered a Username and Password, click the 'JOIN A COMP' button. You will be asked to enter an OzTips Comp Number and Password. The Comp you've been asked to join is: Comp#: 222003 Password: demonland That's it! Full instructions on how to Tip can be found on the website by clicking on the 'Help' link in the top header.

I just want to stress that emotions are going to be running high. Please be constructive in your criticism. If you post just to say a player was crap your post will be deleted. Also want to add that if you disagree with another poster then debate the issue don't attack the poster. Any post saying a Poster is an idiot etc will be deleted too. Keep it civil.

Please post your votes here after the final siren sounds. 6,5,4,3,2,1