Demonland

Aaron Davey failed to score and could be in some trouble for next week due to that report but he still holds a big lead ... 95.262 Aaron Davey 61.370 Brent Moloney 53.702 Brock McLean 42.055 Colin Sylvia 40.932 Cale Morton 37.845 Nathan Jones 36.284 Cameron Bruce 35.694 James Frawley 34.315 Jack Grimes 31.493 Brad Green 25.803 Mark Jamar 22.965 Matthew Warnock 19.408 Brad Miller 17.695 Jared Rivers 12.420 Paul Johnson 11.805 Ricky Petterd 10.711 Stefan Martin 10.053 Kyle Cheney 9.952 Addam Maric 8.827 Jamie Bennell 8.794 Matthew Bate 6.126 Russell Robertson 4.374 Clint Bartram 3.333 James McDonald 3.077 Neville Jetta 0.667 Lynden Dunn 0.634 Liam Jurrah 0.613 John Meesen

Cast your votes folks ... 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ....

Our own Whispering Jack has kept his eyes on the draft prospects at the Under 18 national Championships and discusses the players and some of the issues arising from them: SCULLY'S ON FIRST by Whispering Jack The future of AFL football has held the stage for several weeks over the course of the national Under 18 championships. Last Wednesday the competition came to an anti-climactic end with Western Australia taking the honours in Division One and New South Wales in Division Two. At week's end, the focus turned to the Under 16's which opened in Sydney amid a barrage of publicity on the topic of the introduction in 2012 of the AFL's 18th club to be centred on West Sydney. That club will apparently receive a similar recruiting package to that given to the Gold Coast team which comes into the competition in 2011. These packages are expected to dominate recruiting over the next few years and seem destined to cause much grief to any AFL club that finds itself bottoming out and in need of replenishment of players during this period. I have already commented that the football public still does not understand the far-reaching and comprehensive nature of the concessions given to the new clubs. Apart from salary cap benefits and the ability to take one uncontracted player from each club, the rules will give them two grabs at the best 17 year olds in the country. Firstly, at the end of this year, Gold Coast has the unfettered right to recruit twelve 17 year olds born between 1 January and 30 April and secondly, the lion's share of current 17 year olds left in the pool will be available to them with a large number of first round picks in the 2010 national draft. The following year will see West Sydney taking the current best 16 year olds out of the equation. The old clubs will be able to trade into early selections with the new clubs but, to do that, they will need to give away players of value making it a virtual monopoly for the new and a zero sum game for the old. The under 18 championships merely underlined the potential of the crop of 17 year olds who seem destined for the Gold Coast but more of that later. The bulk of my observations come from the final day's matches. All four were shown on Foxtel and I managed to see the two Division One games. I though their standard was well below last year's finale involving Victoria Metro and Western Australia but there is still a lot of talent out there. The first two players drafted in 2008 were talls - Jack Watts and Nick Naitanui who went to Melbourne and West Coast respectively. This year, there does not appear to be a tall player on the horizon who showed out enough at the championships to warrant a place among my top five selections. The stand out players are all medium sized on ballers, midfielders and flankers led by brilliant left footer Victoria Metro skipper Tom Scully who achieved the rare feat of All Australian honours in consecutive seasons. His professionalism and dedication to hard work sets him apart from the rest of the field. Lock him in for number one pick at season's end. South Australia's captain Jack Trengove, also a midfielder who has great work ethic, is more inside, has a great engine and delivers the football with precision. He is set to fight out second position with two Western Australian veterans of last year's championships in Anthony Morabito and Kane Lucas. Morabito is tallish at 190cm, dynamic and has good pace which he uses to great effect breaking the lines to set up scoring opportunities. Lucas has poise, runs hard and wins lots of contested possessions. Rounding off my top 5 is Vic Country utility/forward Gary Rohan who emerged this year through the Geelong Falcons after playing at full back with Cobden last year. He has blistering pace and carries with him the X factor. He works hard when he doesn't have the ball, is a strong mark and can take a speccie and seems to always bob up at the right place. Among the others who challenge the above five are WA's Mitchell Duncan and Vic Country pair Ben Cunnington and Dustin Martin. Missing from my top 5 is Country's John Butcher who simply didn't step up to the plate in these championships despite the expectations placed on the 197cm key forward. He also failed to make All Australian but this still doesn't rule him out of contention as a high selection at the national draft -he'll need to finish off the 2009 season well with the Gippsland Power and impress at the draft camp to get himself back in the good books. The championships didn't produce much in the way of outstanding tall draftable talent. The ruckmen were all underwhelming and the most impressive key position prospects were too young. The best of the rest among the keys however, were Matthew Panos (SA) and Vic Metro pair Daniel Talia and Jake Carlisle. Of course, I left out the 17 year olds like David Swallow, who tied for the Larke Medal for best player in Division One and Jack Darling, Brandon Matera, Blayne Wilson (WA) and Josh Toy (VM) because, one way or another, these players all seem to be headed for the sunny climes of Queensland's Gold Coast along with a number of others – either by invitation later this year or through one of GC17's many early draft picks next year. That Gold Coast team will be tremendous in four or five year's time! It's difficult to estimate precisely the effect of the rules concerning the introduction of the new clubs but, based on what was on show at the Under 18's it would not be unreasonable to assess that the strength of this year's draft pool at about three quarters the normal strength while next year the figure could fall even further down to one third or a quarter. Whatever the case, the cupboard is going to be decidedly bare for clubs that bottom out in the years immediately after this season. At this time, it's by no means cut and dried that Melbourne will gain a priority selection in the 2009 national draft. It's draw for the remainder of the season is not as unkind as that of the first half and it's not inconceivable that the Demons will win three games to get themselves off the bottom. If they fail to do so however, the priority pick will prove an excellent consolation with Scully and Trengove the early favourites five months out. Recruiting has undergone vast changes over the years, many of them for the better. Players are now better equipped to be placed under the microscope than in the good old days when your young country bumpkin star of the future walked onto the set of World of Sport and stammered their way incomprehensibly through an interview with Ron, Jack or Lou. They are trained for the part these days and I was mightily impressed when I heard some of the prospects interviewed on radio this week. And they need to be trained well because the media can be cruel as we saw recently with Jack Watts whose early games have shown promise but have not been outstanding (not that you should expect that from an 18 year old 196cm schoolboy on limited training). He did enough in his games to suggest he is going to be an excellent footballer when he matures both physically and emotionally but that didn't stop the frenzy from commentators fresh from devouring Terry Wallace and Dean Laidley and looking for a new target. Last week they were full of praise for Nick Naitanui who will also be a sensation in this game. However, his game at the MCG yesterday was underwhelming. These things happen. Hopefully, he will not become the next target and the young hopefuls from the current crop can avoid this unpleasant aspect of sensationalist journalistic beat ups that has become prevalent in recent years. This time last year, Watts and Naitanui along with Daniel Rich led the field of draft prospects among the young All Australians. The 2009 NAB AFL Under 18 All-Australian team to be officially announced on Channel 9's TAC Cup: Future Stars programme is - 2009 NAB AFL UNDER 18 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM: Backs Andrew Hooper (VC) Blayne Wilson (WA) Bradley Sheppard (WA) Half backs Josh Toy (VM) Daniel Talia (VM) David Swallow (WA) Centreline Anthony Morabito (WA) Dustin Martin (VC) Mitchell Duncan (WA) Half forwards Kane Lucas (WA) Jack Darling (WA) Gary Rohan (VC) Forwards Brandon Matera (WA) Matthew Panos (SA) Ben Cunnington (VC) Followers James Craig (SA) Jack Trengove (SA) Tom Scully (VM) Interchange Travis Colyer (WA) Ryan Harwood (TAS) Dylan McNeil (NSW/ACT) Luke Tapscott (SA) Coach Andrew Lockyer (WA) Assistant Coach Brenton Phillips (SA) The 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian results round by round ROUND 1 Queensland 4.5 7.6 10.6 10.9 (69) NSW/ACT 3.1 7.5 13.6 14.10 (94) Goals Queensland Fowler 3 Hutchinson 2 Manzone 2 Dixon Jamieson Thomson NSW/ACT Emery 3 Sargeant 3 McNeil 2 Sergrave 2 Camilleri Duncan Johns Miles Best Queensland Harley Hutchinson Spring Thomas Thompson Jamieson NSW/ACT Williams McNeill Sargeant Tutt Lawton Johns Tasmania 4.5 8.6 11.11 14.13 (97) Northern Territory 4.3 6.7 9.11 15.16 (106) Goals Tasmania Archer 3 Boon 2 Crichton 2 Milne 2 Russell 2 Mott Ponsonby Symmons Northern Territory May 3 T. Taylor 3 Ahmat-Watkins 2 Ah Chee Cox Jones Lawler Smith Staunton Wilson Best Tasmania Russell Crichton Harwood Archer Milne Boon Northern Territory Ah Chee M. Taylor May S. Taylor Johnson Liddle Western Australia 5.1 8.2 14.6 19.12 (126) South Australia 1.2 5.6 7.6 12.7 (79) Goals WA Matera 4 Darling 4 Duncan 2 Houghton 2 Lucas 2 Morabito 2 Collica Foster Garlett SA Panos 3 Giddings 2 Lycett 2 Tapscott 2 Carey Silverlock Sumner Best WA Swallow Matera Morabito Darling Lucas Collica SA Trengove Carey Jolly Panos Wanganeen Vic Country 6.0 10.3 12.3 14.6 (90) Vic Metro 3.0 6.2 9.3 11.8 (74) Goals Vic Country Butcher 3 Cunnington 3 Keath 2 Lehman 2 Christensen Martin Page Priest Vic Metro Carlisle 2 Fitzpatrick 2 Hoegel 2 Moore 2 Hicks McKenzie Scott Best Vic Country Hooper Martin Ko. Stevens Cunnington Christensen Butcher Vardy Vic Metro Scully Toy Gaff Shaw Hoegel Melksham LADDER AFTER ROUND 1 West Aust 1-0 159.5% NSW/ACT 1-0 136.2% Vic Country 1-0 121.6% Nth Terri 1-0 109.3% Tasmania 0-1 91.5% Vic Metro 0-1 82.2% Queensland 0-1 73.4% South Aust 0-1 62.4% ROUND 2 Northern Territory 1.2 4.6 4.7 6.9 (45) Western Australia 1.4 5.7 8.11 16.12 (108) Goals Northern Territory Gordon 2 Staunton Wilson Cox Taylor Western Australia Houghton 4 Duncan 3 Fyfe 3 Colyer Matera Swallow Collica Hutchings Winmar Best NT Wray Staunton Taylor Jones Liddle Lawler WA Duncan Hutchings Swallow Luff Cripps NSW/ACT 2.0 5.0 5.1 8.1 (49) Vic Metro 6.8 12.10 18.13 24.16 (160) Goals NSW/ACT Miles 3 Emery Sargeant Segrave Tutt Williams Vic Metro Griffiths 5 Gaff 3 Gysberts 3 Hicks 3 Moore 3 Hoegel 2 Ezard Hartigan Jacobs Scott Scully Best NSW/ACT Williams Tutt Johnson Miles Vic Metro Hoegel Toy Purcell Gaff Jacobs MacMillan Griffiths Gysberts Fitzpatrick Queensland 1.1 4.2 7.3 8.5 (53) South Australia 4.3 5.5 8.7 12.12 (84) Goals Queensland Fowler 2 Bevan Dixon Lock Magin Manzone Rees South Australia Scott-Collings 2 Silverlock 2 Trengove 2 Craig Giddings Hannath Milera Panos Solly Best Queensland Thomas Ramage Magin Lock Grayson Thomson Smith South Australia Carey Keller Potts Evans Trengove Panos Menzel Tapscott Jolly Tasmania 3.3 6.4 9.9 10.11 (71) Vic Country 1.3 4.6 7.7 12.13 (85) Goals Tasmania Russell 3 Mott Green Howe Groenewegen Taylor Archer Hardy Vic Country Astbury Rohan Butcher 2 Priest McMillan-Pittard Lehman Mangan Martin Vardy Best Tasmania Russell Harwood Milne Green Rundle Hardy Davies Vic Country Ko. Stevens Hooper Butcher Bastinac Martin Astbury LADDER AFTER ROUND 2 West Aust 2-0 188.71% Vic Country 2-0 120.69% Vic Metro 1-1 168.35% South Aust 1-1 91.06% Nth Terri 1-1 73.66% NSW/ACT 1-1 62.45% Tasmania 0-2 87.96% Queensland 0-2 68.54% ROUND 3 Western Australia 5.2 8.3 14.5 21.6 (132) Vic Metro 3.1 6.4 7.5 10.9 (69) Goals Western Australia Matera 4 Fyfe 4 Collica 3 Darling 2 Lucas 2 Luff Neates Winmar Houghton Duncan Weedon Vic Metro Hicks 4 Gysberts 2 Hoegel 2 Carlisle Scully Best Western Australia Wilson Morabito Swallow Winmar Darling Donaldson Vic Metro Scully Toy Talia Gaff Hicks South Australia 4.1 11.1 12.5 16.9 (105) Vic Country 1.4 3.6 4.9 7.12 (54) Goals South Australia Panos 4 Trengove Silverlock 3 Carey Solly 2 Wilson Tapscott Vic Country Hooper 3 Cunnington Astbury Cowan Mackenzie Best South Australia Trengove Wanganeen Jolly Silverlock Panos Carey Potts Menzel Vic Country Cunnington Astbury Hooper Rohan Peters NSW/ACT Rams 2.3 6.6 10.7 12.10 (82) Northern Territory Thunder 4.2 7.2 8.5 11.8 (74) Goals NSW/ACT Emery 4 Sargeant 2 McNeil 2 Bottin-Noonan Stevens Tutt Johnson Northern Territory Taylor 3 Hale 2 Reid 2 Ah Chee 2 May Kelly Best NSW/ACT Johnson Williams Langford Young McNeil Sargeant Northern Territory Ah Chee Taylor McAdam Wray Reid Tasmania 6.7 8.10 14.12 16.14 (110) Queensland 0.0 4.0 4.1 7.6 (48) Goals Tasmania Harwood 3 Mott 2 Russell 2 Green 2 Howe 2 Archer 2 Rundle Balcombe Milne Queensland Daye 2 Stanlake Moss McIvor Moore Hutchinson Best Tasmania Harwood Milne Davies Crichton Green Archer Queensland Rees Steven McIvor Jamieson Milani LADDER AFTER ROUND 3 West Aust 3-0 189.64% South Aust 2-1 115.02% Vic Country 2-1 91.60% NSW/ACT 2-1 74.26% Tasmania 1-2 116.32% Vic Metro 1-2 111.81% Nth Terri 1-2 78.40% Queensland 0-3 59.03% ROUND 4 NSW/ACT 2.5 4.7 5.8 5.9 (39) South Australia 3.0 5.3 9.9 18.11 (119) Goals NSW/ACT Stubbs 2 Johnston McNeil Sargeant SA Panos 5 Silverlock 3 Tapscott 3 Craig Giddings Goldsworthy Jolly Lycett Scott-Collings Wilson Best NSW/ACT Tutt Duncan McNeil Stubbs SA Tapscott Trengove Panos Jolly Silverlock Goldsworthy Carey Craig Vic Country 2.0 4.5 8.7 13.10 (88) Northern Territory 2.2 4.4 5.5 5.6 (36) Goals Vic Country Astbury 2 Hooper 2 Butcher 2 Christensen 2 McMillan-Pittard Rohan Martin Cunningham Garbowski Northern Territory May Staunton T. Taylor Reid Ah Chee Best Vic Country Christensen Hooper Butcher Cunningham Astbury Bastinac Northern Territory Gordon S. Taylor Heenan McAdam Ah Chee Baxter Vic Metro 2.4 4.5 6.6 8.7 (55) Queensland 1.1 3.3 4.4 7.7 (49) Goals Vic Metro Moore Hicks Toy Kennedy Jones Hoegel Purcell Ezard Queensland Fowler 2 Thompson 2 McIvor Thomas Daye Best Vic Metro Scully Toy Hoegel Melksham Talia Jacobs Queensland Lock Daye Harley Grayson Fowler Smith Tasmania 1.2 1.2 2.2 3.2 (20) Western Australia 5.3 11.6 16.8 23.10 (148) Goals Tasmania Howe Archer Green Western Australia Darling 5 Matera 5 Hayward 2 Lucas 2 Cripps Duncan Swallow Elari Mason Fyfe Neates Houghton Winmar Best Tasmania Crichton Green Harwood Milne Gelston Barrett Western Australia Matera Lucas Darling Duncan Swallow Sheppard LADDER AFTER ROUND 4 West Aust 4-0 241.31% South Aust 3-1 142.28% Vic Country 3-1 110.84% Vic Metro 2-2 110.84% NSW/ACT 2-2 62.56% Tasmania 1-3 77.00% North Terri 1-3 69.60% Queensland 0-4 63.85% ROUND 5 Tasmania 0.4 0.5 3.9 6.11 (47) NSW/ACT 3.1 6.1 10.5 13.6 (84) Goals Tasmania Archer Boon Green Groenewegen Mott Rundle NSW/ACT McNeil 4 Emery 2 Stubbs 2 Duncan Hancock Langford Sargeant Tutt Best Tasmania Green Davies Milne Rundle Crichton Mott NSW/ACT McNeil Young Stubbs Kirkwood Tutt Lawton Williams Queensland 2.4 4.6 7.9 8.11 (59) Northern Territory 3.2 6.3 8.5 9.6 (60) Goals Queensland Pirika 3 Hutchinson 2 Fowler Magin Milani Northern Territory May 3 S. Taylor Ah Chee McAdam Staunton Heenan Lawler Best Queensland Fowler Manzone Pirika Lock Magin Holland Northern Territory Ah Chee S. Taylor Gordon May McAdam Baxter Vic Country 3.3 6.4 7.5 9.8 (62) Western Australia 1.4 6.5 11.13 16.14 (110) Goals Vic Country Butcher 2 Martin Cunnington Ko. Stevens Bastinac Rohan Peters Vardy Western Australia Darling 3 Colyer 2 Morabito 2 Neates 2 Matera 2 Duncan Hutchings Cripps Winmar Fyfe Best Vic Country Martin Cunnington Rohan Ko. Stevens Bastinac Western Australia Colyer Swallow Lucas Morabito Darling Vic Metro 3.2 3.3 5.7 9.7 (61) South Australia 0.5 5.9 8.11 10.13 (73) Goals Vic Metro Carlisle 4 Fitzpatrick Gaff Hoegel Moore Scully South Australia Tapscott 3 Jolly 2 Silverlock 2 Evans Panos Pitt Best Vic Metro Scully Jacobs Talia Carlisle Gaff Toy South Australia Jolly Carey Tapscott Sumner Trengove Potts Silverlock FINAL LADDER WEST AUST 5-0 226.91% South Aust 4-1 138.14% Vic Country 3-2 95.71% NSW/ACT 3-2 74.20% Vic Metro 2-3 106.62% North Terri 2-3 73.96% Tasmania 1-4 73.25% Queensland 0-5 68.98% Division One Champions Western Australia (4th Division One title 2nd in last 3 years) Division Two Champions NSW/ACT (6th Division 2 title 2nd in last 3 years) Larke Medallists (Best in Division One) David Swallow (WA) and Andrew Hooper (Vic Country) Harrison Medallist (Best in Division Two) Dylan McNeil (NSW/ACT)

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA AND A WISH FOR JIM by The Oracle The financial world this week celebrates the end of a year which many are happy to see done and dusted. It was a difficult period that saw world financial markets in meltdown, businesses going broke and people losing their jobs. Given all the circumstances, the new year brings some hope of better times and I only wish we could say the same about the football year where the Demons are concerned. The Melbourne Football Club has so far this season produced the same misery for its fans that the global financial crisis has dished up to the world of business and finance. Now, with news of the illness of President and club hero Jimmy Stynes, the Demons could not be at a lower ebb. All at Demonland wish Jim a speedy recovery and return to full and good health. Throughout his football career he displayed extraordinary spirit and resilience and we have no doubt that he will conquer his illness and return to complete the magnificent work he is doing in building his family, in working with troubled youth through the Reach Foundation and in rejuvenating the Melbourne Football Club. Over the past twelve months Jim and his board have chalked up some outstanding achievements in reducing debt, establishing and cementing relationships and setting the scene for the club's future both on and off the ground. Of course, we knew that the on field revival was always going to be a tough struggle and this has proven to be the case. One win from 13 matches, a few promising early signs and then the devastation of the past month or so have sapped the spirit of many. Last Saturday night in Brisbane produced one of the most humiliating performances in the club's history. It wasn't simply that the Demons remained anchored on two goals from midway through the opening term until early in the last but also the way they went about it barely emitting a pulse. And please don't give me any excuses - in a national competition what was presented to the football world was unacceptable. The ultimate insult was the opposition coach's choice of words after the game when describing his team's 55- point win: "It's not being disrespectful to the opposition in any way but I thought it was one of our poorer performaces this year." Those words should be enough to sting anyone at the club with an ounce of pride in themselves into action. In fact, any player who can't respond positively to that, shouldn't be in the game. Which leads to what I can only hope will be a new beginning for the club because, it's really facing what is, in effect, a brand new year with nine remaining rounds that are certainly not, on the face of it, as daunting as the fixture to date. Included in the run home are three games at the MCG gainst interstate clubs West. Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle, a short flight to Canberra to take on the Sydney Swans and return encounters against Richmond and North Melbourne. None of those teams are setting the world on fire and they aren't expected to see finals action this year. There's also a Round 21 assignment against Carlton which lost on Friday night to the Bombers by 69 points. On that reckoning, seven of the remaining nine games are against teams whose current form is of considerably poorer standard to what Melbourne has become accustomed in recent matches so the opportunity is definitely available for the club to start afresh from this week. The Demons can take a new attitude with them bouyed by the life struggle of their spiritual leader. The business people, bankers and accountants who suffered so much over 2008/9 are on the brink of a brand new year. So is the whole Melbourne family. Together, we shall overcome. THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG – Saturday 4 July 2009 at 2.10pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 14 wins West Coast 24 wins At the MCG Melbourne 6 wins West Coast 6 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 5 wins West Coast 8 wins The Coaches Bailey 1 win Worsfold 1 win MEDIA TV Channel 10 at 3pm (delay) Radio 774 Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.00 West Coast to win $1.72 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 12.18.90 defeated Melbourne 13.4.82 in Round 7, 2009 at Subiaco Let's face it. The only reason why the Demons were still in the game in its final stages was because of the Eagles' atrocious kicking for goal. They tried hard and plugged away all afternoon but were always going to struggle to win after they lost key defenders Jared Rivers and James Frawley during the game through injury. Brad Miller kicked a few and Brock McLean and Brent Moloney worked hard in the midfield but in the end it was all to no avail and West Coast finished 8 points in front despite kicking one goal less than the visitors. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Cale Morton Matthew Warnock Ricky Petterd Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers James Frawley Centerline Neville Jetta Brock McLean Liam Jungarray Jurrah Half forwards Cameron Bruce Russell Robertson Matthew Bate Forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Jamie Bennell Interchange James McDonald Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Paul Wheatley Emergencies Daniel Bell Paul Johnson Brad Miller In Matthew Bate Mark Jamar James McDonald Paul Wheatley Out Paul Johnson Brad Miller Jack Watts (ill) Matthew Whelan WEST COAST Backs Matt Spangher Darren Glass David Wirrpanda Half backs Scott Selwood Eric Mackenzie Shannon Hurn Centreline Andrew Embley Matt Priddis Matt Rosa Half forwards Adam Selwood Josh Kennedy Chris Masten Forwards Mark LeCras Mitch Brown Quinten Lynch Followers Nic Naitanui Brad Ebert Sam Butler Interchange Tyson Stenglein Brett Jones Ben McKinley Chad Fletcher Emergencies Tim Houlihan Tom Swift Adam Cockie In Chad Fletcher Brett Jones Out Daniel Kerr (soreness) Tom Swift The West Coast Eagles pulled off one of the year's big upset victories in atrocious conditions at Subiaco last week when they overran the reigning premier Hawthorn after an exciting final quarter that showcased the exciting talents of newcomer Nick Naitanui. The tall young ruckman was the talk of the town with his three-goal final quarter which reportedly caused a sell out if Eagle # 9 jumpers in Perth sports stores. The result and the circumstances were in complete contrast to the events that were taking place across the continent in Brisbane where Demon youngster Jack Watts failed to impress and the team was hammered by the Lions. The performances also gave the lie to the suggestion that this Saturday's match up at the MCG should be billed as the "battle of the tankers" in a round that otherwise contains some spectacular contests. This week which is more than three months into the season is delivering to the football public a match up between two undefeated teams St.Kilda and Geelong, a clash between traditional rivals and in form opponents Collingwood and Essendon, a desperate battle between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn and to counterbalance those contests, the game that sees the only two teams with a chance to gain a first round priority draft pick this year slug it out with one another. Fascinating! But John Worsfold's team turned the supposed tankfest or Tom Scully Trophy game on it's head by defying the sceptics and beating the Hawks last week. A win on Saturday means no priority pick at all this year for the Eagles, a prospect that looked unlikely just a few weeks ago. Now, if the heavens line up properly for them and the other results fall the right way, they could find themselves just one game out of the top 8! The Eagles are certainly not tanking. And neither are the Demons. They've had a tough run over the past month or so and their young players are showing signs of fatigue. Some of their older brigade who have come back from injury interruptions are also looking tired. At this stage of the journey they don't have the experience and aren't good enough to beat teams contesting the finals. A return to home soil and to the club's real jumper, the desire to individually and collectively atone for recent poor performances and the emotion of their leader's plight will all be factors in this week's game. Added to that is the fact that West Coast struggles to win games away from home having list their last 17 matches outside WA. All of these things sway me towards the view that Melbourne will win this week's game by 8 points and thereby make a promising new start to a brand new year. I hope each and every one of our record number in excess of 31,000 members comes to the MCG to witness the event and to support Jimmy and his team.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA AND A WISH FOR JIM by The Oracle The financial world this week celebrates the end of a year which many are happy to see done and dusted. It was a difficult period that saw world financial markets in meltdown, businesses going broke and people losing their jobs. Given all the circumstances, the new year brings some hope of better times and I only wish we could say the same about the football year where the Demons are concerned. The Melbourne Football Club has so far this season produced the same misery for its fans that the global financial crisis has dished up to the world of business and finance. Now, with news of the illness of President and club hero Jimmy Stynes, the Demons could not be at a lower ebb. All at Demonland wish Jim a speedy recovery and return to full and good health. Throughout his football career he displayed extraordinary spirit and resilience and we have no doubt that he will conquer his illness and return to complete the magnificent work he is doing in building his family, in working with troubled youth through the Reach Foundation and in rejuvenating the Melbourne Football Club. Over the past twelve months Jim and his board have chalked up some outstanding achievements in reducing debt, establishing and cementing relationships and setting the scene for the club's future both on and off the ground. Of course, we knew that the on field revival was always going to be a tough struggle and this has proven to be the case. One win from 13 matches, a few promising early signs and then the devastation of the past month or so have sapped the spirit of many. Last Saturday night in Brisbane produced one of the most humiliating performances in the club's history. It wasn't simply that the Demons remained anchored on two goals from midway through the opening term until early in the last but also the way they went about it barely emitting a pulse. And please don't give me any excuses - in a national competition what was presented to the football world was unacceptable. The ultimate insult was the opposition coach's choice of words after the game when describing his team's 55- point win: "It's not being disrespectful to the opposition in any way but I thought it was one of our poorer performaces this year." Those words should be enough to sting anyone at the club with an ounce of pride in themselves into action. In fact, any player who can't respond positively to that, shouldn't be in the game. Which leads to what I can only hope will be a new beginning for the club because, it's really facing what is, in effect, a brand new year with nine remaining rounds that are certainly not, on the face of it, as daunting as the fixture to date. Included in the run home are three games at the MCG gainst interstate clubs West. Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle, a short flight to Canberra to take on the Sydney Swans and return encounters against Richmond and North Melbourne. None of those teams are setting the world on fire and they aren't expected to see finals action this year. There's also a Round 21 assignment against Carlton which lost on Friday night to the Bombers by 69 points. On that reckoning, seven of the remaining nine games are against teams whose current form is of considerably poorer standard to what Melbourne has become accustomed in recent matches so the opportunity is definitely available for the club to start afresh from this week. The Demons can take a new attitude with them bouyed by the life struggle of their spiritual leader. The business people, bankers and accountants who suffered so much over 2008/9 are on the brink of a brand new year. So is the whole Melbourne family. Together, we shall overcome. THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG – Saturday 4 July 2009 at 2.10pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 14 wins West Coast 24 wins At the MCG Melbourne 6 wins West Coast 6 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 5 wins West Coast 8 wins The Coaches Bailey 1 win Worsfold 1 win MEDIA TV Channel 10 at 3pm (delay) Radio 774 Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $2.00 West Coast to win $1.72 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 12.18.90 defeated Melbourne 13.4.82 in Round 7, 2009 at Subiaco Let's face it. The only reason why the Demons were still in the game in its final stages was because of the Eagles' atrocious kicking for goal. They tried hard and plugged away all afternoon but were always going to struggle to win after they lost key defenders Jared Rivers and James Frawley during the game through injury. Brad Miller kicked a few and Brock McLean and Brent Moloney worked hard in the midfield but in the end it was all to no avail and West Coast finished 8 points in front despite kicking one goal less than the visitors. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Cale Morton Matthew Warnock Ricky Petterd Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers James Frawley Centerline Neville Jetta Brock McLean Liam Jungarray Jurrah Half forwards Cameron Bruce Russell Robertson Matthew Bate Forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Followers Mark Jamar Jack Grimes Jamie Bennell Interchange James McDonald Stefan Martin Brent Moloney Paul Wheatley Emergencies Daniel Bell Paul Johnson Brad Miller In Matthew Bate Mark Jamar James McDonald Paul Wheatley Out Paul Johnson Brad Miller Jack Watts (ill) Matthew Whelan WEST COAST Backs Matt Spangher Darren Glass David Wirrpanda Half backs Scott Selwood Eric Mackenzie Shannon Hurn Centreline Andrew Embley Matt Priddis Matt Rosa Half forwards Adam Selwood Josh Kennedy Chris Masten Forwards Mark LeCras Mitch Brown Quinten Lynch Followers Nic Naitanui Brad Ebert Sam Butler Interchange Tyson Stenglein Brett Jones Ben McKinley Chad Fletcher Emergencies Tim Houlihan Tom Swift Adam Cockie In Chad Fletcher Brett Jones Out Daniel Kerr (soreness) Tom Swift The West Coast Eagles pulled off one of the year's big upset victories in atrocious conditions at Subiaco last week when they overran the reigning premier Hawthorn after an exciting final quarter that showcased the exciting talents of newcomer Nick Naitanui. The tall young ruckman was the talk of the town with his three-goal final quarter which reportedly caused a sell out if Eagle # 9 jumpers in Perth sports stores. The result and the circumstances were in complete contrast to the events that were taking place across the continent in Brisbane where Demon youngster Jack Watts failed to impress and the team was hammered by the Lions. The performances also gave the lie to the suggestion that this Saturday's match up at the MCG should be billed as the "battle of the tankers" in a round that otherwise contains some spectacular contests. This week which is more than three months into the season is delivering to the football public a match up between two undefeated teams St.Kilda and Geelong, a clash between traditional rivals and in form opponents Collingwood and Essendon, a desperate battle between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn and to counterbalance those contests, the game that sees the only two teams with a chance to gain a first round priority draft pick this year slug it out with one another. Fascinating! But John Worsfold's team turned the supposed tankfest or Tom Scully Trophy game on it's head by defying the sceptics and beating the Hawks last week. A win on Saturday means no priority pick at all this year for the Eagles, a prospect that looked unlikely just a few weeks ago. Now, if the heavens line up properly for them and the other results fall the right way, they could find themselves just one game out of the top 8! The Eagles are certainly not tanking. And neither are the Demons. They've had a tough run over the past month or so and their young players are showing signs of fatigue. Some of their older brigade who have come back from injury interruptions are also looking tired. At this stage of the journey they don't have the experience and aren't good enough to beat teams contesting the finals. A return to home soil and to the club's real jumper, the desire to individually and collectively atone for recent poor performances and the emotion of their leader's plight will all be factors in this week's game. Added to that is the fact that West Coast struggles to win games away from home having list their last 17 matches outside WA. All of these things sway me towards the view that Melbourne will win this week's game by 8 points and thereby make a promising new start to a brand new year. I hope each and every one of our record number in excess of 31,000 members comes to the MCG to witness the event and to support Jimmy and his team.

Not all that long ago ... Round 7 at Subiaco! WEST COAST Backs David Wirrpanda Darren Glass Mark Nicoski Half backs Shannon Hurn Eric Mackenzie Adam Selwood Centreline Matt Rosa Daniel Kerr Andrew Embley Half forwards Adam Cockie Josh Kennedy Sam Butler Forwards Mark LeCras Quinten Lynch Ben McKinley Followers Dean Cox Matt Priddis Chris Masten Interchange (from) Mitch Brown Adam Hunter Brett Jones Jamie McNamara Will Schofield Scott Selwood Matt Spangher In Josh Kennedy Jamie McNamara Will Schofield Scott Selwood Matt Spangher Out Ashley Hansen Brent Staker (hand) MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Matthew Warnock Ricky Petterd Half backs Cameron Bruce Jared Rivers Aaron Davey Centreline Clint Bartram Colin Sylvia Brock McLean Half forwards Cale Morton Lynden Dunn Russell Robertson Forwards Brad Miller Stefan Martin Matthew Bate Followers Paul Johnson Brent Moloney James McDonald Interchange (from) Jamie Bennell Kyle Cheney Jack Grimes Neville Jetta Nathan Jones Addam Maric Michael Newton In Kyle Cheney Jack Grimes Neville Jetta Michael Newton Out John Meesen (foot)

It's starting to look very much like Aaron Davey's season ... 95.262 Aaron Davey 57.718 Brent Moloney 42.745 Brock McLean 40.932 Cale Morton 40.838 Colin Sylvia 37.845 Nathan Jones 32.042 James Frawley 31.493 Brad Green 30.197 Cameron Bruce 19.408 Brad Miller 14.443 Matthew Warnock 13.629 Mark Jamar 12.825 Jared Rivers 12.420 Paul Johnson 12.402 Jack Grimes 11.805 Ricky Petterd 10.711 Stefan Martin 10.053 Kyle Cheney 8.827 Jamie Bennell 8.794 Matthew Bate 6.300 Addam Maric 6.126 Russell Robertson 4.374 Clint Bartram 3.333 James McDonald 3.077 Neville Jetta 0.667 Lynden Dunn 0.634 Liam Jurrah 0.613 John Meesen

Done. After all, it's a team effort

Thanks to all contributors. Here's the result: NIGHTMARE ON VULTURE STREET

Melbourne and Hawthorn were not the only teams in crisis last night. Demonland was also thrust into a desperate situation when our Queensland correspondent Bananabender was unable to make it due to the Gabba because of ... er ... transport difficulties when his trusty old ute followed Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett to the great junkyard in the sky. The Oracle was on standby ready to report on the game from his lounge room but, during the third quarter, he sufferede a nervous break down and attacked his television set sending it to the same resting place as Bananabender's vehicle and himself off to find a steadying drink. He has not been heard from since. So an appeal was sent out to our readers and, with thanks to those who made a contribution, we bring you our match review ... NIGHTMARE ON VULTURE STREET by Team Effort Singer-songwriter Paul Simon who is currently visiting our shores once wrote that "these are the days of miracle and wonder" and the sentiment is so true today. It was a miracle that the late Michael Jackson survived past his 50th birthday in view of the lifestyle he led and, given what the Demons produced at the Gabba last night it was a miracle that Brisbane won by less than 10 goals. I suspect that this miracle was only possible because the Lions shut up shop early to prepare themselves for the rest of the season and their finals campaign which is now an inevitability. As for Melbourne, the only inevitability is that they are destined to continue to break their supporters' hearts for a long, long time irrespective of whether the excuse this week was an outbreak of flu at the club. Unless they develop some semblance of a system to their game even the early draft picks on offer later this year will not help. In the second and third quarters, Melbourne produced some of the worst football I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing from the oldest club in the history of the game. Ironically, there were simply not enough old heads in a football sense to guide the young, inexperienced players who battled it out with a slick, well coached outfit. The result was a nightmare for all at Demonland [Lucky Lucy]. I had high hopes of putting aside our disappointing efforts in the last couple of games and I was hoping for a better display. I sat down to watch the game on Foxtel with my two young boys and I could smell pretty early on that we would struggle [Dandeeman]. The scene was set early when an errant handball from James Frawley was intercepted by NAB Rising Star favourite Daniel Rich and the home side had the first goal on the board after 35 seconds. Not quite as fast as Gary Ablett's 9 second opening goal earlier in the season but still enough to cause concern in the camp. The Dees got on the map with a long goal from Cale Morton and a Russell Robertson mark and goal put them in front. It was reasonably deep into the first quarter that Melbourne led 2.0.12 to 1.2.8 and Bradshaw and Brown were being well held but late in the term the troubles began. The Brisbane Lions proceeded to amass 12 unanswered goals and by three-quarter time the margin was 74 points [Demon Head]. In the first quarter we got hands on the ball as much as our opponents and our effeiciency with the footy was unusually good. Black, Brown and Bradshaw had limited influence. I felt we in in an armwrestle with an opponent who had far greater strength and we were looking him in the eye waiting for him to put our hand through the table. And so partly because we expected and feared it, in the second quarter in happened[Dandeeman]. We were crap [Geddy Lee]. Clark dominated the ruck contests particularly in the centre, Brisbane were more organised, had greater intensity and controlled the footy barely giving the frightened demons a sniff [Dandeeman]. A great deal has been made of Essendon and the fact that the Bombers have one ruckman left standing after injuries to Hille, Laycock and Bellchambers (actually they also have a young untried rookie but he's nowhere near ready for AFL). Well, we just happen to be in the same boat except our last ruckman standing isn't really a ruckman. Hence, Stefan Martin has been called in to fill the breach. He had to play the role he was given because there was no alternative. Clark killed it in the ruck and according to the statistics available to me he fixed up both Johnson (7 hit outs) and Martin (9 hit outs) and gave the superior Brisbane midfield a great armchair ride against Melbourne's one paced and tired looking midfield [Demon Head]. Black and Power were constantly belting the ball into our defensive line where to the advantage of Brown and Bradshaw. If they didn't mark the footy the ball was dropping to the advantage of thier small forwards. Our hapless backline could do little to stop the bleeding, though Frawley was doing some good things in his battle with Bradshaw and Jack Grimes looks a genuine future star. In contast out midfield looked slow, lost and always behind. Mclean had no impact, Moloney couldnt find the footy and various players such as Sylvia, Petterd and others were tried in the midfield we had no players able to create clearances or any flowing running footy [Dandeeman]. The Demons of 2009 are becoming known as final quarter specialists and goals from Cameron Bruce and Nathan Jones got the scoreboard ticking over at last before Brisbane's power forwards. Brown and Bradshaw booted their fifth and fourth goals respectively. Between them they had well and truly out goaled the entire Melbourne 22 and a final flurry of goals from Colin Sylvia, Liam Jurrah and Aaron Davey added a touch of respectability [Demon Head]. Davey was our best player but sadly rarely gets his hands on the footy in clearance situations. He is however an eceptional user of the ball and would be a genuine star in a better team. He usually has a hand in any scoring opportunity. Grimes is already a very good player with exceptional, courage, skill and maturity. He has the knack of knowing when to attack the footy or defend. He has strong hands and is a nice user of the footy. Frawley worked hard against Bradshaw and did some good work when given the opportunity to go the other way. Sylvia again did some good things and got a couple of late goals and Stefan Martin took some good contested marks but his disposal is a concern. Dean Bailey needs to go back to the drawing board and establish a plan to improve an uncompetitive and disorganised midfield. This is the clubs greatest on field challenge [ Dandeeman]. Michael Voss said at his press conference, "no disrespect to our opponents, but that was not one of best performances tonight" Seriously! Anyone who follows Melbourne and can take any positives out of tonight are living cloud cuckoo land [iv'a worn smith]. Summing up - To quote David St. Hubbins from Spinal Tap, "I am sure I would feel much worse right now if I weren't under such heavy sedation" [Einstein] Melbourne 2.0.12 2.2.14 2.5.17 8.8.56 Brisbane Lions 3.4.22 9.7.61 13.13.91 16.15.111 Goals Melbourne Sylvia 2 Bruce Davey Jones Jurrah Morton Robertson Brisbane Lions Brown 5 Bradshaw 4 Polkinghorne Rich 2 Roe Sherman Stiller Best Melbourne Davey Bruce Sylvia Grimes Frawley Martin Brisbane Brennan Brown Rich Adcock Power Black Injuries Melbourne - nil. Brisbane Lions nil. Reports Melbourne - nil. Brisbane Lions nil. Changes Melbourne M Bate (virus) replaced in selected side by N Jones. Brisbane Lions nil. Umpires Donlon Hay Jeffery Crowd 23,750 at the Gabba

Melbourne and Hawthorn were not the only teams in crisis last night. Demonland was also thrust into a desperate situation when our Queensland correspondent Bananabender was unable to make it due to the Gabba because of ... er ... transport difficulties when his trusty old ute followed Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett to the great junkyard in the sky. The Oracle was on standby ready to report on the game from his lounge room but, during the third quarter, he sufferede a nervous break down and attacked his television set sending it to the same resting place as Bananabender's vehicle and himself off to find a steadying drink. He has not been heard from since. So an appeal was sent out to our readers and, with thanks to those who made a contribution, we bring you our match review ... NIGHTMARE ON VULTURE STREET by Team Effort Singer-songwriter Paul Simon who is currently visiting our shores once wrote that "these are the days of miracle and wonder" and the sentiment is so true today. It was a miracle that the late Michael Jackson survived past his 50th birthday in view of the lifestyle he led and, given what the Demons produced at the Gabba last night it was a miracle that Brisbane won by less than 10 goals. I suspect that this miracle was only possible because the Lions shut up shop early to prepare themselves for the rest of the season and their finals campaign which is now an inevitability. As for Melbourne, the only inevitability is that they are destined to continue to break their supporters' hearts for a long, long time irrespective of whether the excuse this week was an outbreak of flu at the club. Unless they develop some semblance of a system to their game even the early draft picks on offer later this year will not help. In the second and third quarters, Melbourne produced some of the worst football I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing from the oldest club in the history of the game. Ironically, there were simply not enough old heads in a football sense to guide the young, inexperienced players who battled it out with a slick, well coached outfit. The result was a nightmare for all at Demonland [Lucky Lucy]. I had high hopes of putting aside our disappointing efforts in the last couple of games and I was hoping for a better display. I sat down to watch the game on Foxtel with my two young boys and I could smell pretty early on that we would struggle [Dandeeman]. The scene was set early when an errant handball from James Frawley was intercepted by NAB Rising Star favourite Daniel Rich and the home side had the first goal on the board after 35 seconds. Not quite as fast as Gary Ablett's 9 second opening goal earlier in the season but still enough to cause concern in the camp. The Dees got on the map with a long goal from Cale Morton and a Russell Robertson mark and goal put them in front. It was reasonably deep into the first quarter that Melbourne led 2.0.12 to 1.2.8 and Bradshaw and Brown were being well held but late in the term the troubles began. The Brisbane Lions proceeded to amass 12 unanswered goals and by three-quarter time the margin was 74 points [Demon Head]. In the first quarter we got hands on the ball as much as our opponents and our effeiciency with the footy was unusually good. Black, Brown and Bradshaw had limited influence. I felt we in in an armwrestle with an opponent who had far greater strength and we were looking him in the eye waiting for him to put our hand through the table. And so partly because we expected and feared it, in the second quarter in happened[Dandeeman]. We were crap [Geddy Lee]. Clark dominated the ruck contests particularly in the centre, Brisbane were more organised, had greater intensity and controlled the footy barely giving the frightened demons a sniff [Dandeeman]. A great deal has been made of Essendon and the fact that the Bombers have one ruckman left standing after injuries to Hille, Laycock and Bellchambers (actually they also have a young untried rookie but he's nowhere near ready for AFL). Well, we just happen to be in the same boat except our last ruckman standing isn't really a ruckman. Hence, Stefan Martin has been called in to fill the breach. He had to play the role he was given because there was no alternative. Clark killed it in the ruck and according to the statistics available to me he fixed up both Johnson (7 hit outs) and Martin (9 hit outs) and gave the superior Brisbane midfield a great armchair ride against Melbourne's one paced and tired looking midfield [Demon Head]. Black and Power were constantly belting the ball into our defensive line where to the advantage of Brown and Bradshaw. If they didn't mark the footy the ball was dropping to the advantage of thier small forwards. Our hapless backline could do little to stop the bleeding, though Frawley was doing some good things in his battle with Bradshaw and Jack Grimes looks a genuine future star. In contast out midfield looked slow, lost and always behind. Mclean had no impact, Moloney couldnt find the footy and various players such as Sylvia, Petterd and others were tried in the midfield we had no players able to create clearances or any flowing running footy [Dandeeman]. The Demons of 2009 are becoming known as final quarter specialists and goals from Cameron Bruce and Nathan Jones got the scoreboard ticking over at last before Brisbane's power forwards. Brown and Bradshaw booted their fifth and fourth goals respectively. Between them they had well and truly out goaled the entire Melbourne 22 and a final flurry of goals from Colin Sylvia, Liam Jurrah and Aaron Davey added a touch of respectability [Demon Head]. Davey was our best player but sadly rarely gets his hands on the footy in clearance situations. He is however an eceptional user of the ball and would be a genuine star in a better team. He usually has a hand in any scoring opportunity. Grimes is already a very good player with exceptional, courage, skill and maturity. He has the knack of knowing when to attack the footy or defend. He has strong hands and is a nice user of the footy. Frawley worked hard against Bradshaw and did some good work when given the opportunity to go the other way. Sylvia again did some good things and got a couple of late goals and Stefan Martin took some good contested marks but his disposal is a concern. Dean Bailey needs to go back to the drawing board and establish a plan to improve an uncompetitive and disorganised midfield. This is the clubs greatest on field challenge [ Dandeeman]. Michael Voss said at his press conference, "no disrespect to our opponents, but that was not one of best performances tonight" Seriously! Anyone who follows Melbourne and can take any positives out of tonight are living cloud cuckoo land [iv'a worn smith]. Summing up - To quote David St. Hubbins from Spinal Tap, "I am sure I would feel much worse right now if I weren't under such heavy sedation" [Einstein] Melbourne 2.0.12 2.2.14 2.5.17 8.8.56 Brisbane Lions 3.4.22 9.7.61 13.13.91 16.15.111 Goals Melbourne Sylvia 2 Bruce Davey Jones Jurrah Morton Robertson Brisbane Lions Brown 5 Bradshaw 4 Polkinghorne Rich 2 Roe Sherman Stiller Best Melbourne Davey Bruce Sylvia Grimes Frawley Martin Brisbane Brennan Brown Rich Adcock Power Black Injuries Melbourne - nil. Brisbane Lions nil. Reports Melbourne - nil. Brisbane Lions nil. Changes Melbourne M Bate (virus) replaced in selected side by N Jones. Brisbane Lions nil. Umpires Donlon Hay Jeffery Crowd 23,750 at the Gabba

THE LUCK OF THE BOUNCE by KC from Casey History is starting to repeat itself for the Casey Scorpions. As has been the case on a number of occasions already this year, they again had a big scalp in their grasp on Saturday at Point Gellibrand against Williamstown and again they allowed it to slip away with some careless play and crucial skill errors. This time they fell by four points after leading for most of the second half and at one stage in the third quarter they were almost seven goals in front. The problems started for the Scorpions in the first quarter when they dominated the general play but couldn't buy a goal. They did however, manage to amass seven points but allowed the Seagulls' Declan Stack to slip away for two goals in mid quarter so that the scoreboard embarrassingly gave the home side a xx point lead despite having double the number of entries inside the fifty metre arc, a fact that would come back to bite them hard later in the game. Casey lifted its intensity in front of goals in the second quarter with a couple of quick goals to Shane Valenti and Addam Maric to momentarily grab the lead but it was short-lived as the home side regained its composure. Late in the quarter the momentum started swinging back to the visitors when disaster struck. Maric, who is usually a straight shooter, marked 15 metres out and was poised to put the team in front when he kicked into the man on the mark. On the rebound the Seagulls moved the ball the whole length of the ground to goal and, though the Scorpions were to get one back through Lynden Dunn, the two goal turn around was to prove decisive later in the game. After the break Casey showed it was capable of producing a high standard of football. The forwards started hitting their targets and skipper Kyle Matthews, clearly inconvenienced by injury, were inspirational. He kicked one himself and had a hand in a few others. Newton ran in for a couple of opportunist goals and Daniel Hughes was also lively up forward. When James Strauss bounded through the centre square and goaled with a long, straight kick at the 21 minute mark, Casey's lead was closing in on seven goals. The Scorpions were winning all over the ground. Recruits Peter Faulks and Michael Stockdale were impressive, James Wall and Alex Silvagni were playing their usual strong games and Clint Bartram was blanketing Seagull skipper Brett Johnson. Even a late Willy goal was not enough to dampen the spirits as Casey took a 35 point lead into the final break. However, coach Peter German was wary of underestimating the opposition when he addressed the players at the huddle warning them not to take any notice of the scoreboard. Unfortunately, they failed to take any notice because they allowed Williamstown to kick a couple of quick goals and the uncertainty began to creep into their game. A goal to Newton appeared to steady the ship but the Seagulls kept coming and the Scorpions kept on making skill errors and needlessly turning over the football. Silvagni made some uncharacteristic errors kicking off and the team missed their skipper who was by now off the ground. Willy struck at the 29 minute mark to take back the lead for the first time since the early moments of the third quarter and then Casey was hit by the irony of their day when Hughes broke away from a pack and the luck of the bounce of the ball from the kick that decided his team's fate went the wrong way. The Seagulls were home by four points. The only good news for the day was that the Scorpions held their place in the top eight, courtesy of the fact that Coburg was thrashed by Sandringham. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail - there was nothing special on show from the Queenslander who celebrated his 21st birthday this week. When he came down after the draft, he had a reputation as a running player but didn't show it in this game. Clint Bartram - played one of his better games this week and held dangerous Seagulls' skipper Brett Johnson. His disposal and decision-making were both much better this week. Daniel Bell - after a shaky start and some early errors, Bell worked his way back into the game with some strong, hard tackling and even produced some creative handball to set up some good forward moves. Kyle Cheney - gave Stack too much latitude early in the game and this proved very costly in the final analysis. Regained his composure for the second and third quarters and took some strong safe marks and, at times, showed out with some strength in defence. Lynden Dunn - had another good day apart from missing some vital shots at goal in the early going. Too good for this level and due for a call up against the Eagles next week. Daniel Hughes - under size for a key position but has a good pair of hands and has obviously put a lot of work on his pace and fitness. A big improver. Addam Maric - injured his shoulder early on looked to be labouring under some discomfort. Kicked a nice goal, fluffed a shot when he kicked into the man on the mark, had a hand in some goals but generally didn't do enough. Jordie McKenzie - not as clean in the packs as he has been in earlier in the season and didn't attack the ball as well as he has in past games. Spent a lot of time on the interchange bench. Michael Newton - we've tended to be hard on Newton because he showed a lot of potential early on and hasn't produced the goods to date. A few easy missed shots stood between him covering himself and his team with glory. He is working a lot harder these days and his 3.3 for the day might just be enough to get him back into a Demon guernsey. James Strauss - quiet early but pressed with his neat crisp disposal once his game under way. His long goal on the run in the third quarter was a gem. Shane Valenti - played another of his trademark hard, in and under games that is well suited to this competition but some feel won't fly at AFL level. Since he shows an uncompromising commitment for the football he deserves a chance, if only to set an example to those who have supposedly better credentials but aren't producing much these days. Paul Wheatley - showed his experience with a few good runs out of defence but he clearly hasn't had enough preparation due to his injuries and he desperately needs a lot more match practice. Trent Zomer - kicked a goal but otherwise struggled to impose himself on the game. Casey Scorpions 0.7.7 4.10.34 11.13.79 12.14.86 Williamstown 2.4.16 5.6.36 6.8.44 13.12.90 Goals Casey Scorpions Newton 3 Hughes 2 Dunn Maric Matthews Stockdale Strauss Valenti Zomer Williamstown Little 4 Stack 3 Cordy Davies Everitt O'Keefe Reid Stretton Best Casey Scorpions Bell Faulks Valenti Panozza Wheatley Bartram Williamstown Callan Davies Addison Reid Gotch Everitt Casey Reserves were competitive against top team Williamstown and trailled by only 11 points at half time but were swamped in the second to go down by 46 points. Glenn Chivers, David Collins and Luke Williams have all been consistent performers this year and were the team's best while Ben Waite booted three goals. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 9.4.58 11.6.72 14.9.93 Williamstown 7.3.45 10.9.69 13.17.95 19.25.139 Goals Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Dean Scanlon 2 Chivers Clay Mildren Oldmeadow Matheson Virtue Williams Williamstown Joyce 3 Cravino Egan Georgiadis Grossman Jones Lynch Meyer 2 Cartelli White Best Casey Scorpions Chivers Collins Williams Blaser Lees Snow Williamstown Wood Cravino Cartelli Boumann Shaw Lynch

by KC from Casey History is starting to repeat itself for the Casey Scorpions. As has been the case on a number of occasions already this year, they again had a big scalp in their grasp on Saturday at Point Gellibrand against Williamstown and again they allowed it to slip away with some careless play and crucial skill errors. This time they fell by four points after leading for most of the second half and at one stage in the third quarter they were almost seven goals in front. The problems started for the Scorpions in the first quarter when they dominated the general play but couldn't buy a goal. They did however, manage to amass seven points but allowed the Seagulls' Declan Stack to slip away for two goals in mid quarter so that the scoreboard embarrassingly gave the home side a xx point lead despite having double the number of entries inside the fifty metre arc, a fact that would come back to bite them hard later in the game. Casey lifted its intensity in front of goals in the second quarter with a couple of quick goals to Shane Valenti and Addam Maric to momentarily grab the lead but it was short-lived as the home side regained its composure. Late in the quarter the momentum started swinging back to the visitors when disaster struck. Maric, who is usually a straight shooter, marked 15 metres out and was poised to put the team in front when he kicked into the man on the mark. On the rebound the Seagulls moved the ball the whole length of the ground to goal and, though the Scorpions were to get one back through Lynden Dunn, the two goal turn around was to prove decisive later in the game. After the break Casey showed it was capable of producing a high standard of football. The forwards started hitting their targets and skipper Kyle Matthews, clearly inconvenienced by injury, were inspirational. He kicked one himself and had a hand in a few others. Newton ran in for a couple of opportunist goals and Daniel Hughes was also lively up forward. When James Strauss bounded through the centre square and goaled with a long, straight kick at the 21 minute mark, Casey's lead was closing in on seven goals. The Scorpions were winning all over the ground. Recruits Peter Faulks and Michael Stockdale were impressive, James Wall and Alex Silvagni were playing their usual strong games and Clint Bartram was blanketing Seagull skipper Brett Johnson. Even a late Willy goal was not enough to dampen the spirits as Casey took a 35 point lead into the final break. However, coach Peter German was wary of underestimating the opposition when he addressed the players at the huddle warning them not to take any notice of the scoreboard. Unfortunately, they failed to take any notice because they allowed Williamstown to kick a couple of quick goals and the uncertainty began to creep into their game. A goal to Newton appeared to steady the ship but the Seagulls kept coming and the Scorpions kept on making skill errors and needlessly turning over the football. Silvagni made some uncharacteristic errors kicking off and the team missed their skipper who was by now off the ground. Willy struck at the 29 minute mark to take back the lead for the first time since the early moments of the third quarter and then Casey was hit by the irony of their day when Hughes broke away from a pack and the luck of the bounce of the ball from the kick that decided his team's fate went the wrong way. The Seagulls were home by four points. The only good news for the day was that the Scorpions held their place in the top eight, courtesy of the fact that Coburg was thrashed by Sandringham. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Rohan Bail - there was nothing special on show from the Queenslander who celebrated his 21st birthday this week. When he came down after the draft, he had a reputation as a running player but didn't show it in this game. Clint Bartram - played one of his better games this week and held dangerous Seagulls' skipper Brett Johnson. His disposal and decision-making were both much better this week. Daniel Bell - after a shaky start and some early errors, Bell worked his way back into the game with some strong, hard tackling and even produced some creative handball to set up some good forward moves. Kyle Cheney - gave Stack too much latitude early in the game and this proved very costly in the final analysis. Regained his composure for the second and third quarters and took some strong safe marks and, at times, showed out with some strength in defence. Lynden Dunn - had another good day apart from missing some vital shots at goal in the early going. Too good for this level and due for a call up against the Eagles next week. Daniel Hughes - under size for a key position but has a good pair of hands and has obviously put a lot of work on his pace and fitness. A big improver. Addam Maric - injured his shoulder early on looked to be labouring under some discomfort. Kicked a nice goal, fluffed a shot when he kicked into the man on the mark, had a hand in some goals but generally didn't do enough. Jordie McKenzie - not as clean in the packs as he has been in earlier in the season and didn't attack the ball as well as he has in past games. Spent a lot of time on the interchange bench. Michael Newton - we've tended to be hard on Newton because he showed a lot of potential early on and hasn't produced the goods to date. A few easy missed shots stood between him covering himself and his team with glory. He is working a lot harder these days and his 3.3 for the day might just be enough to get him back into a Demon guernsey. James Strauss - quiet early but pressed with his neat crisp disposal once his game under way. His long goal on the run in the third quarter was a gem. Shane Valenti - played another of his trademark hard, in and under games that is well suited to this competition but some feel won't fly at AFL level. Since he shows an uncompromising commitment for the football he deserves a chance, if only to set an example to those who have supposedly better credentials but aren't producing much these days. Paul Wheatley - showed his experience with a few good runs out of defence but he clearly hasn't had enough preparation due to his injuries and he desperately needs a lot more match practice. Trent Zomer - kicked a goal but otherwise struggled to impose himself on the game. Casey Scorpions 0.7.7 4.10.34 11.13.79 12.14.86 Williamstown 2.4.16 5.6.36 6.8.44 13.12.90 Goals Casey Scorpions Newton 3 Hughes 2 Dunn Maric Matthews Stockdale Strauss Valenti Zomer Williamstown Little 4 Stack 3 Cordy Davies Everitt O'Keefe Reid Stretton Best Casey Scorpions Bell Faulks Valenti Panozza Wheatley Bartram Williamstown Callan Davies Addison Reid Gotch Everitt Casey Reserves were competitive against top team Williamstown and trailled by only 11 points at half time but were swamped in the second to go down by 46 points. Glenn Chivers, David Collins and Luke Williams have all been consistent performers this year and were the team's best while Ben Waite booted three goals. Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 9.4.58 11.6.72 14.9.93 Williamstown 7.3.45 10.9.69 13.17.95 19.25.139 Goals Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Dean Scanlon 2 Chivers Clay Mildren Oldmeadow Matheson Virtue Williams Williamstown Joyce 3 Cravino Egan Georgiadis Grossman Jones Lynch Meyer 2 Cartelli White Best Casey Scorpions Chivers Collins Williams Blaser Lees Snow Williamstown Wood Cravino Cartelli Boumann Shaw Lynch

Please cast your votes ... 6,5,4,3,2,1

A clear and concise effort but some parts need elaboration. More entries are invited and we're also calling for a sponsor to donate a prize for the best entry.

I just received an SMS from our designated writer for tonight advising that he's smashed his TV set and headed off to the pub. Writers(s) urgently required. Place your entries on this thread, please!!!

by JVM Every year thousands upon thousands of people flock from the southern states up north to Queensland in search of the sun, surf, scenery and a few other things that start with the letter "s" including sport. This weekend a few Demon fans might even jump on a jet plane headed for Brisbane although I couldn't vouch to such hardy souls that the experience will be enjoyable if their final destination is the Brisbane v Melbourne game at the Gabba. You see, the Lions are on a roll and are nicely poised to make an assault on the top four which is vital for any team with high aspirations in the AFL competition. The Demons had aspirations once as well but that was in the early days of the season when they ventured further north and comfortably beat the Lions in a NAB Cup Challenge at the height of Hurricane Hamish. However, such games are only make believe and when the real stuff started the Demons went missing. They certainly left their form up in the tropics because they have managed only a single, solitary victim since that wet and windy night some three months ago. The weather report suggests that conditions at the Gabba will be thundery with rain easing during the day but on current form, even stormy weather will preclude both lightning and the Demons from striking twice! THE GAME Brisbane v Melbourne at The Gabba - Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 7.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Brisbane 9 wins Melbourne 16 wins Gabba Brisbane 7 wins Melbourne 3 wins Since 2000: Brisbane 6 wins Melbourne 4 wins The Coaches Voss 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports1 6.30pm RADIO Triple M SEN THE BETTING Brisbane $1.06 to win Melbourne $8.00 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 14.9.93 defeated Brisbane 13.14.92 at MCG Round 14 2008 The opportunity doesn't arrive too often these days for one to say that Melbourne won at its last start against a particular opponent but, with Brisbane, that's exactly the case. In Round 14 last year, the Demons were gritty and stuck to their guns all day causing a major upset. Brad Miller and Colin Sylvia booted four goals each. Brad Green was in scintillating form and earned the three Brownlow votes for the game while Aussie Wonaeamirri did his fair share of the crumbing work and celebrating. THE TEAMS 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 Just four weeks ago the Demons came to Queensland to take on the might of the undefeated Saints at Carrara. That night they gave their fans an incredible ride. It was a trip right up to the top in a roller coaster with a more than competitive first half when Melbourne threw everything was thrown at St. Kilda and was possibly a tad unlucky not to be in front at the main break. Since then however, it's been a real slippery dip as the Demon roller coaster took a downward path. The last half against the Saints was a goalless snore fest. That has been followed by thrashings on big stages (Collingwood at the G on Queens Birthday and last Friday night against Essendon). During that time, the team has produced two or three reasonable quarters, the rest have been dreadful. Brisbane has been sitting and waiting for this. Last year, it was lowly Melbourne's shock defeat of the Lions that saw them reeling and ultimately Missing out on the finals action. Unfortunate for Demon fans they won't allow this to happen again and certainly not at the Gabba where the likes of Simon Black, Luke Power and youngster Daniel Rich will be pumping the ball long and straight to the twin towers - Bradshaw and Brown. It's just as well that Matthew Warnock is there to take on one of them and James Frawley will take the other. Trouble is that you can't control the two Brisbane B's all night and the Lions have plenty of scoring options and know their ground so well. And their dominant in form midfield will do little to aid the Demons. Nor will their inexperienced forward line, though it will be interesting to watch youngsters like Jurrah, Watts and Jetta continue on with their development at this early stage of their careers. Still, it's going to be a tough slog for the visitors on Saturday night. So tough that I'm tipping a repeat of the last fortnight. Brisbane by 51 point

NORTH and SOUTH by JVM Every year thousands upon thousands of people flock from the southern states up north to Queensland in search of the sun, surf, scenery and a few other things that start with the letter "s" including sport. This weekend a few Demon fans might even jump on a jet plane headed for Brisbane although I couldn't vouch to such hardy souls that the experience will be enjoyable if their final destination is the Brisbane v Melbourne game at the Gabba. You see, the Lions are on a roll and are nicely poised to make an assault on the top four which is vital for any team with high aspirations in the AFL competition. The Demons had aspirations once as well but that was in the early days of the season when they ventured further north and comfortably beat the Lions in a NAB Cup Challenge at the height of Hurricane Hamish. However, such games are only make believe and when the real stuff started the Demons went missing. They certainly left their form up in the tropics because they have managed only a single, solitary victim since that wet and windy night some three months ago. The weather report suggests that conditions at the Gabba will be thundery with rain easing during the day but on current form, even stormy weather will preclude both lightning and the Demons from striking twice! THE GAME Brisbane v Melbourne at The Gabba - Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 7.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Brisbane 9 wins Melbourne 16 wins Gabba Brisbane 7 wins Melbourne 3 wins Since 2000: Brisbane 6 wins Melbourne 4 wins The Coaches Voss 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports1 6.30pm RADIO Triple M SEN THE BETTING Brisbane $1.06 to win Melbourne $8.00 to win THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 14.9.93 defeated Brisbane 13.14.92 at MCG Round 14 2008 The opportunity doesn't arrive too often these days for one to say that Melbourne won at its last start against a particular opponent but, with Brisbane, that's exactly the case. In Round 14 last year, the Demons were gritty and stuck to their guns all day causing a major upset. Brad Miller and Colin Sylvia booted four goals each. Brad Green was in scintillating form and earned the three Brownlow votes for the game while Aussie Wonaeamirri did his fair share of the crumbing work and celebrating. THE TEAMS 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 Just four weeks ago the Demons came to Queensland to take on the might of the undefeated Saints at Carrara. That night they gave their fans an incredible ride. It was a trip right up to the top in a roller coaster with a more than competitive first half when Melbourne threw everything was thrown at St. Kilda and was possibly a tad unlucky not to be in front at the main break. Since then however, it's been a real slippery dip as the Demon roller coaster took a downward path. The last half against the Saints was a goalless snore fest. That has been followed by thrashings on big stages (Collingwood at the G on Queens Birthday and last Friday night against Essendon). During that time, the team has produced two or three reasonable quarters, the rest have been dreadful. Brisbane has been sitting and waiting for this. Last year, it was lowly Melbourne's shock defeat of the Lions that saw them reeling and ultimately Missing out on the finals action. Unfortunate for Demon fans they won't allow this to happen again and certainly not at the Gabba where the likes of Simon Black, Luke Power and youngster Daniel Rich will be pumping the ball long and straight to the twin towers - Bradshaw and Brown. It's just as well that Matthew Warnock is there to take on one of them and James Frawley will take the other. Trouble is that you can't control the two Brisbane B's all night and the Lions have plenty of scoring options and know their ground so well. And their dominant in form midfield will do little to aid the Demons. Nor will their inexperienced forward line, though it will be interesting to watch youngsters like Jurrah, Watts and Jetta continue on with their development at this early stage of their careers. Still, it's going to be a tough slog for the visitors on Saturday night. So tough that I'm tipping a repeat of the last fortnight. Brisbane by 51 points.

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS - NUMBER FORTY-EIGHT by the Professor The Jurrahcane, a Warlpiri warrior known as Liam Jungarray Jurrah blew onto the football scene the other night at Etihad Stadium wearing the number 48 for Melbourne against Essendon. It was obvious from the moment he stepped on the field that Jurrah is not your average footballer; that he's someone special and that everything that he comes into contact with will be immersed in that magic touch. And that includes his guernsey number - 48. The number hasn't yet been associated with any really big names and in the past it has often been a transitory number worn by a player in the early stages of his career only to be discarded in favour of a lower and more popular number. This is exactly what has happened with the last five custodians of the number which fell out of favour and was previously last worn in an AFL game more than a decade ago. The trend for the number was first set by Bob Gormly who came across to the club as a 184cm teenager from Old Scotch Collegians, Launceston and played the final game of 1965 against Footscray on a half back flank, a game narrowly lost by the Demons 10.12.72 to 10.15.75. The promising youngster was allocated the number 7 at the start of the following season but a knee injury put an end to his career before it even started. These days Gormly lives and works on the Gold Coast and still follows the Demons. Three years later, Daryl Powell, 179cm rover from Woodend came to the club but could manage no more than two games for the club wearing the number 48 guernsey with little impact. He started both games, in Round 19 against Fitzroy and Round 20 against South Melbourne on the bench. Midfielder Michael J Collins from Caulfield made his debut in 1971 wearing 48 at VFL Park in the same game in which South Australian recruit "Diamond Jim" Tilbrook played his first game for the club. Collins played 3 games that year, progressing to the number 12 through 1972 to 1974 for a career total of 27 games and 11 goals. Seventeen year old defender Brett Marchant from the club's suburban zone club Mentone was next to wear the 48 jumper. He played in four games in 1977 starting on a half back flank against Richmond in Round 16 but his career never took off. Two years later, the same fate befell the guernsey's next wearer John Wallace from Thornton. He was a reserve starting on the bench in the Round 3 game against South Melbourne but managed just one more game. John Tossol, a rover from Assumption College, Kilmore, came to the club in 1981 and played in the last two games of the season kicking three goals on debut against Richmond. His brother Peter arrived the following year but alas, the brothers never got to play together. The guernsey number 48 was next worm in 1984 by Gisborne wingman Ross Fisher who started in the Under 19's. By this time, the jumper was starting to appear jinxed because Fisher managed only one game. Utility Stephen Newport, who came to the Demons from Dingley in 1985, bucked the trend that had been set previously for the number as he became its first centurion although most of his 101 games and 58 goals came after he switched to the number 34 after his first season. He finished fourth in the club champion voting in 1986 and made the Victorian squad. He was part of the club's meteoric charge for the finals in 1987 and played in a grand final in 1988 before being traded to St. Kilda after the 1990 season. Meanwhile, Luke Beveridge, the grandson of Collingwood star Jack and son of St. Kilda recruiting guru John wore the number 48 in 1989. A clever goal kicking rover, Beveridge switched to the number 24 in 1990 and, when cleared to the Bulldogs at the end of 1992, he had 42 games for 41 goals to his credit. He later joined his father at the Saints and finished there in 1999. The rise of Darren Cuthbertson who donned the number 48 for the Demons in 1991 was meteoric. He booted bags of seven goals against North Melbourne and Collingwood in just his fourth and fifth games and followed that effort up with another five against the Brisbane Bears for 19 in the space of just three matches. The opposition teams started working him out and his output declined but he finished his debut season with 16 games and 29 goals. Cuthbertson was awarded the coveted number 9 guernsey the following year but never lived up to his earlier promise and his career was over after just 32 games and 43 goals in three seasons. The jumper was not worn again until 1997 when Brent Grgic from Bell Post Hill near Geelong arrived on the scene via the 1996 National Draft where the Demons selected him with their first round draft pick. Grgic was likened to star forward and former captain Garry Lyon early in his career but his star waned almost as quickly as that of Cuthbertson after moving to the number 4 locker in 1998. He was traded to the Cats at the end of 2001 after 77 games and 29 goals. Meanwhile, Grgic's old 48 guernsey was handed down to Box Hill draftee Matthew Bishop in1998 when he wore the jumper for 10 games (3 goals). Like many of his predecessors, Bishop discarded the number after just one year, shifting to number 18. He was also traded off elsewhere and finished at Port Adelaide(as part of a three way swap) where he became a premiership player. The lanky defender played 18 games for 4 goals for the Demons. Since the turn of the century not a single player wire 48 for Melbourne until Jurrah stepped onto Etihad Stadium to weave his magic and suddenly the sight of that number will never be the same!

by the Professor The Jurrahcane, a Warlpiri warrior known as Liam Jungarray Jurrah blew onto the football scene the other night at Etihad Stadium wearing the number 48 for Melbourne against Essendon. It was obvious from the moment he stepped on the field that Jurrah was not your average footballer; that he's someone special and that everything that he comes into contact with will be immersed in that magic touch. And that includes his guernsey number - 48. The number hasn't yet been associated with any really big names and in the past it has often been a transitory number worn by a player in the early stages of his career only to be discarded in favour of a lower and more popular number. This is exactly what has happened with the last five custodians of the number which fell out of favour and was previously last worn in an AFL game more than a decade ago. The trend for the number was first set by Bob Gormly who came across to the club as a 184cm teenager from Old Scotch Collegians, Launceston and played the final game of 1965 against Footscray on a half back flank, a game narrowly lost by the Demons 10.12.72 to 10.15.75. The promising youngster was allocated the number 7 at the start of the following season but a knee injury put an end to his career before it even started. These days Gormly lives and works on the Gold Coast and still follows the Demons. Three years later, Daryl Powell, 179cm rover from Woodend came to the club but could manage no more than two games for the club wearing the number 48 guernsey with little impact. He started both games, in Round 19 against Fitzroy and Round 20 against South Melbourne on the bench. Midfielder Michael J Collins from Caulfield made his debut in 1971 wearing 48 at VFL Park in the same game in which South Australian recruit "Diamond Jim" Tilbrook played his first game for the club. Collins played 3 games that year, progressing to the number 12 through 1972 to 1974 for a career total of 27 games and 11 goals. Seventeen year old defender Brett Marchant from the club's suburban zone club Mentone was next to wear the 48 jumper. He played in four games in 1977 starting on a half back flank against Richmond in Round 16 but his career never took off. Two years later, the same fate befell the guernsey's next wearer John Wallace from Thornton. He was a reserve starting on the bench in the Round 3 game against South Melbourne but managed just one more game. John Tossol, a rover from Assumption College, Kilmore, came to the club in 1981 and played in the last two games of the season kicking three goals on debut against Richmond. His brother Peter arrived the following year but alas, the brothers never got to play together. The guernsey number 48 was next worm in 1984 by Gisborne wingman Ross Fisher who started in the Under 19's. By this time, the jumper was starting to appear jinxed because Fisher managed only one game. Utility Stephen Newport, who came to the Demons from Dingley in 1985, bucked the trend that had been set previously for the number as he became its first centurion although most of his 101 games and 58 goals came after he switched to the number 34 after his first season. He finished fourth in the club champion voting in 1986 and made the Victorian squad. He was part of the club's meteoric charge for the finals in 1987 and played in a grand final in 1988 before being traded to St. Kilda after the 1990 season. Meanwhile, Luke Beveridge, the grandson of Collingwood star Jack and son of St. Kilda recruiting guru John wore the number 48 in 1989. A clever goal kicking rover, Beveridge switched to the number 24 in 1990 and, when cleared to the Bulldogs at the end of 1992, he had 42 games for 41 goals to his credit. He later joined his father at the Saints and finished there in 1999. The rise of Darren Cuthbertson who donned the number 48 for the Demons in 1991 was meteoric. He booted bags of seven goals against North Melbourne and Collingwood in just his fourth and fifth games and followed that effort up with another five against the Brisbane Bears for 19 in the space of just three matches. The opposition teams started working him out and his output declined but he finished his debut season with 16 games and 29 goals. Cuthbertson was awarded the coveted number 9 guernsey the following year but never lived up to his earlier promise and his career was over after just 32 games and 43 goals in three seasons. The jumper was not worn again until 1997 when Brent Grgic from Bell Post Hill near Geelong arrived on the scene via the 1996 National Draft where the Demons selected him with their first round draft pick. Grgic was likened to star forward and former captain Garry Lyon early in his career but his star waned almost as quickly as that of Cuthbertson after moving to the number 4 locker in 1998. He was traded to the Cats at the end of 2001 after 77 games and 29 goals. Meanwhile, Grgic's old 48 guernsey was handed down to Box Hill draftee Matthew Bishop in1998 when he wore the jumper for 10 games (3 goals). Like many of his predecessors, Bishop discarded the number after just one year, shifting to number 18. He was also traded off elsewhere and finished at Port Adelaide(as part of a three way swap) where he became a premiership player. The lanky defender played 18 games for 4 goals for the Demons. Since the turn of the century not a single player wire 48 for Melbourne until Jurrah stepped onto Etihad Stadium to weave his magic and suddenly the sight of that number will never be the same!

Following Leigh Matthews' comments on the 7 broadcast of the Essendon v Melbourne game at Etihad Stadium to the effect that, "I've been watching Watts closely for five minutes and I've seen nothing to suggest why he would be number one pick," we sent Hannabal out to get an interview. This is the result: Hannabal: Thanks for your time, Leigh. Leigh: You're vewy vewy welcome. Hannabal: Leigh, you seem to have unnecessarily potted Jack Watts and the MFC over the weekend. Is there any particular reason? Leigh: Alan Jawwott. Hannabal:Alan Jarrott ? What did Alan do, Leigh? Leigh: Jawwott whacked me at the MCG in 1984. Hannabal: Hang on Leigh, I was there that day and Alan was remonstrating with you for your king hit on Steven Smith. In fact, you hit him that hard he lost his toupe. Leigh: Wasn't it Peter Giles? Hannabal: No, your king hit on Giles was another day. Leigh: Oh. Didn't Smith lose all his hair from awa... awa... umm, err ...awa Hannabal: Alopecia? Leigh: That's it. Hannabal: Let's move on. Leigh, what are your thoughts on Melbourne's list? Leigh: I think they're in a lot of twubble. In fact, I think they'll be anchored to the bottom for years. Hannabal: How many times have you seen them play this year? Leigh: Once - once live. Hannabal: Once? It must have been a real eye opener to make such a judgment after so little exposure to the team and list? Leigh: Yes, they were vewy vewy bad. Hannabal: It's a pity you missed the match against the Bulldogs. But what about Sammy Blease, Strauss, Garland, Maric, Aussie, Spencer and some of the other under 20's? Leigh: Who? I'm not familwa with those players. But I liked the look of Juwwah and Gwimes. Hannabal: Lucky we didn't do this interview a week ago or you wouldn't have heard of Jurrah either. Speaking of Grimes, you gave him to Melbourne. Leigh: Weally? I did? Hannabal: Yes, you gave Melbourne pick 14 for Twavis, err Travis Johnstone and Melbourne used that pick on young Jack..... Are you ok, Leigh ? Here, have some water. Speaking of young Jacks, do you think you were a bit harsh on Jack Watts the other night ? Leigh: No, he looked like a schoolboy playing against men. Hannabal: Leigh, he was a schoolboy playing against men. How did an 18 year old Jonathan Brown equip himself in his first few games ? Leigh: I weally can't wemember, but he was a vewy vewy stwong boy Jonathan, so I expect he went pwetty well. Hannabal: Let me refresh your memory. Brown had no possessions in his first game and one possession in his third. In fact, it took him until game 7 to kick his first goal. Leigh: Weally ? Well, young key position players take longer to develop. Hannabal: Leigh, I put it to you that you don't really know much about young Watts, or the Melbourne list at all. Leigh: Well, I can only judge them on what I see and Fwiday night wasn't vewy impwessive. Hannabal: No disputing that. Thanks for your time Leigh. But I must say I'm 99% certain that tomorrow I'll be 100% sure you're a dill.

SOLSTICE by Whispering Jack For the record I am not a Pagan. Nor am I a Laidley or a Crocker either. Boom, boom. OK. That's the joke out of the way. I'm writing this on the morning of the winter solstice and, as it happens, I've just been out to an early breakfast where I sat drinking my coffee intently reading a Sunday Age article entitled "Pagans party as winter solstice brings hope" It's about how some of the pagans of this state like Gavin Andrew go about celebrating the winter solstice which is the shortest day (9 hours and 32 minutes) in the southern hemisphere. In the northern half of the world, it's the longest day. The northern pagans will observe the summer solstice today. Andrew and his fellow pagans (according to the last census there are 30,000 of them in Australia) rose early today to watch the sun rise at 7.36am and then to celebrate with a bloody good feast and a drink or two of mead, the original alcoholic drink of the prehistoric pagans, often consumed warm. This is the pagan way of giving thanks for what they have in this world - a warm home, shelter, food and friends. As I read on, I was beginning to like this pagan thing more and more although the ritual of going in and out of the spiral seemed a little over the top to someone who had previously shown little interest in paganism. However, the other stuff's not too shabby at all - music, poetry, shadow-puppetry and fire twirling. You've got to love fire twirling! Then, I started to think how football world has let the pagans down badly with its decision to mark the solstice with only one game which happens to be an unremarkable fixture that nobody's interested in although, after a day of getting shickered on the mead, it probably doesn't matter anyway. The President of PAN (Pagan Awareness Network) is a David Garland (no, I'm not sure if he's any relation) and he reckons that, despite the census figures there are about 200,000 pagans in Australia and that most of them will be marking today's significance. "It's a celebration that the days are getting longer. It gives us hope," he says. Well, I'm so impressed with the hope aspect that I've decided to jump on board with my own brand of paganism for Demon fans called "baileyism". After all, our most precious commodity as Melbourne supporters these days is "hope". We baileys won't spend the day standing around prehistoric rock circles chanting mumbo jumbo about coming cosmic events but, after this half season from hell, we won't mind the feasting and (especially) the drinking part. So at 3.45 pm today, the exact time when the tilt of the earth's axis is inclined away from the sun in the southern hemisphere we will raise our glasses of piping hot mead in thanks for what we have at the Melbourne Football Club. Hope. Well, hope isn't all of it. We also have a club that has survived (albeit we need a couple million bucks to jump into the kick rather quickly), we have new sponsorships with emerging enterprises and we have closer relationships with the MCC and the AFL. We have the AFL's youngest list including some exceptional, exciting young Indigenous players and an exciting future. That's not to mention our cosmic comic game plan that some can't comprehend while others believe it to be evolving a bit like Geelong's (watch them play tonight and compare it with our most recent efforts against Collingwood and Essendon) except that we change it every week for the third quarter in order to avoid being predictable. We're also spreading our wings into the rustic, rural areas like Casey where we can practice baileyism on crisp, cold mornings in open fields with gardlands (there's that word again) of flowers and skipping among the cow pads. For all these things, we can gladly offer our thanks because we are patient and there are better days to come when our young team has many more games of football pumped into those presently scrawny legs and emaciated, thin supermodel-like bodies. Incidentally, today's feasting and drinking should help them on that score too! The baileys will of course be celebrating long and hard on this day of the winter solstice but our real big gig - the "Gift of Light" will have to wait until the summer solstice when the bailey community will be able to conduct a special pagan ritual of thanks for the gifts of the national draft and the pre season draft. By then, we baileys will be looking forward to a new time of more hope and a new season for our Demons and the long, cold and dark days of 2009 will be over.

by Whispering Jack For the record I am not a Pagan. Nor am I a Laidley or a Crocker either. Boom, boom. OK. That's the joke out of the way. I'm writing this on the morning of the winter solstice and, as it happens, I've just been out to an early breakfast where I sat drinking my coffee intently reading a Sunday Age article entitled "Pagans party as winter solstice brings hope" It's about how some of the pagans of this state like Gavin Andrew go about celebrating the winter solstice which is the shortest day (9 hours and 32 minutes) in the southern hemisphere. In the northern half of the world, it's the longest day. The northern pagans will observe the summer solstice today. Andrew and his fellow pagans (according to the last census there are 30,000 of them in Australia) rose early today to watch the sun rise at 7.36am and then to celebrate with a bloody good feast and a drink or two of mead, the original alcoholic drink of the prehistoric pagans, often consumed warm. This is the pagan way of giving thanks for what they have in this world - a warm home, shelter, food and friends. As I read on, I was beginning to like this pagan thing more and more although the ritual of going in and out of the spiral seemed a little over the top to someone who had previously shown little interest in paganism. However, the other stuff's not too shabby at all - music, poetry, shadow-puppetry and fire twirling. You've got to love fire twirling! Then, I started to think how football world has let the pagans down badly with its decision to mark the solstice with only one game which happens to be an unremarkable fixture that nobody's interested in although, after a day of getting shickered on the mead, it probably doesn't matter anyway. The President of PAN (Pagan Awareness Network) is a David Garland (no, I'm not sure if he's any relation) and he reckons that, despite the census figures there are about 200,000 pagans in Australia and that most of them will be marking today's significance. "It's a celebration that the days are getting longer. It gives us hope," he says. Well, I'm so impressed with the hope aspect that I've decided to jump on board with my own brand of paganism for Demon fans called "baileyism". After all, our most precious commodity as Melbourne supporters these days is "hope". We baileys won't spend the day standing around prehistoric rock circles chanting mumbo jumbo about coming cosmic events but, after this half season from hell, we won't mind the feasting and (especially) the drinking part. So at 3.45 pm today, the exact time when the tilt of the earth's axis is inclined away from the sun in the southern hemisphere we will raise our glasses of piping hot mead in thanks for what we have at the Melbourne Football Club. Hope. Well, hope isn't all of it. We also have a club that has survived (albeit we need a couple million bucks to jump into the kick rather quickly), we have new sponsorships with emerging enterprises and we have closer relationships with the MCC and the AFL. We have the AFL's youngest list including some exceptional, exciting young Indigenous players and an exciting future. That's not to mention our cosmic comic game plan that some can't comprehend while others believe it to be evolving a bit like Geelong's (watch them play tonight and compare it with our most recent efforts against Collingwood and Essendon) except that we change it every week for the third quarter in order to avoid being predictable. We're also spreading our wings into the rustic, rural areas like Casey where we can practice baileyism on crisp, cold mornings in open fields with gardlands (there's that word again) of flowers and skipping among the cow pads. For all these things, we can gladly offer our thanks because we are patient and there are better days to come when our young team has many more games of football pumped into those presently scrawny legs and emaciated, thin supermodel-like bodies. Incidentally, today's feasting and drinking should help them on that score too! The baileys will of course be celebrating long and hard on this day of the winter solstice but our real big gig - the "Gift of Light" will have to wait until the summer solstice when the bailey community will be able to conduct a special pagan ritual of thanks for the gifts of the national draft and the pre season draft. By then, we baileys will be looking forward to a new time of more hope and a new season for our Demons and the long, cold and dark days of 2009 will be over.

Hi Lisa... all of us at Demonland support the Casey Demons and will happily promote your activities as much as we can. WJ has even joined the social club down at Casey so I'm sure he'll personally support the CD's. There are a few others around here in the same boat. So good luck and cheers!

You seem to be suggesting that it's the opposition coaches who are instigating the tactic each week and we simply respond by going completely negative every week. However, if that was the case then surely our coaches would have twigged that it doesn't work for us and come up with another strategy. I tend to think that the negative tactics are our own pre- conceived plan to minimise the damage when opposition sides get on top of a young team with immature bodies and which tires under the pace and the pressure of a game. If this is the case, then I'd like to see some different tactics adopted in the last half of matches. On a lighter note, I'd even run with the hypnotism option. I heard that Richard Tambling started undergoing hypnotherapy after he was dropped to Coburg a while ago and since then he's returned to the Richmond team and is in career best form. The Toigs have won 2 out of 3 games in that time!