Demonland

Bate goal Melb 1.3.9 WCE 1.1.7

Melb 0.3.3 WCE 1.1.7

Melb 0.2.2 WCE 1.1.7

Melb 0.2.2 WCE 0.0.0

Melb 0.1.1 WCE 0.0.0

Please post scores and discussion of today's game here.

Discussion and Scores here: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19590

1971 AT NIGHT - A DISTANT MEMORY by Whispering Jack The appearance of the Western Bulldogs in this year's NAB Cup Grand Final is that club's first such appearance in four decades since way back in 1970 when they were known as "Footscray" and they edged out Melbourne by two points in the night grand final. In those days the night series was played at the end of the season at South Melbourne and was contested by the sides that missed out on being in the top four teams that made the finals. While the focus this week has been on 1970 when the Demons failed to bring home the silverware, it was a different story in 1971 when they did triumph against the Lions to win the first of three such flags, the others coming in 1987 and 1989. Season 1971 was for Melbourne a tiny oasis in one of the bleakest periods of the club's history. The once mighty powerhouse that ruled the competition for a decade from the mid 50s started falling apart after winning the first eight games of 1965. Just half a season after winning their 12th premiership the Demons imploded with the disastrous sacking of legendary coach Norm Smith heralding a long period of instability, decline and ultimately, decay. Smith was reinstated after a week of turmoil but the writing was on the wall. He was gone at the end of 1967 and by 1969, the team had completely fallen apart, winning just three games and taking out the wooden spoon under former premiership captain John Beckwith. Ian Ridley, a five-time premiership player, took over the coaching reins at the beginning of 1971 with the promise that a new era of success for football's oldest club was just around the corner. The former champion rover was a slick talking car salesman whose hot gospelling coaching style seemed to suit a Melbourne side that had gone into its shell after so many years at the top and had struggled to overcome a massive inferiority complex when confronted by the competition's new powerhouse clubs. Ridley's aim was to instil self-belief back into the playing group. Melbourne opened the season with a home game against Norm Smith's South Melbourne, fresh from its first finals appearance in two and a half barren decades. The Swans were blown off the MCG by a whopping 105 points with the Demons producing their most devastating performance in years. The self-belief was back with a vengeance. Skipper Frank Davis, full forward Barry Bourke and rover John Townsend were the only remnants of premiership days in the team. The goals were shared around while diminutive rover Paul Callery was the team's best that day. The good times continued with another four wins on end and stretched out to eight wins from the first nine games before petering out with a fall to just but seventh place with eleven and a half wins. At least there was still a night series to contemplate before entering into another long, hot summer. The Demons comfortably overcame their first hurdle under lights when they thrashed the Cats by ten goals with Graham Osborne booting six from a forward pocket. Callery and ruck rover Greg Wells each scored three goals while Callery, wingman Trevor Rollinson and Bobby McKenzie Jnr. were named in the best. Melbourne easily accounted for Carlton in the semi final by 26 points. The Blues were among the favourites for the flag so it was a wonderful achievement. Full forward Ross Dillon kicked three goals and Wells, Townsend and expensive South Australian recruit John Tilbrook, who missed half a season during a clearance wrangle with Sturt, were the team's best on the night. The grand final team to take on Fitzroy was: Backs B Bourke R Biffin M Walker Half Backs F Davis © G Hardeman A Sullivan Centreline T Rollinson J Tilbrook S Alves Half Forwards D Clark G Molloy R McKenzie Forwards G Osborne R Dillon J Townsend Followers P Keenan G Wells P Callery 19/20 N Leary P Sinclair The Demons won a hard fought battle by 16 points, 12.7.79 to 9.9.63 with Dillon and Townsend each scoring three goals. Townsend, Wells and Davis were the best players. Wells narrowly took out the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy for best and fairest ahead of Callery with Davis coming third. The Demons were assembling a good young team and had a solid spine with Ray Biffin and Gary Hardeman in defence and marking forwards in Greg Parke and Dillon. Stan Alves was one of the competition's leading wingmen while Peter Keenan was rapidly developing as a ruckman. Wells was on his way to elite status as a centreman - he was runner up in the following year's Brownlow Medal count. The Reserves made the Finals and the Under 19's and Under 17's both won their respective premierships. The 19's had several promising players including Ross Brewer, Stephen Kerley and a handful of others who later made it to the seniors. The 17's best clubman was a young, bespectacled Robert Flower. The team's overall improvement in 1971, the night premiership and the youthful talent at the club left many confident of facing the coming seasons. However, for a number of reasons, further improvement remained illusory and the club struggled for over a decade and a half before it was able to play in any final of any nature. In 1987, Melbourne won the night premiership and made it all the way to a day preliminary final but, by then, 1971 was a distant memory.

1971 AT NIGHT - A DISTANT MEMORY by Whispering Jack The appearance of the Western Bulldogs in this year's NAB Cup Grand Final is that club's first such appearance in four decades since way back in 1970 when they were known as "Footscray" and they edged out Melbourne by two points in the night grand final. In those days the night series was played at the end of the season at South Melbourne and was contested by the sides that missed out on being in the top four teams that made the finals. While the focus this week has been on 1970 when the Demons failed to bring home the silverware, it was a different story in 1971 when they did triumph against the Lions to win the first of three such flags, the others coming in 1987 and 1989. Season 1971 was for Melbourne a tiny oasis in one of the bleakest periods of the club's history. The once mighty powerhouse that ruled the competition for a decade from the mid 50s started falling apart after winning the first eight games of 1965. Just half a season after winning their 12th premiership the Demons imploded with the disastrous sacking of legendary coach Norm Smith heralding a long period of instability, decline and ultimately, decay. Smith was reinstated after a week of turmoil but the writing was on the wall. He was gone at the end of 1967 and by 1969, the team had completely fallen apart, winning just three games and taking out the wooden spoon under former premiership captain John Beckwith. Ian Ridley, a five-time premiership player, took over the coaching reins at the beginning of 1971 with the promise that a new era of success for football's oldest club was just around the corner. The former champion rover was a slick talking car salesman whose hot gospelling coaching style seemed to suit a Melbourne side that had gone into its shell after so many years at the top and had struggled to overcome a massive inferiority complex when confronted by the competition's new powerhouse clubs. Ridley's aim was to instil self-belief back into the playing group. Melbourne opened the season with a home game against Norm Smith's South Melbourne, fresh from its first finals appearance in two and a half barren decades. The Swans were blown off the MCG by a whopping 105 points with the Demons producing their most devastating performance in years. The self-belief was back with a vengeance. Skipper Frank Davis, full forward Barry Bourke and rover John Townsend were the only remnants of premiership days in the team. The goals were shared around while diminutive rover Paul Callery was the team's best that day. The good times continued with another four wins on end and stretched out to eight wins from the first nine games before petering out with a fall to just but seventh place with eleven and a half wins. At least there was still a night series to contemplate before entering into another long, hot summer. The Demons comfortably overcame their first hurdle under lights when they thrashed the Cats by ten goals with Graham Osborne booting six from a forward pocket. Callery and ruck rover Greg Wells each scored three goals while Callery, wingman Trevor Rollinson and Bobby McKenzie Jnr. were named in the best. Melbourne easily accounted for Carlton in the semi final by 26 points. The Blues were among the favourites for the flag so it was a wonderful achievement. Full forward Ross Dillon kicked three goals and Wells, Townsend and expensive South Australian recruit John Tilbrook, who missed half a season during a clearance wrangle with Sturt, were the team's best on the night. The grand final team to take on Fitzroy was: Backs B Bourke R Biffin M Walker Half Backs F Davis © G Hardeman A Sullivan Centreline T Rollinson J Tilbrook S Alves Half Forwards D Clark G Molloy R McKenzie Forwards G Osborne R Dillon J Townsend Followers P Keenan G Wells P Callery 19/20 N Leary P Sinclair The Demons won a hard fought battle by 16 points, 12.7.79 to 9.9.63 with Dillon and Townsend each scoring three goals. Townsend, Wells and Davis were the best players. Wells narrowly took out the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy for best and fairest ahead of Callery with Davis coming third. The Demons were assembling a good young team and had a solid spine with Ray Biffin and Gary Hardeman in defence and marking forwards in Greg Parke and Dillon. Stan Alves was one of the competition's leading wingmen while Peter Keenan was rapidly developing as a ruckman. Wells was on his way to elite status as a centreman - he was runner up in the following year's Brownlow Medal count. The Reserves made the Finals and the Under 19's and Under 17's both won their respective premierships. The 19's had several promising players including Ross Brewer, Stephen Kerley and a handful of others who later made it to the seniors. The 17's best clubman was a young, bespectacled Robert Flower. The team's overall improvement in 1971, the night premiership and the youthful talent at the club left many confident of facing the coming seasons. However, for a number of reasons, further improvement remained illusory and the club struggled for over a decade and a half before it was able to play in any final of any nature. In 1987, Melbourne won the night premiership and made it all the way to a day preliminary final but, by then, 1971 was a distant memory.

I will be there taking photos (will post after the game obviously). I will also provide score updates from time to time. I'm sure Whispering Jack will provide a Match Report after the game. Judging from the Essendon game a few weeks ago I'm sure there will be plenty of Demonlanders providing updates during the game. Also the MFC official twitter account will be providing updates during the game.

Someone asked Bailey a question about Gysberts and Bailey said that he did 4 or 5 really good things in the game against Adelaide and they are very happy with his progress.

Bump

Thanks mate. Much appreciated. I know where the aquatic centre is in relation to the ground so that info really helps.

Does anyone have directions/information on getting to the ground from Cranbourne station? Is there a bus that takes you to or near the ground?

Whispering Jack and Demonland are proud to annouce their sponsorship of Max Gawn for the 2010 season. Whispering Jack was the successful bidder in an auction at the Devils Advocates function tonight. We wish Max a speedy recovery from his injury and can't wait to see him play for the Dees in 2010.

Since this thread has degenerated into a bag Newton thread it is now closed.

from @DemonsHQ

I received my 5 badges in the mail today.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR by SA Demon Melbourne almost pulled off an improbable victory in the NAB Cup Challenge against Adelaide at Elizabeth, going down to the Crows by a mere 2 points thanks to a goal to Kurt Tippett in the dying seconds. While it was a case of close but no cigar and there were other disappointments in the form of injuries suffered, the Melbourne hierarchy would be happy about the team's application, its refusal to give up and the fact that it was more than just competitive in tough circumstances and in foreign territory. The Demons had a difficult afternoon. A very young and inexperienced team came over and endured a bumpy ride and a longer than expected flight to Adelaide due to the wild weather conditions. To make matters worse, they lost Liam Jurrah and Daniel Bell to serious shoulder injuries in the first quarter and Michael Newton in the second although his was not bad enough to curtail his day altogether. The Demons started slowly giving the Crows a 19 point lead before mounting a great fightback scoring the next seven goals to go into the rooms at the main break by the same margin of 19 points. Adelaide struck back with four unanswered goals before Melbourne steadied with a late goal in the third to leave them trailing by just three points at orange time. The Demons had the better of the last quarter but botched four consecutive shots at goal from close range before Ricky Petterd slotted his fourth goal to give them a four point lead with less than a minute to go but a free to the Crows in the last few seconds sealed the win for the home club. The main thing Melbourne can take from the game is the form of its younger brigade. For a club that has sadly lacked star quality for so long, fans will be inspired when the top two draft picks of 2009 get into the swing of AFL football. Tom Scully and Jack Trengove showed they are well on their way and the Demons' third pick (11 overall) Jordan Gysberts showed that he is not far behind them. Ricky Petterd with four goals was good again and Jack Grimes, James Frawley and Kyle Cheney were among the better players. Rohan Bail played his best game while a "young" James McDonald produced some inspiring leadership by example. Jordie McKenzie, James Strauss and Tom McNamara all showed signs of promise for the future. While Melbourne will miss the services of Jurrah and Bell along with Cale Morton who sustained a knee injury last week, the team is due to get a swag of regular players back next Saturday for the last of the scheduled practice matches against the West Coast Eagles at Casey Fields. Melbourne 3.0,18 7.2 8.3.51 10.7.67 Adelaide 3.2.20 3.7.25 7.12.54 9.15.69 Goals Melbourne Petterd 4 Maric Miller 2 Jurrah Scully Adelaide Tippett 5 Cook Gunston Petrenko Thompson Best Melbourne Scully Petterd Trengove Grimes McDonald Maric Gysberts Frawley Adelaide Dangerfield Tippett Cook Goodwin Rutten Petrenko Umpires Injuries Melbourne Bell (dislocated left AC joint) Jurrah (dislocated right shoulder) Newton (shoulder). Adelaide McLeod (back spasms) Reports Nil Crowd 5000 (approx) at Elizabeth Oval.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR by SA Demon Melbourne almost pulled off an improbable victory in the NAB Cup Challenge against Adelaide at Elizabeth, going down to the Crows by a mere 2 points thanks to a goal to Kurt Tippett in the dying seconds. While it was a case of close but no cigar and there were other disappointments in the form of injuries suffered, the Melbourne hierarchy would be happy about the team's application, its refusal to give up and the fact that it was more than just competitive in tough circumstances and in foreign territory. The Demons had a difficult afternoon. A very young and inexperienced team came over and endured a bumpy ride and a longer than expected flight to Adelaide due to the wild weather conditions. To make matters worse, they lost Liam Jurrah and Daniel Bell to serious shoulder injuries in the first quarter and Michael Newton in the second although his was not bad enough to curtail his day altogether. The Demons started slowly giving the Crows a 19 point lead before mounting a great fightback scoring the next seven goals to go into the rooms at the main break by the same margin of 19 points. Adelaide struck back with four unanswered goals before Melbourne steadied with a late goal in the third to leave them trailing by just three points at orange time. The Demons had the better of the last quarter but botched four consecutive shots at goal from close range before Ricky Petterd slotted his fourth goal to give them a four point lead with less than a minute to go but a free to the Crows in the last few seconds sealed the win for the home club. The main thing Melbourne can take from the game is the form of its younger brigade. For a club that has sadly lacked star quality for so long, fans will be inspired when the top two draft picks of 2009 get into the swing of AFL football. Tom Scully and Jack Trengove showed they are well on their way and the Demons' third pick (11 overall) Jordan Gysberts showed that he is not far behind them. Ricky Petterd with four goals was good again and Jack Grimes, James Frawley and Kyle Cheney were among the better players. Rohan Bail played his best game while a "young" James McDonald produced some inspiring leadership by example. Jordie McKenzie, James Strauss and Tom McNamara all showed signs of promise for the future. While Melbourne will miss the services of Jurrah and Bell along with Cale Morton who sustained a knee injury last week, the team is due to get a swag of regular players back next Saturday for the last of the scheduled practice matches against the West Coast Eagles at Casey Fields. Melbourne 3.0,18 7.2 8.3.51 10.7.67 Adelaide 3.2.20 3.7.25 7.12.54 9.15.69 Goals Melbourne Petterd 4 Maric Miller 2 Jurrah Scully Adelaide Tippett 5 Cook Gunston Petrenko Thompson Best Melbourne Scully Petterd Trengove Grimes McDonald Maric Gysberts Frawley Adelaide Dangerfield Tippett Cook Goodwin Rutten Petrenko Umpires Injuries Melbourne Bell (dislocated left AC joint) Jurrah (dislocated right shoulder) Newton (shoulder). Adelaide McLeod (back spasms) Reports Nil Crowd 5000 (approx) at Elizabeth Oval.

We broke our record of visitors to the message board at one time. The previous record was 444 on the night of the last draft. We beat it today with 498 people at around 7:30pm.

Goal. we're down by 2 with not long to go.

Free to tippet off the ball 35 out. we're gonna be robbed.

Petterd GOAL! Dees in front 67 - 63