Demonland

by Whispering Jack The world's great thinkers have long speculated about the existence of universes that run parallel to ours and in which things occur somewhat differently to the accepted norms that apply in the one that mankind, as we know it, currently occupies. This concept, which I've discussed previously, is most commonly covered in a form devised not by an eminent philosopher or great man or woman of science, but by one of the writers for DC comics in the USA and is known as the "Bizarro World" (often referred to as "htraE"). The original Bizarros were the opposites of Superman and Lois Lane but today we use the term Bizarro to describe anything that utilises twisted logic or that which is the opposite of something else. And this is the only way I can reasonably come to terms with season that the Melbourne Football Club and its followers have experienced both on and off the field in 2008. The off field stuff has been well documented and, although it's important, I don't propose to concern myself with that here. It's on the field where my concerns presently lie. In that respect, the whole season has been a total "Bizarro" experience culminating in yesterday's excursion across the Bizarro border and into a state known in the universal parallel language as ailartsuA htuoS. IMAA Stadium in the picturesque city of edialedA was the venue for the game. It's dimensions are 177 x 145 m, the playing area is 165 x 133 m and, for this game there were two sets of goals: the official set being the goals which the home side used and which run north to south and the unofficial goals that Melbourne utilised (or so it seemed) and which run east to west to cater for the Demons' style of play which places such great store on sideways movement. When one takes this all into account, the fact that the Demons managed seven goals for the day at the official ends of the ground was an extraordinary feat of human endeavour. Let's face it. Melbourne was absolutely terrible against Port Adelaide and, in spite of the injuries, in spite of the inexperience, in spite of the hostile crowd and in spite of the fact that some veterans were being given farewell runs, the performance put on by the 22 players and their coaches was unacceptable. There are simply no excuses when you lose a game to the second worst performed team in the competition over the previous month by 78 points. None of the things you would expect from a professional modern day team were apparent starting from the necessary work rate and encompassing everything our game entails – skill, strength, pace, the ability to read the play, keep to your feet in the contest, dispose of the football, make correct decisions, discipline and awareness of what to do when the opposition has the ball. Tactics and strategies? Out through the window and into another parallel universe. At the end of the day, coach Dean Bailey was said to be gutted by his team's performance and well he should be because his long honeymoon as coach of an AFL side is fast coming to an end. Soon, he will be armed with the paltry spoils of mediocre performance in our game – the high draft picks including the first selections in the national and pre season drafts. Together, he and his football department will need to make the right choices, jettison the players who are unable to perform at this level in the real world, recruit personnel who can actually play the game and just ... teach them. They need to be more than just competitive (which they are not at present) but also to be successful and win games consistently and often because unless that happens and happens soon, the Melbourne Football Club will only be known in the parallel universes and not in the one in which we live. Melbourne 1.0.6 2.4.16 4.8.32 7.9.51 Port Adelaide 6.6.42 9.10.64 10.17.77 18.21.129 Goals Melbourne Miller 2 Bate Bruce Jamar Newton Wonaeamirri Port Adelaide D Motlop 5 P Burgoyne Lade Pearce J Westhoff M Westhoff 2 Boak Cassisi Rodan Best Melbourne Sylvia Buckley Wheatley Green McDonald Morton Port Adelaide P Burgoyne Cassisi D Motlop K Cornes Brogan Logan S Burgoyne Pearce Injuries Melbourne nil Port Adelaide Daniel Motlop (dislocated finger) Changes nil Reports nil Umpires Margetts Head Keating Official Crowd 18,875 at AAMI Stadium

For the transcript see - INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR OF CASEY

With one round to go Brad Green has an almost unassailable lead in our Demonland Player of the Year. 88.901 Brad Green 78.366 Brock McLean 65.765 Paul Wheatley 64.074 Cale Morton 61.433 Cameron Bruce 54.305 Brad Miller 50.729 James McDonald 44.471 Colin Garland 42.742 Chris Johnson 40.082 Austin Wonaemirri 40.027 Paul Johnson 39.623 Colin Sylvia 37.927 Matthew Bate 31.490 Aaron Davey 29.347 Nathan Jones 25.713 Simon Buckley 17.896 Lynden Dunn 15.043 Matthew Warnock 13.681 Shane Valenti 12.282 Brent Moloney 10.684 Jared Rivers 10.482 Nathan Carroll 10.314 Stef Martin 8.393 Clint Bartram 8.254 Matthew Whelan 5.265 Russell Robertson 5.164 Mark Jamar 5.087 Jeff White 3.221 Addam Maric 2.845 Adem Yze 1.186 Daniel Bell 0.522 James Frawley Of course with our weighting system anything's possible !

INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR OF CASEY The ABC's Ross Booth interviewed City of Casey Mayor Janet Halsal during the half time break in the televised match of the day at Casey Fields today. Thanks to Alpha33 for providing this transcript: Ross Booth: With the Melbourne Football Club having a temporary base at the Junction Oval, it's been very difficult for them and they've approached you and you're going to accommodate them. What are you going to do? Janet Halsal: Well, we're certainly looking forward to the Melbourne Football Club coming out hopefully by November to establish some training (facilities) here, some pre season training and also a regular spot in Casey each week throughout the season and we're also very much looking forward to the community benefit programmes that we know they're going to deliver for us. Ross Booth: They're going to spend a lot of money here. All up $2.1m and you're contributing $1.2m. Is that right? Janet Halsal: Yes, that's right. We're contributing $1.2m and that money will go to extending the facilities that are already here so that Melbourne Football Club will have gymnasium facilities and office and administration space. Ross Booth: You're doing this because the City of Casey one of the fastest growing communities in Victoria or in fact the fastest growing in Victoria? Janet Halsal: Yes, we're the fastest growing municipality in Victoria. We have 235,000 residents, we have 38,000 school aged kids and a lot of them are very keen on football and we're very keen to have the Melbourne Football Club come out and share their experiences with our young people and look forward to them delivering their community benefit programme through our junior and senior football clubs, through our primary schools and in partnership with our businesses. NOTE: It was also mentioned by the commentary team that an additional $600k will spent on providing terracing on the outer side of the ground. The feedback was generally very positive.

The ABC's Ross Booth interviewed City of Casey Mayor Janet Halsal during the half time break in the televised match of the day at Casey Fields today. Thanks to Alpha33 for providing this transcript: Ross Booth: With the Melbourne Football Club having a temporary base at the Junction Oval, it's been very difficult for them and they've approached you and you're going to accommodate them. What are you going to do? Janet Halsal: Well, we're certainly looking forward to the Melbourne Football Club coming out hopefully by November to establish some training (facilities) here, some pre season training and also a regular spot in Casey each week throughout the season and we're also very much looking forward to the community benefit programmes that we know they're going to deliver for us. Ross Booth: They're going to spend a lot of money here. All up $2.1m and you're contributing $1.2m. Is that right? Janet Halsal: Yes, that's right. We're contributing $1.2m and that money will go to extending the facilities that are already here so that Melbourne Football Club will have gymnasium facilities and office and administration space. Ross Booth: You're doing this because the City of Casey one of the fastest growing communities in Victoria or in fact the fastest growing in Victoria? Janet Halsal: Yes, we're the fastest growing municipality in Victoria. We have 235,000 residents, we have 38,000 school aged kids and a lot of them are very keen on football and we're very keen to have the Melbourne Football Club come out and share their experiences with our young people and look forward to them delivering their community benefit programme through our junior and senior football clubs, through our primary schools and in partnership with our businesses. NOTE: It was also mentioned by the commentary team that an additional $600k will spent on providing terracing on the outer side of the ground. The feedback was generally very positive.

The above votes won't count of course but everyone else is welcome to contribute. Weighting this week is .3953.

A REASON TO BELIEVE by Westender As an expatriate Victorian residing in the City of Churches who supports the Demons, I've been searching long and hard to find a reason to believe that my time has a chance of winning a game in this city against Port Adelaide before the decade runs out. Or even this Saturday for that matter. I haven't found any to date and when I turn to the results of recent matches between the two sides, they paint a bleak picture although the overall figures for this year don't flatter the home team either. The statistician who works for Fox Sports One's "On The Couch" programme produced an interesting form guide in advance of the AFL's penultimate round. It was the ladder containing the placings of the 16 AFL teams over the last six rounds. Geelong and North Melbourne, who meet each other at the weekend, are easily the best-performed teams over the period from Round 15 to Round 20, each of them being undefeated. The Cats have a massive percentage indicating they have doubled the opposition's scores over that time. At the other end of the scale we have Port Adelaide and Melbourne respectively on a 1:5 win/loss ratio. Again, the two teams at the bottom of the form ladder, face off on Saturday (for the first time this year) in a game that will surely rival Melbourne's last outing against the Eagles for sheer meaninglessness in the AFL scheme of things. The saving grace for the game is the fact that it might draw out some Port Adelaide supporters looking for blood because, in spite of their own team's poor form in recent times, the opposition can match it pound for pound in the mediocrity stakes. They smell the blood because the Demons have a pathetic record in Adelaide, having last won a game there in Round 2, 2001 when current board member Andrew Leoncelli pounced on a ball that had been tapped in his path from a boundary line throw in by David Schwarz and goaled 30 seconds from the end to give them a famous victory by three points. You have to go back a year further to Round 8 of 2000 to find a record of a Melbourne win against Port Adelaide at what was then Football Park. There is however, another statistic that adds more emphasis to the club's aversion to this ground and that is the fact that the average losing margin in the eleven games played since that April 2001 encounter against the Crows has been a massive 54 points. If ever there was a hoodoo ground for a football club, AAMI Stadium is the quintessential one for the Demons who have so often been buried of late in this fair city. The Power has had an ugly season after making last year's grand final. They have a number of the star players in mothballs and don't appear to have much incentive to win this game against the competition's lame ducks that also have their fair share of players on the injury list. This game promises to be one of the most forgettable contests in the history of the AFL; the result as predictable as any of game that Melbourne has played on South Australian soil since the Demons last prevailed over one of the locals. THE GAME Port Adelaide v Melbourne at AAMI Stadium Saturday 23 August 2008 at 2.40pm AEST HEAD TO HEAD Overall Port Adelaide 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins At AAMI Stadium Port Adelaide 8 wins Melbourne 2 wins Since 2000 Port Adelaide 7 wins Melbourne 5 wins The Coaches Williams 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 - live at 2.30pm RADIO 774ABC SEN THE BETTING Port Adelaide to win $1.33 Melbourne to win $3.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 25.13.163 defeated Melbourne 11.8.74 Round 17 2008 at AAMI Stadium The game attracted 23,485 souls, most of them Port Adelaide fans wearing the latest in high fashion moccasins and most of them went away from the game feeling decidedly happy with themselves and looking the part. Chad Cornes and Brad Ebert each kicked six goals as Port romped home by 89 points after threatening to inflict a 100-point shellacking on the hapless Demons. Green McDonald Wheatley tried hard. TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE Backs Toby Thurstans Alipate Carlile Nick Lower Half backs Jacob Surjan Troy Chaplin Peter Burgoyne Centreline Domenic Cassisi Kane Cornes Travis Boak Half forwards Tom Logan Matthew Westhoff Danyle Pearce Forwards Justin Westhoff Daniel Motlop Brett Ebert Followers Dean Brogan Shaun Burgoyne David Rodan Interchange Brendon Lade Marlon Motlop Paul Stewart Damon White Emergencies Greg Bentley Mitch Farmer Nathan Lonie In Dean Brogan Daniel Motlop Marlon Motlop Paul Stewart Out Mitch Farmer (omitted) Robbie Gray (ankle) Michael Pettigrew (shoulder) Ryan Williams (omitted) MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Whelan Stefan Martin Colin Garland Half backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock Paul Wheatley Centreline Simon Buckley Cameron Bruce Matthew Bate Half forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Austin Wonaeamirri Forwards Jeff White Brad Miller Michael Newton Followers Mark Jamar Cale Morton Nathan Jones Interchange Clint Bartram Daniel Bell Lynden Dunn Adem Yze Emergencies James Frawley Addam Maric Shane Valenti In Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Jeff White Adem Yze Out James Frawley (omitted) Paul Johnson (hip) Addam Maric (omitted) Shane Valenti (omitted) Umpires TBA WINNING FORM/LOSING FORM Melbourne's youthful side showed a little bit in their last outing when they won a rather incredible game against West Coast at the MCG. The Eagles had four goals on the board by the four minute mark of the second quarter and finished with five for the day against a team that was hammered by 116 points a week earlier. A win is a win is a win but you can't take very much out of such a result because the visitors played as if they had their minds on other things. Therefore, one would be foolish to take the form shown by the Demons as a guide for anything, let alone a game on foreign soil where they have been consistently thumped to the tune of an average of nine goals over a long period of years. But if the Eagles' form against Melbourne could be described as "lacklustre" then the Powers' efforts against Collingwood were equally mediocre. Their first half was on the big Friday night stage against Collingwood was competitive but, after the main break, they managed only another two goals for the night and but for a stunning display from Shaun Burgoyne, you would have been justified in describing the team's performance as "pathetic". Instead, it was just mediocre. It's the likes of the Burgoynes however, that tips the scales in Port's favour from my point of view (although Peter B hasn't been in the best of form of late). The home side still has a few stars like Kane Cornes and the solid Brendon Lade who always dominates in the ruck against Melbourne while the Demons are a team of honest young apprentices learning their trade. The return of Dean Brogan and Daniel Motlop remove any doubts that I was having and tips the scale in the home side's favour. So despite its winning form of last week, Melbourne isn't yet ready to provide me with a reason to believe it can win at AAMI Stadium this week. I'm tipping a Port Adelaide win by 23 points in what, for the Demons, will be a close one. POSTSCRIPT If there's any fairness in fixturing (which I believe there is not) then surely the AFL would have Melbourne host both the Crows and the Power next year and not make the club play any games at AAMI. After all, those teams managed to avoid away fixtures against the Demons in Melbourne. It's probably a waste of time asking because the AFL does what it wants to do and will continue to give clubs like Collingwood an easy ride to the finals with minimal travel while shunting others all over the country on a regular basis. End of rant.

by Westender As an expatriate Victorian residing in the City of Churches who supports the Demons, I've been searching long and hard to find a reason to believe that my time has a chance of winning a game in this city against Port Adelaide before the decade runs out. Or even this Saturday for that matter. I haven't found any to date and when I turn to the results of recent matches between the two sides, they paint a bleak picture although the overall figures for this year don't flatter the home team either. The statistician who works for Fox Sports One's "On The Couch" programme produced an interesting form guide in advance of the AFL's penultimate round. It was the ladder containing the placings of the 16 AFL teams over the last six rounds. Geelong and North Melbourne, who meet each other at the weekend, are easily the best-performed teams over the period from Round 15 to Round 20, each of them being undefeated. The Cats have a massive percentage indicating they have doubled the opposition's scores over that time. At the other end of the scale we have Port Adelaide and Melbourne respectively on a 1:5 win/loss ratio. Again, the two teams at the bottom of the form ladder, face off on Saturday (for the first time this year) in a game that will surely rival Melbourne's last outing against the Eagles for sheer meaninglessness in the AFL scheme of things. The saving grace for the game is the fact that it might draw out some Port Adelaide supporters looking for blood because, in spite of their own team's poor form in recent times, the opposition can match it pound for pound in the mediocrity stakes. They smell the blood because the Demons have a pathetic record in Adelaide, having last won a game there in Round 2, 2001 when current board member Andrew Leoncelli pounced on a ball that had been tapped in his path from a boundary line throw in by David Schwarz and goaled 30 seconds from the end to give them a famous victory by three points. You have to go back a year further to Round 8 of 2000 to find a record of a Melbourne win against Port Adelaide at what was then Football Park. There is however, another statistic that adds more emphasis to the club's aversion to this ground and that is the fact that the average losing margin in the eleven games played since that April 2001 encounter against the Crows has been a massive 54 points. If ever there was a hoodoo ground for a football club, AAMI Stadium is the quintessential one for the Demons who have so often been buried of late in this fair city. The Power has had an ugly season after making last year's grand final. They have a number of the star players in mothballs and don't appear to have much incentive to win this game against the competition's lame ducks that also have their fair share of players on the injury list. This game promises to be one of the most forgettable contests in the history of the AFL; the result as predictable as any of game that Melbourne has played on South Australian soil since the Demons last prevailed over one of the locals. THE GAME Port Adelaide v Melbourne at AAMI Stadium Saturday 23 August 2008 at 2.40pm AEST HEAD TO HEAD Overall Port Adelaide 9 wins Melbourne 8 wins At AAMI Stadium Port Adelaide 8 wins Melbourne 2 wins Since 2000 Port Adelaide 7 wins Melbourne 5 wins The Coaches Williams 0 wins Bailey 0 wins MEDIA TV Fox Sports 1 - live at 2.30pm RADIO 774ABC SEN THE BETTING Port Adelaide to win $1.33 Melbourne to win $3.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 25.13.163 defeated Melbourne 11.8.74 Round 17 2008 at AAMI Stadium The game attracted 23,485 souls, most of them Port Adelaide fans wearing the latest in high fashion moccasins and most of them went away from the game feeling decidedly happy with themselves and looking the part. Chad Cornes and Brad Ebert each kicked six goals as Port romped home by 89 points after threatening to inflict a 100-point shellacking on the hapless Demons. Green McDonald Wheatley tried hard. TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE Backs Toby Thurstans Alipate Carlile Nick Lower Half backs Jacob Surjan Troy Chaplin Peter Burgoyne Centreline Domenic Cassisi Kane Cornes Travis Boak Half forwards Tom Logan Matthew Westhoff Danyle Pearce Forwards Justin Westhoff Daniel Motlop Brett Ebert Followers Dean Brogan Shaun Burgoyne David Rodan Interchange Brendon Lade Marlon Motlop Paul Stewart Damon White Emergencies Greg Bentley Mitch Farmer Nathan Lonie In Dean Brogan Daniel Motlop Marlon Motlop Paul Stewart Out Mitch Farmer (omitted) Robbie Gray (ankle) Michael Pettigrew (shoulder) Ryan Williams (omitted) MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Whelan Stefan Martin Colin Garland Half backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock Paul Wheatley Centreline Simon Buckley Cameron Bruce Matthew Bate Half forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Austin Wonaeamirri Forwards Jeff White Brad Miller Michael Newton Followers Mark Jamar Cale Morton Nathan Jones Interchange Clint Bartram Daniel Bell Lynden Dunn Adem Yze Emergencies James Frawley Addam Maric Shane Valenti In Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Jeff White Adem Yze Out James Frawley (omitted) Paul Johnson (hip) Addam Maric (omitted) Shane Valenti (omitted) Umpires TBA WINNING FORM/LOSING FORM Melbourne's youthful side showed a little bit in their last outing when they won a rather incredible game against West Coast at the MCG. The Eagles had four goals on the board by the four minute mark of the second quarter and finished with five for the day against a team that was hammered by 116 points a week earlier. A win is a win is a win but you can't take very much out of such a result because the visitors played as if they had their minds on other things. Therefore, one would be foolish to take the form shown by the Demons as a guide for anything, let alone a game on foreign soil where they have been consistently thumped to the tune of an average of nine goals over a long period of years. But if the Eagles' form against Melbourne could be described as "lacklustre" then the Powers' efforts against Collingwood were equally mediocre. Their first half was on the big Friday night stage against Collingwood was competitive but, after the main break, they managed only another two goals for the night and but for a stunning display from Shaun Burgoyne, you would have been justified in describing the team's performance as "pathetic". Instead, it was just mediocre. It's the likes of the Burgoynes however, that tips the scales in Port's favour from my point of view (although Peter B hasn't been in the best of form of late). The home side still has a few stars like Kane Cornes and the solid Brendon Lade who always dominates in the ruck against Melbourne while the Demons are a team of honest young apprentices learning their trade. The return of Dean Brogan and Daniel Motlop remove any doubts that I was having and tips the scale in the home side's favour. So despite its winning form of last week, Melbourne isn't yet ready to provide me with a reason to believe it can win at AAMI Stadium this week. I'm tipping a Port Adelaide win by 23 points in what, for the Demons, will be a close one. POSTSCRIPT If there's any fairness in fixturing (which I believe there is not) then surely the AFL would have Melbourne host both the Crows and the Power next year and not make the club play any games at AAMI. After all, those teams managed to avoid away fixtures against the Demons in Melbourne. It's probably a waste of time asking because the AFL does what it wants to do and will continue to give clubs like Collingwood an easy ride to the finals with minimal travel while shunting others all over the country on a regular basis. End of rant.

And was easily BOG. Go figure! For additional insight into how the Demons went, the following article is currently on the melbournefc.com website: PETTERD SHINES FOR SANDY With Adem Yze out of the side, the Zebras fielded only seven MFC players. The Ooze would no doubt have been handy had he played given he amassed 37 possessions a week earlier against the Northern Bullants.

STANDSTILL by Ice Station Zebra Sandringham's campaign for 2008 came to a standstill on Saturday when it was overpowered by the Coburg Tigers in the second half to lose by a solitary goal in wet and greasy conditions at ABD Group Stadium. The loss puts the club two games out of the top four with only two rounds remaining to be played and only a minor miracle could see it taking part in September action this year. The Zebras were severely undermanned losing two experienced playmakers in Ezra Poyas and Adem Yze. This provided the opportunity for the introduction of two more first gamers in Scott Lockwood and Brett Liddell but while the young Sandy team competed strongly and finished well, in the end it was the stronger and more experienced bodies of Coburg that prevailed. The Coburg ground was a most uninviting venue for football. It was wet and muddy, particularly in the vicinity of the centre cricket pitch and conditions were cold and windy and the day started badly for the visitors who kicked into the strong breeze in the opening quarter. For the first 20 minutes they failed to register a goal and trailled badly going into the time on period. However, the game turned around dramatically with the Zebras kicking goals through the agency of Ricky Petterd, Ben Holland and Nick Sautner to go into the first break only 10 points in arrears and in a good position with the advantage of the breeze coming up. The Zebras were now right on top of Coburg with ruckman John Meesen displaying the form that saw Melbourne sign him on a three-year contract at the end of last year when he crossed from Adelaide. They kicked the first five goals of the second term to take control of the game with a winning midfield headed once again by skipper Peter Summers with David Gallagher also in strong form. The back six was firmly in control at this stage with Andy Biddlecombe continuing on with the good form he has been displaying all season. For the second week in a row, Sandringham loosened its grip on a game after seeming to be on top at the main break. They allowed the opposition to fight back with Greg Tivendale the focal point up forward for Coburg. The home side soon pegged back their half time deficit of 19 points and, with the aid of the strong breeze, they surged to a ¾ time lead of two goals. Sandy had the work ahead of it to get back into the match but, with the breeze at their backs for the final quarter, the feeling among the team and supporters at the final huddle was that they could overrun the Tigers. The home side had different thoughts and bottled the game up, forcing stoppages all around the ground and making it difficult for the Zebras to score. They then kicked three quick goals to take a 24 point lead into time on before Sandringham again hit back but, in the end, they could not penetrate the Tigers defence and when the siren sound were behind by six points. Young Demon Petterd who last year suffered a life-threatening punctured lung and missed two months earlier this year was prominent with four goals and Meesen played a strong game to thrust their named before the AFL club's selectors while Ben Holland kicked a couple of handy goals. Club stalwarts in Biddlecombe, Summers, Sautner (four goals), Gallagher and Chad Liddell all made excellent contributions to the team effort but the club will have to recruit strongly next year if it is to regain its mantle as the VFL's team of the decade. Sandringham 3.1.19 8.6.54 9.8.62 13.10.88 Coburg Tigers 4.5.29 5.5.35 11.8.74 14.10.94 Goals Sandringham Petterd Sautner 4 Holland 2 Biddlecombe Crowe Summers Coburg Tigers Tivendale 6 Collard 2 Caruso Horne Hughes King Oakley-Nicholls Shelton Best Sandringham Biddlecombe Summers C Liddell Gallagher Holland Meesen Coburg Tigers Tivendale Rance Horne Shelton Hyde Graham The reserves were well beaten by the unbeaten ladder leaders but are certain to play off in the finals. Andy McConell was the team’s standout player. Sandringham 2.1.13 3.2.20 3.4.22 5.7.37 Coburg Tigers 5.5.35 9.9.63 12.13.75 16.14.110 Goals Sandringham Gribbin Sargent Summons Torcasio Weetra Coburg Tigers Dulic 4 Jones 3 Cattapan Lynch 2 Abdallah Clifton Currie Morgan Trajkovski Best Sandringham McConnell Johnson Fleming Cannon Torcasio Tregear Coburg Tigers Morgan Trajkovski Jones Davis Currie Rayson

by Ice Station Zebra Sandringham's campaign for 2008 came to a standstill on Saturday when it was overpowered by the Coburg Tigers in the second half to lose by a solitary goal in wet and greasy conditions at ABD Group Stadium. The loss puts the club two games out of the top four with only two rounds remaining to be played and only a minor miracle could see it taking part in September action this year. The Zebras were severely undermanned losing two experienced playmakers in Ezra Poyas and Adem Yze. This provided the opportunity for the introduction of two more first gamers in Scott Lockwood and Brett Liddell but while the young Sandy team competed strongly and finished well, in the end it was the stronger and more experienced bodies of Coburg that prevailed. The Coburg ground was a most uninviting venue for football. It was wet and muddy, particularly in the vicinity of the centre cricket pitch and conditions were cold and windy and the day started badly for the visitors who kicked into the strong breeze in the opening quarter. For the first 20 minutes they failed to register a goal and trailled badly going into the time on period. However, the game turned around dramatically with the Zebras kicking goals through the agency of Ricky Petterd, Ben Holland and Nick Sautner to go into the first break only 10 points in arrears and in a good position with the advantage of the breeze coming up. The Zebras were now right on top of Coburg with ruckman John Meesen displaying the form that saw Melbourne sign him on a three-year contract at the end of last year when he crossed from Adelaide. They kicked the first five goals of the second term to take control of the game with a winning midfield headed once again by skipper Peter Summers with David Gallagher also in strong form. The back six was firmly in control at this stage with Andy Biddlecombe continuing on with the good form he has been displaying all season. For the second week in a row, Sandringham loosened its grip on a game after seeming to be on top at the main break. They allowed the opposition to fight back with Greg Tivendale the focal point up forward for Coburg. The home side soon pegged back their half time deficit of 19 points and, with the aid of the strong breeze, they surged to a ¾ time lead of two goals. Sandy had the work ahead of it to get back into the match but, with the breeze at their backs for the final quarter, the feeling among the team and supporters at the final huddle was that they could overrun the Tigers. The home side had different thoughts and bottled the game up, forcing stoppages all around the ground and making it difficult for the Zebras to score. They then kicked three quick goals to take a 24 point lead into time on before Sandringham again hit back but, in the end, they could not penetrate the Tigers defence and when the siren sound were behind by six points. Young Demon Petterd who last year suffered a life-threatening punctured lung and missed two months earlier this year was prominent with four goals and Meesen played a strong game to thrust their named before the AFL club's selectors while Ben Holland kicked a couple of handy goals. Club stalwarts in Biddlecombe, Summers, Sautner (four goals), Gallagher and Chad Liddell all made excellent contributions to the team effort but the club will have to recruit strongly next year if it is to regain its mantle as the VFL's team of the decade. Sandringham 3.1.19 8.6.54 9.8.62 13.10.88 Coburg Tigers 4.5.29 5.5.35 11.8.74 14.10.94 Goals Sandringham Petterd Sautner 4 Holland 2 Biddlecombe Crowe Summers Coburg Tigers Tivendale 6 Collard 2 Caruso Horne Hughes King Oakley-Nicholls Shelton Best Sandringham Biddlecombe Summers C Liddell Gallagher Holland Meesen Coburg Tigers Tivendale Rance Horne Shelton Hyde Graham The reserves were well beaten by the unbeaten ladder leaders but are certain to play off in the finals. Andy McConell was the team’s standout player. Sandringham 2.1.13 3.2.20 3.4.22 5.7.37 Coburg Tigers 5.5.35 9.9.63 12.13.75 16.14.110 Goals Sandringham Gribbin Sargent Summons Torcasio Weetra Coburg Tigers Dulic 4 Jones 3 Cattapan Lynch 2 Abdallah Clifton Currie Morgan Trajkovski Best Sandringham McConnell Johnson Fleming Cannon Torcasio Tregear Coburg Tigers Morgan Trajkovski Jones Davis Currie Rayson

by Scoop Junior I was away overseas over summer and missed the majority of the pre-season. Therefore, it was with a sense of excitement that I made my way to the MCG on Saturday afternoon because it provided me with my first opportunity in a long time to see a Demons training session. After all, it's not every day that you get to see the Dees go through their paces on that famous piece of turf although I was a little surprised to discover that close to 18,000 fans came along to watch the proceedings. We were even paid a visit by some members of the West Coast Eagles list (returning to the scene of their premiership triumph of a little under two years ago) along with a handful of members of their cheer squad. At first, the boys were a bit fumbly in a handball drill but they soon settled into their stride when the kicking drills were introduced about a quarter of the way through the session. From then on, the players trained at a reasonable level for the duration of the session. At times, the odd-looking blue and yellow witches hats provided an obstacle due to their size (what ever happened to those little training cones?) but on the whole the session was conducted well. Cale Morton was a standout on the track, his endurance on show with hard running up and down the ground. His ball use was better than previous weeks, though understandably there is not the same degree of heat in training as there is in a match. He just looks like he will be a beauty and should keep getting better and better as he gains experience and adds size to his frame. The old guard led the way, as they should with such a young squad around them. About halfway through the session, the crowd witnessed a strange drill where Paul Wheatley stood about 30m behind a pack of players, all on his own, with the object of the drill to get the ball to Wheatley, who would then use his laser-like right boot to deliver the ball back to teammates who would spread themselves around. While Wheatley's kicking was excellent, he will be sure to receive more pressure during matches when someone actually mans up on him. Green and Bruce were also good on the track, while McDonald was impressive in a centre square drill involving ruckmen Paul Johnson and Mark Jamar palming it into his path. Again, while this worked well, it will be a different story when facing an opposition midfield intent on winning the clearance for itself. Simon Buckley also trained well, running hard off his blue and yellow witches hat off half back to deliver the ball to the forwards. He has great pace and while there is work to do in the decision making department, he does offer something that the side lacks and will be an interesting player to watch in the coming years. Stefan Martin showed a fair bit, with his work in the defensive drills particularly impressive. He has an unorthodox playing style but it is effective and his athleticism for a big bloke is a major asset. While his kicking can be wobbly, he invariably makes good decisions and looks calm and composed in the back half. All in all, it was a solid outing from the Demons. Enough to suggest that there is some young talent coming through but at the same time showing that there is a lot of work to do. Next week Melbourne faces Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium and, given its recent history at the venue, it should shore up a priority pick. However, nothing is certain in footy, and Port, without a host of stars is hardly playing inspiring football at the minute. There's even a hint of a rumour going around that the Power would not be upset to finish in the bottom three to pick up a Rich or a Naitanui rather than the next best choice in the draft. But that's all scuttlebutt ... I think! If the Dees do manage to win at AAMI for the first time since 2001, then I will consider doing something for the first time in my life. I might attend Richmond training on Sunday 31st of August at 2:10pm at the MCG and I'm even considering bringing along some blue and red witches hats for them to help make their practice perfect. Melbourne 1.3.9 5.7.37 8.12.60 11.13.79 West Coast 2.2.14 4.5.29 5.10.40 5.15.45 Goals Melbourne Bruce Newton 2 Bartram Bate Green Johnson Miller Morton Sylvia West Coast McKinley 2 Armstrong LeCras Lynch Best Melbourne Bruce Morton Sylvia Wheatley McDonald Green West Coast Embley Armstrong LeCras Injuries Melbourne Nil West Coast Wilkes (neck) Umpires H Ryan M Ellis K Nicholls Official Crowd 17,958 at MCG

PERFECT PRACTICE by Scoop Junior I was away overseas over summer and missed the majority of the pre-season. Therefore, it was with a sense of excitement that I made my way to the MCG on Saturday afternoon because it provided me with my first opportunity in a long time to see a Demons training session. After all, it's not every day that you get to see the Dees go through their paces on that famous piece of turf although I was a little surprised to discover that close to 18,000 fans came along to watch the proceedings. We were even paid a visit by some members of the West Coast Eagles list (returning to the scene of their premiership triumph of a little under two years ago) along with a handful of members of their cheer squad. At first, the boys were a bit fumbly in a handball drill but they soon settled into their stride when the kicking drills were introduced about a quarter of the way through the session. From then on, the players trained at a reasonable level for the duration of the session. At times, the odd-looking blue and yellow witches hats provided an obstacle due to their size (what ever happened to those little training cones?) but on the whole the session was conducted well. Cale Morton was a standout on the track, his endurance on show with hard running up and down the ground. His ball use was better than previous weeks, though understandably there is not the same degree of heat in training as there is in a match. He just looks like he will be a beauty and should keep getting better and better as he gains experience and adds size to his frame. The old guard led the way, as they should with such a young squad around them. About halfway through the session, the crowd witnessed a strange drill where Paul Wheatley stood about 30m behind a pack of players, all on his own, with the object of the drill to get the ball to Wheatley, who would then use his laser-like right boot to deliver the ball back to teammates who would spread themselves around. While Wheatley's kicking was excellent, he will be sure to receive more pressure during matches when someone actually mans up on him. Green and Bruce were also good on the track, while McDonald was impressive in a centre square drill involving ruckmen Paul Johnson and Mark Jamar palming it into his path. Again, while this worked well, it will be a different story when facing an opposition midfield intent on winning the clearance for itself. Simon Buckley also trained well, running hard off his blue and yellow witches hat off half back to deliver the ball to the forwards. He has great pace and while there is work to do in the decision making department, he does offer something that the side lacks and will be an interesting player to watch in the coming years. Stefan Martin showed a fair bit, with his work in the defensive drills particularly impressive. He has an unorthodox playing style but it is effective and his athleticism for a big bloke is a major asset. While his kicking can be wobbly, he invariably makes good decisions and looks calm and composed in the back half. All in all, it was a solid outing from the Demons. Enough to suggest that there is some young talent coming through but at the same time showing that there is a lot of work to do. Next week Melbourne faces Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium and, given its recent history at the venue, it should shore up a priority pick. However, nothing is certain in footy, and Port, without a host of stars is hardly playing inspiring football at the minute. There's even a hint of a rumour going around that the Power would not be upset to finish in the bottom three to pick up a Rich or a Naitanui rather than the next best choice in the draft. But that's all scuttlebutt ... I think! If the Dees do manage to win at AAMI for the first time since 2001, then I will consider doing something for the first time in my life. I might attend Richmond training on Sunday 31st of August at 2:10pm at the MCG and I'm even considering bringing along some blue and red witches hats for them to help make their practice perfect. Melbourne 1.3.9 5.7.37 8.12.60 11.13.79 West Coast 2.2.14 4.5.29 5.10.40 5.15.45 Goals Melbourne Bruce Newton 2 Bartram Bate Green Johnson Miller Morton Sylvia West Coast McKinley 2 Armstrong LeCras Lynch Best Melbourne Bruce Morton Sylvia Wheatley McDonald Green West Coast Embley Armstrong LeCras Injuries Melbourne Nil West Coast Wilkes (neck) Umpires H Ryan M Ellis K Nicholls Official Crowd 17,958 at MCG

... and we have a new leader ... 88.901 Brad Green 78.366 Brock McLean 65.765 Paul Wheatley 59.330 Cale Morton 57.875 Cameron Bruce 53.514 Brad Miller 45.985 James McDonald 43.680 Colin Garland 42.742 Chris Johnson 40.082 Austin Wonaemirri 40.027 Paul Johnson 37.927 Matthew Bate 33.297 Colin Sylvia 31.490 Aaron Davey 29.347 Nathan Jones 24.922 Simon Buckley 17.896 Lynden Dunn 13.857 Matthew Warnock 13.681 Shane Valenti 12.282 Brent Moloney 10.684 Jared Rivers 10.482 Nathan Carroll 9.523 Stef Martin 8.393 Clint Bartram 8.254 Matthew Whelan 5.265 Russell Robertson 5.164 Mark Jamar 5.087 Jeff White 3.221 Addam Maric 2.845 Adem Yze 0.522 James Frawley Well done to Brock McLean who has been in the club hosue since round 14 and it took until round 20 and a whopping victory against the weakles for him to be overtaken.

This week's weighting is massive so choose wisely. 1.75555

TOP LINE, BOTTOM LINE by The Oracle It seems that the vagaries of AFL programming have conspired to present us with yet another strange piece of fixturing at the weekend when, despite the fact that we're into round 20, the bottom of the ladder Melbourne meets second bottom side West Coast for the first time this year in what promises to be an absolute yawn fest. Both sides have been crippled with injuries this season and the only interest left for their fans until very recently was which of them would win the right to select the first player in the national draft at the end of the year. The recent development has been the apparent skyrocketing in form of the Eagles who have won two of their last three games (against the Saints and the Bombers), all of which have been played on home turf. The loss in the middle was the derby game against Fremantle. Melbourne's recent form has been less impressive. The Demons were overwhelmed by the Kangaroos in the first quarter before fighting back to lose honourably against one of the competition's in form teams and they were highly competitive and plucky a fortnight ago against the Bombers who they clearly softened up for the Eagles. Then, the wheels really fell off in the Tom Wills game when they were massacred by the other in form team of the AFL - Geelong (although the defeat was by less than those suffered this year by the Eagles and last year in the grand final by Port Adelaide). There are some who would argue that West Coast beat two teams that were vulnerable so far away from home despite their ranking on the ladder and more recent records of success. The victories however, should have dispelled claims from some quarters that the Eagles have been, er ... "tanking" but the doubts still linger. Suddenly, a scenario has been set up where they face a major dilemma at the MCG on Saturday. A win over the Demons means the loss of a priority pick in the draft as well and even the very remote possibility of gaining the first pick in both the national and the pre season drafts. The latter possibility is remote because it can only happen if West Coast loses all of its remaining games and Melbourne goes on to beat Port Adelaide and Richmond in the final two rounds of the season. Strangely enough, such a scenario, while remote is still a possibility. Port Adelaide's performance against Carlton last week was every bit as shambolic as Melbourne against Geelong and the Tigers were poor in going down to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. The upshot of all this is that despite Andrew Demetriou's definitive statements about clubs not tanking for draft position, there will be mixed feelings and doubts in the minds of most fans on both sides of the continent. Perhaps, they can rest assured in the knowledge that the public statements made this week by Eagles coach John Worsfold and Demon boss Jim Stynes to the effect that both want their own clubs to win with a passion and that the concept of tanking is not in either of their lexicons? Not really if you take public perception as a guide. The cynics are saying that this game has a unique character about it in that for the first time in history, we will see both teams not wanting the four points and therefore, it will be worth the admission money to witness such an unusual spectacle. The Melbourne Football Club might not like it but if the game attracted enough morbid curiosity seekers then it might solve the problem of writing out a cheque to the MCC for the pleasure of hosting the game. More than 20,000 paying customers are needed to avoid such a calamity. After that, the game will take care of itself. And after that, in another one of those vagaries of AFL programming Melbourne meets third bottom side Port Adelaide for the first time this year in round 21 in what promises to be another absolute yawn fest. THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast at the MCG - 16 August 2008 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins West Coast 23 wins At the MCG Melbourne 5 wins West Coast 6 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 4 wins West Coast 7 wins The Coaches Bailey 0 wins Worsfold 0 wins MEDIA TV Channel 10 – delayed telecast from 3pm. Radio ABC774 SEN THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.80 West Coast to win $1.90 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 19.23.127 d Melbourne 9.6.60 in Round 8, 2007 at Subiaco Remember when Chris Judd was the Eagles’ star player and dominated their games? Travis Johnstone, a classy Demon who got lots of the ball and disposed of the ball well? It was a long time ago. West Coast burst out of the blocks and were untroubled to beat Melbourne by 11 goals. It probably deserved to win by at least fifteen. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Matthew Whelan Stefan Martin James Frawley Half backs James McDonald Matthew Warnock Paul Wheatley Centreline Simon Buckley Cameron Bruce Addam Maric Half forwards Brad Green Colin Sylvia Austin Wonaeamirri Forwards Matthew Bate Brad Miller Michael Newton Followers Mark Jamar Cale Morton Shane Valenti Interchange Clint Bartram Daniel Bell Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Eemergencies Jace Bode Nathan Carroll Adem Yze In Daniel Bell Mark Jamar Brad Miller Michael Newton Out Nathan Carroll (omitted) Lynden Dunn (ill) Chris Johnson (groin) Jeff White (knee) WEST COAST EAGLES Backs Mark Nicoski Darren Glass Eric Mackenzie Half backs Adam Selwood Beau Wilkes Andrew Embley Centreline Michael Braun Matt Priddis Matt Spangher Half forwards Jamie McNamara Quinten Lynch Brad Ebert Forwards Mark LeCras Ben McKinley Mark Seaby Followers Dean Cox Chad Fletcher Tyson Stenglein Interchange Steven Armstrong Ryan Davis Tony Notte Scott Selwood Energencies Tim Houlihan Will Schofield James Thomson In Brad Ebert Tony Notte Out Ashley Hansen (ankle) David Wirrpanda (hamstring) New Tony Notte (Swan Districts) THE BOTTOM LINE What sort of person plonks $25,000 on a footy team that's lost its last game by 116 points? The punter who backed Melbourne to beat West Coast this week is either a fool or a very clever many who is well informed. The bloke comes from Perth and I'm sticking with the smart money. Melbourne in a boilover by 3 points.

Melbourne and West Coast haven't encountered each other for about a season and a half - going all the way bac to Round 8, 2007 at Subiaco. Spot the changes between the 2008 and the 2007 versions of the respective teams! WEST COAST Backs David Wirrpanda Darren Glass Brett Jones Half backs Tyson Stenglein Adam Hunter Adam Selwood Centreline Matt Rosa Matt Priddis Michael Braun Half forwards Daniel Chick Ashley Hansen Shannon Hurn Forwards Beau Waters Quinten Lynch Rowan Jones Followers Mark Seaby Chris Judd Daniel Kerr Interchange Dean Cox Chad Fletcher Mitchell Morton Brent Staker Emergencies Steven Armstrong Mitchell Brown Mark LeCras In Dean Cox Chad Fletcher Mitchell Morton Out Steven Armstrong Mitchell Brown Mark LeCras MELBOURNE: Backs Daniel Ward Nathan Carroll Adem Yze Half backs Nathan Brown Ryan Ferguson Daniel Bell Centreline Matthew Bate James McDonald Aaron Davey Half forwards Brad Green Brad Miller Cameron Bruce Forwards Colin Sylvia David Neitz Lynden Dunn Followers Jeff White Simon Godfrey Travis Johnstone Interchange Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Ricky Petterd Matthew Whelan Emergencies Ben Holland Brock McLean Matthew Warnock In Ryan Ferguson Ricky Petterd Matthew Whelan Out Brent Moloney (groin) Ben Holland Matthew Warnock

Update to Round 19 ... Rank (LW) Total Tipster 1 (1) 111 Pinball_Wizard 2 (2) 110 Alpha33 3 (2) 109 Whispering_Jack 4 (4) 108 The Little Devils 5 (5) 106 petejh2000 5 (6) 106 Super_Slater 7 (7) 104 deesthisyear 7 (10) 104 Kieranbj 9 (7) 103 Davey's sugar daddy 9 (7) 103 Joe_Gutnick64 9 (10) 103 slamevil 12 (14) 102 Scoop Junior 13 (10) 101 belzebub59 13 (13) 101 Clyde_Cabbie 15 (14) 100 DeMoNiC 15 (14) 100 Edorion 17 (17) 99 deanox 17 (17) 99 The Natural 19 (17) 98 BigKev Demon 19 (23) 98 great_gatsby 19 (17) 98 rjhrjh 19 (23) 98 Tim - Go Dees 23 (17) 97 aronbrandon 23 (23) 97 old man rivers 25 (17) 96 DeeReaming 26 (28) 95 barpen 27 (26) 94 dee'luded 27 (30) 94 Demonland 27 (27) 94 No Cigar2 27 (30) 94 stelioss 31 (28) 93 CarnTheDees 32 (33) 92 Dappadan 32 (32) 92 DEE32 34 (34) 88 mo64 34 (34) 88 mpinnell 36 (36) 87 -FitZ^ 37 (38) 86 glamorizeme 38 (36) 85 achirnside 38 (39) 85 BrockMclean 38 (39) 85 demonsflag555657 38 (39) 85 KrazyJay78 42 (42) 84 paliosiana 43 (43) 83 thegoldenmonkey

by Barry from Beach Road Sandringham's finals hopes took a nose dive at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday when the hosts were overrun in the second half by 10th placed Geelong in a game that never rose to the heights one would expect from two clubs that have between them shared the competition’s last four premiership victories. This was a must win game for the Zebras who dropped out of the top eight after last week’s defeat at the hands of the Northern Bullants and while they held a handy 17 point lead at the long break, they could manage only two goals in the second half on their way to a disappointing 11-point defeat. The game was played in blustery conditions and on a damp surface and both sides struggled in the early going in what was a lacklustre opening quarter with little to excite the spectators. The crowd was unusually silent during this period except for a brief moment when Zebra forward Nick Sautner collided with Jace Bode leaving both of them momentarily down on their haunches. Bode played on but appeared to be concussed and sat out most of the second half. Sautner was quiet for most of the day. Although Geelong kicked the only goal for the first term, it was hardly a convincing start as they had the wind advantage and the home side soon took control through the brilliance of veteran Adem Yze who kicked Sandy's first for the game. The Zebras took control of the midfield at this stage and appeared to be a class above the visitors as they notched up seven goals in the second quarter to be well placed at half time. The second half started very much in the same vein as the first with both sides involved in an arm wrestle and Sandringham looking well on top when Michael Newton kicked the first goal for the half (his second) ten minutes into the third quarter. The Zebras led by 21 points. However, an amazing change came over the game in mid term as the Geelong midfield lifted its work rate to breathe some life into a game that seemed to be going nowhere. The Cats lifted everywhere on the ground and they displayed excellent general skill levels and decision making to completely dominate the second half of the third term – a period in which they kicked five unanswered goals and went to a 9 point lead at the final break. Sandringham geared itself for a final onslaught on the game knowing that it was kicking to what had been the scoring end for the opening three quarters. However, Geelong held firm and kicked two more goals while the home side squandered opportunity after opportunity in front of the goals. Sautner, who had been well held for most of the game, finally booted his first for the day but it was all too late. The Zebras failed by 11 points and are now staring at the distinct possibility of a September without finals action. Sandy had very few four quarter footballers although Andy Biddlecombe highlighted his standing at the club this year with some strong saves and excellent defensive work and Michael Newton was a much improved player with his strong marking, tackling and pressure on the opposition. Rod Crowe was again serviceable and David Gallagher is slowly getting back to his pre knee injury form. Beanpole ruckman Jake Spence was the best of the big men on the ground. Sandringham's remaining assignments are all against teams occupying places in the VFL top eight and it must win at least two games, if not all of them, to be a realistic chance to play off in September. The first these tests is at City Oval, Coburg next Sunday. The Reserves return after the bye and their place in the finals is also under attack and they face an opponent this week that has yet to lose a game this year. The year is coming down to the wire for both Sandy teams and they both need to lift in the remaining few weeks of the season. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Jace Bode - showed a bit of flair and run off half back at the start but came off second best in a collision with Nick Sautner in the first ten minutes of the game. He played on for parts of the first half but spent most of the second half on the bench (most likely with concussion). Jack Grimes - spent most of the first quarter on the bench but showed some definite class and poise the minute he came onto the ground. His delivery was crisp and clean and he produced an excellent first up performance upon which he can build in the remaining few weeks of the season. Ben Holland - struggled in windy conditions that didn’t suit his marking game. John Meesen - continues to disappoint as he has great athletic qualities but is unable to match them with consistent performance. Michael Newton - Juice was written off by many after struggling up forward in his last AFL match against the Kangaroos but is turning things around and playing with far greater confidence. Has added a lot more desperation to his game, kicked a couple of nice goals and had a hand in one or two others. Ricky Petterd - after missing last week, Petterd returned to the side and produced another smooth performance down back. Jake Spencer – contested well and held his own against the Cats’ big man brigade in both the ruck and around the ground. Adem Yze - he was solid throughout and the instigator of most of Sandy’s dominance in the second term and stood out with his skills and his goal kicking. Sandringham 0.4 4 7.5.47 8.6.54 9.13.67 Geelong 1.1.7 4.6.30 9.9.63 11.12.78 Goals Sandringham Newton Yze 2 Crowe Holland Martyn Sautner Waller Geelong Cuthill 2 Byrne Carey Davenport Mumford Potter Simpson Urie Varcoe Williams Best Sandringham Crowe Biddlecombe Yze Gallagher Spencer Newton Geelong Hogan Varcoe Davenport Byrne S Simpson Williams

DOWN TO THE WIRE by Barry from Beach Road Sandringham's finals hopes took a nose dive at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday when the hosts were overrun in the second half by 10th placed Geelong in a game that never rose to the heights one would expect from two clubs that have between them shared the competition’s last four premiership victories. This was a must win game for the Zebras who dropped out of the top eight after last week’s defeat at the hands of the Northern Bullants and while they held a handy 17 point lead at the long break, they could manage only two goals in the second half on their way to a disappointing 11-point defeat. The game was played in blustery conditions and on a damp surface and both sides struggled in the early going in what was a lacklustre opening quarter with little to excite the spectators. The crowd was unusually silent during this period except for a brief moment when Zebra forward Nick Sautner collided with Jace Bode leaving both of them momentarily down on their haunches. Bode played on but appeared to be concussed and sat out most of the second half. Sautner was quiet for most of the day. Although Geelong kicked the only goal for the first term, it was hardly a convincing start as they had the wind advantage and the home side soon took control through the brilliance of veteran Adem Yze who kicked Sandy's first for the game. The Zebras took control of the midfield at this stage and appeared to be a class above the visitors as they notched up seven goals in the second quarter to be well placed at half time. The second half started very much in the same vein as the first with both sides involved in an arm wrestle and Sandringham looking well on top when Michael Newton kicked the first goal for the half (his second) ten minutes into the third quarter. The Zebras led by 21 points. However, an amazing change came over the game in mid term as the Geelong midfield lifted its work rate to breathe some life into a game that seemed to be going nowhere. The Cats lifted everywhere on the ground and they displayed excellent general skill levels and decision making to completely dominate the second half of the third term – a period in which they kicked five unanswered goals and went to a 9 point lead at the final break. Sandringham geared itself for a final onslaught on the game knowing that it was kicking to what had been the scoring end for the opening three quarters. However, Geelong held firm and kicked two more goals while the home side squandered opportunity after opportunity in front of the goals. Sautner, who had been well held for most of the game, finally booted his first for the day but it was all too late. The Zebras failed by 11 points and are now staring at the distinct possibility of a September without finals action. Sandy had very few four quarter footballers although Andy Biddlecombe highlighted his standing at the club this year with some strong saves and excellent defensive work and Michael Newton was a much improved player with his strong marking, tackling and pressure on the opposition. Rod Crowe was again serviceable and David Gallagher is slowly getting back to his pre knee injury form. Beanpole ruckman Jake Spence was the best of the big men on the ground. Sandringham's remaining assignments are all against teams occupying places in the VFL top eight and it must win at least two games, if not all of them, to be a realistic chance to play off in September. The first these tests is at City Oval, Coburg next Sunday. The Reserves return after the bye and their place in the finals is also under attack and they face an opponent this week that has yet to lose a game this year. The year is coming down to the wire for both Sandy teams and they both need to lift in the remaining few weeks of the season. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Jace Bode - showed a bit of flair and run off half back at the start but came off second best in a collision with Nick Sautner in the first ten minutes of the game. He played on for parts of the first half but spent most of the second half on the bench (most likely with concussion). Jack Grimes - spent most of the first quarter on the bench but showed some definite class and poise the minute he came onto the ground. His delivery was crisp and clean and he produced an excellent first up performance upon which he can build in the remaining few weeks of the season. Ben Holland - struggled in windy conditions that didn’t suit his marking game. John Meesen - continues to disappoint as he has great athletic qualities but is unable to match them with consistent performance. Michael Newton - Juice was written off by many after struggling up forward in his last AFL match against the Kangaroos but is turning things around and playing with far greater confidence. Has added a lot more desperation to his game, kicked a couple of nice goals and had a hand in one or two others. Ricky Petterd - after missing last week, Petterd returned to the side and produced another smooth performance down back. Jake Spencer – contested well and held his own against the Cats’ big man brigade in both the ruck and around the ground. Adem Yze - he was solid throughout and the instigator of most of Sandy’s dominance in the second term and stood out with his skills and his goal kicking. Sandringham 0.4 4 7.5.47 8.6.54 9.13.67 Geelong 1.1.7 4.6.30 9.9.63 11.12.78 Goals Sandringham Newton Yze 2 Crowe Holland Martyn Sautner Waller Geelong Cuthill 2 Byrne Carey Davenport Mumford Potter Simpson Urie Varcoe Williams Best Sandringham Crowe Biddlecombe Yze Gallagher Spencer Newton Geelong Hogan Varcoe Davenport Byrne S Simpson Williams

Doubt that the ground would be of a capacity that can handle an AFL game unless millions are spent on the place. At best, they might get it up to a standard necessary for a NAB Cup game v one of the lesser drawing interstate sides.

Thanks everybody but let's not be distracted by personal issues of individual posters. The thread in question referred to an individual's opinion on a player that is not necessarily shared by most other posters here and is therefore a real waste of everybody's time. I'm locking this thread because it really doesn't serve any purpose in promoting our football club. Good night and thank you.

Dear All, Please refrain from abuse and making threats on Demonland. We get the point that you don't like Tess, Haydo but please stick to the subject matter. And Tess, please no personal abuse. Haydo, thanks for the information you supplied and we'll watch this space with interest.

I've just been reading the tributes in the middle pages of the Herald Sun's Sports section to Andrew McLeod who plays his 300th game tomorrow. He was thrown into the deep end when his father took him as a youngster from Darwin to Adelaide to play for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL. He was picked up by Adelaide on a trade with Fremantle which was putting together its first squad on entry into the AFL. This is how McLeod went on debut (v Melbourne in Round 6, 1995): 1 kick, 3 handballs Two years later he was best and fairest in Adelaide's first premiership side and won the first of two consecutive Norm Smith Medals. He was in their premiership team in 1998 and made All Australian that year as he has done four more times (captain in 2007). All that from a debut of 1 kick and three handballs. Yes, things can change quickly in this game and it's going to be interesting see how some of our young blokes go next time we take on the Cats.

How long can Brocky retain the lead? 78.366 Brock McLean 69.590 Brad Green 53.514 Brad Miller 44.698 Paul Wheatley 43.680 Colin Garland 42.742 Chris Johnson 42.075 Cameron Bruce 40.082 Austin Wonaemirri 40.027 Paul Johnson 37.927 Matthew Bate 33.297 Colin Sylvia 31.490 Aaron Davey 31.241 Cale Morton 29.347 Nathan Jones 26.674 James McDonald 21.411 Simon Buckley 17.896 Lynden Dunn 13.681 Shane Valenti 12.282 Brent Moloney 10.684 Jared Rivers 10.482 Nathan Carroll 10.346 Matthew Warnock 9.523 Stef Martin 8.393 Clint Bartram 8.254 Matthew Whelan 5.265 Russell Robertson 5.164 Mark Jamar 5.087 Jeff White 3.221 Addam Maric 2.845 Adem Yze 0.522 James Frawley