Demonland

by Scoop Junior On a dark, gray day at the MCG, the Demons and Kangaroos put on an exhibition of footy that adequately reflected the weather. With both sides flooding and the Roos unwilling to cough up easy possession of the ball, the game at times resembled soccer, basketball and a number of other games with the exception of Aussie Rules football. If not for a blistering second term and a thrilling final few minutes, neutral fans would have had no trouble deleting the match from the memory bank. And if not for the natural passion felt by Dees and Roos fans in watching their own sides, they would probably have felt the same. After improving each week – from a disgraceful Round 1 loss to Carlton to a gutsy, spirited Round 4 victory over Sydney – Melbourne took a small step back, putting in an ordinary performance to narrowly fall over the line. Apart from a 15-minute burst in the second quarter, the team did not appear to get out of second gear and was fortunate to win. Yes, it was a gritty performance and you take the four premiership points, but it was painstakingly close to a disastrous 1-4 start to the season. Credit can be given to the Kangaroos as they battled away all day, but they were a side low on confidence and their skill level at times was poor. After building a four-goal lead against such opposition, a team really needs to go on with it and ice the game. But, as the Demons often do so well, they stopped running late in the second term, went into their shells and played containment football. I can't understand why, with the opposition on the ropes, the team does not go in for the kill, instead of sitting on its lead until the inevitable swing in momentum. That momentum change came early in the third term and within the blink of an eye the Roos were back on level terms. From that point on, the game was a scrap, with both sides fighting hard and the Dees ultimately coming out on top courtesy of a James McDonald goal in time-on in the last term. Without the efforts of Pickett and Davey, Melbourne would have gone down. The former was inspirational early, setting the tone for a lethargic Demon outfit with wonderful attack on the footy, run, tackling and delivery. He tired as the game wore on, but was clearly Melbourne's best player and has the potential to add some serious bite to the midfield rotation. Davey's class shone out on a game devoid of it, his clever little kicks setting up a number of goals (including one to debutant Bate) and nailing three himself, including two clutch goals late in the game. Stand-in captain Cameron Bruce was slightly down on the high standards he has set for himself by his scintillating form in the opening four rounds, but was still one of his side's best. His clearance work is definitely underrated by many. Brad Miller started on Thompson and was beaten but not disgraced, as the Roo had one of those days where he was marking everything. I would have liked to see Miller play in front more often, as he did successfully against Barry Hall. His move forward in the third term was overdue and he provided some presence after Ben Holland struggled to make an impact in his limited stints up forward. Jared Rivers left the field with a knee injury in the second term but returned to be a handy contributor. His ability to spoil and bring the ball to ground was important on a day where the Roos had a dominating presence close to goal. Adem Yze displayed why his back line days are behind him with a polished display up forward. A player with such an uncanny ability to manufacture goals must be played where he is most dangerous. Consistent application is the key for Yze as he fell away completely after a good start to 2005 and was close to being dropped after terrible form in the opening few rounds. Brad Green did a solid job of containing Daniel Harris but unfortunately for Greeny his disposal is starting to resemble that of a tagger. His kicks have far too much hang time and he failed to find the target on a number of occasions. As one of the most skilful players in the side, he needs to improve in this area. Travis Johnstone shook off a heavy tag from Brady Rawlings to be a solid contributor. One of the highlights of the day was the debut of Matthew Bate. The strong-bodied redhead showed few nerves, booting a 55 metre goal with his first kick and backing himself to take the opposition on when in possession of the ball. This is a great sign for an 18-year-old, as it shows that he is confident in his ability and prepared to play to his strengths in order to exploit the opposition. The growing injury list undoubtedly had an effect on the match. While the Kangas were close to full strength, the Dees were missing key players Neitz and McLean and possibles Bizzell and Bell, while Robertson is clearly hampered by a knee injury. I don't know whether that is affecting his balance, but Robbo must try to keep his feet more at contests because at the moment he is on the ground far too often. So, while they will take the four points gleefully, the Demons must realise that their performance has to lift in the weeks ahead. No such luxuries will be afforded against Geelong, while Fremantle are a talented side that on their day can knock off anyone (or at least force a draw) anywhere. After that come the Hawks, who are much improved, the Eagles at Subiaco and the Saints. There surely are no easy games in this even competition. But, there are games which are easier than others and it was disappointing that the Dees failed to secure their victory over the Roos in a more comfortable fashion. Melbourne 1.3.9 7.5.47 9.9.63 13.12.90 Kangaroos: 2.4.16 3.9.27 9.12.66 12.14.86 Goals Yze 4 Davey 3 Bate Green Johnstone McDonald Robertson Wheatley Best Pickett Davey Yze Bruce Johnstone Injury Wheatley (hamstring) Reports Nil Umpires Donlon Chamberlain Wenn Crowd 30,392 at the MCG

by Whispering Jack A long time ago, I used to live next door to an old St. Kilda supporter who once acquainted me with the legend of the crest on his team's guernsey. During the depression years, wins were few and far between for the Saints. There was little to cheer about if you happened to be an avid fan of the red, white and black. Then one day they were playing against North Melbourne and things were looking decidedly bleak. One by one, the players came off with injury and in the end, the team was down to only 16 fit men who fought courageously to record a memorable victory. The supporters celebrated wildly for days on end and the committee decided to add a black cross emblem to signify the courage of the players - a sort of tribute to the momentous achievement of winning this one single game of football. I wondered when I heard the story why such a big deal had been made by the club for a single day's achievement. Surely, you would expect the members of your team to display courage every time they ran onto the ground? I thought perhaps that the answer might be that St. Kilda had never tasted the ultimate in success in the sport or perhaps it was the other way around - that St. Kilda was always focused on what little it had achieved in its history and simply didn't have the right mindset to focus on achieving the ultimate in the sport. At the time when the story was told, there were teams around like Melbourne and Collingwood which expected that sort of effort from their players every week of the season - and that's why they were winners and the Saints were losers. While competitive football at the elite level is about a lot of things, surely the ultimate has to be the winning of the whole competition - to finish top dog, not just to be there for one week or for one month but to come out on top at the very end. Ask any footballer what their ultimate aim is and they'll tell you that it's not for the money or for the moments of individual glory or anything else but to hold the premiership cup aloft at the end of the season. And it's the strong and successful clubs that demand heroics every time their teams grace the field. This is a given thing when your aim is the winning of the flag. The story of the St. Kilda crest and it's day of glory came back to me when the compliments started rolling in for the Demons after their Anzac Round heroics against Sydney. I have no objection to heaping praise on the team for its courage under fire but let's not get too carried away with the handing out of kudos. Praise is one thing but why should we be so effusive in handing out bouquets to a team that has had such an under whelming start to the season? Are we satisfied with one win in the opening four rounds including a miserable defeat to start proceedings at the hands of last year's wooden spooners? Malcolm Blight famously said after Geelong, the team he was coaching, was well beaten in the opening round of the 1994 season (by Melbourne) that a football season is not a sprint, but a marathon. Unfortunately, by losing the opening three games of 2006, the Demons lagged well below the lead pack early in their marathon run. Some Melbourne supporters were already talking in terms of a best case scenario in which their team barely scraped into the final eight as if they have given up the ghost as far as the top four is concerned. To them I say that the minute you take your eyes of the main goal then you're half way to defeat and failure. For the first 22 rounds of the season the way to achieve the main goal comes through finishing in the top four, not just the top eight as Melbourne has done in each of the last two years. To achieve that, you still have to be in positive territory as far as your win/loss ratio is concerned. To make top four, you probably need 14 wins, possibly fifteen. Q: So where does Melbourne stand after its glorious victory in Sydney last weekend? A: With just a single win or a 25% success rate and a lousy percentage to boot! In order to get into positive territory, the Demons therefore have to win their next three games and win them well. To remain there, they have to win all of the next four. Thankfully, those four games are all going to be played on home territory - the magnificent new look MCG - against the Kangaroos, Geelong, Fremantle and Hawthorn. Perhaps when the players have worked hard enough to achieve courageous wins in all four will I start thinking about handing out some light praise for their efforts. You see, I don't want my club to end up like the St. Kilda of old which was satisfied to merely enjoy the odd scraps that occasional victories can bring without tasting the golden nectar that only come from drinking out of a premiership cup. And that brings us to the rest of the season, which starts with Melbourne's first true home game for 2006 against the Kangaroos. As mentioned above, this is the first of four consecutive games at the home of football and provides the club with the perfect launching pad to recover ownership of this magnificent stadium we call our home. The 'Roos are in a trough and looking at the vision of them at training under Dean Laidley during the week and the body language wasn't all that flash. Melbourne will not want to take them lightly and despite their injury worries, the Demons have the depth and, on recent form, they also seem to have the opposition's measure. The inclusion of the in form pair of Holland and Bate along with Jamar and Moloney will add a touch of much needed freshness to the side. I'm hoping that the players won't be satisfied with their one week of glory under the Sydney sun and that they do exactly what is needed in the vital week after the glory - to win and win well. I'm tipping a margin of 55 points. MELBOURNE v KANGAROOS Where and when: MCG 2:10pm (AEST), Saturday 29 April 2006 TV & Radio: Channel 10 (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth), Fox Footy (Adelaide), Triple M (Melbourne), ABC, 3AW Head to Head: Melbourne 59 Kangaroos 81 Drawn 1 Last Time They Met - Melbourne 17.14.116 d Kangaroos 11.14.80 Manuka Oval, Round 11, 2005. MELBOURNE B Miller Carroll Whelan HB Yze Rivers Brown C Green Bruce Sylvia HF Bate Robertson Davey F McDonald Holland Pickett Foll White Godfrey Johnstone I/C Bartram Jamar Moloney Wheatley Emergencies C Johnson Read Ward In Bate Jamar Holland Moloney Out P Johnson (shoulder) McLean (adductor) Neitz (hip flexor) Warnock New Matthew Bate (Eastern Ranges) KANGAROOS B Archer, Hay Pratt HB Brown, Perry Firrito C Sinclair, Harris B Rawlings HF Grant, Petrie Green F Co Jones Thompson Harding Foll Hale Harvey Simpson I/C Rocca Sansbury Wells Makepeace Emergencies LeCras Swallow Watt In Archer Out Trotter

by Scoop Junior Football is a game of momentum. When you have it, it is a stronger force than a dominant key forward, a determined midfielder or a rugged defender. Things seem to go your way – the bounce of the ball, crucial umpiring decisions, lack of injuries, etc. – and it becomes a driving force to win the match. On the other hand, when your opposition has the momentum, it is akin to swimming against a strong tide, as it seems that despite the effort put in, it will amount to nothing in the end. When Nick Davis took a few bounces and slotted through a goal in the third term to reduce the margin to under three goals, the crowd lifted and the momentum shifted heavily in the home side's favour. David Neitz, Brock McLean and Paul Johnson were out for the game and the only fit man on the bench was barely that, with Colin Sylvia having suffered some mild concussion earlier in the match. Sydney kicked a couple more quick ones and at three quarter time looked to be the team with all the momentum. But the Demons, a team often criticised (and justifiably so) for their inability to fight their way out of a rut and arrest the momentum did exactly that, silencing the home crowd to pull away to handy two-goal lead in a tight and torrid final term. To the Swans' credit, they too fought back and found themselves a goal down with roughly 10 minutes remaining in the match. What transpired in these last 10 minutes will long live in the memory of Demons fans. Neither side gave an inch as contest after contest resulted in much effort without much gain. With five minutes remaining, Jared Rivers was penalised for holding the ball (somewhat harshly considering the interpretation of holding the ball employed by the men in yellow during the match). Adam Schneider withdrew his hand in a bid to let the ball float over his head after Rivers threw it back to him. It was a con job and the umpire was sucked in completely, penalising the Demon 50 metres and in the process handing Sydney back the all-important momentum. As a Melbourne fan, you cannot be anything but pessimistic in such a situation. We have seen it all before – a questionable decision gifting the opposition a goal, injured players on the bench, vocal opposition support from the stands – and it seemed inevitable that the Swans would score again and steal the match. Well, these were my thoughts anyway and with the clock racing to 30 minutes (and no idea of how much time was left), it appeared that one more score, if there was still time, would settle it. But the Demons refused to roll over and accept a fourth straight defeat. They bravely held on as Sydney bombarded their attacking 50, not allowing the Swans to register a score. A Demons’ score seemed light years away, with Melbourne struggling to even get the ball inside 50. It was just excruciating sitting there, with the time clock ticking over 33 minutes. How long could the quarter go? The siren surely must be seconds away. Can we stop them scoring? But we want to score ourselves and not finish with a draw! It was almost too much to bear. Nathan Carroll laid a tremendous bump on Goodes to stop the Swan in his tracks. Against conventional wisdom, Melbourne managed to scrounge the ball forward, where an errant Ben Matthews handball was intercepted by Travis Johnstone, whose quick kick sent the ball within range for the Demons. I could just picture it: the siren finally sounds when we are so close to our goals, a drawn game, all that effort in vain…there’s the pessimism again! But time seemed to stand still as Nathan Brown's handball to Bruce set up the match-winning goal. Oh, the joy! The roar from the Melbourne section was not dissimilar to a late goal in a final at the MCG, as Demons fans jumped up and down in ecstasy with the team's first win on the cards. Still, though, the timekeepers had other ideas and the familiar Melbourne pessimism was almost justified as Sydney managed to create a last-ditch scoring chance. However, Nick Malceski's effort drifted wide of the goals and the Demons hung on to record one of their most memorable road wins. It really was a tremendous effort. The momentum was with Sydney and to be able to prevent them from scoring in the dying minutes and actually go down and kick a goal ourselves was testament to the character of the group on the day. Bruce again led the way for the Dees with an excellent game, while Byron Pickett stepped up in the midfield to fill the void left by McLean. His experience and attack on the footy was critical. Jeff White kicked two goals and out-pointed Darren Jolly in the ruck, Brad Green cut out the influence of Brett Kirk while James McDonald worked hard all day but let himself down with some wayward disposal. The defence was tremendous, with Brad Miller claiming Barry Hall’s scalp for the second year running, Carroll completely nullifying the dangerous Michael O'Loughlin, Jared Rivers providing plenty of assistance for his teammates with some terrific spoils and Matthew Whelan slowly returning to form as the match wore on. A win such as this can do wonders for a team's season. However, it must not be forgotten that Melbourne defeated Adelaide and Sydney early in the season last year only to fall away and be a shadow of the competitive, hungry and spirited side that it was early in 2005. The Demons have shown that they can match it with two of the better inside stoppage teams in the Swans and Crows, but this is nothing new as we have done so in the past. What we have not been able to do is sustain this intensity, spirit and determination over the course of a season. This is the key challenge that faces this football team. Put simply, anyone on their day can produce a spirited win…the key to being an elite team in the competition is to invoke the right attitude consistently over the course of the season. For the time being, though, let’s not take anything away from a truly memorable win that will no doubt go down as one of Melbourne's best in recent times. Melbourne 3.3.21 7.5.47 10.6.66 15.7.97 Sydney 4.2.26 6.6.42 9.10.64 13.14.92 Goals A Yze 3 C Bruce A Davey P Johnson J White 2 B McLean D Neitz B Pickett R Robertson Best B Pickett A Davey A Yze C Bruce J McDonald Injuries A Davey (finger) P Johnson (shoulder) B McLean (groin) D Neitz (hip) C Sylvia (concussion) Reports Nil Umpires M James M Ellis T Pannell Crowd 29,167 at SCG POST SCRIPT Anyone planning to go to Sydney in the future should definitely attend the NSW Demons pre-match brunch. It was very well organised and excellent to hear from Anthony Rock and Steve Harris. It is a great opportunity to meet Sydney-based Melbourne supporters and to basically talk "Demons" with fellow Melbourne supporters prior to the game. Well done NSW Demons!

by Barry from Beach Road The Sandringham Football Club is starting to make winning games at Chirnside Park a habit. Last year, the Zebras travelled there to take on Werribee at a time when they were clinging to a top four spot and they hit the home side hard early in the match before a stirring Tiger comeback almost stole the points away from them. Sunday's game followed almost the same script with Sandy quickly out of the blocks to lead by 19 points at quarter time and by 53 at the long break. After that, it was Werribee who fought hard to get back into the game but all to no avail - the Zebra lead was far too great and the resolve of the visitors was far too strong. Sandringham laid the foundation for its victory in the opening ten minutes when it won the early arm wrestle with its superlative defence taking complete control. Ben Holland was stationed at centre half back and he was in magnificent marking form helped by the fact that, although not a single Tiger forward could match him for height, the home side kept bombing the ball up in the air allowing him to put his considerable aerial talents on display. He was flanked by a dominant pair in Daniel Ward and Chris Johnson who ran through the defensive lines creating many attacks with their style and flair. In the last line of defence, Chris Lamb stopped anything that managed to get past the half back line and he was capably assisted by Ezra Poyas and Andy Biddlecombe. The team hardly missed the courage of skipper Chad Liddell at all after he was injured early in the game while performing his usual Anzac-like heroics in a pack. The midfield was dominated by Phil Read and Shannon Motlop. Read was tough and uncompromising while Motlop was ever so skilful and mesmerised the Werribee on ballers. They were well supported by Peter Summers, Matthew Bate, Nathan Jones, Shane Valenti and occasionally Guy Rigoni who together fed the forward line well, particularly in the first half. The ruck duels were also won by the Sandringham pair of Shane Neaves, who impressed with his bulk, size and marking on senior debut, and Nick Smith who played what was probably his best game in Sandringham colours (even if those colours were the alternative predominantly sky blue strip). Sandy also had a winning pair on the wings in David Gallagher and the super fast Simon Buckley while Daniel Hughes continued to impress on a flank. Nick Sautner was in his element early but finished with just three goals after being double-teamed for much of an unproductive second half. One of the highlights of the forward line was the athleticism and mobility of Lynden Dunn at half forward. The youngster kicked two goals and was responsible for a few more as he often ran rings around the opposition defenders. Werribee counter attacked strongly when kicking with the aid of the breeze in the third quarter and scored four goals in the opening five minutes to cut Sandy's lead in half before the Zebras again regrouped and managed to stave off any further Tiger advances thanks again to that resolute defence. The last quarter remained a battle of the defences and, although it was Werribee that was finishing the better, Sandringham never looked in real danger and ran out 19-point winners. If there was one concern, it was described by coach Mark Williams who said after the game that "we ran out of legs a bit in the end." It was pleasing however, that for the most part, the team managed to control the play on a ground the size of Chirnside Park and one that is widely regarded as a graveyard for visiting teams. That is clearly no longer the case where Sandringham is concerned and I reflected on this on my way out of the ground recalling that a little way down the road, down at the Werribee zoo, there is a herd of zebra who happily roam the wide open spaces and, if they could talk, they would also call this place home. NICK SAUTNER Congratulations to Nick Sautner who played his 175th VFL match in this game and thereby earned a well deserved Life Membership of the VFL. Sautner has played in Sandringham's last four premierships (1997, 200, 2004-5) and won the Frosty Miller Medal as leading goal kicker in the competition six times in a row from 1999-2004. After being restricted with injury for much of 2005 he worked hard over the pre season and has returned looking superbly fit recording 14 goals in the opening three rounds. HOW THE DEMONS FARED - with thanks to Axis of Bob (formerly known as Spunjy) Matthew Bate - just went this week and was nowhere near the damaging player he has been in recent games. He used the ball pretty well, but just didn't get a hell of a lot of it. Looked dangerous when he went forward. Simon Buckley - again, didn't get a great deal of it, but he is a beautiful kick and is genuinely good on both sides of the body. In fact, it's unusual to see a late developer who is such a skilled player on both sides. Lynden Dunn - keeps getting better. Was on Bulldog listed player McGuinness in the first half and killed him (especially in the 2nd quarter). McGuinness was good when moved forward after half time, and Dunn got another Bulldog in Garth who was a stronger body. Dunn ran him and beat him on the lead many times, but Garth was better one on one. He has now become the Sandy CHF, after spending his past games as a bench/forward pocket. Ben Holland - you would think they'd learn after he took his first 10 marks, but still Werribee kept kicking the ball long to him and he kept on marking the pill. He would have had about 15 marks for the game, I'd guess. Used the ball well, too. Definitely BOG. Daniel Hughes - didn't do a great deal although he won more of the ball one the ground than he usually does, which is a real positive for him. Kicked a goal. Chris Johnson - excellent game from Chris. Took some good marks, was strong at the ball and used it so well off half back. A very promising game in that the style of game he played was a strong defensive game which included him winning a lot of the ball, rather than solely an attacking game. Impressive. Nathan Jones - struggled to really get into the game. Obviously a good player, and is doing some good things, but just not enough. I suppose I'm rating him hard because I do rate him, but he's not quite up to promotion yet. Shannon Motlop - a quality player at this level. Steps this way, that way, spins, then runs away once his pursuers trip over themselves. Was especially good in the first half (as it was with most Sandy players) where his creativity helped break up the play. Shane Neaves - I liked his game. Looks to be better around the ground and took some strong grabs, including one that resulted in a goal. Tap work was good and I think it was a good step into VFL football for him. Phil Read - started like a house on fire with his attack on the ball and clean hands. Was especially effective in the first quarter where Sandy had the ascendancy going into a stiff breeze. Faded towards the end of the game. Nick Smith - with PJ out, and Neaves still young, he played a lot of his time in the ruck. When he did he was excellent, with good tap work and did very well around the ground. Took marks and read the play very well. Daniel Ward - played a typical Wardy VFL game. Played, more or less, on the wings where he used his obvious pace advantage and was good. Sandringham 4.4.28 9.9.63 12.10.82 12.13.85 Werribee 1.3.9 1.4.10 6.9.45 9.12.66 Goals Sautner 3 Dunn 2 Bate Holland Hughes Neaves Read Summers Ward Best Holland Biddlecombe C Johnson Motlop Ward Smith Reported D Gallagher (Sandringham) striking LADDER W L D FOR AGST % PTS N. BALLARAT 3 0 0 394 242 162.8 12 SANDRINGHAM 3 0 0 329 204 161.3 12 N'THERN BULLANTS 2 0 0 187 122 153.3 8 TASMANIA 2 1 0 286 219 130.6 8 WILLIAMSTOWN 2 1 0 255 249 102.4 8 WERRIBEE 1 2 0 333 295 112.9 4 FRANKSTON 1 1 0 205 184 111.4 4 COBURG TIGERS 1 2 0 301 284 106.0 4 CASEY SCORPIONS 1 1 0 165 205 80.5 4 PORT MELBOURNE 1 2 0 290 362 80.1 4 GEELONG 1 2 0 282 353 79.9 4 BOX HILL HAWKS 0 3 0 203 325 62.5 0 BENDIGO BOMBERS 0 3 0 237 423 56.0 0 SANDY RESERVES HOLD ON by The Zebra A six goal opening quarter highlighted by a strong performance at centre half forward from Michael Newton helped Sandringham reserves to take a 35 point lead into the first break at Chirnside Park on Sunday. While Werribee bounced back with the aid of the wind in the second term the home side was never able to bridge the gap and Sandy held them off in the last quarter to record a 10 point win and reclaim a place in the top five after last week's disappointment at the hands of Box Hill. Marc Johnston again played a fine game on the ball and he had plenty of helpers in the form of the busy Andrew Fleming, Daniel Corp and Leigh Fletcher. Mark Gibb was again solid in defence which was aided by a very solid performance from Heath Neville who looks to be going places in football. Steven Ott did a sterling job in the ruck while Vaughn Evans made a pleasing return after a long lay off with injury. The reserves take on Frankston this Sunday in what will be a tough test against a team that handed them a flogging a Frankston City Oval early in the practice match series. The young Zebras will be out to show they have improved greatly on that performance. HOW THE DEMONS FARED - with thanks to Axis of Bob (formerly known as Spunjy) Daniel Bell - only played the first half, but looked good throughout. Was involved in some strong contests and I hope he has pulled up OK. Jace Bode - also only played the first half. Some smart bits of play playing mainly half back/half forward. I don't know if the rest was preplanned or injury related, however he didn't appear to come off injured. Andre Gianfagna - played like a left footed wingman, but showed more strength at the ball than he has in the past. Very neat left foot kick and used his pace to wheel onto to it and out of trouble on many occasions. Was very important late in the game with his running through the middle. Heath Neville - this was the first time I've seen him and he was very strong, with clean hands and excellent overhead. Still looks to be working his way into the game after a long layoff and came off with cramp late, before taking a strong mark up forward upon his return to the field. Looks to be a leader too. Michael Newton - I was very impressed in that he now looks to be a real go to player. Last year he just floated in and out of the play, but is now presenting hard and commanding the ball. Kicked goals, but missed a lot of shots finishing with 4 goals 6 (after 1.5 last week) but some were from difficult angles and a long way out. Executed a couple of quality smothers and chases and can't be too far away from a promotion on that form he showed. One thing that still irks me is that he can drift off after making an effort and watch the play, which seems to be more of a concentration thing - but he's improving. Sandringham 6.2.38 7.7.49 11.13.79 12.16.88 Werribee 0.3.3 4.6.30 7.9.51 11.12.78 Goals Newton 4 Fleming Mentiplay 2 Bell Corp Semmel Turcarelli Best Johnston Neville Corp Newton Fleming Fletcher Reported Kris Thompson (Werribee) wrestling Michael Newton (Sandringham) wrestling LADDER W L D FOR AGST % PTS WILLIAMSTOWN 2 0 0 289 65 444.6 8 FRANKSTON 2 0 0 258 86 300.0 8 CASEY SCORPIONS 2 0 0 205 184 111.4 8 BOX HILL HAWKS 2 1 0 304 287 105.9 8 SANDRINGHAM 2 1 0 257 263 97.7 8 N'THERN BULLANTS 1 1 0 185 181 102.2 4 WERRIBEE 1 2 0 286 319 89.7 4 COBURG TIGERS 1 2 0 280 353 79.3 4 BENDIGO BOMBERS 1 2 0 226 330 68.5 4 PORT MELBOURNE 0 2 0 165 223 74.0 0 N. BALLARAT 0 3 0 176 340 51.8 0

by Whispering Jack I hope nobody misinterprets what I am about to say but my first thought when I heard about David Neitz and his hip injury was that it could not have come at a worse time for the club and it's long serving skipper. However, the second thought was that the injury could be a blessing in disguise for the club after a disappointing opening month to season 2006. Now, before you start heaping abuse upon me, let me say that I'm never pleased when a player suffers an injury, let alone when the player is the captain who is about to break some long standing club records. The injury is compounded by the fact that it is one of a spate of injuries the club is presently experiencing and which have contributed to the disruption of the early part of this season. Further, Neita's injury would have to be particularly painful for a bloke who sat in the stands and watched helplessly as his club failed dismally in both of its recent finals campaigns, frustrated by such tragic ends to years that promised so much but left us all unfulfilled. Apparently, the hip flexor injury is not as bad as it looked at half time yesterday and the news is that the skipper will be back within a couple of weeks. Hopefully, by then he'll be moving on freely in the direction of some well earned club records and personal milestones and to the well deserved accolades he will most certainly will receive at some stage down the track this season. In the meantime, there's no use crying over spilt milk. You simply can't afford to do that when you're sitting on 1-3 after the first month of the season. There's no option but to get on with it and to accentuate the positive after the team's first win for 2006. The likely absence, even for two weeks, of the club's captain and full forward does raise a few issues and I'll look at two of them here. 1. LEADERSHIP The debate has been raging around the Melbourne Football Club for a few years. Who will take over the leadership reins when the record breaking Neitz era comes to an end? There was a time when Adem Yze and Jeff White were the next likely leaders but a new leadership group emerged over the off season with Russell Robertson leading the running just ahead of a couple of maturing players in Cameron Bruce and Brad Green. Then there is an even younger still candidate in Brad Miller. Until yesterday, all of the talk was academic but if Neitz is to miss the next two or three weeks through injury, there will be opportunities for the remaining members of the leadership group to test their mettle. My personal preference is for Cameron Bruce to be given the opportunity to lead the side in the skipper's absence and for Robbo, whose output has been reduced by his own niggling worries this year, to concentrate on returning to his very best on the Demon forward line. The main advantages in having Bruce as an on field leader is firstly, that he is in top form and would be leading the club’s best and fairest award with daylight second at this stage and secondly, he plays in the midfield. The latter consideration should not be underestimated in today's football. The problem with having a full forward as your on field leader is that when the team's in trouble, it's difficult for the skipper to inspire if he's anchored in the forward line when he's really needed much further afield. 2. THE FORWARD LINE From the opening bounce of the 2006 season, Melbourne's forward line has failed to live up to expectations. With Neita and Robbo down on form, the team has struggled to kick winning totals and, after four rounds has yet to top the 100 point mark. The skipper's four goal haul at Carrara has been the most goals scored by a Demon in any one game. Most of the club's scores seem to have been scrounged around in individual efforts and, whilst it’s good to spread the goal scoring around, there’s definitely been a problem with the team’s forward half – it just hasn't been playing with the confidence and purpose of the first half of 2005 when Robbo and Yze were dangerous, Ben Holland, Miller and Neitz provided great tall man presence and Aaron Davey was causing havoc at their feet. The loss of the skipper now forces the coaching panel to recast the forward line. Ben Holland is likely to return this week after showing some good form at Sandringham but the selectors may also bring some younger talent into the mix as well. A different approach to both the leadership and forward line set up and some fresh new faces might be the very thing the club needs to build up the inspiration of its thrilling Anzac Round victory and to shrug off its indifferent start to the new football season.

by The Oracle I'm sick and tired of having to live up to my name by making predictions about the Melbourne Football Club. The Demons are simply unpredictable - even for someone of my status. Who knows which Melbourne is going to turn up at the SCG this week? Your guess is probably as good as mine so rather than bore you with all kinds of yadda yadda about how Melbourne might perform against the reigning premiers on Sunday I thought I would go through the club's entire list to see where each individual is standing at the present moment. Perhaps that might provide an insight into what's what at Demonland. So here goes: - BARTRAM, Clint – AFL 3 games, 1 goal - started his career well as a tagger BATE, Matthew – VFL 2 games, 2 goals – two totally dominant games with Sandringham are surely enough to ensure that this youngster makes his debut on Sunday at the SCG BELL, Daniel – missed out with groin injury that doesn't want to go away BIZZELL, Clint - out with a calf injury and keeps failing the test BODE, Jace ® - VFL Reserves 1 game, 0 goals – came back from last week with an injured knee and impressed BROWN, Nathan - AFL 2 games, 2 goals, VFL 1 game 2 goals – punished with demotion after an ordinary opening but did his penance with Sandy and came back strongly last week at Carrara BRUCE, Cameron – AFL 3 games, 5 goals – stellar start to the season and easily Melbourne's best so far BUCKLEY, Simon – VFL 2 games, 1 goal – missed much of the pre season but has impressed in the VFL with his pace and skills CARROLL, Nathan – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – has had some tough assignments to date and just going at full back DAVEY, Aaron – AFL 3 games, 5 goals – started the season like a house on fire with the first two goals of the game against Carlton but has only shown flashes since then DUNN, Lynden – VFL 2 games, 4 goals – showing a great deal of promise alongside the KPP's at Sandy FERGUSON, Ryan – AFL 2 games, 0 goals – will miss most of the first half of the season with that ribs and lung injury sustained in round 2 at the Telstra Dome GIANFAGNA, Andre ® - VFL Reserves 2 game, 1 goal – very much an outside player with great pace and pressing for senior selection at Sandringham GODFREY, Simon - VFL 2 games, 2 goals – a shock call up to the AFL this week after some uninspiring form with the Zebras. It's a mystery how has made it but the coach has something in mind - no doubt! GREEN, Brad – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – worked hard in every game and in the best players each week HOLLAND, Ben - VFL 1 game 0 goals, VFL Reserves 1 game 2 goals – in line for his second promotion in consecutive weeks after starting the season kicking off the dew at TBO on comeback from injury. Did well last week at CHB HUGHES, Daniel ® - VFL 1 game 1 goal, VFL Reserves 1 game 3 goals – a jumping jack whose strong marking is creating an impression in his first rookie season JAMAR, Mark – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – has been kept in the background as Jeff White’s understudy in the ruck. Out his week with a plantar fascia strain in his foot JOHNSON, Chris – AFL 1 game 0 goals – played against the Bulldogs and was taken to Carrara as an emergency last week. Now back with the Zebras for some game time. JOHNSON, Paul – AFL 1 game 0 goals, VFL 2 games 0 goals – unimpressive in the opening round loss to Carlton but has fought his way back with some good form at Zebraland JOHNSTONE, Travis – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – not anywhere his best of last year JONES, Nathan - VFL 2 games, 1 goal – looks a good prospect as a hard at it inside midfielder still getting a grounding in the game at VFL level MCDONALD, James – AFL 3 games, 0 goals – hardworking but unspectacular MCLEAN, Brock - AFL 2 games, 0 goals – retuning after an injury plagued pre season, he was quite impressive against the Crows. Could be the one to reinvigorate the midfield MILLER, Brad – AFL 3 games, 1 goal - moving from CHF to CHB without showing any of the attributes that had many talking of him as a future captain in the last couple of years MOLONEY, Brent – AFL 2 games, 1 goal – injury problems persisted through the pre season and a question mark over his fitness remains MOTLOP, Shannon – AFL 1 game, 0 gaols – promising pre season but seems to have lost form NEAVES, Shane ® - VFL RESERVES 2 games, 0 goals – gets his call up to VFL senior ranks to cover P Johnson’s promotion to the AFL NEITZ, David - AFL 3 games, 7 goals – a welcome return to the goalkicking list last week but still a fair way from top form NEVILLE, Heath – VFL Reserves 1 game, 0 goals – first game after missing the entire pre season with OP. Difficult to assess on limited time at this level NEWTON, Michael – VFL Reserves 2 games, 1 goal – only making slow inroads at this early stage of his career. Kicked 1.5 from CHF last week NICHOLSON, Alistair – VFL 1 game, 0 goals – missed last week with injury and has failed to impress to date PICKETT, Byron – AFL 3 games, 0 goals – slowly starting to show some of the form that made him such a feared opponent in the past READ, Phillip – VFL 2 games, 1 goal – concussed last week at Box Hill RIVERS, Jared - AFL 1 game, 0 goals, VFL 1 game, 0 goals – stepped back into the breach at CHB last week with an excellent first up display ROBERTSON, Russell - AFL 3 games, 6 goals – hampered by an injured knee and nowhere near his best of 2005 SMITH, Nicholas - VFL 2 games, 2 goals – not impressing in the VFL but moved to CHB this week SYLVIA, Colin – AFL 3 games, 2 goals – starting to show glimpses of the form that made him such a highly rated recruit a couple of years back WARD, Daniel – AFL 3 games, 0 goals – only so so WARNOCK, Matthew ® – AFL 1 game, 0 goals – surprise selection in defence last week after five weeks out with a thumb injury. Acquitted himself well on Trent Hentschell WHEATLEY, Paul - AFL 2 games, 0 goal – has been adequate since missing the first round with injury WHELAN, Matthew - AFL 3 games, 0 goals – our underrated star hasn’t shown his best yet WHITE, Jeff – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – no longer dominant as a ruckman YZE, Adem – AFL 3 games, 1 goal – struggling to get back to his best form I hope that it hasn't escaped anybody that there is a fair number of players on the club's list who have been afflicted either during the pre season or the season proper with some form of injury. There have been a few cases of the dreaded OP, a couple of minor breaks, lots of niggling ailments and nothing major other than Fergs' predicament (that's if you don't call OP "major" – which it clearly is in the case of an important youngster like Belly). Hopefully, these things will settle down, the team will start winning and maybe the situation can become a plus later in the season when players might otherwise become a bit weary after a long hard grind of a year. That's me wearing my rose coloured glasses again. So on to the game … SYDNEY v MELBOURNE THE TEAMS SYDNEY B: Barry Richards Schneider HB: Mathews Roberts-Thomson C Bolton C: J Bolton Kirk Crouch HF: O'Keefe Hall Goodes F: Williams O'Loughlin N Davis FOLL: Jolly Ablett McVeigh I/C (from): Buchanan Chambers Dempster Fosdike Kennelly Malceski Moore IN: Kennelly Dempster Moore MELBOURNE B: Wheatley Carroll Whelan HB: Yze Rivers Brown C: Green McDonald Sylvia HF: Robertson Miller Davey F: Bruce Neitz McLean FOLL: White Godfrey Johnstone I/C (from): P Johnson Pickett Bartram Holland Warnock Ward Bate IN: Godfrey P Johnson Holland Bate OUT: Jamar (foot - plantar fascia strain) NEW: Matthew Bate (Eastern Ranges) Where & When: SCG, 1.15pm, Sunday 23 April. TV & Radio: Channel 9 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane), Fox Footy (WA), 3AW, Triple M (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide), ABC Radio Head to Head: Played - 192, Sydney: 101, Melbourne: 90, Drawn: 1 Last Time they met: Sydney 16.8.104 defeated Melbourne 11.12.78 in Round 16, 2005, at Telstra Dome The betting: Sydney $1.45, Melbourne $2.55 My Tip This clash pits two of last year's finalists who have won only one game between them. Sydney's win was last week at the Telstra Dome against Carlton which beat Melbourne at the same venue a fortnight earlier. That is not necessarily a good guide however, because the Blues had Waite missing last week and Lappin was injured early. Those two were stars against Melbourne while the Demons are starting to also get their act together in terms of form and personnel. Melbourne's form wasn't all that bad last week against one of the premiership favourites. I expect the Demons to rebound from their poor start to the season with a narrow victory, even on foreign soil of Sydney. What the heck? Melbourne by 8 points

by Barry from Beach Road Sandringham's super start to 2006 continued when the team travelled to Box Hill City Oval on Sunday where it recorded an emphatic 37 point victory over the Box Hill Hawks in a match highlighted by yet another magnificent team effort from the reigning premiers. The opposition was coming off a poor start to the season against the Seagulls in Round 1 and was not widely considered as a potential force in the competition but this was still a danger game for the Zebras because it's early in the season, anything can happen and besides, they don't often come away from this venue with an easy victory. And so it was that Box Hill gave them a run for their money early and even when the visitors gained the ascendancy on the scoreboard they were made to work hard for a win that was set up by a seven goal performance from the new look super slim Nick Sautner at full forward. The Zebra midfield dominated for most of the day with Peter Summers starring. He was well backed up by a bevy of midfielders in Phil Read (until half time), Nathan Jones, the evergreen Guy Rigoni and a couple of rookie Zebras from the Dragons in Shane Valenti and Andrew Fleming and occasionally Demon hard nut Simon Godfrey. Ruckman Paul Johnson had a tough assignment against the Box Hill rucks but he applied himself to the task. Whilst he may not have won the overall ruck duels, he was far too mobile around the ground for the Box Hill beanpoles Max Bailey and Simon Taylor. Once again, the back half was awesome. Chris Lamb (full back) and Ben Holland (centre half back) led a defensive group that set up a seemingly impenetrable barrier to their goal. And they had quality back up support in the guise of Chad Liddell, Andy Biddlecombe, Ezra Poyas and the likes of Matthew Bate who drifted back and forward and was in sensational form as he picked up kicks at will throughout the game. Bate linked up well through the midfield and his performance was a most impressive display for a teenager. While Sautner was the star of the forward line, he also had plenty of helpers. Rod Crowe was solid and creative as usual and Lynden Dunn showed that he is beginning to exert his presence at this level. Danny Hughes received a late call up for the game with the withdrawals of Demons Brent Moloney and Alistair Nicholson and he acquitted himself well, taking some strong marks in a good all round display. Sandringham coasted in the end to retain top spot on the VFL ladder but this coming Sunday will face a much more difficult foe at Chirnside Park in the replay of the 2005 Grand Final. The Werribee Tigers have been waiting a long time for this game and Sandy will need to be on its mettle to make it three wins in a row. HOW THE DEMONS FARED - with thanks to Fan and friends Matthew Bate - quite frankly stunned that the kid wasn't named in the best players. He must have had 25+ possessions, ran very well, won contested ball, read it very well coming into the backline and ran forward to kick a goal at one stage. His kicking today was better with some really good long kicks but with the occasional clanger in there. Must also be close to getting a game up in Sydney. Simon Buckley - this kid has terrific kicking skills on both sides and used the ball pretty well when he got it. A bit like Adem Yze in that he is very much an outside player but one to watch in the future. Lynden Dunn - put in some really encouraging cameos as he showed us some strings to his bow. He was very quick today on a couple of occasions. Ran someone down from 20 metres, lead strongly and showed good hands below his knees. If he develops the skills he showing at this level, then he could well be the future replacement for Neita. In the last quarter, when the game was as good as over, he took a pack mark, spun out of the pack, ran forward and kick a lovely goal. It was reminiscent of The Ox in full flight (however, I'm not making any comparison beyond that one bit of play). Write him down in your little black book: my interest is moving towards enthusiasm. Simon Godfrey - just went and you would really expect more from him at this level. Ben Holland - big Benny would not be far away from AFL selection. He was very good at CHB taking Doyle out of the game. Marked well, kicked well and ran out the game well. He could almost be a Nicho replacement down back playing on the bigger forwards. Danny Hughes - a Lynden Dunn look alike who can take a real high grab. Worth persevering with at this level. Paul Johnson - one of the most skillful midfielders on the ground, but in the air he's inept and was probably beaten in the ruck by Taylor. His field kicking was just great, he found the ball well, he held good marks on his own and his ball handling was very good. He does the little man things well, and on Sunday he did them better than ever before. If he learns to mark we have a special item but there's a big question mark over that! Nathan Jones - started forward and was busy early without being damaging. Knows how to position himself but still looks a fair way off AFL standard on his performance against the Hawks. He really faded out late in the game which was disappointing as the Zebras were running all over Box Hill. Shannon Motlop - disappointing and hardly sighted. Pity after such a promising pre season. Phil Read - very good in the first half but sat out the second with concussion. Nick Smith: One pack mark and goal. Some simple dropped marks both overhead and chest. Some poor kicking and a pretty under whelming performance. Is struggling to make it. Sandringham 2.3.15 9.4.58 11.5.71 16.8.104 Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 4.7.31 6.10.46 9.13.67 Goals Sautner 7 Dunn 2 Bate Crowe Gallagher Hughes Jones Read Smith Best Holland Biddlecombe Lamb Sautner Johnson Summers RESERVES LACK SPARK by the Zebra There were some high expectations of the reserves after last week's strong performance against Port Melbourne but the young Zebras were well beaten over most of the ground against a committed Box Hill reserves combination which held control of the midfield duels throughout. Sandy was probably a little unsettled by losing some of last week's better players to the senior team but that is what club football is all about. Those coming into the side must stand up and fill the breach when that happens. Full forward Tom Mentiplay, who starred last week, was well covered while Michael Newton, who was lively at centre half forward, let himself and the team down with his inaccuracy in kicking for goal. With little drive in the middle and the forwards down, Sandy was forced on the defensive and struggled, going down by 57 points. Marc Johnston and Leigh Fletcher battled manfully in the midfield while Demon rookie, Jace Bode showed some form down back but overall it was a disappointing performance. The team will have to regroup for what is expected to be a tough battle against Werribee at Chirnside Park this week. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Jace Bode - a player with a bit of a future who worked hard and showed definite skills. Andre Gianfagna - showed glimpses of form in midfield Shane Neaves - worked hard in the ruck but still very raw Heath Neville - has missed the entire pre season with OP and this was his first appearance for the year. Promising but understandably needed a run and played less than three full quarters. Michael Newton - presented out well and pulled in some good grabs but his kicking was way off. He finished with 1 goal 5 behinds. Sandringham 2.2.14 3.4.22 3.7.25 7.9.51 Box Hill Hawks 2.4.16 6.10.46 9.10.64 16.12.108 Goals Johnston 2 Gulliver Mentiplay Newton Paule Taranto Best Gibb Newton Hall Ott Corp Fletcher SANDRINGHAM FOOTBALL CLUB PLAYER AUCTION The Sandringham players invite everyone down to the Zeb Bar and Function Centre (Social Club) for the 2006 Player Auction. 20th OF MAY 2006 - Sandringham Football Club & Social Club PLAYER GROUPS AUCTIONED WEEKLY CASH PRIZES WON FOR BEST ON GROUND PERFORMANCES: Seniors $200 Reserves $100 DOORS OPEN AT 7 p.m. WITH THE FIRST AUCTION AT 7.30 p.m. $5 ENTRY FEE; NIBBLES AND ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED

by Whispering Jack There was something different about yesterday's game at Carrara. This time the Demons stood up for themselves after looking as if they were down and out. Gorn! But this time, they didn't meekly accept defeat as they could easily have done when almost six goals down five minutes before half time. Indeed, they went from being the hunted to the hunter in the course of a little over an hour of football – one of the first positive signs from the club for season 2006. The Demons started brightly enough and held an early lead kicking into the wind but the they soon found themselves in what had become an all too familiar role of late - caught gazing at the bright lights of the deer hunting Crows who for 20 minutes could do no wrong as they punished the dazed, confused and immobile prey with five unanswered goals to take an almost inexorable grip on the first game for AFL points at Carrara in over a decade. Melbourne can be thankful for the return of Jared Rivers who was in everything and who, along with Cam Bruce, Brock McLean and Nathan Brown, appeared to be the only Demons who were not bedazzled early in the game by Adelaide's bright spotlights. I should add here that when I say the Crows "could do no wrong", I meant it in every way possible. Even the umpires appeared to be in the spotlight of the Crows' first quarter spell, twice missing obvious Adelaide infringements in packs that resulted in snap goals that should never have been allowed. I don't often bash the maggots but, given the five point result, a later decision forcing Travis Johnstone to play on and kick hurriedly for an out of bounds on the full because the ball had allegedly not travelled 15 metres had to take the cake away - even from the goal umpires who were similarly blinded by the light. But don't get me wrong. The umpires weren't responsible for Melbourne's predicament. It was the Demons themselves who gave away those easy goals early in the piece, who had not a clue what to do when the ball was in their hands, who went backwards and across the ground who kicked short to a one on one contest and who simply made life easy for the likes of Brett Burton and Andrew McLeod by giving them the latitude to wreak their havoc and destruction. The second quarter was a little better but the Demons blew it when they failed to go on the attack and defended far too loosely allowing Adelaide three quick unanswered goals in mid term. However, a late run of three goals in the minutes before the main break gave Melbourne a glimmer of hope. And it could well have been a turning point for the season. Melbourne's hopes were lifted further when they worked hard to prevent the Crows from running away with the game with the aid of the wind advantage in the third quarter. Paul Wheatley tightened up in defence and there seemed to be more purpose and thought in what the Demons were doing and how they went about doing it. This was helped by the continuing good form of Bruce, a solid improved performance from the skipper (after dropping the now mandatory sitter in the first quarter), and the arrival of McLean in the midfield after an injury riddled pre season. This led to a stirring final quarter revival in which Melbourne fell at the last by a mere fingertip after Aaron Davey's shot from 50 metres seemingly went through the goals but was paid a point. As I said above, I don't blame the umpires. Melbourne lost it in the first half when the Adelaide midfield took control, notwithstanding the work of Bruce and McLean. If only the selectors had been brave enough to gamble on the youthful enthusiasm of Matthew Bate (who killed them again in the VFL) and Nathan Jones. If only, they had faith in our youth then we might be able to build on the gains achieved in the second half at Carrara. If not.... At least there is now a glimmer of hope. The Demons might have run out of time and luck at the end but, they now have a springboard from which to attack the rest of the season. As long as they don't keep shooting themselves in the foot. When the game was over, Neale Daniher said, "A lot of our wounds were self-inflicted." An enlightened statement, indeed. Melbourne 2.0.12 9.5.59 10.9.69 14.13.97 Adelaide 6.5.41 11.6.72 14.10.94 15.12.102 Goals Neitz 4 Bruce 3 Brown 2 Davey Johnstone Miller Robertson Yze Best Bruce Brown Rivers Pickett McLean Green Umpires M Stevic S McLaren S Jeffery Crowd 8258 at Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast

by the Oracle I love cliches but I'm becoming a bit like the late Samuel Goldwyn who once complained he was sick of hearing the same old cliches; he wanted to hear some new ones. So this is my assault on the time honoured one about a week being a long time in football. A week? Let's forget "week" and concentrate on "year". At this time last year, the Demons were riding high. I remember it well. A Friday night at the MCG and the opposition was the team from down at Sleepy Hollow on the other end of the Princes Highway. Melbourne gave that mob a touch up to the tune of 48 points and, at the end of the round was sitting on top of the ladder. Undefeated after three rounds and with a percentage of 151.3. Where were the Cats who are currently riding the crest of a wave and seemingly invincible at this stage of the journey? They sat in 10th spot with one win, the same number as St. Kilda which had a lower percentage and in 12th place. The Crows and Sydney had two wins each and were sitting fourth and fifth. Sydney lost its next three matches and by round 6 was 2-4, playing "ugly" and 12th on the ladder. Twelve months earlier, the Cats lost their first three games and were last with a percentage of 59.5. Yet they recovered to make it to a top four berth and a narrow preliminary final loss to Brisbane. We all know what the ugly Swans did in 2005. A year ago, Cameron Bruce was on fire. A best on ground display against the Cats had him as favourite for the Brownlow. We didn't know it at the time but he had already polled 8 Brownlow votes - a fair launching board for any player with aspirations for the highest individual award in the game. As it happened, the wheels fell off for him in the first 30 seconds of round four when he was pole axed (fair tackle?) by Brent Guerra who had one object in mind. The Demons lost for the first time in 2005, Bruce missed a month and a half, never returned to his previous stellar form and was injured again later in the season. Melbourne recovered but stuttered badly through some games it should have won (Hawthorn and Fremantle on the MCG) but still sat at an impressive nine wins and three losses by the end of the Queens Birthday Round. This left the Demons second only to West Coast, their opponents for Round 13. Along the way, they beat the ultimate premiers by 34 points on the SCG as well as the end of season ladder leaders Adelaide by 24 points on the MCG. Both of these games were tight dour struggles. A win over the Kangaroos at Manuka by 36 points was equally impressive while a 57 point demolition of Richmond at the Dome wasn't bad either as the Tigers were on a roll at the time. The aforesaid Queens Birthday party win over the Magpies by 45 points with Adem Yze rampant was a real special. The Demons were winning respect in the football world and a good indicator of this was a Fox Footy Viewer Poll taken the night after that game which showed the club had the best midfield in the competition according to those who voted on the White Line Fever programme. Better than the midfield of the Eagles! Looking back on those heady days, it's hard to believe that the Demons are now second last as they go into round three. In the thirteen games since that victory over Collingwood, they have won only three (by an average of five points each) and have suffered a number of crushing losses. That spiral into freefall has been well documented. When it happened, we put it down partly to injury and the constant travel to interstate venues (four times in 6 rounds) and the mini revival late in the season gave us some fresh hope for a better 2006. So did the fact that the team had an almost 100% fit list going through the summer pre season months. Well, that's in the past now and the start to 2006 has been so demoralizing. But look at what beckons over the coming weeks! This Sunday, it's Adelaide at Carrara (our home game thanks to the Commonwealth Games) and the following week, it's the Swans in Sydney. The big question now is whether the Dees can find new legs and grow new wings, and find new inspiration where there has been precious little over the past fortnight? How on earth can they make this recovery against a team that ran rings around them only a month ago in the semi-final of the nab cup - especially in the last half of that game when they were held to a meagre three points and ran around AAMI Stadium like headless chooks? There are, of course, numerous precedents for massive turn arounds in form, some of which have been alluded to above. In Melbourne's case we need only look at the start to 2004 when the team staggered through the season opener against Hawthorn and lost by a massive 49 points. Skipper David Neitz spent most of that afternoon immobile masquerading as a wooden Indian in the Demon forward line, the midfield was slaughtered and the defence leaked like a sieve. Six days later, against Richmond, a new Melbourne emerged. Neitz kicked nine goals straight, Brad Miller stood tall at CHF, the midfield reigned supreme and Alistair Nicholson (bless his heart) tore Richo to shreds at full back. Had it been a horse race, they would have called in the stewards and the result would have made the Cole Enquiry look like a Sunday school picnic. Later on that year, Melbourne, sitting on 10 wins and 3 defeats travelled to the City of Churches to take on a dispirited Adelaide (4-9) for Neil Craig's first gig as coach after Garry Ayres had been summarily dismissed. Who would have predicted the final score line of 22.13.145 to 10.13.73 in favour of the Crows? A 12-goal flogging! Back in the present, it's a bit too early to see what the Melbourne brains trust has in store for the Crows but there are signs that the defence is going to get a major overhaul this week with Jared Rivers and Nathan Brown returning and Matthew Warnock making his debut after a month on the sidelines with a broken thumb. This is a courageous piece of selection as the Demons looked as if they ran out of puff after half time against the Doggies. To bring in a bloke who has missed five weeks is a bit of a risk in those circumstances, but we know that Warnock can add a bit of height and dash - and he's not short on enthusiasm either. And on the subject of dash, one would haved hoped for the inclusion of Matthew Bate in final selection because he's done enough to deserve it. Unfortunately, the selectors thought otherwise and went with the old and the slow. This just proves the coaching mindset that for Melbourne a victory can only be eked out if its core players start firing some shots. It would be nice to see Neitz taking some grabs again instead of allowing the ball to bounce freely out of his hands when going for marks. Perhaps a bit more pace on a lead and some better placement from players further afield might help. So would some better accuracy from his kicks inside 50 metres. It would also be nice to see Brad Miller settle down at centre half forward instead of going down back where he has floundered so far this year. Likewise better form from Jeff White, a return of the Davey dazzle and the Johnstone magic, the Robbo zest, enthusiasm and high marking (he hasn't gotten off the ground yet this season), some of the toughness Byron Pickett used to display when he was against us, a bit of Matty Whelan courage and dash and could new dad Adem Yze please play as he did a year ago or better still, four year's ago? For heaven's sake, the whole team has been relying too heavily thus far on two players - Cameron Bruce and Colin Sylvia - without them things would have been even more ugly to date. And that's the key. The Demons have had too many passengers, too many individual efforts and far too few hard workers in their opening games. When they travel to Carrara for Easter they must surely know that they can turn things around only by performing at their best and as a team. A week or a year may be a long time, but in football there is always some chance of redemption for the players if they want it bad enough. MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Wheatley Carroll Whelan HB Warnock Rivers Ward C Green McDonald Bartram HF Robertson Miller Davey F Bruce Neitz McLean FOLL White Sylvia Johnstone I/C Brown Jamar Pickett Yze EM Bate C Johnson Moloney In Brown Warnock Rivers Out Ferguson (punctured lung/broken ribs) C Johnson Moloney New Matthew Warnock (Sandringham Zebras) ADELAIDE B Hart Rutten Johncock HB van Berlo McGregor Reilly C Burton Shirley Mattner HF Bode Perrie Thompson F Edwards Hentschel Ricciuto FOLL Biglands Goodwin McLeod I/C Bassett Clarke Doughty Skipworth EM Massie Porplyzia Vince In Hentschel Skipworth Out Knights (shoulder) Stevens Field umpires: Stevic McLaren Jeffrey Where & When: Carrara Stadium, 1.10pm, Sunday 16 April. TV & Radio: Channel 9 (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane), Fox Footy Channel (Adelaide, Perth), ABC Radio Head to Head: Played 22 Melbourne 8 wins Adelaide 14 wins Last time: Adelaide 13.22.100 defeated Melbourne 7.4.46 in round 19, 2005 at AAMI Stadium The betting: Melbourne $2.90, Adelaide $1.35 My tip: A sunny day but a gloomy result. Crows by 34 points. This happens to be their average winning margin and our average losing margin thus far in 2006. In view of what I've written above, that's a farly average summation and I can only hope my prediction turns out to be less than average!

by Barry from Beach Road A good crowd witnessed the unfurling of Sandringham's 2005 VFL premiership flag at a cold Trevor Barker Oval yesterday and the Zebras repaid the faithful by recording an emphatic 69 point first up victory over old rival Port Melbourne. Sandy took a while to shake off a determined Borough side which has decided to go it alone after a couple of years' affiliation with the Kangaroos. It took until late in a short first quarter for the Zebras to hit the front despite having the advantage of the breeze but they took control in the second term to hold a handy 28 point lead at the main break. The floodgates opened in the third quarter when the home side piled on 9.8 to 2.2. with Port's second goal for the term coming from a shot after the siren. With the game well won, Sandringham coasted in the final quarter after holding a lead of more than 14 goals to record a great start to the season as the club vies for a third successive premiership. The victory was a tribute to the healthy association between the Melbourne and Sandringham Football Clubs and once again the contributions of players from both were on par in an excellent team effort. Ezra Poyas relished his role across half back picking up countless possessions and was constantly moving the ball forward to his team's advantage. Rod Crowe worked hard up forward and combined well with new look slim line Nick Sautner and the bevy of midsized players who rotated on the ball and across the forward line. The most outstanding performance of the day however, was that of Demon youngster Matthew Bate who was in everything until rested for most of the final quarter. Ruckman Paul Johnson proved a headache for the Borough whether on the ball or resting and he showed great agility for such a tall man. The Zebras underlined their strength with some solid contributions in defence from Chris Lamb, Jared Rivers, Andy Biddlecombe and Nathan Brown who provided a lot of run from out of the backline. And skipper Chad Liddell was once again an inspiration with his courage and strength. Peter Summers also put in a consistent and gutsy performance. A couple of youngsters stood out with their efforts on the ball. Nathan Jones from the Dandenong Stingrays appears to have a glittering career in the AFL ahead of him while Zebra youngster Shane Valenti was superb in his first game after coming up from the Sandringham Dragons. HOW THE DEMONS FARED by Whispering Jack After watching the Melbourne Football Club open the season with two horrific defeats in the space of seven days it was satisfying to watch some of the boys actually winning the ball well, showing some solid form and dominating the opposition. Sadly, this has to be tempered by an understanding of the fact that Port Melbourne is a stand alone VFL side and is just finding its way in that capacity. We're talking light years in difference to a good AFL opponent but I was happy enough with the form of a few of the Demons to be satisfied that the selection committee will be challenged this week. The names Bate, Brown, Jones and Rivers certainly thrust their names forward and I hope to see them all make the trip up north for Easter. Matthew Bate - had me confused for a while because his carrot top has been replaced with a more subtle reddish brown tinge. However, he has lost none of his pace, fitness and flair. He was in everything early and picked up kicks all over the ground. His disposal and decision making were excellent. Nathan Brown - a bit of a surprise omission from the Demon lineup (team balance?) but it wouldn't surprise if he made his way back after just one week. Set a great example for his teammates and bobbed up everywhere kicking a couple of goals as well when he ventured into attack. Simon Buckley - a running outside player with a lot of pace and athleticism but don't be fooled - he showed at times that he has a real football brain. Could see AFL action later in the season. Lynden Dunn - excellent work on the ground where he was agile and smart with his kicking and general play. Didn't go for any of the big marks but I've seen him in previous games and he is not bad in this area - and can be quite brilliant on a lead. Developing nicely. Simon Godfrey - a strong robust performance but his kicking hasn't improved. Paul Johnson - did well in the ruck and got the ball often when at ground level. Still needs to work on his contested marking and the major problem at the moment is to determine his place on the ground. Nathan Jones started on the bench and came on in the latter stages of the first quarter when he was quiet. Early in the second quarter he received a free kick after laying a monster tackle and then was rotated off the ground. After half time it was a different story and he was super impressive with his work in the clinches, his ability to get the ball out from in close, his quick hands, his accurate disposal of the football, his tackling and his composure. In short, everything that most of the Demon midfielders are not. For mine, I'd play him at Melbourne every week for the rest of the year. He's fit for triathlons and, although football is a different sport, I think his body can handle the rough and tumble of our game at the highest level. Shannon Motlop - got the ball a lot but tended to overuse it and wasn't anywhere near as effective as a result. Alistair Nicholson - this is about the time of season when the selectors decide that it's time to give him a run at AFL level. He didn't do nearly enough to earn his spot but Melbourne's current backline malaise might see him back in the red and blue. Phil Read - started with plenty of aggression and made his presence felt. Some disposal errors marred what was otherwise a fine game but he really does have a dip. Jared Rivers - I can see why the selectors might have been hesitant to rush him back into the side last week - his elbow is still bandaged and I was worried at times when he made a few of his usual kamikaze marking attempts. He's too good for this level and Melbourne's defence has lagged badly in his absence. Bring him back! Nick Smith - started in a real blaze and petered out. In his defence, he was thrown around between forward line, ruck and I'm sure I saw him down back at one stage but he won't replace any of Melbourne's key forwards any time soon. Sandringham 3.2.20 8.5.53 17.13.115 21.14 140 Port Melbourne 2.3.15 3.7.25 5.9.39 10.11.71 Goals Sautner 4 Brown Dunn Gallagher Godfrey Summers Valenti 2 Bate Buckley Crowe Liddell Smith Best Poyas Bate Brown Johnson Liddell Gallagher RESERVES IN STYLE by The Zebra Sandringham reserves kicked off a new VFL season at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval in fine style with a strong win over Port Melbourne - a team that has always troubled the Zebras in the past. Newcomer Andrew Fleming from the Sandringham Dragon was impressive and won the ball well. He was ably backed up by Leigh Fletcher and Marc Johnston in the midfield. Together they fed forwards Tom Mentiplay (8 goals), Ben Holland and Danny Hughes enough times to ensure a reasonably safe victory. The Melbourne contingent included Holland (played half a game returning from injury), Michael Newton and three of the club's rookies Hughes (also returning from injury), Shane Neaves and Andre Giafagna. Sandringham 4.3.27 8.7.55 13.10.88 17.16 118 Port Melbourne 2.0.12 3.4.22 6.7.43 11.11.77 Goals Mentiplay 8 Hughes 3 Holland Johnston 2 Gianfagna Paule Best Mentiplay Holland Fleming Johnston Corp McGettigan More reports and photographs on the Sandringham Football Club website http://www.sandringhamfc.com.au/

by Whispering Jack There were a number of things about which I pondered on the train home from the Telstra Dome yesterday and I have to admit that the performance of the Melbourne Football Club was not at the forefront of my thoughts (although not entirely out of mind). In the first instance I thought of Connex Melbourne, the private operator of the electrified suburban railway network in our fair city. I wondered whether I should write a letter of complaint about the train services they operate for sporting events to and from the Dome. How could I pen my displeasure at the announcement to the thronging after match crowd at the top of the steps leading into the station’s bowels that the next Frankston line train was departing on Platform 13 when several minutes later (and about 5 minutes beyond the scheduled time) the bloody train rolled up on the adjacent Platform 12 requiring a quick sprint up and down a flight of stairs and a headlong leap into the carriage of an almost departing train? It was at that very point that I realised I had probably covered the territory needed to begin my homeward journey at a much faster clip than half of the Demon team were going in the third and final quarters of their game against the Bulldogs. And readers might want to note that I have not spent the last four and a half months of my existence in full time and highly paid training for the occasion! Once I was safely ensconced inside the carriage and had recovered my breath and composure, I turned my attention to my mobile phone. This time I was wondering whether I was the lucky winner of one of the cash prizes offered in a pre match promotion by the Western Bulldogs' new $300,000 corporate sponsor Ezybonds. After last week's debacle at the hands of Carlton, a number of my usual game day companions have already given up the ghost and soon after I arrived at the ground, I was up on Level 3 all by myself and bored with my own company, when the Ezybonds promotion came up on the Telstra Dome screen. All you had to do was send an SMS with the word EZY to a specified number and you were eligible for prize money of up to $1,000 at the end of the game. So I'm back in the train sitting there desolately as it snakes its way into Richmond Station and I'm waiting for the message to light up my mobile phone to tell me that I was to achieve some consolation from a horrible day: "Congratulations, you've won!" Alas, the message never came. Indeed, by the time we were whizzing through Hawksburn Station (thankfully it was an express South Yarra to Malvern), I realised that the appropriate message for myself personally and for my football team was: "Tough luck, you've lost!" In the event, no message ever came, so I recalled the written word on my phone screen and by this time the emotion of the afternoon was clearly overcoming me. I read the message backwards and it said, "YZE" I was in the twilight zone as we went through Armadale Station but by the time we stopped at Malvern I had a question on my lips: "What about YZE?" And then I asked about White and Neitz and the other more experienced players in the Melbourne team and then I asked myself one of the key questions about the events of the past seven days: "Where were our experienced leaders?" I don't have all of the answers to that question but one of our experienced leaders is playing for Sandringham today and if the selection panel are going to be honest with their players, their team, the club and the supporters another one of those leaders should join him next week – he whose name is an anagram of the Bulldog sponsor – consecutive games record notwithstanding. And for the record, I was one of his staunchest supporters when he was down on form in late 2005. It's for the good of the club that young blood is introduced in the form of players like Matthew Bate and Nathan Jones (and our former Rising Star should get some consideration as well!) And introducing new blood is not a sign that you're about to surrender the season; it's a way of looking forward and seeking a practical result to the team's lack of run and paucity of spirit and purpose. Both Bate and Jones are super fit and can be relied on, at least to chase their opponents and show some enthusiasm. There are of course many more difficult questions to ask about the Melbourne Football Club than matters of fitness and leadership. Yesterday, the midfield was on top early allowing the team a lead of up to 20 points in the first half – a lead that could have been greater had Neitz, Bruce and Colin Sylvia not messed up with their set shots for goal. But after the main break, the Bulldogs won the ball out of the centre with consummate ease notwithstanding the fact that Jeff White got his hands to the ball as often as not in the centre bounces. There was little or no grunt in the centre clearance duels, nor was there much evidence of skills or ability to get the ball out cleanly as the Doggies invariably did time and again. And the disposal by hand and by foot – everywhere including in front of goal – was abysmal. Which leads me to ask what have these blokes been doing over the pre-season? Which leads me further to ask about the match day coaching which has been awful. I know you can't blame the coach for everything and it's not him who's out there on the ground but surely someone must be responsible for the team's pathological need to go wide so often. What happened to the concept of controlling the corridor? I'll make special mention of Cameron Bruce and Colin Sylvia for their sterling efforts all day. Clint "Junkyard Dog" Bartram, the youngest player in the team, stuck doggedly (no pun intended) to his task and, as for the rest, they were a bit like yours truly at Southern Cross Station – on the wrong platform! There's not much more to say about yesterday's game beyond that. Melbourne 5.5.35 8.9.57 11.11.77 12.18.90 Western Bulldogs 2.5.17 6.8.44 15.13.103 20.17.137 Goals Robertson 3 Bruce Carroll Davey Green Jamar Moloney Neitz Sylvia White Best Bruce Sylvia Injury Ferguson (ribs, lung). Report - Hargrave Western Bulldogs (reported by umpire D Goldspink for allegedly striking McDonald in the second quarter). Umpires Stevic Jeffery Goldspink Crowd 28,478 at Telstra Dome

DEMONOLOGY/DEMONLAND/BIG FOOTY - 2007 PLAYER SPONSORSHIP by George on the Outer (from Demonology) For Season 2007 the Demonology/Demonland Crew have again been offered the chance to sponsor Clint Bartram. As his sponsors last year we were offered "first dibs" and we have jumped at the chance. Clint surprised all in our 2006 group when he played all 22 games in his rookie year after being recruited from Ocean Grove. An unfortunate and devastating ankle injury in the final round of the season in Adelaide saw the end of his glorious run, but we have every confidence that he will add to his game tally in 2007. Clint is pictured below. The sponsorship proposed by the Club is similar to last year: # A get-together with Clint and the rest of the group. ( As we now suspect he will be playing senior footy on a regular basis, we will be aiming to do this prior to the season proper - which means you will need to sign up soon!) # A player sponsor pin to be proudly worn in recognition of your support. # Meetings with Craig Cameron, the recruiting Manager at the MFC. For those that haven't experienced one of these evenings, it is one of the highlights of the year. Come along and get the true inside information on the up and coming prospects, and following the draft get the run-down on our new recruits, along with video of their performances during the year. And all of this for a mere $110! So if you want to join up with a genuine group of Melbourne Footy fanatics get up close and personal with Clint get the inside running on the playing group and the recruits then join us for Season 2007. Now as the sponsorship has already been paid by the organisers( to ensure that we secured Craig), please send cheques made to "cash", cash or money orders to: Demonology/Demonland Player sponsorship P.O. Box 394 Port Melbourne Vic 3207

by J.V. McKay Like many of my fellow Melbourne supporters, I left the Telstra Dome on Sunday night feeling absolutely gutted. Obviously, the sick feeling in my stomach was caused mainly by the result of the game although the food I ate in the previous two and a half hours didn't help (nor did its cost). However, there was something else as well. It took until this morning when I read in the Herald Sun that Demon coach Neale Daniher wants his team to change its game plan. Pardon me? You lose the first game of the season to last year's wooden spooner and all of a sudden you need to change your game plan? I mean, you spend the whole summer training your team to be fit and ready for game one, you lose that and, all of your work is down the drain and you start over with a different style of play? Why is it now that "we have to be a bit smarter" and "a bit less predictable in how we go forward"? Surely every man and his dog would have known how Carlton was going to play the game on Sunday night? After all, they beat Melbourne in the second pre-season game last year on their way to the 2005 Wizard Cup victory in exactly the same fashion. They played our forwards tight, flooded exceedingly, and went forward quickly, often to the old familiar and open Pagan's paddock. You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to work out how Carlton was going to try to win the game. You just had to be a student of history. Similarly, if you knew your history, you knew exactly how Melbourne was going to lose. Whenever, the Demons are the hunted rather than the hunter, they seem to fall into what is almost a "she'll be right" pattern. The thinking is that the opposition isn't much chop, we'll just play by rote, bomb the ball forward on a wing and a prayer and maybe someone like Robbo will drag a few marks down, kick some goals and we'll get home in the end. It doesn't happen that way in modern football. Truth is we weren't prepared, we weren't fast enough, fit enough or smart enough to gain an edge and in the end we lost dismally. What's worse is Carlton really wasn't all that good either. Hopefully, the selection panel will bring in a few players of the calibre of Jared Rivers, Brock McLean etc, make a few structural changes, and ensure that Brad Miller is played at centre half forward where he can present himself to those bringing the ball from downfield. Our problem is that you can't change your game plan overnight. Take the case of Brent Moloney who has copped the brunt of criticism about his failure to hit targets especially when going long. Presumably, it's Beamer's performance on Sunday that have caused much of the Daniher angst about the team's style. The thing is that Moloney has been doing his thing for more than a year at the club and it's worked, particularly on the bigger grounds. He's good, he's hard and a real worker but we all know that he has become predictable in style. That is not his fault alone. Unless the club invests some time in improving him as an all round footballer, he's going to find himself at the footballing crossroads. Unfortunately, as can be seen by the team's performances over the past two or three years, much of the team is at the crossroads. My selection for this week's game at the Dome therefore is unfortunately, Bulldogs by a fair margin. They are faster and fitter than Melbourne, are full of confidence and, what's more, they use the ball much better than the Demons. Thank you very much. WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE Saturday, 2:10pm AEST, Telstra Dome WESTERN BULLDOGS B: McMahon, Harris, Morris HB: Gilbee, Grant, Hargrave C: Eagleton, West, Griffen HF: R Murphy, Hahn, Giansiracusa F: Robbins, Morgan, Johnson FOLL: Minson, Cross, Cooney I/C: Boyd, Power, Skipper, Smith EMG: Birss, Montgomery, Street IN: - OUT: - NEW: - MELBOURNE B: Wheatley, Carroll, Whelan HB: Bruce, Ferguson, Ward C: Green, McDonald, Moloney HF: Robertson, Miller, Davey F: Pickett, Neitz, Yze FOLL: White, Sylvia, Johnstone I/C: McLean, C.Johnson, Bartram, Jamar EMG: Brown, Motlop, Bate IN: C Johnson, McLean, Wheatley OUT: P Johnson, Brown, Motlop NEW: - Field umpires: Stevic, Jeffrey, Goldspink [No Jared Rivers doesn't help our cause!]

by The Oracle We all know that Neale Daniher is a leading advocate of football's "premiership clock" theory but somebody should have told him that at two in the morning before yesterday's season opener against Carlton, the clocks went back an hour because his team didn't know it - they were running slow, out of synch and out of time for most of their game against the Blues at Telstra Dome. To put it simply, his Demons were out coached by a master coach and outplayed by a team that isn't exactly recognised for its skill and talent. The dispirited performance against last year's wooden spooner answered a question that has been hanging ominously over the team since it went into free fall in mid season last year. To put it simply again, the Demons are not up to it when the pressure is applied both physically and mentally. Last year's flop can no longer be considered an aberration. Let's start with the proposition about the team being out coached. One of the two main accusations that Neale Daniher has faced over the years is that he is a reactive coach i.e. that he plans games to nullify the opposition's strengths rather than taking the initiative and setting the agenda himself. The second is that he has no Plan B but at least on yesterday's performance by Melbourne, you can't agree with that that - you need a Plan A if you're going to have a Plan B and we didn't have any plan at all. But let's get back to the reactive part and I'll give one example. The move of Brad Miller to defence was a coaching box reaction to the Blues' forward set up. Admittedly, the selectors were limited because they didn't have Jared Rivers, Clint Bizzell, Paul Wheatley and Daniel Bell at his disposal but moving Miller away from the most important position on the ground was indicative of Daniher's mindset. He was aiming to nullify Carlton's strengths rather than to set the trend of the game himself and in doing that, he played into Dennis Pagan's hands. With Miller away from centre half forward, Melbourne had to make do with Paul Johnson and we know contested pack marking is not that player's forte. To make matters worse, the team simply shunned the corridor from the very first start making the task of the Blues' defenders an easy one for the night. When the ball comes forward the long way and your forward line's static (and Neitz, Robertson and Johnson were seemingly chained to the spot all night), it's easy for the opposition defence to clear the ball away time and time again. Miller was needed up forward because he is at least a player who presents himself to the ball. Instead, he was forced into an uncomfortable role in a defence where he and his fellow defenders were under intense pressure all evening because the Blues played far more direct football and, after the opening ten minutes of the game, they also controlled the stoppages. And it was in the midfield and around the packs that Melbourne was also found wanting. The Blues were the true blue collar midfielders who went in and under to get the football. They wanted to get their hands dirty while Melbourne's on ballers were happy to hang around to get the loose balls that didn't come often and when they did, they were delivered with such poor execution that it beggared belief. That poor disposal was often inexplicable but generally, it came from a tendency to overuse the football and in particular, to deliver one or two handballs too many and thereby creating their own pressure on themselves. That sort of play is usually borne out of arrogance and contempt for the opposition and you got the impression that the Demons have been reading all of those newspaper reports about the demise of the Carlton Football Club. Perhaps they felt that this was an opportunity to make some hay but, to mangle the words of the great American writer Mark Twain, "The rumours of Carlton's death have been greatly exaggerated". On the other hand, even at this early stage, Melbourne's season is facing oblivion. I know full well that it's only round one and that there are 21 more weeks to go before the finals but yesterday's loss was nothing short of disaster given that the team faces games against the rampant Bulldogs next week and then travels interstate to play Adelaide (who thumped us by 85 points a month ago) and reigning premier Sydney. A look at Melbourne's better players, the likes of Brad Green, Cameron Bruce and Aaron Davey doesn't do much to inspire. Fresh and enthusiastic young blood is required and I'd be disappointed if the likes of Matthew Bate, Chris Johnson and Nathan Jones weren't being seriously considered for selection. Carlton went with its number one recruit Marc Murphy and he didn't let them down. Having seen him play at a number of different levels before, Murphy's Victorian Metro team mate from last year, Nathan Jones, would at least have had the necessary fire in his belly and determination to win the hard ball which is more than you can say for most of the wasteful, mistake-riddled, rabble of a side that represented the Melbourne Football Club on an inglorious opening day to the 2006 season. The clock is now ticking against us. Melbourne 3.3.21 4.9.33 6.10.46 10.12.72 Carlton 3.3.21 6.7.43 10.9.69 13.15.93 Goals A. Davey 3 D Neitz R Robertson 2 C Bartram C Bruce C Sylvia. Best C Bruce B Green A Davey Injury R Robertson (jarred knee). Reports Nil Umpires H Kennedy M Nicholls D Margetts Official Crowd: 31,139 at Telstra Dome.

REFLECTING ON A NEW YEAR by Whispering Jack This week has always been a big one for football fanatics. It's the time of year when a seemingly eternal summer finally fades into oblivion to make way for a new season bringing with it fresh hope - just as it did this time last year, the year before and the year before that. And if you happen to be a football fanatic of the Demon variety, it seems almost like forever since the days when we were kings... Yet this time brings fresh hope. Not only that, but for some reason, the hope is tinged with a strong belief that this time things will be different. But why? What is it about 2006 that makes it so different from the same time of the year in say, 1996, 1986, 1976 or 1966? Well, let's see. Way back in 1966 we were still used to success. It was ingrained in our beliefs about the Melbourne Football Club. Unfortunately, we had what was once a great side - arguably the greatest ever - but by now it was on the brink of disintegration. The committee was divided, the coach was still miffed by the turbulent events of the year before when he was sacked and reinstated in midseason (less than a year after winning a premiership flag!) and the young kids who were coming in weren't anywhere near ready - they simply hadn't served enough of an apprenticeship and were thrown to the wolves. The best of them, 17 year old Ross Dillon, did his knee in round six and we didn't see much of him for a couple of years. So in the end, sixty-six wasn't a very good year for Norm Smith and his charges. By 1976 we were starting to get a bit worried. It was now more than a decade since Neil "Froggy" Crompton, wearing the number 5 on his back, had kicked the goal that made all the difference in '64. Smith was long gone as coach and the bloke who now held the reins was called "The Chimp". We had a young champion in Robbie Flower and we made an almighty run for the finals that year but in the end we failed and we still had the monkey on our backs. Ten more dismal years passed years and we waved goodbye to Smith's protégé, the great Ronald Dale Barassi and his Five Year Plan. That one didn't work either. When the Great Plan fizzed after the five years we were back where we started. Nowhere. The monkey was now about the size of King Kong. Then John Northey arrived in eighty-six but he simply didn't have the cattle that year. More pain but at least there was some gain under Swooper. The big ape on our back was reduced in size but when another decade had rolled by we had tasted a little success but not the ultimate. We had seen better times and had come tantalisingly close but it was no cigar and then back to more despair. Ninety-six was a year that started poorly (The Ox had done his knee again, Garry's back was crook, so was Stinga's and Todd Viney was off coaching some tennis playing brat). We were flogged by an emerging Sydney side in a practice match at Moorabbin before the start of the season and the mood was sombre. But things got worse and by year's end King Kong was back and we were facing disaster - the possible death of the club. A white knight came and we were resurrected, and he went and others came and, in the blink of an eye, here we are in 2006 still waiting for something that's been a long time comin'. The story of Melbourne over the past few years has been the story of a team that isn't quite ready. We faded out late in 2004 after reaching the top at the end of round 18. The fadeout came earlier in 2005 but we had enough steely resolve to fight back with desperation in late 2005 when we were treated to some real thrills before we went down badly to the Cats in the first week of the finals. Pre season 2006 has been no different - some hard fought wins and then the major let down in Adelaide. So why am I optimistic? I'm not sure that you can really call it optimism. I'm more inclined to describe it as "the vibe" in the same vein as the term was used by lawyer Tiriel Mora in the movie, The Castle. It's a trifle more spiritual than a mere belief in the Reverend and his message. It's a real "vibe" about where the Melbourne Football Club stands in 2006. I like the midfield blend including Travis Johnstone, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald, Brad Green and the four young Horsemen of the Apocalypse Bell, Moloney, McLean and Sylvia and the younger still Bate and Jones. I like Jeff White and Mark Jamar in the ruck. I like the brothers Davey, Motlop, Pickett and Whelan wherever they may be on the ground. I like the forward mix of Robbo, Millsy, The Oozay and Neita. I have some reservations about the defence but I still like Jared Rivers, Doggy and the General and I'll even learn to like the loveable rogue in Nathan Carroll now that he looks like Chopper Read and then there's Nicho and the up and coming Clint Bartram. I know these blokes aren't everybody's favourites for the flag, or the top four or even the eight but then again, where were the Swans in everybody's estimation this time last year? It's been a long time comin' but I think now it's here so bring on 2006! THE TOP TEN ... For some years I've been rating the full list from first to last at the beginning and then at the end of each season. However, I've decided not to do that this year - it's a bit too tough on the blokes at the bottom end - especially those who I've barely seen in action before. I decided instead to just go with my top ten and, at the same time run the risk of starting the season with the usual bagging from those who ignore my usual caveat about this being one man's very subjective opinion. So here goes ... 1.Travis Johnstone - has finally discovered maturity and consistency and the reason I have him here at the top is that I'm convinced that, barring injury, Trapper will join the elite company of AFL footballers this year. And so he should because he's one of the smartest footballers around with his decision-making and disposal of the football. 2. Russell Robertson - in recruiting circles they talk about athletes who can play a bit but Robbo is a showman who can play a bit. Over the past few seasons, Robbo has reinvented himself by working hard on his weaknesses and turning them into strengths. His kicking for one thing and for another, his general work rate and his aggression at the football. And the boy can take a mark too! 3. Jeff White - the rules and circumstance have forced him to change his style and, while in the past, he relished going solo in the ruck, I expect him to get a great deal of help from others in 2006 - mainly The Russian but also young Paul Johnson. I think this will make him a more useful asset to the team as he enters his twilight years in the game. 4. Cameron Bruce - he had greatness taken away from him in 2005 and now, it's time that he recovers the early season magic he treated us to in last year's first three rounds before injury cheated him out of a stellar season and possible greatness. 5 Brad Green - like Bruce I think he is at the stage of his career where he should take a few more upward steps. This could be the year for him - he just has to become a little more consistent. 6. Adem Yze - was criticised by many for his indifferent end to 2005 but his forty plus goals in a forward pocket was still a good dividend. In the early part of the season played a critical role in some of his team's biggest victories. 7. David Neitz - you wouldn't put him here on his pre season form but he's what you call an experienced trooper who times his run well. For the record, the timing of his injuries has not been good of late but if he stays healthy, the skipper will play a big role in the club's 2006 fortunes. 8. Nathan Brown - courage personified and a hard worker who is so very important in running through the lines and linking up the play going forward. A bit problematic when he's spraying the pill at times but he's so effective when on song. 9. Matthew Whelan - one of the most underrated players at the club. His presence in defence lifts his teammates. 10. Brent Moloney - strong and talented, Moloney is one of the new breed of Demon midfielders who will change the way the club is perceived in football circles in the very near future. One of the reasons why I am so confident that Melbourne can rise to top four status and challenge for the ultimate honour in the AFL competition is that there are a number of candidates for top 10 placings from outside this group and who I expect will rise to replace some of the above. It's one of the main differences between where the club is now and where it has been at this time of year in all of the previous decades from the sixties up to now. There are challengers everywhere from Aaron Davey, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia and James McDonald to Jared Rivers (especially if he makes a complete and early recovery from his pre season elbow injury), Byron Pickett, Shannon Motlop and some of the even younger blokes. I suppose that's one of the ingredients that gives me "the vibe" and, have I said it before? It's been a long time coming for that to happen with the Demons. TWILIGHT TIME Melbourne kicks off the season with a home game at Telstra Dome against Carlton at twilight on Sunday and is expected to win against a team that is everybody's favourite for a wooden spoon. Neale Daniher has correctly warned his players to dismiss those doomsday predictions for Carlton and has pointed out that anything can happen in the opening round of the season. Carlton has its full squad available and "they're playing a big game for Kouta". Their practice match form, apart from an early flogging at the hands of Port Adelaide at Optus Oval (which was no worse than Melbourne's effort against the Crows), hasn't been too bad coming off recent wins over West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. Melbourne's response to the Adelaide debacle was a reasonably comfortable win over the Kangaroos but, on reflection, practice match results are more or less meaningless. What is important especially early in the season, is that the team that runs out on the ground is fully fit and therefore capable of exerting constant pressure on the opposition. The Reverend shrugs off Melbourne's Adelaide performance "a good lesson to take on board" and "more a workrate issue" which has now been addressed. It remains to be seen whether we can run hard enough and apply a more pressure than we did three weeks ago at AAMI Stadium. As much as I am a sceptic, I'll believe him for now because I have "the vibe" and I also have a good memory. Way back in 1974 Melbourne opened up one of it's truly poor seasons with a 49-point defeat against an arrogant, cocky Carlton that was one of the richest clubs in the competition in terms of player depth and financial resources. I dreamed of the day when we could turn the tables and that time has now come. Not only are the Blues broke in every way imaginable, the legend goes that these days Princes Park is haunted by a gigantic ape with a huge bulbous nose that smokes acrid smelling cigars and gropes young women. The Blues of today are so haunted by this spectre that despite the Daniher words of caution, they won't come within a bull's roar of winning on Sunday. And in the words of the great Bruce Springsteen in his epic album Devils (read "Demons") and Dust (read "Blues") "It's been a long time comin', my dear It's been a long time comin', but now it's here And now it's here." THE GAME - Melbourne v Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday 2 April 2006 at 5.10pm AEST Teams: MELBOURNE B: Brown Carroll Whelan HB: Yze Ferguson Ward C: Green Bruce Moloney HF: Pickett Miller Davey F: Johnson Neitz Robertson R: White Sylvia Johnstone IC: Bartram Jamar McDonald Motlop Em: Bate Jones Nicholson NEW: Clint Bartram (Geelong Falcons) Byron Pickett (Port Adelaide) CARLTON B: Carrazzo Livingston Walker HB: Thornton Whitnall Lappin C: Simpson Scotland Stevens HF: Houlihan Waite Fisher F: Deluca Fevola Betts R: French Kouta Murphy IC: Bentick McGrath McLaren Sporn Em: Chambers Teague Wiggins NEW: Dylan McLaren (Brisbane Lions) Marc Murphy (Oakleigh Chargers) Field umpires: Kennedy, M.Nicholls, Margetts TV & Radio: Fox Footy, Triple M, 3AW, ABC Head to Head: Melbourne 86 Carlton 107 2 draws Last time: Melbourne 15.20.110 d Carlton 13.14.92 in Round 9, 2005 at Princes Park My Tip: Melbourne by 49 points

by Barry from Beach Road The Sandringham Football Club is on a mission for 2006. The aim is to win its third consecutive flag - a rare achievement at the elite end of any sport. Despite the degree of difficulty involved, the Zebras are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to win premiership number ten and their fourth since striking a partnership with the Melbourne Football Club when it was announced that the VFL competition was to be revamped from the beginning of season 2000. One of the main aspects of Sandringham's relationship with Melbourne has been the cordial working relationship and the stability of the union. In 2006, the Zebras will gain two seasoned recruits who come off MFC lists in Guy Rigoni and Chris Lamb (although Lamb did not play in 2005 after being delisted by the Demons at the end of the previous year). Their presence in the line up along with the return of the exciting Mark Corrigan who underwent a knee reconstruction early last season after impressing when he crossed from Old Haileybury, will offset the team's losses although 2005 best and fairest winner Sean O'Keeffe and premiership players Paul Kennedy, Matt Gadsden and Toby Conroy will all be missed. The fact that players of the calibre of Rigoni and Lamb are prepared to stay on and help out at the Zebras speaks volumes for the union as well as adding to the stability of the place. Apart from the signing of Rigoni and Lamb, Sandringham’s other gains will come from two sources. Under existing arrangements between the VFL and the Under 18 TAC Cup competition players graduating out of the Sandringham Dragons are streamed into their VFL counterpart. The alliance has already seen Melbourne bear fruit from this situation with the rookie listing of Matthew Warnock and Daniel Hughes, both of who came to Sandy from the Dragons and impressed enough to gain recognition at AFL level. A number of teenager hopefuls have crossed to the Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval in their footsteps this year including Andrew Fleming, Scott Lockwood, Peter McGettigan, Daniel Turcarelli and the very promising on baller Shane Valenti. All of them have been impressive in trials with the senior team during the current practice match period along with Melbourne Grammar small man Thomas Paule. The other major source of players to the Zebra ranks is of course, the Melbourne Football Club and Sandy will benefit from the Demons' decision to draft a full quota of rookies in 2006 (five compared with two in 2005). This will enable Sandringham to field the above-mentioned Warnock and Hughes along with new rookies Jace Bode, Andre Gianfagna and Shane Neaves as well as a number of the young developing Demon senior listers. Sandringham's strength over recent years has been its solid basis of regular VFL stars headed by skipper Chad Liddell, goal kicking star Nick Sautner, Rod Crowe, Peter Summers, Ezra Poyas, Andy Biddlecombe and David Gallagher. They are all back and performing well. Collectively, they form what would be a extremely solid base for any VFL club. The club's quest for that tenth premiership opens in a fortnight with its clash against traditional rival Port Melbourne when last years flag is unveiled at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval. The Borough recently severed its relationship with a second AFL club in the space of less than half a dozen seasons and are going it alone in 2006. Under the new VFL rules, in those circumstances, Sandringham can field no more than 12 AFL affiliated players. The Zebras will be up to the task and ready for the big day.

GREG PARKE by Whispering Jack They say that in sport, as with most things, timing is everything. If you're in the right place at the right time, you might taste greatness; become a hero. But if your timing is out by just a little, you might miss out on all the glory. I often think that way about Greg Parke, the high marking spring-heeled, blond Demon key forward position player of the late '60's and early '70's. His timing for marks was perfection; he would position himself in a pack and suddenly soar seemingly without much effort to pluck the cherry strongly in those vice like hands. It was great stuff for the footy fan in those days although, today, this art seems to have almost died out of our game. In that respect, he timed his career well. But the timing of his arrival from suburban Bentleigh to the Melbourne Football Club at the beginning of 1968 was a different thing altogether. I always believed that had Parke emerged at the club a mere five years earlier, he might have played in one or two premiership teams - perhaps even more - and therefore his career on a personal level could have been far more celebrated. He might even have become known as one of the club's true champion players and tasted team of the century glory. The fact is however, that Parke arrived in the early days of one of the darkest periods in the club's history. While I still remember him as a great player in those troubled times, the club's circumstances robbed him of the glory of finals appearances in the red and blue and his status as a player in our great game was diminished by the fact that he played in such an unsuccessful side. Back then, football was a different sport to the one it is today. The game was an amalgam of amateurism and semi-professionalism, clubs were run on chook raffles, teams played on suburban grounds that were dustbowls in autumn and mud heaps in the winter, few players were super fit or highly skilled, they used different types and styles of kicking, there was a lot more violence, nobody ever dared to handball on the back line and the contested pack mark was a feature of the game. It was also an era that held very little joy for Demon supporters – especially not for those who had grown used to the taste of grand final success in the decade between 1955 and 1964 when the club took six premiership flags in a golden era that came to shattering end in the middle of the 1965 season. Despite the absence of Ron Barassi, hero to a generation of red and blue youngsters, who defected to lowly Carlton in the off-season, things looked good when the team won the first eight games in the dramatic winter of '65 but things fell apart quickly after that. I remember a Queens Birthday flogging at the hands of an emerging St. Kilda, the sacking and reinstatement of Norm Smith, the club going into freefall and failing to make the finals, the exodus of household names from the golden era and the failure of recruiters to replenish the quality of the club’s playing stocks. The team really nose-dived in Smith's later years and by the end of the 1967 season, the great coach was gone. Without Smith, without Barassi and without many of the stars, we found ourselves searching for new champions but very few potential heroes came along. There was Stan Alves, Gary Hardeman, Ross Dillon (but he was often injured), Greg Wells and later the great Robbie (who I maintain was our only real hero since 1964), but back then, when other sides such as Carlton were finding the likes of Alex Jesaulenko and Brent Crosswell and Richmond was signing Royce Hart, Dick Clay and Francis Bourke, the Demons were always struggling. I always recall those dark days when I drive past the intersection of Hawthorn and North Roads in East Brighton. A cynic might say that this is because there’s a cemetery located on one of its corners but that's not really the reason. The truth is that on another corner stands a milk bar that was the venue of a meeting I had with the great Greg Parke when he was a young copper and I was a slightly younger university student. But first, let's go back to 1968 when 11 new players were introduced to Melbourne's senior line up - Kelvin Clarke, John Forster, Greg Parke, Denis Clark, Phil Rhoden, Darryl Schwarz, Ray Biffin, George Lakes, Euan Campbell, Peter Weekes and Graeme Aubrey. Some of the above became handy footballers but only Greg Parke who was the 864th Demon to don the guernsey was to play more than 10 games in his debut season. The 185 cm 84.5 kg forward played 18 of them in 1968 and went on to play a hundred or so more and while he never attained hero status, he was up there with Melbourne's best in the post 1964 era. I first saw him playing in an intraclub practice match at the M.C.G. He came under notice instantly and not just because of his mop of blond hair, his untidy looks and the socks hanging around his ankles. It was a high mark that he took early in the game, followed by another and another. Everybody knew then that we had a new key position forward on our hands. Parke's first VFL game was at Moorabbin against St. Kilda in Round 2 when he lined up at centre half forward in a team that had a smattering of premiership players most of them at the end of their long careers. He was flanked by the great Brian Dixon and the ever-elusive Barry Vagg. The team’s spine was composed of Bob "Tassie" Johnson and Brian "Doc" Roet, skipper Hassa Mann was in the centre and another young up and coming forward Ross Dillon (who debuted brilliantly in 1966 but was soon sidelined with a long term knee injury) was at full forward. Other premiership players in the side were Don Williams, Tony Anderson, Bryan Kenneally and John Townsend while future test cricketer Max Walker was in the ruck and future Tasmanian premier Ray Groom was in a back pocket. Stan Alves was on the wing. Parke kicked a goal in that game but the Demons had a bad day going down to the Saints by 56 points. They beat the Swans the following week when Parke kicked two and the young forward was soon a regular fixture in Melbourne’s best player list. The high flyer really came of age in Round 8 at Victoria Park against the old enemy which had had the wood on Melbourne since the end of the golden era. Parke was in great form in the air and the Demons were on song in the first half as they burst to a 24-point lead but the home team struck back with seven goals in the third quarter to nose ahead by five points before Melbourne steadied in the final term to win by a goal. Parke booted four and was named best on ground. I remember being in a car full of elated Demon supporters driving home and singing (that's a very kind word for it!) an ode to Melbourne’s man with the big spring - to the tune of the hit song of the day "MacArthur Park" which was a one hit wonder for actor Richard Harris. It was a song whose words made absolutely no sense and it went on forever but these young fans, euphoric with the thought that their team had now won five out of the first eight games of the season and in striking distance of the top four, were certain that spring was waiting for us. To our consternation, we were a step ahead of ourselves as we would be many times in the coming four decades. Meanwhile Parke continued to shine although his team would win only three more games for the season. They lost the return game against Collingwood at the MCG by a solitary point. Parke was the club's best first year player by a mile but the team of the '50's and the '60's was undergoing its final disintegration. A three-win season and a wooden spoon in 1969 beckoned. Greg Parke played 21 games and kicked 25 goals, Dillon booted 48 at CHF but the team was still terrible despite having two such good key forwards. There was some improvement in 1970, the team finished 10th and made the night grand final for the second year in a row with policeman Parke still the one in a key forward spot for the Demons. He could mark all right and indeed, he set a VFL record in 1970 for marks taken with 238, a figure that was not beaten until a decade later when Gary Dempsey took 241 (but that statistic included a finals match with the Kangaroos). Parke’s ground play was fair but his kicking was a bit so-so. Still, it was his superlative high marking that was such a feature of his play. Parke's number 26 proudly adorned many of the duffle coats that were the fashion among young football fans. Melbourne had a great start to season 1971 under new coach Ian Ridley. Constable Parke continued to hold down the centre half forward position and it was about this time that I came across him in that milk bar in North Road East Brighton. I introduced myself, we each bought ourselves an Eskimo Pie to munch on and discussed the club's fortunes before he went off to catch a thief, direct traffic or whatever and I returned to my textbooks. We won the next few games so I prided myself on motivating the star forward and things were looking decidedly rosy when the Demons beat St. Kilda by 3 points in round 9 to make it eight wins out of nine games. Sadly, the wheels fell off again after that as the team fell into a slump and out of the top four. At least they finally won a night premiership (for teams finishing outside the top four). Melbourne managed to win ten games in 1972 thanks mainly to another great season from Parke who topped Melbourne's goal kicking in 1972 with 62 goals. He kicked six goals in a 33 point win over Geelong and regularly picked up bags of five goals playing mainly at full forward. Ross Dillon left at the end of a patchy year to play for the SA Redlegs, Norwood leaving the Demons with only one key position forward. Parke himself would not last much longer at the club and although he managed to average a goal a game in 1973, the blond forward struggled for consistency. He transferred to Footscray at the end of that season after a career at Melbourne which spanned 119 day and 7 night series matches for the club during from 1968 to 1973. It was a sad day when Parke left Melbourne but he finally had a slight taste of football glory in spring as he was a leading light in Footscray’s finals campaign in 1974 before heading off to play 18 games for the SA Redlegs, Norwood, where he joined Dillon in 1976 before returning for a cameo season at Fitzroy. In all, he played a total of 171 VFL games, including 37 for Footscray and 15 for Fitzroy. But it was at Melbourne that the great Greg Parke as the closest thing you can get to being a hero of a club down on its knees - a shining light in a dark, dark age. It would take us almost two decades before we could find another high flying forward but that’s another story.

by The Oracle Almost the entire population of the City of Melbourne seemed preoccupied this week with opening ceremonies, winged trams, ducks and a series of sporting events (some of which are very obscure to say the least) that all seem to end with a victory dais, golden spoils for the winner and large heaps of national and international recognition for those who achieve. Yesterday however at Princes Park, it was different. The result of the nab challenge match between 2005 AFL finalists Melbourne and the Kangaroos meant absolutely nothing. Jack Squat. The importance of the afternoon was simply in assessing how the teams were shaping up in their last dress rehearsals for the forthcoming season. After a disastrous departure from the AFL pre season series in Adelaide last week Melbourne at least regained some face when the final scoreboard put it in front by 22 points - 19.7.121 to 15.9.99 but very few questions were answered as the football's new year looms within the span of a fortnight. The Demons started every quarter bar the second with a withering burst that was enough to ensure that they would lead the game from go to whoa. Their five goal opening charges in each of the first and third quarters were blistering reminders of the start of their Telstra Dome game against the Tigers in mid season last year. A lot of that had to do with the first signs of form being shown by veterans David Neitz and Jeff White who have both had lacklustre starts in the pre season. White, who has been held back to allow Mark Jamar more time in the thick of things in the ruck, is slowly returning to his old effectiveness while the Russian is still being worked hard as a follower. Skipper Neitz, who was about as mobile as one of the behind posts in his first two games, opened with three early goals and was too strong for the Ross’ new recruit Jonathan Hay. With Aaron Davey zipping around the field and finding the goals, we saw two key elements back in the Demon forward line that were missing late last year when the captain was injured and The Flash was missing shots for goal that he would normally have for breakfast. The Kangaroos were effective in closing down the game after quarter time when they went with a spare man in defence. Hay tightened up on Neitz, a tag was put on Davey and suddenly the Demons were being forced into error as the Roos came back to be down by 18 points at the main break. Both midfields waxed and waned and the football was not pretty with poor disposals out of stoppages being par for the course. Melbourne can thank Nathan Brown, Clint Bizzell, Matthew Whelan and Daniel Ward for their efforts in at least helping to stem the tide. The Dees swung into action early in the third quarter with Byron Pickett putting on a bit of cameo and he was capably backed up by Shannon Motlop who is clearly showing the benefits of a full preparation in the off season this year. At one stage the Melbourne lead was up to 48 points before the Kangaroos took over with the next six goals starting with a soft free to Corey Jones. During this period, the Demon backline was exposed particularly at the hands of the Kangaroos' tall forwards Thompson, Rocca and Petrie and the margin was reduced back to 10 points at three quarter time. There is no doubt that, in today's football, the midfield is all-important. However, all that means very little if your defence can be exposed by the opposition's high marking forwards and this is a worrying sign for the Demons, especially while Jared Rivers is out with injury and Alistair Nicholson and Ryan Ferguson (who was not playing yesterday) are totally out of form. I'm afraid the club will have to improvise if it can’t get more out of these blokes in key defensive positions and I can see Brad Miller being drafted out of the forward line often to plug the gaps here. Nathan Carroll and Clint Bizzell are not big enough to always be the answer here either. The Demons forged ahead after three quarter time, thereby snuffing out any chance of a Kangaroo revival and players like Colin Sylvia, Chris and Paul Johnson and youngsters Nathan Jones and Clint Bartram were all impressive. Matthew Bate continues to show that he could be a player. I wouldn't make a big deal about the result of the game even though the Kangaroos were close to full strength with only their captain missing while Melbourne still has a number of players, notably Cam Bruce, Brock McLean and Daniel Bell to come back into the side while Russell Robertson and Miller were rested and Benny Holland is still to be seen in the forward line. A few players can still be tested at Sandringham over the next week or so but it will only be when the real thing starts that we can start thinking about winning and glory. For the time being, we’re a fair distance away from that. Melbourne 7.2.44 9.4.58 14.5.99 19.7.121 Kangaroos 2.2.14 6.4.40 12.7.79 15.9.99 Goals: Melbourne: Neitz 5 Davey 4 Pickett 3 P Johnson 2 Sylvia 2 Green McDonald Yze Kangaroos: Thompson 5 Rocca 2 Archer Green Harding Harris Co Jones LeCras Petrie Sansbury Best: Melbourne Sylvia Neitz Davey Ward White Whelan Brown Kangaroos Thompson B Rawlings Grant Harris Sinclair Gibson Injuries: Melbourne Wheatley (finger) Bizzell (leg) Kangaroos Smith (ankle) Archer (concussion) Reports - Nil Umpires - Donlan Head M Nicholls Wenn Crowd - about 1500 at Princes Park

by Whispering Jack There's not much you can say about Melbourne's soft performance in Adelaide last night so I won't say much. The team was beaten by a side that was keen to impress, confident, motivated, committed to the ball - and they played as a tightly knit unit. Collectively, the Demons set new standards for bungling and ineptitude – they were everything that the Crows were not. So embarrassing was the effort of the so-called "team" that not a single player (and certainly not the coach for that matter) could hold his head up high after the game or say that he earned the cost of the air fare to take part in this match. Tragically, this is becoming an all too familiar occurrence whenever the Demons are put under pressure in a game – and in particular whenever they travel across the South Australian border. I'm not sure when the team returns to Melbourne but perhaps they might profitably spend the rest of their stay in the City of Churches by doing what one does in a church – they should stay down on their knees (where they were most of last night) and pray that something can be done to get themselves out of the hole they have dug for themselves within the space of the next three weeks. For my part, all I'm hoping for is that the 22 players who take the field against Carlton at the Telstra Dome in round one will be competitive. Melbourne 0.3.1 1.5.2 1.5.2 1.5.5 (44) Adelaide 0.6.4 1.8.8 1.12.17 1.16.23 (129) Supergoals: Melbourne T Johnstone Adelaide A McLeod Goals: Melbourne P Johnson 2 N Jones N Jones C Johnson R Robertson Adelaide: B Burton 4 L Jericho I Perrie 3 S Thompson B Vince 2 R Biglands A McLeod Best: Melbourne You have got to be joking!. Adelaide B Burton A McLeod S Thompson G Johncock B Reilly M Mattner C Knights I Perrie Injuries: Adelaide Nil Melbourne Nil Reports: Nil Umpires: B Allen D Woodcock D Goldspink M Nicholls Crowd: 12,594 at AAMI Stadium.

by the Professor REAWAKENING ... The once proud Melbourne Football Club had endured more than two decades in the football wilderness when the new era of national football began in 1987. After the golden era of the 1950's and early sixties ended with a flag in 1964 Melbourne fans had watched as clubs such as Richmond, Carlton and then Hawthorn and North Melbourne took over the reins as V.F.L powers. Sound administrations and solid financial backing enabled these clubs to recruit the personnel necessary to build footballing dynasties. Melbourne was lagging behind them in almost every facet of the game. One positive legacy of the five years under Ron Barassi's coaching was the strength of the club's junior development programme, which saw the Demons competing regularly in Under 19 finals in the early 1980's. This provided Melbourne with a constant stream of new talent such as Greg Healy, Bret Bailey, Chris Connolly, Rod Grinter and Graeme Yeats. Melbourne had also instigated the experiment of recruiting talent from Ireland, which brought Sean Wight and Jim Stynes to the club. It was ironic that in the final years of country zoning, the previously unproductive Goulburn Valley zone suddenly produced a young champion in Garry Lyon. The appointment of a young administrator in Cameron Schwab was also invaluable in assisting the Demons to attain a long awaited return to finals football. Schwab was instrumental in bringing players of the calibre of Warren Dean, Ricky Jackson, Brett Lovett, Steven O'Dwyer, Earl Spalding and Todd Viney to the club by the start of the 1987 season. The emergence of young talented recruits brought immediate results. The Demons had won night premierships in the sixties when that competition was an end of season affair and not open to the finals teams. In 1987 they won an "open" night premiership defeating Essendon 8.10.58 to 8.6.54 in a superb team performance. In the home and away season the Demons were inconsistent but finished strongly to win the last 6 home and away games and sneak into fifth spot. The euphoric scenes at Footscray when Melbourne secured a place in the finals were repeated in the following weeks as some brilliant football in the Elimination Final (against North Melbourne) and the First Semi Final (Sydney) saw the team earn the right to play in the Preliminary Final. The Melbourne run was tragically ended in the Preliminary final against Hawthorn. After leading all day, the Demons were denied a grand final appearance when a 15 metre penalty awarded to Hawk forward Gary Buckenara gave Hawthorn a goal after the siren. Robert Flower retired that day after achieving a new club record of 274 games. Having tasted the experience of competing in finals Melbourne went one step further in 1988. They won twelve of their first sixteen games but five straight losses followed and Demons just managed to squeeze into the five after a great win over Carlton. Melbourne beat the West Coast Eagles by a kick in the Elimination Final and then earned their first grand final berth in 24 years after victories over Collingwood and Carlton. Sadly, Melbourne performed poorly against a rampant Hawthorn and was not experience a grand final again until the year 2000. After winning the night competition for the second time in three years, Melbourne started the 1989 season well but some inconsistent form late in the year cost it a vital top three finish going into the finals. After beating Collingwood in the Elimination Final, the Demons lost the First Semi Final to Geelong and to finish in fourth position. Melbourne was again in the top bracket of teams in 1990 and despite winning 16 games the club still missed a top three spot. Despite a strong win over Hawthorn in the Elimination Final, the Demons lost momentum with a week's break caused by the drawn Qualifying Final between West Coast and Collingwood. A loss to the Eagles in the First Semi Final saw the club finish again in fourth position. The Demons reached the finals for the fifth successive year in 1991 but were unable to win the First Semi Final against an eventual Grand Finalist, the West Coast Eagles. The Irish experiment proved its success when ruckman Jim Stynes won the Brownlow Medal. Melbourne's form fell away in 1992 and John Northey resigned as senior coach completing the most successful coaching stint at the club since the days of the great Norm Smith. His replacement, Neil Balme lifted the side in 1993 and in the following year the Demons were back playing finals football. Garry Lyon, Allen Jakovich and David Schwarz formed a strong high marking forward line and with exciting midfielders in Stephen Tingay, Todd Viney, Andy Lovell and Sean Charles Melbourne stormed through two finals wins over Carlton and Footscray before having to travel to Perth to take on the Eagles in the Preliminary Final. The Demons were flat in that game losing to the eventual premiers. During the season there were rumours of a possible merger with the ailing Fitzroy Football Club. The two seasons following were punctuated by the disappointment of injuries and a collapse in morale as a result of the loss of many of the team's stars. The high flying David Schwarz suffered three knee reconstructions in a short period of time, Captain Gary Lyon, the flamboyant Allen Jakovich, exciting wingers Stephen Tingay and Sean Charles and emerging defender Paul Prymke all were struck down by debilitating injuries. Todd Viney left the club briefly for a short stint to coach in the international tennis arena. Ruckman Jim Stynes seemed to be the only durable performer at the club as he achieved the feat of playing more than 200 consecutive games. But the ravages of injury took their toll on the club and Melbourne plunged to 14th place by the end of 1996. During 1996 the club's administration, led by Ian Ridley, commenced merger negotiations with Hawthorn. The matter was left to the members of both clubs at end of season polls. In the turmoil that followed, Hawk supporters voted to kill off the merger. A majority of Melbourne votes were cast in favour of the move although there have been strong doubts about the legality of the poll with many members locked out of the crowded merger meeting and unable to vote. A strong group - the "Demon Alternative" - led by Brian Dixon and mining magnate Joseph Gutnick had opposed the merger and gained sufficient support for Gutnick to become the new club Chairman after Ridley resigned his position. Former star wingman Brian Dixon was one of the instrumental personalities in the anti-merger group. Gutnick's administration inherited a football basket case in 1997 . The team was deficient in talent and further wracked by injuries and off field drama. There was concern too with Balme's coaching methods, which had to be tailored to suit its obvious lack of ability. Balme was sacked in mid season and replaced by reserves coach, Greg Hutchison. With Melbourne finishing last for the first time since 1981, the Gutnick administration took steps to turn around the club's fortunes. Cameron Schwab was appointed Chief Executive in mid-season, replacing Hassa Mann. Essendon's Football Manager, Danny Corcoran, was secured late in the season, and Neale Daniher was appointed coach for 1998. With Gutnick's financial assistance the Club expanded its operations in important revenue raising areas securing major sponsorships and opening a second social and gaming venue at The Bentleigh Club. The club recruited heavily for 1998 securing Jeff White, Jamie Shanahan and promising junior Travis Johnstone. Under Daniher's guidance, Melbourne rose a record-breaking 12 places in 1998 to finish fourth on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season. The team hit form late in the season with Jeff Farmer displaying great wizardry in front of goals as the team swept away Adelaide and St. Kilda in the finals before going down to North Melbourne in the Preliminary Final. Jim Stynes completed an unprecedented run of consecutive games at 244. The confidence generated by 1999 disappeared as age and injury took its toll on the team. Veterans Jim Stynes and Brett Lovett had retired by the end of 1998 while Garry Lyon, Todd Viney and Glenn Lovett all announced their retirements during the season. A voluntary salary cap disclosure to the AFL resulted in a substantial fine, severe draft penalties and the constant adverse publicity destabilised the club. Chief Executive, Cameron Schwab, was replaced mid season by John Anderson. An injury depleted Melbourne limped into 14th place. Melbourne's fortunes improved considerably during the 2000 season. The club recruited well gaining Stephen Powell from the Western Bulldogs in a trade and picking up some classy newcomers in Cameron Bruce, Brad Greed, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan and Simon Godfrey in the draft. The Demon revival was clearly evident in the last half of the season as the team stormed up the ladder to finish third. They then disposed of Carlton and the Kangaroos and enjoyed a great build up to the Grand Final when Shane Woewodin won the Brownlow Medal. The Bombers who had lost only once during the season proved too strong in the grand final but many left the M.C.G that day convinced that the Demons were on the cusp of a new golden era - a dream that once again turned into a nightmare when, early in the 2001 season, the club was overcome by a major political upheaval which saw Gutnick ousted in a boardroom battle that shook the club's very foundations. With politics dictating the club agenda, the team fell away badly and missed the finals. Gabriel Szondy led the new board that emerged from the political battles but within two years he was gone, having resigned after presiding over consecutive seasons of rapidly deteriorating club finances. Paul Gardner, hitherto a virtual unknown at the club, took the helm and gradually reversed the club's off field fortunes. The Demons' on field performances had been as volatile as they were off the field. They experienced solid improvement and earned a finals berth in 2002 with skipper David Neitz becoming the club's first John Coleman Medallist when he headed the AFL's goalkicking. However, a poor finish to an exciting semi final against the Crows led the football department to review its thinking on the team's direction and leading midfielders Powell and Woewodin left the club as it sought to rebuild its midfield to match those of the power clubs. After a poor 2003, the team returned to the finals stage in 2004 when, as late as Round 18, it topped the competition ladder before dropping back in the wake of a late slump in form. Inconsistent form was a feature of the club in 2005 when it fell into the finals but in the following year, the club appeared to have been regenerated in many key areas and it was poised once again to reach for the footballing stars. Although Melbourne finished fifth on the ladder, it was the best performed of the Victorian teams in 2006. The Demons made a dramatic fall from grace in 2007 and finished a lowly fourteenth in a season which saw the sacking of coach Neale Daniher. He was replaced by an assistant, Mark Riley in mid season. Former Bomber Dean Bailey became coach for 2008, the club's 150th year, and immediately instituted a long rebuilding programme. There were changes aplenty as one by one the older brigade disappeared. Long term skipper Neitz, who became the first from his club to reach the 300 game milestone late the year before, succumbed to injury and retired before the middle of 2008. There were other changes taking place at most levels of the club with a board shakeup bringing Jim Stynes to the position of chairman with an almost fresh group in support. Within two years, the club's burdensome debt was erased and although it went through further on field pain with consecutive wooden spoons in 2008-9, there were signs in 2010 that the new, young Demon team was undergoing a real awakening that was about to bring the club a new period of long lasting success.

by The Oracle What do you make out of a game played in the energy sapping conditions of a hot autumn night; where the rules are more than a bit quirky, both sides are at about two-thirds their capacity and utilising some very rusty players clearly displaying the fact that they are in the early stages of their preparation three or four weeks out from a six month long season? Apart from the entertainment value and the performances of a few youngsters – not much. That's how the Melbourne v Brisbane Lions affair turned out at Telstra Dome although one has to add that it was gratifying from a Demon viewpoint that, for the second week running, the team came from behind in trying conditions to nose their way in front, hold on to a slim lead and move further into this silly pre-season competition. These are experiences that will hold them in good stead as the season wears on. The visitors were without skipper Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Jonathan Brown and Chris and Brad Scott but they still managed to slip their way to a narrow lead at quarter time before the Demons, with Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson shining up forward wrested the lead halfway through the second term and went away to a 14 point lead at the main break thanks to a Paul Johnson's after the siren goal. Melbourne was also without a good few of its better performers including (in number order) Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland, Brock McLean, Daniel Ward, Adem Yze, Daniel Bell, Brent Moloney, Cameron Bruce and Ryan Ferguson. Despite that, the half time lead would have been greater but for some appalling kicking for goal with at least three easy set shots from within the fifty metre arc going begging. Not to mention some sloppy ball handling and judgment errors - but let's not get to critical because, after all, it’s early March and we still have to get through the Commonwealth Games and bits of the Formula One Grand Prix before we can think serious football. Melbourne forged further ahead in the first six or seven minutes of the third quarter thanks to some strong marking and two goals from Brad Miller and suddenly it had opened up a 26-point lead. It would take a lot of indiscipline, sloppy football and some very ordinary umpiring decisions to reverse that situation but that’s what happened and by early in the final quarter, the Lions were in front. To their credit, the Demons who at that stage looked spent after last week’s Darwin sauna, fought their way back and it was none other than the stars of the game Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson who booted the clinching goals. The Demons had started with a stellar line up on the bench including ruckman Jeff White, last week's hero Travis Johnstone, Miller and Paul Wheatley but coach Neale Daniher worked the interchange overtime taking overheated players on and off the ground in the hot and stuffy conditions. One of last week’s stars in Matthew Bate was having a shocker and was dragged a few times in the first half. Luckily for the youngster, this was not a fair dinkum riggidy didge game because, in normal circumstances, I think he might have sat out the second half. As it was, he was given another opportunity and finished the game off quite well although a tape of the first half will not remain long in his pet collection. Still the lad is just 18 years of age and has a definite future. Another youngster who has come from the clouds is Clint Bartram who was drafted last November at number 60 from Geelong Falcons. The 18 year old was given the task of shadowing Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis. He scrapped and scragged and kept his mind on the job all night and, although Akker had his moments, it's suffice to say that the Brisbane star wasn't doing cartwheels or bragging to the media after the game. Colin Sylvia was brilliant in the midfield and around the ground. As with last week, he got the first clearance and then he was tough, hard at the ball and kicked beautifully most of the time. He's coming on in leaps and bounds as are the two Johnsons Chris and Paul. Chris showed some silky skills and class and booted two crucial goals while Paul played the agile big man role beautifully. The highlight of the game was his pack mark and goal from a difficult angle after the half time siren. As good as Sylvia was on the night, there were four others with whom he shared the night's honours. Robbo was brilliant up forward covering for an out of sorts David Neitz who lacked a run or two. His marking and evasiveness on the ground were terrific and he could easily have ended with eight goals if he took his kicking boots with him to the ground. Aaron Davey was at his elusive best. He stands a lot taller these days with Byron Pickett and Daniel Motlop around and his understanding with the Byronator was simply sensational. Travis Johnstone put on another display after starting slowly when coming off the bench halfway through the first quarter. His kicking and evasion skills were a delight. The other hero was slightly unsung on the night – Matty Whelan hardly put a foot wrong in defence and saved the game on so many occasions it wasn’t funny. But then again, there’s not much funny about football in early March. In fact, the game wasn't all sweetness and light – the club still has some problems in its key defensive positions. Hopefully Jared Rivers elbow injury is not as bad as it looked when he trudged off the ground in agony because he was the best of them. Alistair Nicholson was out bodied one or two times too many by Daniel Merrett (although he chimed in with some timely punches at times and Nathan Carroll, despite his Chopper Read looks, didn’t scare the Lions' attacking players and seemed a bit overawed by the occasion. by The Oracle What do you make out of a game played in the energy sapping conditions of a hot autumn night; where the rules are more than a bit quirky, both sides are at about two-thirds their capacity and utilising some very rusty players clearly displaying the fact that they are in the early stages of their preparation three or four weeks out from a six month long season? Apart from the entertainment value and the performances of a few youngsters - not much. That's how the Melbourne v Brisbane Lions affair turned out at Telstra Dome although one has to add that it was gratifying from a Demon viewpoint that, for the second week running, the team came from behind in trying conditions to nose their way in front, hold on to a slim lead and move further into this silly pre-season competition. These are experiences that will hold them in good stead as the season wears on. The visitors were without skipper Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Jonathan Brown and Chris and Brad Scott but they still managed to slip their way to a narrow lead at quarter time before the Demons, with Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson shining up forward wrested the lead halfway through the second term and went away to a 14 point lead at the main break thanks to Paul Johnson's after the siren goal. Melbourne was also without a good few of its better performers including (in number order) Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland, Brock McLean, Daniel Ward, Adem Yze, Daniel Bell, Brent Moloney, Cameron Bruce and Ryan Ferguson. Despite that, the half time lead would have been greater but for some appalling kicking for goal with at least three easy set shots from within the fifty metre arc going begging. Not to mention some sloppy ball handling and judgment errors - but let's not get to critical because, after all, it's early March and we still have to get through the Commonwealth Games and bits of the Formula One Grand Prix before we can think serious football. Melbourne forged further ahead in the first six or seven minutes of the third quarter thanks to some strong marking and two goals from Brad Miller and suddenly it had opened up a 26-point lead. It would take a lot of indiscipline, sloppy football and some very ordinary umpiring decisions to reverse that situation but that's what happened and by early in the final quarter, the Lions were in front. To their credit, the Demons who at that stage looked spent after last week's Darwin sauna, fought their way back and it was none other than the stars of the game Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson who booted the clinching goals. The Demons had started with a stellar line up on the bench including ruckman Jeff White, last week's hero Travis Johnstone, Miller and Paul Wheatley but coach Neale Daniher worked the interchange overtime taking overheated players on and off the ground in the hot and stuffy conditions. One of last week's stars in Matthew Bate was having a shocker and was dragged a few times in the first half. Luckily for the youngster, this was not a fair dinkum riggidy didge game because, in normal circumstances, I think he might have sat out the second half. As it was, he was given another opportunity and finished the game off quite well although a tape of the first half will not remain long in his pet collection. Still the lad is just 18 years of age and has a definite future. Another youngster who has come from the clouds is Clint Bartram who was drafted last November at number 60 from Geelong Falcons. The 18 year old was given the task of shadowing Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis. He scrapped and scragged and kept his mind on the job all night and, although Akker had his moments, it's suffice to say that the Brisbane star wasn't doing cartwheels or bragging to the media after the game. Colin Sylvia was brilliant in the midfield and around the ground. As with last week, he got the first clearance and then he was tough, hard at the ball and kicked beautifully most of the time. He's coming on in leaps and bounds as are the two Johnsons Chris and Paul. Chris showed some silky skills and class and booted two crucial goals while Paul played the agile big man role beautifully. The highlight of the game was his pack mark and goal from a difficult angle after the half time siren. As good as Sylvia was on the night, there were four others with whom he shared the night's honours. Robbo was brilliant up forward covering for an out of sorts David Neitz who lacked a run or two. His marking and evasiveness on the ground were terrific and he could easily have ended with eight goals if he took his kicking boots with him to the ground. Aaron Davey was at his elusive best. He stands a lot taller these days with Byron Pickett and Daniel Motlop around and his understanding with the Byronator was simply sensational. Travis Johnstone put on another display after starting slowly when coming off the bench halfway through the first quarter. His kicking and evasion skills were a delight. The other hero was slightly unsung on the night - Matty Whelan hardly put a foot wrong in defence and saved the game on so many occasions it wasn't funny. But then again, there's not much funny about football in early March. In fact, the game wasn't all sweetness and light - the club still has some problems in its key defensive positions. Hopefully Jared Rivers elbow injury is not as bad as it looked when he trudged off the ground in agony because he was the best of them by far. Alistair Nicholson was out bodied one or two times too many by Daniel Merrett (although he chimed in with some timely punches at times) and Nathan Carroll, despite his Chopper Read looks, didn't scare the Lions' attacking players and seemed a bit overawed by the occasion. So we march on to the nabcup semi finals and Neale Daniher, whilst pleased at the results so far, still has a lot of work to do. Melbourne: 0.2.3, 0.7.7, 0.10.10 0.13.12 (90) Brisbane Lions: 0.2.5, 0.5.5, 0.9.7, 0.12.9 (81) 9 point goals: Melbourne: Nil Brisbane Lions: Nil 6 point goals: Melbourne: Robertson 5 Davey 3 C Johnson Miller 2 P Johnson Brisbane Lions: M Clark Merrett 3 Notting 2 Akermanis, Attard Harding Best: Melbourne: Johnstone Robertson Davey Whelan Sylvia Green Brisbane Lions: Black Power Merrett Rischitelli Fixter M Clark Injuries: Melbourne: Rivers (elbow) Brisbane Lions: M.Clark (thumb) Reports: Nil Umpires: Head McLaren Wenn Woodcock Crowd 11,612 at Telstra Dome

Is it too late to include Bater?

by Whispering Jack There were not many real characters and even less of a plot to Friday night's battle between two different casts of players - for these purposes we shall call them the "Bulldogs" and the "Demons". The two groups were sent northward to the far reaches of the land and, after the setting of the sun, they played a funny game in a fairyland setting by a forest of mangroves. The place was known as Marrara Oval in a town called Darwin and there they endured late summer heat and humidity followed by driving rain. Ultimately, after a night of high drama, it was the Demons who, against unlikely odds, survived to move on to the next round in their quest to win a golden cup and two hundred thousand or so pieces of silver. Enough of the pixies, the fairies and the lousy poetic licence! Back in the world of reality surely the opening round of this nabcup wasn't meant to end the way it did with a Melbourne victory? It was on Wednesday afternoon when I was travelling home from work in that other world, trapped in a snarling traffic jam, that I caught the middle of a conversation on SEN radio in which an irate David Schwarz was berating the Melbourne Football Club selectors about them not taking this whole nabcup seriously. The ex-Demon champ was most incensed as he told the story of how he, as a young Hawthorn fan, had cried when his club lost one of their pre season night games. The supporters take these things seriously you know and besides, Melbourne isn't out of the financial woods yet and it should be trying its darndest to win the money. I didn't get to see the named squad until much later but it was already obvious that Neale Daniher was going to leave a number of the club's leading lights at home and that conversely, the Doggies were running with a near full strength line up. As we saw on the night however, that doesn't always matter - particularly in the unfamiliar conditions endured in the Top End. It was never going to be a game for your talls and, as a consequence, Melbourne was wise to leave out most of its experienced big men. The Bulldogs don't have much of that commodity anyway so we were left with a game for the mainly super fit midsize players who were able to run and create space in the slippery conditions. Daniher's selection gamble therefore wasn't much of a gamble at all and the Demons had plenty of goers who could handle the situation admirably. The final squads saw them fielding eight players (including four rookies) who had no senior AFL experience while the Doggies had just one and he was their first round draft pick from last year. Melbourne opened full of running and the dangerous Aaron Davey was full of dash as he snaffled the opening two goals. His mate, Shannon Motlop was showing the benefit of a full AFL pre season as he cut a swathe through the Bulldog midfield and but for a nine pointer from Ryan Murphy, his team's quarter time deficit would have been positively embarrassing. Byron Pickett kicked off the second term with a nice goal for his new club and the Dees could easily have gone to a handy 34-point lead when a long kick from Russell Robertson from outside 50 metres just shaved the woodwork. The Bulldog counter attack was devastating as they came down the ground for a quick rebound goal and then another to narrow the deficit to just 14 points in what was almost the blink of an eye. Melbourne's inaccuracy wasn't helping but ironically, it was Davey who was so wayward with his kicking for goal last year, who booted the steadier to see the Demons to a handy half time lead. Neal Daniher would have pleased with the performances of some of the younger brigade - especially Matthew Bate who had the ball on a string, Colin Sylvia (coming good at last?) and Paul Johnson who formed part of a winning ruck with Mark Jamar for most of the night. The third quarter was a bit of a disaster for Melbourne as the Western Bulldogs experienced midfielders in West, Giansiracusa, Johnson and company took over and ran the ball long and direct into their forward line. Some of the younger (and not so young) Demons appeared to be tiring and errors began to creep into their game. They gave up possession too easily with some costly turnovers and free kicks and suddenly the Doggies were in front and in the ascendancy with a 5 point three quarter time lead that was stretched to 11 one minute into the final term. It was at this stage where the older, wiser heads came to the fore for Melbourne. The class and skill of Adem Yze, Travis Johnstone, Matty Whelan and Russell Robertson saw the team come back and it was Robbo, who in the end sealed the game with his third goal. Pleasing aspects of the game from Neale Daniher's point of view would have been the way the players teamed together in the conditions, the performance of the two young ruckmen, the return to form of Jared Rivers in defence, Shannon Motlop and Byron Pickett and the continued promise of the youngsters. Bate was a special with a team high 17 disposals up to three quarter time (it's early days yet but the decision to draft him and a couple of others very young and underage at last year's draft is really looking good from where I sit), rookie Matthew Warnock was very good early in defence and Clint Bartram was a bit of a surprise packet with his endeavour and willingness in the contest. Lynden Dunn didn't have too many opportunities early but got better as the game went on and he will gain a lot from his participation at this level. Rookies Daniel Hughes and Andre Gianfagna didn't look out of place among their AFL rivals but All Australians Nathan Jones and Jayce Bode were used sparingly and were quiet. I did like the way Daniher played the youngsters - he knows their capability and isn't going to burden them with too much work too early in their careers. So at the end of the late summer's night, the team is alive and moves on to a quarter final next Friday night at Telstra Dome against the Brisbane Lions. As far as the events in Darwin are concerned, they're now history and we don't really have to ask whether they were real or if it was all a dream. It may well have been a case of 'much ado about nothing' and we mere mortals may all be fools but if the results of the 2006 season can be as pleasing as this one was, then perhaps we aren't making up numbers this time and something good will happen when summer passes to autumn and through the winter into springtime. Melbourne: 0.4.4, 0.6.12, 0.6.13, 0.9.15 (69) Western Bulldogs: 1.0.1, 1.3.4, 1.6.9, 1.7.12 (63) 9 point goals: Melbourne: Nil Western Bulldogs: Murphy 6 point goals: Melbourne: Davey Robertson 3 McDonald Motlop Pickett Western Bulldogs: Murphy 3 Faulkner Giansiracusa Johnson Minson Best: Melbourne: Johnstone Davey Yze Robertson Bate Motlop Rivers Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa Murphy Johnson West Morris Gilbee Injuries: Melbourne: Bizzell (back) Western Bulldogs: Gilbee (leg) Reports: Nil Umpires: Ellis Donlon Woodcock Grun Crowd 6000 (approx) at Marrara Oval Darwin.

A HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB: PART 9 IN THE WILDERNESS ... by the Professor Melbourne's 1964 premiership pennant was unfurled before the opening game of 1965. Missing from the lineup were Ron Barassi (who had been lured to Carlton as its captain coach) and "Bluey" Adams (retired) as the Demons struggled to win by 6 points against co-tenants Richmond who had been mauled by 113 points when they met in round 10 of the previous season. Although Melbourne won their first eight games straight to hold premiership favouritism, the times were a changing. Carlton and Richmond were emerging with new forms of professional administration that was to considerably alter the football balance of power. When the crash came, it hit Melbourne with a vengeance. Melbourne was thrashed on the MCG against St. Kilda on Queen's Birthday. The team's form slumped over the following weeks and then came the shock sacking and reinstatement of Norm Smith. Considering Smith's record - 4 premierships as a player and 6 as coach - the dismissal was an incredible blunder. This was recognised by the club when Smith was re-appointed after just one week. To his credit, Smith "ate humble pie" and resumed his duties for another year and continued to coach until the end of the 1967 season. By that time Melbourne had lost its magic touch in recruiting and the golden era was over. By 1969 the once mighty Demons could win only three games and claimed the dreaded wooden spoon. Melbourne suffered a number of reversals of fortune during the 1970's. In 1971, former great player Ian Ridley was appointed coach. Under captain Frank Davis the team began the season in brilliant fashion winning 8 of their first 9 games. With the talent available including Stan Alves, Gary Hardeman, Greg Wells, Ross Dillon, Greg Parke, interstate stars Graeme Molloy and John Tilbrook and a young giant in Peter Keenan there was a great deal of optimism in the camp. But a wet winter and a drop in form put paid to Melbourne's year and the team slumped to finish seventh. This decline continued in 1972 and again in 1973 despite the recruitment of St. Kilda star Carl Ditterich. By 1974, with triple Brownlow Medallist Bobby Skilton as coach, the team finished last. Melbourne's ability to improve was restricted by unproductive recruiting zones and a lack of initiative in recruiting as its unimaginative administration lagged behind its more progressive counterparts. The doyen of Club Secretaries, Jim Cardwell, retired from his post after 25 years in 1975 as the Demons began to make a little headway under Skilton's coaching. A new young star in Robert Flower was emerging as a football of exquisite skills and Melbourne also gained from the toughness of Laurie Fowler who crossed from Richmond to win the club best and fairest. The advent of colour television led the club to alter the club's colours to royal blue in place of navy blue - a decision that was reversed in 1987. By 1976, Melbourne was ready to return to the finals but luck dealt the club a cruel blow. After a reasonable start was followed by a mid-season slump, the Demons hit their straps to win the last four games by big margins. They had only to win their last match against Collingwood and hope for an in-form top team Carlton to defeat Footscray to topple the Bulldogs out of the final five. History records that Carlton and Footscray drew meaning that Melbourne missed out by two premiership points. The Demons were doubly unlucky because the Bulldogs had won their previous game with a goal after the siren. Captain Stan Alves was lured to North Melbourne at the conclusion of the season and Melbourne plummeted to the depths once again. New coaches Dennis Jones and then Carl Ditterich (as captain-coach) could stem the tide. Melbourne was hampered by poor administration, poor recruiting zones and a lack of direction. By 1981 it was time for Ron Barassi to return to the fold. During 1980 the Melbourne Football Club began a total rebuilding process which saw a partial break between the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Cricket Club with the football club becoming a public company limited by guarantee. Ron Barassi - Melbourne's greatest son - had been successful as a coach at Carlton and North Melbourne and supporters were clamouring for his return as coach. Barassi did return to Melbourne but his task was a difficult one. The team disappointed in 1981 to collect the wooden spoon but showed some promise under Barassi's youth policy to improve to eighth position in 1982. North Melbourne recruit Brian Wilson won the Brownlow Medal after a stellar season. Gerrard Healy and Mark Jackson were emerging as promising forwards. Despite the recruitment of Brownlow Medallists Peter Moore from Collingwood and Kelvin Templeton from Footscray, the Club was unable to improve its position on the ladder over the ensuing years and, apart from a second Brownlow to Peter Moore the Demons made no headway and Barassi resigned at the end of 1985 having failed to lift the club in five seasons. The club was thrown into turmoil after the 1985 season when a reform group attempted to overthrow the existing Board headed by Sir. Billy Snedden. The high cost of legal action dampened the spirit of the challengers. Barassi's replacement was a low profile coach in John Northey who was disappointed after the team struggled to finish in eleventh position in 1986 - the same position it occupied in the previous season. There were whispers during the season of Melbourne's possible participation of a merger with another V.F.L club. The face of football was now changing rapidly as teams from Western Australia and Brisbane were invited to join the former South Melbourne (now Sydney) as the competition's interstate clubs for the 1987 season. It was clear that with the inclusion of new teams there would be pressure on a number of Victorian teams to improve their performance. The Demons had to emerge from the rut of more than two decades of failure if they were to survive in the new national competition.

by Scoop Junior While it has been made clear that the NAB Cup is not a priority for the Demons this year (and nor should it be), at least weather wise the team will have had a decent build up to their opening match in Darwin. After match practice last week on the Gold Coast, the Dees had their first four-quarter hit out today at Victoria Park in hot conditions, which should help them adapt to the searing conditions they will have to face in the Top End. In what was a fairly relaxed intra-club match, which featured a number of Sandringham players after half time, several youngsters put their case forward for an appearance in the NAB Cup, while last year’s goalkicking dynamo Russell Robertson put in an impressive display which included some trademark grabs. Simon Buckley, Ben Holland, Brock McLean, David Neitz, Daniel Ward, Brent Moloney, Heath Neville and Phil Read were non-starters, while Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia and Byron Pickett only played a half each. There didn’t appear to be any injury in the first half to the latter three, so presumably their reduced game time was planned before the match. Here are my observations of the players: Nathan Jones – very promising performance. Improved as the game went on and showed that he can already match it at this level (although the second half was littered with Sandringham players). Played mostly in midfield and displayed good skills and the ability to find the footy. Did not look overawed or uncomfortable at this higher level and just gives that impression that he will be a player. Got the crowd cheering with a lovely smother to turn the ball over. Gritty ball magnets with good skills are not easy to find but we may have one here. Should play in Darwin. Clint Bizzell – played on Bate on the wing before being switched. Found a fair bit of the footy but his red-headed opponent was more prominent and damaging in the first half. Looked fit and moved around the ground well, but perhaps spending time out of defence may be an indication that he will need to lift again to reclaim his spot in the back six after losing it late last season. Matthew Bate – in sizzling form early on a wing. Found the ball in midfield and delivered some lovely long passes into the forward line, with one resulting in a goal to Robertson. Faded after that but lifted again in the last term, including a 5-minute purple patch where he found lots of possessions and kicked a nice goal on the run. Impressive performance and should be a certainty for next week. Brad Miller – only played a half. Presented well and took a few marks in the first quarter. Missed a set shot from straight in front in the first term and was quieter in the second. Couldn’t read too much into his performance. Alistair Nicholson – battled manfully but seemed to fumble quite a bit. Was honest in the one-on-one contests and was solid defensively, but just lacked polish when the ball hit the deck or was in his hands. Almost successfully engineered a baulk around Flash, but just as the impossible appeared possible, Flash stuck out a hand and slapped the ball out of bounds. Paul Johnson – switched between full forward and ruck. Took a nice mark in a contest…albeit on his chest…and then dropped a regulation mark out on the lead. Finally took an overhead grab in the third quarter which almost brought the house down. PJ again looked good roaming around the ground with his mobility and foot skills. It’s a broken record but unless his marking can improve, he is not a forward threat. Kicked 2 goals. Colin Sylvia – played a half. Switched between midfield and half forward. Got a bit of the ball and laid a crunching tackle in the middle of the ground. Like Miller, it is difficult to assess his performance given his limited game time. Adem Yze – played across half back, went off for a spell and then finished in the midfield. Appeared to be more prominent when his fellow defenders had the ball, as he would run to create space to receive a pass. Didn’t really notice him defensively; whether that means he did his job without much fuss or was not really involved in the play was unclear to me. Lynden Dunn – played up forward. Limited impact. Had a chance to snag a goal in the last term but his stab kick from 15m on the run was touched on the line. He probably should have tried to kick it into Lulie St, but he will learn from that. Conjured up a nice piece of play just before the siren when he gathered the footy, spun and hit CJ with a lovely pass. May be a chance for next week. Still only young but would like to see more impact. Nick Smith – disappointing for mine. Looked fairly slow and ungainly on the lead and struggled to have any influence. Was blitzed by Carroll in the first half and didn’t have much success when switching teams for the second half. Intercepted a kick in from full back and slotted a nice goal from the resultant set shot, but other than that was largely anonymous. Travis Johnstone – solid four quarter effort from Trav. Set up play well for his team, brought others into the game and kicked 2 goals. Looks set to continue on from last year’s best and fairest form. Chris Johnson – not particularly busy, but just so classy when in possession of the ball. Started at half back and finished up forward. This kid has loads of ability and can really take some strides forward this year. Took a classical mark second in line in a pack on the forward flank in the last term and kicked a goal later on. Looking forward to his progress this year. Brad Green – had a heap of the ball in the second term. Was almost playing the style of a central defensive midfielder in soccer. For those unfamiliar with that role, Green was planted defensive side of midfield (near the defensive line on the centre square). He was often the first to receive the ball coming out of defence and picked up numerous kicks. Did not notice him as much in the second half. Would still like to see him improve at winning his own ball, though. Clint Bartram – outpointed by Davey early but displayed his persistence in fighting back on other opponents. Played back pocket and midifield and showed a good appetite for the game. Made a number of errors under pressure but didn’t let it get to him and kept persisting. Raw and skinny but displays competitiveness. Daniel Bell – slightly disappointing, particularly because I’ve got a very high opinion of Belly. Gave away free kicks a little recklessly and perhaps didn’t find as much footy as he would’ve liked to. Seemed to spend most of his time in defence. Has built up significantly over the off-season and has the body to cause genuine damage to the opposition. Kicked a goal after a 50m penalty. James McDonald – started well in midfield and faded towards the end. Played a decent game and was in the thick of things as usual. Same old honest performance from Junior. Russell Robertson – clearly the best forward on the ground. Outplayed his opponent in Warnock and booted 3 goals. Should have kicked more but for some wayward kicking. 2 of his goals were preceded by strong pack marks that you now take for granted from Robbo, while he managed to pull down his customary screamer in the second term. It is amazing how this bloke has improved from a hot-and-cold flanker to a consistent potent forward threat in his time at Melbourne. At the peak of his career now. Nathan Brown – this bloke is amazing, just runs hard all day and finds the footy. Still preferred to use the chip kick option coming out of the backline, but his work rate sets a great example for the younger players. Took a typically gutsy mark running back with the flight of the ball deep in defence. Jared Rivers – solid performance defensively, but made a couple of kicking errors early and wasn’t at his best with the ball in his hands. Didn’t have a great deal to do with Neitz in the stands and Miller on his team. Will be keen to see him next week as I’m confident he can get back to his brilliant 2004 form. Michael Newton – showed good mobility for a bloke of his size but had limited impact. Kicked a goal early but didn’t really impose himself onto the contest. Like Dunn, though, his age needs to be taken into account. Appeared to play in defence in the last quarter. Slim chance for next week I would presume. Simon Godfrey – played mostly around the midfield. Was a surprise to see him in as I've read from the training reports that he had been hampered by a leg injury. Did not really notice Godders that much and there’s little doubt that he’ll find it difficult to break into the senior side if everyone is up and running. Paul Wheatley – also didn’t see much of Wheatley. Played in the backline early and barely saw him in the second half. Cameron Bruce – started like a house on fire in the first quarter before fading out of the game. Started in midfield and was dominant and switched to a position deep in the forward line. Hopefully he can build on his pre-season and get back to the form of early 2005 when he was BOG three weeks in a row. Byron Pickett – only played a half but showed a touch of class in stints up forward and in the midfield. There was a situation where he could have run through a player, but obviously Byron was having none of that. Had it been an opposition player, the poor bloke may have ended up in row G in the Collingwood members stand on the wing. My only concern was his body shape – seemed overweight and not in peak condition. Will be interesting to see next week to say the least. Jeff White – rucked and spent time forward in the last quarter. Wasn’t his usual busy self around the ground and didn’t have much impact up forward. No concern though as the season has barely even started and White won’t be playing next week. Ryan Ferguson – I think he started on Miller at centre half back. If so, he was beaten early, but played a decent game after that. In the second half he was pitted against Smith and clearly took the honours in that contest. His presence further up the ground at centre half back (away from the last line of defence) may be an indication of where he will spend more time this year. Aaron Davey – started brilliantly on youngster Bartram, kicking an early goal and was lively during the match. Missed a few shots, though, which should be converted from a player of his ability. Not at his best but a decent performance. Matthew Warnock – had the unenviable task of minding Robbo and was outgunned. Just didn’t have the nous to go with him. It was possibly too big an ask for him to play on a bloke who booted 70-odd goals last year, but I’m sure it was a good learning experience for him. Daniel Hughes – impressive performance from the former Zebra. Hughes played up forward and showed an excellent pair of hands and good pace off the mark. He times his leads well, is a nice size (but will need to add muscle to his frame) and appears to be quite smart around the goals. Also has a decent leap and pulled down a couple notable grabs. Kicked 2 goals. Shane Neaves – spent time deep in the forward line and had no impact. Didn’t look all that mobile chasing his opponent out of defence on one occasion. Young and raw. Mark Jamar – his ruckwork was good but didn’t seem to have much of an impact around the ground. Spent time forward, but looked more comfortable in a rucking role. Will have the number one ruckman’s spot next week and it will be interesting to see whether he can step up to the task. Nathan Carroll – too good for Smith early, the man with the appalling hairstyle/moustache combination showed glimpses of his late 2005 form with a solid defensive performance. Will need to be tested by stronger opposition before any statements can be made on how much he has improved over the off-season. Andre Gianfagna – displayed speed and a neat left foot. This rookie performed well, booting 3 goals, including one on the run from deep in the pocket. Appears to be an outside type who likes space to work in, but shows that he has class and an ability to find the big sticks. Played across half forward and on the wing. Jace Bode – quiet early but got better as the game wore on. He is a big and strong midfielder and ran through the lines well. Not a classical left footer’s kicking action, but nevertheless a nice long kick of the ball. Kicked a great goal on the run in the third term and perhaps is some chance of playing next week. Along with Hughes, he was the most impressive of the rookies. Shannon Motlop – very good game. Found plenty of the ball in midfield and generally used it well, either spotting up a teammate or kicking long with plenty of penetration. Booted a nice goal from 50. Has that touch of class which is important and could be one to improve during the season. Matthew Whelan – really didn’t seem to notice Wheels too much. He had a quiet game. Not one of his best performances. I just want to make it clear that you cannot read too much into intra-club games. I have provided my observations to inform those who couldn’t attend the game today and shed some light on players’ performances. It’s only February and there’s a long way to go before the real stuff begins…and, ultimately, that’s what counts. Yellow 4.4.28 6.7.43 8.12.60 10.14.74 Blue 3.1.19 4.2.26 6.3.39 10.4.64 Goals: Yellow Robertson 3 P Johnson 2 Bate Bell Davey Motlop Smith Blue Gianfagna 3 Hughes Johnstone 2 Bode C Johnson Newton Best Robertson Johnstone Bate Carroll Jones Hughes