Demonland

Anyone still asking for a refund?

19.915 to go ...

Who are you tipping this week?

A decision by the AFL is imminent regarding the location of Melbourne’s Queen’s Birthday clash, but the Dees are not perturbed as long as they have one necessary ingredient. Spoiler Alert - it's fans. The AFL will announce its decision to move the Queen’s Birthday clash away from the MCG by Friday afternoon as its path to scheduling Round 13 games has been smoothed by strict player bubbles in Victoria. It is understood the league will not allow the marquee Melbourne-Collingwood contest to be played in front of an empty stadium. As Melbourne’s Covid-19 lockdown extends into a second week, the Adelaide Oval and SCG are leading contenders to host the traditional match.

They have to think the same things about our midfield.

Not that I ever wish injuries or anything but when he was originally injured and they announced how long he'd be out for I'm pretty sure it was beyond our match. How come our players never come back sooner?

??: Sparrow ???: Langdon (Concussion)

Financials aside I was onboard to playing the game to a packed Adelaide Oval but if it means having FIFO then I'd prefer to play in Sydney to be honest.

I don't see how we're going to be able to even consider playing Collingwood at Adelaide given the ridiculous restrictions in place. We'd be better staying settled in Sydney and playing the Pies there or going back to Victoria and play at an empty MCG.

MELBOURNE Couldn’t have been any more impressive with 10 wins from 11 and the only defeat by a solitary point. The Demons have discovered balance, the inside ball-winning ability now complemented by some outside run and far more efficient work up forward. Clayton Oliver leads the AFL Coaches award by a street, Max Gawn is a tremendous leader, the Christians Petracca and Salem superb, Steven May and Jake Lever imposing in defence and Tom McDonald reborn in attack. Best flag chance for 57 years. Mark: A+ BRISBANE: A SYDNEY: A WESTERN BULLDOGS: A ESSENDON: B GEELONG: B GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: B PORT ADELAIDE: B- ADELAIDE: C GOLD COAST: C RICHMOND: C FREMANTLE: C- WEST COAST: C- CARLTON: D NORTH MELBOURNE: D HAWTHORN: D- ST KILDA: D- COLLINGWOOD: E

And we're off ...

Longer version.

Be careful what you post online. It could come back and bite you in the bum.

In the classic Australian poem, A B “Banjo” Paterson sought the answer by letter to a question concerning the whereabouts of a drover named “Clancy”. The response from Clancy’s shearing mate was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar: “Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving, and we don’t know where he are.” Most of us would have felt a little bit that way earlier in the week wondering about the possible whereabouts of the Melbourne team for this week’s encounter against Brisbane. Were they going to meet in Alice Springs or perhaps Brisbane? Or somewhere down the Lachlan River where young Clancy was last sighted? As it turned out, it’s all happening on Friday night on the windswept plains to the west of Sydney at a venue where the two teams have never before met each other so it’s still a more or less neutral venue as TIO Traeger Park would have been anyway. I suspect however, that Giants Stadium will suit Melbourne right down to a tee and further, the team has the maturity and resilience to adapt to the week’s lockdown circumstances. They will need all of that adaptability for their duel against the AFL’s other form team in Brisbane which has been thumping opposition sides and is closing on Melbourne’s season high undefeated run of nine consecutive wins. These are the competition’s dueling banjos. The contest between the two teams promises to be an intriguing one. The Demons have the competition’s strongest defence; one that has settled into a steady and stable unit now that Harry Petty has had the opportunity to settle down in Adam Tomlinson’s vacated position. Against that, Brisbane has close to the best attack in the competition having posted five century plus scores in its current run of seven wins (they scored 93 and 95 in the other two). The teams will be circling and feeling each other out in a dangerous duel that will go a long way to deciding the outcome in the race for places in the top four. The respective midfields aren’t too shabby either and it was in this part of the game that the Lions gained the ascendancy at Metricon Stadium last year when Lachie Neale picked Max Gawn’s pockets at ruck contests with such regularity that he almost completely nullified the Demon skipper’s 41 hit out dominance. Despite this, Brisbane stuttered over the line by 4 points after a kick from Mitch Hannan late in the game went out on the full and Bayley Fritsch gave away a 50m penalty. Neale has been out for several weeks and in his absence, Lyons, McCluggage and Zorko are flying the flag high. He’s been mentioned in despatches as a likely returnee. With him or without, I think the Demon midfield has improved enough to turn the tables this time. Melbourne to win by 9 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at Giants Stadium Friday, 4 June, 2021 at 7.50pm HEAD TO HEAD * Overall Melbourne 25 wins Brisbane Lions 22 wins At Giants Stadium Melbourne 0 wins Brisbane Lions 0 wins Last Five Meetings Melbourne 3 wins Brisbane Lions 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Fagan 2 wins * does not include Brisbane Bears games MEDIA TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane Lions 7.11.53 defeated Melbourne 7.7.49 at Metricon Stadium, Round 8, 2020 After an even first quarter, the Brisbane Lions on ball brigade took control of proceedings for the middle terms of the game. This came about despite Max Gawn’s complete domination of the ruck contests. Lauchie Neale was outstanding with 33 touches as the Lions went to a three goal lead at the final break. Melbourne launched a comeback and was in with a chance right up to the final siren but failed to take advantage of some late opportunities to win. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: M. Hibberd 14 S. May 1 J. Lever 8 HB: C. Salem 3 H. Petty 35 A. Brayshaw 10 C: T. Sparrow 32 C. Petracca 5 J. Hunt 29 HF: J. Jordon 23 T. McDonald 25 C. Spargo 9 F: B. Fritsch 31 L. Jackson 6 A. Neal-Bullen 30 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Oliver 13 K. Pickett 36 I/C: J. Harmes 4 J. Melksham 18 T. Rivers 24 S. Weideman 26 Emerg: O. Baker 33 T. Bedford 12 J. Bowey 17 M. Brown 38 In: O. Baker Out: Ed Langdon (concussion) BRISBANE LIONS B: J. Prior 20 H. Andrews 31 B. Starcevich 37 HB: D: Rich 10 M. Adams 24 G. Birchall 14 C: D. Zorko 15 L. Neale 9 H. McCluggage HF: C. Ah Chee 4 J. Daniher 3 L. McCarthy 11 F: D. McStay 25 E. Hipwood 30 C. Cameron 23 Foll: O. McInerney 46 J. Lyons 17 M. Robinson 5 I/C Z. Bailey 33 K. Coleman 18 R. Lester 35 D. Robertson 2 Sub: R. Mathieson 36 Emerg: C. Ballenden 38 T. Fullarton 21 J. Madden 42 In: R. Lester L. Neale Out: T. Berry (omitted) J. Madden (omitted) Injury List: Round 12 Ed Langdon (concussion) — 1 Week Jack Viney (toe) — 1 to 2 Weeks Joel Smith (knee) — 2 to 3 Weeks Bailey Laurie (eye socket) — 3 to 4 Weeks Deakyn Smith (ankle) — 3 to 4 Weeks Marty Hore (knee) — 10 to 12 Weeks Aaron Nietschke (knee) — Season Adam Tomlinson (knee) — Season