Demonland

MELBOURNE is pleased to announce a new partner, with Torrens University joining the club for at least the next three years. A private higher-education provider, Torrens University will be the Official Education Partner of the Demons and will provide tertiary education opportunities for their AFL and AFLW players, coaches, staff and members. The partnership will also see students connect with the club, in-line with Torrens University’s integrated learning approach, and look to offer professional industry placement in students’ chosen fields.

If there is an outbreak you'd think that contact tracing will request that information from the ticket outlets as well. You'd hope so anyway.

I think the point is is that it wasn't mandatory last week. Having said that I'm not sure how mandatory it actually is from Round 2 given that according to this article from AFL.com.au: "QR codes will be provided for fans at various points within the stadium – including at their designated entry gate and ticketed venue zone – the check-in can be completed by fans on their way to or at their seat. Additional venue staff have been deployed to assist patrons." It doesn't sound like it is going to be "policed" just that it is strongly recommended and made easier to access as well as being publicised so that people are aware that you should be checking in.

I didn't notice anything and nobody manning the gates suggested that it was an option.

So did I.

That’ll be the game. Blues 0-2. Season over?

Happened in our match too. One of our players did it and wasn’t penalised.

Not sure about the USA USA chant.

Bit of Free Kick Collingwood at the moment.

I meant defence in general not necessarily their defenders but yes you are correct.

Carlton are going to have to kick very high scores to win matches this year. Their defence is putrid.

Collingwood playing a lot better than I thought they would.

When I first heard about the QR codes at the footy from this week on I thought the same thing but I guess there are other factors being Ticketek is a 3rd party to the venue and it's probably the venue that is responsible for who goes through their gates. Then there are the cases of people that buy tickets but don't attend (I guess that issue can be solved by only contacting people that had barcodes that were actually scanned). And then there is the issue of on-selling or giving your ticket to someone else. Sure the contact traces might contact you and then you tell them to contact Joe Blow who actually attended but then that's already double contact tracing not to mention relying on Ticketek in the first place.

Could be the sub?

I guess it depends on how vigilant the authorities at the gate are in terms of checking whether you've checked in and checked in "honestly". Cafes and restaurants were super-vigilant when they all reopened but now I can barely remember the last time anyone checked. Sure the signs and reminders are there and for the most part I comply but I've noticed that many establishments are more relaxed about it now. I would assume that in the first few weeks at the footy you'll be watched like a hawk and then in a few week who knows. That said my 6 year old was treated like a member of the ISIS by security when entering the G on the weekend.

These are the reasons but it all relies on people actually filling them in.

Throughout the off season, St Kilda was touted as an improver and a possible challenger for a top four position mainly off the back of another good trade and draft period at the end of last year. Then in Round 1, the undermanned Saints made a shaky start and almost succumbed to the Giants but they managed to come home from a wet and woolly Sydney with the four points intact. For Round 2, they have a couple of handy players returning so they come into the the game at Marvel Stadium chock full of confidence about reversing the result of their encounter in Alice Springs last year when they fell tantalisingly short of beating the Demons. That game was in Covid19 time with all manner of asterisks around it and now, they’ll be literally back in town in the comfort of their home ground where they’ve generally given their opponent a hard time in recent years. For its part, Melbourne is also coming off a win but it was a victory against a somewhat flawed opposition that had some difficulty adapting to the conditions a long way from home and with little support behind the team. The Dockers did manage a victory of sorts in that they won the clearances despite playing to a dominant ruck headed by Max Gawn. Their problem was that they failed to convert this on the scoreboard, particularly early in the game when they were well on top in the midfield. The old adage about it being “all about the midfield stupid!” seems to have gone out of the window lately when it comes to the Demons. They make up for it these days - at least they did last week - with an impressive defence headed by interception wizards Steven May and Jake Lever. Christian Salem, Adam Tomlinson, Nev Jetta, Trent Rivers and, from time to time when he went back, Big Max, were all major contributors to a strong defensive effort last week and will have a tougher assignment this week against the Saints who will benefit from the return of Max King from a week on the sidelines after he was headbutted by a golf ball. Along with match winner Tim Membrey and a bevy of clever small forwards including former Tigers Dan Butler and Jack Higgins, it’s going to be a much tougher ask for the Demon defence to contain this group than it was last week against Freo. This puts the onus on Melbourne’s attack to click when kicking for goal. There were too many gimme shots from within close range that were squandered last week and they won’t be able to blame tricky winds at Marvel Stadium or out of shape footballs for that matter. A couple of years ago, the Demons were overwhelmed by the outside run of the Saints and while this issue has still not been fully addressed, the gap in this division has narrowed while on the inside, Melbourne should take the honours. They certainly won’t be stuck in the middle this time. Melbourne by 17 points THE GAME St Kilda v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday 27 March 2021 at 7.25pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall St Kilda 94 wins Melbourne 122 wins 1 drawn At Marvel Stadium St Kilda 9 wins Melbourne 5 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 3 wins St Kilda 2 wins The Coaches Ratten 1 win Goodwin 1 win MEDIA TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 8.4.52 defeated St Kilda 7.7.49 at TIO Traeger Park, Round 14, 2020 The Demons jumped to an early lead with three goals in the second half of the first term but were pegged back in the third quarter. They held their narrow lead at the final break and prevailed in a tense finish with a controversial goal from Christian Petracca seeing them home. THE TEAMS ST KILDA B: J. Webster 29 D. Howard 20 C. Wilkie 44 HB: B. Long 21 T. Highmore 34 J. Sinclair 35 C: J. Billings 15 S. Ross 6 H Clark 11 HF D. Butler 16 B. Hill J. Lonie 13 F: T. Membrey 28 S McKernan 27 M King 12 Foll: P. Hunter 41 J. Steele 9 J. Gresham 4 I/C: J. Battle 26 N. Coffield 1 J. Higgins 22 Z. Jones 3 Sub: J. Bytel 23 Emerg: J. Carlisle 2 D. McKenzie 36 M. Wood 32 In: Z. Jones M. King Out: D. McKenzie M. Wood MELBOURNE B: N. Jetta 39 S. May 1 A. Tomlinson 20 HB: J. Hunt 29 J. Lever 8 C. Salem 3 C: A. Brayshaw 10 C. Petracca 5 E. Langdon 15 HF: T. Sparrow 32 T. McDonald 25 K. Pickett 36 F: A. Neal-Bullen 30 L. Jackson 6 B. Fritsch 31 Foll: M. Gawn - C 11 C. Oliver 13 J. Viney 7 I/C: N. Jones 2 J. Jordon 23 T. Rivers 24 C. Spargo 9 Sub: O. Baker 33 Emerg: M Hibberd 14 J. Melksham 18 H. Petty 35 In: O. Baker J. Viney Out: K. Chandler J. Harmes (wrist) Injury List: Round 2 Michael Hibberd (ankle) — Available Jake Melksham (hamstring) — Available Jack Viney (foot) — Available Mitch Brown (calf) — 1 Week Joel Smith (finger) — 1 Week Jay Lockhart (testicles) — 1 to 2 Weeks Sam Weideman (leg) — 2 to 4 Weeks Ben Brown (knee) — 4 to 6 Weeks James Harmes (wrist) — 6 Weeks Marty Hore (knee) — Season Aaron Nietschke (knee) — Season

Who are you tipping?