Demonland

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Sydney v Brisbane at the MCG, 2.30pm AEST SYDNEY In: Nil Out: Nil PF sub: Robbie Fox BRISBANE In: D.Fort Out: O.McInerney (shoulder) PF sub: Conor McKenna Finals, Grand Final experience SYDNEY Dane Rampe: 22 finals, three GFs Tom McCartin: Eight finals, one GF Nick Blakey: Six finals, one GF Jake Lloyd: 19 finals, three GFs Harry Cunningham: 14 finals, one GF Lewis Melican: Four finals James Jordon: Six finals, one GF, one premiership Chad Warner: Seven finals, one GF Ollie Florent: Eight finals, one GF Luke Parker: 25 finals, four GFs, one premiership Logan McDonald: Five finals Errol Gulden: Seven finals, one GF Tom Papley: 14 finals, two GFs Joel Amartey: Three finals Will Hayward: Eight finals, one GF Brodie Grundy: 11 finals, one GF Isaac Heeney: 16 finals, two GFs James Rowbottom: Seven finals, one GF Matt Roberts: Two finals Braeden Campbell: Six finals, one GF Justin McInerney: Seven finals, one GF Hayden McLean: Five finals, one GF Robbie Fox: Six finals, one GF Total: 216 finals, 28 GFs, two premierships BRISBANE Dayne Zorko: 15 finals, one GF Harris Andrews: 15 finals, one GF Noah Answerth: Seven finals Brandon Starcevich: 13 finals, one GF Jack Payne: Nine finals Ryan Lester: Nine finals, one GF Jaspa Fletcher: Six finals, one GF Will Ashcroft: Three finals Hugh McCluggage: 15 finals, one GF Cam Rayner: 12 finals, one GF Joe Daniher: 12 finals, one GF Jarrod Berry: 15 finals, one GF Charlie Cameron: 22 finals, two GFs Eric Hipwood: 13 finals, one GF Callum Ah Chee: 11 finals, one GF Darcy Fort: One final Josh Dunkley: 17 finals, three GFs, one premiership Lachie Neale: 22 finals, two GFs Kai Lohmann: Three finals Logan Morris: Three finals Zac Bailey: 15 finals, one GF Darcy Wilmot: Nine finals, one GF Conor McKenna: Eight finals, one GF Total: 255 finals, 19 GFs, one premiership

Last Saturday’s crushing loss to Fremantle, after being three goals ahead at three quarter time, should be motivation enough to bounce back for this very winnable Round 5 clash at Windy Hill. A first-time venue for the Melbourne AFLW team, this should be a familiar suburban, windy, footy environment for the players. Essendon were brave and competitive last week against ladder leader Adelaide at Sturt’s home ground. A familiar name, Maddison Gay, was the Bombers best player with a game-high 23 disposals showing off her intercepts and precise kicking. The only Bomber to earn a coaches vote in the 33-point defeat. Watching Essendon, they have a good midfield with another Madison, Prespakis, Georgia Nanscawen, Steph Cain and quick players such as ex Blue Georgia Gee and Sophie Van De Heuvel. Former Casey player Steph Wales is a developing mobile ruck but has only limited support. The Demons and Bombers have won only one game each this season and sit 14th and 15th on the ladder respectively. An understatement that Friday’s clash is a ‘must-win’ game for both teams. Selection this week The injury list expanded with additions of Grace Beasley (ACL), Eden Zanker (Knee) and Blaithin Mackin (Calf). Paxy Paxman and speedster Jemma Rigoni are listed a ‘test’so both could be available. The Club announced that ex Port Adelaide player Lily Johnson will debut for the red and blue. She has trained with the backs and looked promising in her preseason work. With limited options available expect anyone fit to be seriously considered for selection. Essendon has been missing their talisman captain Bonnie Toogood for several weeks but by comparison the Bombersare close to full strength. Meggs view Mick hinted that this season, the workload is not being shared effectively amongst his playing group. Eliza McNamara played her best game for the Dees last week and has been excellent all year, as has Sinead Goldrick. Together with Kate Hore they continue to work so hard to lift their team. Maeve Chaplin has been a real stalwart in defence and her attack, intercept marking and kicking have been highlights. Hanksy improved her output last week and Campbell is slowly grasping the number one ruck mantle. With Edo out, youngster Georgia Gall becomes our primary lead up forward holding out her dukes, with Alyssia Pisano buzzing around crumbing for goals. Wotherspoon is wasted at half forward. She is strong and battle-ready, give her some midfield rotations Mick. Essendon will be highly competitive on Friday, but Melbourne has aces such as Hore and Hanks. If enough Demon teammates step up, share the burden, win the contests and execute skills under pressure, we will win this. Melbourne to defuse the Bombers this week. Go Dees! Melbourne by 13 points THE GAME Round 5: Melbourne v Essendon Friday 27 September 2024 at 2:05pm (Melbourne time) Windy Hill, Melbourne - Wurundjeri HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 1 win Essendon 0 wins At Windy Hill Melbourne 0 wins Essendon 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 1 win Wood 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy, Kayo. Mobile – AFL Live Official App THE LAST TIME THEY MET - Season 7 Round 9 Melbourne 7.8 (50) defeated Essendon 1.3 (9) at Casey Fields, 23 October 2022 MELBOURNE 2.2 4.2 7.5 7.8 (50) ESSENDON 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.3 (9) With momentum building towards a Top 2 finish, the Demons’ superior skills, and 4-quarter effort produced a solid 41-point win in tricky windy conditions. Coach Mick Stinear was pleased with his team’s intensity and competitiveness. He praised defenders Shelley Heath, young key back Tahlia Gillard and the emerging defender Maeve Chaplin. Paxy led the way with a goal and 24 disposals (10 of which were contested), while Kate Hore kicked 3 goals and Alyssa Bannan kicked 2. GOALS MELBOURNE Hore 3, Bannan 2, Paxman, Zanker ESSENDON Phillips BEST MELBOURNE Paxman, Heath, Gillard, West, Hore ESSENDON Philips, Prespakis, Vogt, Marshall INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil ESSENDON Nil CROWD 1,518 at Casey Fields THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Colvin Gillard HB Chaplin Heath Goldrick C McNamara Hanks Fitzsimon HF Gall Hore Wotherspoon F Bannan Pisano FOLL Campbell Mithen Lampard I/C Hill Johnson Paxman Taylor Watt EMG Casey D'Arcy Madigan IN Johnson Paxman OUT B Mackin (calf) Zanker (knee) ESSENDON B Clarke Van Loon HB Van De Heuvel Gamble Morcom C Keaney Prespakis Gaylor HF Bannister Gee Gay F Alexander Scott FOLL Wales Nanscawen Cain I/C Jacques Radford Vogt Walker EMG Dyke Williamson Adams NO CHANGE Injury List: Round 5 Melbourne Paxy Paxman Foot Test Jemma Rigoni Groin Test Saraid Taylor Calf 1 - 2 weeks Olivia Purcell Face 3 - 4 weeks Lauren Pearce Wrist 4 weeks Blaithin Mackin Calf 3 - 5 weeks Eden Zanker Knee TBC Grace Beasley ACL Season Tayla Harris Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose ACL Season Aimee Mackin ACL Season Essendon Emily Gough Calf 2 weeks Bonnie Toogood MCL 2-4 weeks Brooke Brown Calf 3 weeks

The Coates Talent League boys premiership team

The dust settled on the 1924 season and, on the face of it, the Melbourne Football Club had very little to show for the experience. It was described by one observer as a perplexing season that promised so much but ended in the team narrowly averting a wooden spoon and finishing eighth in the nine team competition that was about to expand with the addition of three new clubs. The VFL premiership was won by the Essendon Football Club, its sixth flag and the second in a row. It won the round-robin finals series which was the last time a VFL/AFL premiership was not decided by a grand final and the only time when the premiers lost their last match of the season as they were beaten by runners-up Richmond 9.13 (67) to 6.11 (47) in the last round-robin match. Things quickly turned ugly for the premier. Some Essendon players were unhappy at the poor performances of teammates in the round robin match against Richmond. There were reports of heated arguments and fist fights in the rooms after the match and after a post-match function later that evening amid accusations of match fixing and receiving bribes. Little wonder that when the VFA premiers Footscray challenged Essendon to a match for the championship of Victoria, it was the former which won comfortably by 9.10.64 to 4.12.36. The unofficial “championship” match played a week after the VFL grand final was in aid of Dame Nellie Melba's Limbless Soldiers' Appeal. There were further accusations of match fixing in that game and, as a consequence, champion centre half-back Tom Fitzmaurice was so disgusted that he never played again for Essendon. Footscray’s performance was the catalyst for the club’s admission to the VFL but the League didn’t stop there. North Melbourne and Hawthorn also defected to make it a twelve team competition when the 1925 season began. In the meantime, the VFL introduced an award for the fairest and best player based on the vote of the umpires and the first Brownlow Medal was awarded to Edward "Carji" Greeves of Geelong. Melbourne’s Bert Chadwick was runner up by one vote behind Greeves. 1924 might not have been a watershed season for the Melbourne Football Club but there were changes taking place that would see a significant improvement in 1925 to third place and a premiership in the following season when the club won its second flag in 1926. By that time Chadwick was captain-coach alternating between the ruck and centre half back and the great Ivor Warne-Smith had returned to the club to win the first of his two Brownlow Medals . In the space of two years, the club had risen from the doldrums to cover itself in premiership glory. Photograph of Melbourne Football Club, Premiers 1926, Image courtesy of the Melbourne Cricket Club Museum collection