Demonland

Easter is supposed to be an occasion of hope, revival and ultimately celebration. But for the Demon supporters it was none of these as yet again their team was made Easter Bunnies by the Saints. With the exception of Christian Salem, there was not a single winner on the ground. The danger for the Demons was giving the Saints their own hope and enthusiasm by conceding early goals. That is exactly what happened in the first quarter, although with some ridiculous frees from the umpires close to goal. Nevertheless, the opportunity still stood before the Melbourne players, all they had to do was stay in the game, and all the efforts would come to fruition ... surely ... surely? On just about every statistic the Demons outclassed the Saints, yet the scoreboard showed no genuine improvement. Simple fact is that the forward line is completely and utterly dysfunctional. Aside from early goals (yet again) from Braydon Preuss, the rest of the designated forwards contributed nothing of value for the game (yet again). Jake Melksham with two goals and Christian Petracca with a single out of a total of seven majors for the game says it all. Once again Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman failed to bother the goal umpires. We are missing Jesse Hogan more than most would admit, and the plans to cover his loss have been shown to be worthless. A single goal in the second quarter, followed by another goal-less third quarter, as the Saints piled on eight unanswered goals to have the match all sewn up by ¾ time. Too many only look at the defenders and blame them for when the opposition walk the ball into goal, seemingly without a Melbourne player nearby. The truth is the problem lies further up the ground, particularly with those non-performing forwards, and some will not like to hear this, but also the mids. For the third time this season we have been absolutely cut to ribbons by the small outside runners. Where do they come from? Just look a little upfield to see where the likes of Lonie, Billings, Steven and Steele start their runs from. Who are their opponents? They are usually easy to find as they are 30 metres behind. And sadly, their opponents are some of the highest possession getters for the Melbourne side. Not much point getting the hands on the ball when your opponents are busy waltzing down the field and kicking goals ... The situation is not aided when the coaching staff put Jones and Lewis on the wings. That might have been something done in 2018, but wings are now needed and used (by winning sides) to cover a far greater depth of the ground. And Melbourne players on those wings and even flanks continue to just meander toward the contest. It was a sharp contrast to St.Kilda players who ran toward the middle to either cover defensively, or provide an outside option. The other standout was the team positioning in general play by St.Kilda. They were well drilled at the outside fringe and moved almost ballet like together as they kept their Melbourne opponents inside by a metre or so. Should they win the ball, they have that metre start, but not just one of them, all of them. It was why the Melbourne players were so far behind as the Saints linked up down the field. In sharp contrast the Demon players gave their opponents five metres and have fallen into the old defensive zone trap of “guarding grass”. This type of zone works on a basketball court where the space is limited. On a football field it leaves holes everywhere. To apply it to a football field, it is essential to concede the minimum space, but keep the opponent within striking range. Back to the forwards. Tom Mac cannot run at the moment - he has not recovered from his foot injury and so cannot lead. Weideman needs serious coaching in forward work. His leads are non-existent and as a result the only time he is seen competing is in the air, contests he will not win until he adds strength to his body. He also needs coaching on when to jump, as he runs under the flight of the ball too often. Importantly, ALL the forwards need to apply some pressure on their opponents. Remember, Tom can’t run, but Petracca, Melksham, Weidemannn and even Hunt were nowhere to be seen. Between them they could only manage 7 tackles for the game! That’s the same number as Jack Viney. This is where the opposition start their attacks, especially when the same players are unable to mark the ball to keep it in the forward 50m. Melbourne certainly didn’t come home with the chocolates at Easter. Those failings that have re-surfaced again and again since the start of the season will surely standout even more when facing a Richmond side which uses forward manic pressure and slingshot manoeuvres to score more than any other side. Is there any hope? Probably not, for coming into an ANZAC eve match without ammunition or reserves is something not even those brave souls at Gallipoli faced. Demon fans are calling for various players to be replaced, but the options at Casey have either been tried and failed, or are simply not up to the task. We desperately do need a player or 2 in the forward line who can run and chase or who can mark the ball. Losing one of the current batch in front of goal will not change the scoreline, given their output this season. The season is now over for the Demons. In 2018, even in losing games, the side was competitive. Failings could be sheeted home to youth and inexperience. Not so this year. We have returned to the stage where opposition get runs of unanswered goals, and we have no answer. We have too many unfit, injured players unable to make a meaningful contribution, with little prospect of replacements to fill the gaps. And unlike the Christian faith, there is little prospect of resurrection in three days. Melbourne 3.3.21 4.5.29 4.8.32 7.13.55 St Kilda 4.1.25 7.2.44 12.5.77 15.5.95 Goals Melbourne Melksham Preuss 2 Brayshaw Harmes Preuss St Kilda Membrey 4 Kent 3 Billings Bruce 2 Acres Lonie Long Parker Best Melbourne Brayshaw Oliver Gawn Harmes Salem Hore St Kilda Billings Kent Membrey Newnes Acres Steele Geary Injuries Melbourne Nil St Kilda Long (corked thigh) Reports Melbourne Nil St Kilda Nil Umpires Chamberlain Whetton Harris Official crowd 35,558 at the MCG

The Tigers were at their best 12 months ago. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Josh Wagner, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Michael Hibberd, Jake Lever, Bernie Vince ? James Harmes, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Sam Weideman, Christian Petracca F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jake Melksham Foll: Max Gawn, Christian Salem, Clayton Oliver I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Jeff Garlett, Jayden Hunt, Billy Stretch Emg: Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Harry Petty, Tim Smith In: Billy Stretch, Dom Tyson, Jayden Hunt, Sam Weideman Out: Jordan Lewis (hand), Sam Frost, Bayley Fritsch, Tom Bugg RICHMOND B: Alex Rance, David Astbury, Dylan Grimes HB: Bachar Houli, Nathan Broad, Jayden Short ? Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn McIntosh HF: Jason Castagna, Sam Lloyd, Jacob Townsend F: Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Dan Butler Foll: Toby Nankervis, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin I/C: Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis, Jack Higgins, Dion Prestia Emg: Corey Ellis, Anthony Miles, Ivan Soldo, Tyson Stengle In: Nathan Broad, Jack Higgins, Sam Lloyd Out: Josh Caddy (hamstring), Jack Graham (suspended), Nick Vlastuin (calf)

Oh ... dear

Your votes please 6,5,4,3,2,1 ...

I thought this guy was Lockhart.

Initially I thought he was in there but looks like it's not him.

All emergencies look accounted for.

Brown has cried wolf so many times that when there's a genuine free he doesn't get it.

Skills in this game are atrocious.

Brown really does love to flop for a free kick.

Jeez Collingwood and Essendon get arm chair rides from the umps.

Essendon set to receive fine for playing Joe Daniher after he wasn't named to play.

Might cost someone a top 4 or finals spot.

MARCHING IN by The Oracle The most embarrassing loss of the 2018 season (perhaps aside from the Preliminary Final) for Melbourne was the one it suffered in Round 15 against lowly St Kilda. The Demons came into the game as a red hot favourite but were embarrassed by the Saints' speed and willingness to take the contest right up to them for virtually the full four quarters. It was a defeat that they were to bemoan for the remainder of the season. Their arrogance in going into the game and taking an opponent lightly was a costly slip up that possibly cost them the double chance in the end. The lead up to this year’s meeting could not be more different to the last. This time, it’s the Saints who are the trendsetters and with three wins to date, they are equal league leaders. The Demons, on the other hand, are in deep trouble with a huge injury list and many players struggling to regain their form of 2018. After three consecutive losses to begin the season, their one win came last week against an equally out-of-form Swans, leaving them sitting in sixteenth place on the AFL ladder. The glimmer of hope for the team was the way it lifted itself up by the bootstraps after trailing the Swans by 22 points halfway through the second term last Thursday night. Up to that point, the team that was the clearance king of 2018 was struggling to take the ball away from the stoppages despite Max Gawn’s usual dominance in the ruck. Suddenly, they were able to get on top in contested possessions and take advantage when inside the forward fifty. Goals flowed - significantly three of them came from one of the co-skippers in Nathan Jones who’s career many had written off just one week earlier. And if Melbourne can take its advantage in contested possessions through the likes of Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw into this week’s game, it will go a long way towards atoning for its poor start to the season. Against this will be, the challenge of nullifying St. Kilda’s outside speed which has been so damaging so far this year. The Demons benefitted last week from the inclusion of Braydon Preuss, who despite his ungainliness, caused headaches for the Swans’ defence. He kicked a couple himself and made the other Demon forwards who had been struggling for goals despite their numerous opportunities, look taller and play better. He was in doubt for this game at the time of writing but, irrespective of whether he plays, it is to be hoped that coach Simon Goodwin has learned his lesson and affords some extra versatility and options in his forward line. If the Demons have indeed learned their lessons from last year’s game and from the early rounds of this year, then I expect them to come marching in against the Saints and move forward in their process of resurrection. Melbourne by 15 points. THE GAME Melbourne v St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday 20 April 2019 at 4.35pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 121 wins St Kilda 92 wins 1 drawn At MCG Melbourne 59 wins St Kilda 36 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 3 wins St Kilda 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 3 wins Richardson 1 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 4.30pm RADIO - ABC Triple M SEN 3AW THE LAST TIME THEY MET St Kilda 18.11.119 defeated Melbourne 18.9.117 at the MCG, Round 15, 2018 After an even opening term, St Kilda got the jump on Melbourne with a seven goal second quarter and the Demons were forced to played catch up for the rest of the game. Despite a late surge of goals they fell by two points and recorded their third-straight loss. MELBOURNE B Marty Hore Sam Frost Neville Jetta HB Jordan Lewis Michael Hibberd Christian Salem C Nathan Jones Clayton Oliver James Harmes HF Angus Brayshaw Sam Weideman Jayden Hunt F Tom McDonald Braydon Preuss Jake Melksham FOLL Max Gawn Jack Viney Christian Petracca I/C Bayley Fritsch Charlie Spargo Corey Wagner Josh Wagner EMG Declan Keilty Jay Lockhart Oscar McDonald Billy Stretch IN Neville Jetta Jordan Lewis OUT Oscar McDonald (omitted) Billy Stretch (omitted) ST KILDA B Jimmy Webster Nathan Brown Shane Savage HB Callum Wilkie Josh Battle Jarryn Geary C Blake Acres Sebastian Ross Jack Newnes HF Jack Billings Josh Bruce Matthew Parker F Jack Lonie Tim Membrey Jade Gresham FOLL Rowan Marshall Jack Steele Jack Sinclair I/C Dean Kent Ben Long Ben Paton Jack Steven EMG Nick Hind Darragh Joyce Jonathon Marsh Robbie Young IN Jarryn Geary Jack Steven OUT Hunter Clark (omitted) Daniel McKenzie (concussion) Injury List - Round 5 Oscar McDonald (concussion) – available Neville Jetta (knee) — test Jordan Lewis (hamstring) — test Jay Lockhart (shoulder) — test Braydon Preuss (shoulder) — test Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – TBA Steven May (groin) — 2-4 weeks Joel Smith (groin) — 4-6 weeks Aaron vandenBerg (foot) — 4-6 weeks Mitch Hannan (knee) — 6 weeks Jake Lever (knee) — 6 weeks Jay Kennedy-Harris (knee) — 8-10 wee ks Guy Walker (shoulder) — indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) — season

The most embarrassing loss of the 2018 season (perhaps aside from the Preliminary Final) for Melbourne was the one it suffered in Round 15 against lowly St Kilda. The Demons came into the game as a red hot favourite but were embarrassed by the Saints' speed and willingness to take the contest right up to them for virtually the full four quarters. It was a defeat that they were to bemoan for the remainder of the season. Their arrogance in going into the game and taking an opponent lightly was a costly slip up that possibly cost them the double chance in the end. The lead up to this year’s meeting could not be more different to the last. This time, it’s the Saints who are the trendsetters and with three wins to date, they are equal league leaders. The Demons, on the other hand, are in deep trouble with a huge injury list and many players struggling to regain their form of 2018. After three consecutive losses to begin the season, their one win came last week against an equally out-of-form Swans, leaving them sitting in sixteenth place on the AFL ladder. The glimmer of hope for the team was the way it lifted itself up by the bootstraps after trailing the Swans by 22 points halfway through the second term last Thursday night. Up to that point, the team that was the clearance king of 2018 was struggling to take the ball away from the stoppages despite Max Gawn’s usual dominance in the ruck. Suddenly, they were able to get on top in contested possessions and take advantage when inside the forward fifty. Goals flowed - significantly three of them came from one of the co-skippers in Nathan Jones who’s career many had written off just one week earlier. And if Melbourne can take its advantage in contested possessions through the likes of Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw into this week’s game, it will go a long way towards atoning for its poor start to the season. Against this will be, the challenge of nullifying St. Kilda’s outside speed which has been so damaging so far this year. The Demons benefitted last week from the inclusion of Braydon Preuss, who despite his ungainliness, caused headaches for the Swans’ defence. He kicked a couple himself and made the other Demon forwards who had been struggling for goals despite their numerous opportunities, look taller and play better. He was in doubt for this game at the time of writing but, irrespective of whether he plays, it is to be hoped that coach Simon Goodwin has learned his lesson and affords some extra versatility and options in his forward line. If the Demons have indeed learned their lessons from last year’s game and from the early rounds of this year, then I expect them to come marching in against the Saints and move forward in their process of resurrection. Melbourne by 15 points. THE GAME Melbourne v St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday 20 April 2019 at 4.35pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 121 wins St Kilda 92 wins 1 drawn At MCG Melbourne 59 wins St Kilda 36 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 3 wins St Kilda 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 3 wins Richardson 1 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 4.30pm RADIO - ABC Triple M SEN 3AW THE LAST TIME THEY MET St Kilda 18.11.119 defeated Melbourne 18.9.117 at the MCG, Round 15, 2018 After an even opening term, St Kilda got the jump on Melbourne with a seven goal second quarter and the Demons were forced to played catch up for the rest of the game. Despite a late surge of goals they fell by two points and recorded their third-straight loss. MELBOURNE B Marty Hore Sam Frost Neville Jetta HB Jordan Lewis Michael Hibberd Christian Salem C Nathan Jones Clayton Oliver James Harmes HF Angus Brayshaw Sam Weideman Jayden Hunt F Tom McDonald Braydon Preuss Jake Melksham FOLL Max Gawn Jack Viney Christian Petracca I/C Bayley Fritsch Charlie Spargo Corey Wagner Josh Wagner EMG Declan Keilty Jay Lockhart Oscar McDonald Billy Stretch IN Neville Jetta Jordan Lewis OUT Oscar McDonald (omitted) Billy Stretch (omitted) ST KILDA B Jimmy Webster Nathan Brown Shane Savage HB Callum Wilkie Josh Battle Jarryn Geary C Blake Acres Sebastian Ross Jack Newnes HF Jack Billings Josh Bruce Matthew Parker F Jack Lonie Tim Membrey Jade Gresham FOLL Rowan Marshall Jack Steele Jack Sinclair I/C Dean Kent Ben Long Ben Paton Jack Steven EMG Nick Hind Darragh Joyce Jonathon Marsh Robbie Young IN Jarryn Geary Jack Steven OUT Hunter Clark (omitted) Daniel McKenzie (concussion) Injury List - Round 5 Oscar McDonald (concussion) – available Neville Jetta (knee) — test Jordan Lewis (hamstring) — test Jay Lockhart (shoulder) — test Braydon Preuss (shoulder) — test Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – TBA Steven May (groin) — 2-4 weeks Joel Smith (groin) — 4-6 weeks Aaron vandenBerg (foot) — 4-6 weeks Mitch Hannan (knee) — 6 weeks Jake Lever (knee) — 6 weeks Jay Kennedy-Harris (knee) — 8-10 wee ks Guy Walker (shoulder) — indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) — season

Concussion therapy?