Demonland

75 million followers. Now that's BRANDING.

A Melbourne Football Club member has written an open letter to newly appointed club president Brad Green demanding an “unbiased and transparent review” of the club in a bid to restore faith among disillusioned supporters. Demons supporter Ricky Dunn expressed his deep disappointment with the club’s current direction, saying he would not renew his membership for the upcoming season. “The current situation has left me and many fellow supporters feeling more disenchanted than ever. The lack of transparency and handling of recent issues have eroded our trust in the club’s leadership,” Dunn wrote to Green. “My sole condition for renewing my membership is that the club’s review be conducted entirely independently of CEO Gary Pert and any members of the administration who have overseen operations in the past couple of years. An unbiased and transparent review is essential to restore faith among the supporters.” The Demons’ 2024 season has been plagued with off-field drama, including last month, when president Kate Roffey abruptly quit her role and the board. Roffey’s departure came amid the ongoing saga regarding star player Christian Petracca, who raised concerns about the club during his end-of-year review process. He was frustrated at the club after he believed club figures did not check in with him enough after he suffered life-threatening injuries during the King’s Birthday clash with Collingwood, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Despite the club continuing to make headlines over its handling of Petracca, days before her departure Roffey revealed in an interview with SEN that she had not spoken to the star midfielder about his disgruntlement with the Demons, prompting widespread criticism. Former Melbourne president Kate Roffey, pictured with chief executive Gary Pert, came under fire for her interview with Gerard Whateley on SEN.AFL Photos In the wake of Roffey’s exit, Green, a board member and former player, was appointed as president and announced he would lead a review into the board. On September 10 the club announced a second review, focussing on the operations and overarching environment of the AFL program, to be conducted by Green, Pert and former All Blacks manager Darren Shand. “Darren is already familiar with our program, having spent time in the club earlier this year observing all elements of the men’s football program,” the club said in the announcement. Dunn has raised concerns about the integrity of the reviews, arguing it is inappropriate for board members and club officials involved in past decisions to oversee their own evaluation. “If they choose to be more transparent and Green and Pert remove themselves from this review, I’ll sign up again in a heartbeat. I still want the absolute best for the club. I love it,” he told this masthead. “I just don’t really understand how you can have a review of what’s taken place when the person that’s been responsible for many of those decisions is a part of that review.” The Demons are also dealing with speculation surrounding the future of four-time best-and-fairest winner Clayton Oliver, who met with Geelong on Tuesday. Dunn said it was time for the club to face the music and address the internal issues appropriately. “For me, and I think for nearly all fans, it’s just about transparency. I hold no ill feelings towards Brad Green for the decision he’s made. I assume that he’s acting in what he sees as the best interest of the club. But like absolutely any review out there, if it’s not independent, what’s the point in it?,” Dunn said. “All I want is to feel that the money and the time I invest in the club is somewhat appreciated, recognised, and that they’re accountable for it, and I don’t feel at the moment they are accountable for it.” The Melbourne Football Club has been contacted for comment. Feel free to write your own open letters here

How will Mick Stinear and his dwindling list of fit and available Demons respond to last week’s 65-point capitulation to the Bombers, the team’s biggest loss in history? As a minimum he will expect genuine effort from all of his players when Melbourne takes on the GWS Giants at Ikon Park this Thursday. Happily, the ground remains a favourite Melbourne venue of players and spectators alike and will provide an opportunity for the Demons to redeem themselves. Injuries to star players such as Liv Purcell, Tayla Harris, Lauren Pearce, the Mackin sisters, and last year’s leading goal scorer, Eden Zanker are impacting performance through lack of connection and on-field leadership. The Demons have trialled nearly all of its draftees and train-on players, but the experience drain is proving catastrophic. Including practice matches we have lost 9 of the past 10 games. Difficult end of season discussions around Mick’s coaching contract and the Melbourne playing list composition lies ahead. The Demons have just one win and a percentage of 47.9% and sit 16th on the ladder. GWS by comparison has one win and one draw with a percentage of 113.2%. Unlike the Demons, GWS has been competitive in most games. GWS, with better form and only a couple of long-term injuries, will start favourites this week. Selection this week The already season-destroying injury list has grown again this week. Paxy’s foot was visibly impacting her running at Windy Hill and will miss a week. Indefatigable winger Eliza McNamara wore an errant elbow against the Bombers which broke her schnoz and will also miss one week. Another diminutive warrior Shelley Heath busted her shoulder but is remarkably listed as a test. Gee Shell is tough. Speedster Jemma Rigoni is available and will not surprise if the Number 43 debuts this week given Lize’s unavailability. Sarah D’Arcy and Sophie Casey from VFLW were listed as emergencies last week. Meggs’ view We will miss MacNamara this week, she has been outstanding all year. Lize, B Mackin, Goldrick, Hore, Hanks, Paxy, and Chaplin have been consistently listed in our best players in matches this year. The sense being there is not enough contribution from the balance of players helping out. GWS has seasoned midfielders in Alyce Parker, Alicia Eva and Bec Beeson. Georgia Garnett and Zarlie Goldsworthy are dangerous forwards, while Tarni Evans kicked 3 goals for them last week. They will keep our defenders busy. Ex Dee and strong defender Kat Smith is the GWS Giants vice-captain and might run around chasing Alyssia Pisano. If enough Demon teammates step up, share the burden, win the contests and execute skills under pressure, we could win this and redeem ourselves. Go Dees! Melbourne by 3 points THE GAME Round 6: Melbourne v GWS Giants Thursday 3 October 2024 at 7:15pm (Melbourne time) Ikon Park, Melbourne - Wurundjeri HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 5 wins GWS 1 win At IKON Park Melbourne 0 wins GWS 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 2 wins Bernasconi 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy, Kayo. Mobile – AFL Live Official App THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Round 2 Melbourne 15.9 (99) defeated GWS Giants 3.4 (22) at Manuka Oval, 10 September 2023 MELBOURNE 4.1 7.5 8.7 15.9 (99) GWS GIANTS 2.1 2.1 3.3 3.4 (22) Melbourne kicked the 3rd highest score in AFLW history to romp home against Greater Western Sydney (GWS) in Canberra by 77 points. Giant Killer, Captain Kate Hore was awesome with 23 disposals, 420 metres gained, 6 tackles and 5 goals 2 behinds. Coach Mick Stinear praised the versatility of the Melbourne playing group. The GWS coach was disappointed that the Dees slammed on 7 last quarter goals, creating a ‘sour ending’ to the night for his team. He felt GWS was in the game at ¾ time. Wishful thinking Cam. GOALS MELBOURNE Hore 5, Bannan 3, Purcell 2, Lampard 2, Zanker, Mackin, Mithen GWS GIANTS Garnett, Doyle, Eva BEST 
MELBOURNE Hore, Lampard, Hanks, Pearce, Purcell GWS GIANTS Barr, Eva, Evans, Parker, Beeson INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil GWS GIANTS Nil CROWD 2,028 at Manuka Oval THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Colvin Gillard HB Goldrick Chaplin Taylor C Lampard Hore Johnson HF Gall Mithen Pisano F Bannan Campbell FOLL Watt Hanks Heath I/C D'Arcy Fitzsimon Hill Madigan Wotherspoon EMG Casey Lin Rigoni 

IN D'Arcy Madigan OUT McNamara (nose) Paxman (foot) GWS GIANTS B Randall Smith HB Ransom Huntington Pease C Srhoj Eva Brazendale HF Evans Garnett Zreika F Goldsworthy Mowbray FOLL O'Dowd Beeson Parker I/C Bradfield Davies Doyle Gaffney Grierson EMG Miller Murphy Ramsdale IN Gaffney OUT Newman (knee) Injury List: Round 6 Melbourne Shelley Heath — Shoulder Test Saraid Taylor — Calf Test Eliza McNamara — Nose 1 week Paxy Paxman — Foot 1 week Olivia Purcell — Face 2-3 weeks Lauren Pearce — Wrist 3 weeks Blaithin Mackin — Calf 3 weeks Eden Zanker — Knee TBC Grace Beasley — ACL Season Tayla Harris — Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose — ACL Season Aimee Mackin — ACL Season GWS Giants Aliesha Newman — Knee 2-3 weeks Indigo Linde — Calf 3 weeks Cambridge McCormick — Ankle 4-6 weeks Nicola Barr — Hamstring Season Chloe Dalton — Back Season Daisy Walker — Knee Season