Demonland

Take the discussion to the PREGAME THREAD.

That's enough bathwater for you sir.

I think they've since deleted the video. Wiser heads prevailed

Please confine discussion to information released by mainstream sources. Discussion on other incidents circulating will be removed. If those incidents become reported in the mainstream media then you may discuss. Until then moderators have the right to remove such content and it's discussion. Just covering ourselves.

Round One Melbourne v Port Adelaide Saturday, March 23, 1.45pm AEDT MCG .Countdown 11.30am: MCC Reserve 12.00pm: AFL Reserve 12.00pm: General public Members You can use your Memberships to gain access to the game. If you’re an unrenewed member who received their card in the mail, visit a membership tent to activate the card. If you’re a new member and sign up at the ground, you will receive a ticket to gain entry. General Public Tickets to the game can be purchased via Ticketek. Public transport The MCG is serviced by multiple tram lines and is in close proximity to Richmond and Jolimont Stations. Use the MCG Journey Planner to find your best way to get to the game. Car parking Car parking capacity in Yarra Park will be limited. We encourage fans to take public transport to the match or park in the CBD. Gate 3: 9.00am Gate 5: 11.30am Gate 6: 10.30am Gate 7: CLOSED For the latest parking information, please visit the MCG website. The Demon Shop will be open from 10.30am until half an after the game and is located on Brunton Avenue next to carpark Entrance E. All 2019 Members will receive 10% off full priced merchandise on presentation of their Membership card. Can't make it to the store? Browse the whole range online HERE. TV times Melbourne: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Sydney: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Brisbane: Fox Footy - 12.30pm Adelaide: Channel 7 + Fox Footy - 1.00pm Perth: Fox Footy - 10.30am Tasmania: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Darwin: Fox Footy - 12.00pm For all other regions, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide. Mobile app Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app. Download it for iOS or Android. Social media Match hashtag: #AFLDeesPower Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day. THE WELCOME GAME by Whispering Jack The Melbourne Football Club has moved forward in leaps and bounds since it last met Port Adelaide in a totally forgettable (for Demon fans) season opener on the MCG. That game, played on Sunday, 31 March, 2013 before a crowd of 22,924, was supposed to be a close encounter between two of the competition’s lesser lights from the previous season when the Power had finished 14th and the Demons 16th (ahead only of AFL newbies Gold Coast and GWS). It turned into a slaughter with Port taking the lead in the first minute with a behind to Justin Westhoff, followed a minute or so later with a goal to Hamish Hartlett and the deluge continued until the final siren blared as the scoreboard read, “Port Adelaide 19.19.133 Melbourne 8.6.54”. From there Port Adelaide went on to play off in the finals and went down to Geelong in the Semi Final after beating Collingwood in a Qualifying Final while Melbourne finished in 17th spot with two wins, ahead only of the Giants and with a percentage of 54.07. Plenty of water has flowed under the Swan Street Bridge after that fateful day with the club moving forward on an upward trajectory on an annual basis ever since. The top four finish after the finals last year left it close to football’s holy grail. Close ... but no cigar. The summer has been an unusual one for the Demons who encountered the unfamiliar territory of a late start to the pre season (due to them having gone deep into the finals) with plenty of players undergoing operations and hence, making late starts to their preseasons - and we all know how vital it is for the playing group to have a clear and uninterrupted run into a new season. Notwithstanding, Melbourne’s summer remained full of hype standing as a legitimate premiership contender until the last few weeks when things began to go awry with two relatively unconvincing JLT performances and injuries and a suspension serving to dent the confidence of the supporter group, at least. The game takes on even greater importance when one looks at what lies ahead beyond week one with games against Geelong, Essendon and Sydney to complete the first month. I’m going for Melbourne because it is playing at home which is exactly the right place for it to welcome in a new season. Port Adelaide doesn’t win at the MCG very often and I don’t think they can win what the AFL has dubbed “The Welcome Game 2019”. While Port has a shorter injury list, it still has its worries and will be taking a lot of youth into the game. The Demons have greater depth and, despite those injury woes, they should go into the game with all of their A-listers involved again at the stoppages where they were so dominant in 2018. The AFL’s leading ruckman Max Gawn looks strong and fit and is a master of the centre clearance game with enough class gathered around him to ensure that the team gets enough of the ball forward to the club’s key forwards to win the game. Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman have been rather subdued in the JLT series but with Max heading the abovementioned group, the force of numbers will help them and the likes of Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca to hit the scoreboard with regularity. They probably won’t miss Jesse Hogan one iota. Melbourne by 30 points THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 1.45pm (AEDT) at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1.30pm live RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 11.9.75 defeated Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2018 at the Adelaide Oval, Melbourne led for most of the night but was held back by poor disposal in front of goal and some inexplicable umpiring decisions didn’t help the cause. THE TEAMS INJURY LIST Round 1 Injury List: James Harmes (finger) – Test Braydon Preuss (adductor) – Test Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – Test Steven May – (suspension) – 1 week Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – TBA * Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA * Mitch Hannan (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 10-12 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season * appears like 4 - 6 week

Full presser.

Anyone make it to training this morning? AFL.com.au reporter Ben Guthrie was there and look away Dees fans of the sky is falling persuasion.

Agree that they have a quality list but having said that I hope we play them in the Grand Final at the G.

Didn't he predict us not to make the 8? Here he picks us to be one of 4 teams capable of winning the flag but not before doing a hatchet job on us. Melbourne could be as good as anyone, but first and foremost it has to get over itself. Melbourne fails to know how to get the foot to the throat and press down hard. The Demons release the pressure too soon and play like millionaires. This needs to stop. These are the only four (also West Coast, Collingwood, Richmond) clubs I see capable of winning the flag this year. Despite this he doesn't believe anyone will challenge West Coast or Collingwood.

It was a closed session at Casey. It's unlikely we'll hear anything about it unless it comes from MFC.

It's a classic Double Edged Sword.