Demonland

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?