Dee-monic

6 May - in all-Australian form. 5 Oliver - our human dynamo is back. 4 Gawn - won most of his duels. 3 Petracca - monstered several opponents. 2 Chandler - lively and accurate. 1 Pickett - added the X-factor. With apologies to Salem, Viney, McDonald, and Lever in an excellent team performance.

Changes needed, chorused all the post-Sydney critics. Changes we duly got, and still no one seems happy. But apart from Tomlinson, rather unluckily omitted, and Fullarton, what other fringe players have staked any sort of claim? For TMac and BBB this is probably the final chance to show us whether they still have what it takes to compete at AFL level. I for one hope they prove the grumblers wrong. So far it has already been a good week anyway, with Collingwood going 0-2.

Two years ago we were definitely a destination club. IF Petty goes to Adelaide next season at a time WHEN we are still feeling the huge loss of Angus Brayshaw; the finishing line is getting closer for Max and May; Brown, McDonald and possibly Melksham will reach that line; and Joel Smith may be gone, THEN would we still be seen as serious contenders?

Headline on SEN website after our meek capitulation to the Swans: “THEY WERE IMPOTENT!”: WHY DO MELBOURNE REFUSE TO ADDRESS THEIR BIGGEST FLAW? It's a fair question with our window fading as we face yet another season without a dominant key forward in the squad.

I guess the choice was between him and Sparrow. Unfortunately Sparrow also turned in a shocker tonight. At the moment we seem to have a mixture of elite and below-average players, without the depth in our ranks that every premiership aspirant needs. A big worry tonight was that in contested possessions Sydney, without three first-choice mids, beat us at our own game.

Injured or not, Laurie was so poor tonight that it will surely be a long time before he is considered again.

Very harsh on Max. Grundy was outstanding and on the night Max did his best but couldn't match him. There is no shame in that. One blip on a magnificent career is no reason to use words like "pathetic".

6 May – kept us in the game in the first half. 5 Viney – some mistakes but two goals and tremendous work rate. 4 Fritsch – finally found his scoring touch again. 3 Petracca – but nowhere near his best. 2 Lever – a few good intercepts. 1 Howes – solid debut until the last-quarter collapse. Black mark of the day: Goodwin for thinking he could include the hapless Laurie, Chandler and Spargo in the same 22.

Yes, he's on a steep learning curve, but he's got a big future ahead. He was certainly better than Spargo, Chandler, Laurie and Schache.

It's hard to admit, but our reject ruckman has outplayed Max tonight.

Same old problems throughout the first half. Forward line almost non-existent. Too many long bombs, with Van Rooyen constantly outnumbered and outmarked. Chandler and Spargo totally ineffective. Laurie managed four fumbles in two minutes. Fritsch off target with his kicking and dropping marks. Gawn unable to dominate. Defence the only bright spot, with Howes looking solid. If Goody doesn't come up with a plan B, we are cooked for tonight.

Opinion on the timing of Clarry's return is obviously divided. The TV cameras turned in his direction several times at Ikon Park and he seemed cheerful and relaxed as he watched his mates against Carlton. If the coaching staff believe he is ready to go, mentally and physically, it would be ridiculous to leave him out. He will face scrutiny whenever he returns, and the sooner he can get back to his best, the better it will be for him and the club.

Some wasteful kicking but plenty of positives: 1. Sparrow immense. Looks ready to go to a new level. 2. Salem smart and effective in midfield. 3. Max dominant as usual. 4. Speed merchant Windsor looks AFL-ready. 5. Delivery into forward line much improved. 6. Oliver relaxed and cheerful in the stands. Return must be close now. I know the Blues were undermanned, but even so the overall signs were promising.

The Powell-Pepper case provides the perfect chance for the AFL to set the standard for the season. Reckless or deliberate conduct resulting in concussion or a serious head wound should incur a six-week minimum ban. But the AFL, even with a gigantic class-action claim looming against it, effectively condones thuggery, with culprits defended successfully by high-priced, nit-picking lawyers while concussion victims usually have to miss two games or more. The latest clear example: Brayden Maynard escaped unscathed after the reckless charge that has ended the career of Angus Brayshaw. Advances in medical science have made it clear that repeated concussion injuries are likely to result in deadly long-term consequences. If the AFL does not clean up its act in this regard, what mother would want her son or daughter playing Aussie rules?

It's not the media's fault that: (1) We failed to persuade Jackson to stay; (2) We failed to make the Grundy experiment work; (3) One injury is enough to show that we have failed to provide sufficient cover for Max, meaning that even if we make it into September he will be exhausted and almost certainly carrying minor injuries; (4) Melksham and May provided a Punch and Judy sideshow for the newshounds to blow up into WW3. As for the other current problems the club is experiencing, the people in charge have to start taking some responsibility for issues that the media are perfectly entitled to probe. If problems off the field are proving a distraction on the field, firm and decisive action is needed to root these out, not constant running for cover. In soccer terms, we have been kicking own goals at a time when we are firmly in a premiership window. Some things, such as the forced departure of Angus Brayshaw, are beyond our control. Had we known about this sooner, James Jordon might still have had a future as a Demon. Despite all these troubles, however, we still have an enviable core of elite talent. Provided Kate Roffey, her boardroom colleagues and the players all get their acts together, I see no reason why not to dream of another flag this season.

Angus Brayshaw's career wasn't ended by a dodgy attempt to smother. He was the victim of an assault that in other circumstances could have seen the perpetrator facing criminal charges. Only the AFL and one-eyed Collingwood supporters could disagree. His moving farewell letter and obvious love for the club speak volumes for the character of a man who will be remembered with admiration and affection from every Demons fan. His willingness to play out of his preferred position in the interests of the team says it all about a player whose retirement will leave an enormous gap in our lineup.

This season I think those first few games really do matter. If we get off to a 0-3 or 0-4 start, along with all the other issues currently plaguing the club, the players' morale could be at rock bottom. And with our lack of forward depth I wouldn't want to be playing catch-up all season to reach the top four. That's not a Doomsday prediction. The opposite is also true. A good start would do wonders to get us clear of the toxic atmosphere the media have built up around the club. If Oliver wins the Brownlow and the Dees take the flag, nothing that happens off the field can touch us.

Very lucky with injuries --- potential premiers. If Fritsch and Gawn (heaven forbid) go down early and miss a chunk of matches, and Petty's troubles linger, mid-table at best. Our forward depth, with the latest bad news today, is worse than ever. I'd love to think BBB's wobbly knees will hold out until September, but I'd rate the odds 50-1 against.

On his better days, Nibbler's high work rate justifies his place in the 22. On a bad day ........ well, let's not go there.

While this is a minor worry, we all know what the headline is really referring to. I don't mind a preseason from hell if we win a flag in September.

A fit Petty is a huge asset for us with his accurate goalkicking and the versatility to fill in if we get backline injuries. From what I have seen of him, he is not the Jackson type who will drop his bundle. In fact, to suggest such a possibility is an insult, since almost every AFL player gives 100 per cent effort every week. And contracts run both ways. Petty is guaranteed an agreed income and in return the club has the right to hold him to the deal. I am hopeful that if he gets back on the field reasonably early in the season he could play a big role come September. I also hope he'll stay long term (and another premiership might help), but it's far too early to be losing sleep over that question.

How long the window stays open depends on smart drafting and trading, as well as luck with injuries at critical times of the season. Nobody gets drafting 100 percent right, because it is far from an exact science. And trading can blow up in your face (eg the Grundy fiasco). But we still have a nucleus of talent that is the envy of most other clubs, as well as some promising youngsters. and maybe this is the season in which Van Rooyen will come to the fore as the full-forward we have been lacking. I still see the glass as half full rather than half empty. The deciding factor will probably be whether Oliver can sort out his personal life.

Our draft team must rate her very highly. Coming back from successive serious ACL injuries is a huge challenge, mentally and physically, for anyone, let alone a young player trying to break into the big time. Let's hope it proves to be an inspired choice.

On and on goes the debate about Maynard's intentions. Common sense makes it pretty clear: (1) A player can run straight at an opponent in an endeavour to smother a kick or make a tackle. (2) A player can leap in the air to attempt a smother. (3) A player can't do both by launching himself off the ground towards an opponent at top speed without creating the near certainty of a high-impact collision. Only the AFL can't see this.

Why are so many of our players keen to leave a club still in the premiership window? Are they chasing more money or is there some other reason? I'm not trying to stir, just genuinely curious.