Whispering_Jack

We were cooked. It was the end of a long hard season and we had a massive injury list. We had both Max and Preussy in the same side and were playing them at Blundstone Arena where we always lose by less than a kick and we obliged ... Aren’t we glad we’re playing them at our fortress, the Adelaide Oval this time? THE TEAMS NORTH MELBOURNE B Marley Williams Scott D. Thompson Jasper Pittard HB Jamie Macmillan Robbie Tarrant Shaun Atley C Trent Dumont Shaun Higgins Jared Polec HF Kayne Turner Nick Larkey Jack Ziebell F Tarryn Thomas Ben Brown Cameron Zurhaar FOLL Todd Goldstein Jy Simpkin Ben Cunnington I/C Sam Durdin Taylor Garner Nathan Hrovat Mason Wood EMG Tom Campbell Lachlan Hosie Ben McKay Tom Murphy IN Mason Wood OUT Jed Anderson (hamstring) MELBOURNE B Jayden Hunt Sam Frost Christian Salem HB Jordan Lewis Jake Lever Nathan Jones C James Harmes Angus Brayshaw Billy Stretch HF Jay Kennedy Harris Bayley Fritsch Jake Melksham F Corey Wagner Braydon Preuss Christian Petracca FOLL Max Gawn Jack Viney Clayton Oliver I/C Michael Hibberd Marty Hore Alex Neal-Bullen Charlie Spargo EMG Kyle Dunkley Declan Keilty Jay Lockhart Josh Wagner IN Jayden Hunt Braydon Preuss OUT Kade Chandler (finger) Kyle Dunkley (omitted)

This is from a few days ago but things move quickly in Covid19 times so it might no longer apply now that we’re in a state of disaster. Country AFL draft hopefuls are getting an edge over city players

They stole this one ... THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Michael Hibberd Sam Frost Josh Wagner HB Marty Hore Oscar McDonald Jayden Hunt C Angus Brayshaw Jack Viney Oskar Baker HF Nathan Jones Tom McDonald Christian Petracca F Jeff Garlett Tim Smith James Harmes FOLL Max Gawn Mitch Hannan Clayton Oliver I/C Bayley Fritsch Christian Salem Charlie Spargo Billy Stretch EMG James Jordon Jay Kennedy Harris Corey Wagner Sam Weideman IN Mitch Hannan Michael Hibberd Christian Salem OUT Harrison Petty (knee) Jay Lockhart (knee) Corey Wagner (omitted) ADELAIDE CROWS B Luke Brown Daniel Talia Kyle Hartigan HB Brodie Smith Alex Keath Rory Laird C Wayne Milera Brad Crouch Rory Atkins HF Paul Seedsman Taylor Walker Tom Lynch F Lachlan Murphy Josh Jenkins Eddie Betts FOLL Reilly O'Brien Bryce Gibbs Rory Sloane I/C Cameron Ellis-Yolmen Jordan Gallucci Hugh Greenwood Jake Kelly EMG Elliott Himmelberg Chayce Jones Riley Knight David Mackay IN Bryce Gibbs Josh Jenkins Tom Lynch OUT Elliott Himmelberg (omitted) Chayce Jones (omitted) Riley Knight (omitted)

Eleven in a row! Round 15, 1964 Melbourne vs St. Kilda Saturday 1 August Venue: MCG Attendance: 33,212 B Crompton Massey Tas Johnson HB Anderson Roet McLean C Dixon H Mann Adams HF Vagg Groom Kenneally F Jacobs Bourke Emselle Foll Wise Barassi Rov Townsend 19/20 Leitch Watson Melbourne’s winning streak continued to 11 games on end when it brushed aside St Kilda by three goals in the wet on the MCG despite a scoreless final quarter. The win meant that the Demons had beaten every other team in the competition since their fourth round defeat at the hands of the Saints. The opening quarter was all Melbourne with the home side playing tough, dry weather football to keep their opposition scoreless at the first break when they led by 23 points. The Demons had a winning centre line of experienced wingmen Brian Dixon and Frank “Bluey” Adams with Hassa Mann dominant in the centre and the team maintained the ascendency through to three quarter time. The blanketing of the Saints’ star centre half forward Darrel Baldock was instrumental in establishing a 34 point lead at three quarter time. With a big lead and the damp conditions and heavy ball making scoring difficult, Melbourne switched off and failed to score in the final term. The Saints were inspired by ruckman Carl Ditterich but only managed two goals while the Demons were held scoreless. It was the second, and to date last, time in league history that Melbourne have gone scoreless in a last quarter and still won. Melbourne 3.5.23 6.5.41 8.7.55 8.7.55 St. Kilda 0.0.0 2.2.14 3.3.21 5.7.37 Goals Bourke 3 Jacobs H Mann 2 Barassi Best H Mann Dixon Barassi Adams Jacobs Keneally Reserves Melbourne 8.20.68 defeated St Kilda 7.8.50 Goals Andrew Vearing 2 Carlson Mounter Slade Zinko Best Bartlett Zinko Davis Under 19s Melbourne 6.9.45 defeated St Kilda 4.8.32 Goals Schultz 3 Lockwood Minton-Connell Osborne Best Millard Griffiths Lockwood

Time in forward half - Melbourne 55% Port Adelaide 45%

Schoolboy stuff.

This is one of those teams that constantly seems to be a thorn in our side. It’s time to make a statement and to bloody their noses (metaphorically of course).

No surprise that Harley’s being rested and Nev needs the break too.

That story has to come out one day.

The Casey game? Please explain.

I always blamed it on our shocking kicking for goal.

No time to waste here. We play Port Adelaide on Thursday and the teams will be selected soon. Last time, they monstered Max and we died in the last quarter, MELBOURNE FB Marty Hore Oscar McDonald Neville Jetta HB Michael Hibberd Sam Frost Nathan Jones C Bayley Fritsch Clayton Oliver Christian Salem HF Alex Neal-Bullen Tom McDonald Christian Petracca FF Jake Melksham Sam Weideman Jack Viney FOL Max Gawn James Harmes Angus Brayshaw I/C Jayden Hunt Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Corey Wagner EM Declan Keilty Harry Petty Braydon Preuss PORT ADELAIDE FB Riley Bonner Tom Clurey Dan Houston HB Ryan Burton Tom Jonas Darcy Byrne-Jones C Steven Motlop Tom Rockliff Justin Westhoff HF Travis Boak Jack Watts Brad Ebert FF Robbie Gray Paddy Ryder Connor Rozee FOL Scott Lycett Sam Pepper-Powell William Drew I/C Karl Amon Zak Butters Xavier Duursma Todd Marshall EM Kane Farrell Sam Gray Dougal Howard Sam Mayes

The answer is plain and clear. Total domination in the hit outs but destroyed in the clearances. It’s all good when you’re winning in the ruck and that advantage is taken by your team but from the beginning their midfield dominated ours and we couldn’t withstand the pressure. We had to change tack from early in the second quarter when it was starting to hurt us everywhere but on the scoreboard. A slight adjustment at that time and we win the game.

Double the number of hit outs but they lead the clearances by 27 to 19 at 3/4 time. That’s where we’re getting beaten.

Club has issued vision of the heavens opening up over the ground. Apparently, 100.2mm of rain fell at the Gold Coast Seaway to 9am Sunday morning. This was the highest daily July rain for the station since 2005.

Our chance to get back in town.

Just watching Clarko’s presser and I’m stunned that he opened by saying he was pleased with his players’ endeavour. He emphasized it again a couple of minutes later. Sorry, but there were a few players in brown and gold who showed very little endeavour at all. Also had a go at the umpires. Poor form when you lose the way Hawthorn did today.

Shoosh - I don’t want to give away the grand final result!

Erm, well actually ... beating Collingwood twice in the same season is better and it also happened in 1964.

The Demons winning run continued on this day in 1964 ... Round 14, 1964 Carlton vs Melbourne Saturday 25 July Venue: Princes Park Attendance: 17,831 B Crompton Massey Tas Johnson HB Anderson Roet Williams C Dixon H Mann Adams HF Vagg Groom Kenneally F Jacobs Bourke Emselle Foll Wise Barassi Rov Townsend 19/20 Davis Watson The Melbourne juggernaut continued its forward momentum against lowly Carlton but not without a scare. The Blues had first use of the breeze and led by seven points at the first break but the Demons came back well to lead by two goals at half time. The home side dominated the third quarter but their chances were marred by inaccuracy in front of goal and when the siren sounded for three quarter time it led by only seven points. Carlton’s hopes were raised when they kicked the first goal of the final term but with Bluey Adams and Brian Dixon taking control on the wings, Melbourne kicked five of the game’s last six goals to win by 12 points and all but cement a place in the finals for the eleventh year in a row. The Demons were a win clear of second placed Geelong on the ladder and held a huge percentage advantage over their nearest rivals. Carlton 4.3.27 4.4.28 7.13.55 9.14.68 Melbourne 3.2.20 6.4.40 7.6.48 12.8.80 Goals Groom 3 Emselle Townsend 2 Adams Bourke Jacobs Kenneally Vagg Best Kenneally H Mann Barassi Anderson Vagg Wise Reserves Carlton 10.10.70 defeated Melbourne 7.12.54 Goals Lord Robbie 2 Andrew Vearing Wood Best Leitch McLean L Mann Under 19s Melbourne 6.19.55 defeated Carlton 3.6.24 Goals McNab 3 Little Russell Stone Best Leahy Millard Adams

No but if I would have kept on driving past places I’m not allowed to travel to these days, I might have crossed the Yarra and Maribyrnong RIVERS.

I took my wife for a routine visit to her eye doctor yesterday and after I dropped her off, I parked the car, donned my mask and went for a half hour’s walk through the streets around Toorak Road. I was immediately reminded of the good old days when we used to go to the MCG to watch the Dees play their footy in the heart of Melbourne rather than 1,300 kilometres away to the north. There was a time back in those days when we would drive to games from the south eastern suburbs down Orrong Road, take a short cut into Robertson Street, dive into Grange Road and head down Bruce Street. Before we knew it, we were motoring past Como and if the traffic was light, would be looking for a parking spot around the G in no time. In the mid 2000s it was always a good omen for the afternoon ahead to drive down streets named after a couple of team favourites in Robbo and Cam Bruce. That pair have now long retired and more recently, we found it more convenient to travel to games by train until COVID19 but on yesterday’s walk through the streets of our most salubrious suburb, I discovered a new omen for the future - Jackson Street.

I’m shocked. Totally shocked!!!

I don’t have any problems with the fixture. This is a tough competition in a very rough year for everybody and we’re a side that will, in the long run, benefit from doing it hard. We’ve been lucky so far with injuries so it gives us an edge on our opponents. Let’s be positive about the challenges facing us for the rest of the year.

Callum Twomey’s 25 best draft prospects. Tall, athletic and versatile: 25 of the best draft prospects ... and some news from WA. WA key forward enhances draft stocks, possible Freo pick blitzes Not sure if we necessarily would be interested in a 196cm key forward at this point in time or that we’ll have the picks necessary. The draft’s a mere four months away but that seems like light years the way things are going these days.