Whispering_Jack

Can’t wait to get the Pies on the G on Queen’s Birthday ... erm, no wait ...

As Americans celebrated the 188th anniversary of their independence, we went down to the lakeside oval to celebrate another Demon victory Round 11, 1964 South Melbourne vs Melbourne Saturday 4 July Venue: Lake Oval Attendance: 10,490 B Crompton Massey Williams HB Anderson Roet Leahy C Dixon H Mann Adams HF Vagg Jacobs Kenneally F Tas Johnson Bourke Zinko Foll Wise Barassi Rov Townsend 19/20 Emselle McLean After a thumping win over the Tigers, the Demons went in as overwhelming favourites against the lowly Swans, but though the home side was vastly outmatched they restricted the damage to 46 points, carried by a purple patch in the second quarter that had them seven points ahead at the main break. It took an eight goal to one third quarter to break the shackles as the Demons were led by their dynamic on ball division of Barassi and Townsend who fed Graeme Jacobs to a tally of five goals. The Demons has now played all teams in the competition and were eyeing the coming return clash with Geelong in the battle for leadership of the competition. South Melbourne 1.2.8 6.8.44 7.10.52 12.11.83 Melbourne 4.7.31 7.9.51 15.14.104 18.21.129 Goals Jacobs 5 Townsend Zinko 3 Vagg 2 Barassi Emselle Tas Johnson Kenneally Leahy Best Barassi Kenneally Townsend Adams H Mann Jacobs Reserves Melbourne 18.10.118 defeated South Melbourne 5.10.40 Goals Carroll Lynch Reinholdt Vearing 3 Robbie 2 Andrew Leitch Lord Slade Best Lynch Rowe Davis Under 19s Melbourne 15.23.113 defeated South Melbourne 8.3.51 Goals Schultz 6 McNabb 3 Marr 2 Jones Pritchard Russell Stone Best Russell Schultz Feldman

THE TEAMS RICHMOND B Nathan Broad David Astbury Dylan Grimes HB Nick Vlastuin Shane Edwards Bachar Houli C Brandon Ellis Dion Prestia Kamdyn McIntosh HF Daniel Rioli Jack Ross Jason Castagna F Jack Riewoldt Tom J Lynch Dustin Martin FOLL Toby Nankervis Josh Caddy Kane Lambert I/C Liam Baker Noah Balta Jack Higgins Sydney Stack EMG Shai Bolton Jack Graham Connor Menadue Ivan Soldo IN Jack Riewoldt OUT Shai Bolton (Omitted) MELBOURNE B Marty Hore Sam Frost Jordan Lewis HB Bayley Fritsch Michael Hibberd Christian Salem C Nathan Jones Jack Viney Jayden Hunt HF James Harmes Sam Weideman Christian Petracca F Alex Neal-Bullen Tom McDonald Jake Melksham FOLL Max Gawn Clayton Oliver Angus Brayshaw I/C Jeff Garlett Jay Lockhart Tim Smith Billy Stretch EMG Declan Keilty Oscar McDonald Tom Sparrow Corey Wagner IN Jeff Garlett Jay Lockhart Alex Neal-Bullen Tim Smith Billy Stretch OUT Neville Jetta (knee) Braydon Preuss (shoulder) Charlie Spargo (omitted) Corey Wagner (omitted) Josh Wagner (omitted)

Will Queensland allow the Swans into their state when they learn about this? Tuberculosis outbreak at St Vincent's Hospital leaves hundreds vulnerable

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Welcome to our first home game in 10½ months. Can we continue our post lockdown winning spree?

The difference being that danger was never a Melbourne player to start with.

On this day in 1964 we were on top of the world Round 10 1964 Melbourne vs Richmond Saturday 27 June Venue: MCG Attendance: 27,614 B Crompton Massey Williams HB Anderson Roet Leahy C Dixon H Mann Adams HF Vagg Jacobs Kenneally F Tas Johnson Bourke Townsend Foll Wise Barassi Rov Emselle 19/20 Carroll Watson The round 10 clash between Melbourne and Richmond saw Norm Smith pitted against his older brother Len in the respective team coaching boxes. Len Smith had suffered a heart attack in early 1964 and further health concerns saw him relinquish the coaching reins at the Tigers early in 1965. This clash saw the younger sibling record the biggest win of his coaching career — by a mammoth 113 points. The Demons applied relentless pressure from the start and never eased up after leading by 27 points at quarter time and 57 points at the main break before passing the 100 point barrier during the final term. Skipper Ron Barassi led from the front with a four goal performance matched by forward Graeme Jacobs in the comprehensive victory that left Melbourne second on the ladder with a huge percentage break on top team Geelong. Wingman Brian Dixon celebrated his election to state parliament for the seat of St Kilda that evening. Melbourne 4.5.29 11.13.79 16.16.112 23.18.156 Richmond 0.2.2 3.4.22 5.7.37 6.7.43 Goals Barassi Jacobs 4 Townsend 4 Emselle 3, Bourke Kenneally Tas Johnson H Mann Vagg Wise Best Barassi Roet Townsend Adams H Mann Jacobs Reserves Melbourne 21.14.140 defeated Richmond 15.7.97 Goals Lord Matthews 4 Lynch Vearing Zinko 3 Andrew Leitch McNabb Witomski Best Matthews Lynch Andrew Under 19s Melbourne 18.14.122 defeated Richmond 9.7.61 Goals Stone 5 Minton-Connell Russell Schultz 3 Jones Marr Osborne Reinholdt Best Marr Feldman Schultz

About a minute before Jeremy Howe’s injury, I was just saying how much we could do with him at Melbourne and how he was far superior to anyone we have in our defence, then ...

No - the next thing that happens is that they’ll play it down or deny it altogether. They won’t be punished because it would be a bad look for the AFL so expect a whitewash.

How many failures on the part of the Bombers in terms of the individual player and the club to adhere to the protocols does it take for the AFL to consider awarding the points to the club that’s the real victim of their breaches? This is particularly so in view of the fact that another of their players broke the rules a week earlier.

Really? How many new cases have there been in the Cardinia Shire in the past week to make it a hot spot?

The game played in Round 2 last year is best forgotten. GEELONG B Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart HB Jake Kolodjashnij Harry Taylor Mitch Duncan C Joel Selwood Patrick Dangerfield Jordan Clark HF Luke Dahlhaus Esava Ratugolea Brandan Parfitt F Gary Ablett Tom Hawkins Gary Rohan FOL Rhys Stanley Tim Kelly Tom Atkins I/C Charlie Constanble Sam Menagola Gryan Miers Mark O’Connor EM Ryan Abbott Zach Gurthrie Lachie Henderson Jermaine Jones MELBOURNE B Jay Lockhart Oscar McDonald Neville Jetta HB Jayden Hunt Steven May Nathan Jones C Bayley Fritsch Clayton Oliver Christian Salem HF Alex Neal-Bullen Tom McDonald Jack Viney F Jake Melksham Sam Weideman Christian Petracca FOL Max Gawn James Harmes Angus Brayshaw I/C Sam Frost Michael Hibberd Kade Kolodjashnij Tom Sparrow EM Marty Hore Declan Keilty Braydon Preuss Charlie Spargo IN Kade Kolodjashnij Jay Lockhart Steven May OUT Marty Hore (omitted) Charlie Spargo (omitted) Corey Wagner (omitted)

The logical solution is that in light of Essendon’s inability to field a team in conformity with the AFL’s rules, the 4 points go to the MFC and we move on.

That’s true. It’s in the books of most junior leagues that are under the control of AFL Victoria and applies even where forfeits are due to matters outside of the control of the club involved.

The AFL is not above the Victorian government rules which are that you have to isolate for 14 days if in close contact with someone who tests positive. On that basis, Essendon should be ruled out of Rounds 4 and 5 as well as tomorrow’s postponed game. The consequences are that the fixture for the coming rounds is automatically revised or the Bombers forfeit those games or the season gets cancelled. Feel sorry for McKenna and Essendon but it’s likely that this is not going to be the only isolated incident over the season and a precedent has to be set for the season that’s reasonable for all parties involved.

Suppose he won’t be playing tomorrow but what about the rest of the Essendon team?

Back in the day, the VFL fixture provided for a rest weekend for teams in the middle of the season when interstate games were often played. On this day - Saturday 20 June, 1964 - Melbourne players and supporters had the weekend off with their team holding a 7-2 record for the season and eyeing the club’s 12th flag at the halfway mark of the season.

With Heppel’s demise and Ambrose and Fantasia not selected, I’m more confident that Melbourne will win. I originally tipped us to win by a point but now, it’s 2 points.

There’s definitely something in this Little Goffy. The inconsistency from game to game, within the course of a game and from so many players is a real puzzle. It can’t just be the change to a 666 structure or the fact that other coaches have worked us out. Hopefully, our coaches will work it out and, as the great John Kennedy put it, do something!

Ricciuto's comments are somewhat embarrassing for a football club director and they’ve already been disputed by the manager of two of the players he criticized in Charlie Cameron and Mitch McGovern. Colin Young pointed to the club’s infamous 2018 training camp, which was ‘cult-like’ and left several players distraught, as a key reason for the departures. The problem is that the Crows haven’t been setting the world on fire on the field so Ricciuto would be better advised to keep his trap shut and not try to emulate Jeff Kennett who at least runs a club that’s tasted some success in recent years. He should be doing his job as football director and concentrate on the task of getting his mob off the bottom of the ladder or thereabouts.

Ralphy in the Herald Sun reporting that Simon Goodwin has indicated Kysaiah Pickett will return to the Melbourne side immediately after serving his one match penalty for a COVID-19 protocol breach. He played in Saturday’s scratch match against Carlton and “showed his electric speed in an impressive display”. Also in the article (sorry no link available):- * Medium forwards Mitch Hannan and Aaron vanden-Berg also played, * Sam Weideman kicked five goals, and * Harley Bennell pulled up well after his 14-possession display in the 50 minutes he played.

The Queens Birthday holiday of 1964 happened on the third Monday of the month. Round 9, 1964 Melbourne vs Collingwood Monday 15 June Venue: MCG Attendance: 86,664 B Crompton Massey Miller HB Williams Tas Johnson Leahy C Dixon H Mann Watson HF Vagg Jacobs Kenneally F Lord Bourke Townsend Foll Wise Barassi Rov Emselle 19/20 McLean Robbie The Queen's Birthday holiday in 1964 was celebrated on 15 June before a crowd of 86,664 people at the MCG in what was to be a prelude of the year’s grand final. The spectacle was affected by windy conditions but it was a tough bruising battle that was controlled by the home team despite the narrow margin at the finish. As was common for big games, skipper Ron Barassi was dominant on the ball and that was in spite of the fact that he was playing under an injury cloud. He was assisted by forwards Bryan Kenneally and Barrie Vagg as the team held a two goal lead at half time. The Magpie surge early in the third term was brushed aside despite some wasteful kicking for goal and the Demon defence held firm when the Pies threatened in the last quarter. Despite a few players carrying minor injuries, coach Norm Smith declined the use of his reserves leaving Peter McLean and David Robbie on the bench for the entire game. Melbourne 3.2.20 5.4.34 8.10.58 10.13.73 Collingwood 2.1.13 3.4.22 5.9.39 8.15.63 Goals Bourke Jacobs Townsend Vagg 2 Emselle Kenneally Best Barassi Vagg H Mann Kenneally Williams Dixon Reserves Collingwood 16.13.109 defeated Melbourne 8.5.53 Goals Carroll Vearing 2 Bartlett Beaton Matthews Zinko Best Davis Leitch Hill Report M Bartlett (striking - 2 week suspension) Under 19s (played Saturday 13 June) Melbourne 8.10.58 defeated North Melbourne 7.9.51 Goals McNab 3 Schultz 2 Marr Stone 1 (one unknown) Best Reinholdt Russell Griffiths

Given the number of times in recent years that others have done to us what we did to Carlton, I’ll take the money and run. They’re a better team than what they’re being credit for and I think we’ve lost the fitness edge we had earlier in the season. It’s already clear that this is going to be a different year - one that’s going to involve changes from weeks to week, experimentation and creativity. We don’t look like we’re in the race based on the first two rounds but history tells us that you can’t judge your fortunes on one or two games. I remember us in 2018 suffering a bad loss early against Hawthorn and thinking we were no hope for the season ahead. But we turned it around, won a couple of games and gathered momentum to finish in a prelim final. We have 15 rounds left and there’s still time to do the same again.