Whispering_Jack

Welcome to winter. Three new faces today and, at least, the team won’t wilt in hot, humid conditions.

I think you’ll find there’s is no Paddy Rider on the Port Adelaide team sheet for today. However, a Paddy Ryder has been named at full forward.

I would like to think we start off like we did in the JLT game against Richmond and keep it up for four quarters rather than go into a shell as we did that day. Of course, the real thing is all about intensity. I think we have the team to do the job.

Better it happens in the last preseason session than 5 minutes into the first game of the season. Good luck to Tom Sparrow. It’s a great achievement to be breaking into the team this early in the season.

Good to see the current AFL ladder showing Collingwood and Carlton in the bottom two.

Great gesture by Max on his 100th

The inspiration for today’s game is persistence and dedication. 100 games to Max Gawn - a terrific achievement after undergoing so much hardship with injury in his early years at the club. Debut matches at the club for Marty Hore and Corey Wagner who had to do it the hard way to get their chances today. Bring it on! .Countdown Round One Melbourne v Port Adelaide Saturday, March 23, 1.45pm AEDT MCG 11.30am: MCC Reserve 12.00pm: AFL Reserve 12.00pm: General public This week's match will be Melbourne's annual Welcome Game - an inclusive event that promotes a message of welcoming everyone to Australian Rules football, the MCG and the Melbourne Football Club. Here's what will be happening around the MCG and nearby during the day: Scarf drive Following the success of the Melbourne Scarf Drive at the 2018 Welcome Game, Melbourne is pleased to be bringing back the initiative for this year’s game. By donating old membership scarves, existing fans can play a key role in welcoming new audiences to the club. Members and supporters can donate pre-loved scarves to new fans on the day by dropping them in the donation box located in Yarra Park, outside Gate 3. Victorian Multicultural Festival at Federation Square Experience the Victorian Multicultural Festival at Fed Square pre-game from 12.00pm before heading to the MCG. The festival is a vibrant and joyous showcase of Victoria's rich cultural traditions in a free one-day program featuring music, performance, food and art for all ages! Read more about the Multicultural Festival and Culture Waves here. Culture Waves 2019 Post-match, make sure to visit Culture Waves 2019 which will be held at Federation Square after the Multicultural Festival. Culture Waves is a special music event planned featuring some of Victoria’s most acclaimed young artists. This free evening of incredible music celebrates how cultural diversity is influencing Victoria’s local music scene. 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. General admission seating Ponsford Stand Level 1 M28-M32 M33 rows DD-NN M34-M36 Level 4 Q29-Q36 Olympic Stand Level 1 M53 & M54 rows A-W M55-M57 Level 4 Q49-Q57 Southern Stand Level 1 M1 rows A-Y M2 (Demon Heartland – DRY) M3-M12 M13 rows A-Z (DRY) Level 4 Q1-Q15½ Cheer squad allocations Melbourne: M3 Rows A–T Port Adelaide: M33 Rows A-S Public reserved seating Public reserved seat sales available at all Public Gates, as well as at the Ticketek box office at Gate 3. Arrive early Security measures such as bag checks and patron scanning will again be in place as fans make their way into the stadium. This process will take time, so please be patient - and limit the number of bags you bring. Each bag will be inspected, so the more bags you bring the longer it will take. It is recommended that fans arrive early, as those who arrive later may miss the teams run out and/or the start of the match. Public transport Buses will be replacing trains on the Mernda, Frankston, Sandringham, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines this Saturday. See more info on travel disruptions on Victoria's Big Build website. Use the MCG Journey Planner to find your best way to get to the game. The MCG is serviced by multiple tram lines from the city and is in close proximity to Richmond and Jolimont Stations. 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. Rod Laver Arena footbridge closure The footbridge linking Rod Laver Arena and the MCG will be closed for development until 2023. Fans are encouraged to use alternative pathways such as the Edwin Flack Bridge and William Barak Bridge to get to the MCG. Our Membership team will be set up around the ground on Saturday from 11.00am for Membership purchases queries and scarf collections. You can find them at: Gate 2 - inside and outside Gate 3 - outside Gate 5 - outside To find out which Membership is best for you, view our packages HERE. 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. If you're at the game early, make sure to take part in our Match Predictor competition, exclusively in the Melbourne FC mobile app. At each MCG home game, we'll pit you with five questions - such as how many goals Melbourne will score, which players will get the most touches and how many hit-outs Max Gawn could rack up. Your challenge will be to select the most correct outcomes before the bounce, with a $75 New Balance voucher on offer for the person who guesses the most correct outcomes first. To take part make sure you're at the MCG between 1.05pm - 1.35pm, with location settings enabled in your copy of the app. To play: Download the Melbourne FC app to your iOS or Android device. Ensure your location services are turned on to take part - if you have them turned off, head to the Settings section to enable location settings. Open up the Match Predictor on the main menu. Enter your details and make your predictions for the match ahead. 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 and radio info, 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.

Is anyone enjoying this?

I’ve realised since writing the preview that today is the 7th anniversary of the passing of Jim Stynes. How sad it is that he’s missed out on the club’s improvement since then and that his family have missed out on having him with them. Best wishes to the Stynes family on this sad occasion.

With the elevation of Lockhart to the MFC rookie list, it does leave open a further spot on Casey’s list. There’s a chance for a ruckman to be sourced for them with a view to the mid season draft should it become necessary.

I’ve been told that the Demons were doing laps at Caulfield Park this morning. Anyone go?

Could I please have the final score so I can add the result to the JLT ladder? ?

The squad:- 1. Stephen May 3. Christian Salem 4. James Harmes 5. Christian Petracca 6. Jordan Lewis 9. Charlie Spargo 10. Angus Brayshaw 11. Max Gawn 13. Clayton Oliver 14. Michael Hibberd 15. Billy Stretch 17. Sam Frost 22. Aaron Vandenberg 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris 25. Tom McDonald 26. Sam Weideman 28. Oscar McDonald 29. Jayden Hunt 30. Alex Neal-Bullen 31. Bayley Fritsch 33. Harrison Petty 34. Marty Hore 39. Neville Jetta 40. Corey Wagner 44. Joel Smith 45. Declan Keilty

Relax. We all know that we sent the Casey team out on the field last week. Our JLT season starts on Saturday.

For so long, Sydney and Geelong have been consistent finalists but with one round to go in the JLT it looks like their run is over.

They say it’s a 12 month recovery period from ACL surgery. Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack came back in half that time and played in last year’s finals in what was close to a “now or never” scenario for him in light of the stage of his career. Even playing it conservatively, I’m hoping to see Lever back playing at VFL level a few weeks before the break.

We’ve just had a Banking Royal Commission. If you read the report that resulted from it, you would discover that there’s no bank in this country to which you can take this proposition.

The Jalapeño Lettuce & Tomato Ladder brought to you exclusively for Demonland by JLT, the makers of fine Mexican foods:- Same old, same old Eagles on top but, despite their loss tonight, I wouldn’t discount the Cats just yet. Remember, they’re still in the top 4.

Who would have thought. Carlton on top of the jlt ladder - Carlton 1 - - 100 91 109.9 4 Essendon - 1 - 91 100 91.0 0

What an amazing recovery? A week ago, T Mac was ruled out of football’s biggest extravaganza outside of the grand final. Now, he’s back in town.

Fixed now.

John Banner (Shultz), Leon Askin (General Burkhalter) and Robert Clary (LeBeau) were other cast members who were born Jewish, the latter having been liberated from Buchenwald. Side notes: - When Klemperer was approached to play Colonel Klink, he agreed to do it only if the writers made Klink an idiot. - The scar on Askin’s face came from being beaten while in the custody of the SS. And, as a little boy, he performed in front of Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary. - Banner posed for U.S. Military recruiting posters during the war. - Clary was the youngest of 14 children, and is the only major cast member still living.

At this time of year, what attitude should one reasonably have about scratch matches. Be thankful that the blokes you put on the field are healthy and they’re getting a good preparation for the season to come. And none of our players did a Mumford. Has he been reported for that? Otherwise, the results of these games are otherwise meaningless.