Whispering_Jack

Interesting. Reading Justin Plapp's player reports from this game, I note he mentioned in passing that two players were ill in the week before the game. Most of the team played out the second half of the game without energy. Similarly, the Demons performed at levels well below previous weeks. Nobody likes using excuses but I wonder if there might have been some sort of bug involved in the explanation for Melbourne's performance against the Blues?

Has Chris Dawes played his last game for the club?

We asked the fans on Demonland to help with the final match preview for the year. The quantity might not have been great but it's the quality that counts. Thanks folks and thanks to those who contributed to this section during the year. Demon Head "Whatever the result on Sunday, Demon fans will be left wondering whether their glass is half full or half empty after season 2016. On the one hand, they have seen the improvement and development from a young side growing in stature and reaching the double figure mark in wins for the first time in a decade. On the other hand, they will look upon the opportunities lost in terms of the four games against fellow bottom six teams from last year squandered - Essendon, St Kilda (twice) and Carlton. These were all winnable games where they team performed abysmally, which were marked by turnovers, poor decision making and woeful disposal. Turn those games around and you make the finals. Against Geelong at Geelong, a game that means a hell of a lot less to Melbourne than the Carlton (a team which had lost nine in a row) at the MCG of last week, I wonder which Demon team will come out?" dpositive "Melbourne Football Club has little to play for this year after succumbing to the Blues last week. However they have everything to play for, for next year. The progress of the team has been obvious and the high point with wins over Hawthorn and Port show that there is a nucleus of performance that can generated into something more meaningful. Will the young and emerging players benefit from another exposure at AFL level, for that is all it will be exposure. Victory will have little reward and loss will have further depletion of spirit. Or does the club concentrate its efforts on Casey and provide the club with a greater chance to enjoy the sweetness of success. A positive finish to what has been another frustrating year would provide some solace to the many weary Demon supporters who will continue to follow the club. Whoever takes the field against Geelong should know exactly what they are playing for, its not the present it is most assuredly the future. In some cases it will be their individual future but it is most certainly the future of this club which is poised on the brink of something. Supporters hope that something is success and will hope to see that manifested with a hard fought win or loss, a blow out after the disappointment of last week is just not acceptable. The club must select the team that will match up and play against a team that is assured of finals participation, they must match them and their clubmates must see them match them. They must see them apply every fibre of their being to match them and they must see them leave the field exhausted. The memory of other matches must be erased and a new standard set, one that will reignite that candle of hope that was snuffed out so easily last week, and burn into a fire of rage for next season. " krazyjay "A season of ups and downs again for the diehard Dees supporters, albeit with more ups than downs, could well be remembered as the one that got away. With everything to play for in the penultimate round the players just didn't give a yelp and looked like rabbits trapped in the headlines ... I mean headlights. A young group, lacking in the leadership that can only come from being winners, have tried hard all year and given their supporters moments of hope and belief with the odd WTF thrown in every couple of weeks. With a solid victory, against a Carlton side that most predicted would happen, this young side would have gone into the final round down at the Cattery oozing a confidence that had not been imagined some 23 weeks earlier. Although some may argue that a side that lost to Essendrug in 2016 is no side that deserves to be playing come September. After all is said and done this young side with potential dripping from every orifice will go into their last game of the year with an "I don't care" attitude (in a good way) that could shock the club right down to its foundations. Run, dash, carry and ferociousness will be plentiful. Followed by poor handballs and simple skill errors that give this match the potential of being one of two things.... An absolute ripper where a young up and coming side with nothing to lose come out and make a statement that tells the competition they better get ready for the next 10 years because you all 'bout to dance with the devil .... Or ... A bully beats down on a scrawny school kid who thinks just because he has new shoes that he is entitled to strut around the playground like he is the ducks nuts. Here's hoping for the former! Dees by 31" THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 84 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 18 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 1 MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm, Channel 7 delayed at 3.00pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.15 Melbourne to win $5.50 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 18.5.113 defeated Geelong 13.11.89 at Simonds Stadium in Round 12, 2015 In a shock result, Melbourne with Max Gawn dominating the ruck duels and marking everywhere on the ground, beat Geelong by four goals at the Cattery. Bernie Vince (38 disposals) and Nathan Jones (35) starred. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Mark Blicavs C: Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood HF: Jimmy Bartel, Rhys Stanley, Mitch Duncan F: Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Lincoln McCarthy FOLL: Zac Smith Patrick Dangerfield Sam Menegola I/C: Josh Caddy, Josh Cowan, Daniel Menzel, Tom Ruggles EMG: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Darcy Lang IN: Jimmy Bartel, Josh Caddy, Daniel Menzel OUT: Shane Kersten (omitted), Lachie Henderson (knee), Darcy Lang (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Tomas Bugg C: Billy Stretch, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson HF: Sam Weideman, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Dean Kent, James Harmes Christian Salem EMG: Matt Jones, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Trengove IN: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Christian Salem, OUT: Viv Michie (omitted), Alex Neal-Bullen (omitted), Clayton Oliver (omitted)

This is all posturing and show biz. Pick 27 is exactly what Hibberd is worth. The alternative is a player swap and it won't be any of our young guns. It would be like for like - a player worth around Pick 27 anyway. Someone around Hibberd's vintage and ability. They would probably get a Jack Grimes type (yes, I know he's a free agent).

So did his cousin Dane.

Statistics Lynden Dunn 19 disposals 14 kicks 5 handballs 9 marks 2 tackles 1 hit out 86 dream team points Colin Garland 24 disposals 18 kicks 6 handballs 13 marks 3 tackles 118 dream team points Jack Grimes 1 goal 2 behinds 36 disposals 19 kicks 17 handballs 3 marks 12 tackles 155 dream team points Liam Hulett 2 goals 8 disposals 8 kicks 6 marks 1 tackles 58 dream team points Matt Jones 39 disposals 27 kicks 12 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 141 dream team points Ben Kennedy 16 disposals 8 kicks 8 handballs 7 marks 7 tackles 89 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goals 22 disposals 13 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 4 tackles 99 dream team points Cam Pedersen 1 goal 3 behinds 15 disposals 8 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 1 tackles 12 hit outs 68 dream team points Christian Salem 2 behinds 24 disposals 17 kicks 7 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 87 dream team points Joel Smith 15 disposals 7 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 66 dream team points Jake Spencer 8 disposals 1 kick 7 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 47 hit outs 81 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 behind 8 disposals 5 kicks 3 handballs 5 marks 34 dream team points Jack Trengove 29 disposals 15 kicks 14 handballs 5 marks 9 tackles 2 hit outs 130 dream team points Josh Wagner 1 goal 19 disposals 10 kicks 9 handballs 5 marks 6 tackles 90 dream team points Mitch White 26 disposals 17 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points

KC from Casey was unable to attend on Sunday and therefore there is no report this week. What we do know is that the team started like a house on fire and, at one stage held a 33 point lead but the team played uncharistically poor footy in the second half kicking one solitary goal. They have now lost top spot to Collingwood VFL. This is the article from the Casey website - Cats overcome Scorps Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 9.5.59 10.8.68 10.12.72 Geelong 3.1.19 5.2.32 8.4.52 13.5.83 Goals Casey Scorpions Scott 3 Hulett 2 Grimes Kennedy-Harris Pedersen T Smith Wagner Geelong Dobson Lucey Stewart 2 Abbot Bates Bews Cornell Haintz House Murdoch Best Casey Scorpions M Jones Grimes Trengove Scott Salem Geelong Atkins Cunico Abbott Stewart Dobson Bews Statistics Lynden Dunn 19 disposals 14 kicks 5 handballs 9 marks 2 tackles 1 hit out 86 dream team points Colin Garland 24 disposals 18 kicks 6 handballs 13 marks 3 tackles 118 dream team points Jack Grimes 1 goal 2 behinds 36 disposals 19 kicks 17 handballs 3 marks 12 tackles 155 dream team points Liam Hulett 2 goals 8 disposals 8 kicks 6 marks 1 tackles 58 dream team points Matt Jones 39 disposals 27 kicks 12 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 141 dream team points Ben Kennedy 16 disposals 8 kicks 8 handballs 7 marks 7 tackles 89 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goals 22 disposals 13 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 4 tackles 99 dream team points Cam Pedersen 1 goal 3 behinds 15 disposals 8 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 1 tackles 12 hit outs 68 dream team points Christian Salem 2 behinds 24 disposals 17 kicks 7 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 87 dream team points Joel Smith 15 disposals 7 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 66 dream team points Jake Spencer 8 disposals 1 kick 7 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 47 hit outs 81 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 behind 8 disposals 5 kicks 3 handballs 5 marks 34 dream team points Jack Trengove 29 disposals 15 kicks 14 handballs 5 marks 9 tackles 2 hit outs 130 dream team points Josh Wagner 1 goal 19 disposals 10 kicks 9 handballs 5 marks 6 tackles 90 dream team points Mitch White 26 disposals 17 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points The Scorpions' Development League began slowly but revved up after quarter time to win by 5 goals. VFL Development League Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 4.2.26 10.5.65 12.9.81 Sandringham 4.4.28 5.5.35 7.6.48 7.9.51 Goals Casey Scorpions Baker Freeman Hillard Max King McInerney 2 Daniel Johnston J McDonald Sandringham Fox 3 Banfield Dobosz Hiscock Pavlou Best Casey Scorpions Rutherford J McDonald Hillard Wilson Briggs Jaffer-Williams Sandringham Grace Dobosz Parsons Thompson Fox Pavlou

And now for some real news ... What happens with your body when you eat ripe bananas with black spots on?

Finals Eligibilty - 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Finals Series 20. Participation in Finals (a) A Player who has not played in at least one AFL, VFL Senior Grade or Development League Home and Away Match in the relevant season will be ineligible to play in the Senior Grade Finals Series. (b) Subject to Rule 20(c) below, a Player who has played in an AFL Home and Away Match after 1 July in the relevant season will be ineligible to play in VFL Senior Grade or Development League Finals Series Matches unless that Player has played in a combined total of at least six (6) Senior Grade or Development League Home and Away Matches in the same season. (c) A Player who has not played in at least two (2) Development League Home and Away Matches in the relevant season will be ineligible to play in a Development League Finals Series Match unless, immediately prior to selection: (i) the Player has missed at least ten (10) consecutive VFL Home and Away Matches through injury; and (ii) the Player’s Club remains active in the VFL Senior Grade Finals Series. (d) A Player who has played in more than eight (8) VFL Senior Grade Home and Away Matches will be ineligible to play in Development League Final Series Matches unless that Player has played in at least six (6) Development League Home and Away Matches. (e) Despite any other provision of this Rule 20, but subject to Rule 20(f), where a Club has both its AFL and VFL Senior Teams engaged on the same weekend, any Player may be selected to play in the VFL Senior Team so long as that Player has played in at least one AFL or VFL Senior Grade Home and Away Match or Development League Home and Away Match in that relevant season. (f) When an AFL Club is eliminated from the AFL Final Series on the same weekend as the VFL Grand Final, the selection of players in the VFL Senior Grade team shall be unrestricted, provided the player has participated in at least one (AFL or VFL) Senior Grade or AFL Victoria Development League match in the relevant season. (g) Despite any other provision in Rule 20, where a Club does not field a Development League Team, an AFL listed Player must: (i) qualify under Regulation 20(b); and (ii) have played no more than 12 AFL Home and Away Matches, to be eligible to play in VFL Finals Series Matches. (h) Despite any other provision in Rule 20, in circumstances where: (i) an AFL Club is participating in the AFL Finals Series, but is not required to play on a particular weekend (by virtue of winning its AFL Qualifying Final and earning a one-week break before its AFL Preliminary Final); and (ii) the AFL Club’s VFL team is playing on that weekend, any AFL listed player who did not play in the AFL Qualifying Final will be eligible to play in the Club’s VFL team in the week in which the AFL Club has a one-week break. (i) Despite any other provision in Rule 20, in circumstances where: (i) an AFL Club is participating in the AFL Finals Series, but is not playing on the weekend of the AFL bye weekend after the final round of the AFL home and away season; and (ii) the AFL Club’s VFL team is playing on that weekend, any AFL listed player who did not play in the AFL Club’s AFL team in the final round of the AFL home and away season will be eligible to play in the Club’s VFL team in the AFL bye round after the final round of the AFL home and away season. (j) Despite any other provision in Rule 20, the CEO of AFL Victoria (or nominee) may deem any Player eligible to play in any VFL Finals Series Match.

We should embrace this game and since it's at the MCG, it should be a home game for the Demons so that we can benefit from the massive crowd on hand to welcome the country's major contributor to the cause of drug cheating. In fact, while they're at it, the AFL could provide free entry to the families of all convicted drug dealers and invite the head of Russia's Olympic Committee to toss the coin at the start of the game. Australia Post could launch a new stamp with Stephen Dank's picture on it. Half time entertainment: Neil Young to sing, "The Needle and the Damage Done". Bring it on AFL - the concept would be in line with everything you've done in the past decade for the integrity of the game.

The forecast is for some rain in the afternoon which shouldn't worry us greatly. In fact, for a club that has stood on the edge of the abyss so many times in the past ten years, nothing should worry us. The experience of being in contention this far into the season is something we should savour. This is a glimpse into our future.

Sorry 'bout that. Didnt know. Apologies.

KC from Casey has started a Michael Hibberd thread. I think that in the event that we do complete a trade, it would be a good idea that we continue the tradition of welcoming new players to the club with their own dedicated thread. Since, Hurley's now out of the picture, I believe this read should now end and we concentrate on one player.

AFL great Bomber Thompson talks about lost truth Can you find something that was never lost?

Yes, I do.

There's some noise around about Jesse Hogan still being in doubt for tomorrow's game so don't discount Cam Pedersen just yet.

If the injury news from overnight turns out to be bad for the ruckmen involved then the hunt for ruckmen for next year is really going to hot up.

The Dockers will do a deal with Fyfe. He's their marquee player with Pavlich and Sandilands on their last legs. If Freo let Fyfe go then they're cactus as a club.

I think it's time that we went past going for players who have been badly found wanting at other clubs. We surely have enough KPF's on our list at the moment and if we wanted more then I would be looking at the likes of Casey's Tim Smith or Declan Keilty who would appear to be performing better at that level than Black ... or even the Time Lord, Tom Baker who stepped in direct from the Development League last week and kicked three goals for the Scorpions. There must be plenty of others around the place with more potential than Black who has been around for years and can't get a game on what appears to be (we hope) a sinking ship.

I was never convinced that Prestia was high on our priority list once the asking price started to balloon. You don't pay that sort of money for players with questionable fitness. Richmond's medical team must believe he's worth the risk because the advice I had more than a year ago was that any club that entertained the idea of recruiting either O'Meara or Prestia would have to conduct a very thorough medical examination of the state of the knees of the players in question. That doesn't necessarily mean that they will never again be capable of playing god football again but at the high levels of payment their management are commanding, it's a risk and I see no reason why a club with young up and coming midfield talent would need to take such a risk.

On the other hand, imagine if somehow Hawthorn dropped to 5th and we made 8th.

Hawks are trying to outdo their jockey strip for horrible footy jumpers. Awful.

This is an unusual one but Melbourne has a bevy of mid sized players winning heaps of the ball at Casey and knocking on the door to selection if Jeff doesn't come up:- Garlett on crutches battling skin infection

Well done to Oscar. He was an unfashionable selection earlier in the season but the club persisted with him and he's coming good with a rush.

It's Oscar.