Whispering_Jack

I think we can legitimately call Australia's win the first by a visiting test side since the only previous one was by the Poms in a test that was compromised by Hansie Cronje's match fixing. Before the test, I had us as rank outsiders (much as I did before the first test in Brisbane) and had us losing the series 1-2. Centurion hasn't been kind to visiting test nations in the past but the Mitchell Johnson effect has been as devastating in SA as it was here. And to think that two years ago, he was almost written off there after some embarrassing performances and wayward bowling. I'm still pushing for Mitch Clark to follow the example and become the devastating force under Roosy as Mitch Johnson has been for Boof.

Big game tonight as the AFL injects the Bombers into the NAB Competition to give it a bit of pep. Rumour has it that the half time entertainment will comprise a re-enactment of the infamous meeting between Hird, Dank, Charters and the Weapon as they prepared the supplements programme of 2012. That's the sort of thing that should give Foxtel's ratings a shot in the arm. Meanwhile, the unofficial NAB Challenge ladder sees us drop one spot to the rampant Crows who had too much in their salary cap for their rivals from Port Adelaide yesterday (just as we had too much in the tank for the Toigs). Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4 Adelaide 1 - - 119 59 201.7 4 Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4 Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4 Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4 Essendon - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Fremantle - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Gold Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 GWS - - - 0 0 100.0 0 St. Kilda - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Sydney - - - 0 0 100.0 0 West Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Western Bulldogs - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0 North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0 Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0 Port Adelaide - 1 - 59 119 49.6 0 Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

Speaking of kids, the MFC got a new member today, my latest grandson who I registered as a baby Demon (he's seven month old). In going through my membership package to find a form to register him, I found the brochure the club sent to members with their season's tickets and right there in the middle of the box "Play a Role - Demon Heartland" is a picture of my oldest grandson wearing his Demons guernsey and pumping his fist. The photo was taken before the Gold Coast Suns game early last season. It's safe to day he'll have more opportunities to enjoy the Dees in 2014 than last year.

My grandkids are also fortunate in that they can work out for themselves if they're having fun.

I switched off before half time and before he was subbed on but I see from the match stats that he finished with 21 disposals. He's certainly a ball magnet but not having seen most of the second half, I can't really add very much.

Anyone see Wines playing for Port Adelaide today?

The first edition of Inside Football for 2014 is out and, despite the obligatory cover picture showing Bucks and a bevy of Collingwood players dancing in a circle, Melbourne gets some good coverage. There's an article on Peter Jackson and football department spending. Crackers Keenan takes aim at the club over the retrenchment of loyal staff at the same time as it is splurging $s on an expensive coach. There's a long David Rhys Jones interview with former Demon Garry Baker who was played at the club in the 70s and early 80s. There's also a satirical piece about Paul Roos and an article about former Demons Matty Bate and Jordan Gysberts returning to their roots at eastern suburbs club Norwood. All in all a good read - especially after a win.

With Cross, Tyson, Vince and Michie added to the midfield mix to join Nathan Jones, a fit and rejuvenated Trengove, Watts thrown in and players like Matt Jones, Toumpas and Viney all coming on and capable of playing in the guts, it will be a completely different midfield which makes comparison with those available to Bailey and Neeld well nigh impossible although full credit goes to Roos and the recruiting staff for their planning and organisation and to PJ for giving him the full rein to implement the transformation of the midfield. I'm quite certain, as are many here, that we will be a much improved team when those talls are all back up forward to reap the benefit.We can't help but be encouraged by what's happened in the past 48 hours but we need to temper things until we can see how the Roos style works when the real thing starts. One swallow definitely does not make a summer or a successful winter for that matter.

The club was the winner. I'm happy for the person who won tickets to the game but I wouldn't be comfortable catching a plane for the sole purpose of witnessing a game in that godawful neck of the woods.

Despite those issues, the kids had a great time and were thrilled to see their heroes, get their autographs and have their photographs taken with them. Even with the lousy weather, those things alone made the morning a success and on top of that I'm sure they would have signed up a good number of members.

Did you have ticket number 022224?

Demonland live on location at Luna Park where there's a huge crowd and long queues for rides, show bags and food. I managed to buy some raffle tickers from Satyriconhome and I'm confident of a big win.

Not the only win for the Aussies overnight either. Our Australia Under-19s beat Namibia by 101 in their first game at the Under 19s World Cup to lead Group B. They should win that group with their next opposition Afghanistan before facing a danger game against Bangladesh.

The "unofficial" NAB Challenge Ladder: Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4 Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4 Carlton 1 - - 100 93 107.5 4 Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4 Adelaide - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Essendon - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Fremantle - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Gold Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 GWS - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Port Adelaide - - - 0 0 100.0 0 St. Kilda - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Sydney - - - 0 0 100.0 0 West Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Western Bulldogs - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0 North Melbourne - 1 - 93 100 93.0 0 Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0 Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

I must say I was a bit of a sceptic after watching him play for the Dockers against Geelong in his only AFL game to date. He looked a bit out of place and seemed to find it hard to get used to the tempo of the game but his team was struggling that day. On Friday night, he was good and will no doubt be in the mix for a midfield spot in round 1.

I thought I would pay a visit to Punt Road End to get a perspective on what Tiger supporters thought. Here's a selection of quotes:

NAB Challenge 1 is now done and dusted and we can be thankful that it not only resulted in a win in which we showed massive improvement across the board but importantly, we came out of it very much unscathed. I didn't notice any injuries and none have been reported (so far) which is in contrast to recent years when we suddenly developed a lot of injuries throughout the preseason. Now we move on to Alice Springs and a game on Friday week against one of the AFL's power house clubs in Geelong. The fixturing is not a coincidence in light of our commitment with the NT government and past connections with the Territory, made bitter sweet by the difficulties encountered by Liam Jurrah and his troubled last two years and Austin Wonaemirri after the passing of his father and then his close family member Maurice Rioli. The Alice is also the venue for the club's community camp and hopefully, we can nurture and encourage some more of the talented locals to play AFL in the future. The Cats are likely to have a strong side irrespective of their injured list which contains Selwood. Motlop and Christiansen and I expect us to seek to build on the momentum from Friday night and bring in some of our bigger guns if they can come through Thursday's intraclub. This is the list of the players who didn't play in NAB Challenge 1. How many of them will line up in the second game? 1. Jesse Hogan 3. Christian Salem 4. Jack Watts 6. Chris Dawes 7. Jack Viney 10. Shannon Byrnes 11. Mitch Clark * 15. Mitch Clisby 16. Dean Kent 20. Colin Garland * 27. Aidan Riley * 29. Jayden Hunt 35. Luke Tapscott 37. Max Gawn 40. Mark Jamar 43. James Harmes 48. Jack Fitzpatrick 50. Maia Westrupp * players on the club's official injured list and not available for NAB Challenge 2.

Mitchell Johnson gets McLaren behind the ear with an absolute brute of a ball. SA 5/132 in their second dig with Mitch on 3/45 closing in on tea on day 4. This Test Match doesn't have much longer to go, I think.

LUNA PARK FAMILY DAY - Sunday, 16 February, 2014 I don't know if the club keeps a record of membership sales for its annual Family Day at Melbournes capital of fun, Luna Park but I think tomorrow (Sunday) might see some big numbers signing up. Here are the details:- Date: Sunday, 16 February, 2014 Time: Gates open at 9am Location: Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda Price: Free for all members, $10 for non-members, gold coin donation for non-member children Entertainment: Free rides, kids activities, player signing station, giveaways, raffle, photo opportunities and more! Players will be presented on stage at 11am There's also a blockbuster line-up of activities and entertainment, highlights (see link above).

Just noticed that sportsbet.com.au has the Blues at $2.80 to win with North favourite at $1.42. The bookies got it wrong last night but rarely do they do that twice in a row. The NAB Challenge Ladder Hawthorn 1 - - 154 23 669.6 4 Melbourne 1 - - 98 84 116.7 4 Geelong 1 - - 104 102 102.0 4 Adelaide - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Carlton - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Essendon - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Fremantle - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Gold Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 GWS - - - 0 0 100.0 0 North Melbourne - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Port Adelaide - - - 0 0 100.0 0 St. Kilda - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Sydney - - - 0 0 100.0 0 West Coast - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Western Bulldogs - - - 0 0 100.0 0 Collingwood - 1 -102 104 98.1 0 Richmond - 1 - 84 98 85.7 0 Brisbane - 1 - 23 154 14.9 0

Following on from last night's win, things are starting to get serious at headquarters. The club website reports no open training sessions this week with the exception of the Intraclub practice game on Thursday 20th February. The season cometh!

It would make my weekend if North could do a job on that most arrogant of clubs Carlton and take its pompous coach down a couple of pegs today.

You must have been blinded by the light because you went to the badlands by river on the wrong side of the town instead of going to Etihad where Bernie announced, "I'm on Fire". Glory days are coming for those with hungry hearts. Was it a long walk home?

You've just made Redleg's day.

Not a bad idea to have the game v Box Hill Hawks after the AFL game finishes. There will be quite a few people staying back for all or part of the game so it should ease the congestion for those leaving the car park which is always problematic.