The Backyard Charizard

Seems like a pretty fast game, but you are right.... Our defensive pressure in the midfield seems a little lacking.... Bizz seems to be getting plenty of the ball... Davey is having a great 1st quarter....

Dunn kicks our 3rd.... A good start with some quality football, but we shall wait and see what happens Fremantle continue to answer immediately though...

Nice start by Davey.... 1st goal within 17 seconds.... Byron just kicked our 2nd.... Could be a good day??

Well no debut players.... But TJ and Moloney out.... Sylvia and Bate in.... Will be interesting

Negative football is ok I guess.... But why the hell would you wait till you are 10 goals down to do it?? Our skills are disgusting! And if we spend the first half of the season "bottling down" and when our forwards come back to play are we going to suddenly unleash an attacking style of play?? I too want nothing but 4 points every week, but if it means we have to play a team of 22 Simon Godfreys to it then screw that!!!!

I am merely trying to prove that the players the crows have out are players that would walk straight into our 22.... For the record lets replace Ben Rutten on the above list with say.... Ken McGregor and lets replace Porplyzia with say..... Matthew Bode Either way you look at it, they have depth.... We don't! Adelaide got flogged at home by the Bombers in Rnd 1 but they had the group that would not take that sort of crap again.... We got flogged in Rnd 1 and came out and got flogged again in Rnd 2 (losing key players in the process) There is a difference in the 2 clubs obviously....

I believe ND is really struggling to keep a tight ship down at Melbourne.... Honestly, I think he will depart the club either during, or after 2007.... To have a full pre-season of hard running and skill work (we were all told how well we were going).... To then come out when it matters and show the country that our skills are lacking, our pace is lacking, our awareness is non-existant and our side has as much depth as a kiddies pool in Coober Pedy, must be killing the Rev. He has done all he can with our list, and in my opinion he has done a magnificent job in recruiting players who will one day form a bloody good team! I think now he is starting to realise (due to injury, poor form & lack of accountability) that he may have done all he can do! Turning to negative tactics to "minimise the damage on the scoreboard" is a load of crap! I, along with many of you, would rather see us play hard, attacking, accountable football and get beaten by 10 goals than come out attacking, go into half-time down by 7 goals and lose by 8 goals.... I have and will continue to back ND in everything he has done for the MFC in his 10 years at the club.... Membership is up, Sponsorship is up and our list is the best it has been for a long time.... Maybe that is what his job was?? Maybe now it is time to hand over the reigns and let another bloke have a crack? I know what will happen though.... He will stay with us for the season.... We will finish just out of the finals.... He will leave in a media frenzy.... He will coach the Fockers in 2008..... And he will win a flag in 2 years!! Thus is the life of a Melbourne suporter!

Yeah, just like Moloney is playing for us!!

Could not agree more with the above statement! I am sick to death of pre-seasons full of praise and promise, only to deliver a season of ups, downs and eventual heartache!! I will passionately support the Red 'n Blue until I die, but on the other hand... It would be nice to enjoy the spoils a bit more often!!

I must be wrong.... Maybe we wouldn't have any in our side.... Maybe we are happy supporting a team that has the depth of a kiddies pool?? I think not!

Rhett Biglands Biglands played 23 of the 24 games for Adelaide in 2006, and topped the Crows’ hit-outs with 331 Trent Hentschel A 2006 season that had produced 42 goals – including a haul of eight against Essendon – went horribly wrong when Hentschel wrecked his right knee against Port Adelaide in round 21. Graham Johncock Enhanced his reputation as one of the elite small defenders in the AFL in 2006, and was unlucky to miss All-Australian selection. Led the Crows in rebounds from 50. He played every game and finished third in the club champion voting, only failing to poll votes in the round 17 loss to West Coast at Subiaco. Kris Massie After struggling in 2005, the former first-round draft pick for Carlton enjoyed a much more consistent 2006 season. Picked at No. 7 in the same year as TJ, Ottens, Croad, Power etc... Ben Rutten Following his All-Australian selection and promotion to the leadership group in 2005, the unflappable full back produced another fine season last year, playing every game. His shutdown jobs on the game’s best key forwards are a key to Adelaide’s miserly defence. Jason Porplyzia The winner of the club’s emerging talent award in 2006, Porplyzia proved a difficult match-up as a small forward but also showed some promising signs in midfield bursts. His best game was a 25-possession effort against Melbourne in round 22. Robert Shirley His willingness to embrace a role as a tagger revived his AFL career and he continues to push his game to new levels. Although he has continued to take on some of the best midfielders in the AFL, he managed to still average 16 possessions per game. Shirley led Adelaide’s hard-ball gets with 75 and finished third in the club tackle count (85) Mark Ricciuto Best and fairest 1998, 2003, 2004; 3rd best and fairest 1994, 1997, 2000; Best Team Man 1994, 2003; All-Australian 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 (captain), 2005 (captain); International Rules Series 1998, 2000; AFL Rising Star nominee 1993; Premiership player 1998; Brownlow Medallist 2003; Pre-season premiership player 2003; Runner up Brownlow Medal 2004; AFLPA Best Captain 2005, 2006; Club captain since 2001. We whinge and moan about our injuries but if we had the depth of Adelaide then all would be ok.... They are playing hard, exciting footy and winning games with these guys and more out of the side.... I am not saying we have nothing to whinge about, we do, but depth is important!! I would gladly play any of these guys in our starting 22!!

Yes congratulations Cam!! I am constantly defending you in conversations with my mates who say that you never get a hard ball or throw yourself into a contest.... I have witnessed you on many occasions being the only bloke who has the guts to get in the trenches and try and spark the team.... Get out there and rip it up! As always.... A long bomb from outside 50 after you baulk Carr to win the game!! Bring it on!!

Is Graz actually Neale Daniher in disguise???

A brief description of how I'm feeling Well, it has been a few years since leaving Melbourne for good ol' Adelaide (please detect my sarcasm). Life in the big retirement village is frustrating to say the least... Getting coverage of my beloved Demons is even more frustrating! One cannot rely on the Adelaide media to report on anything other than Adelaide's "massive injury list" (maybe they could take solace by looking at ours) and the Power's "young, running brigade". I am paying more money on Internet bills than I am on electricity just so I can keep up to date with some real footy news! I recently went back to God's country and caught up with some family 'n friends which was refreshing to say the least... While in Melbourne I managed to see our awesome (sarcasm again) display against the Hawks... It is so crushing to go to a game after 2 seasons away from the 'G and witness my boys struggling with poor form and injuries... All is not lost though, as I believe that we will only get better as the season progresses (God knows we can't get any worse) and once we get a decent 22 on the park we will win more than we lose... I must say that I had pumped myself up for a massive start to the season (like all of us did) and the start we've had has been soul destroying! We can all [censored] and whinge about injuries, but they are part of the game we love and they haunt all teams in a cyclical style, this just happens to be our turn One thing that is really beginning to [censored] me off is our coaching staff's lack of faith in our youngsters! It is now that we should be looking at playing at least one draft pick every week and have a good look at how they respond under pressure and without many of the clubs leaders on the ground.... We could unearth a future leader in the next month or so and playing the likes of Ward, Whelan, Holland, Yze, Brown etc. isn't really helping us win games (or even lose them gracefully for that matter) I hope that either Petterd or Garland get a run this week against the Fockers and we can at least see how they go against a side that is also struggling through form and injuries... A young kid that gets drafted into league footy wants nothing more than to run out on the MCG and get a kick! Neale, give them that thrill and they may repay you in ways you never thought they could! I would love to see us come out and smack the Fockers all over our hallowed turf, although being a realist I think they may have too much strike power up forward for our backline to cover.... Finally I would just like to say that all the people that make DemonLand possible should give themselves a massive pat on the back! Border jumpers like myself thrive on up to date information on training sessions and match reviews.... Actually reading ND's match reviews on my members emails is driving me to drink a hell of a lot more than I used to! Stop being so nice and grow some testicles! My footy coach is not my best friend! He is actually a scary bloke and a bit of a [censored].... But that is the reason we are a tough local side that no-one takes lightly! Stay true to the Red 'n Blue! B)

All pre-season I was hearing how well we are training and how fit the boys are looking.... Apparently we were not going going to fade out towards the end of the season, due to the fact that our mixture of strength and endurance training has turned us into "hard, running machines" What a load of crap! I sat on the boundary line on Monday (right where Robbo went down) and I the Melbourne side I saw were far from running machines!! I don't care how strong/lean/fit/tough our players are..... I see absolute LAZINESS!! Apart from a couple, no-one is willing to run hard to present an option.... Apart from a couple, no-one is willing to run hard to keep check of their opposition..... Apart from a couple, no-one is willing to chase down a player..... Apart from a couple, no-one is willing to lay a shephard for a teammate! If a football team is not able to do these simplest of things in the game, then bottom 4 here we come! You people may turn around and say "Hang on, It's only Rnd 2"..... But it is sad when the supporters seem more excited and comitted than the players so early in the season.... One last point.... When Brad Miller leads.... KICK THE BALL TO HIM!

Enough with the Ben Holland saga..... The bloke took some marks and had some posessions in a match where anyone floating across the defensive 50 would have done the same! The bloke obviously needs to learn how to suck selectors salami (along with poor PJ) but all is not lost.... Bizz should be an automatic inclusion for Ward... I was bewildered at the fact it has taken until the 2nd round to work this out! Bizz has had a great pre-season and deserves his spot.... We all know that once he gets a game, barring injury, he will be there to stay! Godfrey will play and I think will get a tagging role on either Crawf or Mitchell.... I hate this fact, but it will happen! Another of ND's love children! Brown Dog will miss out because they will give CJ another few rounds to prove himself.... If he fails to impress then I actually think Warnock should get a gig before anyone else.... Only the humble opinions of a MFC tragic!

Maybe we need a coach who has vested interests in companies such as DeWalt, Hitachi or Milwaukee!?!?! Out with the hammers.... In with the 28v Cordless Hammer Drill....

He is paid to give the players the hammer..... He is not the one responsible for hammering the nails in!!!!

I can't believe it either.... ND has done nothing but good for our club and yet anytime we put in a lack lustre performance, he is the first one that everyone blames! The fans have no one to blame but the players, and the players have no one to blame but themselves! I am sure we will make amends for our pitiful performance in Round 1, but I just hope to god it is sooner rather than later... We all know that the Dees are a force to be reckoned with when we are up and running, but obviously it takes us a bit longer to gather up some pace.... A look at our game against the saints as opposed to our averages from '06 : Kicks 167 (R1) v 207 (2006 Avg.) Handballs 145 v 125 Marks 80 v 107 Hitouts 23 v 32 Tackles 44 v 57 Frees For 17 v 17 (Surprise, surprise! The maggots still hate us) Frees Against 28 v 16 (2nd to the ball will always result in giving away free kicks) Final Score 9 Goals 5 Behinds v 14 Goals 8 Behinds Looking at the differences between our Round 1 performance and our Averages from last season, it is plain to see that we were WAY below our best... Actually if we played the way we were last year, then we would have WON by 2 points in what would have been a ripper of a free flowing game! All is not lost MFC supporters.... We just need to rekindle what we know we are capable of! The season is a Tour de France, and we can't dwell on losing the first hill climb....

Neil Patrick Harris -- AKA Doogie Howser MD

Brock's comments are absolutely spot on! We have always lacked that killer (go for the jugular) instinct at Melbourne and I think it is about time we find it.... Brock has it... Sylvia has it... Carroll has it... Neitz has it... Hell, even Miller has it when he wants it.... But all too often I see us waiting till we are behind the 8-ball before we get some real aggression in the game! I don't want the boys to go out and start brawling, but at least let's stand up and fight for the Red 'n Blue! A proud club, with a proud history that has been the easybeat, laughing stock of footy for way too bloody long!

That was by far the worst 1st round of upsets in a long time.... I didn't get a 3 all season in 2006.... It is very nice to see that not many others in the Land went much better.....

I am over the loss against the Saints (either that or I'm in denial)..... I think we will beat the Hawks quite comfortably on Monday! We will play a hard, running game with Moloney, TJ, Green and Bate bursting long bombs into the F50.... I think we will win purely on our F50 entries! I would not be surprised to see us enter our attacking zone no less than 60 times! People may laugh, but in my opinion the Anthony Rock factor had a lot to do with the game on Friday night and throw in the fact that we bundled them outta the finals, it was no surprise the Saints got up.... But Hawthorn will feel the force of our loss! And in my opinion it could not happen to a better team! The years of '87 & '88 will long be etched into my brain! Different players, same baby poo colours! GO DEES!!!

Frees Melbourne 17 , STK 28 You are right, we were hammered by the maggots, but that is the least of our worries! Miller presented well in the final quarter when all was lost! The boy needs to get an iPod and listen to some hardcore beats before he runs through the banner!!

Yes, both boys were a huge loss! But at the end of the night would it have made much difference? I would like to think it would, but I am not so sure.... I think we were exposed badly by Rock and the Saints.... He would know what works and what doesn't for our running players, and he would also be well aware of our lack of decision making skills in the tight contest! I was so psyched for Round 1 and now I feel sick!!