damon the demon

Fair point. Just because I've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Of course, being a massive soccer fan, I am aware that it happens A LOT. But I still have two problems with that mention in the Sun article. Firstly, I saw it. It looked like a brawl. They could've said it looked like a 'pub' brawl or a 'street' brawl, but no, they felt compelled to say it looked like a 'soccer' brawl. So, even whilst covering an event that tarnishes the reputation of Aussie Rules, they try and tarnish the reputation of soccer. Doesn't sound like much in isolation, but they do it all the time. For example, making a big thing of 3 fans getting ejected from Docklands during a soccer game whilst literally the night before 120 odd people got ejected from the G during a one dayer. This builds up an unfair stereotype above and beyond what is actually accurate, negatively affecting soccer and the people who watch it.

My second problem is that the really horrible trouble at soccer matches (and the examples you cited) occur overseas. By saying that it looked like a 'soccer' brawl transfers that image to the local game and stunts its growth. And even though, as you correctly point out, just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't happened, I would highly doubt that anything as vicious as what happened yesterday has occurred in the short history of the A League or at matches involving the Socceroos.

I think they refer to it as a 'soccer' brawl because one of the unique aspects of aussie rules is that opposition fans can sit together and generally get along - although not always - but there is no segregated seating like in the EPL. The HUN will always play up the idea that opposition fans sitting together is a disaster waiting to happen - imagine how many papers they would sell if there was a massive 20,000 person all in brawl in the southern stand!

BTW that Odd Xaverians bloke may well be Andrew Bolt.

guys hate to be the bearer of bad news. i am good mates with garlo the foot is real bad. LTI for him unfortunately.

What sort of time are you talking?? What happened to him?

Hmm can Sylvia mark? I vaguely remember that he can (?) Cos I was thinking we need a forward who can mark so we should bring in Sylvia and Martin - and play either Martin or Garland or someone tall (Rivers??) with good hands so that we at least have a target when we bomb it into one vs three in the forward line.. and we should play another debutant (Strauss or Bail)- someone who knows how to kick into the forward line. But the question is - who do we omit? Possibilities are Jetta, Morton, Miller, Bate, Davey, Bennell, Mclean, Bruce... Realistically I can't see the coach dropping any of them - mainly for sentimental/reputation reasons he won't drop Miller or Morton or Bruce, and the 2 bunbury boys really did enough to warrant another game - especially compared to some of their more senior team mates... and really I suppose they all deserve at least one second chance.... but based purely on last week's performance I would make the following changes:

OUT: Miller, Davey, Bruce

IN: Martin, Sylvia, Strauss

Why does everyone want to drop Bennell and Jetta? - two of the best players on the ground IMO - some sloppy finishing from Jetta but at least they had a crack and where impressive for first gamers.. this reminds me of after round 2 last year and everyone was screaming for Garland's blood!! If you want to drop someone then why not Miller or Bruce? - neither had any impact today whatsoever.

This is kharma for when that guy posted the hoax about Grimes getting injured and hearing from KB on SEN....... I hope you're laughing now champ

just a bit of a joke. nothing was happening on this site. u can ban us if u want. no problem. sorry tho but u must admit it created some excitement on here

Holy crap man after all we Melbourne supporters have to go through you pull a hoax like this on us! Boooo not funny.......

Does anyone know if these games are broadcast on Foxtel?

A nice piece about the Dees but I'm not sure what was thought-provoking.

Thought provoking in terms of what it means to follow a club which has struggled in recent history and how that struggle can help bind you to it. Also, the tales of when we were a superpower and how it seems but a distant legend to be discussed in hushed tones, thus making the struggle even more painful. And thought provoking that he mentions Andrew Obst as his favourite player of the 90s and how Obst seemed to optimise the no-frills side of the Dees which parts of the media totally ignore..... Did strike a bit of a chord with me last night (possibly aided by the glasses of red consumed earlier!).

Maverick side of Melbourne

Poignant article by Martin Flanagan including the following quote:

He doesn't believe Melbourne can ever be relocated. "Melbourne's got an attachment to the MCG and to this city that's real. If Melbourne relocated, it would always be a lie. We are the club of this city." I ask him what he wants to see this year. It's not so much wins he's looking for as "the beginning of a build".

Bridie is not impressed by people who boast about barracking for clubs like Manchester United and Essendon. "Too easy," he says.

No he isn't, he had a 70% efficiency rate this year while doing it all on his own in the packs in the middle. While it isn't a great efficiency rate it obviously can be worked on.

It's funny how people on this site go with the groupthink, one week people were praising him then as a couple of people start bagging him everyone jumps on.

A good example of this was his game against West Coast where he got 30 posessions at 90% efficiency, an outstanding match overall. Then people on this site were bagging him after the match for his bad disposal Sometimes i wonder if people actually watch the game and form their own opinions.

after round 2 this year i recall a plethora of posts saying that garland should never play again (when he was hardly in our worst players). footy will always have a mob mentality aspect and while this site is often very insightful, it too is not immune from the odd bandwagon bash. jones will be back in favour soon enough.

It's good to see that Green is getting a bit of respect of late - I've always felt he should be our next captain and his work in the backline on the weekend was further proof he is a no softy (as some have said..)

Same goes for Garland who was knocked by just about every poster on Demonland after round 1.

As for Bartram he wasn't THAT bad on Sunday - obviously Chance killed him, but who wouldn't have been killed by Chance on Sunday? Maybe Valenti should have been given the job? Or Bruce??

Bruce's best game this year was tagging Johnson at Kardinia Park so I think he should stick to it while he learns how to handball etc..

One bloke who has really improved his disposal is Miller. His handballs from marks were actually top notch- Bailey has taught him to handball!! Thank Christ for that! I was shocked to see Miller's confident, quick linkage play on sunday.. Now DB's next priority has to be Bruce's disposal problems..

Bruce did some really bad handballs to guys under pressure today. He seems to be lacking the confidence to kick the bloody thing!!! He really was the weak link today IMO. Moloney was real tough + his disposal was pretty good.. We'd be in trouble without him on the field I reckon

He was OK.

It was one game.

He still has trouble kicking it properly.

We have lowered our expectations so far they are buried in the sand.

Miller is not the CHF of a Premiership side.

Simple as that.

true but he could be the HFF of a premiership team

a few more pounds then this probably wouldn't occur...lol

http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/images/AFL/.../MOrton-246.jpg

true twas hilarious but this guy IS the real deal. when i have children they will be wearing number 10!!

Cant believe we are still discussing Miller..

Cant believe he is still on our list...

Sad

Yze I felt the same for most of the last 2 years - but i get a feeling of his form in 05 when i watch Miller at the moment.. Time for you to deal with it - Miller is in the team so let's encourage him when he has a fair old whack at it... which he had today and had for the first half of last week..

He gives it everything... under DB he might just become a player. If we are gonna be anything then Miller has to perform..

good today but should have played moloney - he always kills the cats. Can't DB find a spot in the team for MOLONEY!

Sorry I know there are other threads about this but I just went to the Demons website and the stats thing said Maloney made the most tackles of any Melbourne player last week. He is a bloody champion I cannot BELIEVE we are dropping him.. All day I've been reading and listening to media outlets crapping on about our football club's lack of spirit, lack of supporters how bad we are, how we are going to be relocated or merged etc etc etc... The last thing our club needs is one of our best, hardest at the pill, gutsiest players uninjured, playing for the seconds.. It's STUPID by the coach/ selection panel, why doesn't anyone stop this foolishness!! It almost looks like we've given up at round 2. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

Green should be left in. He kicked a good goal and looked like he was trying (some of the time anyway)..

YZE played the worst game of football I've ever seen him play.. back to sandy (2nds?)

Morton was really good but was too skinny - I kep cringing whenever he was near the ball, for fear he would snap.. Bruce was rubbish but should be given another chance (see if game time can improve him).

Davey was played out of position.. He should only be played as an attacking winger / half forward

Junior was another disappointment.

We were too short in defence.. maybe Meeson to the backline??

Carroll and Miller were average but perhaps not to blame.

Petterd had a dip and SHOULD NOT be dropped

White was disapointing but did get a lot of taps - he can improve

Robbo/Newton/Maclean need to work on fitness - looked underdone

Jones should be our next captain

So you think Green should go but Miller and Carroll should still be playing?

Don't forget Newton is ony 20

Newton had a dip i thought. I agree about Miller completely, he should never have been given ANOTHER chance.. How may chances are we gonna give this guy??

How else do you explain:

Brad Miller in the leadership group

Brad Miller still in the team!!

Adem Yze in the leadership group

Travis Johnstone traded!!

Colin Sylvia banned for staying out late -

Nathan Carroll still in the team!!

I am so mad at DB etc.. what is wrong with these guys??? - why they didn't play a crumber in the forward line for half the game today! Why play Davey in the midfield???? He was the best half forward flanker going around 3 years ago. Why can't Melbourne ever man up!?!?!?!?! No one wanted it - there was no accountability whatsoever!!!

I feel like we are still living in the 70s while teams like Geelong have gotten their s$%t together and understand what it means to be a professional TEAM!

Anyone got DBs email address I want him to know my feelings!

I just finished reading the 87 Preliminary final thread and it got me thinking about the somewhat more positive 88 Prelim.. I was 10 years old and my whole family made the long trek from Geelong to Waverley. I remember it was damn cold and pi55ed rain but none of us cared.. I recall (and to be honest it's a bit foggy) Sean Wight and Garry Lyon were inspirational... (am I correct in saying that Lyon kicked a goal from inside the centre square in this game, and Wight shepherded it through) but it was all about 'The Tapman', as those wiser souls around me called him, Darren Williams (or was it David?) who kicked the crucial goals.. In the wet... Against the Blues.. to get in the Grand Final. Talk about an amazing feeling to win that game. Please good sirs (and ma'ams) of Demonland regale us with your tales of this game, so I can reminisce with a bit of clarity..

The Ultimate Con Job

I'm getting desperate here but I wonder if the coaching panel might have been shrewd enough to devise a plan for the team to tank its way through the pre season so as to catch the opposition completely unaware of its true potential. The AFL doesn't mind it if you tank as long as the coach doesn't joke about it in front the interchange stewards but those types aren't around when you hold your training in closed session. Who knows what's been going on away from the prying eyes of the usual track watchers? Perhaps something really new, exciting and innovative is about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting football public but why am I desperately clutching at so many straws in these hands of mine?

It's all a waiting game now but, for the time being, I simply decline to put out my list of ten best players until I see some indication of performances from the players that are worthy of inclusion on such a list.

I too have a dream that our pre-season form is nothing more than a cunning ruse by our new coach.. Let's all hope DB is a fan of 'The Sting'...