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Still doing our due diligence.

Article in the Sunday HUN by Craig Hutchison about Adem Yze being asked to sign a legal waiver before being allowed to play in Sandringham's finals campaign finishes with this paragraph about Jeff White and Paul Johnson:-

David Schwarz [THE OX'S BLINDERS AND SHOCKERS] on PJ in Inside Football this week: Dee Johnson has talent on tap Getting an opportunity is sometimes all it takes for a player to have the confidence to use his skill and ability to cement himself in his side. Melbourne’s Paul Johnson is one such player. He has grasped his chance after Jeff White was demoted to the VFL. Johnson started his career at West Coast, but played only one senior game. He was then traded to Melbourne where in the next three years he only played another 10 games. Last year he played 16 games and proved that he may could make it as a ruckman or forward in the competition. This year he has probably become the Demons’ No.1 ruckman, but his versatility in being able to go forward is what has pleased most. White has held the mantle as the No.1 big man with Melbourne since 1998, but like all players time has finally caught up with him and the leap that he relies upon is no longer there. Johnson has an enormous amount of skill and watching him against North Melbourne last Sunday it was evident that when he got his hands on the footy something good eventuated. He is very clean at ground level and when given the opportunity has no trouble kicking goals. At 24 years of age he has another six or seven years of improvement in him and knowing that ruckmen take longer to mature there is only upside to his output. Dees coach Dean Bailey has good young players at his disposal and Johnson will play a very big role in Melbourne’s revival. Full credit must go to Bailey for persevering with the big ruckman.

All four short term injuries are being tested this week. Should we play them or give them an extra week to recover? Short term - Kyle Cheney (hand) - test Brad Green (hamstring) - test Paul Wheatley (calf) - test Austin Wonaeamirri (general soreness) - test Out for the rest of the season - Brock McLean (ankle) Brent Moloney (shoulder) David Neitz (neck, retired) Jared Rivers (abdominals/groin) Russell Robertson (Achilles)

I could have sworn I read reports last week that Cameron Schwab had ruled himself out for the new CEO job, but his hat is back in the ring. Smart as a fox - Fox, Schwab throw hat in ring for Dees job

Demons re-sign veteran

Our injury list continues to contain the names of some of our best players: Short term - Kyle Cheney (hand) 1 week Brad Green (hamstring) 1 week James McDonald (groin) test Out for the rest of the season - Brock McLean (ankle) Brent Moloney (shoulder) David Neitz (neck, retired) Jared Rivers (abdominals/groin) Russell Robertson (Achilles)

Thanks for those stats deanox. When you see those however, our young blokes aren't much lighter on average than the Dockers who seemed to look a much bigger bodied team.

Actually, you've got it the wrong way around. Nobody here frowns upon the mention of Rono and our freedom of speech is well protected around here. It's when you have the idiots and their egos dominating the threads and abusing others that our freedom of speech is damaged the most. If people observe the rules i.e. the very reasonable code of conduct we all agree to adhere to when we sign up, there's no problem.

Each week, the 31-year-old has been declared fit to play by club medicos, hence his absence from any official lists. But Holland, who continues to train with the club, is taking a cautious approach and has so far resisted a return through the VFL. Holland was named in the ruck for Sandringham last week, but was a late withdrawal. He continues to receive match payments from the Demons. Melbourne remains hopeful Holland will finally play a VFL game this week, but there are ... BEN HOLLAND DECLARED FIT, BUT RELUCTANT TO PLAY Goodbye Dutchy!

The Dockers had a win at the Tribunal with Crowley getting off his charge. Since we knew Solomon was never going to play against us this week anyway, I'd call that a big win for the Fockers.

Good to see that Ben Holland is fully fit for about the fourth week in a row! B)

The RSL club at Rooty Hill is first class.

DEMONS WITH PLENTY TO PLAY FOR

Melbourne: Kyle Cheney (hand) - 1-2 weeks Brad Green (hamstring) 1-2 weeks James McDonald (groin) - test Brock McLean (ankle) - season Brent Moloney (shoulder) - season Jared Rivers (abdominals) - season Russell Robertson (Achilles) - season

Melbourne hopes special event will help slash debt Sounds like a good idea but why rely on the wealthy supporters only to help reduce the debt? We should, as a club, be all inclusive and ensure that rank and file supporters can make their contributions as well. It may not collet the big bucks but let's make sure that all of us are responsible for the future of the Melbourne Football Club.

James McDonald (groin) 1 week Brock McLean (ankle) season Brent Moloney (shoulder) season Jared Rivers (groin) season Russell Robertson (Achilles) season In addition David Neitz - retired. No word on Benny Holland.

Take a bow Demon Head. Very few people gave you any credibility and fewer still tipped us to win. TIPSTER OF THE YEAR!!!

Melbourne defender Jared Rivers' year is over Melbourne listed Rivers as a four-to-six-week absentee this week, but Demons coach Dean Bailey yesterday conceded his season was over. "Unless there is a magical cure for him, I don't think he will be back playing football this year," Bailey said. Back in cotton wool and hopefully an injury free remainder of his career from 2009 onwards.

YM could not have got it more wrong. It was a horrible day for the Zebras with the seniors completely outclassed going down by 67 points and the reserves losing by 1 point. Sandringham 2.2.14 3.3.21 6.6.42 11.9.75 Port Melbourne 5.2.32 11.10.76 15.13.103 21.16.142 Cale Morton and Tom McNamara among the Zebs best IMO. Port Melbourne Reserves Sandringham 1.1.7 4.6.30 8.10.58 10.10.70 Port Melbourne 2.4.16 5.7.37 7.8.50 10.11.71 Petterd played well. Newton played but didn't kick any goals.

Surely his decision making should improve with added experience and confidence? I agree with his uncle's view that he needs to build up his physical strength which will enable him to better contest the football on the ground and in the air. The same applies to a few of the young blokes at the club. Will they have state of the art gym facilities available at Casey Fields for summer training?

Speedy Demon is proving a chip off the old block "James Frawley is making strides, literally. A first-round pick in the 2006 national draft at No. 12, the North Ballarat Rebel impressed recruiters by breaking three seconds for the 20-metre sprint at the draft camp. He played nine games on debut in 2007, another seven this year, and has settled into Melbourne life, moving into a St Kilda pad with teammate Jared Rivers, who is his unofficial mentor."

hat we have Jimmy as President, one would have thought that we'd be in on this - Young Irish players, and parents, to get taste of what AFL offers "We've identified a No. 1 draft pick — he's very quick, six foot three (191 centimetres), a Tadhg Kennelly type but a bit bigger."

And now for a report on the evening?

This from the Norwood Football Club's website:- In further news, I am also pleased to announce the signing of Tiwi bomber player Roy Farmer. Roy 17 was 3rd in the Nicholls Medal the equivalent to the Magarey medal whilst playing in the Darwin league in 2007/2008. Roy played in our round 5 clash with South Adelaide in the reserves and has since been in Melbourne representing the NT U18 side in the National Championships. Roy a small forward or wingman has excellent skills, good pace & is very clever near goals. His football idols consist of Matthew Pavlich, Andrew McLeod and former player & friend Austin Wonaemirri.