alpha33

Unlikely IMO. One of the major problems with TBO IMO is the size of the ground. Efforts have been made in the past to find a way to stretch it but the greenies won't allow the loss of foreshore land for that purpose.

Notwithstanding all that I would love it if Melbourne as a team could dish it up to Collingwood on Monday they way North Melbourne did against Geelong last night. There were half a dozen times when they could have thrown in the towel and given up the ghost but they kept plugging away and were in it until the last two minutes.

ULTIMATUM TO DEMONS FANS "THE AFL has sent a simple message to fans of beleaguered club Melbourne - turn up or miss out." MELBOURNE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE "Chief executive Paul McNamee said this week it was the most important night in the club's history. 'Tonight is a platform to get together and draw the line in the sand and say now is the time to move forward and articulate what we stand for in terms of the future,' he said. 'We will celebrate the past and then we look forward.' " POOR CROWD COULD COST DEMONS RIGHTS TO BLOCKBUSTER "FAILURE to entice 60,000 spectators to Monday's match against Collingwood could cost Melbourne the rights to the lucrative Queen's Birthday fixture." CAROLINE WILSON ON MELBOURNE "IT COULD scarcely have been a worse prelude to a 150th birthday party. Over the past fortnight, the Melbourne Football Club has been relocated by Jeff Kennett, targeted and then threatened by Andrew Demetriou and pummelled by St Kilda in a jumper that can only have been created by an understaffed off-field team working under duress." CALE MORTON IS ONE DEE THAT'S CUTTING IT "Morton might have played only nine AFL games, but the lessons keep stacking up." JAKE NIALL ON MELBOURNE "Regardless of financial storm clouds, the Demons must implement a long-term football strategy. They should allow Dean Bailey time to demonstrate whether he is the club's future, and judge him less on the win-loss column than where he's taking them." ROBERT WALLS ON MELBOURNE "Bailey has to be positive, calm and measured and show which direction he is pointing this team. If the supporters and sponsors feel they are included and informed, they will back him." JAMES FRAWLEY JOINS DEMONS INJURY LIST "MELBOURNE'S season of woe continued last night when defender James Frawley received a knock to his shoulder at training." Of course, life wouldn't be the same without the local rag - SHOCK AS ZEBRAS SIGN WITH ST KILDA "SANDRINGHAM’S successful VFL alignment with Melbourne is over." And after tonight ... there's sure to be lot more.

Saints boss calls for Lyon to coach for next 10 years This usually means that the team in question will flop miserably. On the other hand, if they sacked him this week, we'de be flogged.

And now a hamstring forces Davey from track. "Davey pulled up short and clutched his leg after taking a shot for goal." Sounds like 2 - 3 weeks at least to me. "Ruckman Jeff White, a late withdrawal with back soreness, and forward Russell Robertson, who copped a heavy knock to the thigh, did not join training yesterday. The pair will be tested. "Ben Holland (shoulder) must prove his fitness, while Jared Rivers (hip) and Paul Wheatley (calf) worked strongly and should be available." Despite our improved form, an indiction tht there will be a few changes to the team this week.

MELBOURNE Nathan Carroll (hamstring) - test Jack Grimes (back) - long term injury list Ben Holland (shoulder) - test Michael Newton (knee) - test Ricky Petterd (groin) - 2 - 3 weeks Jared Rivers (hip) - test Russell Robertson (corked thigh) - test Colin Sylvia (hamstring) - test Paul Wheatley (calf) - test Jeff White (back) - test NOTE: As there are no VFL games this weeks, players coming back from injury will not be able to have a game with Sandringham this week. ST KILDA Jayden Attard (knee reconstruction) - 3 - 5 weeks Steven Baker (knee) - test Xavier Clarke (hamstring) - 2 weeks Glenn Chivers (foot) - 1 - 3 weeks Sam Gilbert (shoulder) - 1 - 3 weeks Matt Maguire (foot) - season Luke Miles (stress fracture in fibula) - 1 week Luke van Rheenen (foot) - season

The actual Division 2 Championships started today. See NAB AFL under-18 Championships: matchday one for a full rundown of how they work and the results of the opening day.

I wonder how many clubs would remain tolerant of their full forward if he had reaped just two goals from three matches in teams that were losing heavily and was dropping simple marks on top of it.

This is our current injury list according to the Age: Matthew Bate (hamstring) - test Jace Bode (groin) - test Jack Grimes (back) – indefinite Ben Holland (thigh) - test Paul Johnson (hand) - 4 weeks Michael Newton (knee) - test Ricky Petterd (groin) - 3-4 weeks I notice that the list doesn't include Brent Moloney who has missed the last two games with what was rumoured to be anything from a corkie to a quad to a groin injury. As a matter of interest, this was our injury list as published in last week's newspaper: Matthew Bate (hamstring) - test Aaron Davey (foot) - further assessment Jack Grimes (groin/shins) - 2-4 weeks Bate was selected to play for Sandringham but obviously didn't come up right on the day. Davey got through his assessment and played against Geelong. We should have had 40 players in action at the weekend given that, according to the list, only Grimes was out (and that was for 2 - 4 weeks) and Bate failed his test. But in fact, we had another 5 players missing who weren't reported as injured earlier in the week - Bode, Holland, Moloney, Newton and Petterd. Is there something wrong with our training or are we still not being transparent with these injury lists?

Demons set new goals but they won't be training at the MCG (nor will the Tigers, Vlad!) Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough yesterday ruled out any clubs being allowed to regularly train at the ground. "The MCG is not a training ground," Gough told The Age. "We let interstate clubs have a run here before a game so their Victorian counterparts — when they go interstate — can get use to grounds over there."

Corkie upgraded to a quad injury but should be back this week according to those in the know.

I really think that's the message - confidence. Whoever it was that said this game is played between the ears is dead right. I remember Geelong fans wanting to sack Bomber Thompson five rounds into 2007 when they had just lost to the Kangaroos and were 2-3. Then they started playing with confidence as a team and for the next 5 months couldn't put a foot in the wrong place. A win this week will make a world of difference to the club. And good luck to the newcomers ... MORTON & WEETRA DEBUT

go to www.oztips.com make an (free) account competition name : Demonland Tipping Competition competition number : 124232 Password : demon I'm in!!!!

It seems that Leigh Matthews is not happy about the number of Brisbane players not ready to ply at this stage of the season - Matthews not pleased with injuries. " THE Brisbane Lions are reviewing their conditioning program after entering the NAB Cup with the competition's longest injury list. The list is slowly diminishing and the club expects to have close to a full list from which to choose in Round 1. But coach Leigh Matthews admitted last night the inability to get match practice into players during the pre-season tournament had been a major frustration." Know how he feels?

Some versions of the report which was carried by Associated Press add the following:- "Melbourne suffered a further blow when Newton picked up a neck injury in a contest during the second half. Newton was taken to hospital, where he was expected to stay overnight, but officials were not yet sure of the seriousness of the injury. The club will release further details on Newton's condition." Hope he's fine and that someone at the club can confirm.

Brock McLean is ready to make amends "BROCK McLean still wants to be a Melbourne captain. Right now, all his coach wants him to do is start thinking like one." Well said Dean Bailey. I like that!

YZE INJURY FEAR MARS DEMONS' BUILD-UP

Thompson is even prepared to flout the rules in the game according to the Hun - We'll flout bench rule: Geelong. Now if those sentiments were expressed by the coach of the Kangaroos, Bulldogs or Demons, you can bet they'd get a "please explain" from Demetriou. Would he try it with the coach of the reigning premier?

True but it wasn't 4 the Sandy seniors - it was their reserves!

Pardon the sauce but it seems true that he's now gorn officially - Harris resigns from Demons' board.

I don't know about the need for official changes but, in a young side, there is always the possibility of players coming up who will stamp themselves as leaders and, as DB has said, he looks upon the likes of Green and Jeff White as leaders anyway.

Melbourne has replaced Craig Cameron as recruiting manager with Barry Prendergast - Clubs on the hunt for brains. Good luck BP!

A newspaper article earlier this week said that we start training again on 2 January but it didn't say where or what time.

The headline - Dee home delights Tiwi rookie - leaves a lot to be desired.

Loosen up man; it's all in good fun. After all, our entire game is built on rivalry and tribal hatred. Have a Merry Christmas!