Apocalypse XXXI

Didn't Maric have the highest ranking ever for accuracy in front of goals at TAC Cup level?

Are we the only club that constantly cops injuries week after week, year in year out. I think only Essendon has had as bad a run as the one we're going through.

Friday night's game was an experience. It's quite different to games played down south and with the large squad named it was sometimes a bit hard to keep up with some of the movements. I think that tactically we were well ahead on the night and perhaps Vossy might rue not having an apprenticeship as an assistant coach before taking on the big job. Still, it should be a far more simple game in wet conditions where zoning becomes more difficult to execute. While there was a lot of rain about Cairns for most of the day and it was very windy, things weren't that bad until the latter stages when the torrential rain came down in buckets. By that time the Dees were well in front and I think the winning margin would have been greater because we would have been kicking towards what should have been the scoring end but for the fact that the heavy rain curtailed scoring a fair bit. The conditions were made for defences and the Demons threw everything they had at Brown. One of the major differences between this year and last is the strength and aggression of the defensive unit as a whole and this will only get better with the return of Whelan and the inclusion of Garland and Grimes who were rested this week. In any event, the defence was our strenght and, as you can imagine with only four goals kicked against it, they were on top all night. Warnock completely blanketed Brown, Buckley was a surprise opponent for Bradshaw and Martin took on Clark. Rivers played most of the first half and did everything you would expect of him. Frawley was impressive but Cheney was a bit loose at times. Brucey was easily best on and he was strongly supported by McLean, Moloney, Jones and Valenti. The conditions really suited these players and they, in turn played the conditions much better than the Lions who fiddled around a fair bit. Sylvia played on a flank and was good in flashes. The forward line was reasonable with a number of contributors and Newton coming to the fore and kicking a few goals in difficult conditions for forwards. Neville Jetta certainly generated some excitement when he was on the ground. Spencer's ruckwork and overall aggression was excellent from my viewpoint but he needs to improve his around the ground play. He's a real work in progress and when the rough edges are smoothed out the Demons will have a top notch ruckman on their hands. Paul Johnson went ok until injured (he did return) but Meesen didn't impress me at all. Given the policy clubs have these days of resting up players during the pre-season practice match period, the club can only improve if the injuries stay away. This game was a tough slog in the end so a few more bodies might be rested although I note that they all have a week off in a fortnight's time before the season starts. I think Melbourne has a lot more going for it than it had when the team came up north last year and was overrun by the reigning wooden spooners in Richmond. The Dees still have a long way to go but I can only see four or five sides ahead of a big pack and we should improve to the middle of that pack subject to a reasonable year with injury. The good thing is that Bailey has a lot of material to work with and the list isn't clogged with players whose careers are at a dead end.

Wasn't much of a game from Adelaide's POV but it did highlight the skills of our Indigenous players. Although we only had two in the team, it's comforting to know we have Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah and the ever-reliable Wheels around to add excitement to the club. I reckon these blokes could be just the ones to help to our revival as a footy club.

I'm joining the boycott. Stuff their burritos, nachos and papadams!

It's good to see that the Casey Scorpions as a club are not resting on their laurels relying on Melbourne to supply players going forward. Here's a story from their website about the recruitment of a young local star player - Casey Signs Narre Gun

Judge for your$elf the $incerity of Vi$y'$ Environmental Amba$$ador by li$tening to a man $truggle as he trie$ to read from a $cript $traight off a cue card - right here. For thi$ he get$ paid? Give us all a break Demetriou - the $alary cap is cactu$!

I doubt whether we will make any further changes to our list other than possible rookie upgrades and a fond farewell to a certain defender with occasional strange haircuts and a beard. Otherwise, it's quiet because it's October - the season's over and the next one is still a long way away.

Port Adelaide's Adam Thomson could be on the market. I normally wouldn't post about such a thing but I seem to remember reading somewhere that we were interested in him before he was drafted. Any interest?

We lost by less than Port Adelaide did to the same team on the same ground in a grand final.

To me the biggest disappointment is still the number of times our players don't contest and the poor tackling and pressure on opponents. They're young but they have to learn that. As for Junior, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. First game back after several weeks out with a groin injury.

Here's a great human interest story about our greatest coach - LETTER OUT OF THE NORM SMITH, GREAT MELBOURNE COACH

I'm afraid that's not likely. According to Andy Lovell, Petterd played 80% of game time at Sandringham last week. I believe he has to be up at 100% capacity to get the recall to AFL footy.

Jeff White omitted, Carroll not selected and Junior injured. It certainly marks a changing of the guard. Is this one of our youngest teams ever?

How do you think the Gold Coast and West Sydney are travelling at the moment Oracle?

Thanks Oracle. That was a better summary than you get in the papers and at least there's some hope for the future in there. I thought Frawley's game was very good and I agree, it wasn't all his fault that Fevola got those late goals.

I was more impressed by this Barry.

NAB Challenge match Melbourne v North Melbourne Saturday March 8, 2pm AEDT, at Casey Fields in Melbourne MELBOURNE 1 - Simon Buckley 2 - Nathan Jones 5 - Brock McLean 6 - Matthew Bate 7 - Brad Miller 8 - James Frawley 9 - David Neitz 11 - Paul Johnson 12 - Colin Sylvia 13 - Adem Yze 14 - Lynden Dunn 15 - Ricky Petterd 17 - Chris Johnson 18 - Brad Green 20 - Colin Garland 21 - Daniel Bell 22 - Brent Moloney 23 - James McDonald 24 - Russell Robertson 28 - Isaac Weetra 29 - Michael Newton 34- Jeff White 36 - Aaron Davey 39 - Austin Wonaemirri 41 - Nathan Carroll 43 - Jace Bode NORTH MELBOURNE 1 - Hamish McIntosh 3 - Brady Rawlings 4 - Daniel Harris 5 - Sam Power 6 - Shannon Grant 7 - Adam Simpson 8 - Daniel Wells 11 - Michael Firrito 12 - Lindsay Thomas 14 - Gavin Urquhart 15 - Ben Ross 16 - Leigh Brown 19 - Andrew Swallow 20 - Drew Petrie 21 - Corey Jones 23 - Nathan Thompson 25 - Robbie Tarrant 26 - Lachlan Hansen 27 - Aaron Edwards 28 - Matt Riggio 29 - Brent Harvey 30 - Daniel Pratt 31 - David Hale 33 - Matt Campbell 36 - Shannon Watt 37 - Scott Thompson 38 - Josh Gibson 39 - Leigh Harding 42- Scott McMahon SOURCE afl.com.au

Brock when he's on song can really drill it.

According to one of Sunday papers we're expecting an influx of our more experienced players for Friday night's game against the Doggies in Bendigo. We need to get some momentum going for the season ahead so I hope we can actually play something that resembles competitive football for more than one quarter next week.

Just wondering if Jack Grimes played in Canberra today nd if so, how he went?

He's an Essenscum supporter who wouldn't know much.

Probably explains why Miller has made it back into the leadership group despite the protestations of some outsiders.

Pat Veszpremi

David Gourdis