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DEVIL OF A TIME by Whispering Jack The keynote speaker at last night's annual Devil's Advocates dinner was former Demon champion David Schwarz. Most of us know of his exploits on the field in his playing days and how he overcame adversity and the depths of three knee reconstructions to win a club best and fairest and play in a grand final and many would also be aware of how, with the help of his wife, he overcame a gambling addiction that sent him broke and even had him in the grip of criminal elements. Listening to him speak mainly of the latter and of his determination to repay his debts and to resurrect his life reminded me very much of the task his former club now faces to regain its rightful position among other clubs and the message is that the situation is not hopeless. The same story was reinforced by the other speakers starting with club chairman Glen Bartlett who started in football in Western Australia, who suffered a ruptured kidney playing in the WAFL in 1985 and recovered to make it all the way to the Eagles' inaugural list. Bartlett had a similar injury to that of GWS' Phil Davis who recently contacted him to discuss ways of overcoming this serious ailment. Bartlett's AFL career was brief - he was delisted after one year of his three year contract but took on the club in the industrial relations system to successfully win compensation but not reinstatement. He bounced back to have a good enough WAFL career that he was drafted by Brisbane. Later, he found his way to Melbourne and a top legal firm. He says he is at the club for the long haul if the members will have him and describes this journey as one that requires us to keep the faith. He reflects that the club has come a long way off the field in a short time in terms of building new partnerships with sponsors, acquiring new football staff including coaches and the players recruited over the off season. We now need to show resilience, courage and patience. Despite the early setbacks, there are a lot of positives about the club and Bartlett is confident we're on the right track. One of the new coaches is George Stone whose record at one stage was six premierships in nine seasons as an assistant at successful clubs in Hawthorn and Sydney. He told of how he started as a runner to the legendary "Yabby" Jeans who once likened the role of runner to a piano player in a brothel. "Son, you're where the action is, but you're not really a part of it". Like the other speakers, Stone expressed confidence in Paul Roos' ability to turn things around, the club's current situation with its lack of forwards will change and players will learn and develop. The club is starting with a blank canvas and Stone is confident that we will see progress over time. When asked whether Roos would have drafted Buddy Franklin were he still at Sydney, he said probably not because of Roos' emphasis on team play and not individuality. It's good teams that win premierships and he that this can be fulfilled at Melbourne but not without a lot of hard work and an ounce of luck. Auctioneer Phil Kingston of Gary Peer & Associates, a loyal Demon fan and a top operator in the south eastern suburbs emphasised the message of the speakers but added that money was important as well as all of the other things that had been spoken about on the night. He proceeded to auction a number of items including a magnificent framed picture of the 1956 premiership team and his efforts helped make the night a financial success. Considering the week the club has gone through, the turnout for the evening was great. Demon fans from various areas of the legal system were on hand - judges, barristers, solicitors, court personnel and academics were all on hand. One of the guests was human rights commissioner, Tim Wilson. Board member John Trotter was there as were former club chairman Paul Gardner, former board members Karen Hayes and Michael Givoni, barrister Bob Miller who played in the 60s and of course Bev O'Connor who brightened up the evening with a sterling job as master of ceremonies. Chris Dawes, the grandson of the late Chief Justice Sir John Young was there (I think he might be back earlier than some reports this week have suggested) along with Michael "Pickles" Evans, a law student who has also overcome some major injury woes himself and is on the cusp of selection into the Melbourne team. And there we have it ... a night where the theme was one of coming back from adversity. The Ox's story of starting out as a 15 year old Hawthorn fan training with the Under 19s (he was still a member of the Hawks' cheer squad when he made his senior debut at 18), speaking of his appreciation for the Melbourne Football Club which helped him escape from the ordinary life of Sunbury to an AFL career, to the lows of a gambling addiction and the help of his wife, friends and his contacts at Melbourne which helped him rise to overcome his hardships, repay his debts and take a place in society with a family, a home and in a far better place than the one which he once occupied. The narrative is one of recovery through determination and hard effort and is the very story we hope to relive at the Melbourne Football Club in the near future. Thanks to Devil's Advocates convenor Ralph Glezer for putting the night together again and for all those who contributed and showed that their is a way out of the despair of last Sunday's loss. It's now up to the coaches and the players to get it done on the field. Two former MFC Board Members taking in the atmosphere at last night's Devil's Advocate Dinner

Some would call this our most humiliating loss of the season. GWS GIANTS Backs Phil Davis Joshua Bruce Curtly Hampton Half backs Nicholas Haynes Tim Mohr Zachary Williams Centreline Dylan Shiel Adam Treloar Lachie Whitfield Half forwards Jeremy Cameron Adam Tomlinson Mark Whiley Forwards Devon Smith Dean Brogan Tomas Bugg Followers Jonathan Giles Callan Ward Tom Scully Interchange Taylor Adams Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Adam Kennedy Emergencies Sam Darley Stephen Gilham Nathan Wilson In Stephen Coniglio Lachie Whitfield Out Sam Darley Will Hoskin-Elliott (concussion) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Colin Garland Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Dean Kent Max Gawn Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson In Colin Garland Jake Spencer Dean Terlich Out Sam Blease Chris Dawes (calf) James Frawley (hamstring) Chris Dawes with a calf injury - how unusual is that?

NO REASON TO BELIEVE by Whispering Jack There has been much criticism and even some derision since the appointment as coach of the Greater Western Sydney Giants of Kevin Sheedy. He's too old, past his use by date, a spruiker for the club, a pot-stirrer and an embarrassing joke. The critics may well be right but at least he has the respect of his players and they of him. Hence, they have a reason to believe and hence those youngsters managed to prevail in a scrappy sub standard game over the pathetic rabble that has become the Melbourne Football Club - a hotchpotch of individuals, directionless, rudderless and playing at the moment with no heart and no soul. They don't even pretend to attempt to apply any defensive pressure any more; foolishly they were "freed up" when Mark Neeld was given his marching orders; given licence to play their own games. The result is that the tail now wags the dog - even more completely and utterly than ever before and that includes the latter stages of the Bailey era when they turned up to play when they felt like it. That might well have been necessary after the ongoing negativity of the first half of the current season and the resultant damage to player confidence caused by Neeld's style of coaching but at the same time, we seem to have taken our eyes completely off the defensive side of our game. More and more often, the opposition effortlessly streams out of Melbourne's forward line without any pressure being imposed whatsoever and it's like that everywhere on the ground. People bemoan our lack of a midfield but really the team is poor everywhere in terms of putting pressure on the opposition. However, it didn't start this week with the playing group but at the selection table with some nonsensical decision-making that set the scene for the team's 37 point defeat at the hands of the hitherto winless Giants. Firstly, the response to a heartless 20 goal defeat was to make only one compulsory change. Poor old Sam Blease deserved the chop for his inept display at Etihad but didn't he have any mates? Obviously not because it was be kind to Aaron Davey week after his embarrassing effort last week and a few others should have gone as well. It was also a time to ignore those youngsters pushing hard for a game at Casey who might have relished having a crack at a young inexperienced opposition. Well, I suppose there is the Gold Coast Suns as Melbourne's around the world tour continues next week. And then there was the decision to load up with the 200cm plus contingent against a team known for its youthful gut running which gave Collingwood a run for its money in that department for the better part of three quarters last week. That really was a stroke of genius ready to backfire - and backfire, it did. Melbourne, at least started well, got the ball out of the middle and made repeat entries into the forward line to lead by 13 points at the 25 minute mark of the first quarter. It could have been more but for some poor kicking and decision-making when going forward but then, as easy as you like, the Giants slammed on three goals in three minutes, all of them set up by hard running out of defence finished by confidence- boosting snap shots and contrasted with Jack Fitzpatrick's miss from five metres out on the run to set the scene for the day. Less than two hours later, the Giants were celebrating in their rooms singing the Russian national anthem and the Demons were in despair. Under siege, the team died of shame. Words can't describe the appreciation necessary for the likes of Nathan Jones and Jack Viney for their desperation and hard-nosed attack on the ball while many of their teammates spent the afternoon sunning themselves on a pleasant mid winter day in Sydney. If there is any justice, Viney will be rewarded with a NAB Rising Star nomination. In any other team, his effort would have translated into a 30+ possession performance and universal adulation. Other youngsters Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Kent tried hard: both could easily have finished with four goals each had they nailed some easy shots. Cam Pedersen is much maligned but he worked tirelessly and capped his day off with an inspirational goal. Tom McDonald's game under fire against Jeremy Cameron shouldn't be underestimated. Jake Spencer toiled hard in the ruck and Mitch Clisby showed he will be a player. There are too many players out there under some form of handicap. Jack Trengove missed the pre-season and just isn't right. His co-captain Jack Grimes missed two months in midseason. Neither are in the best condition to carry the load of leadership let alone play good football. Colin Garland has had a terrific season but he appeared to still be inconvenienced by that ankle injury. He probably should have had another week's rest but the powers that be obviously don't have any faith in Troy Davis while James Sellar lingers on the club's mystery injury list and Tom Gillies (remember him?) was named to play for the Casey twos this weekend. Melbourne continues to give up the ball with poor turnovers caused by even poorer decision-making and I don't see much inspiration or game changing moves from the coaches box. Earlier in the season, Melbourne famously kicked 12 goals in a quarter against the same opposition. This time round, it managed the same number of goals in the entire game. Can one believe in the club's much vaunted fitness guru after that? In short, there is no reason to believe in anything from the current set up. The only glimmer of belief comes from the fact that 364 days earlier, the Giants' last victim was Port Adelaide in Round 19, 2012 and a year later, that club sits in the top eight with recent wins over Sydney and Collingwood under its belt. Port sacked its coach at the time. Melbourne's already done that this year so Neil Craig is safe for the next month to preside over more humiliation before the next rebuild starts under the next coach because he won't have the initials NC. Whoever Melbourne eventually appoints as coach will need to restore the balance, clean out the deadwood and ensure that he puts the lazy culture of almost an entire decade behind the club for once and for all. Melbourne4.3.27 5.9.39 9.12.66 12.15.87 GWS Giants 5.1.31 9.3.57 12.7.79 19.10.124 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Clisby Howe Pedersen Spencer Trengove GWS Giants Cameron Ward 4 Smith 3 Giles Whitfield Giles 2 Adams Bugg Shiel Tomlinson, Adams Best Melbourne N Jones Pedersen Viney Clisby M Jones Kent GWS Giants Ward Treloar Cameron Hampton Smith Whitfield Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stuart Wenn Ben Ryan Jordan Bannister Official Attendance 8,308 at Skoda Stadium.

There has been much criticism and even some derision since the appointment as coach of the Greater Western Sydney Giants of Kevin Sheedy. He's too old, past his use by date, a spruiker for the club, a pot-stirrer and an embarrassing joke. The critics may well be right but at least he has the respect of his players and they of him. Hence, they have a reason to believe and hence those youngsters managed to prevail in a scrappy sub standard game over the pathetic rabble that has become the Melbourne Football Club - a hotchpotch of individuals, directionless, rudderless and playing at the moment with no heart and no soul. They don't even pretend to attempt to apply any defensive pressure any more; foolishly they were "freed up" when Mark Neeld was given his marching orders; given licence to play their own games. The result is that the tail now wags the dog - even more completely and utterly than ever before and that includes the latter stages of the Bailey era when they turned up to play when they felt like it. That might well have been necessary after the ongoing negativity of the first half of the current season and the resultant damage to player confidence caused by Neeld's style of coaching but at the same time, we seem to have taken our eyes completely off the defensive side of our game. More and more often, the opposition effortlessly streams out of Melbourne's forward line without any pressure being imposed whatsoever and it's like that everywhere on the ground. People bemoan our lack of a midfield but really the team is poor everywhere in terms of putting pressure on the opposition. However, it didn't start this week with the playing group but at the selection table with some nonsensical decision-making that set the scene for the team's 37 point defeat at the hands of the hitherto winless Giants. Firstly, the response to a heartless 20 goal defeat was to make only one compulsory change. Poor old Sam Blease deserved the chop for his inept display at Etihad but didn't he have any mates? Obviously not because it was be kind to Aaron Davey week after his embarrassing effort last week and a few others should have gone as well. It was also a time to ignore those youngsters pushing hard for a game at Casey who might have relished having a crack at a young inexperienced opposition. Well, I suppose there is the Gold Coast Suns as Melbourne's around the world tour continues next week. And then there was the decision to load up with the 200cm plus contingent against a team known for its youthful gut running which gave Collingwood a run for its money in that department for the better part of three quarters last week. That really was a stroke of genius ready to backfire - and backfire, it did. Melbourne, at least started well, got the ball out of the middle and made repeat entries into the forward line to lead by 13 points at the 25 minute mark of the first quarter. It could have been more but for some poor kicking and decision-making when going forward but then, as easy as you like, the Giants slammed on three goals in three minutes, all of them set up by hard running out of defence finished by confidence- boosting snap shots and contrasted with Jack Fitzpatrick's miss from five metres out on the run to set the scene for the day. Less than two hours later, the Giants were celebrating in their rooms singing the Russian national anthem and the Demons were in despair. Under siege, the team died of shame. Words can't describe the appreciation necessary for the likes of Nathan Jones and Jack Viney for their desperation and hard-nosed attack on the ball while many of their teammates spent the afternoon sunning themselves on a pleasant mid winter day in Sydney. If there is any justice, Viney will be rewarded with a NAB Rising Star nomination. In any other team, his effort would have translated into a 30+ possession performance and universal adulation. Other youngsters Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Kent tried hard: both could easily have finished with four goals each had they nailed some easy shots. Cam Pedersen is much maligned but he worked tirelessly and capped his day off with an inspirational goal. Tom McDonald's game under fire against Jeremy Cameron shouldn't be underestimated. Jake Spencer toiled hard in the ruck and Mitch Clisby showed he will be a player. There are too many players out there under some form of handicap. Jack Trengove missed the pre-season and just isn't right. His co-captain Jack Grimes missed two months in midseason. Neither are in the best condition to carry the load of leadership let alone play good football. Colin Garland has had a terrific season but he appeared to still be inconvenienced by that ankle injury. He probably should have had another week's rest but the powers that be obviously don't have any faith in Troy Davis while James Sellar lingers on the club's mystery injury list and Tom Gillies (remember him?) was named to play for the Casey twos this weekend. Melbourne continues to give up the ball with poor turnovers caused by even poorer decision-making and I don't see much inspiration or game changing moves from the coaches box. Earlier in the season, Melbourne famously kicked 12 goals in a quarter against the same opposition. This time round, it managed the same number of goals in the entire game. Can one believe in the club's much vaunted fitness guru after that? In short, there is no reason to believe in anything from the current set up. The only glimmer of belief comes from the fact that 364 days earlier, the Giants' last victim was Port Adelaide in Round 19, 2012 and a year later, that club sits in the top eight with recent wins over Sydney and Collingwood under its belt. Port sacked its coach at the time. Melbourne's already done that this year so Neil Craig is safe for the next month to preside over more humiliation before the next rebuild starts under the next coach because he won't have the initials NC. Whoever Melbourne eventually appoints as coach will need to restore the balance, clean out the deadwood and ensure that he puts the lazy culture of almost an entire decade behind the club for once and for all. Melbourne4.3.27 5.9.39 9.12.66 12.15.87 GWS Giants 5.1.31 9.3.57 12.7.79 19.10.124 Goals Melbourne Fitzpatrick Kent Watts 2 Byrnes Clisby Howe Pedersen Spencer Trengove GWS Giants Cameron Ward 4 Smith 3 Giles Whitfield Giles 2 Adams Bugg Shiel Tomlinson, Adams Best Melbourne N Jones Pedersen Viney Clisby M Jones Kent GWS Giants Ward Treloar Cameron Hampton Smith Whitfield Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Stuart Wenn Ben Ryan Jordan Bannister Official Attendance 8,308 at Skoda Stadium.

Your votes please 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Well, time to start the game day thread seeing that there's 12 hours to go and the big news is that Paul Roos likes us. Why Melbourne can turn it around sooner than you think, writes Paul Roos This is his best team with a question mark next to some who he asks whether they would be consistent AFL performers ... and there are a few blanks. MELBOURNE B: Frawley Garland ... HB: Grimes McDonald ... C: Blease? Jones Watts HF:Sylvia Dawes Hogan F: Clark Howe ... R:Jamar? Trengove Viney I/C: Fitzpatrick? ... ... ... Only 10 of that list playing today. Is it enough to avoid the humiliation of a defeat at Skoda?

THE PEOPLE SPEAK - HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN by The Demonland Crew compiled by The Oracle The Demonland crew speak about the Demons' game at Skoda. Will It be a day of shame? belzebub59: The journey of the Melbourne Football Club has come to this, a game against the leagues bottom club to be played at a former baseball ground come animal arena sited deep in enemy territory of Sydney's West. Despite the less than inspiring locale the greatest concern is that this lowly team doesn't embarrass us. Yes, you read it right, that the leagues least successful team doesn't humiliate us. The shame , the shame. How the mighty have fallen ! Fallen ... but how far? Demonfan26: Both teams have been a bit up and down but on the whole we have been okay since Craig took over. I expect to see a Dees win by between 30-40 points. Hoping for big games from Toumpas, Viney, Trengove and Nathan Jones against younger opposition. why you little: If Jeremy Cameron gets going we are in for a bad day. How can you predict what the Melbourne Football Club will do as last Saturday was not football. I want Neil Craig to be at his absolute best this weekend. If we get flogged against GW$ that will be THE rock bottom. I want to see some fight. Supermercado: We held Cameron to eight kicks and one goal last time, but there's plenty of weapons in that team if they get their tail up AND open up enough of a gap to insulate them against their traditional last quarter fade out. Expecting to lose so I'll either be right or surprised. hardtack: I don't think that the biggest factor working against us will be Jeremy Cameron (he can be contained by Garland and/or McDonald), but I do think SKODA Stadium will be. This is a small "boutique" ground that I believe has flukey winds and is one that we have never played on before. The average crowd size has been around the 8,000 mark, so at least not too many will be there to witness our demise (should it happen), in person. While lack of local knowledge will work against us, by the same token, the size of the ground means that we have a better chance of moving the ball into our forward 50 more frequently, and this could play to our advantage if Dawes, Watts and Fitzpatrick are on song. Dees should get up by 11 points in what will be a close and hard fought encounter. THE GAME GWS Giants at Skoda Stadium Saturday 3 August 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins At Skoda Stadium GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Sheedy 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel (live @ 1.30pm) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win $1.85 Melbourne to win $1.97 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.12.144 defeated GWS Giants 15.13.103 in Round 4 at the MCG DemonWA: A 12 goal last quarter from the last time they met should fill the boys with some confidence. GWS are in better form, but I hope the boys really play with some pride and don't allow themselves to be GWS' only scalp for the year. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS Backs Phil Davis Joshua Bruce Curtly Hampton Half backs Nicholas Haynes Tim Mohr Zachary Williams Centreline Dylan Shiel Adam Treloar Lachie Whitfield Half forwards Jeremy Cameron Adam Tomlinson Mark Whiley Forwards Devon Smith Dean Brogan Tomas Bugg Followers Jonathan Giles Callan Ward Tom Scully Interchange Taylor Adams Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Adam Kennedy Emergencies Sam Darley Stephen Gilham Nathan Wilson In Stephen Coniglio Lachie Whitfield Out Sam Darley Will Hoskin-Elliott (concussion) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Colin Garland Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Dean Kent Max Gawn Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson In Colin Garland Jake Spencer Dean Terlich Out Sam Blease Chris Dawes (calf) James Frawley (hamstring) Rolling Stone: Melbourne has hardly fired a shot this year despite having the man who was reputed to be the world's greatest fitness guru, David Misson whose job description is "Elite Performance Manager". When he was at Sydney they went through the weeks leading up to the finals and then right through to the big one with virtually no injuries, having to make only one change to their line up in the last ten weeks before the grand final. With a settled side like that, they were odds on to win a flag and win one they did. When he was appointed to the Melbourne job I thought "happy days are here again" but the reality has been no change. We just keep getting important players injured. Like James Frawley on the eve of a game v GWS which has this flash young FF kicking lots of goals. Last week it was Colin Garland and Dean Terlich was one of the mystery injuries of the week. What next. Things were looking up for a while and we had only one or two changes every week after Neil Craig took over but this week, I think there will be changes aplenty. And there will have to be if we are to get up and win in the long, cold shadow of Phil Scully at Skoda Stadium. Don't know why but I'm tipping Melbourne to win by a point. Die Hard Demon: We haven't played a game at Skoda stadium yet. Our interstate record is truly awful. Our players will succumb to the perceived pressure of "surely we can't lose this game"syndrome. I think it will be a 3-4 goal victory to GWS. Webber: I think it's known to everyone, us as supporters, the media, and undoubtedly the players, that this is GWS' best chance for a win this year. They kicked us around for 3 quarters at our home earlier this year, and will use that as evidence and motivation. Make no mistake, this is the Giants biggest game for the year. Our team knows it, and how we respond will reveal just how damaged we really are. If we're all honest, our psychological form this year would suggest we will crumble like the crumbliest of things. So there you have it folks. Skoda Stadium, Jeremy Cameron, our fitness programme, injuries to key players. Are the bookies right in installing GWS as favourite to win for the first time in their brief history? We'll know in a couple of days. [Thanks to all contributors]

The Demonland crew speak about the Demons' game at Skoda. Will It be a day of shame? belzebub59: The journey of the Melbourne Football Club has come to this, a game against the leagues bottom club to be played at a former baseball ground come animal arena sited deep in enemy territory of Sydney's West. Despite the less than inspiring locale the greatest concern is that this lowly team doesn't embarrass us. Yes, you read it right, that the leagues least successful team doesn't humiliate us. The shame , the shame. How the mighty have fallen ! Fallen ... but how far? Demonfan26: Both teams have been a bit up and down but on the whole we have been okay since Craig took over. I expect to see a Dees win by between 30-40 points. Hoping for big games from Toumpas, Viney, Trengove and Nathan Jones against younger opposition. why you little: If Jeremy Cameron gets going we are in for a bad day. How can you predict what the Melbourne Football Club will do as last Saturday was not football. I want Neil Craig to be at his absolute best this weekend. If we get flogged against GW$ that will be THE rock bottom. I want to see some fight. Supermercado: We held Cameron to eight kicks and one goal last time, but there's plenty of weapons in that team if they get their tail up AND open up enough of a gap to insulate them against their traditional last quarter fade out. Expecting to lose so I'll either be right or surprised. hardtack: I don't think that the biggest factor working against us will be Jeremy Cameron (he can be contained by Garland and/or McDonald), but I do think SKODA Stadium will be. This is a small "boutique" ground that I believe has flukey winds and is one that we have never played on before. The average crowd size has been around the 8,000 mark, so at least not too many will be there to witness our demise (should it happen), in person. While lack of local knowledge will work against us, by the same token, the size of the ground means that we have a better chance of moving the ball into our forward 50 more frequently, and this could play to our advantage if Dawes, Watts and Fitzpatrick are on song. Dees should get up by 11 points in what will be a close and hard fought encounter. THE GAME GWS Giants at Skoda Stadium Saturday 3 August 2013 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins At Skoda Stadium GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Since 2000 GWS Giants 0 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Sheedy 0 wins Craig 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel (live @ 1.30pm) RADIO - SEN THE BETTING GWS Giants to win $1.85 Melbourne to win $1.97 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 22.12.144 defeated GWS Giants 15.13.103 in Round 4 at the MCG DemonWA: A 12 goal last quarter from the last time they met should fill the boys with some confidence. GWS are in better form, but I hope the boys really play with some pride and don't allow themselves to be GWS' only scalp for the year. THE TEAMS GWS GIANTS Backs Phil Davis Joshua Bruce Curtly Hampton Half backs Nicholas Haynes Tim Mohr Zachary Williams Centreline Dylan Shiel Adam Treloar Lachie Whitfield Half forwards Jeremy Cameron Adam Tomlinson Mark Whiley Forwards Devon Smith Dean Brogan Tomas Bugg Followers Jonathan Giles Callan Ward Tom Scully Interchange Taylor Adams Stephen Coniglio Toby Greene Adam Kennedy Emergencies Sam Darley Stephen Gilham Nathan Wilson In Stephen Coniglio Lachie Whitfield Out Sam Darley Will Hoskin-Elliott (concussion) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Cameron Pedersen Dean Terlich Half backs Colin Garland Tom McDonald Mitch Clisby Centreline Jack Viney Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Matt Jones Jack Watts Jeremy Howe Forwards Dean Kent Max Gawn Jack Fitzpatrick Followers Jake Spencer Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies Troy Davis Jordie McKenzie Daniel Nicholson In Colin Garland Jake Spencer Dean Terlich Out Sam Blease Chris Dawes (calf) James Frawley (hamstring) Rolling Stone: Melbourne has hardly fired a shot this year despite having the man who was reputed to be the world's greatest fitness guru, David Misson whose job description is "Elite Performance Manager". When he was at Sydney they went through the weeks leading up to the finals and then right through to the big one with virtually no injuries, having to make only one change to their line up in the last ten weeks before the grand final. With a settled side like that, they were odds on to win a flag and win one they did. When he was appointed to the Melbourne job I thought "happy days are here again" but the reality has been no change. We just keep getting important players injured. Like James Frawley on the eve of a game v GWS which has this flash young FF kicking lots of goals. Last week it was Colin Garland and Dean Terlich was one of the mystery injuries of the week. What next. Things were looking up for a while and we had only one or two changes every week after Neil Craig took over but this week, I think there will be changes aplenty. And there will have to be if we are to get up and win in the long, cold shadow of Phil Scully at Skoda Stadium. Don't know why but I'm tipping Melbourne to win by a point. Die Hard Demon: We haven't played a game at Skoda stadium yet. Our interstate record is truly awful. Our players will succumb to the perceived pressure of "surely we can't lose this game"syndrome. I think it will be a 3-4 goal victory to GWS. Webber: I think it's known to everyone, us as supporters, the media, and undoubtedly the players, that this is GWS' best chance for a win this year. They kicked us around for 3 quarters at our home earlier this year, and will use that as evidence and motivation. Make no mistake, this is the Giants biggest game for the year. Our team knows it, and how we respond will reveal just how damaged we really are. If we're all honest, our psychological form this year would suggest we will crumble like the crumbliest of things. So there you have it folks. Skoda Stadium, Jeremy Cameron, our fitness programme, injuries to key players. Are the bookies right in installing GWS as favourite to win for the first time in their brief history? We'll know in a couple of days. [Thanks to all contributors]

Tanking debate Do you believe GWS tanked in 2012? Vote <> Yes Vote <> No NEW GAME UNDER SCRUTINY IN GWS TANKING PROBE - EXCLUSIVE by Michael Whorener and Mark Robbersonofabich, August 19, 2017 A NEW suspect game has emerged as the AFL probes tanking claims against GWS. Tanking debate The Giants lost to Melbourne in Canberra in Round 21, 2012, after making numerous changes over a two week period following their second and last win (against Port Adelaide) of the club's inaugural season of AFL competition. They included a total of eight changes for the game against Gold Coast (already under the scrutiny of investigators) in which the Suns coasted to a five goal victory overturning their 27-point Round 7 loss from earlier in the year. A respected former AFL coach is believed to have told the enquiry that he was "reeling in shock" when he learned that more changes to the Giants' line up were pending the following week for the Demons game after three key players Jonathan Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Dylan Shiels had their seasons brought to an abrupt and mysterious end after they were sent to have surgery for various suddenly-incurred ailments. Captain Callan Ward who ultimately won the club championship that season as well as the number one pick from the previous year's draft Stephen Coniglio were among the eight changes from the previous week while gun midfielder Adam Treloar was omitted for the Demons' game raising the eyebrows of many astute football observers from the Western Sydney area. Insiders have revealed that a member of the club's staff (who is also a relative of one of the playing list) was so disturbed by the events of the time that he went on an eating binge putting on 10 kilograms in the five days leading up to the Melbourne game and it is rumoured that his flight to Canberra on the day before the match had to be turned back because it was carrying excess baggage. Sources close to the club are said to have claimed under conditions of anonymity that they were privy to a conversation with a cousin of a senior GWS official the night before the match which indicated steps had been taken to reduce the prospect of a win.The conversation at a Canberra hotel centred around concerns the GWS would win too many games in 2012, costing them the first pick at the national draft."We'll be right, we've made plenty of changes and Lachie is in the bag," he is alleged to have said, most likely referring to former GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield who was selected with the Giants' first pick in the 2012 National Draft. "Eight changes, we'll be right" Associates of the club have said they would consider submitting to formal interview as part of the AFL's tanking probe. Our investigation has revealed: ■ FORMER Melbourne captain James McDonald and a playing member of the first GWS squad in 2012 has been interviewed by the AFL and denies tanking took place. ■ ONE of GWS's club doctors from 2012 said "Blind Freddy could tell the team wasn't picked for optimal performance" late in the season. ■ TWO of the eight changes for the Gold Coast match were made after team selection. ■ AT one stage of the Manuka match players were rotated on and then off before having the opportunity to take up their positions on the ground. As a result, a record number of 256 rotations were made for the game, a figure which stands in stark contrast to the zero number of interchanges in Round 11 when GWS had the bye. ■ THE Giants would not comment yesterday when asked about the Canberra game or the tanking investigation. Asked about the Manuka match last night, an AFL spokesman said: "We are not providing a running commentary on the investigation or confirming who or how many people we have spoken to". The AFL inquiry, has involved interviews with a number of past and present Giants officials and players.The only person interviewed who was prepared to say anything was Blind Freddie whose only comment was, "I saw nothing!" Whitfield is one of the players believed to have been interviewed. Ironically, he left the Giants after two controversial seasons in Western Sydney to join the Tassie Mappers, a new franchise playing out of Hobart and Launceston, for what was believed to be a then record sum. Expert commentators have pointed to several suspicious aspects of the game including these tell-tale signs: • ISRAEL FOLAU - the GWS rugby league convert seemed lost on the field in the opening half and had less Dream Team points in the game's first fifty minutes than Jack Watts who was on the Demons' bench and still wearing his green sub's vest at the time. Folau had just three touches when he was finally subbed off after seeing Melbourne off to an unassailable lead. Critics claim that Folau was given a contract with the Giants for reasons not connected with his ability to play the game. It is understood that the club's founders originally settled on the colour orange so that Folau would resemble a witches hat around around which opposition teams could play. One commentator said on radio at the time of Folau, "He doesn't know how to compete. He doesn't know what to do out there. Right now, again, he is a statue watching the birds." Despite claims that using a player lacking any ability like Folau was tantamount to lying down, Sheedy was adamant about his player's value pointing out that his efforts kept pests like Seagulls away from the playing arena and this was good for the environment. Cynics point to the fact that once Folau was subbed off in the final term, the Giants outscored the Demons. • NO JACKET, NO WINDSOCK AND NO MARTIANS Despite the freezing conditions (snow fell the day before), Giants coach Kevin Sheedy failed to bring his club jacket to the ground - proof that he had no intention of waving it in his customary fashion when his team tastes a victory, pointing to the fact that the coach knew that it was not going to happen against the Demons. It was also noted that the Manuka Oval windsock had not been dismantled for the game and not a single UFO sighting was reported in the days leading up to the game. • TOM SCULLY'S 50M PENALTY - consummate professionals earning in excess of $1m a season do not give away 50m penalties in front of goal. Our informant advised that the former Demon had been unnerved during the game by the constant booing and jeering happening on the other side of the fence. He also revealed that the main offenders were members of the GWS's own cheer squad. Photo: Young GWS midfielder Tom Scully arrives for the infamous game at Manuka Oval against Melbourne on 18 August, 2012 For his part, Sheedy was adamant he would never coach a team to a wooden spoon and he fulfilled that promise a week and a half later when he resigned on the eve of the final round leaving his deputy Mark "Choko" Williams with that honour when they lost the last game of the year to North Melbourne by what was briefly a record AFL margin until they lost to the Demons on the MCG early in 2013. The investigation is continuing. * * * * * * * * * THE Round 21 Manuka Oval game is also also known for its inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the Melbourne Football Club's ten most ugly wins in the more than 150 years of its history. The windy conditions made things tough for the players and it was a scrap from start to finish. The Demons took control by the middle of the first quarter and by the first break, they held an 8 point lead which they stretched to 18 at half time before kicking away to a lead of 39 points at the final break and then scored the first goal of the final term before deciding to follow the lead of their hosts and play dead through to junk time when a few late Giants goals reduced the winning margin to a paltry 25 points in the slopfest. The critics had a field day as they skewered the winning team for taking their feet off the Giants' throats in the final stanza claiming that such conduct was "unacceptable" (conveniently forgetting having labelled their 8 goal final quarter against the Saints the week before as "irrelevant"). The tragic performance of the losers was forgotten altogether until the current tanking investigation began last month. Better players in this game for Melbourne were Lynden Dunn who rose like Phoenix from the ashes of his abandoned mustache, the two co-skippers Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove who were really beginning to grow into their leadership roles and jumping Jeremy Howe who added to his weekly highlights reel and booted three goals. It could have been many more had he managed to handle the blustery conditions in a game in which his team finished with 29 scoring shots to 14. Little could we imagine that the Demons were on their way to bigger and brighter things so soon after that dismal day in the nation's capital but that's another story for another time. Melbourne 3.4.22 6.10.46 9.13.67 11.18.84 GWS Giants 2.2.14 4.4.28 4.5.29 9.5.59 Goals Melbourne Howe 3 Rivers Sellar Trengove 2 Green Grimes GWS Giants Greene 2 Adams Davis Giles McDonald Phillips Power Smith Best Melbourne Dunn Howe Grimes Trengove Macdonald Sylvia GWS Giants Greene Giles Power Adams Phillips Cornes Injuries Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Changes Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Ryan Armstrong Harris Official crowd 7,561 at Manuka Oval The views in this article are not necessarily those of the authors, Demonland, the AFL or its clubs.