Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'Geelong v Melbourne'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • Demonland
    • Melbourne Demons
    • AFL National Women's League
    • Training Reports
    • Match Previews, Reports, Articles and Special Features
    • Fantasy Footy
    • Other Sports
    • General Discussion
    • Forum Help

Calendars

  • Demons Event Calendar

Product Groups

  • Converted Subscriptions
  • Merchandise

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


AIM


MSN


Website URL


ICQ


Yahoo


Jabber


Skype


Location


Interests


Favourite Player(s)

  1. A CATASTROPHIC WAY TO SAY "GOODBYE" by George on the Outer Demon supporters were expecting the team that Paul Roos has dragged from the depths of the AFL ladder over a three year period would produce something special in his final game as coach. Well they certainly did, by gifting him an 111 point losing margin ... greater than any loss in his AFL coaching career! What an absolute insult to a great icon of the game, a man who has instilled pride and hope again into the supporters, and has presented the incoming coach, Simon Goodwin with a talented group of youngsters that have the potential to play finals next year. Like the previous week against Carlton the midfield was completely blown away. Yes, there was one hell of a player in Dangerfield ripping the ball away from the centre time and time again, but the lack of physical pressure on him was telling. Jack Viney was tried for a while, but to little effect. Bernie Vince was then tried but had even less effect as he consistently trailed five metres behind him all over the ground. There were some positives in the middle as Angus Brayshaw and Christian Salem topped the disposals list with 26 and 27 respectively. Nathan Jones produced his usual 25 with 4 clearances but still struggled with his kicking, which has bedeviled him in the past couple of weeks. Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca and Salem also provided a much needed boost around the ground, something that Vince and Tyson simply didn’t do. Tyson despite 23 touches did not manage a solitary clearance. This on top of the meagre two from last week. Vince 14 touches only. Max Gawn continued his fine form for the year, but until the umpires start penalizing opposition players who hold and block him in the ruck contests, allowing a third man up, he simply cannot be truly effective. He also had three Geelong ruckmen jumping on him all day in Zac Smith, Stanley and Blicavs. He took them all on, and beat them, probably securing his AA nomination for 2016. The backline simply didn’t do anything wrong today. There were not the turnovers and silly mistakes that we have seen over the past year, but the sheer volume of ball coming from the middle was too much. Oscar and Tom McDonald tried hard to repel the invaders and did on numerous occasions, but when Hawkins has the ball drilled down his throat it was no surprise that he finished with six for the day. Jayden Hunt continued, right to the end, to provide dash and line-breaking moves that provide hope for the future. He led the team with rebound 50’s, but with little support from the mids, he often had few options up the field. Without much on offer, the forwards were starved, but didn’t cover themselves with glory, as the ball all too often rebounded straight out of the Geelong half back line without a Melbourne player touching it. Geelong have a simply defensive structure set up on the 40 metre mark. It is a line consisting of Taylor, Lonergan, Mackie and Enright. If you keep kicking the ball to that area, they will clean up. Our mids needed to kick over that wall We didn’t and so they had a day out. The result: Weidemann, Hogan, Garlett and Bugg all finished the day with less than 10 touches. This game was a disgrace to everything that Roos had instilled into the team since his arrival. Hard work, contested footy, and never say die was his trademark that he brought from Sydney. The Melbourne fans surely need the opportunity to say “thank you” to him at some time next year. This was not the right way for him to exit the game. Melbourne 2.0.12 3.2.20 3.6.24 6.8.44 Geelong 8.2.50 11.6.72 14.10.94 24.11.155 Goals Melbourne Garlett 2 Brayshaw Hogan vandenBerg Weideman Geelong Hawkins 6 Menzel 4 Bartel Menegola 3 Caddy Motlop 2 Duncan McCarthy Selwood Taylor Best Melbourne O McDonald T McDonald Brayshaw Petracca Hunt Salem Geelong Dangerfield Caddy Hawkins Guthrie Selwood Taylor Menzel Changes Melbourne Kent (corked thigh), replaced in selected side by Matt Jones Geelong Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong Kolodjashnij (calf) Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Margetts Nicholls Mollison Official crowd 24,413 at Simonds Stadium
  2. Demon supporters were expecting the team that Paul Roos has dragged from the depths of the AFL ladder over a three year period would produce something special in his final game as coach. Well they certainly did, by gifting him an 111 point losing margin ... greater than any loss in his AFL coaching career! What an absolute insult to a great icon of the game, a man who has instilled pride and hope again into the supporters, and has presented the incoming coach, Simon Goodwin with a talented group of youngsters that have the potential to play finals next year. Like the previous week against Carlton the midfield was completely blown away. Yes, there was one hell of a player in Dangerfield ripping the ball away from the centre time and time again, but the lack of physical pressure on him was telling. Jack Viney was tried for a while, but to little effect. Bernie Vince was then tried but had even less effect as he consistently trailed five metres behind him all over the ground. There were some positives in the middle as Angus Brayshaw and Christian Salem topped the disposals list with 26 and 27 respectively. Nathan Jones produced his usual 25 with 4 clearances but still struggled with his kicking, which has bedeviled him in the past couple of weeks. Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca and Salem also provided a much needed boost around the ground, something that Vince and Tyson simply didn’t do. Tyson despite 23 touches did not manage a solitary clearance. This on top of the meagre two from last week. Vince 14 touches only. Max Gawn continued his fine form for the year, but until the umpires start penalizing opposition players who hold and block him in the ruck contests, allowing a third man up, he simply cannot be truly effective. He also had three Geelong ruckmen jumping on him all day in Zac Smith, Stanley and Blicavs. He took them all on, and beat them, probably securing his AA nomination for 2016. The backline simply didn’t do anything wrong today. There were not the turnovers and silly mistakes that we have seen over the past year, but the sheer volume of ball coming from the middle was too much. Oscar and Tom McDonald tried hard to repel the invaders and did on numerous occasions, but when Hawkins has the ball drilled down his throat it was no surprise that he finished with six for the day. Jayden Hunt continued, right to the end, to provide dash and line-breaking moves that provide hope for the future. He led the team with rebound 50’s, but with little support from the mids, he often had few options up the field. Without much on offer, the forwards were starved, but didn’t cover themselves with glory, as the ball all too often rebounded straight out of the Geelong half back line without a Melbourne player touching it. Geelong have a simply defensive structure set up on the 40 metre mark. It is a line consisting of Taylor, Lonergan, Mackie and Enright. If you keep kicking the ball to that area, they will clean up. Our mids needed to kick over that wall We didn’t and so they had a day out. The result: Weidemann, Hogan, Garlett and Bugg all finished the day with less than 10 touches. This game was a disgrace to everything that Roos had instilled into the team since his arrival. Hard work, contested footy, and never say die was his trademark that he brought from Sydney. The Melbourne fans surely need the opportunity to say “thank you” to him at some time next year. This was not the right way for him to exit the game. Melbourne 2.0.12 3.2.20 3.6.24 6.8.44 Geelong 8.2.50 11.6.72 14.10.94 24.11.155 Goals Melbourne Garlett 2 Brayshaw Hogan vandenBerg Weideman Geelong Hawkins 6 Menzel 4 Bartel Menegola 3 Caddy Motlop 2 Duncan McCarthy Selwood Taylor Best Melbourne O McDonald T McDonald Brayshaw Petracca Hunt Salem Geelong Dangerfield Caddy Hawkins Guthrie Selwood Taylor Menzel Changes Melbourne Kent (corked thigh), replaced in selected side by Matt Jones Geelong Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong Kolodjashnij (calf) Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Margetts Nicholls Mollison Official crowd 24,413 at Simonds Stadium
  3. A bit of an anticlimax this week after the Demons' "19th nervous breakdown" in a must win game against the Blues. There will be no trip down the highway today for me (enough of those dreary rides back into civilization after a loss) but a nice surprise like last year will do me (and Roosy in his last game) fine. At this time of year, it's been usual to look forward to trading and drafting but the circumstances (limited trade bait, no high draft picks) mean that that's out of the question as well. Our Aussie cricketers? Say no more. Not even watching the EPL because it's not on Foxtel these days. Does anyone know when the darts season starts?
  4. THE PEOPLE SPEAK by the Demonland Crew We asked the fans on Demonland to help with the final match preview for the year. The quantity might not have been great but it's the quality that counts. Thanks folks and thanks to those who contributed to this section during the year. Demon Head "Whatever the result on Sunday, Demon fans will be left wondering whether their glass is half full or half empty after season 2016. On the one hand, they have seen the improvement and development from a young side growing in stature and reaching the double figure mark in wins for the first time in a decade. On the other hand, they will look upon the opportunities lost in terms of the four games against fellow bottom six teams from last year squandered - Essendon, St Kilda (twice) and Carlton. These were all winnable games where they team performed abysmally, which were marked by turnovers, poor decision making and woeful disposal. Turn those games around and you make the finals. Against Geelong at Geelong, a game that means a hell of a lot less to Melbourne than the Carlton (a team which had lost nine in a row) at the MCG of last week, I wonder which Demon team will come out?" dpositive "Melbourne Football Club has little to play for this year after succumbing to the Blues last week. However they have everything to play for, for next year. The progress of the team has been obvious and the high point with wins over Hawthorn and Port show that there is a nucleus of performance that can generated into something more meaningful. Will the young and emerging players benefit from another exposure at AFL level, for that is all it will be exposure. Victory will have little reward and loss will have further depletion of spirit. Or does the club concentrate its efforts on Casey and provide the club with a greater chance to enjoy the sweetness of success. A positive finish to what has been another frustrating year would provide some solace to the many weary Demon supporters who will continue to follow the club. Whoever takes the field against Geelong should know exactly what they are playing for, its not the present it is most assuredly the future. In some cases it will be their individual future but it is most certainly the future of this club which is poised on the brink of something. Supporters hope that something is success and will hope to see that manifested with a hard fought win or loss, a blow out after the disappointment of last week is just not acceptable. The club must select the team that will match up and play against a team that is assured of finals participation, they must match them and their clubmates must see them match them. They must see them apply every fibre of their being to match them and they must see them leave the field exhausted. The memory of other matches must be erased and a new standard set, one that will reignite that candle of hope that was snuffed out so easily last week, and burn into a fire of rage for next season. " krazyjay "A season of ups and downs again for the diehard Dees supporters, albeit with more ups than downs, could well be remembered as the one that got away. With everything to play for in the penultimate round the players just didn't give a yelp and looked like rabbits trapped in the headlines ... I mean headlights. A young group, lacking in the leadership that can only come from being winners, have tried hard all year and given their supporters moments of hope and belief with the odd WTF thrown in every couple of weeks. With a solid victory, against a Carlton side that most predicted would happen, this young side would have gone into the final round down at the Cattery oozing a confidence that had not been imagined some 23 weeks earlier. Although some may argue that a side that lost to Essendrug in 2016 is no side that deserves to be playing come September. After all is said and done this young side with potential dripping from every orifice will go into their last game of the year with an "I don't care" attitude (in a good way) that could shock the club right down to its foundations. Run, dash, carry and ferociousness will be plentiful. Followed by poor handballs and simple skill errors that give this match the potential of being one of two things.... An absolute ripper where a young up and coming side with nothing to lose come out and make a statement that tells the competition they better get ready for the next 10 years because you all 'bout to dance with the devil .... Or ... A bully beats down on a scrawny school kid who thinks just because he has new shoes that he is entitled to strut around the playground like he is the ducks nuts. Here's hoping for the former! Dees by 31" THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 84 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 18 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 1 MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm, Channel 7 delayed at 3.00pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.15 Melbourne to win $5.50 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 18.5.113 defeated Geelong 13.11.89 at Simonds Stadium in Round 12, 2015 In a shock result, Melbourne with Max Gawn dominating the ruck duels and marking everywhere on the ground, beat Geelong by four goals at the Cattery. Bernie Vince (38 disposals) and Nathan Jones (35) starred. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Mark Blicavs C: Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood HF: Jimmy Bartel, Rhys Stanley, Mitch Duncan F: Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Lincoln McCarthy FOLL: Zac Smith Patrick Dangerfield Sam Menegola I/C: Josh Caddy, Josh Cowan, Daniel Menzel, Tom Ruggles EMG: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Darcy Lang IN: Jimmy Bartel, Josh Caddy, Daniel Menzel OUT: Shane Kersten (omitted), Lachie Henderson (knee), Darcy Lang (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Tomas Bugg C: Billy Stretch, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson HF: Sam Weideman, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Dean Kent, James Harmes EMG: Jack Trengove, Cameron Pedersen, Matt Jones, Christian Salem IN: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Christian Salem, OUT: Viv Michie (omitted), Alex Neal-Bullen (omitted), Clayton Oliver (omitted)
  5. We haven't done one of these all year and I noticed that the last time we did, it was when the Demons beat the Cats in Geelong last year, so why not? Your challenge is to preview this week's game from your own perspective. Selected contributions will make the match preview this week (we reserve the right to edit). Let's have the previews of the people.
  6. We asked the fans on Demonland to help with the final match preview for the year. The quantity might not have been great but it's the quality that counts. Thanks folks and thanks to those who contributed to this section during the year. Demon Head "Whatever the result on Sunday, Demon fans will be left wondering whether their glass is half full or half empty after season 2016. On the one hand, they have seen the improvement and development from a young side growing in stature and reaching the double figure mark in wins for the first time in a decade. On the other hand, they will look upon the opportunities lost in terms of the four games against fellow bottom six teams from last year squandered - Essendon, St Kilda (twice) and Carlton. These were all winnable games where they team performed abysmally, which were marked by turnovers, poor decision making and woeful disposal. Turn those games around and you make the finals. Against Geelong at Geelong, a game that means a hell of a lot less to Melbourne than the Carlton (a team which had lost nine in a row) at the MCG of last week, I wonder which Demon team will come out?" dpositive "Melbourne Football Club has little to play for this year after succumbing to the Blues last week. However they have everything to play for, for next year. The progress of the team has been obvious and the high point with wins over Hawthorn and Port show that there is a nucleus of performance that can generated into something more meaningful. Will the young and emerging players benefit from another exposure at AFL level, for that is all it will be exposure. Victory will have little reward and loss will have further depletion of spirit. Or does the club concentrate its efforts on Casey and provide the club with a greater chance to enjoy the sweetness of success. A positive finish to what has been another frustrating year would provide some solace to the many weary Demon supporters who will continue to follow the club. Whoever takes the field against Geelong should know exactly what they are playing for, its not the present it is most assuredly the future. In some cases it will be their individual future but it is most certainly the future of this club which is poised on the brink of something. Supporters hope that something is success and will hope to see that manifested with a hard fought win or loss, a blow out after the disappointment of last week is just not acceptable. The club must select the team that will match up and play against a team that is assured of finals participation, they must match them and their clubmates must see them match them. They must see them apply every fibre of their being to match them and they must see them leave the field exhausted. The memory of other matches must be erased and a new standard set, one that will reignite that candle of hope that was snuffed out so easily last week, and burn into a fire of rage for next season. " krazyjay "A season of ups and downs again for the diehard Dees supporters, albeit with more ups than downs, could well be remembered as the one that got away. With everything to play for in the penultimate round the players just didn't give a yelp and looked like rabbits trapped in the headlines ... I mean headlights. A young group, lacking in the leadership that can only come from being winners, have tried hard all year and given their supporters moments of hope and belief with the odd WTF thrown in every couple of weeks. With a solid victory, against a Carlton side that most predicted would happen, this young side would have gone into the final round down at the Cattery oozing a confidence that had not been imagined some 23 weeks earlier. Although some may argue that a side that lost to Essendrug in 2016 is no side that deserves to be playing come September. After all is said and done this young side with potential dripping from every orifice will go into their last game of the year with an "I don't care" attitude (in a good way) that could shock the club right down to its foundations. Run, dash, carry and ferociousness will be plentiful. Followed by poor handballs and simple skill errors that give this match the potential of being one of two things.... An absolute ripper where a young up and coming side with nothing to lose come out and make a statement that tells the competition they better get ready for the next 10 years because you all 'bout to dance with the devil .... Or ... A bully beats down on a scrawny school kid who thinks just because he has new shoes that he is entitled to strut around the playground like he is the ducks nuts. Here's hoping for the former! Dees by 31" THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 84 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 18 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 4 wins Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 1 MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm, Channel 7 delayed at 3.00pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.15 Melbourne to win $5.50 LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 18.5.113 defeated Geelong 13.11.89 at Simonds Stadium in Round 12, 2015 In a shock result, Melbourne with Max Gawn dominating the ruck duels and marking everywhere on the ground, beat Geelong by four goals at the Cattery. Bernie Vince (38 disposals) and Nathan Jones (35) starred. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Mark Blicavs C: Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood HF: Jimmy Bartel, Rhys Stanley, Mitch Duncan F: Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Lincoln McCarthy FOLL: Zac Smith Patrick Dangerfield Sam Menegola I/C: Josh Caddy, Josh Cowan, Daniel Menzel, Tom Ruggles EMG: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Darcy Lang IN: Jimmy Bartel, Josh Caddy, Daniel Menzel OUT: Shane Kersten (omitted), Lachie Henderson (knee), Darcy Lang (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Tomas Bugg C: Billy Stretch, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson HF: Sam Weideman, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Dean Kent, James Harmes Christian Salem EMG: Matt Jones, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Trengove IN: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Christian Salem, OUT: Viv Michie (omitted), Alex Neal-Bullen (omitted), Clayton Oliver (omitted)
  7. YE OF LITTLE FAITH by The Oracle The Geelong fans who were streaming out of the ground in their droves would have been shocked at the sight of this when they arrived home and turned on their television sets:- A Geelong victory over Melbourne at the Cattery has become such a common sight that the producers of the news at Channel 9 had presumed the inevitable and decided that not only was Geelong already celebrating a win in Corey Enright's 300th game, but his entire home town of Kimba was celebrating his achievement and the victory with him. Melbourne fans have been making fun of the production failure at the Nine Network ever since although let's face it - most of us were fairly much convinced on the night before the game that it would be a blow out in favour of the Cats and possibly one of three figure proportions. Not only that, but after Max Gawn goaled to give the team a 20 point lead deep into the opening term, how many of us thought that lead would surely and inevitably dissipate very quickly? And it almost did with a late goal to the Cats and then the first major of the second quarter which made it only 6 points the difference. We fought back but as we reached the halfway mark of the term, how many of us remembered the same period in earlier games against Adelaide, GWS and Port Adelaide and sat waiting for what we thought was the inevitable - and then Hawkins kicked one in the shadows of half time to make it a 5 point game? Before the second half was two minutes old, Hawkins repeated the dose and the Demons' lead was gone but it was only temporary because Jake Spencer booted an unlikely reply followed by goals to Matt Jones and Jeff Garlett and it was suddenly back out to 16 points. So who among us was confident of a Demon win at that stage with ten minutes gone into the half? Sure enough, we sat back and watched in horror as Geelong scored three in a row to lay down yet another challenge as they snatched a two point lead and looked ready to run away with the game. When we rallied again it was Gawn setting up the ball for Jack Watts to pass to Garlett for his third and then young Alex Neal-Bullen got his third. The Cats came back but a Jeremy Howe mark and goal from a tight angle gave the Dees an 11 point lead at the final break. Who now had enough belief in their ability to play out that final term in the darkening cauldron of Simonds Stadium and to finish in front when it really mattered? I'll venture to say that it wasn't many with last week's dramatic final 42 seconds against St. Kilda at an equally hostile venue back in town still fresh in our minds. But the Demons continued their surge led by young and old with goals to Nathan Jones, Jeremy Howe, Billy Stretch and Bernie Vince to take the lead out to 32 points at the 17½ minute mark. The skipper and Vince had been magnificent all day racking up possessions thanks to the hard ruck work of emerging giant Gawn. Young Jack Viney was emerging as the conqueror of a different type of giant in football, snaring the scalp of Joel Selwood to go with that of Gary Ablett Junior in the opening round (and how much did we miss him when he broke his leg?). And we still had our doubts and the Cats still came with two goals to narrow the margin back to 19 points with a win still gettable and the final siren six minutes away. Then Garlett got his fourth and there was still doubt in the minds of the Demon fans even as the Cat fans streamed out. The Enright party was spoiled. They knew. Even then, the Demon leadership urged the players to defend stoutly and as the seconds ticked away our belief and our faith was restored for perhaps the first time in ten long years, leaving only a red-faced producer at the studios of Channel 9 unaware of the good news. Melbourne 5.2.32 7.3.45 13.4.82 18.5.113 Geelong 3.1.19 6.4.40 11.5.71 13.11.89 Goals Melbourne Garlett 4 Neal-Bullen 3 Howe M Jones Vince 2 Gawn N Jones Spencer Stretch Tyson Geelong Hawkins Johnson Kersten Lang Motlop 2 Guthrie Selwood Walker Best Melbourne Vince Brayshaw N Jones Gawn Dunn Viney Garlett Geelong Motlop Blicavs Guthrie Caddy Stokes Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong Murdoch (hamstring) Substitutions Melbourne Aidan Riley replaced Jimmy Toumpas at three quarter time Geelong Michael Luxford replaced Jordan Murdoch in the third quarter Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Chris Donlon Troy Pannell Andrew Stephens Official Crowd 28,007 at Simonds Stadium
  8. The Geelong fans who were streaming out of the ground in their droves would have been shocked at the sight of this when they arrived home and turned on their television sets:- A Geelong victory over Melbourne at the Cattery has become such a common sight that the producers of the news at Channel 9 had presumed the inevitable and decided that not only was Geelong already celebrating a win in Corey Enright's 300th game, but his entire home town of Kimba was celebrating his achievement and the victory with him.Melbourne fans have been making fun of the production failure at the Nine Network ever since although let's face it - most of us were fairly much convinced on the night before the game that it would be a blow out in favour of the Cats and possibly one of three figure proportions. Not only that, but after Max Gawn goaled to give the team a 20 point lead deep into the opening term, how many of us thought that lead would surely and inevitably dissipate very quickly? And it almost did with a late goal to the Cats and then the first major of the second quarter which made it only 6 points the difference. We fought back but as we reached the halfway mark of the term, how many of us remembered the same period in earlier games against Adelaide, GWS and Port Adelaide and sat waiting for what we thought was the inevitable - and then Hawkins kicked one in the shadows of half time to make it a 5 point game? Before the second half was two minutes old, Hawkins repeated the dose and the Demons' lead was gone but it was only temporary because Jake Spencer booted an unlikely reply followed by goals to Matt Jones and Jeff Garlett and it was suddenly back out to 16 points. So who among us was confident of a Demon win at that stage with ten minutes gone into the half? Sure enough, we sat back and watched in horror as Geelong scored three in a row to lay down yet another challenge as they snatched a two point lead and looked ready to run away with the game. When we rallied again it was Gawn setting up the ball for Jack Watts to pass to Garlett for his third and then young Alex Neal-Bullen got his third. The Cats came back but a Jeremy Howe mark and goal from a tight angle gave the Dees an 11 point lead at the final break. Who now had enough belief in their ability to play out that final term in the darkening cauldron of Simonds Stadium and to finish in front when it really mattered? I'll venture to say that it wasn't many with last week's dramatic final 42 seconds against St. Kilda at an equally hostile venue back in town still fresh in our minds. But the Demons continued their surge led by young and old with goals to Nathan Jones, Jeremy Howe, Billy Stretch and Bernie Vince to take the lead out to 32 points at the 17½ minute mark. The skipper and Vince had been magnificent all day racking up possessions thanks to the hard ruck work of emerging giant Gawn. Young Jack Viney was emerging as the conqueror of a different type of giant in football, snaring the scalp of Joel Selwood to go with that of Gary Ablett Junior in the opening round (and how much did we miss him when he broke his leg?). And we still had our doubts and the Cats still came with two goals to narrow the margin back to 19 points with a win still gettable and the final siren six minutes away. Then Garlett got his fourth and there was still doubt in the minds of the Demon fans even as the Cat fans streamed out. The Enright party was spoiled. They knew. Even then, the Demon leadership urged the players to defend stoutly and as the seconds ticked away our belief and our faith was restored for perhaps the first time in ten long years, leaving only a red-faced producer at the studios of Channel 9 unaware of the good news. Melbourne 5.2.32 7.3.45 13.4.82 18.5.113 Geelong 3.1.19 6.4.40 11.5.71 13.11.89 Goals Melbourne Garlett 4 Neal-Bullen 3 Howe M Jones Vince 2 Gawn N Jones Spencer Stretch Tyson Geelong Hawkins Johnson Kersten Lang Motlop 2 Guthrie Selwood Walker Best Melbourne Vince Brayshaw N Jones Gawn Dunn Viney Garlett Geelong Motlop Blicavs Guthrie Caddy Stokes Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong Murdoch (hamstring) Substitutions Melbourne Aidan Riley replaced Jimmy Toumpas at three quarter time Geelong Michael Luxford replaced Jordan Murdoch in the third quarter Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Chris Donlon Troy Pannell Andrew Stephens Official Crowd 28,007 at Simonds Stadium All of the goals
  9. THE PEOPLE SPEAK ... BUT DID THE CATS GET THEIR TONGUES? by Demonlanders The Melbourne Football club approached the match against Geelong with a team with a greater resolve after the disappointment of the last minute loss against St Kilda last week. Captain Nathan Jones said that this loss was 'more compelling than any of the past as it was after positive signs of improvement had been seen right through the club. "With the new players there is now a core of players who recognise that we are capable when playing our best football of matching any side". The committment was recognised not only by an increased intensity at training that saw four players sustain match day injuries after a vigorous session but also saw players sign continuing contracts. This novel approach to list management secured all players under 27 years of age sign for the next 5 years, while those over 27 approaching the last years of their contracts were provided with ongoing coaching and mentoring roles with the club up to the next 5 years. Payment would be performance based with a total pool divided amongst the squad based on a complex formula compensating for necessary list management decisions with success bonuses included. Contracts could of course be terminated due to exceptional circumstances but would be subject to group endorsement. "The money is not the significant issue though" said Jones on behalf of the players "we know we are well rewarded for doing a job which while it requires dedication and single minded focus is also what we all enjoy doing most. "We also recognise that the best reward is success and we are committed to winning a flag for our long suffering supporters within the five year time frame". The Sunday result saw a visible indicator that something had to happen and it is appropriate that the return to the scene of the notorious "186" comes so rapidly to the club. Paul Roos said that he was gutted with the loss " not for himself but the players and the club". Clearly we have improved and that was recognised after the performance against Collingwood, but we need to take our best football to the next level where we can perform under extreme pressure for the full 120 minutes or whatever". There was again a further recognition that there is a foundation of talent and skill levels for all features of the game that must be managed to the full by coaches and players. "We all have to be aware when to handball, when to shepherd, when to kick short or long, when to slow down and when to speed up play, but more importantly we need to do this as a team and not as individuals" said Jones saying these were the recurring comments coming from the players themselves. "For a brief moment we had team unity after Howies goal only to lose focus and the match " he said. All players agreed that they do not want this to happen again and will not only practice at increased tempo but will ensure they leave the field utterly physically exhausted, "expect to see this after every training session and every game from now on" The club hopes that Geelong brings the same level of intensity to this weeks game as they displayed against Port last Friday. The players were extremely vocal at training and aware that they have the support, the skill and now the desire to put their body over the ball, and keeping their emphasis on making and creating space by sacrificial acts to ensure their elite play will be rewarded. Analysis of the game showed that many basic errors were because their was a lack of awareness of their teammates so expect a louder more cohesive group of players this week. The team will be selected from those who survive the rigorous training scheduled for this week. There are some sore bodies now but they contain healthy minds committed to improve. Fans can be assured that win lose or draw, this weeks match at Simonds, will constitute a "line in the sand" moment that other successful clubs have displayed. Any less and the mighty Melbourne Football Club may as well look at dissolving and the contracts will be worthless. - dpositive Has the time come when the Demons can finally lay to rest the ghost of 186? It was at this very ground almost four years ago that a Melbourne team produced the most lifeless, insipid performance ever seen on the AFL/VFL stage. Whatever the reasons behind the display, it was not what the supporters of any football club deserve to witness. A large number of those who wore the club jumper that day have moved on and in many cases (but not all) rightfully so. There are many new players at the club and some small steps are being made in the right direction but the club continues to produce disappointing results. Like the insipid loss by over 100 points against Hawthorn a month ago or last week's brain fade after it snatched the lead in the final minute at Etihad only to give it all away 20 seconds later. Until the club can produce wins at a venue like Simonds Stadium against teams like Geelong in games like the one it faces this weekend, the ghosts will never be laid to rest. - Elwood 3184 THE GAME Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Sunday 21 June 2015 at 3.20pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 0 MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.16 Melbourne to win $5.25 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 14.18.102 defeated Melbourne 5.6.36 at the MCG in Round 17, 2014 As the scores indicate, the game was very much like most of the last 12 meetings (apart from one which was a draw). A complete flogging. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: Jared Rivers, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright HB: Cameron Guthrie, Tom Lonergan, Jake Kolodjashnij C: Andrew Mackie, Joel Selwood, Steven Motlop HF: Cory Gregson, Josh Walker, Steve Johnson F: Jordan Murdoch, Tom Hawkins, Darcy Lang FOLL: Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy, Mathew Stokes I/C: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Michael Luxford, Jackson Thurlow EMG: Sam Blease, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrad Jansen IN: Jake Kolodjashnij, Michael Luxford OUT: James Kelly (ankle), Rhys Stanley (foot) MELBOURNE B: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba C: Jimmy Toumpas, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Billy Stretch F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Angus Brayshaw FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince I/C: Rohan Bail, Matt Jones, Alex Neal-Bullen, Aidan Riley EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Viv Michie, Dean Terlich IN: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones, Jake Spencer OUT: Jack Grimes (hand), Jesse Hogan (hamstring soreness), Viv Michie (omitted), Cameron Pedersen (wrist) "It will be carnage. " - bingers For a less insightful match preview see this Whispering Jack - I'm not as optimistic as bingers. I don't think it will be carnage but I reckon we will win comfortably in the end after a good fight from the Cats. Melbourne by 4 to 5 goals.
  10. THE PEOPLE SPEAK ... BUT DID THE CATS GET THEIR TONGUES? by Demonlanders The Melbourne Football club approached the match against Geelong with a team with a greater resolve after the disappointment of the last minute loss against St Kilda last week. Captain Nathan Jones said that this loss was 'more compelling than any of the past as it was after positive signs of improvement had been seen right through the club. "With the new players there is now a core of players who recognise that we are capable when playing our best football of matching any side". The committment was recognised not only by an increased intensity at training that saw four players sustain match day injuries after a vigorous session but also saw players sign continuing contracts. This novel approach to list management secured all players under 27 years of age sign for the next 5 years, while those over 27 approaching the last years of their contracts were provided with ongoing coaching and mentoring roles with the club up to the next 5 years. Payment would be performance based with a total pool divided amongst the squad based on a complex formula compensating for necessary list management decisions with success bonuses included. Contracts could of course be terminated due to exceptional circumstances but would be subject to group endorsement. "The money is not the significant issue though" said Jones on behalf of the players "we know we are well rewarded for doing a job which while it requires dedication and single minded focus is also what we all enjoy doing most. "We also recognise that the best reward is success and we are committed to winning a flag for our long suffering supporters within the five year time frame". The Sunday result saw a visible indicator that something had to happen and it is appropriate that the return to the scene of the notorious "186" comes so rapidly to the club. Paul Roos said that he was gutted with the loss " not for himself but the players and the club". Clearly we have improved and that was recognised after the performance against Collingwood, but we need to take our best football to the next level where we can perform under extreme pressure for the full 120 minutes or whatever". There was again a further recognition that there is a foundation of talent and skill levels for all features of the game that must be managed to the full by coaches and players. "We all have to be aware when to handball, when to shepherd, when to kick short or long, when to slow down and when to speed up play, but more importantly we need to do this as a team and not as individuals" said Jones saying these were the recurring comments coming from the players themselves. "For a brief moment we had team unity after Howies goal only to lose focus and the match " he said. All players agreed that they do not want this to happen again and will not only practice at increased tempo but will ensure they leave the field utterly physically exhausted, "expect to see this after every training session and every game from now on" The club hopes that Geelong brings the same level of intensity to this weeks game as they displayed against Port last Friday. The players were extremely vocal at training and aware that they have the support, the skill and now the desire to put their body over the ball, and keeping their emphasis on making and creating space by sacrificial acts to ensure their elite play will be rewarded. Analysis of the game showed that many basic errors were because their was a lack of awareness of their teammates so expect a louder more cohesive group of players this week. The team will be selected from those who survive the rigorous training scheduled for this week. There are some sore bodies now but they contain healthy minds committed to improve. Fans can be assured that win lose or draw, this weeks match at Simonds, will constitute a "line in the sand" moment that other successful clubs have displayed. Any less and the mighty Melbourne Football Club may as well look at dissolving and the contracts will be worthless. - dpositive Has the time come when the Demons can finally lay to rest the ghost of 186? It was at this very ground almost four years ago that a Melbourne team produced the most lifeless, insipid performance ever seen on the AFL/VFL stage. Whatever the reasons behind the display, it was not what the supporters of any football club deserve to witness. A large number of those who wore the club jumper that day have moved on and in many cases (but not all) rightfully so. There are many new players at the club and some small steps are being made in the right direction but the club continues to produce disappointing results. Like the insipid loss by over 100 points against Hawthorn a month ago or last week's brain fade after it snatched the lead in the final minute at Etihad only to give it all away 20 seconds later. Until the club can produce wins at a venue like Simonds Stadium against teams like Geelong in games like the one it faces this weekend, the ghosts will never be laid to rest. - Elwood 3184 THE GAME Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Sunday 21 June 2015 at 3.20pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 126 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 37 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins The Coaches Scott 1 Roos 0 MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.16 Melbourne to win $5.25 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 14.18.102 defeated Melbourne 5.6.36 at the MCG in Round 17, 2014 As the scores indicate, the game was very much like most of the last 12 meetings (apart from one which was a draw). A complete flogging. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: Jared Rivers, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright HB: Cameron Guthrie, Tom Lonergan, Jake Kolodjashnij C: Andrew Mackie, Joel Selwood, Steven Motlop HF: Cory Gregson, Josh Walker, Steve Johnson F: Jordan Murdoch, Tom Hawkins, Darcy Lang FOLL: Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy, Mathew Stokes I/C: Jed Bews, Shane Kersten, Michael Luxford, Jackson Thurlow EMG: Sam Blease, Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrad Jansen IN: Jake Kolodjashnij, Michael Luxford OUT: James Kelly (ankle), Rhys Stanley (foot) MELBOURNE B: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba C: Jimmy Toumpas, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Billy Stretch F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Angus Brayshaw FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince I/C: Rohan Bail, Matt Jones, Alex Neal-Bullen, Aidan Riley EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Viv Michie, Dean Terlich IN: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones, Jake Spencer OUT: Jack Grimes (hand), Jesse Hogan (hamstring soreness), Viv Michie (omitted), Cameron Pedersen (wrist) "It will be carnage. " - bingers For a less insightful match preview see this Whispering Jack - I'm not as optimistic as bingers. I don't think it will be carnage but I reckon we will win comfortably in the end after a good fight from the Cats. Melbourne by 4 to 5 goals.
  11. How many of these players will be travelling down the highway this weekend? THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Colin Garland HB: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta C: Jack Grimes, Bernie Vince, Jordie McKenzie HF: Matt Jones, Cam Pedersen, Jack Watts F: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Jack Viney FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones I/C: Dean Kent, Aidan Riley, Luke Tapscott, Dean Terlich EMG: Sam Blease, Max Gawn, Christian Salem IN: Neville Jetta, Aidan Riley, Luke Tapscott OUT: Dom Barry, Max Gawn, Christian Salem GEELONG B: Corey Enright, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie HB: Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Jared Rivers C: Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Travis Varcoe HF: Allen Christensen, Shane Kersten, Jordan Murdoch F: Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Steve Johnson FOLL: Hamish McIntosh, James Kelly, Josh Caddy I/C: Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan, Brad Hartman,George Horlin-Smith EMG: Jed Bews, Dawson Simpson, Billie Smedts IN: James Kelly OUT: Jed Bews (omitted)
  12. Well it certainly rained Cats and Dogs at Simonds Stadium or whatever the latest name for Kardinia Park is, but it was the Demons who played like Dogs, while the Cats showed why they are serious premiership contenders, regardless of the weather. Lowest number of inside 50s since records were kept, was only more annoying than Eddie reminding us of this every 10 seconds. All we could really learn from this was that no matter what sort of forward line we might have next year a la Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Watts, Howe ... if you cant get the ball inside to them it all means nothing. Our mids were smashed again, and highlighted the courageous efforts put in by the Jones twins yet again, and the complete lack of input by the others like Col Sylvia and Dan Nicholson. Nicholson supposedly tagging Steve Johnson who had 38 touches on a field of slop, ensures that Jordie McKenzie wont have any trouble fitting straight back into the side. Sylvia in his 150th game played exactly like he did in the previous 149 ... 5 minutes of work and plenty of standing around doing nothing, a sharp contrast with the work rates of the Geelong mids all day. Max Gawn showed he has plenty of upside and fought all day long. With a pre-season under his belt, he will be our first ruck come round 1 next year. Pity he just doesnt have the support around him to take advantage of his height and efforts. And once again credit goes to the backs in Col Garland, James Frawley and Tom McDonald under intese pressure with continuous ball coming their way. It wasnt their opponents kicking goals, but the 10 goals+ that came directly from upfield turnovers. Just think about how different the game would have been if Geelong had 10 less goals! Once we get rid of the spuds who keep doing this week after week, we could have a competitive side. Good to see Jimmy Toumpas is getting accustomed to the pace of the game. While he has always had the skills, he was getting caught by the speed and intensity of AFL level football. Today it clicked for him, even in the wet conditions. Twenty + disposals and exhibiting the apparent time that all good players have, mean we have a genuine positive for next season. He will only get better, and more confident. If he only had some targets to give the ball to, he would have been far more damaging. Overall, the team has stabilized since the takeover by Neil Craig. Earlier this year the scoreline would have seen a 100+ point blow-out, and while 10 goal losses are nothing to be pleased about, this was a top two side we were playing on their own dung heap. The message now to the recruitment staff for year end is mids, mids and more mids. Not that they probably dont know that, but just pick a bucketload of them, and maybe just maybe we will get a couple of good ones. Otherwise we will continue to play like Dogs ... when we need to play like Cats! Melbourne 1.2.8 2.4.16 3.5.23 4.6.30 Geelong 4.5.29 7.10.52 11.12.78 13.20.98 Goals Melbourne Byrnes 2 Dawes Howe Geelong Caddy Hawkins Horlin-Smith Podsiadly 2 Duncan Johnson Motlop Smedts Stringer Best Melbourne Byrnes M Jones N Jones Garland Gawn Geelong Johnson Selwood Kelly Caddy Podsiadly Simpson Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Mathew Stokes (groin) replaced in the selected side by George Horlin-Smith Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Ryan Hosking Wenn Crowd 23,172 at Simonds Stadium
  13. I'm kicking off GAMEDAY with what, in hindsight, has turned out to be a rather bizarre coincidence in the history of Geelong v Melbourne meetings. This was my opening post to the GAMEDAY thread from last year's encounter between the clubs:- Byrnes and Gillies were the emergencies who came into the Cats' senior side to replace Selwood and Lonergan. Both are now with the MFC.Welcome to the twilight zone.
  14. DAMAGE CONTROL by the Oracle There's no greater challenge in football these days than to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium at a time when they are on a roll having beaten fellow top four contenders in Hawthorn and Fremantle in the past fortnight.. At first sight, the clash between the second placed Cats and the second last Demons would in those circumstances be a game of little interest to most in the football world. Come to think of it, the same could be said of the game on second and third sight as well. In fact, one would probably be certified as a contender for the funny farm if one suggested that Melbourne could even trouble a rampant Geelong on its home turf at a stadium where the ground arrangements are such that only a handful of visiting supporters are able to attend and, even then, they must do so in complete anonymity. This is a pity because while the local faithful will be paying homage to their hero Joel Selwood on his 150 AFL game milestone, many Melbourne fans will miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the chalking up of the identical number of games by two of their own favourites in Nathan Jones and Colin Sylvia. Jeremy Howe will also play his 50th AFL game. Unfortunately, the trio hasn't tasted much success at all after making the long trip down the highway to this venue (perhaps Sylvia might have done so when he was a mere pup but that's it) and it won't happen on Saturday afternoon. After all, Geelong has won 38 of its last 39 encounters at Simonds giving this veritable fortress the status of the most secure home ground in the country. And not a single Melbourne reader needs to be reminded that one of those 38 Geelong victories heralded two years of misery for their football club. With the Demons coming out of the fog under a new coach, a young team and with some new found determination evident in recent weeks it would be nice to say that they could take the game up to the Cats, even in the way they fought it out against the Swans last weekend. Unfortunately for Melbourne, the home team learned its lesson about complacency at the Gabba a few weeks ago and is unlikely to give an opponent an even break any time soon. In fact, it looks like a case of damage control with the bookies quoting $17.00 for the Dees to win. In that case, I think they will do well to keep the damage to under 50 points. Geelong by 49 points. THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 13 July 2013 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 124 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 36 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Geelong 14 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw The Coaches Scott 0 Craig 0 MEDIA TV Fox Sports 3 live at 2.00pm RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.01 Melbourne to win $17.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 17.17.119 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76 at Simonds Stadium in Round 6, 2012 It was a dark and dreary day and the memory of the meeting between these teams ten months earlier hung over the teams which produced a dour spectacle. Geelong managed to shrug off the persistent Demons thanks to the dominance of Stevie J, Chappie & the JPod. The Cats won by 7 goals but for Melbourne, at least it was a 143-point improvement. THE TEAMS GEELONG Backs Cameron Guthrie Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Travis Varcoe Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline Taylor Hunt Joel Selwood Mitch Duncan Half forwards Mathew Stokes James Podsiadly Billie Smedts Forwards Josh Caddy Tom Hawkins Steven Motlop Followers Dawson Simpson James Kelly Jimmy Bartel Interchange Mark Blicavs Steve Johnson Jordan Murdoch Jesse Stringer In Steve Johnson Travis Varcoe Billie Smedts Out Allen Christensen (hamstring) Joel Corey (concussion) Corey Enright (foot) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Sam Blease Jack Watts Matt Jones Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Chris Dawes Jeremy Howe Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies Jordie McKenzie Cameron Pedersen David Rodan In Sam Blease Out David Rodan THE YEAR SO FAR by Sam the Stats Man It seems that things are looking up for the Demons although the results have yet to translate much on the scoreboard. Still, one win in the past three games is better than what we were getting earlier this year. Here, is my look at the players statistically over the first fifteen rounds of 2013:- BAIL, Rohan MFC 8 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 3 goals - after slowly overcoming issues with concussion, lost form and injured his knee after going down to Casey. BARRY, Dominic CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 3 games, 4 goals - well-spoken young man developing with the Scorpions. BLEASE, Sam MFC 6 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 6 games, 3 goals - struggled so far with form and injury. BYRNES, Shannon MFC 11 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - mixed performances from the former Cat. CLARK, Mitch MFC 4 games, 7 goals - injured after Round 4. CLISBY, Mitch* MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games 0 goals - has impressed in his three outings since being elevated from the rookie list. COUCH, Tom * CSFC Seniors 9 games, 6 goals - starring at Casey but unable to get upgraded off the rookie list at the moment. DAVEY, Aaron MFC 12 games, 13 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - has had a better year than expected but still a way off his best. DAVIS, Troy CSFC Seniors 9 games, 1 goal - on the cusp of getting a senior run. Has been moved forward at Casey, perhaps to test his versatility. DAWES, Chris MFC 8 games, 9 goals, CSFC Seniors 2 games, 5 goals - starting to make an impact at the club after a preseason interrupted by injury. DUNN, Lynden MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - the regular team pest seems to have established a role down back. EVANS, Michael MFC 9 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - was looking really good but a foot injury has put him out for a month. FITZPATRICK, Jack MFC 5 games, 6 goals, 5 games, 16 goals - has broken into the AFL side and grabbed his chance. Developing cult hero status as a marking forward come relief ruckman. FRAWLEY, James MFC 12 games, 0 goals - having a solid year as a key defender but there are some issues with his hammy. GARLAND, Colin MFC 14 game, 1 goal - cream rising to the top as a valuable defender in a unit that's often under intense pressure. GAWN, Max MFC 8 games, 7 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 7 goals - really coming on well and promising to live up to his potential as a quality ruckman now that his injury woes appear to be behind him. GILLIES, Tom MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 0 goals - after a couple of lacklustre performances early on, he has settled down in the VFL but has competition in the key defensive posts. GRIMES, Jack MFC 7 games, 1 goal - the skipper has missed a number of games with a broken collar bone and has only just returned. HOGAN, Jesse ** CSFC Seniors 10 games, 30 goals - impressing with everything he does at Casey. HOWE, Jeremy MFC 14 games, 22 goals - the team's top goal kicker is still a spectacular mark but also needs to impose himself more on every game. JAMAR, Mark MFC 9 games, 2 goals - dominates the ruck but his output around the ground has been below average. Out of action with a foot injury. JETTA, Neville MFC 4 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 5 goals - seems to be struggling to rise above VFL level at this stage. JONES, Matthew MFC 14 games, 2 goals - an inspired mature age draft selection who would be getting greater accolades for his debut if he was at a more successful club. JONES, Nathan MFC 14 games, 6 goals - still the team's outstanding performer who is the first to face a tag each week. KENT, Dean MFC 7 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 4 goals - taking small steps in the big fishbowl but showing more promise with every passing game. MACDONALD, Joel MFC 1 game, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - a toe injury has curtailed his season to date but is now ready to go. McDONALD, Tom MFC 9 games, 0 goals - started the season slowly but has blossomed in recent weeks after coming back from injury. MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 0 goals - dogged by injury in recent times and also continues to have issues with his disposal. MAGNER, James MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 9 games, 4 goals - had two games as an uplifted rookie but seems to have fallen out of favour. NICHOLSON, Daniel MFC 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - getting a run at AFL and showing some improvement. PEDERSEN, Cameron MFC 7 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 1 goal - still struggles to hold a spot with the Demons but starring at Casey. RODAN, David MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 5 goals - a few plucky games from the little terrier. SELLAR, James MFC 6 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 4 game, 0 goals - struggling to hold down a place at AFL level. SPENCER, Jake MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 4 goals - was starting to show some form after breaking back into the side but now finds himself under a three-week suspension. STARK, Nathan * CSFC DL 5 games, 1 goal - had a late start to the season due to injury, played a few games in the develop league and injured again. STRAUSS, James MFC 4 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals disappointing in his fifth year at the club. SYLVIA, Colin MFC 11 games, 6 goals - a reasonable season interrupted by a three week break through suspension. TAGGERT, Rory CSFC Seniors 9 games, 11 goals, CSFC DL 1 game, 1 goal - a couple of good games at Casey could see him get an opportunity at the top level before the year is out. TAPSCOTT, Luke MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 game, 9 goals - dropped in form as of late and is back with the Casey Scorpions. TERLICH, Dean MFC 13 games, 0 goals - a revelation who keeps improving week by week in defence. TOUMPAS, Jimmy MFC 8 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 1 goal - slowly coming to grips with AFL football. Has shown glimpses of the sublime skills that made him an early draft pick. TRENGOVE, Jack MFC 12 games, 8 goals - interrupted preseason and poor early but is gradually returning to the standards of his first two seasons. TYNAN, Josh CSFC Seniors 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 2 games, 0 goals - slow start but making up lost ground quickly with the Scorpions. VINEY, Jack MFC 6 games, 1 goal - showed some promise before injuring his toe and missing several weeks. WATTS, Jack MFC 10 games, 12 goals - coming good after a dirty start. WESTRUPP, Maia ** CSFC DL 5 games, 0 goals - New Zealander learning the trade with the Casey development league team. * rookie listed ** special category
  15. There's no greater challenge in football these days than to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium at a time when they are on a roll having beaten fellow top four contenders in Hawthorn and Fremantle in the past fortnight.. At first sight, the clash between the second placed Cats and the second last Demons would in those circumstances be a game of little interest to most in the football world. Come to think of it, the same could be said of the game on second and third sight as well. In fact, one would probably be certified as a contender for the funny farm if one suggested that Melbourne could even trouble a rampant Geelong on its home turf at a stadium where the ground arrangements are such that only a handful of visiting supporters are able to attend and, even then, they must do so in complete anonymity. This is a pity because while the local faithful will be paying homage to their hero Joel Selwood on his 150 AFL game milestone, many Melbourne fans will miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the chalking up of the identical number of games by two of their own favourites in Nathan Jones and Colin Sylvia. Jeremy Howe will also play his 50th AFL game. Unfortunately, the trio hasn't tasted much success at all after making the long trip down the highway to this venue (perhaps Sylvia might have done so when he was a mere pup but that's it) and it won't happen on Saturday afternoon. After all, Geelong has won 38 of its last 39 encounters at Simonds giving this veritable fortress the status of the most secure home ground in the country. And not a single Melbourne reader needs to be reminded that one of those 38 Geelong victories heralded two years of misery for their football club. With the Demons coming out of the fog under a new coach, a young team and with some new found determination evident in recent weeks it would be nice to say that they could take the game up to the Cats, even in the way they fought it out against the Swans last weekend. Unfortunately for Melbourne, the home team learned its lesson about complacency at the Gabba a few weeks ago and is unlikely to give an opponent an even break any time soon. In fact, it looks like a case of damage control with the bookies quoting $17.00 for the Dees to win. In that case, I think they will do well to keep the damage to under 50 points. Geelong by 49 points. THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday 13 July 2013 at 2.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 124 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Simonds Stadium Geelong 36 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Geelong 14 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw The Coaches Scott 0 Craig 0 MEDIA TV Fox Sports 3 live at 2.00pm RADIO Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.01 Melbourne to win $17.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong 17.17.119 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76 at Simonds Stadium in Round 6, 2012 It was a dark and dreary day and the memory of the meeting between these teams ten months earlier hung over the teams which produced a dour spectacle. Geelong managed to shrug off the persistent Demons thanks to the dominance of Stevie J, Chappie & the JPod. The Cats won by 7 goals but for Melbourne, at least it was a 143-point improvement. THE TEAMS GEELONG Backs Cameron Guthrie Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Travis Varcoe Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline Taylor Hunt Joel Selwood Mitch Duncan Half forwards Mathew Stokes James Podsiadly Billie Smedts Forwards Josh Caddy Tom Hawkins Steven Motlop Followers Dawson Simpson James Kelly Jimmy Bartel Interchange Mark Blicavs Steve Johnson Jordan Murdoch Jesse Stringer In Steve Johnson Travis Varcoe Billie Smedts Out Allen Christensen (hamstring) Joel Corey (concussion) Corey Enright (foot) MELBOURNE Backs Lynden Dunn Colin Garland Dean Terlich Half backs Tom McDonald James Frawley Mitchell Clisby Centreline Jimmy Toumpas Jack Trengove Jack Grimes Half forwards Sam Blease Jack Watts Matt Jones Forwards Jack Fitzpatrick Chris Dawes Jeremy Howe Followers Max Gawn Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Shannon Byrnes Aaron Davey Dean Kent Daniel Nicholson Emergencies Jordie McKenzie Cameron Pedersen David Rodan In Sam Blease Out David Rodan THE YEAR SO FAR by Sam the Stats Man It seems that things are looking up for the Demons although the results have yet to translate much on the scoreboard. Still, one win in the past three games is better than what we were getting earlier this year. Here, is my look at the players statistically over the first fifteen rounds of 2013:- BAIL, Rohan MFC 8 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 3 goals - after slowly overcoming issues with concussion, lost form and injured his knee after going down to Casey. BARRY, Dominic CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 3 games, 4 goals - well-spoken young man developing with the Scorpions. BLEASE, Sam MFC 6 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 6 games, 3 goals - struggled so far with form and injury. BYRNES, Shannon MFC 11 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - mixed performances from the former Cat. CLARK, Mitch MFC 4 games, 7 goals - injured after Round 4. CLISBY, Mitch* MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games 0 goals - has impressed in his three outings since being elevated from the rookie list. COUCH, Tom * CSFC Seniors 9 games, 6 goals - starring at Casey but unable to get upgraded off the rookie list at the moment. DAVEY, Aaron MFC 12 games, 13 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - has had a better year than expected but still a way off his best. DAVIS, Troy CSFC Seniors 9 games, 1 goal - on the cusp of getting a senior run. Has been moved forward at Casey, perhaps to test his versatility. DAWES, Chris MFC 8 games, 9 goals, CSFC Seniors 2 games, 5 goals - starting to make an impact at the club after a preseason interrupted by injury. DUNN, Lynden MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 2 goals - the regular team pest seems to have established a role down back. EVANS, Michael MFC 9 games, 6 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 1 goal - was looking really good but a foot injury has put him out for a month. FITZPATRICK, Jack MFC 5 games, 6 goals, 5 games, 16 goals - has broken into the AFL side and grabbed his chance. Developing cult hero status as a marking forward come relief ruckman. FRAWLEY, James MFC 12 games, 0 goals - having a solid year as a key defender but there are some issues with his hammy. GARLAND, Colin MFC 14 game, 1 goal - cream rising to the top as a valuable defender in a unit that's often under intense pressure. GAWN, Max MFC 8 games, 7 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 7 goals - really coming on well and promising to live up to his potential as a quality ruckman now that his injury woes appear to be behind him. GILLIES, Tom MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 0 goals - after a couple of lacklustre performances early on, he has settled down in the VFL but has competition in the key defensive posts. GRIMES, Jack MFC 7 games, 1 goal - the skipper has missed a number of games with a broken collar bone and has only just returned. HOGAN, Jesse ** CSFC Seniors 10 games, 30 goals - impressing with everything he does at Casey. HOWE, Jeremy MFC 14 games, 22 goals - the team's top goal kicker is still a spectacular mark but also needs to impose himself more on every game. JAMAR, Mark MFC 9 games, 2 goals - dominates the ruck but his output around the ground has been below average. Out of action with a foot injury. JETTA, Neville MFC 4 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 5 goals - seems to be struggling to rise above VFL level at this stage. JONES, Matthew MFC 14 games, 2 goals - an inspired mature age draft selection who would be getting greater accolades for his debut if he was at a more successful club. JONES, Nathan MFC 14 games, 6 goals - still the team's outstanding performer who is the first to face a tag each week. KENT, Dean MFC 7 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 5 games, 4 goals - taking small steps in the big fishbowl but showing more promise with every passing game. MACDONALD, Joel MFC 1 game, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - a toe injury has curtailed his season to date but is now ready to go. McDONALD, Tom MFC 9 games, 0 goals - started the season slowly but has blossomed in recent weeks after coming back from injury. MCKENZIE, Jordie MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 1 game, 0 goals - dogged by injury in recent times and also continues to have issues with his disposal. MAGNER, James MFC 2 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 9 games, 4 goals - had two games as an uplifted rookie but seems to have fallen out of favour. NICHOLSON, Daniel MFC 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 0 goals - getting a run at AFL and showing some improvement. PEDERSEN, Cameron MFC 7 games, 4 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 1 goal - still struggles to hold a spot with the Demons but starring at Casey. RODAN, David MFC 8 games, 2 goals, CSFC Seniors 4 games, 5 goals - a few plucky games from the little terrier. SELLAR, James MFC 6 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 4 game, 0 goals - struggling to hold down a place at AFL level. SPENCER, Jake MFC 3 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 4 goals - was starting to show some form after breaking back into the side but now finds himself under a three-week suspension. STARK, Nathan * CSFC DL 5 games, 1 goal - had a late start to the season due to injury, played a few games in the develop league and injured again. STRAUSS, James MFC 4 games, 1 goal, CSFC Seniors 7 games, 2 goals disappointing in his fifth year at the club. SYLVIA, Colin MFC 11 games, 6 goals - a reasonable season interrupted by a three week break through suspension. TAGGERT, Rory CSFC Seniors 9 games, 11 goals, CSFC DL 1 game, 1 goal - a couple of good games at Casey could see him get an opportunity at the top level before the year is out. TAPSCOTT, Luke MFC 10 games, 3 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 game, 9 goals - dropped in form as of late and is back with the Casey Scorpions. TERLICH, Dean MFC 13 games, 0 goals - a revelation who keeps improving week by week in defence. TOUMPAS, Jimmy MFC 8 games, 0 goals, CSFC Seniors 3 games, 1 goal - slowly coming to grips with AFL football. Has shown glimpses of the sublime skills that made him an early draft pick. TRENGOVE, Jack MFC 12 games, 8 goals - interrupted preseason and poor early but is gradually returning to the standards of his first two seasons. TYNAN, Josh CSFC Seniors 9 games, 2 goals, CSFC DL 2 games, 0 goals - slow start but making up lost ground quickly with the Scorpions. VINEY, Jack MFC 6 games, 1 goal - showed some promise before injuring his toe and missing several weeks. WATTS, Jack MFC 10 games, 12 goals - coming good after a dirty start. WESTRUPP, Maia ** CSFC DL 5 games, 0 goals - New Zealander learning the trade with the Casey development league team. * rookie listed ** special category
  16. We actually worked hard and surprised ourselves although we were never really in the hunt. Someone in the club's list management/recruiting area must have taken particular notice of Geelong's emergencies. GEELONG Backs Matthew Scarlett Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Corey Enright Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline James Kelly Allen Christensen Joel Corey Half forwards Mitch Duncan James Podsiadly Steven Motlop Forwards Steve Johnson Tom Hawkins Mitch Brown Followers Trent West Jimmy Bartel Paul Chapman Interchange Cameron Guthrie Joel Selwood Billie Smedts Jesse Stringer Emergencies Shannon Byrnes Tom Gillies George Horlin-Smith In Mitch Brown James Kelly Out Taylor Hunt (soreness) Mathew Stokes (ankle) MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Tom McDonald Colin Garland Jack Grimes Centreline Cale Morton Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Nathan Jones James Sellar Jeremy Howe Forward Colin Sylvia Mitch Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd In Mitch Clark James Frawley Out Joel Macdonald Jack Watts
  17. A TALE OF TWO GAMES by Whispering Jack This was a game that, for the Melbourne Football Club, was always going to be twinned with the one that came before it some 280 days ago. You know, the game known simply as "186" played on 30 July, 2011. For the story behind that game, I refer you to this Age article written by Caroline Wilson - Date with disaster. But that date with disaster is well past the club. It has moved on and, despite the fact that the result of the latest game was yet another disappointing result in which the team was overwhelmed by the reigning premier, there was a different feeling about the loss. In some respects, the losing margin of 43 points flattered Melbourne as much as last year's 186 flattered Geelong and this year's Geelong is not the same, but it was the knowledge that the effort was there and that the team can get so much better in time that provided cause for hope. Last year's 186 catastrophe was preceded by a calamity of barely less proportion when the Demons' fourth placed alignment partner, the Casey Scorpions tumbled to a 128 thrashing at the hands of the lower Geelong reserves in the curtain raiser. This time around, it was the turn of the second placed Cats to go down by 46 points in what was a major upset. More importantly, and despite serious injuries to a couple of promising youngsters, there was enough young talent on display to suggest, despite the gloom and doom spelt out by an 0-6 record at this stage, that there was improvement to come - at least in the second half of this season. So to the main game and I doubt that anyone would have expected the Demons to be within a goal of the hosts at the first change. It wasn't that they played so well with the first use of the breeze (and they were lucky with the Cats' inaccuracy) but there were enough contributors plugging away to keep them in the game. The likes of Mitch Clark and James Frawley, key players at opposite ends of the ground missing from last week's near loss to St. Kilda were making a difference. Mark Jamar was winning the ruck battles (even if his onballers were being outclassed) and co-captain Jack Grimes were all doing well. Nathan Jones was continuing his good form for the season. Statistically, the bulk of Geelong's winning margin was attained in the second term when it put on a masterclass of how to dominate on this particular ground. You need the team to be well organised and well structured with players having the experience and the instinctiveness to know where to put the ball next. Mix that with the skills that give you a disposal efficiency rating in excess of 80% against your opponent's rating of under 60. Last year, that would have given Geelong a seven or eight goal break in a single quarter (and it did). This year, the dominance was restricted - even in Melbourne's worst quarter for the day - to 23 points. This was mainly due to the fact that the Demons were able to match their opponents for the whole day in one statistic - winning contested possessions. That is the area in which the team has languished so badly in past seasons against the competition's stronger teams. Precisely, what new coach Mark Neeld has stressed would ultimately distinguish the Melbourne of the past (186) era from that of the future. We saw signs of that from the massive efforts of Clark, Nathan Jones and the rapidly improving Jeremy Howe and Tom McDonald. Call me an optimist, and I know that the Cats were nowhere near last year's near world record pace. The teams had 14 shots at goal apiece in the second half - something that we could only dream about in a Geelong game at Simonds Stadium 280 days ago. I see this as a definite sign of improvement. In the final analysis, Geelong had way too much class, particularly in the midfield where the Cats simply had too much talent and too much run for their Demon counterparts. But there are players at Casey who will push for inclusion in the coming weeks and if you add some of those youngsters to Jurrah and Watts (in time) and allow others like Colin Sylvia to regain some touch after his injury, we will definitely see more and more improvement. My final gauge of inspiring thought resulting by way of contrast with that other game for the past is in the turnaround in the combined win/loss margins from 2011 to 2012 for Melbourne and its alignment partner. It's not a world shattering statistic but last year's - 314 was turned in the space of nine months into + 3 by virtue of Casey's 46 point win. Statistics can and do lie and yesterday wasn't much to write about but the lesson of the tale of two games is that there is a light there at the end of the long tunnel in which we're travelling. Melbourne 3.0.18 6.1.37 10.5.65 11.10.76 Geelong 3.5.23 9.11.65 15.14.104 17.17.119 Goals Melbourne Melbourne Clark 4 Bate Jones 2 Davey Dunn Howe Geelong Chapman Johnson Podsiadly 3 Bartel Mackie 2 Hawkins Kelly Motlop Stringer Best Melbourne Clark Grimes McDonald Howe Jones Moloney Geelong Johnson Corey Enright Duncan Podsiadly Scarlett Injuries Melbourne Grimes (ankle) Geelong Bartel (ankle) Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Lonergan (ankle) replaced in selected side by Gillies, Selwood (concussion) replaced in selected side by Byrnes Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Wenn Bannister Fleer Crowd 18,010 at Simonds Stadium
  18. A TALE OF TWO GAMES by Whispering Jack This was a game that, for the Melbourne Football Club, was always going to be twinned with the one that came before it some 280 days ago. You know, the game known simply as "186" played on 30 July, 2011. For the story behind that game, I refer you to this Age article written by Caroline Wilson - Date with disaster. But that date with disaster is well past the club. It has moved on and, despite the fact that the result of the latest game was yet another disappointing result in which the team was overwhelmed by the reigning premier, there was a different feeling about the loss. In some respects, the losing margin of 43 points flattered Melbourne as much as last year's 186 flattered Geelong and this year's Geelong is not the same, but it was the knowledge that the effort was there and that the team can get so much better in time that provided cause for hope. Last year's 186 catastrophe was preceded by a calamity of barely less proportion when the Demons' fourth placed alignment partner, the Casey Scorpions tumbled to a 128 thrashing at the hands of the lower Geelong reserves in the curtain raiser. This time around, it was the turn of the second placed Cats to go down by 46 points in what was a major upset. More importantly, and despite serious injuries to a couple of promising youngsters, there was enough young talent on display to suggest, despite the gloom and doom spelt out by an 0-6 record at this stage, that there was improvement to come - at least in the second half of this season. So to the main game and I doubt that anyone would have expected the Demons to be within a goal of the hosts at the first change. It wasn't that they played so well with the first use of the breeze (and they were lucky with the Cats' inaccuracy) but there were enough contributors plugging away to keep them in the game. The likes of Mitch Clark and James Frawley, key players at opposite ends of the ground missing from last week's near loss to St. Kilda were making a difference. Mark Jamar was winning the ruck battles (even if his onballers were being outclassed) and co-captain Jack Grimes were all doing well. Nathan Jones was continuing his good form for the season. Statistically, the bulk of Geelong's winning margin was attained in the second term when it put on a masterclass of how to dominate on this particular ground. You need the team to be well organised and well structured with players having the experience and the instinctiveness to know where to put the ball next. Mix that with the skills that give you a disposal efficiency rating in excess of 80% against your opponent's rating of under 60. Last year, that would have given Geelong a seven or eight goal break in a single quarter (and it did). This year, the dominance was restricted - even in Melbourne's worst quarter for the day - to 23 points. This was mainly due to the fact that the Demons were able to match their opponents for the whole day in one statistic - winning contested possessions. That is the area in which the team has languished so badly in past seasons against the competition's stronger teams. Precisely, what new coach Mark Neeld has stressed would ultimately distinguish the Melbourne of the past (186) era from that of the future. We saw signs of that from the massive efforts of Clark, Nathan Jones and the rapidly improving Jeremy Howe and Tom McDonald. Call me an optimist, and I know that the Cats were nowhere near last year's near world record pace. The teams had 14 shots at goal apiece in the second half - something that we could only dream about in a Geelong game at Simonds Stadium 280 days ago. I see this as a definite sign of improvement. In the final analysis, Geelong had way too much class, particularly in the midfield where the Cats simply had too much talent and too much run for their Demon counterparts. But there are players at Casey who will push for inclusion in the coming weeks and if you add some of those youngsters to Jurrah and Watts (in time) and allow others like Colin Sylvia to regain some touch after his injury, we will definitely see more and more improvement. My final gauge of inspiring thought resulting by way of contrast with that other game for the past is in the turnaround in the combined win/loss margins from 2011 to 2012 for Melbourne and its alignment partner. It's not a world shattering statistic but last year's - 314 was turned in the space of nine months into + 3 by virtue of Casey's 46 point win. Statistics can and do lie and yesterday wasn't much to write about but the lesson of the tale of two games is that there is a light there at the end of the long tunnel in which we're travelling. Melbourne 3.0.18 6.1.37 10.5.65 11.10.76 Geelong 3.5.23 9.11.65 15.14.104 17.17.119 Goals Melbourne Melbourne Clark 4 Bate Jones 2 Davey Dunn Howe Geelong Chapman Johnson Podsiadly 3 Bartel Mackie 2 Hawkins Kelly Motlop Stringer Best Melbourne Clark Grimes McDonald Howe Jones Moloney Geelong Johnson Corey Enright Duncan Podsiadly Scarlett Injuries Melbourne Grimes (ankle) Geelong Bartel (ankle) Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Lonergan (ankle) replaced in selected side by Gillies, Selwood (concussion) replaced in selected side by Byrnes Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Wenn Bannister Fleer Crowd 18,010 at Simonds Stadium
  19. Starts early today with a tweet from the ground where the VFL game has started:-
  20. THE VOICE - THE PEOPLE SPEAK by The People This week's match preview comes from Demonlanders. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Interesting! July 30th, 2011. We journeyed down to Kardinia Park to take on the Geelong Football Club in the middle of winter with a team that had shown some signs of promise. We seemed to be developing as a team which was headed in the right direction, regardless of the inconsistency from week to week. We turned up at Kardinia Park feeling as though we didn't really want to be there, as if we didn't believe we could win. I felt that the match was something we needed to survive our way through and then move on to next week. This attitude and a ruthless Geelong team saw us torn to shreds, not only on the scoreboard but the loss ripped the fabric of the club apart and took a part of our dignity. As we all know, Dean Bailey was sacked as the club tried to deal with it, but in reality we haven't been the same club since and we haven't fully gotten over it. There's been a painful darkness lurking in the corners of our collective MFC psyche since that day. There is only one way that the club can deal with what happened on that day last year, and sacking Dean Bailey or any other off field measures are completely insufficient. We need to go back to Kardinia Park and retrieve our dignity. It won't come easily, but must be torn back from Geelong; we must fight to take it back, and we must win to take it back. We must be ruthless in attacking every contest with absolute and brutal desperation. We must gut run from start to finish. We must treat every goal not with joyous celebration but with a sober resolve to bounce the ball and do it again. We need to punish Geelong every time they make a mistake or hesitate. This weekend is our opportunity to cast out the darkness, and we need to approach it head on, without compromise or excuse. Let's go to Kardinia Park, and let's fight to win our dignity back. Let's go to Kardinia Park together - MFC1858 THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Skilled Stadium on Saturday 5 May 2012 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 123 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Skilled Stadium Geelong 35 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Geelong 13 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw The Coaches Scott 0 Neeld 0 MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel 1:30pm (LIVE) Delayed telecast - Channel 7 3:pm. RADIO SEN Triple M THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.03 Melbourne to win $12.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong defeated Melbourne at Simmons Stadium in Round 19, 2011 (we all know what's happened and we need no further reminder) THE TEAMS GEELONG Backs Matthew Scarlett Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Corey Enright Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline James Kelly Allen Christensen Joel Corey Half forwards Mitch Duncan James Podsiadly Steven Motlop Forwards Steve Johnson Tom Hawkins Mitch Brown Followers Trent West Jimmy Bartel Paul Chapman Interchange Cameron Guthrie Joel Selwood Billie Smedts Jesse Stringer Emergencies Shannon Byrnes Tom Gillies George Horlin-Smith In Mitch Brown James Kelly Out Taylor Hunt (soreness) Mathew Stokes (ankle) MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Tom McDonald Colin Garland Jack Grimes Centreline Cale Morton Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Nathan Jones James Sellar Jeremy Howe Forward Colin Sylvia Mitch Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd In Mitch Clark James Frawley Out Joel Macdonald Jack Watts The Demons return this week to where it all began - or ended depending on your outlook. A completely new coaching panel. A completely new game plan. A very different Demons outfit. But no one who is a part of our great club can forget 186. So what does this all equate too? The bottom line is who the hell knows. The Demons looked like they have started to turn the corner a bit with the game plan and effort required but as we know all too well Melbourne is nothing if not sporadic. I cannot see a win no matter how I look at the game but there are still many things that can be achieved out of this game. For starters - a result that is far closer. An effort and intensity level that matches or builds on last week. An improvement in the execution of our game plan. Beamer must atone (regardless of how crook he was last year). Our midfield must give our backmen a chance and our forwards a look at the ball more than 40 times. Would it be folly to suggest this week that we adopt the old adage of everyone has one man for the day, regardless of where they play? Trengove on Bartel Jones on Chappy Beamer on Selwood Frawley/McDonald on Hawkins Bartram on Stokes Grimes on Christensen Sylvia on Enright Clark on Scarlett Morton on Mackie Watts on Corey ... and the list goes on. If nothing else, our boys will learn the work rate of a champion team, but if every player is responsible for just one man of flesh and blood, whom they must make it their life's ambition for that day to beat, then maybe, just maybe the Demons can make a game of it! - Grandson of a Gun Geelong is not playing the way they have in past years. Some of their wins have been unconvincing and they have lost twice to teams that failed to make last year's top eight. On the other hand, while Melbourne hasn't been all that flash, it isn't quite plumbing the depths of last year's devastating result at the Cattery. If the Dees can maintain their steady rate of improvement of the last couple of games then they might surprise the football world. Not necessarily with a win but with their best performance at this venue since the drawn game in 2006. - Demon Head The Demons are heading to Simmons Stadium this weekend to take on last year's premiers. It's a tough road trip for any side in the competition, let alone for the heavily scrutinised Demons who were pantsed by 186 points in the corresponding fixture in 2011. Every player who gets an opportunity this week will be driven by the humiliation of last year. None more so than #22 who, in a year where he polled exceptionally well in the Brownlow, couldn't manage a single possession in a half of football. He and the others will be keen to atone for last year's effort. If the 31 goal loss to Geelong was to have any silver lining, it is to be the subsequent introspection, and overhaul of the clubs footy department. This fresh start and direction looks to have galvanised the club as a whole. Led by Mark Neeld the Demons are working on a game style and culture which is intended to get the Melbourne Football Club back towards being a quality, consistent AFL side. Egos have been battered as home truths have been told, the leadership group has been overhauled. Inconsistency from week to week and questionable endeavour will no longer be tolerated. Gone are the days of Melbourne playing top picks for the sake of development. It's obvious to all that the transition from the past environment to the current one has not been an easy one for many of the players. 5 losses in 5 rounds has been a tough start to the season, especially with 3 of these losses coming against the lions, tigers and bulldogs. However the signs are starting improve as Neeld picks through the list to find a core group of players who will give their all in implementing his game style for four quarters. A four quarter effort which will be required this weekend if the Demons are to be any match for the Cats at their home. A competitive effort will also set the side up for the coming weeks where the Demons will play the majority of the form sides in the competition. A win during this period would do wonders for the confidence of the playing and coaching groups and set the side up for more victories in the second half of the year. I think the Demons will show a lot of heart again this week but will be hurt on the scoreboard by a polished Geelong outfit. Cats by 6 goals, 25 less than last year. - DemonWA
  21. THE VOICE - THE PEOPLE SPEAK by The People This week's match preview comes from Demonlanders. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Interesting! July 30th, 2011. We journeyed down to Kardinia Park to take on the Geelong Football Club in the middle of winter with a team that had shown some signs of promise. We seemed to be developing as a team which was headed in the right direction, regardless of the inconsistency from week to week. We turned up at Kardinia Park feeling as though we didn't really want to be there, as if we didn't believe we could win. I felt that the match was something we needed to survive our way through and then move on to next week. This attitude and a ruthless Geelong team saw us torn to shreds, not only on the scoreboard but the loss ripped the fabric of the club apart and took a part of our dignity. As we all know, Dean Bailey was sacked as the club tried to deal with it, but in reality we haven't been the same club since and we haven't fully gotten over it. There's been a painful darkness lurking in the corners of our collective MFC psyche since that day. There is only one way that the club can deal with what happened on that day last year, and sacking Dean Bailey or any other off field measures are completely insufficient. We need to go back to Kardinia Park and retrieve our dignity. It won't come easily, but must be torn back from Geelong; we must fight to take it back, and we must win to take it back. We must be ruthless in attacking every contest with absolute and brutal desperation. We must gut run from start to finish. We must treat every goal not with joyous celebration but with a sober resolve to bounce the ball and do it again. We need to punish Geelong every time they make a mistake or hesitate. This weekend is our opportunity to cast out the darkness, and we need to approach it head on, without compromise or excuse. Let's go to Kardinia Park, and let's fight to win our dignity back. Let's go to Kardinia Park together - MFC1858 THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at Skilled Stadium on Saturday 5 May 2012 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 123 wins Melbourne 83 wins 2 draws At Skilled Stadium Geelong 35 wins Melbourne 17 wins 1 draw Since 2000 Geelong 13 wins Melbourne 6 wins 1 draw The Coaches Scott 0 Neeld 0 MEDIA TV Fox Footy Channel 1:30pm (LIVE) Delayed telecast - Channel 7 3:pm. RADIO SEN Triple M THE BETTING Geelong to win $1.03 Melbourne to win $12.00 LAST TIME THEY MET Geelong defeated Melbourne at Simmons Stadium in Round 19, 2011 (we all know what's happened and we need no further reminder) THE TEAMS GEELONG Backs Matthew Scarlett Harry Taylor Josh Hunt Half backs Corey Enright Tom Lonergan Andrew Mackie Centreline James Kelly Allen Christensen Joel Corey Half forwards Mitch Duncan James Podsiadly Steven Motlop Forwards Steve Johnson Tom Hawkins Mitch Brown Followers Trent West Jimmy Bartel Paul Chapman Interchange Cameron Guthrie Joel Selwood Billie Smedts Jesse Stringer Emergencies Shannon Byrnes Tom Gillies George Horlin-Smith In Mitch Brown James Kelly Out Taylor Hunt (soreness) Mathew Stokes (ankle) MELBOURNE Backs James Frawley Jared Rivers Clint Bartram Half backs Tom McDonald Colin Garland Jack Grimes Centreline Cale Morton Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie Half forwards Nathan Jones James Sellar Jeremy Howe Forward Colin Sylvia Mitch Clark Aaron Davey Followers Mark Jamar James Magner Jack Trengove Interchange Rohan Bail Matthew Bate Lynden Dunn Luke Tapscott Emergencies Jamie Bennell Joel Macdonald Ricky Petterd In Mitch Clark James Frawley Out Joel Macdonald Jack Watts The Demons return this week to where it all began - or ended depending on your outlook. A completely new coaching panel. A completely new game plan. A very different Demons outfit. But no one who is a part of our great club can forget 186. So what does this all equate too? The bottom line is who the hell knows. The Demons looked like they have started to turn the corner a bit with the game plan and effort required but as we know all too well Melbourne is nothing if not sporadic. I cannot see a win no matter how I look at the game but there are still many things that can be achieved out of this game. For starters - a result that is far closer. An effort and intensity level that matches or builds on last week. An improvement in the execution of our game plan. Beamer must atone (regardless of how crook he was last year). Our midfield must give our backmen a chance and our forwards a look at the ball more than 40 times. Would it be folly to suggest this week that we adopt the old adage of everyone has one man for the day, regardless of where they play? Trengove on Bartel Jones on Chappy Beamer on Selwood Frawley/McDonald on Hawkins Bartram on Stokes Grimes on Christensen Sylvia on Enright Clark on Scarlett Morton on Mackie Watts on Corey ... and the list goes on. If nothing else, our boys will learn the work rate of a champion team, but if every player is responsible for just one man of flesh and blood, whom they must make it their life's ambition for that day to beat, then maybe, just maybe the Demons can make a game of it! - Grandson of a Gun Geelong is not playing the way they have in past years. Some of their wins have been unconvincing and they have lost twice to teams that failed to make last year's top eight. On the other hand, while Melbourne hasn't been all that flash, it isn't quite plumbing the depths of last year's devastating result at the Cattery. If the Dees can maintain their steady rate of improvement of the last couple of games then they might surprise the football world. Not necessarily with a win but with their best performance at this venue since the drawn game in 2006. - Demon Head The Demons are heading to Simmons Stadium this weekend to take on last year's premiers. It's a tough road trip for any side in the competition, let alone for the heavily scrutinised Demons who were pantsed by 186 points in the corresponding fixture in 2011. Every player who gets an opportunity this week will be driven by the humiliation of last year. None more so than #22 who, in a year where he polled exceptionally well in the Brownlow, couldn't manage a single possession in a half of football. He and the others will be keen to atone for last year's effort. If the 31 goal loss to Geelong was to have any silver lining, it is to be the subsequent introspection, and overhaul of the clubs footy department. This fresh start and direction looks to have galvanised the club as a whole. Led by Mark Neeld the Demons are working on a game style and culture which is intended to get the Melbourne Football Club back towards being a quality, consistent AFL side. Egos have been battered as home truths have been told, the leadership group has been overhauled. Inconsistency from week to week and questionable endeavour will no longer be tolerated. Gone are the days of Melbourne playing top picks for the sake of development. It's obvious to all that the transition from the past environment to the current one has not been an easy one for many of the players. 5 losses in 5 rounds has been a tough start to the season, especially with 3 of these losses coming against the lions, tigers and bulldogs. However the signs are starting improve as Neeld picks through the list to find a core group of players who will give their all in implementing his game style for four quarters. A four quarter effort which will be required this weekend if the Demons are to be any match for the Cats at their home. A competitive effort will also set the side up for the coming weeks where the Demons will play the majority of the form sides in the competition. A win during this period would do wonders for the confidence of the playing and coaching groups and set the side up for more victories in the second half of the year. I think the Demons will show a lot of heart again this week but will be hurt on the scoreboard by a polished Geelong outfit. Cats by 6 goals, 25 less than last year. - DemonWA
  22. We've done this before with some success so why not try it with the game against Geelong at Sleepy Hollow. Do your own preview of this Saturday's game and the pick of the bunch will be included in this week's match preview. Can the Demons redeem themselves at the Cattery or will it be a repeat of 186? You tell us what you think and why. Match ups, tactics and strategies - its up to the voice of the people. * we reserve the right to edit (correct spelling and grammar - not content).
  23. There are a few listed as coming back this week which is good because we need them:- Michael Evans (back) - indefinite James Frawley (calf) - test Max Gawn (knee) - season Brad Green (finger) - 1 week Jordan Gysberts - test (ankle) Neville Jetta (ankle) - indefinite Liam Jurrah (wrist) - test Stef Martin (hip) - test James Strauss (leg) - test Josh Tynan (foot) - 2-3 weeks Although Josh Tynan is listed as "2-3 weeks" an artcile on the club's site indicated he might be right this week. Also good to see that James Magner is not on the list.
×
×
  • Create New...