Wonaeamirri33
Lovable Whore With A Heart Of Gold
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Bay 13: Flog of the Year
Chocolate
Artist
Ruby
- May 10, 2009
- 28,743
- 44,821
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
- Other Teams
- FITZROY, Aylesbury United, St Pauli
THE GAME: Patersons Stadium, Saturday 7 April, 2.40pm (WST), 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD:
Overall: Played 42, Melbourne 15 wins, West Coast 27
At Patersons: Melbourne 5 wins, West Coast 12
Since 2000: Melbourne 8 wins, West Coast 12
Last time: West Coast 16.14 (110) def. Melbourne 9.8 (62) at Etihad Stadium, Round 21 2011
Last time at venue: West Coast 15.16 (106) def. Melbourne 6.16 (52), Round 5 2011
MEDIA
TV: Fox Footy (live at 4:30pm AEST)
RADIO: SEN, ABC774
THE BETTING: Melbourne $10.00 West Coast $1.05
eek
SUMMARY:
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Melbourne's NAB Cup win over Collingwood, when we had reason to be excited about the direction the club was taking under new coach Mark Neeld. It might have been a NAB Cup game in which both teams were missing regular key players, but there were definite signs that the hard work of summer was about to pay some dividends.
It's hard to believe that only one month has elapsed since that time of optimism for the immediate future of the Melbourne Football Club.
Since then the club has lurched from one disaster after another, starting with the Liam Jurrah crisis and reaching a crescendo with a disastrous situation created by Jason Mifsud, an AFL official talking out of school to media person Grant Thomas, who promptly published untrue allegations against Demon coach Mark Neeld. What should be a major crisis for the AFL and its leadership has been turned into an opportunity for diverse groups and individuals to dump on one of its clubs.
In the interim, we've barely raised a whimper on the field, copping a couple of NAB Cup wallopings and a humiliating 41-point drubbing at home against the Brisbane Lions, who finished in 15th place last year.
Moreover, the club has been subjected to a blaze of criticism from various commentators, with good reason, but including some downright moronic statements from some along the way. David King claims that "Melbourne has been masquerading as a football club for years". Robert Shaw says "Jack Watts was hijacked by the Melbourne Football Club at 17 years of age ... straight into an institution." Others accuse the playing group of being mentally and physically fragile, lacking in talent and demonstrating a shortage of the pride, passion and interest necessary to achieve success. Some of the criticism is justified but some of it is muddled and without any depth of thought or insight.
The usual response when a team gets a lashing from the press is to return fire and prove the pundits wrong. And now we face the difficult task of rejuvenation at a cursed place where not a single current Melbourne player has seen victory. We last won there in Round 19, 2002.
A few years before that, we did manage to produce a shock victory over the Eagles in Perth with an undermanned and depleted side. That was in round 14, 1998, when Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated West Coast 11.13.79 in Robbo's break-out game. It would be an understatement to say that the club needs a repeat of the heroics the team produced on that day.
Demon coach Mark Neeld has ridden the waves of last week's disasters with class. He was impressive in handling the after match presser last Saturday and has been strong on the Mifsud issue, correctly shunning the advice of AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to take legal action over Thomas' comments.
Neeld is resolute. He isn't interested in pursuing personal vendettas or engaging in witch hunts over who leaked the story to the AFL official who passed on the malicious gossip to someone who wasn't too particular about fact checking, a practice employed by most reputable journalists before going to print.
He knows he has to keep focused on the main purpose of his job and that is to develop his list, to win games and ultimately, premierships. The greatest coach in the club's history was brought down in the midst of preoccupation with a defamation action, a situation from which it has never fully recovered.
The team Neeld takes across the Nullarbor must not be distracted by the off field events. The players need to show that they're prepared to have a dip as they did a month ago against one of the competition's flag favourites. Their performance this week against the Eagles could well define the direction they will take in the coming months.
WALKING WOUNDED:
The Eagles had a few injury concerns heading into Round 1, but all those under a cloud emphatically silenced any doubts. Josh Kennedy's preparations were severely limited by a foot injury, but incredibly booted seven goals in the 49-point win.
Quinten Lynch battled a hamstring issue over the summer but had 20 disposals, while Andrew Embley had 12 touches after coming on as the substitute.
With those concerns put to bed, long-term absentees Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski, together with fringe forward Andrew Strijk (quad, 1-2 weeks), are the only injuries.
Our injury list, of course, is worryingly long - as it has been for so much of the time in recent years. There are 11 players either ruled out or in doubt for this week. Most notably, Liam Jurrah and Colin Sylvia face three more weeks on the sidelines with wrist and back problems respectively.
Also, Jordan Gysberts will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury he suffered in the VFL last weekend, but Ricky Petterd is back in the lineup after recovering from a leg injury.
TEAMS: See the team lineup discussion thread at Teams for Saturday vs. Weagles
FORM:
West Coast's Past Five:
Round 1: Win, 21.10 (136) - 12.15 (87) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 5: Loss, 2.5.13 (61) - 2.10.17 (95) v Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
NAB Cup 4: Win, 1.10.16 (85) - 0.7.10 (52) v St Kilda, Patersons Stadium
NAB Cup 3: Win, 1.12.11 (92) - 1.12.6 (87) v Port Adelaide, Mandurah
NAB Cup 2: Win, 0.4.6 (30) - 0.1.4 (10) v Fremantle, Patersons Stadium
West Coast were impressive in the NAB Cup and even better in their annihilation against the Bulldogs last week. They started slowly but booted 11 goals to four in the second half thanks to an outstanding display by the forwards. It may be early, but the Eagles are already looking ominous.
Melbourne's Past Five:
Round 1: Loss, 11.12 (78) - 17.17 (119) v Brisbane Lions, MCG
NAB Cup 5: Loss, 9.10 (64) - 17.10 (112) v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
NAB Cup 4: Loss, 0.6.8 (44) - 1.17.12 (123) v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 3: Win, 0.11.13 (79) - 1.9.7 (70) v Collingwood, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 2: Win, 0.2.1 (13) - 0.1.4 (10) v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium
WHO'S HOT:
Josh Kennedy embarrassed Bulldogs defender Lukas Markovic with his unstoppable display on Sunday. In addition to the seven majors, he took 11 marks in a sign that he could improve on his 59-goal haul from last year. Midfielder Matt Priddis was also on fire in that game, tallying 33 disposals and an incredible 17 clearances.
Jack Watts was one of very few Demons, along with Trengove, Magner and perhaps a couple of others, who could hold their head high after the Brisbane game. The former No. 1 draft pick had 18 disposals, five marks and a goal and had a good game overall, particularly before half-time.
PREDICTION:
If we play like we did in Round 1, frankly, we could lose by more than 100. Surely we won't be that bad again.
But even if we do vastly improve on the effort against Brisbane, there's still not much hope. The Eagles have won their past 11 games at Patersons Stadium and that streak won't be ending on Saturday night. Don't really feel like hazarding a guess at the margin, but it'll probably be substantial.
HEAD TO HEAD:
Overall: Played 42, Melbourne 15 wins, West Coast 27
At Patersons: Melbourne 5 wins, West Coast 12
Since 2000: Melbourne 8 wins, West Coast 12
Last time: West Coast 16.14 (110) def. Melbourne 9.8 (62) at Etihad Stadium, Round 21 2011
Last time at venue: West Coast 15.16 (106) def. Melbourne 6.16 (52), Round 5 2011
MEDIA
TV: Fox Footy (live at 4:30pm AEST)
RADIO: SEN, ABC774
THE BETTING: Melbourne $10.00 West Coast $1.05
eekSUMMARY:
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Melbourne's NAB Cup win over Collingwood, when we had reason to be excited about the direction the club was taking under new coach Mark Neeld. It might have been a NAB Cup game in which both teams were missing regular key players, but there were definite signs that the hard work of summer was about to pay some dividends.
It's hard to believe that only one month has elapsed since that time of optimism for the immediate future of the Melbourne Football Club.
Since then the club has lurched from one disaster after another, starting with the Liam Jurrah crisis and reaching a crescendo with a disastrous situation created by Jason Mifsud, an AFL official talking out of school to media person Grant Thomas, who promptly published untrue allegations against Demon coach Mark Neeld. What should be a major crisis for the AFL and its leadership has been turned into an opportunity for diverse groups and individuals to dump on one of its clubs.
In the interim, we've barely raised a whimper on the field, copping a couple of NAB Cup wallopings and a humiliating 41-point drubbing at home against the Brisbane Lions, who finished in 15th place last year.
Moreover, the club has been subjected to a blaze of criticism from various commentators, with good reason, but including some downright moronic statements from some along the way. David King claims that "Melbourne has been masquerading as a football club for years". Robert Shaw says "Jack Watts was hijacked by the Melbourne Football Club at 17 years of age ... straight into an institution." Others accuse the playing group of being mentally and physically fragile, lacking in talent and demonstrating a shortage of the pride, passion and interest necessary to achieve success. Some of the criticism is justified but some of it is muddled and without any depth of thought or insight.
The usual response when a team gets a lashing from the press is to return fire and prove the pundits wrong. And now we face the difficult task of rejuvenation at a cursed place where not a single current Melbourne player has seen victory. We last won there in Round 19, 2002.
A few years before that, we did manage to produce a shock victory over the Eagles in Perth with an undermanned and depleted side. That was in round 14, 1998, when Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated West Coast 11.13.79 in Robbo's break-out game. It would be an understatement to say that the club needs a repeat of the heroics the team produced on that day.
Demon coach Mark Neeld has ridden the waves of last week's disasters with class. He was impressive in handling the after match presser last Saturday and has been strong on the Mifsud issue, correctly shunning the advice of AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to take legal action over Thomas' comments.
Neeld is resolute. He isn't interested in pursuing personal vendettas or engaging in witch hunts over who leaked the story to the AFL official who passed on the malicious gossip to someone who wasn't too particular about fact checking, a practice employed by most reputable journalists before going to print.
He knows he has to keep focused on the main purpose of his job and that is to develop his list, to win games and ultimately, premierships. The greatest coach in the club's history was brought down in the midst of preoccupation with a defamation action, a situation from which it has never fully recovered.
The team Neeld takes across the Nullarbor must not be distracted by the off field events. The players need to show that they're prepared to have a dip as they did a month ago against one of the competition's flag favourites. Their performance this week against the Eagles could well define the direction they will take in the coming months.
WALKING WOUNDED:
The Eagles had a few injury concerns heading into Round 1, but all those under a cloud emphatically silenced any doubts. Josh Kennedy's preparations were severely limited by a foot injury, but incredibly booted seven goals in the 49-point win.
Quinten Lynch battled a hamstring issue over the summer but had 20 disposals, while Andrew Embley had 12 touches after coming on as the substitute.
With those concerns put to bed, long-term absentees Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski, together with fringe forward Andrew Strijk (quad, 1-2 weeks), are the only injuries.
Our injury list, of course, is worryingly long - as it has been for so much of the time in recent years. There are 11 players either ruled out or in doubt for this week. Most notably, Liam Jurrah and Colin Sylvia face three more weeks on the sidelines with wrist and back problems respectively.
Also, Jordan Gysberts will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury he suffered in the VFL last weekend, but Ricky Petterd is back in the lineup after recovering from a leg injury.
TEAMS: See the team lineup discussion thread at Teams for Saturday vs. Weagles
FORM:
West Coast's Past Five:
Round 1: Win, 21.10 (136) - 12.15 (87) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 5: Loss, 2.5.13 (61) - 2.10.17 (95) v Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
NAB Cup 4: Win, 1.10.16 (85) - 0.7.10 (52) v St Kilda, Patersons Stadium
NAB Cup 3: Win, 1.12.11 (92) - 1.12.6 (87) v Port Adelaide, Mandurah
NAB Cup 2: Win, 0.4.6 (30) - 0.1.4 (10) v Fremantle, Patersons Stadium
West Coast were impressive in the NAB Cup and even better in their annihilation against the Bulldogs last week. They started slowly but booted 11 goals to four in the second half thanks to an outstanding display by the forwards. It may be early, but the Eagles are already looking ominous.
Melbourne's Past Five:
Round 1: Loss, 11.12 (78) - 17.17 (119) v Brisbane Lions, MCG
NAB Cup 5: Loss, 9.10 (64) - 17.10 (112) v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
NAB Cup 4: Loss, 0.6.8 (44) - 1.17.12 (123) v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 3: Win, 0.11.13 (79) - 1.9.7 (70) v Collingwood, Etihad Stadium
NAB Cup 2: Win, 0.2.1 (13) - 0.1.4 (10) v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium
WHO'S HOT:
Josh Kennedy embarrassed Bulldogs defender Lukas Markovic with his unstoppable display on Sunday. In addition to the seven majors, he took 11 marks in a sign that he could improve on his 59-goal haul from last year. Midfielder Matt Priddis was also on fire in that game, tallying 33 disposals and an incredible 17 clearances.
Jack Watts was one of very few Demons, along with Trengove, Magner and perhaps a couple of others, who could hold their head high after the Brisbane game. The former No. 1 draft pick had 18 disposals, five marks and a goal and had a good game overall, particularly before half-time.
PREDICTION:
If we play like we did in Round 1, frankly, we could lose by more than 100. Surely we won't be that bad again.
But even if we do vastly improve on the effort against Brisbane, there's still not much hope. The Eagles have won their past 11 games at Patersons Stadium and that streak won't be ending on Saturday night. Don't really feel like hazarding a guess at the margin, but it'll probably be substantial.
