Terry Aldermans Arm
Rookie
OK ... couldn't get to Family Day, but is this wishful thinking .... I think we have been written off ... but will have to see how we play against the Hawks ... before I start even thinking we're a chance for Sept action, but I so wish we are ...
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher expects the club's "true form" to soon be on show as it gets closer to fielding its best team.
Picture: SEBASTIAN COSTANZO
Daniher confident Demons will make finals
By Melissa Ryan
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher yesterday declared his team would make the finals in 2002, defying the critics and the widespread perception that the club was in for another painful season.
Speaking to members and supporters at Melbourne's family day, Daniher said the club had "an obligation to get back and play finals footy this year" - having finished 11th in its tumultuous 2001 season - and that its poor pre-season form was not a true reflection of how the club would perform this year.
"We're going to make the eight," he said. "We're going to fire up against Hawthorn next Monday. Our form, they've all written us off. We all know about that, but they've done that before and we've turned that around."
The Age's football writers picked Melbourne to finish the season in 11th place, while other media pundits thought it might fare even worse, some tipping the club as a possible wooden-spooner.
Daniher conceded that if the club's dire pre-season form continued into the regular season - it was winless in the Wizard Cup - it was more likely to languish on the lower rungs of the ladder as a bottom-four side.
While the outside expectation was for another year of struggle, Daniher expected the club's "true form" to soon be on show as it got closer to fielding its best team.
"A pre-season is what you go on and our form ... hasn't been all that good, but we're confident that that's not a true reflection of where we're at," Daniher said.
"The thing is, you can't hide away. We haven't hit top form and there's no doubt about that. We're not hiding from that, we just think that that form is not what we can get to.
"If we play like that, I reckon we are a bottom-four team. I don't think that's a true reflection and I think we'll show that isn't our true form."
The team's immediate aim was "to knock off the Hawks" in its season-opener on Easter Monday after Hawthorn easily accounted for the Demons in their two meetings last year. Melbourne's leadership was also announced, with the status quo maintained: David Neitz as captain, Shane Woewodin as vice-captain, and Andrew Leoncelli and Jeff White as deputies.
Neitz said the team had much to prove this year and the players would not compromise on their attack or attitude, determined to remain united. Last year, off-field controversies took a significant toll.
"No matter what happens, our footy side is really going to stick together and be a really strong, tough, hard, committed unit this year and we're really looking forward to it," Neitz said. "We're looking for a big year from everyone.
"We've got a lot to prove and as a side, a unit, we're going to really stick together through this year and play finals footy like Danners said."
The new faces being considered for Monday's encounter included Steven Armstrong, Luke Molan, and Brad Miller, while Stephen Powell, who has recovered from osteitis pubis, may return after a year out.
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher expects the club's "true form" to soon be on show as it gets closer to fielding its best team.
Picture: SEBASTIAN COSTANZO
Daniher confident Demons will make finals
By Melissa Ryan
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher yesterday declared his team would make the finals in 2002, defying the critics and the widespread perception that the club was in for another painful season.
Speaking to members and supporters at Melbourne's family day, Daniher said the club had "an obligation to get back and play finals footy this year" - having finished 11th in its tumultuous 2001 season - and that its poor pre-season form was not a true reflection of how the club would perform this year.
"We're going to make the eight," he said. "We're going to fire up against Hawthorn next Monday. Our form, they've all written us off. We all know about that, but they've done that before and we've turned that around."
The Age's football writers picked Melbourne to finish the season in 11th place, while other media pundits thought it might fare even worse, some tipping the club as a possible wooden-spooner.
Daniher conceded that if the club's dire pre-season form continued into the regular season - it was winless in the Wizard Cup - it was more likely to languish on the lower rungs of the ladder as a bottom-four side.
While the outside expectation was for another year of struggle, Daniher expected the club's "true form" to soon be on show as it got closer to fielding its best team.
"A pre-season is what you go on and our form ... hasn't been all that good, but we're confident that that's not a true reflection of where we're at," Daniher said.
"The thing is, you can't hide away. We haven't hit top form and there's no doubt about that. We're not hiding from that, we just think that that form is not what we can get to.
"If we play like that, I reckon we are a bottom-four team. I don't think that's a true reflection and I think we'll show that isn't our true form."
The team's immediate aim was "to knock off the Hawks" in its season-opener on Easter Monday after Hawthorn easily accounted for the Demons in their two meetings last year. Melbourne's leadership was also announced, with the status quo maintained: David Neitz as captain, Shane Woewodin as vice-captain, and Andrew Leoncelli and Jeff White as deputies.
Neitz said the team had much to prove this year and the players would not compromise on their attack or attitude, determined to remain united. Last year, off-field controversies took a significant toll.
"No matter what happens, our footy side is really going to stick together and be a really strong, tough, hard, committed unit this year and we're really looking forward to it," Neitz said. "We're looking for a big year from everyone.
"We've got a lot to prove and as a side, a unit, we're going to really stick together through this year and play finals footy like Danners said."
The new faces being considered for Monday's encounter included Steven Armstrong, Luke Molan, and Brad Miller, while Stephen Powell, who has recovered from osteitis pubis, may return after a year out.
