TAR To Hell and Back: Melbourne Demons resurrection

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2008 Melbourne Team List Games/Goals

#3 Bartram, Clint (12 games, 5 goals)
#6 Bate, Matthew (9, 8)
#21 Bell, Daniel (0, 0)
#43 Bode, Jace (20, 10)
#32 Bruce, Cameron (26, 11)
#1 Buckley, Simon (5, 4)
#41 Carroll, Nathan (26, 5)
#25 Cheney, Kyle (4, 1)
#36 Davey, Aaron (22, 18)
#14 Dunn, Lynden (7, 6)
#8 Frawley, James (8, 1)
#20 Garland, Colin (9, 3)
#18 Green, Brad (26, 19)
#16 Grimes, Jack (26, 9)
#4 Holland, Ben (5, 2)
#40 Jamar, Mark (17, 0)
#17 Johnson, Chris (5, 1)
#11 Johnson, Paul (5, 0)
#2 Jones, Nathan (18, 5)
#19 Maric, Addam (5, 0)
#33 Martin, Stefan (0, 0)
#23 McDonald, James (26, 21)
#5 McLean, Brock (24, 11)
#30 McNamara, Tom (16, 0)
#26 Meesen, John (3, 0)
#7 Miller, Brad (11, 11)
#22 Moloney, Brent (26, 17)
#10 Morton, Cale (26, 73)
#9 Neitz, David (25, 57)
#29 Newton, Michael (0, 0)
#15 Petterd, Ricky (9, 4)
#27 Rivers, Jared (18, 3)
#24 Robertson, Russell (16, 23)
#12 Sylvia Colin (20, 13)
#37 Warnock, Matthew (6, 2)
#28 Weetra, Isaac (4, 4)
#31 Wheatley, Paul (20, 6)
#45 Whelan, Matthew (23, 4)
#31 White, Jeff (25, 14)
#13 Yze, Adem (19, 25)
 
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2008 Melbourne Retirements / Delistings

Retirements:

David Neitz - 34-years-old - 326 games, 685 goals

Delistings:

John Meesen - 23-years-old - 5 games, 0 goals
Daniel Bell - 24-years-old - 45 games, 1 goal
Ben Holland - 32-years-old - 194 games, 177 goals
Paul Johnson - 25-years-old - 32 games, 4 goals
Michael Newton - 22-years-old - 10 games, 14 goals

Room Under Salary Cap: $1.2 million
No. of Players: 34/40
Draft Selections: 16, 32, 48, 64
 
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2008 AFL Draft crop

The top ranked prospect is 190cm Oakleigh tall defender Ian Nash, who is projected to be an 81 overall, with great consistency and marking ability, though has to build strength and skill. A couple of readymade midfielders include Eastern Ranges' Preston Glenn and Norwood's Chase Goss who could step into a role next year. Both are elite talents, with high-level skill and consistency, with Glenn's endurance a huge factor as well. A couple more project tall defenders include Quentin Botten and Diego Star who are quite raw and have a long way to go, but are considered in the top five of a draft that is heavily weighted towards key defenders with five in the top 10.

The top tall defender prospect is Brandon Lorimer out of Swan Districts who is a strong marking tall with good upside, though has to build his consistency. Victor Armstrong is a raw outside midfielder with good endurance and elite speed, though has to build his skill and consistency. Omar Lyttleton from Tasmania is more readymade, with elite skill and speed and good consistency, and can play just about anywhere on the ground.

Melbourne coach Peter Williams said he is keen to add skill and speed to the small group, as well as strength and marking in the tall crop. With plenty of key position options, the club will look more at the smaller group, though targeting either a top-end midfielder or a defender would be handy. The club is flushed with forward options, though the defensive back six was not set from a smalls perspective, and could afford to take a long-term ruck if required.

"We want to move up the draft order and primarily target a couple of under-utilised players from other clubs who could slot right in," Williams said. "Coming off a premiership, we know we are thereabouts, but losing someone like David Neitz, and then having a few others in the twilight of their careers, we need to ensure we have depth there. "We have a lot of talls that we could use as trade bait, or perhaps those just on the fringes."
 

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2008 Melbourne Trade Period

MELBOURNE was able to bring in four new players and position itself further up in the draft by trading in the second selection in the 2008 AFL National Draft. Without losing a guaranteed best 22 player, the Demons were able to trade out some depth to bring in some experience, as well as under-utilised players, as promised by coach Peter Williams prior to the Trade Period. The reigning premiers welcome Sydney's Brett Meredith and Geelong's Travis Varcoe who add both speed and skill, while topping up with immediate best 22 talent in Simon Goodwin and Ben Rutten. While Goodwin is 32-years-old, he will add even more experience to that midfield and allow the likes of Brad Green and Colin Sylvia to play that permanent forward role.

Departing the club were the likes of Jace Bode, Kyle Cheney, Clint Bartram, Chris Johnson, Brad Miller and Addam Maric, whilst upgrading Pick 32 to Pick 2 to welcome in an elite talent in the draft.

Jace Bode (Melbourne) traded for Brett Meredith (Sydney)
Kyle Cheney & Chris Johnson (Melbourne) for Travis Varcoe (Geelong)
Simon Buckley, Clint Bartram & Pick 32 (Melbourne) for Pick 2 (Geelong)
Brad Miller & Addam Maric (Melbourne) for Ben Rutten & Simon Goodwin (Adelaide)
 
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2008 AFL National Draft selections

#2 Preston Glenn (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)

The Demons were quick to pounce on Glenn after Richmond opted to go for the predicted tall with the first selection. In Glenn, the Demons welcome a readymade midfielder with elite skill and endurance, but one who can also play off half-back which will be crucial given that is an area the Demons are looking to add to. Most of the Demons' midfielders are offensively minded, so the fact Glenn can play in defence helps him greatly coming into the side from day dot.

#16 Lance Trollope (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)

A key forward who might not have the upside of some others, but has the required skills down pat. He is a good mark and a consistent performer who knows where the goals are. He is not overly strong nor quick, but has the smarts and skill to get into the right position and is hard to dislodge off the ball. He is more of a talent who can come in and play a role when required and could be that forward pocket type, and while he is not a third tall - at 198cm and 96kg - he will benefit from others taking the key defenders.

#48 Jonathon Nawrot (Southern Districts/Northern Territory)

A small defender who stands at 179cm and 83kg, Nawrot fits the bill as a consistent player with a nice blend of speed and endurance. He has some development left in him, and while he is more of a future role player, Nawrot can be a clever user of the ball off half-back and provide consistent effort out of the back 50.

#64 Scott Jarret (WWT Eagles/South Australia)

A key defender at 197cm and 96kg who is another solid role player, Jarret has the capability to play up either end, but will likely settle as a defender at AFL level. He is fairly readymade and his best traits are his spoiling and endurance, while hi skill and marking are areas to improve. Whilst the last pick in the AFL Draft, Jarret offers fair value at the selection.
 
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2008 AFL Pre-Season Draft selections

#14 Scott Lucas (Essendon, 31YO, TF 77/0)
#24 Andrew Embley (West Coast, 28YO, OB 75/0)
#29 David Wirrpanda (West Coast, 30YO, SB 70/0)
#30 Cameron Mooney (Geelong, 30YO, TF 75/0)
#31 Gavin Urquhart (North Melbourne, 21YO, OB 68/17)


Melbourne has loaded up on experience in the 2008 Pre-Season Draft by bringing in four premiership players in Eagles duo Andrew Embley and David Wirrpanda, Essendon champion Scott Lucas and Geelong forward Cameron Mooney. Also joining the red and blue was 21-year-old North Melbourne discard Gavin Urquhart who filled out the list and still has improvement left, with skill and consistency his main strengths. It was hard to believe the talent on offer in the PSD, and some of the ones who missed out.
 
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2009 Melbourne Team List Career Games/Goals

#1 Preston Glenn (0, 0)
#2 Nathan Jones (47, 17)
#3 Andrew Embley (168, 169)
#4 Ben Rutten (102, 12)
#5 McLean, Brock (85, 40)
#6 Bate, Matthew (42, 35)
#7 Travis Varcoe (19, 16)
#8 Frawley, James (17, 1)
#9 --- rested in honour of David Neitz ---
#10 Morton, Cale (26, 73)
#11Gavin Urquhart (0, 0)
#12 Sylvia Colin (72, 44)
#13 Yze, Adem (284, 254)
#14 Dunn, Lynden (30,28)
#15 Petterd, Ricky (18,10)
#16 Grimes, Jack (26, 9)
#17 Lance Trollope (0,0)
#18 Green, Brad (192, 226)
#19 Brett Meredith (7, 4)
#20 Garland, Colin (11, 3)
#21 Cameron Mooney (166, 186)
#22 Moloney, Brent (87, 31)
#23 McDonald, James (224, 82)
#24 Robertson, Russell (221, 402)
#25 Scott Lucas (271, 470)
#26 Jonathan Nawrot (0, 0)
#27 Rivers, Jared (82, 7)
#28 Weetra, Isaac (4, 4)
#29 Scott Jarret (0, 0)
#30 McNamara, Tom (16, 0)
#31 Wheatley, Paul (133, 37)
#32 Bruce, Cameron (188, 193)
#33 Martin, Stefan (0, 0)
#34 White, Jeff (278, 120)
#35 Simon Goodwin (228, 132)
#36 Davey, Aaron (104, 137)
#37 Warnock, Matthew (10, 3)
#40 Jamar, Mark (69, 17)
#41 Carroll, Nathan (88, 6)
#44 David Wirrpanda (205, 101)
#45 Whelan, Matthew (151, 17)
 
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Melbourne faces tough decisions for upcoming season

MELBOURNE senior coach Peter Williams admits there will be plenty of tough decisions pondering over what the Demons' best 22 looks like heading into the season given the reigning premiers have had a number of huge improvers over the off-season coupled with the arrivals of a number of readymade AFL stars. The forward line structure might have lost champion goalkicker David Neitz, but has gained Scott Lucas and Cameron Mooney, while the defence - basically as it was last year - has seen Ben Rutten, David Wirrpanda and Brett Meredith arrive, and both Matthew Warnock and James Frawley make massive strives over the summer. In the midfield, Simon Goodwin slots straight in, but improvement to Colin Sylvia and readymade nature of Preston Glenn means the likes of Brent Moloney and Andrew Embley could come off the bench, or find other positions, while Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones, Tom McNamara and Jared Rivers are among those fighting others for a spot in the 22.

"Make no mistake it's a good problem to have," Williams said. "Even drawing up what our best 22 looks like, it is hard to tell. "We know we have a number of older players on the verge of exiting the game in the next few years, but can still offer us plenty, while on the other hand, we have a number of seriously talented young players emerging. "We need to balance our needs on a game-by-game basis, but it is good because it means we likely to have plenty of options if some players fall out of form, regardless of their name or reputation."
 
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I will see if I can get this to work. Where did you get it from Pie 4 Life?
 

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