Around The Grounds
June 14, 2005
Post match reaction
Further discussion of yesterday's events,
My train into the city yesterday was an extra "footy" train. My carriage was packed full of people in black and white, or red and blue, jumpers, scarfs, beanies and the like. There is a good atmosphere on trains like that. I generally really like it. Except yesterday there was a man- clearly with a mental disability- walking up and down the carriage asking people "Collingwood? You go for Collingwood?" really loudly right in their faces. And, if anyone said no, he SPAT on them. Right in their face. Isn't that gross. These poor girls wearing melbourne jumpers had no hope. Thank god I'd worked out the scam by the time he got to me, and I was spared his saliva.
Now, the question I ask is why exactly he was allowed to pull this stunt a second time? Mental illness my arse, you cross the line when you start gobbing in people's faces. Entire train should have united and kicked his arse.
Posted by Supermercado at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2005
Around The Grounds
Post-Essendon match reaction,
The Age
Kevin Sheedy said after Essendon's 46-point loss to Melbourne on Saturday night that the result could be put down to some silly errors and a lack of goalkicking ability up front.If only that were true. Sure, there were a couple of howlers committed by Dustin Fletcher late in the second quarter, particularly one in which he did the hard work in the pocket and outmuscled David Neitz before kicking across goal to Adam Ramanauskas. Adem Yze made a great spoil running backwards and the ball spilled to Aaron Davey, who goaled.
But a limited number of errors do not explain a scoreline blowout of Saturday's magnitude. A look at the statistics shows that the Demons actually made 44 clangers for the game, as opposed to the Bombers' 42.
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher believes his grieving club can now move forward after the players fulfilled their wish to pay tribute to fallen teammate Troy Broadbridge by emphatically demolishing long-time nemesis Essendon by 46 points at the MCG last night.The match, coming exactly three months after Broadbridge was swept away in the devastating Boxing Day tsunami, brought out "mixed emotions" of sadness and celebration about Broadbridge, said teammate Paul Wheatley, while Cameron Bruce, who dealt with Essendon champion James Hird, said the qualities Broadbridge had brought to the club would remain with them always.
"The memories of Troy are going to be with us forever," Bruce said. "The whole of this season's about having a little bit of Troy Broadbridge in all of us." Said Wheatley: "It's good to win for Broady, it's good for the club to get off to a good start."
Daniher said the emotion-charged victory - which was Melbourne's third victory against Essendon in their past 16 encounters - was "a terrific result" and there was now a sense of relief, given the players had fulfilled their pledge to win the match for Broadbridge, his widow Trisha, and his family.
A minute's silence marks the great loves of Troy
Trisha Broadbridge knew it would be hard to go to the footy last night, when she should have been sitting with the other wives and girlfriends in the stands and following the No.20 guernsey around the MCG.Instead she was speaking at the Melbourne president's dinner, talking with remarkable control about her husband, Troy, and their time in Thailand together before the tsunami swept him away.
Then she was standing on the MCG, arm in arm with Demons captain David Neitz, as the Melbourne and Essendon players stood for a minute's silence in memory of Troy after the two teams, in a moving show of solidarity and empathy, walked onto the ground together and stood solemnly before their banners.
Given the circumstances surrounding last night's game, many neutrals would have liked Melbourne to come out against Essendon and turn on the style. They might have been a little disappointed with what was, despite the 46-point margin, an at-times workman-like win.The point was, though, that the Demons showed steel. Despite topping the table late last season, they never really convinced when the chips were down.
Last night, they outmuscled and outran the Bombers, turning the screw when they sensed weakness and giving nothing up for lost.
Essendon finished the first quarter two points up, Aaron Henneman kicking two goals to suggest he might be ready to silence his many doubters. James Hird was giving Cameron Bruce the run-around and recruit Angus Monfries was doing enough to suggest he might be a player of the future.
Moloney the Demon set to haunt Cats
It is perhaps unfair to suggest that Mark Thompson sold a perfectly good milking cow for a handful of beans at the end of last season when he traded Brent Moloney for Tigers big man Brad Ottens, but it is likely the Geelong coach will be hoping a little harder that he has found his goalkicking giant after last night's events at the MCG.It was all cream from Moloney for his new coach, Neale Daniher, in his first match as a Demon, and his midfield power made no small contribution to the whipping Melbourne handed the Bombers. It gave further substance to the disappointment - it was not far from sorrow - that Thompson endured in letting the boy from Warrnambool go. Moreover, it intensified the spotlight that will track Ottens when he plays his first match as a Cat today - enticingly against his old club - and will continue to track his every move for the long-suffering folk of Geelong.
Melbournefc.com.au
Demons do it for Broadbridge
It was a performance which would have made Troy Broadbridge proud.On the night Melbourne paid its last respects to its fallen teammate, the defence which Broadbridge was part of last year completely shut down a disappointing Essendon as the Demons avenged last year's elimination final loss with a comfortable 15.13.(103) to 8.9 (57) victory at the MCG.
But while it was a great start to the 2005 home-and-away season for Melbourne as they bid to make successive finals series for the first time since 1991, the Bombers played just as they did during the pre-season when they were one of just three clubs that failed to register a victory.
Herald Sun
Grooming pays off
MELBOURNE, a convincing 46-point winner over Essendon, looks set to reap the rewards of a strategy instituted in 2003 to develop key-position players.Coach Neale Daniher said it was no surprise that Jared Rivers (centre half-back) and Brad Miller (centre half-forward) were now established in those key roles.
And Ryan Ferguson, back in the team at full-back after missing last season because of a shoulder reconstruction, was also part of the equation, Daniher said.
Posted by Supermercado at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2005
Around The Grounds
Motlop officially a Demon,
After some last-minute confusion, Melbourne has managed to secure a deal with North Adelaide for the release of midfielder/forward Shannon Motlop to replace the late Troy Broadbridge on the Demons' list for 2005.The Demons and North Adelaide had both submitted the appropriate paperwork with the AFL by the 9.30am Tuesday deadline set by the League, but were unable to receive acknowledgement from the AFL that the deal had been approved because league officials were tied up in a meeting.
As a result, senior coach Neale Daniher, who had been expecting to announce that Motlop was now a Demon, advised the media at training at Victoria Park just before 10am that there had been a hold-up.
Eddie uses MFC as a pawn in TV rights scandal,
The future of three Victorian clubs could be endangered if there is no auction of the next round of AFL media rights, Channel Nine's Eddie McGuire said in a blistering attack last night.He said the alliance of Seven and Ten - trying to squeeze Nine out of the bidding - was a push to get football rights at "bargain basement prices".
"There'll be lucky to be eight clubs in the competition if the competitive balance fund goes, if . . . there's no rights money coming in," McGuire said on The Footy Show. The fund has propped up the finances of the Western Bulldogs, the Kangaroos and Melbourne in recent years.
"Let's not forget that this game of AFL football is still in a precarious economic condition," McGuire said.
He said the Nine network was yet to decide whether to launch a rival bid.
Melbourne vs Essendon, 7.10pm Saturday March 26th at the MCG. Bring it on.
Posted by Supermercado at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2005
News roundup
For anyone who takes this site as their main source of MFC News (hah!) you might care to know that the practice match against Adelaide that was originally scheduled for Saturday at Optus Oval has somehow ended up on Friday at 4pm. Now I can't go. Outrageous. Once again if you are planning on turning up and can be bothered sticking a report together please send it in via supermercado@demonblog.com.
In other news...
Certainly, there are pages of last year's diary the young Melbourne defender would happily tear out. Ferguson would prefer not to have celebrated his breakthrough senior season with three lots of shoulder surgery.(click for more...)He would have played his first game well before round eight, somewhere other than the Sandringham reserves, and worn his No. 35 Melbourne guernsey at least on Saturday afternoon.
But by the end of last year, Ferguson saw himself as a Sandringham player, and not really a Demon. To finish the season a VFL premiership player meant it was not a complete write-off.
and Shannon Motlop is.. keen!
Melbourne yesterday described its initial meeting with former Kangaroos premiership player Shannon Motlop as that of "a pretty keen young man" eager to resurrect his AFL career after he flew in to convince the Demons to give him a second chance.(Click for more...)With the club to decide on Tuesday who will replace Troy Broadbridge on its list - or indeed, whether anyone will be chosen to replace him - Motlop, whose brother Daniel plays for the Kangaroos and cousin Aaron Davey is already with the Demons, was "dying" to impress.
Melbourne recruitment and list manager Craig Cameron said Motlop, who plays for North Adelaide in the SANFL and with Wanderers in Darwin, had been enthusiastic but no promises had been made by the club.
"We had a chat with him this afternoon, a discussion about where he's at and what pre-season he's had and he'll be medically screened in the next day or two," Cameron said.
"He was the same as all the other guys, to be honest. They see an opportunity that they didn't think was going to come until the end of the year. I thought he was a pretty keen young man."
In a completely non-comic and serious way isn't that "dying" comment a bit dubious given the reason he's trying out for the side? Couldn't they have left that bit out?
Posted by Supermercado at 03:59 PM | Comments (0)
February 25, 2005
Around The Grounds
The Age reports that Melbourne's first Wizard Cup game next year may be in New Zealand. Road trip?
The league hopes New Zealand can become a land of the long, white Australian football goal posts.
The AFL's focus on expansion has shifted to New Zealand, with community camps to be held there next year, as well as a Wizard Cup game, probably between Geelong and Melbourne.
The two clubs have been sounded out about the idea, with the Cats particularly keen as the club is popular among the burgeoning Auskick centres in NZ.
Positive strides have been made in converting predominantly expatriate playing stocks to a 50-50 split with local players.
I'm so there.
Meanwhile the Herald-Sun have dragged out their annual hillarious "let's interview the less famous Nathan Brown" story. I think the last time they did it he was waving a giant hose around.
WHEN Demon Nathan Brown's wife Tamara tells people her husband is an AFL footballer, she is often met with the same response.
"What's his name?," they ask.
"Nathan Brown," she says.
"Oh, he's a really good player. Didn't he move from Footscray or something like that?"
It's a story Brown tells all the time.
But the Melbourne backman isn't concerned about being confused with his high-profile Richmond namesake.
"That doesn't bother me, he's a gun anyway," Brown said.
I like him so much that I'll even forgive his contribution to the trend of farcical children's names,
He and Tamara are adjusting to life as first-time parents after the arrival of Kynan Sandler last month.
Brown was granted naming rights on the middle name, with actor Adam Sandler providing the inspiration.
Hmm...
Posted by Supermercado at 09:52 AM | Comments (1)
February 20, 2005
Cairns reaction
Next week = Carlton on Sunday @ Telstra Dome. Time to be confirmed. An early start would suit me very nicely so make it happen Demetriou. (Update: Game is at 5.10. Bah) Serious media - and the Herald Sun's - reaction to last night's game is as follows..
Melbournefc.com.au
Demons too hot
Melbourne has started its Wizard Home Loans Cup campaign in terrific style after it easily accounted for the Brisbane Lions in front of a capacity crowd at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns on Saturday night.
The Demons 3.10.11 (98) defeated the Lions 0.7.11 (53) by 45 points in front of a crowd of 9486 and in the process set up a second round clash at Telstra Dome against the winner of the Essendon and Carlton match that will be played on Sunday.
Although the season has barely kicked off, Melbourne showed plenty to like about its game and showed genuine signs of breaking the up-down-up-down cycle, which has been plagued the club in recent seasons.
Herald-Sun
Demons sizzle under tropical skies
OPPORTUNITY knocked at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns last night, but it was Melbourne who answered the call with a 45-point win.
While players such as Brisbane's Anthony Corrie had speed and Daniel Merrett had nous, Melbourne took full advantage of a Lions outfit missing half its premiership players.
In all, the Brisbane Lions blooded eight debutants last night -- including last year's first draft pick Cameron Wood -- while the Demons fielded only one in Lynden Dunn.
The Age website doesn't even mention it. They're taking the rest of the AFL 20/20 series seriously enough so we'll just assume it's an oversight.
P.S - Yes, you are right. The Melbourne OS isn't serious media either. But then again what is?
Posted by Supermercado at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2005
Around The Grounds
A daily wrap-up of MFC related news. Click links for the full story.
Melbournefc.com.au
* Gardner sets his objectives
Melbourne president Paul Gardner says he wants to remain chairman of the club until it has achieved at least three key objectives. Gardner wants the club to be financially stable, based in the MCG precinct and to add to its 12 premierships, the last of which was won way back in 1964
* Daniher cool with Cairns heat
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher is not concerned with the warm weather in Cairns for Saturday night's Wizard Home Loans Cup clash against the Brisbane Lions at Cazaly Stadium.
Daniher said the local starting time of 7.40pm was not an issue for the team, but he added the players would be carefully monitored after the match and in the ensuing days.
* Neitz keen on Dees' prospects
Melbourne skipper David Neitz says there is no reason the club cannot reach the grand final and go all the way in 2005.
Neitz, who in 2005 is poised to set a new club record for the most matches as captain, said the Demons' playing list had the ability to be a genuine threat in September.
But he was realistic enough to know that a lot of water had to travel under the bridge before any silverware could be held aloft on the last Saturday of September.
* Gardner stresses club/city relationship
Demons President Paul Gardner says Melbourne, the club, is strategically placing a greater emphasis on aligning with Melbourne, the city.
Gardner said it was imperative to be "putting the town of Melbourne back into the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club back into the town".
"I read with some interest how Collingwood are going to be global. Collingwood would kill to have the Melbourne name, but anyhow they haven't, but we think it's a great asset," Gardner told Sportal in Cairns.
Herald Sun Footy
* Demons wary of pick to replace Troy
MELBOURNE has been granted its wish to replace Troy Broadbridge on its list with a mature-age player, but coach Neale Daniher says there is still no guarantee the club will pick anyone.
Real Footy
* Miller puts leadership ambitions aside for now
Brad Miller insists he is nothing like a leader at Melbourne yet. But if former St Kilda and Brisbane rover Danny Craven is any sort of judge, it's only a matter of time.
Craven was Miller's first senior coach with AFL Queensland club Mount Gravatt in 2001, when Miller captained the Queensland under-18 side. He was so taken by the strapping youngster that, after half-a-dozen senior games, he decided to appoint him senior captain the following year.
* Demons not set on new addition
Melbourne received permission from the AFL Commission yesterday to add an experienced player to its list but may not take up the right.
The Demons have identified three former league-level players they consider worthy of consideration but are yet to decide if they will replace defender Troy Broadbridge, who died in the Boxing Day tsunami.
Essendon premiership player Justin Blumfield and former Hawks Adrian Cox and Kris Barlow are the contenders for a late recall to the highest level, something Melbourne recruiting and list manager Craig Cameron said yesterday was "more likely than not".
* I've got no idea what they're doing with their new site. It appears they've decided to bump news off the front page for more sponsors ads. That's nice of them. You'd hate to, you know, provide a service for the loyal supporters who take all sorts of other crap from you without complaint. Next thing they'll be selling all the Grand Final tickets to corpora.... Shit. Too late.
Posted by Supermercado at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)