The Ds Woes continue

Absolutely thumped by relative newcomers Gold Coast Suns, the Ds ran in 7 goals to the Suns’ 16 in a game whose score-line finished at

Melbourne: 0.2 3.7 4.10 7.12 (54), Gold Coast: 5.5 9.8 14.12 16.18 (114)

Melbourne scorers

Jeremy Howe 3.3

Max Gawn 2.1 [with only 10 touches]

Col Sylvia 1.1 [who also had 24 touches]

James Strauss 1.0 [with 13 touches]

Nathan Jones 0.3 [co-captain for the afternoon, with 20 touches]

Aaron Davey, M.Evans, J.Spencer 0.1, and

Matt Jones 0.1 [who also had 25 touches]

Gold Coast scorers

Cam Brown 3.3

Zac Smith 3.0

Aaron Hall 2.3

Tom Lynch 2.2

Harley Bennell 1.3 [with 32 possessions]

Steven May 1.1

Sam Day, Jarrod Harbrow, and Trent McKenzie, 1.0

Matt Shaw 1.0 [with 27 possessions]

Jared Brennan, J.Lonergan, 0.1

Jaeger O’Meara 0.1 [with 23 possessions]

While Gary Ablett, still rated as the best player in the League, got 38 possessions

A little while ago, it was decided that the CEO at Demon HQ should step aside. Cameron Schwab was quite divisive within the club, which wasn’t what they needed during arguably the darkest period of a once-great club. Founded in 1868 as the first Australian Football club and inaugural/foundation member of the VFA (VFL after 1897), the Ds boast 11 flags, most notably 5 from six grand finals 1955-1960. They even made a foray into the finals at the end of both the 20^th Century and the career of club great and media footy-guru Garry Lyon, and again 2004-2006 under Neale Daniher.

So what’s going on? The accusation of tanking[1] has been investigated and dismissed … there’s now allegations of illicit drugs and player doping. In a number of articles pundits, former players, and more informed footy supporters than myself are asking the same questions. Chris Dawes says of his departure from Melbourne that the guys just don’t want to improve, although Jakus says there is definitely talent there, but “insipid” performances of late question the wont for them to want to do well.

And former player David Schwarz says that the Ds are in danger of becoming the next Fitzroy [2], despite being in a stronger position 3-4 years ago than the Punt Road up-and-comers whose struggles appear to be finally over, and now Melbourne are another 6-7 years away from where the Tigers are now. And the fans are faring no better, many of whom have been brandishing white flags at recent matches.

Dr Bibotelli suggests that the divisions within the club go back to the infamous Norm Smith incident of 1965. Things certainly weren’t going that well when club legend Jim Stynes was at the helm, either.   

At least the appointment of Peter Jackson to the head of the club, with his ready-to-wield machete, promises big things.

Ds supporters can only hope, anyway, and this comes from the supporter and member of another once-great club who have had many promises since our dark times of the mid-to-late 00s. 

peterg
15May13

References

Bibotelli, D. (2013). Melbourne Demons: How did it come to this? | Unambitious Us. Retrieved from http://www.unambitiousus.com/sports/melbourne-demons-how-did-it-come-to-this/

Buckle, G. and Vaughan, R. (2013). Club champion David Schwarz says Melbourne Demons are on the verge of becoming next Fitzroy | AFL | Fox Sports. Retrieved from http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/club-champion-david-schwarz-says-melbourne-demons-are-on-verge-of-becoming-next-fitzroy/story-e6frf3e3-1226641557167#.UZNUn7XI2So

Jakus. (2013). Melbourne Demons just not playing for Mark Neeld | The Roar. Retrieved from http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/05/14/melbourne-demons-just-not-playing-for-neeld/

(2013). Melbourne Demons News. Retrieved from http://www.footywire.com/club/sports/team-melbourne-demons-news.html

Spits, S. (2013). Stynes not tarnished by tanking, widow says | Samantha Stynes. The Age: Real Footy, 19 February 2013. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stynes-not-tarnished-by-tanking-widow-says-20130219-2eoed.html

[1] Tanking is the term for deliberately throwing matches and/or playing badly in order to finish low on the ladder and therefore get better choices during draft season.

[2] Fitzroy Lions, another foundation club, hit the skids during the 1990s and were merged with then-newcomers Brisbane Bears to become the Brisbane Lions in 1996. Apparently the Ds and Hawks were close to merging at the time, as well, but that was KO’d by Hawthorn’s rank and file.

Records a-tumble as the Demons are absolutely BELTED by the Bombers

The Dees continued their horrible start to the year with a 148-point loss to the Bombers. They only managed the equivalent of 6 goals to the Same-Olds' 28.16 in an effort which still has Melbourne fans screaming for blood!

Going to the records, a worse ladder-percentage after round 2 (28.4% (90 for, 317 against) was not even achieved by the newcoming Suns (30.4, 2011) or Giants (32.2 last year). I had to go back to 1901, during Carlton's heyday as the VFL's whipping boys, to find the worst result (16.8). St.Kilda's 1896 side managed 18.6, and the Uni boys didn't go below 51.1 in what was to be their final year! Let's hope that doesn't happen to one of the VFA/VFL's foundation sides!

Some other records:

• Fitzroy 36.22 (238), Melbourne 6.12 (48) R17, 1979 [190 point loss](This is second highest-score ever in the VFL/AFL, also the biggest win ever) 
• Geelong 37.11 (233), Melbourne 7.5 (47), R19, 2011 [186 point loss](This is the fourth highest-score ever, also the second-biggest win ever)
• Fitzroy 5.4 (40), Melbourne 0.2 (2), R16, 1899 (Equal-2nd lowest-score ever: lowest-ever was Geelong 23.24 (162), St Kilda 0.1 (1), R17 that same year)

Essendon have played Melbourne 208 times since 1897, with time-off because the Ds couldn't field a side during World War 1. They've tied twice (7/5/21 and 2/10/48). Until yesterday, the highest margin of 122 points was achieved on 5/7/86 when the Bombers downed the Dees by 122 points: 27.10 (182) to 8.12 (60). We have to go back to 1927 to see the scale tipped the other way, with a win on 6/8/27 to the Ds by ninety points: 20.20 (140) to 8.2 (50). Both of these games were at the G.  

Something to think about. 

peterg

Details thanks to Paul Jeffs' AFL Stats pages at http://stats.rleague.com/afl/