Consistently Inconsistent – Round 18 Match Review
by Darren Spence
It is bandied around the media all the time. INCONSISTENT. In fact it has been a metaphorical badge ubiquitously hanging around the Demons neck for almost a decade used to describe our performances. Well I am here to say that this is a disingenuous claim. Last years’ results against the Pies aside, our performances against the top Victorian teams have been nothing but homogeneous. Last Sunday the trend continued. The Hawks outplayed our boys from the start and the game was all but over by half way through the first quarter. Hawthorn appeared too strong, applied pertinacious pressure all resulting in too many broken tackles and an alarming number of crucial turnovers. The end result was a comfortable win for the Hawks.
Dean Bailey is often quoted as saying that the barometer of success for the Dees is not simply measured in pure number of wins and losses and ladder position come years’ end. There is much merit in what he says though I truly believe that he, his brains trust, the players and definitely the supporters would love to knock off one of the big Victorian teams and all the confidence that this would bring. As it stands now, if not for the new franchise and some underperforming teams, we would be lucky to finish the season in preantepenultimate place; a result that would surely be categorised as underwhelming on all fronts.
So let’s have a closer look at last weeks’ game and some of the notable performances.
Lynden Dunn – It was good to say Dunny back in the side and he definitely made the most of his opportunity. He provided a great option up forward, presenting himself well and taking some strong marks. Hopefully he can build on this and consolidate his position in our team for the rest of the year.
Manlove 1 – I am very happy to see Tappy back in the side. He is handling himself in a way that belies his experience and youth with his endeavour and toughness. There is an ancient Arabic saying that goes:
Man fears Time, Time fears the Pyramids, The Pyramids fear Luke Tapscott
I look forward to watching Luke send terror through opposition forwards for many years to come.
Manlove 2 – Another game that helps build crucial experience into the Gys. It is invaluable that he gets the most opportunities to play on the elite midfielders of the competition as he inevitably builds into one himself.
Hounding Howe – Jeremy continues to grow in confidence and experience with every game he plays. He has been a revelation this year and is quickly attracting a cult following. He finished with 3 goals, was dangerous all day and took some great trademark grabs.
Stefan Martin – It is official. I hereby declare that from here on in the suffix “the most improved player in the league’ is to accompany any use of his name. Martin, the most improved player in the league, was arguably our best player on the day. He collected 21 possessions and applied some great pressure. On a day where the big Russian was a little quiet, big Stef, the most improved player in the league, continued to grow in confidence.
Ricky Petterd – if Ricky didn’t get one possession for the day he still would have warranted a mention purely on his fantastic 1% effort to smother the ball in the goal square. These are the type of actions that can lift a player and his team mates around him and he certainly now has set the standard that all must follow. He also provided a good forward marking target and like Dunny would be hoping to consolidate his position for the rest of the year.
So now we look forward to this weekend.
You have to give credit to Chris Connolly. Not one normally known to whip out the old cliché, he came up with a beauty in response to a journos question this week on what he thought our chances were against the Cats. He said ‘Every week they are one week closer to a loss’. Now you wont find this quoted in any Churchillian speech, however, it does aptly describe the task ahead on Saturday. In fact, aside from trying to keep track of the burgeoning number of enemies Aker makes on a weekly basis with his vehement vitriol, there is no harder task in football today then taking the short drive down the Princes Highway to take on the Cats on home soil. I am not about to fantasise and say that we will win but I am confident that the boys will give 110% and that’s all you can ask – from there you just never know?
Melbourne v Geelong – 2.10pm on Saturday 30 July.
Melbourne v Geelong Live on the Big Screen – 2.10pm on Saturday 30 July.
Join the NSW Demons to watch the game on the big screen at the Camelia Grove Hotel, 146 Henderson Rd, Alexandria. Ph: 02 9516 5611. Check out www.thecammy.com.au for more information.
From steamy Darwin to a nest of hawks.
Last week
Saw a good win over Port Adelaide in Darwin with some testing, though not unexpected moments in the last quarter! Another super game from Ricky Petterd with three goals and 25 possessions and the welcome return to the team of an in form Addam Maric also with three goals. Other highlights of the game included Jared River’s reading of the play and zone positioning, Stefan Martin and Jack Trengove’s sure handling in the humid conditions and Liam Jurrah’s three goals on his return to Darwin.
This week
Melbourne plays Hawthorn at the MCG and we welcome Matthew Bate and Lynden Dunn back into the team this week after consistently good performances for Casey in the VFL. Injuries to Scully, Bartram and Evans means they have not been considered for selection in the final 22 for Sunday. Matthew Warnock, Max Gawn and Jamie Bennell have been added as emergencies.
I am looking forward in particular to the match up between James Frawley/Colin Garland and Lance Franklin and the contest in the midfield. In recent years Hawthorn has smashed us through the middle so interest is in what development has occurred and with the good form of Mark Jamar and Stefan Martin how that is reflected in the battle between Demons Moloney, Sylvia, Jones, Trengove, Gysberts and McKenzie and Hawks Hodge, Mitchell, Sewell and Shiels!
The team
B: James Strauss, James Frawley, Daniel Nicholson
HB: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Nathan Jones
C: Jack Trengove, Colin Sylvia, Lynden Dunn
HF: Ricky Petterd, Liam Jurrah, Luke Tapscott
F: Brad Green, Jack Watts, Addam Maric
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jordie McKenzie
I/C: Jordie Gysberts, Matthew Bate, Stefan Martin, Jeremy Howe
EMG: Mattew Warnock, Max Gawn, Jamie Bennell.
IN: Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn
OUT: Cale Morton (omitted), Tom Scully (knee)
Melbourne v Footscray Live on the Big Screen – 7.40pm – Friday 1 July
Melbourne v Footscray Live on the Big Screen – 7.40pm – Friday 1 July.
Join the NSW Demons to watch the game on the big screen at the Camelia Grove Hotel, 146 Henderson Rd, Alexandria. Ph: 02 9516 5611. Check out www.thecammy.com.au for more information.
Vale Sean Wight
Vale Sean Wight
by Darren Spence
Hi fellow Demon fanatics! I am back from my stay in hospital and heading back on track. It is with a very heavy heart that I write these words with the terrible news of the death of Sean Wight. It just doesn’t feel right writing a unique review of last week’s game so instead I have decided to dedicate this week’s report to a review of the career of one of our greats – Sean Wight.
John Phillips ‘Sean’ Wight was born on the 15th of March 1964 (an auspicious year on more than one account). He was born in Scotland but spent most of his early life in Ireland. Part of the famous ‘Irish Experiment’ he travelled to Australia with Paul Early in 1982 after impressing scouts with his high leaping and determination. The first ever game he saw was the 1982 VFL Grand Final.
His first year at the club saw him playing in the 1983 U/19s Grand Final that saw the Dees triumph over North Melbourne. Some of his team mates that day included Greg Healy, Stephen Newport, Brett Bailey, Rod Grinter and Paul Payne – all players that would go on and play senior footy with Sean.
1984 was a year to regret for Sean as he severely injured his knee and missed the entire season. 1985 saw Sean finally make his debut for the MFC in Round 8 versus the Saints and line up on Tony Lockett! In a game that saw the Dees beat the Saints by 52 points, Chris Connolly received three Brownlow votes and the young Scottish/Irishmen making his debut received two Brownlow votes from the umpires. A rare feat that provided a glimpse of what lay ahead.
One of the traits that made Sean a favourite amongst his team mates and fans was his ability to lift and play in big games. Nothing better exemplifies this than his performances in some of the most important games in the MFC’s recent history. In 1987 the Demons saw themselves with the opportunity to play finals for the first time since 1964, coincidently the same year that Sean was born! To achieve this a few results had to go our way but most importantly we had to win our last two games. History goes on to show that results went our way and we did indeed win our final two games against the Eagles and Footscray. What many people do not know is that Sean Wight received three Brownlow votes in BOTH of these last two home and away games.
We move our attention to 1988 – the year we finally made the Grand Final. Again Sean Wight stood up when it counted. In the semi final against Collingwood he showed his versatility by scoring three goals and followed up the next week in the preliminary final versus the Blues with four critical goals; a pivotal contribution catapulting the Dees into the Grand Final.
The early 90s were not kind to Sean as he struggled with injuries and it wasn’t until 1994 that he was again able to play consistently for the Dees. That year he played 24 games and was the best player in the preliminary final loss to West Coast that ended the Dees season. In 1995, his final year, he played 21 games.
Sean was also very principled. In 1991 when Sean was struggling with injury he found boots that provided adequate pain relief and support but unfortunately these boots were not the brand that sponsored the club at the time. Before a reserves game against St. Kilda that year he refused to change his boots and the club forbade him to play that day. Luckily a successful compromise was achieved but it shows Sean’s strength of character to stand up for what he believed was right.
I will always remember Sean for his courage, his superb athletic ability and his determination. I can scarcely recall a game where he was beaten by his direct opponent. In my time following the Dees he would be the best key defender that I have ever had the pleasure to watch represent the mighty Demons.
Sean Wight
- Played 150 games for the MFC
- Member of the team that won the 1987 Night Premiership
- Member of the MFC hall of fame
- Named as one of the 150 Heroes of the club
- Life member of the MFC
- Director of the MFC in 1996-97
- Had a career high 23 possessions versus Carlton in 1991
- Kicked four goals in a game on three occasions
- Kicked 63 goals in his career
- Received 11 Brownlow votes in his career
- Is and will always be a legend of the MFC and I am proud to say that I saw this great man play for the MFC.
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