I reckon we need to get Neville Jetta more media exposure in 2019 – he needs to be doing some interviews post game and on the commercial stations (radio and TV). Probably not how he wants to spend his time, but it is what you have to do to get talked about and that no doubt helps your chances.
By Jacqui Parry
I would like to see the club get right behind a campaign to make sure Neville is not overlooked ever again, because he has played sensationally and everyone knows it.
Please send these thoughts on to Neville, the coaching and media staff, as I really think we do him a disservice by not making sure he is recognised as the champion player that he is.
Lets stop talking about Neville as “under-rated” and lets make sure he is always talked about as “a champion” which he is – you don’t hold your spot in an AFL team all year unless you are pretty damn good.
Max will tell you I haven’t got a clue about the statistics (in fact didn’t even know they were published in such detail until Max showed me). However, lets look at Nevilles statistics and start shouting them from the rooftops. He has just signed a three year contract – and a well deserved one. Lets make sure the next three years are worthy of his efforts for our club.
I just had a look at how he compares with Alex Rance – just out of interest:
Neville Jetta
He is younger than Alex – plays a different position and style, but averages more tackles per game and has better disposal efficiency than Rance and less clangers. Compare him with someone of similar height, weight and position and you will get a better picture,
But my point is – Let’s make “under-rated” a swear word in our club and make sure all of our players – ladies and men – get the recognition they deserve by objectively focussing on their contribution to the club, the stats and the results.
(Sorry, I am getting a bit carried away – Go Dees!!)
Best wishes from Jacqui Parry, Merlin and Sugar
Proud Guernsey Sponsor of Max Gawn No. 11
May the Beard Grow Long and the Hammies stay Strong –
cos’ we are goin’ to the Big Dance this year!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about cloud 9!! (you must be too), what a fortnight (well month really) it’s more than a shade or so of ’87 all over again – and is it just me but that #2 on our captain’s back, it puts the hair on the back of my neck on end… I feel like one of those frogs that has lain dormant for years in the desert & then there’s a downpour of rain & whammo – I’ve broken the surface now fully brought back to life and croaking like mad.
by Nigel Dawe
I’m actually related to Kevin Sheedy (and as such many in my family actually go for either the bombers or GWS) but its been the Dees for me ever since I saw and was sold on our mercurial #2 back in the early ’80s – and I’ve been absolutely ‘on-board’ ever since, from getting in touch with Fred Fanning in the early ’90s to get his autograph to going without 4 of my 5 food groups for about 12 months while I was at uni so as to afford an original 1875 etching of an early Melbourne vs Carlton match from an antique print gallery in Sydney once.
I’ve just so loved the journey, my highlight (after seeing us make 2 grand finals and actually win a reserves ‘Big One’ in ’93 against the then Bears, which I still have tucked away somewhere on VHS) was winning the writing comp back in 2001 for our ‘Hall of Fame’ and who should be the inaugural legend – silly question when you have the likes of the coach of the century to choose from…
But so many memories and magical experiences to draw upon, I used to be great friends with Tiger Ridley (before he passed away) and I’ll never forget the day he got me into the rooms after a game against Richmond at the ‘G to see and sing along to A Grand Old Flag and personally meet my hero in Big Jimmy…
Not to mention the starry night I sat watching the boys at the SCG some years ago and turned to the bloke sitting next to me after mulling as to whether I should or shouldn’t I – but “excuse me, you look awfully like the great Dr Don Cordner” and as such it turned out to be his younger brother John who then said “I only played 6 games but wore the famous #21 straight after my brother retired” to which I replied “Well that’s definitely 6 more than me!!” and we then shared a laugh at how his ‘other’ brother Denis said to a young Barassi when he asked him before his first ever game “where do you want me to go?” – & he famously barked – “I don’t care, just stay out of my bloody way!!”
My house is already decked out with red & blue streamers and about 10 different Melbourne gurnseys that I’ve ‘acquired’ over the years (the most recent being our 160th number that even has my name on it (directly below the AFL logo about 3/4s the way down), I’ve even brought my prized and near-on mint condition 1964 Grand Final Record out of ‘storage’ and have it pride of place next to the TV for luck 🙂
Should we get beyond next week I’ll be bringing out my ‘big gun’ – a 1960 Norm Smith autographed premiership booklet… But as the saying goes – ‘one week at a time’ … and daring now to dream, ah perchance to dream, should we proceed from there I might just put on ‘stand-alone’ display my treasured Ivor Warne-Smith cigarette card.
I have a 5 year old daughter which I’ll be ‘formally’ inducting into the Demons fold come this Friday circa 7.50pm-ish. I can’t wait to share the thrill of seeing them run out and have a red hot go… It’s just such a buzz to be back in the thick of September once again! & it so doesn’t feel like 12 years since we last savoured such a thing…Unfortunately I can’t get down to Melbourne this week, I actually live in Grafton, NSW and can’t make the trip to the ‘G because of work commitments, but like countless other fans I will be there in spirit, the ‘Spirit of ’26’, riding every bump and feeling every blow.
Hope we meet one day, please pass on my appreciation to the crew for their creative efforts once again and well done!!
Go the Fuschias, er Redlegs, er Demons, – or the oldest and only football team in the world to play a sport which they actually created over a few beers in a pub all those years ago.
All the very best,
Nigel
Round 23 – Melbourne Vs Greater Western Sydney – Demons Slay Giants
By Liam Chambers
Melbourne finally broke through this week. The win against the Eagles was significant but the way they played against GWS was a statement of self-confidence. The first quarter was some of the best footy that Melbourne have played under coach Simon Goodwin.
It was a great start with Tom McDonald scoring the opening goal. After the Giants scored the next three, Melbourne seized back control with goals from Harmes, vandenBerg and a second from McDonald. Harry Himmelberg got GWS’s only goal of the second quarter as the Dees started to stamp their authority on the game. Our contested possessions were impressive, and Max Gawn was again brilliant in the ruck.
Max also got the first goal of the second half with Melbourne putting in yet another sterling third quarter performance. With a forty-three-point advantage going into the last quarter it looked like Melbourne had it in the bag. Earlier in the season, a similar lead against a top side, would have the fans on edge, counting down the seconds to the siren. There was an air of confidence this week; everything was under control and we could sit back and enjoy the ride.
It wasn’t all good news though. Dean Kent was off early in the first quarter with an AC joint injury followed by a wrist injury to Dom Tyson. There was also the sickening clash of heads between Jake Melksham and James Harmes. Luckily both players escaped serious injury.
Well, we’re officially in the final eight after securing 5th spot (only denied a top four position by a lucky Collingwood against a resurgent Fremantle in Perth). We play Geelong at the MCG on September 7th. Third time lucky? I’ve got a good feeling, but nobody will expect an easy game. Geelong are one of the hardest teams to beat and they’ll fancy their chances on Friday night. Melbourne have waited twelve years for this though and won’t give up easily. Bring it on!
MELBOURNE 4.2 7.6 12.9 15.12 (102)
GWS GIANTS 4.1 5.5 5.8 8.9 (57)
GOALS
Melbourne: T. McDonald 3, Petracca 3, Neal-Bullen 2, Harmes, vandenBerg, Brayshaw, Gawn, Jones, Weideman, Melksham
GWS Giants: Coniglio 2, Tomlinson, Lobb, Cameron, Himmelberg, Langdon, Finlayson
The winners of the NSW Demons James Harmes Sponsorship prizes in 2018 are:
- Rayna Brown
- Steve Rundle
- Leigh Arnold
- Peter Hunt
- Peter Wood
- Lou Zivkovich
- Ticket to the MFC Season Launch
- Two tickets to the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy Best and Fairest Awards Dinner MFC
- Two tickets to the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy Best and Fairest Awards Dinner MFC
- 2018 match worn jumper signed by James Harmes
- 2018 MFC Squad poster signed by James Harmes
- Preferential selection for one child to go into the MFC Guard of Honor at the MCG
Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all sponsors for joining the sponsorship of James Harmes in this his breakout year!
by Darren Spence
Isn’t it fantastic to read copious amounts of articles (positive) about the Dees since last Sunday? I think I have read and watched every bit of information I could find (sometimes twice) about how our beloved boys won on Sunday locking in a finals spot for the first time since 2006!
2006 was a long time ago. I was living in the UK then and was listening to the game through the AFL site via a link to the footy radio stations (no AFL Live streaming back then!), in fact there wasn’t even an IPhone back then; which ironically many of you are probably reading this on. 2006 was a long time ago. I read that if you added the total number of games played by the 22 on Sunday it comes to 1964. What an omen that was!
It has been a tough road for long suffering supporters since we last played in September. Let’s look at all the coaches we have had since then. Daniher, Riley, Bailey, Viney, Neeld, Craig, Roos, Goodwin. And our ladder positions? 14th, 16th, 16th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 17th, 13th, 11th, 9th. It doesn’t make for pleasant reading does it? All that was forgotten however on Sunday night as I sat amongst a group of Eagles supporters cheering for joy for the Mighty Dees!
In front of a parochial home crowd it was important we got a fast start and fast we did start as we had 26 on the board before the Eagles even scored. Much has been said about our failure to perform in big games, some even saying we are ‘mentally weak’ and I must admit that I did start to worry after the Eagles hit the front but the boys dug deep and skipped away again to win probably our most important game since the 2006 finals.
I never liked Melksham when he has at the Bombers (don’t like any of their players..period) but I do now. He is such a crucial player to our side and never more so than on the weekend with 4 goals and 2 of these after the Eagles hit the front. Harmes has improved out of sight this year and is in the form of his life and had the pill 28 times. Gawn was prolific with 39 hit outs and 20 disposals, Brayshaw was everywhere and TMac and Hannan were dangerous with 3 goals a piece. In fact every player played their role in a fantastic win. It was a grand old day for the Melbourne Football Club and let there be many more!
This Sunday (why do we always play Sunday?…It makes my Monday’s so much tougher!) we are at home versus the Giants. Whilst a finals berth is finally now guaranteed, now is not the time to go through the motions. We need to win this and have strong winning momentum going into September and win we will.
LUKEY TAPSCOTT VOTES (Rnd 22)
MELKSHAM 5
HARMES 4
GAWN 3
BRAYSHAW 2
JONES 1
LUKEY TAPSCOTT LEADERBOARD
Oliver 56
Gawn 39
Brayshaw 38
Hogan 32
Melksham 20
Jones 18
Harmes 17
Petracca 16
T.MacDonald 16
Salem 12
Viney 11
Lever 6
Jetta 6
Fritsch 6
Garlett 6
Hibberd 4
Neal Bullen 4
Hannan 3
Tyson 3
Bugg 1
O.MacDonald 1
ANB RISING STAR VOTES (Rnd 22)
HARMES 5
BRAYSHAW 4
HANNAN 3
TYSON 2
OLIVER 1
ANB RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Oliver 68
Brayshaw 49
Hogan 40
Harmes 25
Petracca 23
Salem 23
Fritsch 19
Viney 16
Tyson 16
Neal Bullen 12
Lever 10
Hannan 7
O.MacDonald 3
Bugg 2
Smith 2
Spargo 1
Gawn moves into outright 2nd in the ‘Lukey” whilst Oliver and Brayshaw have locked away the top 2 positions in the ANB Rising Star.
GO DEES!!
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