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Dees win thriller

May 22nd 2010 12:54

MELBOURNE has snapped a three-game losing streak with a thrillling one-point win over Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday night.


The Demons led by 33 points at three-quarter time but the Power lifted their rating and banged on seven of the first eight goals of the final stanza to hit the front at the 21-minute mark.

Jamie Bennell gave Melbourne back the lead with a classy snap before the lead changed hands again courtesy of Cameron Hitchcock's third major.

Tom Logan had the chance to give Port a handy break but his shot from 50m sailed wide.

The Dees rushed the ball up the ground and found Brad Green who kicked truly to level the scores with just under five minutes remaining.

A rushed behind from a ball-up put Melbourne in front with little over a minute left on the clock before Port defender Alipate Carlile was penalised for stepping outside the goal-square from the resultant kick-in.

It proved to be a costly error as the Demons held firm in the dying stages to record a 17.9 (111) to 16.14 (110) win.

Melbourne now has four wins on the board for the year while the Power slips to 5-4 after their second successive loss.

Much-maligned Demons forward Brad Miller top-scored with five goals while Bennell and Green chipped in with four and three majors respectively.


Aaron Davey showed his class with 26 possessions while Colin Sylvia (25) and impressive youngster Jack Trengrove (24) were busy contributors.

Travis Boak was Port's best with 25 disposals and three goals while Kane Cornes collected 28 touches.

MELBOURNE: 5.2 9.6 14.7 17.9 (111)
PORT ADELAIDE: 3.3 7.6 8.10 16.14 (110)
GOALS: Melbourne: Miller 5, Bennell 4, Green 3, Watts 2, Jetta, Wonaeamirri, Sylvia,
Port Adelaide: Boak 3, Hitchcock 3, Davenport 2, Trengove, Cornes, Pearce, Salopek, Schulz, Motlop, Ebert, Rodan
BEST: Melbourne: Green, Davey, Sylvia, Miller, Bennell, Trengrove, Jamar, Jetta
Port Adelaide: Boak, K.Cornes, Chaplin, Brogan, Casssisi, Hitchcock
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
Port Adelaide : Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Melbourne: Jake Spencer (back) replaced in selected side by Nevlle Jetta
Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray (back) replaced in selected side by Jay Nash
UMPIRES: McLaren, Sully, Findlay
CROWD: 8,848 at TIO Stadium
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MELBOURNE young gun James Frawley has signed a new four-year deal with the Demons which will see him remain in the red and blue until at least the end of 2014.

The 21-year-old defender - who is the nephew of former St Kilda captain Danny Frawley - has been one of Melbourne's best in the opening seven rounds of the season.

Frawley believes the future is bright at the Demons who have begun 2010 in promising fashion, winning three matches after managing a meagre total of seven victories in the past two years.

"The last few years have been pretty tough, but hopefully the times are looking up and it'll be good to be part of the young group and hopefully challenge for a premiership soon," Frawley said.

"It'll be good to stick with a few of these young boys and hopefully a few of them will get on board and sign, so we'll go forward together."

Melbourne list management general manager Tim Harrington said the new deal was a big show of confidence by both player and club.

"For James to have the confidence to commit to the club for four years and for the club to have the confidence to commit to James for four years is a pretty big thing - you don't do too many four-year deals," Harrington said.

"Given we see him as a mainstay of the backline for a long period of time, it was a pretty easy decision."
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Scully earns nomination

May 11th 2010 02:09

MELBOURNE midfielder Tom Scully has been rewarded for his stellar performance against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG last Friday night with the round seven nomination for the NAB Rising Star award.

Scully - who turns 19 on Saturday - racked up a game-high 39 possessions - including seven clearances, five tackles and one goal in wet conditions.

Demons coach Dean Bailey said Scully's effort reflected his meticulous preparation and fantastic endurance.

"Tom's professionalism at such a young age is a credit to him. His strong work ethic has seen him make a successful transition to AFL football," Bailey said.

"His effort Friday night in difficult conditions is testament to his skill level. All Melbourne fans can look forward to his further development in the years to come."

Taken by Melbourne with the number one pick in the 2009 national draft, Scully made his debut in round one and has played every match this season for an average of 21 disposals per match.

He is the second Demon to be nominated after Jack Trengove in round five.

An impressive junior career saw Scully selected in the Under-18 All-Australian side twice. He captained the team in 2009.

Originally from the Narre Warren Junior Football Club, Scully played for the Dandenong Stingrays and Haileybury College.
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Major injury blow for Petterd

May 4th 2010 02:03

MELBOURNE forward Ricky Petterd will be sidelined for up to four months due to a shoulder injury.

The promising 21-year-old - who is the Demons' second leading goal-kicker in 2010 with 12 goals in six matches - dislocated his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of the club's loss to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium last Saturday.

He will undergo surgery sometime this week to repair what is believed to be significant damage to the cartilage rim in the shoulder joint.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the injury was a disappointing setback for Petterd.

"It's disappointing for Rick because he was just starting to stamp himself, starting to become a real regular performer for us in the forward line and a goalkicker."

"We're going to miss his talent and his ability to kick goals for the next period of time."
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Dees crush Tigers

April 18th 2010 06:46

MELBOURNE has made it back-to-back wins with a crushing 55-point victory over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons broke the game open with seven unanswered goals in the third term before running out 20.13 (133) to 11.12 (78) winners.

Dean Bailey's men are now just outside the top eight on percentage while the Tigers remain winless.

Melbourne skipper James McDonald led from the front with 30 possessions - 14 of which came in the first term - while Brent Moloney racked up a game-high 37 disposals.

Colin Sylvia was impressive in his return from a broken jaw with five goals while Brad Green chimed in with four majors.

For Richmond, Kelvin Moore was solid in defence while Jack Riewoldt and debutant David Astbury booted three goals apiece.

RICHMOND: 5.2, 7.7, 7.9, 11.12 (78)
MELBOURNE: 8.1, 8.7, 15.11, 20.13 (133)
GOALS: Richmond: Astbury 3, Riewoldt 3, Morton, Tambling, Nason, Taylor, Tuck
Melbourne: Sylvia 5, Green 4, Bate 3, Bail 2, Petterd 2, Bartram, McDonald, Jamar, Dunn
BEST: Richmond: Moore, Deledio, Riewoldt, Astbury, Tuck, Collins
Melbourne: McDonald, Moloney, Sylvia, Green, Jones, Bruce, Grimes, Scully
INJURIES: Richmond: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: Kennedy, McLaren, Grun
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 42,594 at MCG
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Dees down Crows

April 11th 2010 07:19

MELBOURNE has opened its account this season with a 16-point win over Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons trailed by 25 points early in the third term but lifted their rating and kicked six goals without reply to prevail 7.15 (47) to 5.11 (41).

The Crows - who were touted as a top-four contender before the start of the season - are now winless after three rounds and facing the prospect of being without star defender Nathan Bock (hamstring), young gun Patrick Dangerfield (neck/shoulder) and forwards Trent Hentschel (knee) and Kurt Tippett (ankle) for extended periods.

Melbourne skipper James McDonald led from the front with 24 possessions, 10 tackles and one goal while youngster Jack Trengrove impressed with 23 touches and a major in the third quarter which put the Demons in front.

James Frawley was rock-solid in defence while Jack Grimes provided plenty of drive off half-back

For Adelaide, Bernie Vince racked up a game-high 36 disposals while captain Simon Goodwin (35) was also prolific.

MELBOURNE 1.5, 1.8, 5.11, 7.15 (57)
ADELAIDE:2.5, 4.9, 5.10, 5.11 (41)
GOALS: Melbourne: Bate 2, Green, Bennell, Trengove, McDonald, Jones
Adelaide: Burton 3, Maric, Cooke,
BEST: Melbourne: McDonald, Trengrove, Frawley, Grimes, Green, Jamar
Adelaide: Vince, Goodwin, Doughty, Thompson, Burton
INJURIES: Melbourne:
Adelaide: Dangerfield (neck/shoulder), Hentschel (knee), Bock (hamstring), Tippett (ankle)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Schmidt (Adelaide) replaced Stevens. Garland (Melbourne) replaced Sylvia.
UMPIRES:McBurney, Ryan, Armstrong
CROWD: 23,335 at the MCG
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Jurrah to miss four months

March 9th 2010 08:12

MELBOURNE has suffered a major blow with exciting young forward Liam Jurrah to miss four months with a shoulder injury.

Jurrah injured his right shoulder when he fell awkardly in the first quarter of the Demons' two-point loss to Adelaide in a practice match on Saturday.

The 21-year-old will undergo surgery on Wednesday.

"This is disappointing news to learn of the severity of Liam's injury," Melbourne football manager Chris Connolly said.

"At this stage, he will miss approximately 16 weeks of football."

"As a club, we will work closely with Liam in what will be a difficult time throughout his rehabilitation."

The Demons will also be without defender Daniel Bell for eight weeks after he also sustained a shoulder injury in the clash against the Crows.
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Morton out for eight to ten weeks

March 1st 2010 07:47
MELBOURNE young gun Cale Morton will be sidelined for eight to weeks after further medical assessment of his injured knee.

The 20-year-old tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after backing into the path of two Essendon players while contesting a mark during the final term of Saturday's practice match at Visy Park.

Morton's injury means he will most likely miss the first six rounds of the home-and-away season.

"This is obviously disappointing for Cale and for the team," Demons football manager Chris Connolly said in a statement.

"Cale is a vital player for us and while this is a short-term hiccup we look forward to having him back to complete a critical mass of the 2010 season."

Taken with pick four in the 2007 national draft, Morton missed just one match last season and averaged 23 possessions per game.

He finished ninth in the club's best-and-fairest count in 2009 and has played a total of 40 games.
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DEAN Bailey will be at the helm of Melbourne until at least the end of 2011 after signing a contract extension.

Bailey's tenure hasn't been overly successful thus far with the Demons winning just seven times from 44 games

Despite his poor record, Melbourne president Jim Stynes said the club was confident Bailey was taking the Dees in the right direction.

"In just over two years, Dean has laid the foundations for what we think will be a prolonged period of achievement," Stynes said.

"Solidarity and stability is important with a young group of players, and this decision will give them confidence moving forward."

Stynes also said the decision to give Bailey a new deal wasn't a rash one.

"We made this decision in our own time," he said.

"The process started at the end of last season, during the football department review. The decision to extend Dean’s contract was ratified by the Board of Directors, at last Friday’s board meeting.

"We see Dean as being a big part of the long term future of the Melbourne Football Club."

"This now gives him appropriate time to drive his vision and expectations for the playing group"

Bailey was pleased that the club had backed him.

"I'm looking forward working with this group as they develop as both players and people," Bailey said.

"The last two seasons have been years of great change, and it has been well documented that we have rebuilt through the draft but now it's a matter of putting game time into these young players as a group."

"This year, I expect our playing group to have a competitive attitude right from the start of games."

"Last year, we won 32 quarters of football and this has to change."

"We need to be in games right from the opening minute in order for us to win more matches for our members and supporters."

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Bailey rates top two equally

November 26th 2009 13:33

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says he sees the club's boom recruits Tom Scully and Jack Trengrove as 'equals'.

As expected, Scully was taken with pick one in the national draft while Trengrove was picked up with the number two pick.

Bailey admitted he would have loved to have had the pair share the top honour.

"We couldn't split them, unfortunately we were required to call them out one-by-one, but if it was up to me, I'd call both of them out together," Bailey said.

"I see them both as equals and they're going to really contribute well to the Melbourne Football Club."

Scully, a 182cm, 77kg midfielder who has been likened to Ben Cousins in terms of his running ability, said the pressure of being the No.1 draft pick was 'external'.

"All players that come to the club start off the same. If you let that sort of stuff get to you too much, it affects your football," Scully said.

"But if you just stay strong and stick to the stuff you know, that stuff shouldn't really worry you too much."

Trengrove, who captained South Australia at the under-18 championships and played senior football with Sturt in the SANFL this year, said there wasn't too much difference between being taken with pick one or two.

"We're going to the same club and we're going to have the same respect from the other players," Trengrove said.

"We're going to have to earn some respect and really work hard from the start."

"The number doesn't really mean everything until your out there playing footy and showing how good you are."

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Demons re-sign trio

November 10th 2009 03:04
MELBOURNE has re-signed trio Clint Bartram, Kyle Cheney and Tom McNamara but did not reveal the length of the new deals.

Bartram has played 59 games for the Demons after being taken with pick 60 in the 2005 national draft.

Cheney and McNamara joined the club via the 2007 national draft and have managed 12 and three appearances respectively.

Meanwhile, the club has delisted forward Michael Newton and ruckman John Meesen.

Newton played five matches this year for a total of 21 while Meesen played just four games with Melbourne after playing two for Adelaide in 2007.

The pair, who have one year remaining on their contracts, have been told by the Demons that they will be re-drafted as rookies if there is no interest from any other clubs.

Rhys Healey, Jordie McKenzie, Daniel Hughes and Jake Spencer have all been retained on the rookie List while Cameron Bruce has been placed on the veterans list.

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Davey named Demons' best

October 22nd 2009 01:55
MELBOURNE speedster Aaron Davey was named as the Demons' best-and-fairest on Wednesday night.

Davey, who signed a new four-deal with Melbourne two weeks ago, polled 82 votes to win his first Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy.

The classy 26-year-old finished ahead of Brent Moloney (69) and Cameron Bruce (56).

Forward Matthew Bate was fourth with 47 votes while Nathan Jones, Colin Sylvia and Matthew Warnock polled 44 votes each to finish equal fifth.

Davey enjoyed his best season in 2009, playing all 22 games and recording a career-high
total disposals (504) and tackles (90).

2009 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy Top 10
1 - Aaron Davey (82)
2 - Brent Moloney (69)
3 - Cameron Bruce (56)
4 - Matthew Bate (47)
5 - Nathan Jones (44)
5 - Colin Sylvia (44)
5 - Matthew Warnock (44)
8 - James Frawley (43)
9 - James McDonald (42)
9 - Cale Morton (42)
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Stynes upbeat on cancer battle

October 22nd 2009 01:39
MELBOURNE president Jim Stynes has declared at the club's best-and-fairest count at Crown Casino on Wednesday night that he hopes to be cancer-free by the end of next month.

Stynes has been undergoing radiation treatment over the past two weeks in a bid to get rid of three tumours in his brain.

The inspirational 43-year-old was upbeat as he updated more than 800 Demons faithful on his battle against cancer.

"Obviously, it's hard not to notice the nude nut," Stynes said.

"I was actually hoping to come with a number two (haircut) but it sort of got ahead of me yesterday. It started to fall out."

"When my daughter (Matisse) got to see it there this morning she got a bit of a shock to say the least. She's coping, she had a good laugh."

"My four-year-old boy (Tiernan) has got a number two . He thought it was very cool. If he thinks it's cool, I'm very happy with that."

Stynes, who said he would have a four-week break from radiation therapy, admitted the first round of treatment had affected him a bit.

"At the end of November I have to do one more session which should, please God, finish it off, get rid of the tumours in the brain," he said.

"I'm feeling a lot better since Monday because when you go through it you feel nauseous."

"As my poor wife (Samantha) has had to deal with, you feel grumpy and you're not as much fun to be around, so I'm starting to pep up again."

Despite his personal battle, Stynes was quick to turn the attention back onto the Melbourne Football Club.

The Demons may have won back-to-back wooden spoons but Stynes believes the future is bright.

"I see it as the dawning of a new era. We have been through 15 months of saving and really stabilising our club," he said.

"We have restructured our club, and we've bottomed out as a team, and between last year and this year we have the opportunity through the draft to rebuild."

"Obviously, we just need a little bit of patience from everyone."

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Demons axe duo

October 13th 2009 08:07
MELBOURNE has axed midfielders Simon Buckley and Shane Valenti.

Buckley featured in just one game in 2009 - the round one clash against North Melbourne before injuries ruined his season.

The 22-year-old, who was taken with pick 53 in the 2005 national draft, made his AFL debut in 2007 and played 21 matches.

Valenti was twice elevated from the rookie list and managed 15 appearances for the Demons including six this season.

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