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Demons axe pair

September 4th 2008 03:46
MELBOURNE has begun overhauling its playing list by delisting youngsters Isaac Weetra and Jace Bode.

Weetra, who was a fourth round selection in the 2006 National Draft from Port Adelaide in the SANFL, made his AFL debut against Hawthorn in round one this year and played his last game for the club the following week against the Western Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, Bode played nine matches including five this year after being elevated to the senior list from the rookie list at the end of the 2007 season.

The Demons now have six places to fill following the retirements of David Neitz and Ben Holland and the delisting of veteran pair Jeff White and Adem Yze.



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Holland calls it quits

August 30th 2008 03:26
MELBOURNE veteran Ben Holland has announced his retirement from AFL football.

Holland, who played 125 games for Richmond before moving to the Demons at the end of the 2003 season, will line up against the Tigers at the MCG on Sunday for what will be his 191st and final appearance at AFL level.

The 30-year-old said he had enjoyed his time at both clubs.

"I have given everything I have got to the team every time I competed," Holland said.

"I love playing football, I love being involved in football, and I love the team camaraderie."

"After Sunday's game, I will look forward to the next chapter of my life."


Holland was drafted by Fitzroy with pick 19 in the 1994 national draft before being traded to the Tigers at the end of the 1995 season where he made his AFL debut in 1997.
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Dees rule out trading for Kerr

August 28th 2008 06:45
MELBOURNE will not make a trade with West Coast for midfielder Daniel Kerr according to coach Dean Bailey.

Kerr is understood to be up for grabs at the end of the season but any club that hopes to secure his services will have to give up a lot with the Eagles expected to demand two top-10 selections in this year's draft.

Bailey said the the club won't be giving up any of its picks in exchange for the 2006 premiershp star.

"He's a very good player Daniel Kerr. Maybe someone might be prepared to trade out a first-round pick," Bailey said.

"We'll keep our picks, we won't be trading. We want to keep our first pick and as of today there's also 17 and 19. We'll be really keen to keep our picks."

Bailey also said he was focused on building a side from the ground up.

"We have a young list now and this year it's important that we draft well," he said.

"Every year you should draft well. You can't pick and choose drafts and you have to ensure you put all of the work into it so you can produce and develop players."

"We've got a young list now, we'll have a young list again next year."

"How we coach and how we develop them is super important."
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Demons dump veterans

August 26th 2008 05:02
MELBOURNE veterans Jeff White and Adem Yze will play their final games for the club when the Demons face Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

Yze will play his 271st AFL match for Melbourne to sit third on the club's all-time games record list – one fewer than Robbie Flower (272) and behind former skipper David Neitz (306).

White will move into seventh spot on Melbourne's games record list this weekend with 236 matches, overtaking Brett Lovett (235).

Both players will nominate for the draft, although Yze has acknowledged he had 'probably only half a percent' chance of finding a new home.

White said he felt that he still has something to offer at AFL level.

"From a personal point of view I still feel I've got some time left," he said.

"I'm not hanging my hat on getting a spot on an AFL club next year but I'll definitely put my hand up to say my mind feels good, my body feels good, I want to continue playing."

If not picked up, White and Yze will both continue playing in the VFL or in another lower-grade competition.

Yze will be remembered come as the man who nearly played the most consecutive matches ever, falling 18 short of equalling Jim Stynes' record of 244.

However, he did say the record became a distraction the closer he came to breaking it.

"Whether it was media or other people questioning your attack on the footy or whether you're putting your body on the line for a record – that actually didn't sit well with me," Yze said.

"So I had a meeting with Neale [Daniher] last year … and said: 'I don't want to play', to end that speculation. From there, it felt like a release and I could just enjoy my footy."

Both players played an integral role in helping the club reach six finalls series in nine years.




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Schwab returns to Melbourne

August 25th 2008 08:45
CAMERON Schwab has replaced Paul McNamee as Melbourne's new chief executive.

He returns to the position he left after four years in 2001 to take up the CEO role at Fremantle.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes said Schwab was the right man to help lead the club into an exciting new era.

"To have someone of Cameron's calibre lead this Club into the future is very exciting. It is well known that Cameron and the Demons go a long way back."

"All of the new Board has been impressed with his football knowledge, his management credentials and his drive. With Cameron as the CEO we are convinced that Melbourne can become the club that all Demons crave. We have some unfinished business to do," Stynes said.

Schwab started his career in administration with Melbourne as an 18-year-old before becoming the youngest ever AFL chief executive when he went to Richmond at just 24.

He then returned to Melbourne in 1994 and then took over as CEO in 1997.

Schwab said he believed he could help the Demons become a force again.

"The Melbourne Football Club has been a considerable part of my own personal heritage. It's where I started my working life 25 years ago. I would like to think that I can play a role in securing the future of the Club," he said.

"Jim and his board have brought hope to Melbourne and it is now my job to help build a team who can match that hope with expectation and performance."

He begins his three-year contract in early October

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Demon veterans futures in doubt

August 22nd 2008 08:04
MELBOURNE veterans Adem Yze and Jeff White remain in danger of being delisted despite being recalled for Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Yze has been out of the side since round 11 while White returns after passing a fitness test on his knee.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the inclusion of Yze and White showed the club was focused on winning games of football.

"We've held a policy for the whole year, if your form is good enough it doesn't matter how old you are or who you are playing for, you'll get a chance to play," he said.

"We've got Adem Yze and Jeff White back playing and to be fair to Adam, his form in the last two or three weeks at Sandringham has been good and he's been unlucky not to have played more games.

"Although we've got a lot of our young blokes playing, form is really important. You can't afford to play anyone who's out of form, it doesn't matter how old they are or what you are trying to do, because it reflects in the game and hurts the other 21 players."

But Bailey refused to elaborate on what the future held for the pair.

"We've taken the policy that we'll talk with, we'll sit down and Jeff and Adam will let the world know next week in regards to where they want to go and what their future is. So we'll leave it to those players to announce those sort of things," he said
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Morton wins nomination

August 19th 2008 02:35
MELBOURNE youngster Cale Morton has been rewarded for his consistent season with the round 20 NAB Rising Star nomination.

Morton was Melbourne's best in their win over West Coast at the MCG last Saturday with 30 possessions, 17 marks and one goal.

The 18-year-old, who made his debut in round one has averaged 18 disposals per game in his 17 appearances.

Morton was Melbourne's first selection and fourth overall in the 2007 national draft and joins teammates Austin Wonaeamirri and Colin Garland in line for the sought-after honour.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said Morton's has shown what he is capable of from the beginning of the season.

"Cale has been consistently good for us all year. He is a very hard worker and continues to develop all aspects of his game," he said.

Morton represented Western Australia in the 2007 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and won the Larke Medal for best player.in the championships.
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Dees down woeful West Coast

August 16th 2008 07:07
MELBOURNE is still a chance to avoid the wooden spoon after downing West Coast by 34 points at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides were guilty of making basic errors in a contest that failed to reach any great heights with the Demons eventually prevailing 11.13 (79) to 5.15 (45).

The Eagles, who booted their lowest ever score against the Demons will now face more questions during the week over tanking claims

Melbourne is now just a game behind West Coast and have winnable games against Port Adelaide and Richmond to finish the home-and-away season while the Eagles face ladder leaders Geelong and Hawthorn in the final two rounds.

Paul Wheatley was Melbourne's best with a team-high 36 possessions and 12 marks. He received good support from Cale Morton, Cameron Bruce, Simon Buckley and Nathan Jones, who all racked up 30-plus disposals.

For West Coast, Andrew Embley was busy in defence with a game-high 37 possessions while Steven Armstrong tried hard all day, finishing the match with 31 disposals and one goal.

The opening term reflected the position of both sides on the ladder with neither side able to find an avenue to goal.

Melbourne picked up 122 disposals for just one goal and West Coast 100 touches for two majors to take a five-point lead into quarter-time.

The Eagles started the second term brightly, booting the first two goals of the quarter through Quinten Lynch and Mark LeCras to skip out to an 18-point lead at the four-minute mark.

But they failed to fire a shot from that moment on, with the Demons showing a greater willingness to run hard as they booted 10 of the last 11 goals of the contest to record just their third win of the season.

MELBOURNE: 1.3, 5.7, 8.12, 11.13 (79)
WEST COAST: 2.2, 4.5, 5.10, 5.15 (45)
GOALS: Melbourne: Newton 2, Bruce 2, Miller, Bate, Sylvia, Bartram, P Johnson, Morton, Green
West Coast: McKinley 2, Armstrong, LeCras, Lynch
BEST: Melbourne: Wheatley, Morton, Bruce, Jones, Buckley, McDonald, Green
West Coast: Cox, Armstrong, Embley, Priddis
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
West Coast: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Ryan, Ellis, Nicholls
CROWD: 17,958 at the MCG


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Bailey rejects tanking talk

August 15th 2008 04:10
MELBOURNE is focused on finishing the season on a positive note and not securing a priority pick, according to coach Dean Bailey.

The Demons have only won two games this season and if they manage to win four matches or fewer they they will receive an additional draft choice at the end of the first round in this year's national draft.

But Bailey said he is focused on winning his side's final three matches against West Coast on Saturday at the MCG, Port Adelaide and Richmond.

"I hope we win on Saturday, we've got Port Adelaide (next round), I'd love to be able to beat Port Adelaide over there (at AAMI Stadium), then we play Richmond last," Bailey said.

"I'm in the game to win, that's what we need to be in. If we're not good enough to win then the outcome is that you get that (priority) pick, but we've still got three games to go."

"I expect us to be competitive and win on Saturday and I expect us to go to AAMI and win next week - that makes it four (potential wins). Then we got Richmond at the end and I'll still be trying to win the game."

Bailey also said he wanted to develop a winning culture at the club.

"Most of the games this year we really evaluate those games but this one's got a lot of importance in it for the fact is I wanna win the game, I've said before we've got three games
to go and I do not want to finish last," he said.

"I want to win, that's the culture you want to develop."

Meanwhile, Bailey revealed that he and his football department are coming close to making a decision on the futures of some of the club's more senior players.

"Yeah, we're getting closer to it (a decision), there's no doubt about that and, I mean, (Adem) Yze and 'Whitey' (Jeff White) have trained well," Bailey said.

"While they're still seriously in the mix of being picked, depending on how they go and how they pull up and where Jeff's situation is, we'll probably have a chat with them at some stage next week. They've been very professional."

White won't participate in Saturday's clash against the Eagles due to knee soreness but Bailey said he is still a good chance of featuring in the Demons' final two matches.

Fellow big man Paul Johnson, who was scheduled to undergo hip surgery next week will play against his former side as a result of White's exclusion.


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Demons set to lose major sponsor

August 13th 2008 00:39
MELBOURNE looks set to lose iPrimus as its major sponsor with the telecommunications company advising the club that it was unlikely to renew its contract as naming rights partner.

However, Demons president Jim Stynes said negotiations were underway with a view to the company continuing as a lower level partner in coming seasons.

Stynes also said talks are being held with other potential sponsors.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank iPrimus for their outstanding support and partnership over the last five years, and I am pleased that iPrimus would like to continue with us in some form," Stynes said.

"Anyone who partners with our club now will be joining a club that is heading into an exciting new era."


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We were taught a lesson: Bailey

August 9th 2008 01:16
MELBOURNE was given a ruthless lesson on how to play team football according to coach Dean Bailey.

Bailey said the Demons, who were smashed by 116 points by the Cats at the MCG on Friday night were made to look second rate.

"We got a lesson in how to play footy tonight, (an) absolute lesson in how to play team football at a ruthless and unforgiving level, a level we couldn't even match from the first minute to the last minute," Bailey said.

"I don't think we had a winner anywhere and we were second rate."

Bailey also said his team's performance was on a par with the first two rounds of the year when it was thumped by Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs by 104 and 95 points respectively.

"It was almost boys playing against men," he said.

"They use the ball well and they move the ball quickly."

"At the end of the day the scoreboard shows us exactly the true indication of how we played on how well they were going and how effective they were."

"We got a real big lesson on how to play team football. Team football is paramount. They do it at a level which we're not near," Bailey said.

Bailey said Geelong continually punished his side for their poor use of the football.

"We were turning the ball over, mainly because of their good play and their good pressure. And they're incredibly effective on the counter attack," he said.

"There's a connection between a lot of their players that was very difficult for us to match."




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Dees raise $2m to fight debt

August 6th 2008 00:27
MELBOURNE has made a significant dent in its $5 million debt, raising more than $2 million at Tuesday night's 'Debt Demolition' function.

About 170 guests, 30 club legends and 22 players attended the function, with each guest having to pay $1,000 up front and make a donation of at least $5,000 on the night.

Many tipped in more than the minimum amount, with more than 50 people donating at least $10,000 each. Some donated between $15,000 and $100,000, with a staggering $200,000 donated by two supporters.

The Melbourne playing group contributed $10,000.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes said the function was an overwhelming success.

"The generosity in the room far exceeded expectations," Stynes said.

"The past players were sensational and it was great to see some of the old faces back here. It was a bit of a theatrical event and they had to get into the spirit of it.

"Garry Lyon spoke really well and fired them up at the start and [singer] David Hobson was terrific … it takes a lot to make something like this successful, but everyone kicked in, from the staff and the board, and they've all kicked on until the end."

Stynes also said there was still a long way to go.

"It is about being aware of the responsibility that we carry and at this time, more than any in our history, we need to be making the right decisions. There is the passion and business acumen in this room that brings this club together – and that's what we showed tonight," he said.

"It's a start. We're into the second quarter now of our debt demolition."




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Demons re-sign six

August 2nd 2008 01:28
MELBOURNE has strengthened its on-field future with the re-signing of six promising youngsters.

James Frawley, 19, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones and Ricky Petterd, all 20, and Matthew Bate and Michael Newton, both 21, have all signed two-year deals.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the six players are a key part of the club's future.

"We've got a really good group of players around that age that we think are going to be the future of the club, and given some experience and opportunity they've all shown pieces of play that suggest there's a really good future," Bailey said.

"Bate and Jones came third and second respectively in the best-and-fairest last year. Col Garland has got a rising star this year, Newton took an outstanding mark last year as a forward, you've got Petterd who was almost revived at a game and might become a midfielder down the track and James Frawley has shown some class down back."

Meanwhile, Bailey said the future of veteran ruckman Jeff White, who hasn't been able to get back into the side since being dropped before round 14 was yet to be determined.

"We'll sit down with Jeff in the coming weeks and work out where his situation is from the club's point of view," he said.

"But Jeff White has been a professional player and an outstanding footballer in the AFL for a long period of time."

Bailey refused to guarantee that White would play again this season.

"It depends on his form. We've made the stance during the year that form's really important, particularly when we haven't had too many wins, so we'll stick with that recipe."


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Dees demolishing debt

July 31st 2008 00:24
MELBOURNE is well on its way to wiping off $5 million in debt, gaining pledges from supporters worth more than $1 million.

Already 140 backers have promised the minimum outlay of $6000 to attend next Tuesday night's "Debt Demolition" dinner, with further donations expected on the night.

The club is now searching for another 10 donors to complete a "150 Foundation Heroes" list.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes said it was a good start but admitted there is still a long way to go.

"This is like the first quarter," Stynes said.

"But this is a great start."

Stynes didn't give away too many details about the night, but ensured it would be memorable for those who will attend.

"It's going to be fairly theatrical," Stynes said.

"An unusual night. A memorable one. They won't forget this one for a long time."

He did reveal that a highlight will be footage of coach Dean Bailey's pre-match address in this year's 150th birthday clash with Collingwood.

The dinner will cost $1,000 a ticket, with guests expected to donate a minimum of $5,000.

The list of "150 Foundation Heroes" will forever hang next to the Demons' recent list of their all-time top 150 players.

The Demons will also hold a lower-priced event next month for people who want to help but can't afford to attend Tuesday's dinner.

"We will cater for those who want to contribute, say, $500-plus," Stynes said.

"After Tuesday night, we need the balance of the members to come forward and help us with the rest."




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