Find out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Thursday, May 26, 2011
Herald Sun
Meagre pickings if Scully leaves Dees
By Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE will probably receive only a mid-teens draft pick as compensation if 2009 No. 1 pick Tom Scully joins Greater Western Sydney. Under the AFL's compensation model, Scully would be almost certain to miss out on the "top echelon" category, which gives clubs two first-round picks. Instead the Demons would receive an extra first-round pick after their own initial selection in the national draft. On their current ladder position (10th), the Demons would get pick 16 as a normal pick and 17 as compensation.
The Age
Demoted Moloney leads the way for Demons
By Matt Murnane
HE IS no longer vice-captain, but Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney is still showing the same qualities that took him to the team's second-highest leadership position, and winning the role back is his goal. Devastated to be stripped of the vice-captaincy after a night out drinking, the 27-year-old has shown that the desire to make amends burns strong, using the incident to elevate his game to career-best heights. In the five games since the indiscretion, Moloney has averaged 25 possessions and also racked up eight clearances and six inside-50s per game, making him favourite for the club's best-and-fairest. He is also equal first in the AFL for clearances, along with Carlton stoppage king Chris Judd, and ranks 13th in the league for contested possessions, averaging 13 per outing. ''Nothing has changed for me,'' Moloney said yesterday. ''I believe you don't need a title to lead and ever since [losing the vice-captaincy], the focus has been just to keep leading the way, and keep driving these young guys to get the most out of them. ''I want to be back in the leadership group and I'd love to be vice-captain of the footy club again.''
Match preview: Melbourne v Carlton
By Will Brodie
Carlton, now a legitimate top four contender, will find a way to win this game. Regardless of the burden of favouritism, or the possibility of suffering a let-down after a massive match against the Cats last week, regardless of the availability of inspiring skipper Chris Judd. In fact, the Blues may relish the chance to prove yet another myth about itself incorrect - that it cannot win without the Brownlow Medal favourite on the field. Such vagaries of psychology would be would be valid talking points against last week’s opponents, not the hamstrung Demons. As so often happens, Melbourne run out of luck at the same time it ran out of form in 2011. Having taken the brave, some might say foolhardy choice to jettison former captain James McDonald from the midfield, the Dees, already missing injured elite talent Tom Scully, then lost Jack Trengove to an unlikely suspension. That’s not to mention the absence of their entire ruck division, bar back-up, makeshift trier Stefan Martin; and cornerstone defenders Jack Grimes and Colin Garland. Last week, their revelation of 2011, rugged, skilled half-back Luke Tapscott became the latest body to falter, a hamstring injury putting him on the sidelines for at least three weeks.
Demoted Moloney leads the way for Demons
By Matt Murnane
HE IS no longer vice-captain, but Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney is still showing the same qualities that took him to the team's second-highest leadership position, and winning the role back is his goal. Devastated to be stripped of the vice-captaincy after a night out drinking, the 27-year-old has shown that the desire to make amends burns strong, using the incident to elevate his game to career-best heights. In the five games since the indiscretion, Moloney has averaged 25 possessions and also racked up eight clearances and six inside-50s per game, making him favourite for the club's best-and-fairest. He is also equal first in the AFL for clearances, along with Carlton stoppage king Chris Judd, and ranks 13th in the league for contested possessions, averaging 13 per outing. ''Nothing has changed for me,'' Moloney said yesterday. ''I believe you don't need a title to lead and ever since [losing the vice-captaincy], the focus has been just to keep leading the way, and keep driving these young guys to get the most out of them. ''I want to be back in the leadership group and I'd love to be vice-captain of the footy club again.''
Match preview: Melbourne v Carlton
By Will Brodie
Carlton, now a legitimate top four contender, will find a way to win this game. Regardless of the burden of favouritism, or the possibility of suffering a let-down after a massive match against the Cats last week, regardless of the availability of inspiring skipper Chris Judd. In fact, the Blues may relish the chance to prove yet another myth about itself incorrect - that it cannot win without the Brownlow Medal favourite on the field. Such vagaries of psychology would be would be valid talking points against last week’s opponents, not the hamstrung Demons. As so often happens, Melbourne run out of luck at the same time it ran out of form in 2011. Having taken the brave, some might say foolhardy choice to jettison former captain James McDonald from the midfield, the Dees, already missing injured elite talent Tom Scully, then lost Jack Trengove to an unlikely suspension. That’s not to mention the absence of their entire ruck division, bar back-up, makeshift trier Stefan Martin; and cornerstone defenders Jack Grimes and Colin Garland. Last week, their revelation of 2011, rugged, skilled half-back Luke Tapscott became the latest body to falter, a hamstring injury putting him on the sidelines for at least three weeks.
