FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Herald Sun
Dees, Tigers stoke new rivalry
By Grant Baker
MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says Saturdays clash represents a chance for his side to get a step ahead of Richmond. Fresh from an 89-point belting of Fremantle yesterday, Bailey today turned his attention to the Tigers, who sit just one spot behind his Demons on the ladder in 10th, also on 22 points. “It’s an important game because we get to compete against a club that probably in a similar situation to where we are - both trying to develop a list, both trying to get experience into their teams,” Bailey said. “At the end of it, there’s going to be four points. It’s going to be a high-pressure game with a lot of desperation. “Both clubs are looking at it at through the eyes of taking the next step on each other. “The competitive nature between the two clubs is there. “I think it’s going to be a terrific game of footy.”
Richmond v Melbourne a rivalry with legs
By Mike Sheahan
MELBOURNE entered this season as the most likely next big thing, Richmond as a future NBT, yet one, maybe even two years behind Melbourne. When Saturday afternoon football finally returns to the MCG this week, Melbourne and Richmond will face each other in a tantalising match-up. Both sit just outside the eight with five wins and a draw from 12 games, Melbourne holds a handy break in percentage terms, one of them probably will end up in the final eight. It looks a genuine 50-50 contest, the most eagerly awaited encounter between these two since Round 15, 2006, when 60,086 saw Melbourne, third, beat Richmond, eighth, by 18 points. It may not seem that long ago, yet Melbourne's best players that night were Russell Robertson, Matthew Whelan, James McDonald, Simon Godfrey, Brad Green, Daniel Ward and Nathan Carroll. Only Green endures in red and blue. What's almost as exciting as the match is the anticipated battles within the battle.
The Age
Martin's versatility might give Richmond the edge
By Michael Gleeson
CARLTON'S rise to the top three and legitimacy in the conversation of possible premiers is further validation of the draft - were it needed - by proving that if you are poor enough for long enough you will gain enough elite talent to rise. Melbourne and Richmond are next. The Tigers and Demons have undoubtedly been poor enough for long enough to cream Carlton-like talent and both are now taking baby steps to the top eight. Either could make the top eight this year - they are ninth and 10th - and this weekend's game will show which has the stronger argument. Last weekend's performances illustrated why they are back in this position. There are myriad players and reasons why, but ostensibly it comes down to six players - three from both teams. They are players of the same generation, but taken from three drafts: Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Jack Watts for Melbourne, and Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Ty Vickery for Richmond.
