FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Herald Sun
Sylvia’s future up in the air
By Mark Stevens
TALKS on Colin Sylvia's future at Melbourne are set to intensify, days after he was surprisingly dropped to the VFL. It is understood Sylvia's management group has a meeting booked with the Demons later this week. Sylvia, the explosive No. 3 pick in the 2003 draft, is out of contract at the end of the season. The explosive midfielder/forward has strong currency in the market, with Sydney understood to be particularly keen. The meeting was on the agenda before Sylvia was sent to back to Casey Scorpions, but caretaker coach Todd Viney's call to make an example of the 25-year-old put his status at the club back in the headlines. Any new deal is not necessarily linked to Tom Scully's decision to stay or go, meaning there could be an announcement on a new deal in coming weeks. But the Demons will have more scope to reward Sylvia if Greater Western Sydney gets its man, meaning a final decision may not come until after the season.
Viney has ground for concern
By AAP
MELBOURNE caretaker coach Todd Viney admits he has no idea what lies behind the Demons' terrible record at Etihad Stadium. About half the Melbourne players who will face West Coast at the venue on Sunday have never experienced victory at the stadium. The club has lost 11 times there since its last win four years ago. In the same time, the Dees have won or drawn about 40 per cent of their MCG games. Viney is not interested in devising strategies to break the hoodoo. He said Melbourne simply needed to learn to produce its best football regardless of location. "From my point of view, I'm in this job for five or so weeks; it's any time, anywhere, any conditions," he said. "If you can't play well at Etihad, you can't play well anywhere."
Strauss back on his feet after break
By Sam Edmund
MELBOURNE youngster James Strauss has left hospital, vowing to stay positive. Strauss, who broke his leg in a sickening fall against Carlton on Saturday, had a steel rod and three pins inserted in his left leg on Saturday night. "The first 30 seconds to a minute was pretty painful, but then I think the shock set in," Strauss said. "I haven't actually seen the footage, but as soon as I did it I knew it wasn't too good. I just put my arm up and waited for the doctors to come out." While the physical recovery is daunting, the 21-year-old acknowledged the mental battle that now awaited him. "I'm pretty good at the moment. I suppose I've just got to try to keep positive and, hopefully, I'll get back to footy as quick as possible," Strauss said.
The Age
Broken Strauss stays upbeat
MELBOURNE youngster James Strauss has left hospital, vowing to stay positive. Strauss, who broke his leg in a sickening fall against Carlton on Saturday, had a steel rod and three pins inserted in his left leg on Saturday night. "The first 30 seconds to a minute was pretty painful, but then I think the shock set in," Strauss said. "I haven't actually seen the footage, but as soon as I did it I knew it wasn't too good. I just put my arm up and waited for the doctors to come out." While the physical recovery is daunting, the 21-year-old acknowledged the mental battle that now awaited him. "I'm pretty good at the moment. I suppose I've just got to try to keep positive and, hopefully, I'll get back to footy as quick as possible," Strauss said.
The Age
Broken Strauss stays upbeat
By Jesse Hogan
ONCE shock had dulled the agony of snapping both lower bones in his left leg, James Strauss focused his attention on reassuring the thousands of Melbourne and Carlton supporters who had witnessed his plight at the MCG. His method? A thumbs-up as he was carried down the race on a stretcher. "I remember that," the Melbourne defender said as he left Richmond's Epworth Hospital yesterday. "Everyone was cheering me so I thought I'd just give them the thumbs-up and let them know I'm OK." Surgeons inserted a rod and three pins in the 21-year-old's leg and he will need to use crutches for the next six to eight weeks. While match commentators immediately commiserated with the third-year player — 3AW radio's Brian Taylor said the footage was the worst he had seen — Strauss said he had yet to see a replay of the incident, which initially seemed to be a regulation attempt to spoil an opponent. "I haven't actually seen the footage, but as soon as I did it I knew it wasn't too good.The first 30 seconds to a minute were pretty painful, but then I think the shock set in. I was pretty relaxed after that."
Jurrah and Sylvia back in favour
By Jesse Hogan
THE high-profile casualties of Todd Viney's installation as coach of Melbourne - Colin Sylvia and Liam Jurrah - are back in favour and could regain their positions as early as Sunday's match against West Coast. Caretaker coach Viney axed Sylvia and Jurrah from the Demons' team last weekend, despite both being comfortably placed among the club's most talented players. They were instead made to prove their worth in the VFL. Viney said he was very pleased with the manner of affiliate club Casey Scorpions' victory over Sandringham, to the extent that both players, along with maligned utility Cale Morton and injury-plagued youngster Sam Blease, could return against the Eagles. ''I probably shouldn't individualise because there's a couple of others [also in contention],'' Viney said. Viney did, however, confirm Sylvia and Jurrah had gone some way to overcoming the flaws that prompted their omissions. ''It was … things we've been talking about, like defensive intent and structurally playing their roles. Both boys were very good and I anticipate they'll be right up in selection this week.''
ONCE shock had dulled the agony of snapping both lower bones in his left leg, James Strauss focused his attention on reassuring the thousands of Melbourne and Carlton supporters who had witnessed his plight at the MCG. His method? A thumbs-up as he was carried down the race on a stretcher. "I remember that," the Melbourne defender said as he left Richmond's Epworth Hospital yesterday. "Everyone was cheering me so I thought I'd just give them the thumbs-up and let them know I'm OK." Surgeons inserted a rod and three pins in the 21-year-old's leg and he will need to use crutches for the next six to eight weeks. While match commentators immediately commiserated with the third-year player — 3AW radio's Brian Taylor said the footage was the worst he had seen — Strauss said he had yet to see a replay of the incident, which initially seemed to be a regulation attempt to spoil an opponent. "I haven't actually seen the footage, but as soon as I did it I knew it wasn't too good.The first 30 seconds to a minute were pretty painful, but then I think the shock set in. I was pretty relaxed after that."
Jurrah and Sylvia back in favour
By Jesse Hogan
THE high-profile casualties of Todd Viney's installation as coach of Melbourne - Colin Sylvia and Liam Jurrah - are back in favour and could regain their positions as early as Sunday's match against West Coast. Caretaker coach Viney axed Sylvia and Jurrah from the Demons' team last weekend, despite both being comfortably placed among the club's most talented players. They were instead made to prove their worth in the VFL. Viney said he was very pleased with the manner of affiliate club Casey Scorpions' victory over Sandringham, to the extent that both players, along with maligned utility Cale Morton and injury-plagued youngster Sam Blease, could return against the Eagles. ''I probably shouldn't individualise because there's a couple of others [also in contention],'' Viney said. Viney did, however, confirm Sylvia and Jurrah had gone some way to overcoming the flaws that prompted their omissions. ''It was … things we've been talking about, like defensive intent and structurally playing their roles. Both boys were very good and I anticipate they'll be right up in selection this week.''
