Todd Viney

After a month of indifferent form, the Melbourne Demons demolished the Fremantle Dockers on a damp and windy night at Optus Stadium. The Demons were hot from the opening bounce, contesting and tackling to put the Dockers under pressure. Luke Darcy was strong in the ruck for Fremantle, opposed to Luke Jackson and later Max Gawn, Darcy controlled the early taps but it was Christian Petracca and Todd Viney who won clearances for Melbourne. The Demons got away to an early lead with small forwards, Kysaiah Pickett and Charlie Spargo booting two goals and the mobile Bayley Fritsch adding one. The Dockers were rushed into poor plays by the ferocity of the Demon pressure around the ball. Halfway through the first quarter the Dockers recovered from the early onslaught and pushed forward to register goals from the pacy Michael Frederick and the skill of Michael Walters. Under pressure Fremantle turned the ball over too easily by hand and foot and Melbourne players found space in groups of two or three, to punish the poor defensive work of the Docker midfielders. Fritsch added another goal to give the Demons a useful lead by the first break.

In the final game for round one of 2020, the West Coast Eagles showed why they would be considered one of the favorites to win the competition this year. (Ed. note: the AFL has suspended the season until at least May 31^st.) The home team enjoyed the warm day (88º F. ), but it was their team structure and discipline which cooked the visitors.  Melbourne started the game determined to show they are a better team than results from last year suggested. However, it was their delivery into their attacking zone that demonstrated they had learned nothing over the summer break. By quarter time, the Eagles were up five-zero in goals and it was already clear that Melbourne lack the structure of the home side.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Melbourne Demon great Robbie Flower passed away on October 2 after a brief illness. Flower, 59, underwent heart surgery earlier in the year. The club, and many in the football community, were deeply saddened by the announcement of his passing. SEN on air personality Mark Fine announced several times on air of tragic news from Melbourne but did not elaborate until it was confirmed out of respect for the family. Many have remarked on the constant tragedies that seem to strike the club. Several years ago, young defender Troy Broadbridge was killed in a tsunami while on his honeymoon. The club lost Jim Stynes to cancer two years ago and fellow Irish recruit Sean Wight also passed away from cancer in 2011.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Several clubs have declared their intention to draft sons of former players under the father-son rule. They are:

A Round 23 clash between two struggling clubs would normally not attract a lot of attention but this round had a high level of importance for both Richmond and Melbourne. The Tigers had seemingly lost their way after an exciting start to the season but, coming off a thumping 47 point win against perennial finalist Sydney, they appeared to have their mojo back. If they could pull off a win against Melbourne – a feat they had not managed since Round 18, 2009 – some momentum could be regained as the Tigers move into a very important off-season. Melbourne on the other hand, has had its season torn apart over the past month, going from a highly-touted dynasty built around Trengove, Scully and Watts to a team which sacked its coach after some abysmal late season performances. Amazingly, the Demons could still mathematically make the Finals with a win over Richmond and games against cellar-dwelling Gold Coast and Port Adelaide to follow.

Jack Viney, the son of former captain Todd, has already been earmarked by the Demons for a father/son draft selection in 2012 when he will be eligible for the draft. Todd Viney recently left Adelaide, where he had been serving as an assistant coach, to take up a role as general manager of player development with the Demons. The younger Viney, 16, has been attracting interest from other clubs and the Demons are very pleased to make the commitment to Jack who like his father was recruited by club CEO Cameron Schwab.

Melbourne has welcomed back one of its own with the appointment of former player Todd Viney as general manager of player development.