Bartel, Cats deny Roos

A controversial free kick and 50m penalty has gifted Geelong another remarkable comeback victory at Etihad Stadium today.

Geelong v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Jimmy Bartel kicks the winning goal Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Geelong star Jimmy Bartel works his way through traffic against North Melbourne. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

SELF-BELIEF was Geelong's trademark in three premiership triumphs and continues to deliver the Cats stunning results.

That never-quit work ethic allowed Geelong to steal a four-point win against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium yesterday.

In a remarkable turnaround, the Cats whittled away a deficit that ballooned to 41 points late in the second quarter to hit the front for the second time with only 20 seconds left in the game.

"We weren't really testing them. We just had to try to play our way and see how they handled that," experienced defender Andrew Mackie said.

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"To the boys' credit, we got on top in the middle and that makes a difference, a bit like last week (against Hawthorn)."

In a gripping final term, the Kangaroos lost the lead and then regained it with a goal from Daniel Wells after Mitch Duncan conceded a 50m penalty.

Ironically, it was another 50m penalty that allowed Cat Jimmy Bartel to kick the sealing goal inside the last minute after Nathan Grima fell into his back and then Michael Firrito roosted the ball away.

What would have been a pressure shot for Bartel from 40m became a gift from the goalline. The Cats created two stoppages after the restart to run down the clock.

Geelong v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Harry Taylor , Trent West and Josh Caddy celebrate on the final siren Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

Another second-half revival left Geelong coach Chris Scott with mixed emotions - while he marvelled at the resilience of his players he was determined to dissect a lacklustre first half.

"I'm exhausted without having to run a metre. It was difficult to watch in the first half and that's what we're going to focus on," he said.

"The things that we went in planning to do weren't implemented and they were a different team than the one that played Round 1. Due credit to their skills and decision-making, but those options shouldn't have been available.

"A lot of the questioning today will be around the competitiveness of our players, their discipline to get back to what we wanted to do pre-game and really fight their way back.

"But we don't accept that, it's not good enough to rely on efforts like that to get back into games of footy because our first half was poor."

North monopolised the ball in the first half, working harder and hitting their targets to rack up nearly double the Cats' possessions.

Geelong v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Nathan Grima after the loss Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

That control and accuracy inside the forward 50 wasn't reflected on the scoreboard with only a 19-point lead at quarter-time to show for the Roos toil. But it had stretched to 35 at halftime.

Geelong will reflect on two telling moves that fuelled the momentum switch in the second half.

 Almost as telling as Mathew Stokes super-sub performance was defender Harry Taylor's shutdown of dangerous Kangaroo tall target Drew Petrie.

Taylor went back on to Petrie after the big Roo had booted his fourth goal on Tom Lonergan early in the second term and he didn't add to the tally.

It was another example that the game doesn't allow anyone to bathe in glory for long ... Lonergan, who contained Lance Franklin only six days earlier, had his second opponent and four goals against him after just over a quarter.

Like the opening round against Hawthorn, the Cats' daring and run created overlaps and the willingness to risk another handball applied enormous pressure to the Roos defence after halftime.

"We have confidence that we can score quickly, but in my time at Geelong it appears no player ever gives up and that's a really admirable trait," Scott said.

"We're really proud of our guys, but I guess we can't just rely on that experience to get us back into the game when it's slipping away from us. I guess it's slightly intimidating for opposition teams when they know they're playing a team that never gives up. But we have to focus on not putting ourselves in that position in the first place."

Geelong v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Brad Scott talking with the AFL's ( Graham Finn ? ) ground manger after the loss about the roof policy after the loss. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun

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Magpies down Mick's Blues

Nathan Buckley takes bragging rights over old mentor Mick Malthouse as Collingwood defeats old enemy Carlton in a MCG classic.

Sam Dwyer impressed on his MCG debut. Picture: Klein Michael Source: HWT Image Library

ALL week it was about Mick versus "Bucks".

In the end an unlikely battle that decided this clash. Forget Pendlebury versus Murphy and Swan versus Judd. This was all about Elliott, Dwyer and Sinclair versus Walker, Yarran and Garlett.

The battle of the small forwards - and in Collingwood's case the inexperienced trio - was the catalyst for a memorable Pies victory.

The work of the little guys was, at times, breathtaking.

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The Collingwood mosquito fleet kicked eight goals between them - led brilliantly by Jamie Elliott with five - while Carlton's contributed nine.

Scott Pendlebury clears by hand during the 3rd qtr of the Collingwood vs Carlton match at the MCG. April 7, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: HWT Image Library

Elliott, in his 17th game, kicked two goals in the last quarter.When the game was on the line he was in the thick of the action.

With four minutes to go he showed poise beyond his years nailing a crucial set shot to extend the lead to 10 points.

A mongrel floater by Carlton's Kane Lucas a minute later, that somehow scraped over the line, kept the game alive.

Enter Elliott again.

This time a slick handball through a pack opened the door for Steele Sidebottom to kick the goal and seal a stirring victory.

While his heroics earned him the best-on-ground accolade, the performance of second-gamer Sam Dwyer was also eye-opening.

The 26-year-old rookie who was recruited from Port Melbourne played like he'd been on the MCG 100 times.

Before a crowd of 84,000 plus, Dwyer collected 23 possessions including a team-high 14 contested.

Ben Sinclair played his part by kicking two goals, including the first of the final term.

Fittingly, it was a Jeff Garlett special from 55m around the corner - his third for the day - that stopped the Pies' run-on in the early stages of the final term.

Scott Pendlebury clears by hand during the 3rd qtr of the Collingwood vs Carlton match at the MCG. April 7, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: HWT Image Library

The problem for the Blues was their smalls had done their damage early and went missing at the death.

Andrew Walker, who surprisingly played in defence last week, started it all by kicking the opening three goals of the game inside 14 minutes.

It was then Chris Yarran's turn in the second quarter, kicking two goals and being instrumental in the Blues' 10-point halftime lead.

Unfortunately by the end, Walker was in defence - at one stage he was standing Elliott - and Yarran had run out of steam.

While the two Collingwood kids deserved all the accolades, there was some important cameos from the stars of both sides.

Harry O'Brien continued his career resurrection on the wing and was dominant early, while Heath Shaw sparked the Pies in the third quarter kicking a critical goal after a bad Jeremy Laidler mistake and then hit the post a minute later.

Scott Pendlebury clears by hand during the 3rd qtr of the Collingwood vs Carlton match at the MCG. April 7, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: HWT Image Library

He finished with 26 possessions, the same as Dane Swan, who got busy in the final quarter.

Irishman Marty Clarke played a good game on the wing.

For the Blues, Marc Murphy (26) and Chris Judd (25) led the way with the skipper, in particular, having a big impact in the final term.

Andrew Carrazzo again did a good job to keep Scott Pendlebury to 23 touches, while Mitch Robinson was energetic as usual and Matthew Kreuzer dominated the ruck - 34 hitouts - thanks to an early injury to Darren Jolly.

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Clarko lauds outstanding win

Hawk Luke Hodge bouned back with 100 SuperCoach pts. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson said his side withstood a West Coast onslaught before pulling away for an against-the-odds victory.

Clarkson joked his players had been given "jungle juice" at three-quarter time before they piled on eight goals in the final term to run out 50-point winners in hot conditions after a six-day break.

"The boys really dug in and had a super last quarter," he said.

"We've worked hard over the summer and we're always confident in our ability to push out quarters.

"Both sides were cramping a lot and we just looked a little bit more fatigued. But we handled that West Coast onslaught in the third quarter and just regrouped at three-quarter time."

Midfielder Brad Sewell was substituted in the third term with hamstring tightness but Clarkson hoped he would be available for Sunday's showdown with Collingwood. Forward Jack Gunston was a late withdrawal because of illness but is expected to be available for the MCG clash.

Hawthorn dominated the inside-50 count, 62-37, and refused to wilt despite West Coast appearing well placed for a last-quarter charge.

"It was an outstanding victory," Clarkson said. "We came off a six-day break and came off Easter Monday playing the Cats, which was a pretty torrid affair as well.

"So we knew it was going to be a tough game. Particularly because of the conditions and different size of the oval over here in the west."

Captain Luke Hodge impressed in his first game of the season.

"I'm feeling all right now. Tomorrow, I guess, that will tell me," he said. "I was tired at times throughout the game but felt like I ran out the game OK. I look forward to a lighter week on the track and then Collingwood next week."

Eagles coach John Worsfold refused to panic despite his side losing its first two games.

"We've played two pretty good top teams," he said.

"So it's all there for us to do what we want to do," Worsfold said.

"We're still aiming to show that we're one of the really good teams in the competition and we'll get measured on that over the next 20 weeks."
 

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Mick admits Pies are better

Magpie Scott Pendlebury clears by hand during the third quarter against Carlton at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse before the start of yesterday's blockbuster at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse says Collingwood may be the best side in the competition, with the Carlton coach last night moving to ease the pressure on his winless Blues.

Malthouse was keen to give a "little lesson in history" on the recent form line of both clubs after Carlton was run down by the rampant Magpies in the last quarter at the MCG.

The Blues lead by 18 points nine minutes into the third quarter and by 10 points at the last change.

But they were outworked and out-thought by Collingwood in the last half-hour, conceding seven goals to three.

"What went wrong? We played probably one of the best sides in the competition.

"They might even be No.1,'' Malthouse said.

"They were better when it counted most.

"They were smarter with the footy and they just worked a bit harder.''

Collingwood's runners surged into space in an irresistible last quarter assault, racking up 27 uncontested marks to 11.

Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom all finished strongly.

"They're a very good football side," he said.

"I think sometimes we just need a little lesson in history to say, 'Well, they were on top of the ladder for a long time last year, they finished third or fourth, we finished ninth or 10th or whatever and there's a gap and we've got to close that gap','' Malthouse said.

"We've got to be better and we'll approach every week to get better and smarter and do something about it.

"There's no joy in getting beaten by 17 points, but I know we can match it for periods of time with one the best sides and that's the most encouraging thing about this.

"We will work to lengthen that time from 10 minutes to 11, from 15 to 20.

"In the last two weeks we just haven't been consistent, we haven't been smart enough with the footy at times and we haven't probably been running hard enough."

Chris Yarran shows Ben Johnson a clean pair of heels as he heads towards the goals during the 2nd qtr of the Collingwood vs Carlton match at the MCG. April 7, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

Carlton captain Mark Murphy said: "They're good players got on top ... it's pretty disappointing.

"We played in parts and against good sides you've got to play for the full four quarters to get the win."

Asked if he was happy the match and the momentous build-up was over, Malthouse shrugged his shoulders.

"That's life. I've been in big games before, it's the way it is," he said.

The Blues face Geelong, West Coast (away) and Adelaide in the next three weeks in a daunting opening to the season, but Malthouse strongly believes his side are getting there.

"I'll walk out of here disapppionted and tomorrow ... I'll be as positive as I know I can be with this group of players," he said.

"They are nearing it and we're getting better and we'll get better each week and at some stage that result will click over to a victory and it will give us the confidence to go forward."

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Top Demons still behind Neeld

Melbourne president Don McLardy says the recent investment in football department spending, recruiting, sports science and development coaching will reap rewards.. Picture: Jon Hargest Source: Herald Sun

Difficult times: Coach Mark Neeld Source: Herald Sun

BESIEGED Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has the backing of the Melbourne board after chief executive Cameron Schwab and president Don McLardy declared his position safe.

As the fallout continued from the Demons' embarrassing 148-point defeat by Essendon on Saturday, the administration threw its support behind 24-game coach Neeld.

There had been speculation the Round 4 battle - potentially to avoid the wooden spoon - between the Demons and Greater Western Sydney could decide his position.

But Schwab, McLardy and director of football Neil Craig went on radio and TV yesterday to back Neeld.

"We're not going to look at sacking coaches and going down that line at all," McLardy said.

"We are certain we have got the right team. But what we don't want is instability in our football club.

"One of the key things in a football club is stability and trust in your people. Now we have that and we are going to support them through."

Schwab was similarly emphatic, despite his horror at a combined 227-point deficit in two rounds.

"I am sure Mark would be struggling with many things at this moment. Today he is looking at white boards and magnets, but the one thing he can be comfortable and confident with is he has our full support," Schwab said.

"What we saw last night and last week is simply not good enough. No one will sugarcoat that in any form.

"There is an enormous amount of work to be done. But we will do it together. The one thing we won't do is fragment. The pressure can have that affect on organisations."

The Demons are $2.50 wooden spoon favourites and no one at Melbourne can make promises about a swift recovery against West Coast next week.

McLardy said recent investment in football department spending, recruiting, sports science and development coaching would reap rewards.

"We think we are on the right track," he said.

"We have got to understand as a club over the past four or five years we have put ourselves in a position where we can compete in ... a really tough competition.

"We don't think that (performance against Essendon) is a true reflection of where we are and we are going to support those people and that team we put in place and we are going to see this through."

Melbourne players said at a recovery session yesterday that the club's culture was not to blame.

"As a group we've really got to stick together and find out who cares about the place," Colin Garland said.

"There's just no excuse for the way blokes are performing out on the ground, it's as simple as that."

Midfielder Sam Blease expressed support for Neeld: "We're 100 per cent behind Neeldy. We're just in a tough spot at the moment. Hopefully we can get out of it."

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Power triumphs in tribute match

Port players honour John McCarthy ahead of tribute match.

Remembered - the late John McCarthy. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas, left, with members of John McCarthy's family watch the tribute to J-Mac before the match. Picture: Dylan Coker. Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

Power's Justin Westhoff takes a spectacular mark in the second quarter against the Giants. Picture: Reed Sarah Source: adelaidenow

With Justin Westhoff and Chad Wingard playing the games of their lives, the John McCarthy tribute match last night turned into a celebration for Port Adelaide.

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The rebuilt Power overcame a resilient Greater Western Sydney - the team which dramatically ended Matthew Primus's Port coaching career last year - to win its first two games of a season for the first time in three years.

In an emotion-charged game which followed a stirring tribute to McCarthy - the former Power player who died on an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas with teammates last year - Port set up its win with a devastating, unanswered six-goal second-quarter burst.

In a sign of a good side and vastly-improved fitness levels, it then kicked clear in the final term to win easily by 56 points.

The Power's triumph followed the 79-point MCG thumping of Melbourne in round one and was further evidence the club is on the right track under new coach Ken Hinkley.

Port became the last team to beat GWS - the AFL's 18th club - after losing their previous clash at Skoda Stadium in round 19 last year.

The much-maligned Westhoff led from the front.

He displayed raw emotion in his pre-match tribute to McCarthy - shown on the AAMI Stadium screens - and played magnificently.

The tall utility kicked five goals, hauled in 14 marks and had 25 disposals in his role as a floating forward.

His standout game included a towering mark in the second quarter.

Wingard - Port's 2011 first-round draft pick - showed why he was rated so highly with a career-best performance.

The former SA under-18 captain kicked an AFL career-high three goals as well as having three score assists.

The rapidly-improving Jasper Pittard, Campbell Heath and Lewis Stevenson were solid across half-back, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes and Travis Boak won plenty of the ball in the middle of the ground and Alipate Carlile was strong at full back in his first game of the season.

Only poor kicking for goal cost the Power a much bigger victory.

While playmaker Hamish Hartlett was well held by former Docker Rhys Palmer, Port played quick, long and direct footy through the corridor to have an impressive 39 scoring shots.

The only downside for the Power was injuries to key forward Jay Schulz (ankle) and Hartlett (sore back).

The emotion of the occasion and its extraordinary build-up, which included a magnificent tribute to McCarthy from his former teammates, clearly affected Port early.

It did not look like it had come to play with the Giants dominating contested possessions and clearances.

With captain Callan Ward leading from the front, GWS won 15 of the first 20 contested possessions and continually bombarded the ball inside its 50-metre zone.

Ward had 11 disposals in the opening term and his strong ballwinning ability was capitalised on by key forward Jeremy Cameron, who kicked two goals, as the Giants quickly broke to a 19-point lead.

They booted four of the first five goals before Wingard pegged one back for the Power on the stroke of quarter-time.

Port could thank Westhoff for being so close. He had 10 disposals and took six marks for the term in his role as a high forward.

The Power's woes were highlighted in the damning 3-13 clearance statistics. Eight Giants, led by Dylan Shiel's three, had managed a clearance compared to only three Port players.

Whatever Hinkley said to his players at quarter-time worked.

In a complete turnaround from the opening term, they started diving into packs, hunting in numbers and running hard from the back half.

Boak ignited the comeback with a brilliant snap from the main scoreboard pocket three minutes into the second quarter.

Fourteen minutes later the match was effectively over.

In a blistering nine-minute burst from the eighth to 17th-minute marks, the Power kicked five goals to turn an earlier 19-point deficit into a 27-point lead.

Westhoff was again at the centre of the action with two goals, including one from a towering mark, while Hartlett produced another of his customary goal of the week contenders with a bouncing gem from the scoreboard pocket.

Two late goals to GWS reduced the deficit to 16 points at the long break but the damage had been done and the floodgates opened in the final term.

SEE THE JOHN MCCARTHY TRIBUTE VIDEO HERE

PORT  2.5  8.9  12.17  19.20 (134)

GWS   4.4  6.5   8.9     11.12 (78)

BEST - Port: Westhoff, Wingard, Pittard, Cornes, Brad Ebert, Heath, Carlile, Boak. GWS: Ward, Cameron, Palmer, Coniglio, Shiel.

GOALS - Port: Westhoff 5, Wingard 3, Broadbent, Neade 2, Boak, Hartlett, O'Shea, P. Stewart, Schulz, Mitchell, Ebert. GWS: Cameron 3, Coniglio, Shiel, Whitfield, Patton, Giles, Treloar, Brogan, Smith.

INJURIES - Port: Schulz (ankle), Hartlett (back).

UMPIRES - G. Fila, S. Hay, T. Pannell.

CROWD - 25,122 at AAMI Stadium.

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Dees plummet to hellish depths

Melbourne players trudge from the ground. Picture: Ludbey Wayne

THE reality of this match was that nothing less than a win would do for Essendon, while nothing less than having a real crack would do for Melbourne.

Essendon's mission was never in doubt, Melbourne's barely gave a yelp.

Led by a dominant midfield of Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis and Heath Hocking, the Bombers were able to dictate terms throughout.

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When they pumped the ball forward, Tom Bellchambers, Stewart Crameri and Michael Hurley were too big, strong and talented for their direct opponents, while Alwyn Davey created chances with his pace, tackling and creativity.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

The Dons backline - built around young gun Jake Carlisle and old gun Dustin Fletcher - was superb.

Melbourne's quest to earn a semblance of respect for its intensity was dreadfully disappointing and woefully short-lived.

Last week nobody at the club had any answers to the many questions about the insipid efforts and lack of urgency in the season-opening 79-point loss to Port Adelaide.

In the minutes before the match, coach Mark Neeld publicly outlined his response when he allowed a television camera into the Demons rooms to record his pre-match address to the players.

On his whiteboard he scrawled three bullet points: Trust Yourself; Attack & Hunt With Speed; and Mistakes Do Not Matter.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

For the first six minutes of the match the Dees played with a fierceness that would have pleased its supporters. Neither team scored and there was a palpable sense of hope that whatever the Demons lacked in polish, they would make up for in endeavour.

Yet once the Bombers opened the scoring with a Stewart Crameri goal, the inevitable march towards a demoralising thrashing began.

Throughout the first half, not only were the Demons led to the ball at centre bounces and around the ground, they were smashed in the tackle count.

Not only were failing to get first hands on the ball, they were barely doing anything to get it back.

The Demons were not forcing Essendon to play accountable football.

Rather than playing man on man or at least putting an arm across an opponent's chest, they continued to defend areas and block space.

Worst still, as the game wore on the desperation drained out of the Demons players.

They scored just one goal in the second half - at the three-minute mark of the third term - and just one point thereafter.

The 148-point loss was Melbourne's worst to Essendon (beating the 122-point thrashing in 1986), and two points higher than Essendon's previous highest score against Melbourne (in the same match).

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

The Bombers also set a record for inside-50 entries.

Only Nathan Jones, Matt Jones, James Frawley, Aaron Davey and Jeremy Howe could say they had a crack throughout, while Mitch Clark, Jack Viney and Colin Garland had their moments.

One of the most soul-destroying aspects of the game was to watch Jack Watts running around totally devoid of confidence.

On the eve of the match Neeld had put the acid on several of his players, notably Watts, who had seven disposals in the opening round against Port Adelaide.

"He's got to get going, Jack. We know that, he knows that," Neeld said.

But Watts looked lost.

His first touch came at the 18-minute mark - by which stage his opponent David Zaharakis had eight disposals - and it was the result of a backwards pass to him, unmarked at full back.

He was eventually subbed off 17 minutes into the third quarter, replaced by late call-up David Rodan.

When it was flashed across the MCG scoreboard that Watts had been banished to the bench, a loud cheer went up through the crowd of 51,153.

The intensity vanished to such a degree that the last quarter was little more than a training drill for the Bombers.

In the end, mistakes didn't matter for Melbourne, neither did trust, and hunting and attacking with speed was irrelevant.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

What did matter was having a crack. And sadly, the longer the game progressed, the less that seemed to matter to its players, too.

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Demons hit rock bottom

Mark Neeld is under pressure. Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: HWT Image Library

MELBOURNE'S misery deepened and the blowtorch will be further turned up on embattled coach Mark Neeld after it crashed to its greatest losing margin against a remorseless Essendon.

The Demons were smashed by 148 points at the MCG - their worst result against the Bombers and the 20th greatest margin in AFL-VFL history.

It was also Essendon's highest score against Melbourne as the Bombers slammed home 28 goals to five, including an embarrassing 15 to one in the second half.

Live HQ: Essendon v Melbourne

Melbourne now faces premiership contenders West Coast at the MCG on Saturday, with some suggesting a crunch game against Greater Western Sydney at the same venue in a fortnight could determine Neeld's future at the club.

Triple M commentator Nathan Brown suggested that Neeld would be replaced if the Demons lose to the Giants.

"If Melbourne lose that game, I don't think Mark Neeld will be there," Brown said. "They (Melbourne) have had some dark days ... but this is the darkest.

Demons v Bombers, MCG, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

"It was (all about) effort, laziness, intent, or whether you give a stuff about your footy club." Already under pressure after last week's massive first round loss to Port Adelaide, the Demons could offer no resistance to the Bombers, and have now lost by a collective 227 points in the first two weeks of the season.

Neeld said after the loss: "there is only one way out of this ... and that's to stick together and to work hard.

"There is only one way out of this and it is together.

"The whole club is hurting."

"We can't pretend the last two hours didn't exist. We've all got to man up - or person up, whatever the term is and accept that."

Neeld had used his pre-game speech to his players last night - screened on Channel Seven's Saturday Night Footy telecast - to implore his players to trust one another as much as the coaching staff trusted them.

He urged his players to back themselves and take the game up to the Bombers - a team that the Demons managed to beat last year. But there was little sign of that trust - or belief in one another - at any stage of last night's whitewash.

Neeld is only two games into the second year of a three-year deal, but the club has only won four games from the 24 contest, with the last coming against GWS in Round 21 last year.

Coach Co-captain Jack Grimes said the players were "absolutely gutted".

"The feelings late in the game, I admit, were not great," he told Channel 7.

"(In the rooms after the match) there wasn't much said about the game.

"It was about sticking together because the worst thing that can happen at a time like this is for the group to fracture but that definitely won't happen.

Essendon coach James Hird admitted that he felt for Neeld last night following the massive loss.

"Mark is a good coach, and he will get his team back on track," Hird said.

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Veteran Fletcher shows how it's done

Dustin Fletcher unloads a torpedo. Picture: Salpigtidis George

IF Melbourne wanted a lesson in intensity, it had a perfect teacher in Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher.

Fletcher could have been forgiven for just kicking back and taking an easy night at the office - for a number of reasons.

Live HQ: Essendon v Melbourne

For a start, the ball wasn't in his vicinity a great deal as the scoreboard alone will tell you.

There was the fact that Fletcher will be 38 in 30 days' time. Add to that, the fact that this match comes 20 years to the corresponding round of his debut, way back in Round 2, 1993. And he is now three games into his 21st AFL season.

Essendon V Melbourne at the MCG, Colin Sylvia tackled by Dustin Fletcher Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

But none of those variables meant anything to the Bombers' defender as he knows no other way than to compete.

Sadly, Melbourne never had the same completion last night. Fletcher gave the Demons a lesson in how to do that for free.

He wasn't best afield; but he was one of his team's best players.

Fletcher threw himself into every contest within his jurisdiction. Very few Melbourne players could say the same.

One of those who had a first-hand view was out-of-sorts Demon Jack Watts. Watts started in defence, couldn't make an impression, and was then shifted forward where, for a time, he was opposed to Fletcher.

Essendon V Melbourne at the MCG, Colin Sylvia tackled by Dustin Fletcher Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

By the 20-minute-mark of the third term, Watts had to watch from the sidelines - with the red vest covering his jumper. It was symbolic of the Dees' night.

Through it all, Fletcher continued on as he started out, giving run from defence and helping to set up more than a few of the seemingly endless supply of Bomber moves forward.

There was the early tackle on Colin Sylvia; the first-term intercept; the big defensive grab that earned him a rare spot on the bench and a massive cheer from the Dons' faithful; the second-term spoil on James Sellar that ended up with a goal; and the willing of the crowd for Fletcher to unload one of his torpedo barrels.

He finally succumbed to the temptation late in the last quarter and it was the only time he was made to look vulnerable.

Fletcher's torp went off at right angles, and he instantly clutched at his groin and trudged off the field.

The Bombers' faithful were worried for a few minutes, before he came back on and took a great mark late in the game.

He still has a future left in him. The same certainty cannot be said for a number of Demons out there last night.
 

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Hard to split Selwood and Judd

Joel Selwood boots a goal as Chris Judd watches on. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Limited

UNTIL the 2007 AFL arrival of Joel Selwood, it was hard to envisage any player producing a more extraordinary first six seasons than Chris Judd with the West Coast Eagles.

Between 2002 and 2007, Judd rewrote the record books in terms of on-field achievement, producing a first half of his career to match the deeds of players such as Royce Hart and Dick Reynolds.

Nothing was out of reach for Judd in years where he captured a premiership, Norm Smith Medal, two All-Australian selections, Brownlow Medal, AFL MVP and two best and fairests.

He combined a rare mix of explosive outside run with an extreme will to win contested ball, the latter feature now being matched by Geelong captain Selwood.

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So who is the better player at age 24? To get a clearer understanding we consulted James McDonald, a man who played on both Judd and Selwood during his 264-game career between 1997-2011.

McDonald attributes some pre-game headaches to the days leading up to a Judd match-up.

"In the early days he had that blend of speed and agility," said McDonald.

"Most onballers have one or the other but he had both. I couldn't find any weaknesses in his game when he was at the Eagles in those days you are asking about. You just couldn't let him get goalside of you.

"I don't think it was possible to actually beat him one-on-one so you had to rely on teammates to help."

And Selwood? "I didn't play on him as often but like Judd he is a player who seemed to be able to find a way to change a game.

"You can't underestimate his mental strength or his relentless attack on the ball.

"I think of him as a very smart player, obviously very courageous but also capable of finding uncontested ball.

"Simon Black was another with an amazing ability to accumulate possession and someone blessed with great footy nous. I would rank him right alongside Judd and Selwood."

So if forced to choose who was the better 24-year-old out of Judd and Selwood, which way would McDonald go?

"Because of their extreme consistency and ability to individually lift their teams, as they both did in the third quarters of Round 1, who is the better would come down to the flip of a coin and I wouldn't care which way it landed."

Geelong's 2011 premiership captain Cameron Ling admits to being "completely biased", given the five years he spent playing alongside Selwood.

"I think some might lean towards Judd because he appears to be better because of the explosive nature of his game," Ling said.

"But Joel is just incredible . . . Geelong would have been 10 goals down but for him against Hawthorn and then he played even better in the third quarter.

"I would like to have them both in my garage. But deep down I will always say Joel."

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