Tanks for the memories: Dean Bailey's lasting legacy Stephen Rielly
From: The Australian
August 02, 2011... which brought straight to mind ... the afternoon against the Tigers, when full-back Matthew Warnock played forward, centre half-forward Brad Miller was sent into the ruck and, at times, the ends of the ground appeared to be reversed.
After surviving a near-win experience against Richmond in round 18 -- Jordan McMahon won the game for the Tigers with a goal after the final siren, which prompted one Richmond official to later describe it as like watching a race between two cars in reverse -- Melbourne defeated a then hapless Fremantle in round 20 to claim its fourth win of the season.
One more win and the reconstruction effort, which would in several months time net Tom Scully and Jack Trengove, would be seriously compromised.
And so, by round 22, Jurrah's goals and Frawley's fine defensive performance could be permitted for only so long. Too many games had been lost for victory to get in the way.
It was actually before the final quarter began that Nick Riewoldt became suspicious. His opponent in the first quarter, James Frawley, who had kept him well under control, was strangely moved in the second term and replaced by Lynden Dunn, no one's idea of a centre half-back. Riewoldt duly cut loose and kicked three of his six goals in the quarter.
And then there was the curious decision to remove Liam Jurrah, Melbourne's most potent forward in the match, from the attack after he kicked his fourth goal. It was as if Melbourne was its own opponent.
Riewoldt, happy though he was, said later: "some strange things went on out there".
Almost two years on, and we now know with a certainty that ought to lead Andrew Demetriou to reconsider his denialist view of tanking that Melbourne had absolutely no interest in winning the match.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/tanks-for-the-memories-dean-baileys-lasting-legacy/story-e6frg7mf-1226106228242
