Demonland Crystal Ball 2017: Your predictions for next season

[sydneydee 647]

Hunt to finish top 5 in B&F

Watts to poll most Brownlow votes

Tim Smith to play the most games of our rookie listed players

Hannan to play 10 games 

Trengove to be best 22 and play in a final 

[PaulRB 5,919]

Melb to dominate centre clearances by rope-a-doping teams with a combo of the Max factor and then no-ruck but 4 big bodied mids hurting the oppo as they try to clear. VDB, Pedo, Petracca flourishing in this mode. 

Dee mids take the over-the-head handpass to new levels and lead us to 16 wins, with major beltings of Pies, Blues, Dons and Tigers. We finish the season in second spot. 

We win three finals.

Max, Viney and Watts all poll well for Brownlow, but Bont wins it as he plays a lone hand as Doggies experience the post GF hangover. 

Hibbert and Melksham slot straight in and along with Lewis play every game, with all three finishing top 10 in the MFC B&F. 

Casey dominate the VFL and win the VFL premiership. 

The next gen mids and forwards  in Hogan, Wiedeman, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Salem and Stretch, continue to grow and impose themselves on games, becoming critical in generating opposition crushing surges that are established as one of the new Melbourne teams trademarks in 2017. 

Much celebrating is done, and alcohol consumed, as we finally wipe away the failure of the past decade with the new dawn. 

Edited February 7, 2017 by PaulRB

[Akum 2,660]

13 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Melb to dominate centre clearances by rope-a-doping teams with a combo of the Max factor and then no-ruck but 4 big bodied mids hurting the oppo as they try to clear. VDB, Pedo, Petracca flourishing in this mode. 

Dee mids take the over-the-head handpass to new levels and lead us to 16 wins, with major beltings of Pies, Blues, Dons and Tigers. We finish the season in second spot. 

We win three finals.

Max, Viney and Watts all poll well for Brownlow, but Bont wins it as he plays a lone hand as Doggies experience the post GF hangover. 

Hibbert and Melksham slot straight in and along with Lewis play every game, with all three finishing top 10 in the MFC B&F. 

Casey dominate the VFL and win the VFL premiership. 

The next gen mids and forwards  in Hogan, Wiedeman, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Salem and Stretch, continue to grow and impose themselves on games, becoming critical in generating opposition crushing surges that are established as one of the new Melbourne teams trademarks in 2017. 

Much celebrating is done, and alcohol consumed, as we finally wipe away the failure of the past decade with the new dawn. 

Gotta love this time of the year 

[Jock Strap 197]

Lewis, Hibbert and Melksham to have fantastic seasons ... but don't make the top 10 in the B&F

[Stretch Johnson 2,568]

Gawn Viney Hunt AA

[Akum 2,660]

We'll focus on quick ball movement and massive pressure on the ball carrier. So we won't go into any games too tall; we might look too small in some games, but in those games, we'll do really well and surprise some top sides.

For this reason, we'll go into a lot of games with just Hogan & Watts as our tall forwards, and either VdB or Tim Smith plus three fast smalls to maximise defensive pressure in our forward line. For this reason, Tim Smith, will be an inspired signing, especially with his strong marking & straight kicking, and will be a really difficult match-up.

By the end of the year we'll show that we're clear winners in the Kelly deal, IF Tyson and particularly Salem can play most of the season uninjured. Salem will prove to be pure silk, but (unlike most "silk" players) very tough to go with it and will win 2 or 3 games off his own boot. Tyson will have a number of 30+ possession games.

One of our "big three" talls - T-Mac, Hoges or Maxy - will spend a few games injured, but Dec Kielty will take their place (whichever of the three it is) and step up so well that we won't lose any momentum and will get Brownlow votes. Unfortunately we won't be able to keep him in the team when they return, because team balance will be so important to our quick-ball-movement-and-pressure-on-the-ball-carrier.

 

... or maybe not. I've been delirious with food poisoning for the past couple of days so this may all just be the result of some undercooked chicken! 

[P-man 13,168]

So this was a thing.

After scanning through some admittedly slim pickings, I've landed on a winner:

On 25 October 2016 at 4:07 PM, ding said:

Oliver to become one of the games top 5 clearance players. - Ranked 7th so close enough.

Angus Brayshaw and Sam Frost be our biggest improvers. - Not quite, but every man and his dog tipped Gus to be the big improver.

Jake Melksham to silence the doubters by round 6, before fading late in the season. - Did silence the doubters, although was actually dropped in Round 6, returned with a strong display agains the Suns in Round 10 and finished the season with a flourish. 

Other stuff that i cant think of now but will claim as mine later in the season.

Gawn to go down with  knee early in the season (Sorry P-man, last years incredible injury run cant possibly be repeated) - Sadly accurate, other than it being a hamstring which knocked him out early.

Congratulations to @ding the 2017 Demonland Crystal Ball winner. I think you should treat yourself to a membership renewal to celebrate ().

Stay tuned for the 2018 version and your chance to win this auspicious title.

Edited November 1, 2017 by P-man

[In Harmes Way 7,492]

Lol

[Skuit 9,166]

On 11/2/2016 at 10:59 AM, Skuit said:

For me, Pedo has the tools to be a decent second ruck/third forward. He can take contested marks as well as just about anyone in the team and is a fair kick at the sticks. He can also swing to defence as a sweeping stopper to slow down an opposition run-on. We talk about better delivery aiding Jack and Jesse but what if Pedo starts consistently bagging a moderate two-goals a game? Does he get bumped for Weed and then we work out another second ruck option? Roos never had faith - preferring Dawes and then Frost - but given a decent run I believe he could be this season's surprise packet. Although Demonland will have to get over its prejudice. He may be getting on but was a late starter - entering his sixth season now - and has had injury interruptions. Watts himself took longer. He has also improved each season in the Red and Blue and may well continue that arc.

I'm claiming a consolation prize. See the bolded bit for those who have already bumped big Pedo from their starting line-ups for next year.