Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


Tired Players


Engorged Onion

Recommended Posts

I rank Paul Roos as one of the great coaches in the modern era (it goes without saying). At the end of 2016 when we lost to Carlton and Geelong, he did mention quite a lot in the pressers that we have 'a lot of tired players' and 'it's a long season' with our young list. I must confess, I am a little worried that we still have a young list and the new messiah in waiting Goodwin - is looking at playing our best 22 in the preseason comp. So who's got the correct philosophy? Or was Roosy taking the [censored]?  If Roosy was/is correct - it's only 5 months on for god sake Goody, they'll be tired by round 12, not even round 18! Perhaps he is a fan of test cricket - (runs on the board etc etc)?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Roos is the master of smokescreens.  Last year he said the players were tired after round 2.  Round 2!  He kept that smokescreen up for the rest of the season!

Goodwin is playing his best 22 in the preseason comp because he wants them ready to go round 1 and win early season games.  He has seen what the media (and fans) can do to a new coach if they lose quite a few early on.  He will get a honeymoon period but it won't be a long one.

He won't be worried about players tiring after round 12. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From memory we played pretty strong teams in the pre-season last year as well as Roos thought we needed to understand winning and how to do it, not to mention getting the supporters off their back a bit. 

I think we may finally have some real depth now where the bottom 6 or spots on the list can be filled by a dozen or more blokes. That will help with resting players throughout the year which may keep the fatigue more at bay. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am also a believer that if you are sitting in 8 and going to play finals you get a lot less tired at the end of the season than if you are hanging on by the nails to keep a slim chance alive to make the 8. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, nutbean said:

I am also a believer that if you are sitting in 8 and going to play finals you get a lot less tired at the end of the season than if you are hanging on by the nails to keep a slim chance alive to make the 8. 

correctomundo, nut. best cure for tiredness is winning. worked for dogs too.

in fact winning is the best known medication for everything

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I think the 'tired players' thing was talked up a bit much at the end of last year, there is some case for it when you consider those last two games in particular.

Bugg definitely faded at the very end of the season. Garlett was ill then a bit flat. Gawn's final two games were among his least damaging for the season. Hogan had clearly faded for about the last 6 rounds. N. Jones last two games, he was still getting it but not causing any great damage. Kennedy had a good first third of the season, ordinary second, and spent the final third of the season in the VFL. Kent copped a quad injury against Carlton and wasn't available against Geelong. Petracca was struggling to stay involved and alerts throughout the final games. Stretch's last couple of games were his least effective for the year. Vince had become quite erratic in his form in the late part of the season, those last two were poor. Even Viney was up and down for the last portion of the season, mixing some great games with some very ordinary. Wagner was another one who had faded late in the season and was back in VFL despite decent earlier form. Watts kicked just one goal in his final three games.

Hmm, so that's 12 players who had a distinctly weak end to their season. I've actually turned a bit now that I've looked closer, and I'm more receptive to the idea of a 'tired team'.

So, to the other part of the topic, how can we have any confidence it wont be just as bad in 2017?

1. Youth development. Yes, preseasons do make a difference, and especially for young players, which includes a big chunk of our list, on every line.

2. List improvement. Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham are all capable of contributing to run, have mature bodies and habits, and should between them play many more games than the entire 2016 group of delistings, to a substantially higher standard.

3. More rest. The steady stream of marks and goals from Jesse Hogan will give all Melbourne players more periods to refresh themselves during the course of each game, as well as allowing for better scheduling of interchanges without needing to sprint to the bench while play is on. :cool:

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

While I think the 'tired players' thing was talked up a bit much at the end of last year, there is some case for it when you consider those last two games in particular.

Bugg definitely faded at the very end of the season. Garlett was ill then a bit flat. Gawn's final two games were among his least damaging for the season. Hogan had clearly faded for about the last 6 rounds. N. Jones last two games, he was still getting it but not causing any great damage. Kennedy had a good first third of the season, ordinary second, and spent the final third of the season in the VFL. Kent copped a quad injury against Carlton and wasn't available against Geelong. Petracca was struggling to stay involved and alerts throughout the final games. Stretch's last couple of games were his least effective for the year. Vince had become quite erratic in his form in the late part of the season, those last two were poor. Even Viney was up and down for the last portion of the season, mixing some great games with some very ordinary. Wagner was another one who had faded late in the season and was back in VFL despite decent earlier form. Watts kicked just one goal in his final three games.

Hmm, so that's 12 players who had a distinctly weak end to their season. I've actually turned a bit now that I've looked closer, and I'm more receptive to the idea of a 'tired team'.

So, to the other part of the topic, how can we have any confidence it wont be just as bad in 2017?

1. Youth development. Yes, preseasons do make a difference, and especially for young players, which includes a big chunk of our list, on every line.

2. List improvement. Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham are all capable of contributing to run, have mature bodies and habits, and should between them play many more games than the entire 2016 group of delistings, to a substantially higher standard.

3. More rest. The steady stream of marks and goals from Jesse Hogan will give all Melbourne players more periods to refresh themselves during the course of each game, as well as allowing for better scheduling of interchanges without needing to sprint to the bench while play is on. :cool:

Great summary Goffy. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


35 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Bulldogs of 2016.

Decimated by injury throughout the year. 

Finished 7th. 

Won Grand Final.

One of the youngest lists.

As LH alluded to, Roosy loved to talk drivel to the media to protect the players.

End of 2016, Bulldogs (taking the field) were almost a year older and almost 20 games more experienced than the Demons.

Here's the figures for the Bulldogs team that beat Sydney and the Melbourne team that beat Hawthorn a few weeks earlier.58aa716af27ae_teamstats.PNG.2989b305600c614f9e16e7e2d67ec08d.PNG

A fair age/experience comparison would be the Demons of 2017 to the Bulldogs of 2016.

In fact, given that all of Oliver, Weidemann, Petracca, O.Mac, Wagner, Stretch, Hunt, Harmes, Salem and Brayshaw finished the season with at most 31 games, we'll probably still have twice as many 'actual kids' at the end of 2017 as did the Bulldogs ending 2016.

That's not taking away anything from the Dog's achievement. As the same table above shows, both Sydney and Hawthorn had about half their team in the very top bracket for experience. What Footscray managed, from 7th on the ladder, was a genuine breakthrough built on terrific depth and a core of true stars capable of changing the tone of games, and having it all come together at just the right time.

No shame in looking to the Dogs as an inspiration, but let's not pretend they got there on 'kids'.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So our average age at he end of this year would have been relatively the same as theirs at the end of last year without any list changes.
Has our average age increased or decreased since last year?

Our average age could have potentially gone either way with these players no longer at the club.
Grimes, Jones, Terlich, Dunn, Dawes, Newton, Michie and King.

Edited by Steve Lattimer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Goffy summed it up pretty well. Viney had a hip problem and slowed down. Hogan was carrying a sore knee. Stretch, Oliver, Oscar, Petracca, Hunt, Harmes all played a lot of footy.

I would've liked to have seen more resilience but the Hawthorn win was the grand final for the players last year and then they had to go again against Port, Carlton and Geel. They did the job against Port but then were found out for mental toughness against Carl. 

There's a week and a half between the 2nd and 3rd Preseason games and another 2 weeks until the real stuff starts. There's no excuse in being tired for early season rounds. 

Then hopefully we can manage players through the season. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

While I think the 'tired players' thing was talked up a bit much at the end of last year, there is some case for it when you consider those last two games in particular.

Bugg definitely faded at the very end of the season. Garlett was ill then a bit flat. Gawn's final two games were among his least damaging for the season. Hogan had clearly faded for about the last 6 rounds. N. Jones last two games, he was still getting it but not causing any great damage. Kennedy had a good first third of the season, ordinary second, and spent the final third of the season in the VFL. Kent copped a quad injury against Carlton and wasn't available against Geelong. Petracca was struggling to stay involved and alerts throughout the final games. Stretch's last couple of games were his least effective for the year. Vince had become quite erratic in his form in the late part of the season, those last two were poor. Even Viney was up and down for the last portion of the season, mixing some great games with some very ordinary. Wagner was another one who had faded late in the season and was back in VFL despite decent earlier form. Watts kicked just one goal in his final three games.

Hmm, so that's 12 players who had a distinctly weak end to their season. I've actually turned a bit now that I've looked closer, and I'm more receptive to the idea of a 'tired team'.

So, to the other part of the topic, how can we have any confidence it wont be just as bad in 2017?

1. Youth development. Yes, preseasons do make a difference, and especially for young players, which includes a big chunk of our list, on every line.

2. List improvement. Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham are all capable of contributing to run, have mature bodies and habits, and should between them play many more games than the entire 2016 group of delistings, to a substantially higher standard.

3. More rest. The steady stream of marks and goals from Jesse Hogan will give all Melbourne players more periods to refresh themselves during the course of each game, as well as allowing for better scheduling of interchanges without needing to sprint to the bench while play is on. :cool:

Great summary indeed - and of course, I was been quite facetious re: the genuineness of P.Roos on that particular topic. Geez we have depth now...thank eff n ell

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Think Roos was talking more about the players being mentally tired, we kept lifting last year to give us a chance to get into the eight and towards the end we fell over, Goodwin and Macca are both strong on being mentally as well as physically fit, on Saturday we were still going strong at the end and we didn't fall to bits when the Bulldogs charged at the end of the 2nd and 4th, we steadied

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, nutbean said:

I am also a believer that if you are sitting in 8 and going to play finals you get a lot less tired at the end of the season than if you are hanging on by the nails to keep a slim chance alive to make the 8. 

For me, 2004 put paid to that idea forever. Top of the ladder after R18, lose 4 on the trot, slip to 5th, lose to Essendon in the first week of Finals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Bulldogs of 2016.

Decimated by injury throughout the year. 

Finished 7th. 

Won Grand Final.

One of the youngest lists.

 

As LH alluded to, Roosy loved to talk drivel to the media to protect the players. 

 

Decimated through injury - forced to include fresh legs?

I recall a couple times Roos blinked with regard to resting players - Port in Alice perhaps? - and it appeared to cost us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Carlton and Essendon game were nearly identical in the way the boys came out to play.

They expected to win and didnt get out of 4th gear. It had bugger all to do with being tired.

After the Carlton game the boys were heartbroken and simply call it in. Its easy to be tired when you dont give a [censored].

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, Chook said:

For me, 2004 put paid to that idea forever. Top of the ladder after R18, lose 4 on the trot, slip to 5th, lose to Essendon in the first week of Finals.

That year, and a lot of the Daniher era come to think of it, was all very 'streaky'. Strings of losses and runs of wins, enough to drive us all mad.

2004 finished with 5 losses in a row. 2005 there was a 7-loss run that took us from competing for top spot against the Eagles in round 13, losing by just  two goals in Perth, to barely scraping into finals at the last gasp. 2006 we started and finished the season shakily and dominated mid-season.

Yeah, adding the fade-out at the end of 2016 to the equation, you'd have to say that for Melbourne it is a real problem to be in finals contention, it really messes them up. Yay.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all.    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation fo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Monday 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training. DEMON DYNASTY'S TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kade Chandler's left knee heavily strapped. BBB, Spargs & Jake Lever also in rehab group. Jake Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills. Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a se

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head. The Demons have now won nine of their last ten encounters with the other result, a draw.     And like a fork, it was the multi-pronged options that Melbourne had all across the ground.  It certainly helped that Hawthorn

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 8

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in the Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 279

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02. You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 46

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 50

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 363

    GAMEDAY: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 437
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!
  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 03

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 03 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 03

  • Match Preview      

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 27

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The boys dissected the clinical thrashing of Hawks praising the immense performance of Christian Petracca whilst lamenting the injury toll to our defensive unit ... LISTEN

    Demonland | March 26

  • Training  

    Monday, 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • Casey Report      

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head out on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 28

  • Match Report      

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Round 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Training  

    Friday, 22nd March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 22

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 19th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin & Walking Civil War attended Tuesday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 19

  • Training  

    Saturday, 16th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Dee Zephyr wandered down to Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning to bring you their observations from the Captain's Run in the lead up to Sunday's Round One match against the Bulldogs ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 16

  • Farewell  

    Angus Brayshaw Retires

    After 167 games including the drought breaking Premiership Angus Brayshaw has made the heart breaking decision to medically retire from football as a result of a series of serious head knocks over his nearly decade of footy. We wish Gus all the best and he'll always be a hero at Demonland ... READ MORE

    Demonland | February 22

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 03

       vs   

    Saturday 30th March 2024
    @ 07:30pm (AO)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Lever Knee Test
    Clayton Oliver Hand Test
    Oliver Sestan Concussion Test
    Steven May Ribs 1 Week
    Lachie Hunter Calf 1 Week
    Daniel Turner Hip 2-3 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 2-4 Weeks
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 7 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 12-14 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Christian Petracca 27
    2 Steven May 25
    3 Max Gawn 21
    4 Jack Viney 20
    5 Bayley Fritsch 19
    6 Clayton Oliver 18
    7 Christian Salem 12
    8 Blake Howes 11
    9 Jack Billings 10
    9 Alex Neal-Bullen 10

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...