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.


Aaron vandenBerg not going - signs a new deal!!!


Tony Tea

Recommended Posts

The way he stood up in the first half vs Eagle in the Prelim reinforced my view that he’s built for finals and is the type of player (like Stewart Dew circa 2008), who can impact and change a big game with sheer physicality, tenacity and drive towards goal. 

Those who recommend him being pushed out by Fritz or KK evidently missed how brutally physical finals are to play in and win. 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/30/2018 at 6:38 PM, Rusty Nails said:

This is backed up objectively also.

In the season's composite average stats i keep Vanders finished 19th, just behind ANB!

From the 4 matches that qualified him for the ranking, he played against 3 top eight sides in the Swans, Giants and  eventual Premiers, the Eagles.

Not bad for a guy out of the game for pretty much 2 entire seasons.

image.thumb.png.8a7ac4da1beac2045755b907dcd61ba6.png

* Played less than 3 matches and does not qualify.  Included for interest / curiosity purposes only.  Move players up to replace in rankings as required.

Yes but he also came into his handful of games against good teams with a completely fresh set of legs. The fact he was serviceable is to be expected of a player that's been in the system as long as he has. In fact I would have expected him to poll higher than he did based on that. 
If your looking at composite average stats, the fact he only played a handful of games and polled at 19 is quite a negative thing - it's much harder to keep your average stats up the more games you play after all. 

Don't let his story romance you too much - he ain't best 22 and I would be concerned if he was next year. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kolodjasnij, Vandenberg, Rohan, I wonder, it may be that all three are rated at about the same level by the clubs targeting them. All we need now is for Gold Coast to want a Geelong player and they can all just stand up and move to the next chair.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/30/2018 at 6:47 PM, picket fence said:

Vanders reminds me very much like Kevin Dyson who I rated very very highly in the 90ts and a touch of Andrew Obst !!anyone else see similarities in Style?

Keeper for mine!

I do agree with the Dyson comparison. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


10 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Kolodjasnij, Vandenberg, Rohan, I wonder, it may be that all three are rated at about the same level by the clubs targeting them. All we need now is for Gold Coast to want a Geelong player and they can all just stand up and move to the next chair.

George Horlin-Smith, although I doubt he’s in contract and they could just sign him as a de-listed free agent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regarding distances from Sydney to Canberra/Tathra/etc. Josh Mahoney on trade radio also mentioned that AV’s mother is moving to Sydney, which appears to be more sound reasoning for the potential move.

Edited by Mach5
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vanders departure will probably hurt us more than Jesse's, imo. VDB is a big body that can throw his weight around, we walk taller when he is in the team. He forms part of the fabric of the club.

If we lose Hogan i will be upset, but if we lose VDB too, i'll be devastated.

  • Like 4
  • Haha 2
  • Shocked 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Vanders departure will probably hurt us more than Jesse's, imo. VDB is a big body that can throw his weight around, we walk taller when he is in the team. He forms part of the fabric of the club.

If we lose Hogan i will be upset, but if we lose VDB too, i'll be devastated.

You are definitely over rating AVB.  Solid player but easily replaced and in no way is in the same league as Hoges 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Smokey said:

Yes but he also came into his handful of games against good teams with a completely fresh set of legs. The fact he was serviceable is to be expected of a player that's been in the system as long as he has. In fact I would have expected him to poll higher than he did based on that. 
If your looking at composite average stats, the fact he only played a handful of games and polled at 19 is quite a negative thing - it's much harder to keep your average stats up the more games you play after all. 

Don't let his story romance you too much - he ain't best 22 and I would be concerned if he was next year. 

125 best and fairest votes in only 7 games.

Had he played the full 25 games he would've finished 5th. I'm not going to crunch the per game average on every player but it's fair to say Melksham, Viney, Brayshaw, T Mc would've finished ahead of him but one way or another he'd be in the top dozen.

Unless the coaches were just feeling sorry for him or thought he had a few unsustainable games I don't see how he's not very highly rated by the coaches.

 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Vanders departure will probably hurt us more than Jesse's, imo. VDB is a big body that can throw his weight around, we walk taller when he is in the team. He forms part of the fabric of the club.

If we lose Hogan i will be upset, but if we lose VDB too, i'll be devastated.

That is a significant factor the club needs to consider DD.   Let's hope they do as we are sorely lacking in the hit man type role across the park, especially up forward that makes others around stand tall as you say.  In finals this is even more crucial, especially if we get to the big dance.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

125 best and fairest votes in only 7 games.

Had he played the full 25 games he would've finished 5th. I'm not going to crunch the per game average on every player but it's fair to say Melksham, Viney, Brayshaw, T Mc would've finished ahead of him but one way or another he'd be in the top dozen.

Unless the coaches were just feeling sorry for him or thought he had a few unsustainable games I don't see how he's not very highly rated by the coaches.

 

Excuse my ignorance DS but that would suggest the voting includes finals appearances is that correct?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/30/2018 at 6:38 PM, Rusty Nails said:

This is backed up objectively also.

In the season's composite average stats i keep Vanders finished 19th, just behind ANB!

From the 4 matches that qualified him for the ranking, he played against 3 top eight sides in the Swans, Giants and  eventual Premiers, the Eagles.

Not bad for a guy out of the game for pretty much 2 entire seasons.

image.thumb.png.8a7ac4da1beac2045755b907dcd61ba6.png

* Played less than 3 matches and does not qualify.  Included for interest / curiosity purposes only.  Move players up to replace in rankings as required.

Is this ranking based on a custom algorithm you have come up with?

Theres's quite a few anomalies with my subjective observations and our best and fairest results, even if they are ranked by points per game.

Calculations do not equal objectivity.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Vanders departure will probably hurt us more than Jesse's, imo. VDB is a big body that can throw his weight around, we walk taller when he is in the team. He forms part of the fabric of the club.

If we lose Hogan i will be upset, but if we lose VDB too, i'll be devastated.

The definition of hyperbole. You can't be serious?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


i'd prefer to vanders to stay and have a run without injuries, but if he can get a longer contract and more security elsewhere, he should take it. but, i wonder what he'd be worth in trade? there seems to be a 50/50 split on demonland whether or not vanders is essential to our style of play, or just a to-up player filling a role.

would trading him get us something in the 30-40 range or 50+ pick range i wonder?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Is this ranking based on a custom algorithm you have come up with?

Theres's quite a few anomalies with my subjective observations and our best and fairest results, even if they are ranked by points per game.

Calculations do not equal objectivity.

It's not that sophisticated 55.  Just weighted composite averages to attempt to offer a very rough comparative guide over a meaningful number of matches / data in order to attempt to see trends in form arising.

The only complexity was a little reverse engineering in the first 3 to 4 rounds to attempt to find a rough similarity in the outcomes/rankings vs what was actually occurring performance wise on the park.  Not so much for super accuracy as that was/is never going to happen with pure data (calculations not equaling objectivity as you say) vs real live observation of game day performance under any circumstances, but merely to avoid wild anomalies occurring.  Most of that is of course subjective though so i have no doubt there would be wild swings in the rankings if someone else attempted their own weighted averages.  10 people might probably arrive at 10 wildly different results!

Having said all that, the eyes are always the best judge but only provided you have the time to scan over the replays and rewind / rewind / review each player's involvement to see the minute detail that can sometimes be missed in the heat and /or the fast paced madness/congestion of a match from start to finish IMO.

Stats can sometimes highlight a player you may not have felt contributed that much on the day but you then go back through the game, look for the areas of play you might not have seen initially (especially live) and say (in some cases...not all obviously) "hey he actually did do some bloody good work in close or on the outside.  He pressured / ran down a few opponents that i overlooked in that first half that contributed towards saving a goal or two or helped a few players score up the other end!  Hec, I missed much of that in the match for some reason (possibly too many sherbets!)".  Of course the reverse might be said and the stats indicate a shocker.  When you look back through replay you realise it bloody was (what was i thinking!!??... Fan Fav bias maybe!??).  Or maybe it wasn't and the player just played a stopping role very effectively and was never meant to rack up serious ball use stats etc.  He performed his role admirably and the lack of stats are exactly that way for a bloody good reason!

In the end i see such rankings as purely a very rough amateurish personal guide only.  To be used with severe caution at all times!  The eyes are a much better judge, but IMHO only when looking at a player objectively and provided you have the time and wherewithal to carry out a full game day review of each and every player.  But that is also flawed as we generally do not get the  behind the goal vision from both ends like the coaches do in order to see the entire play.  And who would have the luxury of this time every week anyway?  Exactly why most (all?) teams have game day analysts who no doubt get paid bloody good coin and do it very well i'm sure.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Rusty Nails said:

Excuse my ignorance DS but that would suggest the voting includes finals appearances is that correct?

I can answer that. 

Yes. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/1/2018 at 12:50 PM, PaulRB said:

is the type of player (like Stewart Dew circa 2008), who can impact and change a big game with sheer physicality, tenacity and drive towards goal. 

Those who recommend him being pushed out by Fritz or KK evidently missed how brutally physical finals are to play in and win. 

They should go back and re look at our weak effort in 2000.  To see just that, 'PRB'.

We were boys to the slaughter, not ready for a Hot Grand-Final.  They wilted in the springtime sunshine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Jesse is gone and we will be compensated. VDB goes and we will get nowhere near his value to the side in a trade.

He's a player in the 16-22 range of our list, with a checkered injury history and some of the worst disposal on the list. To say you'd be devastated if he left is ridiculous IMO, but each to their own.

Edited by A F
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

125 best and fairest votes in only 7 games.

Had he played the full 25 games he would've finished 5th. I'm not going to crunch the per game average on every player but it's fair to say Melksham, Viney, Brayshaw, T Mc would've finished ahead of him but one way or another he'd be in the top dozen.

Unless the coaches were just feeling sorry for him or thought he had a few unsustainable games I don't see how he's not very highly rated by the coaches.

 

But we don’t really know if he would be able to sustain that form over the period of 22 games and that’s my point. He is still a fairly unproven commodity to me after years on the sidelines. I can see his potential value, he just ain’t in my best 22 (yet). 

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 278

    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...