Jump to content

Best players by position.

Still Waiting
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

I being an ex full back (Local league) am interested to know who has been our best F/B and B/pockets in recent memory.

I barely remember the names Tassie Johnson, Crompton, Biffin, etc but what about Hughes, Whelan, Hoppy, Wight, Tony Campbell?, Nicholson etc?

Maybe we can go through each line with some discussion.

  • Quote
    •  

    M. Whelan.

    Wow

  • Quote

    I think I cam safely say Whelan was the best defender I saw in red and blue. That's if you don't count Neita's days at CHB. Doggie went ok, though he didn't always "defend."

  • Quote
    •  

    our best backline in recent times

    Whelan Wight Grinter

    Rivers Ingerson Yeates

  • Quote

    Key Position - Wight, Ingerson

    Back Pocket - Whelan, Yeats

    Half back flank - B.Lovett, S.Febey

  • Quote
    •  

    I know that this shows my age, but Gary Hardeman for CHB.

    Edited by undeeniable

  • Quote

    Off the top of my head ... at their best, to win the game with a balanced line-up:

    Tall Backs: Neitz, Hardeman, Wight

    Small Backs: A. Johnson, B. Lovett, Flower

    Mids: Alves, Wells, Tingay

    Rucks: Stynes, Viney, Wilson

    Tall Forwards: Lyon, Jakovich, Schwarz

    Small Forwards: Farmer, Gerard Healy, Davey

    I: P.Moore, G.Lovett, Woewodin, Yze

    Line-up generally lacking a bit of pace for today's game is my main concern.

    I'm sure there's good players I've missed.

    And good players unlucky to miss - e.g. White, Fowler, Rhode, Yeats.

    Barassi, Dixon etc a bit early for me.

    Edited by old55

  • Quote
    • Author

    Agree with Undeeniable re Gary Hardeman.

    I'll post my 1/2 back line in a day or two.

    For now I'd probably go with Backs; Yeates ; Wight ; Whelan/Ingerson depending on whether a small or tall pocket matchup was needed.

  • Quote
    Off the top of my head...

    B: Wight, Ingerson, A. Johnson

    HB: B Lovett, Hardeman, S Febey

    Wight definitely somewhere there, for his run out of the back line (tenacious). Alan Johnson similarly.

    Gary Hardeman CHB for his impressive marking.

    And i just loved Brett Lovett.

  • Quote

    Alan Johnson (The 88 Final against West Coke) he polled a perfect score at the B & F count) gave his all.

    Gary Hardeman-always played for the Big V

    Graeme Yeats-Fearless

    Sean Wight-Brilliance & originality

    Danny Hughes-beautiful long kicks & his efforts on Brian Taylor

    Matty Whelan-courage, but too easily injured sadly.

    Ingerson-Fantastic Pick up from the crows

    Clint Bizzell-Gave 110%

  • Quote

    did Whelan ever play a bad game?

    Not a chance

  • Quote
    • Author

    My 1/2 back line would be S Febey Hardeman B Lovett

    C/line is Alves Wells Flower

  • Quote

    Must agree with Hardeman , he was exceptional.Other good ones were Steven Icke.Alan Jarrot(tough as nails!),Ingerson,Laurie Fowler,Brett Lovett.

  • Quote
    • Author

    1/2 fwd line; Lyon, Schwarz, Alan Johnson (gotta be in somewhere)

    F fwd line ; Farmer, Neitz, Davey

    Onballers; Stynes, Viney, Yze (see AJ above)

    I/C Ingerson, G Lovett, White, Jakovich

    some really hard omissions. :mellow:

  • Quote

    1/2 fwd line; Lyon, Schwarz, Alan Johnson (gotta be in somewhere)

    F fwd line ; Farmer, Neitz, Davey

    Onballers; Stynes, Viney, Yze (see AJ above)

    I/C Ingerson, G Lovett, White, Jakovich

    some really hard omissions. :mellow:

    I understand your pain with the omissions but in reality you can't run with that interchange of 2KPPs a ruck and an on-baller. It's a cop-out to put your 4 next best players on the bench - it is used positionally too for rotations. Interchange is 1 ruck and 3 onballers or 1 ruck, 2 on-ballers and a versatile tall - Jako and Ingo aren't that versatile, I could buy Lyon for example but he makes everyone's 18, possibly Sean Wight.

  • Quote
    did Whelan ever play a bad game?

    Great when he played but missed too many finals with injury.

    Was he diligent enough with his preparation?

  • Quote
    Great when he played but missed too many finals with injury.

    Was he diligent enough with his preparation?

    Preparation: eating right, meeting training requirements including stretching thoroughly, warming up, no short cuts.

    I'm out of my league on this one.

    45HG16 might know.

  • Quote
    •  
    • Author

    Old55, It's not a cop out to have the guys I have, on the I/C.

    I have flexibility where I need it. Must have anther ruckman. Must have a running midfielder and still have Davey, The Lovetts, AJ, Ooze,and maybe even Whelan to rotate if required. Got a backup fwd and defender too! Both Lyon and Hardeman give me extra flexibility as well. My I/C were not the next best 4 players but those who I would happily take to war.

    IMO rovers are a dead breed now and R/R seem to do this chore.

    This side has brilliance, arrogance, class, leadership, rat cunning, athleticism and a fair dose of experience. It might lack absolute leg speed but where have we had an abundance of that over the years?

    Pretty happy to stick with what I have. ;)

  • Quote
    Old55, It's not a cop out to have the guys I have, on the I/C.

    I have flexibility where I need it. Must have anther ruckman. Must have a running midfielder and still have Davey, The Lovetts, AJ, Ooze,and maybe even Whelan to rotate if required. Got a backup fwd and defender too! Both Lyon and Hardeman give me extra flexibility as well. My I/C were not the next best 4 players but those who I would happily take to war.

    IMO rovers are a dead breed now and R/R seem to do this chore.

    This side has brilliance, arrogance, class, leadership, rat cunning, athleticism and a fair dose of experience. It might lack absolute leg speed but where have we had an abundance of that over the years?

    Pretty happy to stick with what I have. ;)

    You need 3 mids on the bench for rotations or you'll get torched. Not sure what a "rover" and a "ruck-rover" are.

    With Ingerson on the bench I'm assuming your back 6 (from above) is Yeats, White, Whelan, B.Lovett, Hardeman, S.Febey

    so I'll accept with only 2 talls that you can slot Ingo in there to a free up a midfielder but none of Whelan, Yeats or S.Febey make my 22 as midfielders.

    If you push Jakovich into that forward line to free a runner then you've got Neitz, Jako, Lyon and Schwarz in the 18 - too top heavy.

    You've got one too many talls and one too many HBFs.

    Edited by old55

  • Quote

    • Archived

    This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 222 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
      Your 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.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Haha
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 253 replies
      Demonland
    View All