Jump to content

And What About The Backline?


Harrisonrules

Recommended Posts

Col Sylvia and Liam J are perhaps spiritual leaders at Melbourne, at least as Icons of hope for the club. We are waiting for great improvement in both. Physically we cann't understanding why the powerfully built and multi skilled Col has not moved into the consistently A grade group. Liam for different reasons has still to cross that line. So the decision of the coaching staff chose them as the the players that should take the cut. The other 2 perhaps 3 were young guns, Marric, Nicholson and Tapscott (my guess for sub today- but who knows). So what about the backline. Chip, Riv and Col G are our experienced pillars of the backline and through all the other slaughters this year they remain unscathed even after last Saturday. Poor Nicholson and Tapscott had to take the rap for our three pillars who have shown signs of plateauing this year. They have been replaced by 2 re-treads in Bartram and J Mac both of whom, after 100 games each have shown they might have some strengths but glaring weaknesses. A statement should have been made to Col G or Riv that the backline needs to lift. It is functioning way below a finals backline. Warnock could have been given a game just as easily as Bartram and J Mac were used to make a statment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poor Nicholson and Tapscott had to take the rap for our three pillars who have shown signs of plateauing this year. They have been replaced by 2 re-treads in Bartram and J Mac both of whom, after 100 games each have shown they might have some strengths but glaring weaknesses.

Tapscott is in the team though :wacko:

Edited by Supermercado
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We do seem to lack height down back, and have stuggled against tall, solid opposition forwards. Mind you, with poor forward and midfield defensive pressure these guys are really under the pump with the ball coming in so fast.

I'm not sure why Warnock has not been able to break back in to the key defensive position. I would play him.

Bartram has skill deficiencies but you can't doubt his courage and aggression, things we badly need rignt now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was very sorry to see either of Jurrah and Sylvia dropped. Bate and Dunn were less impressive to me. The message must be being sent to LJ to chase or else. Not only chase but cut the angles with more vigour and urgency. Sylvia hasn't been that bad. Maybe he has been white-anting because of his contract negotiations. Who Knows? I just hope that anyone who doesn't put in this week gets similar treatment. We should know by year's end who is fair dinkum.

My biggest criticism of DB is the same as with Neale Daniher. They were both teachers who wanted their boys to play well and always gave them the opportunity. Think about what ND said about Yze when he was playing dreadfully week afteer week. "This guy can win games for you", and he kept playing him until the noise to drop him became deafening and he couldn't ignore it. I admire this in both coaches because it is a very positive human quality and often releases the potential in a person. It also makes them very popular with their players. Unfortunately footy can be a very much more cut-throat situation and demands that clear lines be drawn at times.

This may seem like a contradictory argument, but at this time in the history of the club our player culture needs to make a massive change.

Incidentally, from all reports, Mick malthouse is very well liked by his players.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You'd be spared from chasing too much from our forward line by the fact we cant get the ball through HF

Agree.

It all starts in the middle. Invariably when the midfield is effective and first to the ball and we win our share, our forwards get more ball and our backline isn't under as much pressure. We need to be clinical where it counts. Moloney, Trengove, McKenzie, Gysberts, Jones, Sylvia, Gawn/Jamar/Martin, Scully.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our selections have often been bewildering to me in many cases over many decades.

We simply aren't harsh enough and to me this tells the whole team, that it's ok to lose.....to a point. So what do they do week after week, until they're dead sick of it.....they lose.

Take the Hawks game. Lost by 54 points in Round 18. This was 9 points worse than our capitulation in the 2nd half of our round 2 game against the same team. And they had Roughhead in the team in Round 2. So basically our result, 16 weeks later, was without doubt worse IMO. Yet..... what changes did we make to the team for the following week?

Zero, Zilch...Null! And i say Zero as to me, the 1 omission was made only in order to return a previously crook Jurrah (a last minute ommission from the Dawks game) into the same, unchanged line up for the match against the Cats.

Lose by nearly 10 goals and in effect no changes!!

To me that message speak volumes to the whole group. Again, it's ok to lose....even by almost 10 goals.

What a disgrace.

And disgrace ourselves we did, the very next week.

Our black Saturday wasn't all to do with off field politics and shenanigans.

Edited by Rusty Nails
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Our backine was touted as very promising early last year. Since then there has been a steady decline. Losing Sean Welman in hindsight has not helped. Warnock and Davey have been a real letdown. The most consistent backman has been Garland with Frawley slowly regaining some of his old form. Disposal is our biggest weakness down back. All the backmen are substandard or at best only average in that regard except Tapscott. Structure at stoppages all too often invites cheap goals for the opposition. Aaron Davey despite his subline kicking skills has been too much of a showboater. Has become a parody of Travis Johnstone. Always kicking precise direct passes that look great when they come off but with no margin for error and usually severely punished when they all too often don't come off. Why not just kick to the ball to advantage instead?

Edited by america de cali
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We do seem to lack height down back, and have stuggled against tall, solid opposition forwards. Mind you, with poor forward and midfield defensive pressure these guys are really under the pump with the ball coming in so fast.

I'm not sure why Warnock has not been able to break back in to the key defensive position. I would play him.

Bartram has skill deficiencies but you can't doubt his courage and aggression, things we badly need rignt now.

Warnock is not there because he gets the yips when he takes possession to such a degree that I have to look away! He is a very good defender, but an A-grade turnover merchant.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clearances help.

We hardly won one.

Bad defense is bad midfield play.

Spot on, Captain! Actually thought the back line held up pretty well given the weight of easy ball into Carlton's forward line. 14 individual goalkickers for the Blues tells you the backline wasn't to blame. Really like Garland on Betts and thought Rivers and Frawley more than held their own. Tappy had a crack as usual and Joel played a pretty reasonable game. Our midfield was gutted pretty much all day. Funny how Moloney (who apparently bleeds for the club!!) can't seem to get near it against decent opposition.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clearances help.

We hardly won one.

Bad defense is bad midfield play.

Spot on dude...Garland, Macdonald, Rivers & Watts all worked hard today i thought.

They were bombarded for atleast 60% of the game.

Edited by why you little
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Col Sylvia and Liam J are perhaps spiritual leaders at Melbourne,

Theatrical. Both are players that have not complied with team rules during the past couple of weeks. Says alot about our spirit.

It all starts in the middle. Invariably when the midfield is effective and first to the ball and we win our share, our forwards get more ball and our backline isn't under as much pressure. We need to be clinical where it counts. Moloney, Trengove, McKenzie, Gysberts, Jones, Sylvia, Gawn/Jamar/Martin, Scully.

Nutshell.

Spot on dude...Garland, Macdonald, Rivers & Watts all worked hard today i thought.

They were bombarded for atleast 60% of the game.

Rivers and JoelMac looked pedestrian today. Rivers is another leader who is invisible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rivers and JoelMac looked pedestrian today. Rivers is another leader who is invisible.

No the midfield looked Pedestrain, the backline just had too much work to do.

losing Strauss the way we did would have shook them up quite a bit to.

That was horrific

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No the midfield looked Pedestrain, the backline just had too much work to do.

losing Strauss the way we did would have shook them up quite a bit to.

That was horrific

Rivers looked pedestrian last week too. The man cannot play body on body Oh, I guess the scoreboard shook them up a bit. That was horrific. For the record, there were other more junior players that continued to plough after the Strauss. But I forgot Rivers is in the leadership group.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Rivers looked pedestrian last week too. The man cannot play body on body Oh, I guess the scoreboard shook them up a bit. That was horrific. For the record, there were other more junior players that continued to plough after the Strauss. But I forgot Rivers is in the leadership group.

ok well why don't you just bring out the tent and shoot him Rhino....Rivers looked out of his depth today because Carlton's midfield ripped us apart..

I am suprised you didn't see it that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok well why don't you just bring out the tent and shoot him Rhino....Rivers looked out of his depth today because Carlton's midfield ripped us apart..

I am suprised you didn't see it that way.

I guess the tent line is the extent of your thinking.

Given our midfield has been pumped against medium to top class opposition this year its a fair assessment of the disposition of Rivers. Gets found out under pressure. FWIW, Richo and David King on AW werent too impressed with his contribution and body work through out the day.

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  

    2024 Player Reviews: #31 Bayley Fritsch

    Once again the club’s top goal scorer but he had a few uncharacteristic flat spots during the season and the club will be looking for much better from him in 2025. Date of Birth: 6 December 1996 Height: 188cm Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 149 Goals MFC 2024: 41 Career Total: 252 Brownlow Medal Votes: 4

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 8

    2024 Player Reviews: #18 Jake Melksham

    After sustaining a torn ACL in the final match of the 2023 season Jake added a bit to the attack late in the 2024 season upon his return. He has re-signed on to the Demons for 1 more season in 2025. Date of Birth: 12 August 1991 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 8 Career Total: 229 Goals MFC 2024: 8 Career Total: 188

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #3 Christian Salem

    The luckless Salem suffered a hamstring injury against the Lions early in the season and, after missing a number of games, he was never at his best. He was also inconvenienced by minor niggles later in the season. This was a blow for the club that sorely needed him to fill gaps in the midfield at times as well as to do his best work in defence. Date of Birth: 15 July 1995 Height: 184cm Games MFC 2024: 17 Career Total: 176 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 26 Brownlow Meda

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 8

    2024 Player Reviews: #39 Koltyn Tholstrop

    The first round draft pick at #13 from twelve months ago the strongly built medium forward has had an impressive introduction to AFL football and is expected to spend more midfield moments as his career progresses. Date of Birth: 25 July 2005 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 10 Career Total: 10 Goals MFC 2024: 5 Career Total: 5 Games CDFC 2024: 7 Goals CDFC 2024: 4

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 6

    2024 Player Reviews: #42 Daniel Turner

    The move of “Disco” to a key forward post looks like bearing fruit. Turner has good hands, moves well and appears to be learning the forward craft well. Will be an interesting watch in 2025. Date of Birth: January 28, 2002 Height: 195cm Games MFC 2024: 15 Career Total: 18 Goals MFC 2024: 17 Career Total: 17 Games CDFC 2024: 1 Goals CDFC 2024:  1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 15

    2024 Player Reviews: #8 Jake Lever

    The Demon’s key defender and backline leader had his share of injuries and niggles throughout the season which prevented him from performing at his peak.  Date of Birth: 5 March 1996 Height: 195cm Games MFC 2024: 18 Career Total: 178 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 5

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 1

    2024 Player Reviews: #13 Clayton Oliver

    Lack of preparation after a problematic preseason prevented Oliver from reaching the high standards set before last year’s hamstring woes. He carried injury right through the back half of the season and was controversially involved in a potential move during the trade period that was ultimately shut down by the club. Date of Birth:  22 July 1997 Height:  189cm Games MFC 2024:  21 Career Total: 183 Goals MFC 2024: 3 Career Total: 54 Brownlow Medal Votes: 5

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 20

    BLOODY BLUES by Meggs

    The conclusion to Narrm’s home and away season was the inevitable let down by the bloody Blues  who meekly capitulated to the Bombers.   The 2024 season fixture handicapped the Demons chances from the get-go with Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Essendon advantaged with enough gimme games to ensure a tough road to the finals, especially after a slew of early season injuries to star players cost wins and percentage.     As we strode confidently through the gates of Prin

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 3

    2024 Player Reviews: #5 Christian Petracca

    Melbourne’s most important player who dominated the first half of the season until his untimely injury in the Kings Birthday clash put an end to his season. At the time, he was on his way to many personal honours and the club in strong finals contention. When the season did end for Melbourne and Petracca was slowly recovering, he was engulfed in controversy about a possible move of clubs amid claims about his treatment by the club in the immediate aftermath of his injury. Date of Birth: 4 J

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 21
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!
×
×
  • Create New...