It was bittersweet to see Sylvia, Davey, Dunn, Bate et al doing so well against rubbish opposition when there was no pressure, just as it will be painfully familiar when they all go missing next week.

This forum is hilarious.

When we lose, they are all useless. When we win, we have finally bedded down the defensive game plan, Sylvia is the best there is in the AFL, Bate and Dunn are the new Selwood/Bartel combination, only more dependable.

It was great to win. BUT.... what a good side would have done to us is not funny. Are if anyone seriously thinks Rivers is the answer up forward against a reasonable side, they are seriously dreaming. We got a lot of easy ball of a bunch of kids yesterday, don't kid yourselves.

For me the big test is this week, in particular the first half. If the players drink their own bathwater like they did after Essendon, we will get smashed. If they buckle down and beat the Lions, I think we could say progress has been made.

I don't see it quite that way; posters are pretty consistent but will emphasise their preconceived notions using the evidence of the last game.

Hence those with a liking for Dunn and Bate will espouse them and their attributes after a game like that, or use it as evidence that Davey is not completely gone just yet.

And when we lose - Grimes can't kick, Sellar is without a hope, Davey with out a prayer, and all the kids have OP...

Yes, he is incredibly trying...

He doesn't 'always' hit targets and his aggression is usually directed at his opponent in the form of sledging and jumper punching. It's as intimidating as my cat.

I am glad he has been given the chance, with Bate, to ressurect his career but let's not let one game cloud our thinking here. He is an UFA at the end of the year and it might be best for him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Yes it was GWS but we did beat Essendon and outscored Collingwood 83-74 after giving them a 55-4 head start, so thats what I'm going to judge our improvement on, not this game.

I don't see it quite that way; posters are pretty consistent but will emphasise their preconceived notions using the evidence of the last game.

Hence those with a liking for Dunn and Bate will espouse them and their attributes after a game like that, or use it as evidence that Davey is not completely gone just yet.

And when we lose - Grimes can't kick, Sellar is without a hope, Davey with out a prayer, and all the kids have OP...

I've always liked Dunn but think he's gone as you say. Bate is too slow for this level now, I'm giving him points for trying though, he dug in in the pre season. Lets hope we get something for them at the end of year if it comes to that.

What are everyone else's thoughts on the Bugler firing up the Grand Old Flag from the Second Level of the Northern stand with about 5 seconds to go? I personally loved it. Brought out a bit of arrogance although it could have been a little earlier haha

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by low flying Robbo

lol

WTF?

Agree with most of what you say but I really doubt whether Bate and Dunn will be around next year - unless they are mainstays from here on in - they can go whereever they want for whatever they want as they are UFAs. Whether or not I think Dunn is worth persevering with is moot at this point I would wager.

Don't agree rpfc I think Dunn is worth having around.

We are desperately short of big bodied players with experience ( 90 games )

He can play a number of spots, Has turned in some very good games in the past against good teams.

He quite often gets the unglamours jobs.

He can kick a mile and he is tough never gives up.

He is a keep for mine

Don't agree rpfc I think Dunn is worth having around.

We are desperately short of big bodied players with experience ( 90 games )

He can play a number of spots, Has turned in some very good games in the past against good teams.

He quite often gets the unglamours jobs.

He can kick a mile and he is tough never gives up.

He is a keep for mine

I would keep them both for depth and 'we are still so bloody young' reasons but why would anyone want to stay if there is an option to play more regularly elsewhere?

A couple of things I took out of the game:

- Watts' run down the line, with a couple of bounces before a pinpoint delivery to Trengove(?) brought one of the biggest roars of the afternoon - shows how long we have been missing this sort of flair.

- The changing around of the forward/back lines is a stroke of genius. Not only do we get two big extra options up front in Garland and Rivers, who can play high and on the ground, but it adds to to the defensive capability of the forward line. Likewise, putting Watts behind the ball, adds the class aspect to a tough defence.

- Loving Tom McDonald, just needs some work on his delivery and he will be a superstar

- Mitch Clark is the epitome of what we needed at Melbourne, he has it in spades.

On a more general note, I liked what I read in Mark Robinson's interview with Neeld in Saturday's Hun. Recruiting a few hardened players Moneyball-style mixed with some good draft selections is the way to go forward IMO.

I would keep them both for depth and 'we are still so bloody young' reasons but why would anyone want to stay if there is an option to play more regularly elsewhere?

True that and good point re depth, it will be interesting. I really want to see some kids given a chance by years end, ie; Couch, Cook, Davis, Tynan, Taggert, Gys. These kids are our future, I like the look of them, just need to give them a go.

Don't agree rpfc I think Dunn is worth having around.

We are desperately short of big bodied players with experience ( 90 games )

He can play a number of spots, Has turned in some very good games in the past against good teams.

He quite often gets the unglamours jobs.

He can kick a mile and he is tough never gives up.

He is a keep for mine

Agreed - even if he makes the sub's role his own. He's not afraid to come on, play wherever he's told and do the grunt, whether it's shoring up the defence or adding another dimension to the forward line.

I think Dunn is actually a really good re-bounding defender off half back. He kicked started a number of attacked from back there yesterday

I would keep them both for depth and 'we are still so bloody young' reasons but why would anyone want to stay if there is an option to play more regularly elsewhere?

I'd keep him kicking out with those torps every time!

That was nearly a 6 second goal to us .

Bate and Dunn are good honest players and there is not much coming through to replace them .

Gysberts and Viney look more like pushing out Beamer at this stage I reckon.

I love Beamer but yesterday I could see that he only really paddles along and has no real pace.

We looked good yeasterday because we had zip with Blease and Nicho going well .

Tom Mc is a top notch player despite some ugly looking disposal at times-but he was extremely effective rebounding with JW.

The only sad part yesterday was seeing Beamer having lost all pace .

I enjoyed the win in the end yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed the theatre. And generally happy for the Demonland faithful and members here. A win is a win in any form. Whilst there were many errors, you've just got to take pride in the attitude and effort. Same goes for Black Caviar, despite the pilot error.

Win is a win.

That said, to say there was never any doubt rpfc, is easy in hindsight. Not sure you were thinking the same trailing by two goals going into time on in the first. The same errors we've seen this season were as evident as ever in the first.

In the end, our intensity an efforts were of a more sustained level and the inexperienced babies at GWS were found wanting come the second term. Clark was sensational in the air and kicking for goal and our midfield were more than competitive in the contested possession which was critical to this game.

A big thumbs up to the Demon supporters providing 20,020 to the crowd aggregate, leaving 50 GWS supporters imitating the Dalai Lama.

And Kevin Sheedy can get stuffed.

I enjoyed the win in the end yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed the theatre. And generally happy for the Demonland faithful and members here. A win is a win in any form. Whilst there were many errors, you've just got to take pride in the attitude and effort. Same goes for Black Caviar, despite the pilot error.

Win is a win.

That said, to say there was never any doubt rpfc, is easy in hindsight. Not sure you were thinking the same trailing by two goals going into time on in the first. The same errors we've seen this season were as evident as ever in the first.

In the end, our intensity an efforts were of a more sustained level and the inexperienced babies at GWS were found wanting come the second term. Clark was sensational in the air and kicking for goal and our midfield were more than competitive in the contested possession which was critical to this game.

A big thumbs up to the Demon supporters providing 20,020 to the crowd aggregate, leaving 50 GWS supporters imitating the Dalai Lama.

And Kevin Sheedy can get stuffed.

I hate this stuff H_T

don't hide your true feelings

Tell us what you really think!

Did I hear wrong... Bad internet connection at work but I think I heard that the players presented to the coaches with a style/gameplan that they wanted to play. Sounds like Neeld has run with it a bit as long as they keep the non-negotiable structures going. This might explain a better style of ball movement/spread the last few weeks than earlier in the year, which was just awful. Correct me if I'm wrong as I only heard glimpses but sounded interesting anyway and certainly makes sense. Hats off to Neeld for listening to the players when things werent going too well.

No absolutely spot on HG. I watched the Neeld presser (with Sylvia by his side which was interesting - again after a win not one of the skippers but someone who is oft criticized) and that is exactly what he said. I almost fell off my chair.

Perhaps more evidence of what i have previously noted ie Neeld seems to have tweaked his approach a bit, partic with the senior players and appears open to learning and growing which is crucial, not to mention a great example for his players

No absolutely spot on HG. I watched the Neeld presser (with Sylvia by his side which was interesting - again after a win not one of the skippers but someone who is oft criticized) and that is exactly what he said. I almost fell off my chair.

Perhaps more evidence of what i have previously noted ie Neeld seems to have tweaked his approach a bit, partic with the senior players and appears open to learning and growing which is crucial, not to mention a great example for his players

I have listened to it twice now and apart from a meeting on Monday with the team and the coaches and a agreement on what to focus on against GWS I don't really follow the argument that the players 'tweaked the gameplan.'

I wonder if it might have been more a matter of the players actually executing the gameplan (ie I doubt the gameplan ever was to have 18 players inside the opposition forward 50m and only kick to the boundary)

The wheel is slowley turning at the MFC and im starting to get back that feeling from 2010 were i could see a bright future.

The best thing about this time is the defence aspect this time around.

We had full control of the 3rd quarter this week that i have not seen in maybe 10 years at the MFC.

I must also say that my boy Jack watts is a star and really is a player that is just a joy to watch. He is all class with ball in hand and seem's to have all the time in the world.

What we are starting to see from Watts is just the start of what's to come over the next 200 games. I think this kid will go down as the first Elite player at our club since Garry lyon and Rob flower. The boy is turning into a man and all the Jack hater's can crawl back into your closet's now.

The run down the wing and pass to Trenners was just magic. He also took a nice mark over J.Patton which made me think this Young man has finally thought im better than you.

Finally we must inject some real class into our midfield and this club will have it's day.

Mitch Clark will be the best power forward in the game once we get our midfeild right and lookout when an angry Mitch is coming.

GO YOU MIGHTY DEMONS

I wonder if it might have been more a matter of the players actually executing the gameplan (ie I doubt the gameplan ever was to have 18 players inside the opposition forward 50m and only kick to the boundary)

this ^^^^^^^^

I hate this stuff H_T

don't hide your true feelings

Tell us what you really think!

You love it old dee.

.........................

The best part of the match for me was our passing. On numerous occasions we hit targets laces out, and on a few occasions we did it multiple times in a row along the wing. This is the best kicking I have seen us do. We have to keep it in perspective - we were under little pressure on many of these occasions - but we hit targets. Boy it feels good to type that.

I agree Maldonboy. From reports we have been doing it on the track for a while now, and it's great that we were able to get it together under match conditions (albeit with limited pressure for a fair portion of the game). I'm really looking forward to seeing if we bring it to the Gabba next Sunday. If we do, I reckon we will have taken an important step forward.

Does anyone know what got Jones so fired up that he covered a lot of ground to get involved in an altercation with a GWS player after a boundary line incident... I have never seen him do anything like that before. Surely there was more to it than just standing up for his own?

Standing up for his skipper (Grimes) who got unnecessarily belted. Great leadership Jonsey .... we need to see more of this sort of thing at Melbourne.

What are everyone else's thoughts on the Bugler firing up the Grand Old Flag from the Second Level of the Northern stand with about 5 seconds to go? I personally loved it. Brought out a bit of arrogance although it could have been a little earlier haha

That is definitely the place for the bugler...just like collingwoods gold jacket or chant..ours to be the bugler, when we are well in front near the end.

Don't like it at the start because we just played the song over the pa.

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by DeeZee

I liked the cheekiness of it

Beating GWS hardly rates the clarion call from the balcony but it would be terrific to hear when they beat someone worth beating. Unfortunately the MCC will 86 it and the bugler within 2 games. It was a wasted opportunity really,he should have bugled the US Calvary charge every time someone buried Scully into the turf......Cop THAT for theatre Sheeds

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by IRW