Jump to content

NAB Challenge Aftermath

Featured Replies

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL by Whispering Jack

Since time immemorial, pre season practice matches, be they the intraclub variety or contests between clubs played for trophies or otherwise, have always needed to be looked at with a dose of skepticism.

Fair enough. And a win's not important in the scheme of things. However, in this case I beg to differ. For this group this win can't be underestimated. 

What value do you put on "belief". How could they not come away from that game and not be thinking, Jeez this stuff we've worked on for this entire bloody summer works.......and I/we can do it. 

When do you think the last time was that they came away from the start of the season thinking that. 

Key Factors for me :-

1. As many others have said "competitiveness". But most importantly competitiveness when they were blown out of the contest and used it to get back in. That's a step up.

2. Fitness = running capacity=running to space to create options.  Was expecting to see this from what I'd read coaches etc saying in the pre season but jeez it's a pleasant surprise to have it confirmed. Saw more of this than I have in a very very long time.

3. Injuries.  With our best 22 or close to it on the park (surely we area about due), we could do some real damage this season.

Everyone else has covered anything I'd have to say about individual players. 

 
29 minutes ago, djr said:

How do you know Goodwin fired them up. He doesn't come across as that type of coach. It appeared to me that the endeavour was there in the first half but the game plan was not been adhered to. I would have thought he would have pointed that out and urged them to take on their opponents and run while other team mates man up defensively.

What type of coach does he come across as? He's had 1 game, I thought it would be too early to form an opinion either way.

BBO loves mounting and coming from behind as well. He also calls it a victory because of his age .

 
2 hours ago, old dee said:

"these games are practice matches after all and we can't get carried away - yet. "

For  a decade we have been the chopping block of the AFL.

This season we finally have a reasonable list with some depth and IMO we will win 10 games.

In past times yesterday would have been a 8-10 goal win by Port.

But this time we fought back and won.

It is the first sign that 2016 is going to be a much more enjoyable year.

Guess what WJ I can get carried away.

 

don't get too carried away OD,   oh,  & stay away from those little blue pills.. they can make you dangerous. :pj:

2 hours ago, old dee said:

WJ  as you I know I tell it as I see it and for most of the last  decade we have not had an AFL standard list and it has not been hard to see.

It has stood out like a beacon that in past years we were not going anywhere fast.

However that has changed we are now half decent list.

We wont make the eight this year but we are not going to be the league easy beats in 2016.

Melbourne Football Club players attend a press conference where Club President Jim Stynes announced that he will be taking a break from the position as he receives treatment for cancer, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 2, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.


Not sure where to put this article so here will have to do http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-development-programs-becoming-the-best-route-to-an-afl-premiership-20160226-gn4x7c.html

I think we all know that FA's and players look at facilities and development programs before moving clubs or going to so called 'destination clubs'.  I doubt any of us think we are such a club (yet).  So I take with a grain of salt this comment by the writer, Jon Pierik:  The Demons, for instance, are a "destination" club again, due in part to their development system.

Top 4 clubs will generally be the most attractive. 

Nonetheless, it is good that mfc is starting to be linked to the words 'destination club'.  If our development is top notch it will help player retention as well as attract players.  We are slowly getting off the bottom rungs of the ladder, in more ways than one!

We kicked 15 goals, and accurately too (15.5). We were harder at it, yet moved the ball fast (in the second half, anyway).

Clearly there are kinks that need ironing out, but for a first meaningful practice match plenty of promising signs.

1 hour ago, djr said:

How do you know Goodwin fired them up. He doesn't come across as that type of coach. It appeared to me that the endeavour was there in the first half but the game plan was not been adhered to. I would have thought he would have pointed that out and urged them to take on their opponents and run while other team mates man up defensively.

6 Goals to Zip tells me the players got rebooted...

 

This is an exchange I had with a mad Power supporting mate of mine once the final siren blew. He was gearing up to watch it 2pm WA time..

 

image.png

2 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

I love mounting a come from behind victory. Gets me very excited. 

Surprised you remember what it's like Moonie.


Melbourne... Destination club....

Had to reread that a few times lol

Someone actually put that in print !!!

Next thing you'll know they'll talk about "window" and 'clock'; all without laughing or sneering !!

Brave new world 

2 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Surprised you remember what it's like Moonie.

Yes. Usually the underdog that never gets a sniff.

Lots has already been written but key things for me aside from the obvious performances of Gawn, Viney and Vanders.

  • The most obvious improvement was players being on the move at a stoppage and not just the target player for the tap but those swarming around. We also finally appear to understand that loopy handballs aren't the preferred execution.
  • I know its a practice match but the games of much maligned players in Matt Jones (made good decision and execution) and Jack Watts (consistent second efforts both offensively and defensively) need more call out than they have had.
  • Ben Kennedy is more a mid than a small forward. Looked a lot better when given freedom to roam in the second half. 
  • Pederson ahead in the Pedo/Frost second tall spot. Whilst great athletically Frost lacks all game sense to play forward (although I am sure he will improve).
  • I was really disappointed in Salem's game who I have very high expectations of. His defensive positioning was poor on numerous occasions and he did not work hard enough to make options offensively.
  • Really wanted one of Wagner or Hunt to own the other back flank. Neither really did it for me yesterday nor were they bad. Hoping one really puts it together over the coming fortnight as there is a spot there for the taking. Getting that spot right will allow us to not just drive attacks from the stoppage but from the back half as well.
  • Oliver's class in traffic and hardness at the ball and man showed why he was taken so early. Any doubts people had should already be removed based on that showing.
  • It was great to see when Goodwin was interviewed at the half that the items he said we needed to refine we actually refined. 
6 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Yes. Usually the underdog that never gets a sniff.

 

6 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Yes. Usually the underdog that never gets a sniff.

Bet you were as happy as a dog with two bones. 

Every dog has it's day.

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL by Whisper

I will not therefore allow myself to get too carried away with Melbourne's big second half effort to defeat Port Adelaide 0.15.5.95 to 1.10.7.76 in its opening NAB Challenge match of 2016.

 

 

A beautifully constructed piece as always Jack, you certainly can put together a wonderful summary.  Thanks.

I also admire your self control.  I find optimism, excitement and "getting too carried away" emotions that are difficult to control particularly after your team has done so well.  And I'll take any joy I can find after 10 years or so of crud.

Let's hope you can get carried away after the GWS game!


1 hour ago, special robert said:

BBO loves mounting and coming from behind as well. He also calls it a victory because of his age .

Special, I'm not going to let you travel in the Merc so get over it!!

3 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Thanks, bloody typical....I had to work yesterday and only caught about a qtr and a half in the radio. Was wishfully thinking there might be one on this afternoon. Pub won't be open at ten....think it's time to get Foxtel.

24 hours after game time, AFL smartphone app allows replays anytime at your leisure. Watched it live and watching replay now. Think what you'll save on beer. 

1 hour ago, Olgreybeard49 said:

24 hours after game time, AFL smartphone app allows replays anytime at your leisure. Watched it live and watching replay now. Think what you'll save on beer. 

If we continue to play like this I'd consider trading in the beer for Foxtel.

Well, maybe not.....


42 minutes ago, McQueen said:

This is an exchange I had with a mad Power supporting mate of mine once the final siren blew. He was gearing up to watch it 2pm WA time..

 

image.png

Classic Dave.

Yep, as a keen Demon fan, I would not be without my AFL pass.  Just got back from an away break and plugged the computer in to watch the whole replay at my leisure.  Money well spent.  Sadly can't do anything about Dwayno though ... what a [censored].(another word for a rooster)

 
3 hours ago, Peter Griffen said:

interesting to see how we go with the 90 interchange cap

I'm not sure that will be an issue as we are not likely to encounter summer conditions like those yesterday, during the season.  Why expose your players to the possibility of heat exhaustion at this time of year... Port were proof that it wasn't a wise move on their part to restrict interchanges in these conditions.


Archived

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

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Gold Coast

    The Gold Coast Suns find themselves outside of the top eight for the first time since Round 1 with pressure is mounting on the entire organisation. Their coach Damien Hardwick expressed his frustration at his team’s condition last week by making a middle-finger gesture on television that earned him a fine for his troubles. He showed his desperation by claiming that Fox should pick up the tab.  There’s little doubt the Suns have shown improvement in 2025, and their position on the ladder is influenced to some extent by having played fewer games than their rivals for a playoff role at the end of the season, courtesy of the disruption caused by Cyclone Alfred in March.  However, they are following the same trajectory that hindered the club in past years whenever they appeared to be nearing their potential. As a consequence, that Hardwick gesture should be considered as more than a mere behavioral lapse. It’s a distress signal that does not bode well for the Queenslanders. While the Suns are eager to remain in contention with the top eight, Melbourne faces its own crisis, which is similarly deep-seated but in a much different way. After recovering from a disappointing start to the season and nearing a return to respectability among its peer clubs, the Demons have experienced a decline in status, driven by the fact that while their form has been reasonable (see their performance against the ladder leader in the Kings Birthday match), their conversion in front of goal is poor enough to rank last in the competition. Furthermore, their opponents find them exceptionally easy to score against. As a result, they have effectively eliminated themselves from the finals race and are again positioned to finish in the bottom half of the ladder.

    • 4 replies
  • NON-MFC: Round 15

    As the Demons head into their Bye Round, it's time to turn our attention to the other matches being played. Which teams are you tipping this week? And which results would be most favourable for the Demons if we can manage to turn our season around? Follow all the non-Melbourne games here and join the conversation as the ladder continues to take shape.

    • 284 replies
  • REPORT: Port Adelaide

    Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived. Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

    • 3 replies
  • CASEY: Essendon

    Casey’s unbeaten run was extended for at least another fortnight after the Demons overran a persistent Essendon line up by 29 points at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne last night. After conceding the first goal of the evening, Casey went on a scoring spree from about ten minutes in, with five unanswered majors with its fleet of midsized runners headed by the much improved Paddy Cross who kicked two in quick succession and livewire Ricky Mentha who also kicked an early goal. Leading the charge was recruit of the year, Riley Bonner while Bailey Laurie continued his impressive vein of form. With Tom Campbell missing from the lineup, Will Verrall stepped up to the plate demonstrating his improvement under the veteran ruckman’s tutelage. The Demons were looking comfortable for much of the second quarter and held a 25-point lead until the Bombers struck back with two goals in the shadows of half time. On the other side of the main break their revival continued with first three goals of the half. Harry Sharp, who had been quiet scrambled in the Demons’ first score of the third term to bring the margin back to a single point at the 17 minute mark and the game became an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the quarter and into the final moments of the last.

    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Gold Coast

    The Demons have the Bye next week but then are on the road once again when they come up against the Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast in what could be a last ditch effort to salvage their season. Who comes in and who comes out?

      • Like
    • 316 replies
  • PODCAST: Port Adelaide

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Power.
    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/

    • 33 replies