27 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Harmes in the Round 1 Team. Kent ... not sure he's there yet.

Like what Bugg brings, but sooner or later, he'll have to improve his disposal/kicking, or be replaced by someone who doesn't.

Wagner still a way to go, but as observed above, he did improve in the second half. Seems to know what to do, but as with Bugg, disposal, disposal, disposal.

Frost still a work in progress. Like his mobility around the ground, but he needs to do more with it. A few (more) glimpses today though.

Getting harder to see a place or role for Grimes.

Let's hope Max Gawn stays fit and healthy.

 

Sorry, but you must be joking.

1 hour ago, Moneider96 said:

Should also add that we played one less player. 

 

1 hour ago, Moneider96 said:

Yep, matt jones went off with a concussion in the first quarter. So 22 v 24 for the last 3 quarters. 

At ¾ time the commentariat was comparing the Saints with something like 25 interchanges up their sleeves with our ?14    

Most pleasing was the fact that we were still able to outrun them  

1 hour ago, Tessaract said:

Pedo may face a week at least.

Look closely : impact was to the shoulder, then he fell.  Still, knowing the history and integrity (not) of the MRP he may well get 2.  After all Moloney got 2 for almost hitting Bartell.

How about the dude who deliberately put Oscar into the point post?  Deliberate   Dangerous   

 

28 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Goodwin hinted in his post game interview that Wagner might be the rookie that is upgraded.

Given that he is a rookie player he did pretty well today, I thought!

Some tough task masters on here.

Sure he did some silly things, but some of the more seasoned back men did too.  As the game went on he kept at it and did some good things. But, no, I think he is probable half a season away from attaining AFL standard. 

Hope he learns at Casey and keeps at it.  Certainly not "hopeless" as some suggest.  Just not ready, yet  

 

Our forward defensive pressure today was something I cannot remember from a MFC team, ever.  And the overall team work was outstanding.  Running to space - unheard of. 

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by monoccular
More

13 minutes ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

So did we finish top in the nab challenge? 

Nope, 2nd

1.    Fremantle Dockers    3    3    0    0    242:168    144.05    12    
2.    Melbourne Demons    3    3    0    0    274:219    125.11    12    
3.    Collingwood Magpies    3    3    0    0    323:305    105.90    12    
4.    Adelaide Crows    3    2    0    1    324:201    161.19    8    
5.    Greater Western Sydney    3    2    0    1    289:247    117.00    8    
6.    Sydney Swans    3    2    0    1    232:223    104.04    8    
7.    West Coast Eagles    3    2    0    1    261:253    103.16    8    
8.    Hawthorn Hawks    3    2    0    1    211:216    97.69    8    
9.    Geelong Cats    3    1    0    2    305:238    128.15    4    
10.    Western Bulldogs    3    1    0    2    269:252    106.75    4    
11.    Port Adelaide Power    3    1    0    2    229:221    103.62    4    
12.    Gold Coast Suns    3    1    0    2    204:207    98.55    4    
13.    North Melbourne Kangaroos    3    1    0    2    274:283    96.82    4    
14.    Richmond Tigers    3    1    0    2    179:216    82.87    4    
15.    Essendon Bombers    3    1    0    2    172:304    56.58    4    
16.    St Kilda Saints    2    0    0    2    156:224    69.64    0    
17.    Brisbane Lions    2    0    0    2    126:190    66.32    0    
18.    Carlton Blues    3    0    0    3    136:239    56.90    0    
 
 People say the NAB is meaningless but there is no denying there is a great deal of similarity between this ladder and what is expected to happen this year. If you moved WCE and Hawthorn towards the top, Richmond to 9th, there isn't too much out of place IMO Except of course us!

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by Curry & Beer

2 minutes ago, DubDee said:

We should have won this easily. 4-5 easy goals missed

have to eat some early humble pie and say Bugg was very good. 

N jones I'm tipping to have a career best year. He was a major reason why we dominated the last 3 quarters. 

Totally agree re-Jones, he's going to relish being fully fit, with other physical mids also drawing heat, tags and doing damage.

His aggression around the ball was inspiring today.

 

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Good to practise winning

the big changes are Bugg Kennedy and Oliver. All 3 are ready to go foot to the floor

they give our midfield a completely different energy. 

Great game from Watts

now do it for points now Demons...

For mine it's what Bugg and Kennedy do on our offensive arcs that gives our team so much. Combine their harassment with Garlett and Kent, and all of a sudden we're very dangerous in our offensive 50. Oliver definitely adds another good young midfielder though and increases that midfield depth that we've so lacked.

1 hour ago, P-man said:

A very ordinary first quarter but a much improved performance after that where we rarely lost momentum. Should've been a much bigger margin in the end. The two way running game is starting to really show and defensively we set up very well with most scores conceded from silly turnovers I think it was the best overall performance of the three games which bodes well for Round 1.

T Mac made amends for last week. Jeffrey is a star and forward pressure was top notch. Kennedy a lot better and adds some much needed speed and poise forward of centre. Tyson and Viney solid but still untidy with foot skills. Salem has the tools to be a top 5 player in the league at some point in his career.

With Brayshaw, Vanders, Petracca, Dunn, Lumumba and Trengove to come into the side that played today, we're poised for a good season.

I agree Salem could be a star, but his first three disposals today were all ineffective and were turned over. Thought he worked himself into the game a bit and had a few possies, but he was pretty ordinary in the first half.

1 hour ago, Tessaract said:

Pedo may face a week at least.

Yep, reckon he'll get one or two weeks on the sidelines. He was ordinary today too.

1 hour ago, Jesus Hoganshaw said:

I got drunk.

Were you one of the whackers in the Demon Army that were singing louder than I've ever heard the MFC cheer squad sing? I did like some of the football/soccer-like songs though. Just wondering where half of them have been the last decade.

1 hour ago, Peter Griffen said:

I don't mean to be a downer, but i think Wagner is still a little way off where he needs to be for AFL level

Absolutely. I recall perhaps 8 to 10 turn overs/errors.

Fark that's nice seeing Melbourne up the right end of the ladder.

O Mac needs to play all year 

 

How good is Jack Viney

2 hours ago, Glenn Molloy said:

Piggy is one of the better analysts and I think he has a case; let's not get carried away by the NAB Challenge.  We're improving, no doubt, and we've got plenty of grunt but we still butcher the ball too much and the top teams will make us pay time and again.  Brisbane were undefeated in last years NAB challenge and look how that turned out....

And everyone had Brisbane in there top 8 because of that but for some reason we come into the season with everyone thinking we are not going to finish any higher then last year, how does that work?!

My observations 

great win, we are finding a way to prevail 3 out of 3 is a great start. Like the look of Oliver, Bugg, Kennedy. Loved J Watts' game today. Hogan, sign a contract now for  2 years, if your not sure, just concentrate on your footy and put your fricking agent back in his box. I still worry about our midfield, we were smashed in the centre clearances for three quarters and around the ground. When everyone was stuffed in the 4th our mids started to look sharper and innovative with the ball. 

Is it my delusion but we have rarely dominated centre clearances for years?  Even in the Reverends time when we were very good I seem to remember we would retake possession at half back and attack from there. I think when Jeff White was going gang busters in 1998 with Todd Viney reading his tap outs was the last time I remember us cutting oppositions to pieces from the centre bounces.

If we could replicate that dominance we would start to smash teams. 

37 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Grimes looked well out of sorts today. A heart and soul player but the queries on his value to the team still persist. 

he didn't do that bad. he only had 58% game time and his de% was over 80%

57 minutes ago, Moneider96 said:

Add Omac to that list.

Thought he was a bit better today. Still looks a little lost, but performed a couple of solid spoils today.

57 minutes ago, Moneider96 said:

Oliver has the potential to be a Patrick Dangerfield or Chris Judd. The kid is a freak. Better than Brayshaw already imo.

Disagree he's better than Brayshaw. He's just different. Brayshaw is so, so damaging when he gets it. Particularly, on his own. I will say though that Oliver looks more capable of racking up more disposals than Brayshaw though.

Just finished watching the replay the things that stood out to me.

 

1. Max Gawn tireless in the ruck and around the ground, I was especially impressed when he gave 20meter hand passes to players streaming down the field.

2. If we could eliminate stupid turnovers like those in the first quarter or so, we would be a far better team and a real chance at a top 8 position.

3. loved the direct play, hated when we started to go backwards and cross ground at times.

4. Hogan, while I love the guy, he needs to chase the ball after a failed marking attempt, he too often gives up the contest once he has contested and lost.

5. Watts loved his game.

6, Oliver, Bugg and Kennedy all look to be great pick ups.

7. One thing I absolutely hated was the space we gave the saints players, because they are not as skilled as some teams we were able to get turnovers when they kicked poorly, against top sides you cannot give them the space and the ability to over lap down the field. This will kill us, players need to more accountable for their man.

8. The last thing that I got from today was hope, hope that Melbourne has turned the corner and that we will play far better and more competitive football in the years to come.

One further observation was our kick outs. So glad we have worked so hard on these over the off season - not! 

Nothing has changed. Two options I kick to myself and play on then kick long down the line to Max or I look at numerous options either side then kick long down the line to Max. Once early we went short and wide, turned it over and it came back for a goal. 

Surely we we should be working on this, the good sides turn a point against into a rebound  opportunity to score a goal at the other end and often do just that. 

Looks like the penny has finally dropped for Watts, his contested work was sensational.

Oliver is a genuine superstar in the making.

Garlett gives us another dimension

Harmes continues to impress and make claims for round one.

New boys Bugg and Kennedy are fitting in nicely.

i know it's only pre season, but have we finally arrived as a decent side?

looks like the dark days are in the past now.

go you bloody beautiful Demons!

45 minutes ago, Undeeterred said:

Sorry, but you must be joking.

He isn't. He goes missing for large patches of games and half the time butchers it by foot. So overrated.

36 minutes ago, Curry & Beer said:

Nope, 2nd

1.    Fremantle Dockers    3    3    0    0    242:168    144.05    12    
2.    Melbourne Demons    3    3    0    0    274:219    125.11    12    
3.    Collingwood Magpies    3    3    0    0    323:305    105.90    12    
4.    Adelaide Crows    3    2    0    1    324:201    161.19    8    
5.    Greater Western Sydney    3    2    0    1    289:247    117.00    8    
6.    Sydney Swans    3    2    0    1    232:223    104.04    8    
7.    West Coast Eagles    3    2    0    1    261:253    103.16    8    
8.    Hawthorn Hawks    3    2    0    1    211:216    97.69    8    
9.    Geelong Cats    3    1    0    2    305:238    128.15    4    
10.    Western Bulldogs    3    1    0    2    269:252    106.75    4    
11.    Port Adelaide Power    3    1    0    2    229:221    103.62    4    
12.    Gold Coast Suns    3    1    0    2    204:207    98.55    4    
13.    North Melbourne Kangaroos    3    1    0    2    274:283    96.82    4    
14.    Richmond Tigers    3    1    0    2    179:216    82.87    4    
15.    Essendon Bombers    3    1    0    2    172:304    56.58    4    
16.    St Kilda Saints    2    0    0    2    156:224    69.64    0    
17.    Brisbane Lions    2    0    0    2    126:190    66.32    0    
18.    Carlton Blues    3    0    0    3    136:239    56.90    0    
 
 People say the NAB is meaningless but there is no denying there is a great deal of similarity between this ladder and what is expected to happen this year. If you moved WCE and Hawthorn towards the top, Richmond to 9th, there isn't too much out of place IMO Except of course us!

Ahhh never fails to amuse me!

22 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

My observations 

great win, we are finding a way to prevail 3 out of 3 is a great start. Like the look of Oliver, Bugg, Kennedy. Loved J Watts' game today. Hogan, sign a contract now for  2 years, if your not sure, just concentrate on your footy and put your fricking agent back in his box. I still worry about our midfield, we were smashed in the centre clearances for three quarters and around the ground. When everyone was stuffed in the 4th our mids started to look sharper and innovative with the ball. 

Is it my delusion but we have rarely dominated centre clearances for years?  Even in the Reverends time when we were very good I seem to remember we would retake possession at half back and attack from there. I think when Jeff White was going gang busters in 1998 with Todd Viney reading his tap outs was the last time I remember us cutting oppositions to pieces from the centre bounces.

If we could replicate that dominance we would start to smash teams. 

There's your answer - we haven't had a top shelf ruckman since White (Jamar had one good year)

Now we have MAXY

No doubt after the NAB Challenge there are plenty of opposition coaches getting the liquid paper out and erasing the word 'win' against Melbourne to a question mark!!!

20 minutes ago, AdamFarr said:

Thought he was a bit better today. Still looks a little lost, but performed a couple of solid spoils today.

Disagree he's better than Brayshaw. He's just different. Brayshaw is so, so damaging when he gets it. Particularly, on his own. I will say though that Oliver looks more capable of racking up more disposals than Brayshaw though.

I feel like Clarry looks like he is a bit more well-rounded, a couple more strings to his bow

5 minutes ago, Curry & Beer said:

I feel like Clarry looks like he is a bit more well-rounded, a couple more strings to his bow

You're probably right, but I love my Gus.

Did anyone see that absolute bellend from St Kilda (number 17) who gave Jones a free kick just prior to a throw in being taken after he grabbed him by the leg, lifted him up and threw him down? Ball was out of play at the time, was right in front of the ump. 

I was absolutely giving it to him over the fence, what a mug. 

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by Seraph

I know it's only pre-season, but does anyone else feel this is genuinely the start of something special? I'm not saying finals are a certainty this year but things just seem to be...well...'right' at the moment.

I mean all of a sudden, the club is now drafting AFL ready players (Oliver, Brayshaw), we have a reliable midfield with legitimate depth and a key group of young leaders ready and determined to bring this club back up the ladder. 

Heck, even Jack Watts is clunking contested marks and laying tackles. Are we sure that this is Melbourne?

52 minutes ago, Curry & Beer said:

Nope, 2nd

1.    Fremantle Dockers    3    3    0    0    242:168    144.05    12    
2.    Melbourne Demons    3    3    0    0    274:219    125.11    12    
3.    Collingwood Magpies    3    3    0    0    323:305    105.90    12    
4.    Adelaide Crows    3    2    0    1    324:201    161.19    8    
5.    Greater Western Sydney    3    2    0    1    289:247    117.00    8    
6.    Sydney Swans    3    2    0    1    232:223    104.04    8    
7.    West Coast Eagles    3    2    0    1    261:253    103.16    8    
8.    Hawthorn Hawks    3    2    0    1    211:216    97.69    8    
9.    Geelong Cats    3    1    0    2    305:238    128.15    4    
10.    Western Bulldogs    3    1    0    2    269:252    106.75    4    
11.    Port Adelaide Power    3    1    0    2    229:221    103.62    4    
12.    Gold Coast Suns    3    1    0    2    204:207    98.55    4    
13.    North Melbourne Kangaroos    3    1    0    2    274:283    96.82    4    
14.    Richmond Tigers    3    1    0    2    179:216    82.87    4    
15.    Essendon Bombers    3    1    0    2    172:304    56.58    4    
16.    St Kilda Saints    2    0    0    2    156:224    69.64    0    
17.    Brisbane Lions    2    0    0    2    126:190    66.32    0    
18.    Carlton Blues    3    0    0    3    136:239    56.90    0    
 
 People say the NAB is meaningless but there is no denying there is a great deal of similarity between this ladder and what is expected to happen this year. If you moved WCE and Hawthorn towards the top, Richmond to 9th, there isn't too much out of place IMO Except of course us!

Can we please replicate this in the real season. 

It's not too much to ask!

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by DemonOX

If Watts can bring this form to regular season we are instantly a lot better offensively. Fantastic effort today. 

Kent is super important.

Ball use still concerns me but has improved. It's our defensive work all around the ground that is great to watch.