Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted

Three weeks ago as the Dee-Train was about to pull out of the station for the Essendon game, the wheels fell off the locomotive. Since then repairs and upgrades have seen a new powerhouse, a stronger engine-room and the full support of fans and administration pile on board for the on-track journey.

For the past couple of years Richmond have finished the season as finalists, but they looked to be anything but after they encountered the full force of a charged Demon group.  The tone for the match was set in the first couple of minutes with Max Gawn starting to take apart the newly returned Ivan Maric in ruck contests.  

The Bearded Behemoth simply outjumped, outmuscled, outran and outplayed his opponent as he went on his way to an 18 disposal, 47 hitout, 7 marks and 2 goal game.  The fantasy football participants were beside themselves as he amassed 102 points by half-time! He finished the game with 142, and is truly on track to fulfil his aim of being the best ruckman in the league.

Meanwhile Jack Viney has continued to grow and if there was ever a doubt that Melbourne have  a seriously good A-grade player with this father-son selection, then this was the game that proved it - 37 possessions including 23 contested, which set a club record in itself, were the numbers that came from a gutsy never say die approach to the game.  Single handedly he seemed to will his team mates into the game at times, and saw the goals from his efforts being posted again and again.

But it was not just this pair in the mid-field that were playing with an intensity missing from the Melbourne sides in recent years.  Dom Tyson played his best game for 2016 with 31 touches, Dean Kent with 25 and Bernie Vince with 24.  

This was the display that produced the results that Paul Roos has promised the fans and according to the plans he set out when he arrived.  A strong off-field coaching group is now properly developing the young players when they come to the club.  

Fans were flabbergasted in past weeks when the likes of Josh Wagner and Jayden Hunt were selected over more experienced players but they have been solid contributors and play with the poise of 50 to 100 game veterans already. The response from the outer is exactly what we have been saying about Sydney and Hawthorn players for years ... "where have they been hiding these kids?"

And the import players like Tomas Bugg, Jeff Garlett, Ben Kennedy and Heritier Lumumba are filling the gaps that were so obvious in the past.  

Fit and healthy now in 2016 we are getting the benefit of their skill, knowledge and football nous and it is producing results.  None more so than Garlett who simply cut the Richmond defence to pieces with 4 goals of this own and a hand in a few more.

The backline is simply holding together as a proper defensive unit.  They are now backing each other instead of relying on individuals to beat their man. Tom McDonald is able to take those telling defensive marks because Lynden Dunn has cut out his man. The strength of this defensive unit made a sheer mockery of the Richmond forwards as they only managed goals from umpire interventions and costly turnovers.  

Nothing was more telling when the Melbourne coaches placed Neville Jetta on Ty Vickery and despite giving away a huge height advantage, Neville simply outjumped, harassed and outplayed his taller opponent.  With Vickery out of the equation, our other defenders simply had a field day.  

Richmond only scored four goals for the whole game from their own efforts. The other 10 were from our turnovers.  

We can’t fault the defenders for that!

The solemnity of the night and the Anzac-eve experience was something to behold and nearly 60,000 fans came along.  One would suggest it to be far more moving than that seen at the Essendon-Collingwood game as the MCG was darkened and only lit by a memorial flame and the thousands of lights from the fans phones. Again a tribute to Peter Jackson and his team for putting together the concept and then carrying out the implementation of the idea.  Let’s make sure the AFL doesn’t hijack this and hand it to other sides in the future.

While we have broken the two in a row hoodoo, it is now not just about getting three in a row and more. It is now about winning games consistently.

We have put together the side, who have shown they are capable of being a serious player in the competition. We suddenly have players in abundance to select from, as Christian Petracca, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Alex Neal-Bullen and others put in claims for an upgrade to the seniors week after week.  

The club has announced the membership total has exceeded its record.

So it's all aboard again, but this time, it's for real.

Melbourne   5.1.31 11.3.69 14.7.91 20.9.129

Richmond 2.3.15 7.5.47 11.9.75 14.12.96

Goals

Melbourne Garlett 4 Vince Watts 3 Gawn Tyson 2 Brayshaw Bugg Frost Harmes Kent Salem

Richmond Lloyd Riewoldt Vickery 3 Chaplin Ellis Martin, Miles

Best

Melbourne Gawn Viney Tyson Salem Kent N Jones Garlett

Richmond Cotchin Miles Riewoldt Edwards Houli Lloyd

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Richmond Brett Deledio (quad) replaced in the side by Jacob Townsend

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

Richmond Jack Riewoldt (ankle)

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Richmond Alex Rance for striking Jack Watts in the fourth quarter

Umpires Stevic Stephens Chamberlain

Official crowd 59,968 at the MCG

 

  • Like 3

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    2024 Player Reviews: #15 Ed Langdon

    The Demon running machine came back with a vengeance after a leaner than usual year in 2023.  Date of Birth: 1 February 1996 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 22 Career Total: 179 Goals MFC 2024: 9 Career Total: 76 Brownlow Medal Votes: 5 Melbourne Football Club: 5th Best & Fairest: 352 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 6

    2024 Player Reviews: #24 Trent Rivers

    The premiership defender had his best year yet as he was given the opportunity to move into the midfield and made a good fist of it. Date of Birth: 30 July 2001 Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 100 Goals MFC 2024: 2 Career Total:  9 Brownlow Medal Votes: 7 Melbourne Football Club: 6th Best & Fairest: 350 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 2

    TRAINING: Monday 11th November 2024

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin, Slartibartfast & Demon Wheels were on hand at Gosch's Paddock to kick off the official first training session for the 1st to 4th year players with a few elder statesmen in attendance as well. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning. Joy all round, they look like they want to be there.  21 in the squad. Looks like the leadership group is TMac, Viney Chandler and Petty. They look like they have sli

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    2024 Player Reviews: #1 Steven May

    The years are rolling by but May continued to be rock solid in a key defensive position despite some injury concerns. He showed great resilience in coming back from a nasty rib injury and is expected to continue in that role for another couple of seasons. Date of Birth: 10 January 1992 Height: 193cm Games MFC 2024: 19 Career Total: 235 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 24 Melbourne Football Club: 9th Best & Fairest: 316 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons

    2024 Player Reviews: #4 Judd McVee

    It was another strong season from McVee who spent most of his time mainly at half back but he also looked at home on a few occasions when he was moved into the midfield. There could be more of that in 2025. Date of Birth: 7 August 2003 Height: 185cm Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 48 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 1 Brownlow Medal Votes: 1 Melbourne Football Club: 7th Best & Fairest: 347 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    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 9

    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 7

    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 9
  • Tell a friend

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