GAMEDAY - Round 20

[Whispering_Jack 30,255]

It really is a case of men against boys in today's clash between the Demons and the Hawks at the MCG.

The average age of the Hawthorn team selected for today's game is 26½ years - almost four years more than Melbourne's average age. The average games differential is slightly above 80 (137.0 to 56.6) in favour of the reigning premier. 

The figures suggest a blowout but the spirit of the decision to play our youth and the quality of these young men suggests to me that it's not just about today but rather, about next year ... and the year after.

Of course, at this time of the season, it seems like it's always been about "next year" for Demon fans but I seriously think there's something about this group.                

 

[Bitter but optimistic 22,242]

5 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

It really is a case of men against boys in today's clash between the Demons and the Hawks at the MCG.

The average age of the Hawthorn team selected for today's game is 26½ years - almost four years more than Melbourne's average age. The average games differential is slightly above 80 (137.0 to 56.6) in favour of the reigning premier. 

The figures suggest a blowout but the spirit of the decision to play our youth and the quality of these young men suggests to me that it's not just about today but rather, about next year ... and the year after.

Of course, at this time of the season, it seems like it's always been about "next year" for Demon fans but I seriously think there's something about this group.                

 

Usually by around round 3 it's about "next year". So being a finals "chance" until recently has certainly been an oddity.

While it's unlikely, a win in this game would be rocket fuel in our development and 2017 prospects!

[Emerald 1,744]

It will be a David and Goliath battle today,if memory serves me correct David won and went on to be king.

Go Dees!

[Gator 17,383]

I'm as excited by today as I have been for just about any game this year.  That will change if they don't have a sustained crack, but I think they will.  

We will have 8 top 10 players (bid or selected) out there, who are the core of our future. 

I believe today's side will be one of the youngest teams ever selected outside of the expansion clubs and Carlton round 22 2007 in the tankfest against Melbourne. 

[deanox 9,945]

It's Member Appreciation Week at the MFC and I was (presumably one of 22) members who received a phone call this week thanking us for attending every home game and inviting us to the ground where we will be presented with a jumper by a player after the warm up.

So keep an eye out for me before the game. 

[DemonLad5 1,642]

The boys will crack in hard today. We may not win, but you won't be questioning our endeavour 

[CBDees 3,167]

The boys out there today, including those recruits promoted from Casey, are not used to losing. I think everybody is in for a surprise today.

[Sir Why You Little 37,053]

Just Beat 'em Demons....

[Die Hard Demon 1,224]

Ok so weirdly enough, I dreamt Thursday night that we were up by 3 goals at 3QTR time & then went on to lose by a goal, failing to score in the last.. Then last night, I had the same dream, thinking it was real I told everyone that I dreamt about it the night before.

Moral of the dreams are.. if we're up by 3 goals at 3QTR time, put your house on Hawks to get up.

[JV7 2,351]

I said it in the preview thread.... Call me mad but I think we are a real chance today. I've said on this forum numerous times, I said at the start of the year we'd beat the Hawks once... The effort & performance last time means we wont be fearful of them today.

I can sense that this young group just have this feeling of "todays the day we arrive". We were down last week so we should be up & about if our inconsistent form rings true. I can just see us clicking today, I dont know why... 

Dees by 11 

[praha 11,240]

48 minutes ago, Die Hard Demon said:

Ok so weirdly enough, I dreamt Thursday night that we were up by 3 goals at 3QTR time & then went on to lose by a goal, failing to score in the last.. Then last night, I had the same dream, thinking it was real I told everyone that I dreamt about it the night before.

Moral of the dreams are.. if we're up by 3 goals at 3QTR time, put your house on Hawks to get up.

We would still be paying outsider odds even if we're up at 3QT because, well, it's Hawthorn, so I'd be inclined to go against your dream and bet on the Dees.

[ding 5,126]

We fell over the line against a decimated Gold Coast,

Go in this week with an even less experienced side,  

Playing the best team of the past decade

And STILL people think we will win? 

Sometimes i just shake my head................ 

[Nasher 33,616]

2 hours ago, ProDee said:

I'm as excited by today as I have been for just about any game this year.  That will change if they don't have a sustained crack, but I think they will.  

We will have 8 top 10 players (bid or selected) out there, who are the core of our future. 

I believe today's side will be one of the youngest teams ever selected outside of the expansion clubs and Carlton round 22 2007 in the tankfest against Melbourne. 

I agree on the excitement front. I've been itching for this now ever since the teams were named.

Regarding the youth of the team, probably the aspect that has me so excited is that other than maybe Weideman, you couldn't say that any of the young players are there outside order of merit. They're talented, they're ready and they're taking over. Bring it on!

[Wiseblood 24,637]

1 minute ago, ding said:

We fell over the line against a decimated Gold Coast,

Go in this week with an even less experienced side,  

Playing the best team of the past decade

And STILL people think we will win? 

Sometimes i just shake my head................ 

And I shake my head at supporters like yourself. What a sad way to go in to each game, not believing we can win. We have had a real crack in every game this year, today will be no different. 

Hawks will probably be too strong for us, but looking forward to seeing our exciting, young talent having a real crack today. Anything is possible. 

[Redleg 40,981]

2 hours ago, Emerald said:

It will be a David and Goliath battle today,if memory serves me correct David won and went on to be king.

Go Dees!

Start looking for the slingshot.

[praha 11,240]

7 minutes ago, ding said:

We fell over the line against a decimated Gold Coast,

Go in this week with an even less experienced side,  

Playing the best team of the past decade

And STILL people think we will win? 

Sometimes i just shake my head................ 

We played a fairly ravaged Saints side in 2015, got pounded for most of the game, took the lead and then lost in the dying seconds. Week after we went to Geelong and controlled the game all day. A week is a long time in football. I think a lot of people understate the importance of wins around here. It was a good win last week. GC really aren't that bad. They're no worse even with injuries than a Port or St Kilda. Things change week to week. Any team can beat any other team on any day of the week. If they bring their A-game. Lower teams have less margin for error. If we are 100% on, we still might not win a Hawks team that is 70% on. But if we go above and beyond and force them to play a different style to the one they're used to, you never know.

I mean, a pretty [censored] Melbourne side beat an undefeated Essendon side in Round 10 in 2012. Granted Essendon aren't Hawthorn, but anything can happen.

Edited August 6, 2016 by praha

[Nasher 33,616]

5 minutes ago, ding said:

We fell over the line against a decimated Gold Coast,

Go in this week with an even less experienced side,  

Playing the best team of the past decade

And STILL people think we will win? 

Sometimes i just shake my head................ 

When has this particular MFC team ever delivered the same quality two weeks in a row? Yes, we were poo and got away with it last week. 

New week, new battle. We know we're better than we were against GC and I'm expecting a much improved performance.

[Redleg 40,981]

BTW, can we tag Mitchell?

 If they want to win, that is the starting point.

Tackling pressure is the next.

[Die Hard Demon 1,224]

5 minutes ago, Redleg said:

BTW, can we tag Mitchell?

 If they want to win, that is the starting point.

Tackling pressure is the next.

Bugg?

[ding 5,126]

5 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

And I shake my head at supporters like yourself. What a sad way to go in to each game, not believing we can win. We have had a real crack in every game this year, today will be no different. 

Hawks will probably be too strong for us, but looking forward to seeing our exciting, young talent having a real crack today. Anything is possible. 

lol i predicted a 7 goal win last week, so you are not only wrong, but seem to be one of those supporters who cant think beyond "Go Dees". 

I wont get any enjoyment out of being flogged today. None. 

We need to win, or at the very least scare the bejeezus out of Hawthorn to get much out of today. This constant mantra of "maybe next year" has worn out its welcome.

 

 

[Redleg 40,981]

5 minutes ago, Die Hard Demon said:

Bugg?

Looks the one, if we want to.

[praha 11,240]

3 minutes ago, ding said:

lol i predicted a 7 goal win last week, so you are not only wrong, but seem to be one of those supporters who cant think beyond "Go Dees". 

I wont get any enjoyment out of being flogged today. None. 

We need to win, or at the very least scare the bejeezus out of Hawthorn to get much out of today. This constant mantra of "maybe next year" has worn out its welcome.

 

 

You have been critical of people say we're a chance. I see that "we need to win" and "we're a chance" have different meanings and interpretations, but you've kind of gone against your own mantra here.

[ding 5,126]

1 minute ago, praha said:

You have been critical of people say we're a chance. I see that "we need to win" and "we're a chance" have different meanings and interpretations, but you've kind of gone against your own mantra here.

Simple, we need to win or come close.

But we wont.

Actually its this misplaced positivity that makes me shake my head. Have not beaten a single team that was above us on the ladder this year (before game day), and somehow people think we will come out and win against the in-form team on top of the ladder.

What has happened to peoples common sense?

 

Edited August 6, 2016 by ding

[praha 11,240]

1 minute ago, ding said:

Simple, we need to win or come close.

But we wont.

 

lol

[John Demonic 5,819]

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

I'm as excited by today as I have been for just about any game this year.  

Me too. Feels like our grand final for the year. It's far more satisfying to watch how we stack up against the best than it is to watch a like for like battle like v stkilda, even with the prospect of winning far more unlikely. It's also satisfying just to see Hawthorn up close and how they zone and spread and move the ball, in dry weather.

Edited August 6, 2016 by johndemons