Jump to content

  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    The Demonland Terms of Service, which you have all recently agreed to, strictly prohibit discussions of ongoing legal matters, whether criminal or civil. Please ensure that all discussions on this forum remain focused solely on on-field & football related topics.

Will we beat the Saints?  

240 members have voted

  1. 1. Will we beat the Saints

    • Hell Yeah (Two Hoodos for the Price of One)
    • No Way (I'm a recovering MFCSS addict)

This poll is closed to new votes



Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

Interesting to see at least 2 teams on the previous page alone with Jetta and Pedersen in who played no JLT, and no Bugg who played all 3 games.

Edited by Fifty-5

Posted

Have a feeling neither Pedersen or Weid will play Round 1.  Hogan, Watts and a resting Gawn/Spencer is more than enough.

  • Like 3
Posted
13 hours ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

I kind of disagree with the outnumbering bit.  We did that a lot last year and got hurt by it.  Their one player would dive into the middle of our four and just belt the ball into space rather than try to take possession.  Then they have three extra outside players to run away with it. 

I think we got hurt by it not because it's a bad plan but because we made mistakes and didn't win the ball. Dogs and giants are very good at doing the same thing 

  • Like 2
Posted

Based on JLT and expected Casey line up tomorrow.

B: melksham omac garland/j.smith

Hb: hunt tmac vince

R: gawn jones viney

C: lewis oliver salem

Hf: petracca hogan bugg

F: garlett watts weed/spencer

I: tyson brayshaw stretch harmes/anb

I'll be amazed if anyone outside that 25 plays (assuming no further injuries)

Posted

I can't believe I am saying this but, ATM Spencer offers more than Weed, even at Etihad, where he is probably not best suited. 

He is not slow, is very aggressive at the ball and man, allows Max to go forward, can take a mark and kick a goal , can compete in the ruck and just ATM has a few more pros than Weed. 

That said, soon it won't be a discussion, as Weed matures physically. 

  • Like 4
Posted
1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

Based on JLT and expected Casey line up tomorrow.

B: melksham omac garland/j.smith

Hb: hunt tmac vince

R: gawn jones viney

C: lewis oliver salem

Hf: petracca hogan bugg

F: garlett watts weed/spencer

I: tyson brayshaw stretch harmes/anb

I'll be amazed if anyone outside that 25 plays (assuming no further injuries)

If Kent plays well tomorrow he's a chance.  I reckon Goodwin etc. really rate what he brings to the forward-line and would love to include him if it's not too big a risk.

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

Have a feeling neither Pedersen or Weid will play Round 1.  Hogan, Watts and a resting Gawn/Spencer is more than enough.

Agree. Personally I`d prefer Pedo ahead of Weid or Spence but having watched training yday I dont think Pedo is 100%. Was bent over in pain from his strapped shoulder, reaching for his pec. He kept training but I thought his intensity was down compared to most others out there and I`d hazard a guess he is still being troubled post surgery.

Posted
2 hours ago, ProDee said:

If Kent plays well tomorrow he's a chance.  I reckon Goodwin etc. really rate what he brings to the forward-line and would love to include him if it's not too big a risk.

Would be a mistake IMO.  I like Kent and he's in my 22 but only when 100% fit.

Posted
22 hours ago, rpfc said:

If Spencer spends more time in the ruck than Gawn, that would mean we have moved our AA ruckman to the forward line to accommodate our C+ pure ruck.

This may sound a bit MFCSS but that is so Melbourne...

Our AA ruckman was pantsed by by Hickey that kept illegally jumping into him. Unless the umps crack down on that I am happy for Specil to take the centre taps and crunch Hickey.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, ProDee said:

If Kent plays well tomorrow he's a chance.  I reckon Goodwin etc. really rate what he brings to the forward-line and would love to include him if it's not too big a risk.

1. How would you know that?

2. Kent has a bad habit of going missing, particularly in losses. His best is great but he needs to work on hos fwd pressure for the whole time he is one the ground.

Posted

Just watching the replay of the St Kilda / Sydney match from the JLT Series and the major point I've noted is that if Sydney got held up on the wing/high half forward, instead of kicking into the corridor or deep inside 50, the Swans would look for an option just inside 50, but right next to the boundary. They then pressed that contest and completely swarmed it on every side, preventing any exits. A quick blind kick out from St Kilda would clear the area, but would then involve one on ones down the ground.

I think this is a valuable lesson for us to learn. If we can move the ball quickly, by all means go through the corridor and the top of the square, but otherwise this is a tactic I believe we should employ. 

The other important note I was looking for was Sydney's pressure inside their forward 50. St Kilda's backs struggled with the pressure applied to them. We desperately need Kent and Garlett fit for Round 1. We can't afford ANB, Harmes and Bugg all to play. They're simply not good enough. We have shown we can carry one, but not all three.

Posted

Also, the ability to know when to go long, Sydney just have it. We don't quite yet. That's another big takeaway.

Posted
3 hours ago, ProDee said:

If Kent plays well tomorrow he's a chance.  I reckon Goodwin etc. really rate what he brings to the forward-line and would love to include him if it's not too big a risk.

I've been a critic of Kent for a few seasons now and am on record as saying he won't make it. He may still not, but I cannot deny when he's in the team and on song, the pressure he brings to our half forward line is invaluable. His inclusion could be massive.

Posted (edited)

B        N.Jetta          T.McDonald     J.Melksham

HB     J .Hunt           O.McDonald    B.Vince

C        D,Tyson          J.Lewis          C.Salem

HF      C.Petracca    J.Watts           D.Kent

F         J.Garlett        J.Hogan         J.Spencer

R         M.Gawn        J.Viney           N.Jones

Interchange -      A.Brayshaw   B.Stretch  T.Bugg  C.Oliver

 

 

Less than a week to go til game time...  that team looks a bit too small in the back half considering all the Saints tall options.

Wouldnt be shocked at all to see Joel SMith play.

Edited by Petraccattack
  • Like 1
Posted
18 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

B        N.Jetta          T.McDonald     J.Melksham

HB     J .Hunt           O.McDonald    B.Vince

C        D,Tyson          J.Lewis          C.Salem

HF      C.Petracca    J.Watts           D.Kent

F         J.Garlett        J.Hogan         J.Spencer

R         M.Gawn        J.Viney           N.Jones

Interchange -      A.Brayshaw   B.Stretch  T.Bugg  C.Oliver

 

 

Less than a week to go til game time...  that team looks a bit too small in the back half considering all the Saints tall options.

Wouldnt be shocked at all to see Joel SMith play.

Reckon you`ve just about nailed it and yep I think we need another tall in the backline, may even be Garland and perhaps Jetta comes out unless he absolutely tears it up for Casey, and if so maybe Melksham has to come out for a tall.

Posted
53 minutes ago, Hell Bent said:

Reckon you`ve just about nailed it and yep I think we need another tall in the backline, may even be Garland and perhaps Jetta comes out unless he absolutely tears it up for Casey, and if so maybe Melksham has to come out for a tall.

McDonald, McDonald and Garland all in the back-line?

Don't worry about the problem of turning the ball over at CHF, we'll be turning it over at CHB!

  • Like 1
Posted

Closest thing we've got to a direct comparison on form is each team's pre-season game against Carlton.

Both St Kilda and ourselves scored more than 30 times against Carlton - St Kidla 18.14, Melbourne 17.14

Carlton failed to score effectively against either team, though their 4 goals 6 behinds against St Kilda was a special level of ineffectual.

But in the end, something has to be said about the teams that Carlton fielded agaisnt the Demons and Saints. Or more specifically, the teams they didn't field.

Of the 'best 22' Blues, Kreuzer, Gibbs, Docherty, Simpson, Murphy and Casboult, all played against the Demons but not the Saints.

Leaving Matt Korcheck as Carlton's lead ruck, Liam Jones as their primary contested marking target, Nick Graham as their chief clearance winner, and Billie Smedts as their only running half-back to have ever played a game of AFL.

Cripps was the only top Blue to play against Saints but not Demons, though he only played a half, for 38% total game time. Armfield also took the field against Saints and not Demons, for 68% game time.

So maybe there isn't much of a direct comparison after all. Time to look at the rest of pre-season.

 

St Kilda didn't score so freely in it's other games, despite both being at home, against Port and Sydney. Scoring just 8 goals and 10 goals.

Against Port they went in with full strength, with only Montagna, who is not expected to play round 1, missing from a line up which included all of last year's stars and stalwarts, as well as all the new inclusions.

Against Sydney it was a similar set up, and  the Saints' tall forwards managed just two goals between the four of them, three if you include Sam Gilbert's little adventure.

Fact is, St Kilda played at full strength throughout the pre-season competition, and didn't do anything of note except smash a Carlton team that was pretty ordinary even once it included it's top players, never mind when it was missing most of it's Best & Fairest group.

 

 

By the way, last season St Kilda has 11 players play all, or all but one, game for the season, and a further 7 players play 17 games or more.

From memory, the usual range for those numbers is about 6 'all' and 6 'most'.

Demons last season for the 21+ and 17+ games played was 8 and 4, so about normal.

Just food for thought.

 

 

  • Like 4
Posted
28 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

McDonald, McDonald and Garland all in the back-line?

Don't worry about the problem of turning the ball over at CHF, we'll be turning it over at CHB!

We wont get a chance to turn it over without another tall because one of Riewoldt, Membrey Bruce or Mccartin if he plays will have an absolute field day outmarking our smalls.

Posted (edited)

Someone mentioned to me today that there was a push to have the game moved to the MCG due to the anticipated crowd numbers. 

Has anything been mentioned in the media over east?

I know it won't happen but interested to know if anyone has heard the same thing. 

Edited by Ethan Tremblay
Posted
2 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Someone mentioned to me today that there was a push to have the game moved to the MCG due to the anticipated crowd numbers. 

Anything been mentioned in the media over east? 

More chance of me winning tattslotto tonight and I haven't even got a ticket.

  • Like 4
Posted
2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Someone mentioned to me today that there was a push to have the game moved to the MCG due to the anticipated crowd numbers. 

Has anything been mentioned in the media over east?

I know it won't happen but interested to know if anyone has heard the same thing. 

No chance.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    TRAINING: Monday 17th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were on hand at Monday morning's preseason training at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their brief observations of the session. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Gentle flush session at Gosch's this morning. Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars) McVee, McAdam. Rehabbing: Great to see Kentfield back (much slimmer), walking with Tholstrup, TMac (suspect just a management thing), Viney (still being cautious with that rib cartilage?), Melksham (

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 14th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers made their way out to Casey Field's for the Melbourne Football Club's Family Series day to bring you their observations on the Match Simulation. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S MATCH SIMULATION OBSERVATIONS Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars), McVee, Windor, Kentfield, Mentha Present but not playing: Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Tholstrup, Melksham Starting Blue 18 (+ just 2 interchange): B: Petty, TMac, Lever, Howes, Bowey Salem M: Gawn, Oliver, La

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 12th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers braved the scorching morning heat to bring you the following observations of Wednesday's preseason training session from Gosch's Paddock. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Absent: Salem, Windsor (word is a foot rash going around), Viney, Bowey and Kentfield Train ons: Roy George, no Culley today. Firstly the bad news - McVee went down late, which does look like a bad hammy - towards the end of match sim, as he kicked the ball. Had to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 7th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatcher Gator ventured down the freeway to bring you his observations from Friday morning's Match Simulation out at Casey Fields. Rehab: Jake Lever and Charlie Spargo running laps.  Lever was running short distances at a fast click as well as having kick to kick with a trainer. He seems unimpeded. Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler, Shane McAdam and Tom Fullarton doing non-contact kicking and handball drills on the adjacent oval.  All moving freely at pace.  I didn’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 5th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force as the Demons returned to Gosch's Paddock for preseason training on Wednesday morning. GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kozzie a no show. Tommy Sparrow was here last week in civvies and wearing sunnies. He didn’t train. Today he’s training but he’s wearing goggles so he’s likely got an eye injury. There’s a drill where Selwyn literally lies on top of Tracc, a trainer dribbles the ball towards them and Tracc has to g

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS: 2024

    Whichever way you look at it, the Melbourne Football Club’s 2024 season can only be characterized as the year of its fall from grace. Whispering Jack looks back at the season from hell that was. After its 2021 benchmark premiership triumph, the men’s team still managed top four finishes in the next two seasons but straight sets finals losses consigned them to sixth place in both years. The big fall came in 2024 with a collapse into the bottom six and a 14th placing. At Casey, the 2022 VFL p

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    MATCH SIM: Friday 31st January 2025

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence ventured down to Casey Fields to bring you his observations from Friday's Match Simulation. Greetings Demonlanders, beautiful Day at training and the boys were hard at it, here is my report. NO SHOWS: Luker Kentfield (recovering from pneumonia in WA), also not sure I noticed Melky (Hamstring) or Will Verrall?? MODIFIED DUTIES (No Contact): Sparrow, McVee (foot), Tracc (ribs), Chandler, (AC Joint), Fullarton Noticeable events (I’ll s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

    A number of Demonland Trackwatchers swooped on Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's Preseason Training Session. DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning at Gosch's Paddock. Very healthy crowd so far.  REHAB: Fullerton, Spargo, Tholstrup, McVee Viney running laps. EDIT: JV looks to be back with the main group. Trac, Sparrow, Chandler and Verrell also training away from the main group. Currently kicking to each other ins

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Wednesday 22nd January 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force for training at Gosch's Paddock on Wednesday morning for the MFC's School Holidays Open Training Session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS REHAB: TMac, Chandler, McVee, Tholstrup, Brown, Spargo Brown might have passed his fitness test as he’s back out with the main group.  Sparrow not present. Kozzy not present either.  Mini Rehab group has broken off from the match sim (contact) group: Max, Trac, Lever, Fullarton

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...