Saints v Dees Rd 1

[greenmachine 21]

they flogged us last year and they got better imo, so did we mind you but thinking this hoodo will go on

 

[sisso 2,577]

29 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

We haven't beaten St Kilda at Etihad since round 22 2002. Surely this would have to be the biggest hoodoo going around at the moment in the AFL..

The last time we tasted success against the Saints on that Saturday night to put us in the finals at the then known Colonial Stadium:

Steven Armstrong and Shane Woewodin were among our best

Johnny Cash was still kicking around.

Camera phones were only starting to become a feature

The Concorde flights were still in commission

 

Michael Clark played his first and only game for us! Just looked at the stats theres a guy I can barely remember....

[What 18,810]

Only 11 days til the game, slowly getting excited. Could not have cared less about the JLT series games.

Bring on season 2017.

[Gator 17,276]

Jones, Vince, Tyson, Watts, Tom McDonald and potentially Spencer are the only players to saddle up in Roos first game as coach 3 years at the same venue. 

We had talent such as Terlich, Georgiou, Michie, Bail, Matt Jones and Fitzpatrick gracing the field that day. 

While I'm not overly confident it's not hard to understand our abysmal record against most teams, let alone the Saints at Etihad, with such poor AFL quality players.

We're a totally different unit to teams gone by. 

[Delusional demon 82 1,197]

56 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

We haven't beaten St Kilda at Etihad since round 22 2002. Surely this would have to be the biggest hoodoo going around at the moment in the AFL..

The last time we tasted success against the Saints on that Saturday night to put us in the finals at the then known Colonial Stadium:

Steven Armstrong and Shane Woewodin were among our best

Johnny Cash was still kicking around.

Camera phones were only starting to become a feature

The Concorde flights were still in commission

 

Was your namesake Stephen Powell running around for the saints back then too ? 

Wow that is a hoodoo 

i just think of the rd 1 2007 loss from which point we descended into the abyss of the past 10 years . Breaking this hoodoo is symbolic  

[Delusional demon 82 1,197]

7 minutes ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Was your namesake Stephen Powell running around for the saints back then too ? 

Wow that is a hoodoo 

i just think of the rd 1 2007 loss from which point we descended into the abyss of the past 10 years . Breaking this hoodoo is symbolic  

No my mistake I'm a year too early he was still playing with us in 02

[RalphiusMaximus 6,019]

7 hours ago, nutbean said:

I don't understand this. Why would you go to the footy if you accept that we are going to lose and we are no chance ? I would rather stay home and snore on the couch.

I acknowledge that this will be a hard game but I am delusional enough to believe that we can win every game we play as long as we play to the best of our ability. Basically, the games where we don't play to the best of our ability are the ones we lose.

You're going to a Saints home game?

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

2 hours ago, Robot Devil said:

I'm gonna stick with the "Russian Roulette" metaphor for Col or Oscar kicking in.

5 times out of 6 everything will be hunky dory but when they pull the trigger at the wrong moment you end up with your head in your lap.

 

Fair enough

I'll be honest I haven't been that impressed with Oscar after some wraps in the offseason. Long year and he's still bloody young so we'll see how he goes.

But you're right it is a bit of Russian roulette. Hopefully the Mac boys learn to give the easy safe kicks to Hibbo, Vince, Melksham etc more often then not

[Robot Devil 1,895]

43 minutes ago, Unleash Hell said:

Fair enough

I'll be honest I haven't been that impressed with Oscar after some wraps in the offseason. Long year and he's still bloody young so we'll see how he goes.

But you're right it is a bit of Russian roulette. Hopefully the Mac boys learn to give the easy safe kicks to Hibbo, Vince, Melksham etc more often then not

Agree. There's signs there for Oscar but I guess it's key to remember that it is early days for him. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,162]

4 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

What's the 2nd hoodoo? Beat Saints is obviously one. Many seem to have forgotten we beat GWS at Etihad in 2015 Rd 23..... or is there another I'm missing??

That game was a dead rubber with a lot of players out, doesn't really count in my mind. Plus, it also reminds me of the old philosophical question; if the Demons win at Docklands and only 5000 people saw it did it really happen? (Or something along those lines.)

[Dr. Gonzo 24,162]

My brother chucked $100 on the Saints when they were still paying $2.20 or something. His rationale is he'll be happy either way (or at least have a consolation prize if we lose). He said if he does it every game and doesn't win a bet it will only cost him $2500 to see a flag. I like his optinism.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

2 hours ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Was your namesake Stephen Powell running around for the saints back then too ? 

Wow that is a hoodoo 

i just think of the rd 1 2007 loss from which point we descended into the abyss of the past 10 years . Breaking this hoodoo is symbolic  

Yeah, BBP. Can you resign from D'land to give us a fighting chance?

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,762]

2 hours ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Was your namesake Stephen Powell running around for the saints back then too ? 

Wow that is a hoodoo 

As you answered  earlier, Powell was still with us in 2002.

Had a quiet 14 possession game in that Rd 22 game vs Saints. 2 weeks later he got injured early in that amazing Adelaide MCG final and that was the last we saw of him as a Dee.

Anyone know why he crossed to the Saints? Money or opportunity? Surely the former.

Who knows how far we could've gone in 2004 had Scott Thompson not gotten injured and Powell was still with us.

[Gator 17,276]

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

As you answered  earlier, Powell was still with us in 2002.

Had a quiet 14 possession game in that Rd 22 game vs Saints. 2 weeks later he got injured early in that amazing Adelaide MCG final and that was the last we saw of him as a Dee.

Anyone know why he crossed to the Saints? Money or opportunity? Surely the former.

Who knows how far we could've gone in 2004 had Scott Thompson not gotten injured and Powell was still with us.

It was discussed on Demonland at the time and from memory it was an issue with the coach. 

Some old timers may shed more light, but I definitely remember that he was angry with the club. 

[DemonLad5 1,642]

 

Montagna not playing round 1. Confirmed by a mate who was at a St Kilda meeting tonight with all the players.

[titan_uranus 24,970]

IMO it's all about turnovers across our half-forward line.

If we hand the ball to them on a platter at half-forward, they will rebound and break our defensive structures open with ease the other way.

I'm confident in our ability to, at the very least, break even in stoppages, which should create sufficient chances for us to push forward. If we limit the turnovers, I can see us limiting their ability to play their best football, and we can win.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Weid from all reports in the rehab group. I think Spencer plays. Position is his to lose but he has earnt it.

Edited March 14, 2017 by Wrecker45
Spelling

[picket fence 17,035]

10 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Dees by 10 goals.  

Hogan loves Etihad and he'll kick 12 on Carlisle and Brown.

Viney to have 40 touches and slam Mav Weller into the turf once again.

The McDonald brothers to have 20 intercept marks and not miss a target.

I'm being conservative here, too.

Wiseblood, the comedown from a substance charged condition can be fraught with danger! Take care my friend! Dees by a piont!

[DubDee 25,590]

Goodwin must be mulling over Pedo V Spencer. The answer would seem to be spencer based on practice matches but fark me it's a big call. 

Pedo every day for me

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

 

On 13 March 2017 at 6:57 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

We may have both (and Hibberd):  'Melbourne said on Monday that Watts would be in the Casey Demons team to play Port Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday morning...Watts will be joined by Dom Tyson, who missed the start of the JLT Community Series because of a knee injury. Jeff Garlett (hamstring), Michael Hibberd (Achilles) and Dean Kent (back) are also in contention to play in the game after injury-interrupted pre-seasons'.  http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-forward-jack-watts-to-play-for-casey-on-sunday-20170313-gux22a.html

A big improvement on last week's team if they all play vs Saints!

The bare minimum is Hibberd for Omac and Watts for Weids if we are to have a slim chance of winning me thinks. 

I would love to see all of the above back at their best though along with Tim Smith at some stage.

We need more speed across the ground and without the likes of Kent, Frosty and Jeffy we look pedestrian slow other than Hunt and Tmac off HB. Tmac shld be instructed not to TRY & hit targets by foot. Needs to give off to other runners early into his run & carry and shld certainly be instructed to never try and switch kick at any point in any match!

On 13 March 2017 at 3:56 PM, Wells 11 said:

I liked your thinking re Spencer and the tackles / forward pressure. In the abcense of a dean kent or AVB I agree with you.  I also don't feel weed is ready. In fact,  not even close yet.  

I also think Vince on Riewoldt is a worthy option. Rooey will out mark anyone so its just when the balls on the ground anyway. Plus vince is experienced enough to use that and not to be awed by him  Last time we played them  they left Reiwoldt unmarked (as we were zoning)  and he murdered us as he does EVERY time we play. Its almost embaressing. In general after quarter time our style  looked  awful at the ground that day.

 I doubt  they will cover man for man but last time the saints could have won  by 15 goals...so I hope we've got a few more tricks up our sleeve if things head south.  Given what he did to Franklin ( and got away with) , expect Hogan to be manhandled by Carlisle and his influence nullified. He kicked 7 that day and was one of our only winners  so Who's going to kick the goals?  Garlett is a massive out for us imo. 

As much I WANT this one (for 100 different reasons) ...I cant see us taking them at that venue........ this time. But Im flying interstate to see it so I sincerely hope Im wrong.

On 13 March 2017 at 2:47 PM, Deespicable said:

Finally the real stuff is almost with us and anyone who watched the Saints take on Sydney last night would know that our Rd 1 mission is going to be major.

Richardson is a defensive master, a bit like Malthouse before his ego took over, and you just had to admire how he has developed a defence that scrags (the treatment on Buddy by Carlisle was amazing, mainly because they kept getting away with it) and a hard midfield that hunts in packs and a bunch of forwards that know how to tackle. You can tell their style by the fact that Acres can't get a game - they don't care about skills if you aren't tough as well.

It won't be easy and it isn't a game where we can pick a side on hope - hence I am in the Spencer, not Weideman camp. The reason for that is twofold.

1) So far Weids has laid about as many tackles up forward as Jack Watts - it rarely happens because he still lacks the agility and the strength. Weids day will come, but he ain't ready and certainly not for this one.

2) Only one ruckman beat/matched Gawn twice last year - Hickey. He jumps early to counter Maxy and works hard on the ground. If there is one game you want Maxy to finish off strongly it is against the Saints and if he's got no support (Watts gave him a chop out when he rucked against Bruce last year), he will tire. If Spencer plays we have cover, should one of Hickey's early jumps give Maxy a corkie and we also have a winning back-up against Bruce when Gawny has a rest. St Kilda may counter by playing longer, but I doubt it because they already have four tall forwards (if you include Riewoldt on the wing). And whilst Spencer will lack mobility up forward, he is more likely to lay a tackle than Weids at this stage. he also has a bit more mongrel - which is what we will need against the Saints - they aren't Carlton!

This week at Casey, hopefully four of our keys play well after injury - Kent, Garlett, Hibberd and Jetta - as all are in our best 22 when fit. 

The two crucial issues for the selectors to discuss after last week are: How do we get the tackling intensity/pressure back up to a high level again after we were so poor in that area against West Coast without VDB, JKH and Jeffy? That's why at least one of Kent or Garlett will come in barring injury concerns and IMO, in a selection shock Hannan will be considered if he dominates at VFL level this weekend.

How are we going to counter/stop wingman Roo on the lead up and from kick-ins?  We can't afford for T-Mac to play on him again and with Frost out we don't have enough talls to mark him anyway. So my go would be to treat him as a midfielder and play a good spoiler. Riewoldt is still not a natural when the ball hits the ground, so he can be exploited. Vince has been suggested and he's a good negater but he has been doing the kick-in duties. So maybe Lewis or Brayshaw? I'm going with Vince though and would rather if Col or Oscar kicked in for a change. 

Here's my Rd 1 team:

B: Jetta or Hibberd (Billings or Gresham) Oscar (Bruce) Garland (Membrey)

HB: Hunt (Webster or Wright) T-Mac (McCartin) Lewis (Weller)

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney (Steven) Salem (Gresham or Billings)

HF: Brayshaw Hogan Melksham

F: Kent or Garlett Watts Petracca

Ru: Gawn Oliver N.Jones

Int: Spencer, Tyson, Stretch, Bugg

Emerg: Harmes, Weid, Neal Bullen or Hannan

 

.

Jetta & Hibberd pls. No Omac FCS. Tim Smith would out score any of those you have in the forward line (with the exception of maybe Hulk) if he is fit enough and given enough time to adjust to the tempo of AFL over a 4 to 5 week stint IMO. Although this would also depend on the quality, or lack thereof, of delivery inside 50. Watts is a must inclusion for this reason alone but not the only reason. 

[bandicoot 1,395]

We've had a few changes since round 17, 2016.

No longer on list: grimes, white, m jones

Not playing round 1: vanders, Wagner, Kennedy.

Ins: hibberd, melkshem, Lewis, Salem, stretch, Oliver, Spencer 

did hogan also come off injured after qtr time? Garlett also had really low numbers. 

These 6 replacements (almost 1/3 of team) is much better than last years 6. Oliver alone makes us a 1-2 goal better side. 

Add to that a net of 400 additional games of experience and you have a vastly improved side on paper. 

Saints will add carslise, n brown, steele, mcartin. Not massive additional impact.

[DemonLad5 1,642]

Still have no clue how people still think Pedo will play with zero match practice under his belt

There is no chance he will play

[Ethan Tremblay 30,825]

12 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

Still have no clue how people still think Pedo will play with zero match practice under his belt

There is no chance he will play

#Pedomythsareback

[Demon Disciple 12,064]

16 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

Still have no clue how people still think Pedo will play with zero match practice under his belt

There is no chance he will play

 

3 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

#Pedomythsareback

Pedo doesn't need match practice................match practice needs Pedo

[The Sailing Demon 379]

My ship's broken so for the first time in 4 years I will be able to watch round 1 from the comfort of my couch.
Usually I am sitting in the middle of the ocean on an internet system run by a potato refreshing the page stone cold sober (Which is less than ideal)

So suffice to say I am wet with excitement.

This game (Excuse the obvious statement) will be well and truly won in the coaches box for me. The past couple years we have come very close to winning and have been felled by the master strokes of Richardson.
Not marking up on Riewoldt last year was mind boggling tactic and still to this day I ask how in the hell Hogan kicked 7 in a losing squad.

The likes of Membrey, Stevens, Bruce, Riewoldt, Hickey and Carslile will prove to be difficult but they are nothing we haven't seen before.
Vince on Roo for me is a good option noting that Vince can get under his skin and will be better on the ground meanwhile I would love to see how they will deal with Viney and Oliver.

Oliver is showing potential to be the best student of the 2016 by a country mile and between Viney, Lewis and Oliver I doubt they have enough tagging options to negate those 3...throw in Jones who usually has around 22 disposals and 1 or 2 goals...Oh and Add Dom on top of that.

Watts, Hogan, Petracca, Kent, Stretch, all multiple goal kicking potential and for good measure throw in Gawn into that mix.

2 Rucks is the only logical option for this match, Hickey is a good ruck (He is in my supercoach team for a good reason along with Maxxy) and when he comes up against 2 bonefide ruckman, 1 being AA he will tire...Let's not forget we have Watts who can also pinch hit up forward if need be.

All these positives things having been said leads me to our backline...

I don't really know what to say. T-Mac would really need to have one of those days where he isn't T-Mac and decides to hit targets by his boot and is giving me every reason to believe that his brother will surpass him in the Bluey this year (I know I know, round 1 hasn't even begun).
I am really hoping Jetts and Hibberd manage to get up and Melksham has shaken off all his cobwebs from the past 12 months and give us some spice in our backline.

I think it'll be a damn tight contest for 3 quarters and I think the game will be decided on a lopsided quarter.
For me it's one of those games where it's all won and lost across Half back and the turnover goal count will determine the winner.

My predictions.
Clarry to run rampant with 30+
Stretch to play a scorcher.
2 Rucks to prove to be vital.
Roo to be his usual self and kick 3.
Viney to start jumper punches before half time.
Me to be drinking VB's for most the arvo and then switching to champagne, or Boxed wine depending on the result.
Demons by 19.
And 1 girlfriend to remember why she loves me and why she hates the footy season whilst she consistently reminds me to "Shut up, you're scaring the dog, it's just a game"

Also.
If anyone here is a Sydney sider and knows where a rag tag group of Demons supporters and myself can watch the game around Sydney please let me know!

Go Dees.