Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

SENIOR MOMENTS by George on the Outer

Featured Replies

Posted
For the second week in a row, the Demons weren’t beaten by the opposition: they gave the game away and now sit at 2-2 for the 2017 season.  Last week it was inaccurate kicking, this week simply a complete lack of football nous.  These are the scenario’s that require leadership and calmness under pressure, but when called upon, Melbourne's senior players were the culprits rather than what could be expected from a young developing side.
 
Bernie Vince in the last three minutes was a serial offender.  Dinky kicks that didn’t manage to hit targets, uncontrolled Hail Mary bombs into the forward line when a cool head was required, standing too far from an opponent and then defending grass out the back when the game required all hands on deck at the ball.  
 
These can be expected from a rookie, not someone of his experience.  The real danger for him is that with the return of Hibbert and Lewis, two dependable characters under pressure, that he will be exited from the senior side.
 
The Melbourne fans have every right to feel aggrieved after a last quarter comeback finally saw them in front.  That they should have never been behind in the first place is a serious question to be asked of the coaching and selection panel.  A half-time lead of 21 points was turned into a 22 point deficit at 3/4 time as the Demons failed to score a major for that period.  That the Dockers had scored 5 of their 6 goals to half-time from Melbourne turnovers, meant something needed to be changed. 
 
Melbourne were simply too cute and overusing the ball, particularly in the middle.  Possessions are hard to get in that space yet we continue to favour a handball over a kick.  Despite 28 touches Dom Tyson was simply ineffective with those possessions.  He fails to scan the field when he has the ball in his hands as he always turns in the one direction.  Does he not think the opposition know that?  With 28 touches, more than three clearances and seven contested possessions is necessary, yet this is all he gave. 
 
Contrast that with Clarrie Oliver who with 26 touches had 10 clearances and 17 contested possessions.  Not bad for a 19 year old. 
 
Jake Spencer performed admirably in the absence of Max Gawn. Taking on the biggest ruckman in the league he held his own and kicked a couple of goals to boot.  We weren’t missing anything in the ruck contests, and if he keeps this up, he may find a more permanent role upon Gawn's return.
 
Jayden Hunt and Christian Petracca tried their hearts out, turning the game back into a contest, and then eventually getting the Demons nose in front.  It was these young players who hadn’t given up and Petracca with a couple of bombs showed others what responsibility really is in these situations.
 
Up forward Jack Watts was a solitary standout target, although Jeff Garlett played his role to perfection crumbing, leading and harassing to finish with three goals of his own.  Sadly, once again Sam Weideman was way, way out of his depth, and ran around in pointless circles for most of the match.  A bandage on his knee appeared at half- time, so combined with only 5 touches for the match, he will surely be confined to Casey or the rehab group next week.
 
While the official reports listed no injuries, Nathan Jones took a heavy head knock and his 18 touches was well below his par.  Jack Viney is likewise well down from his best with 16 touches, and isn’t spending as much time in the middle as could be expected.  There must be a reason which, we the fans are not told about.
 
They say that good teams win games like this, so on that basis Melbourne aren’t good enough.  Our wins have hardly been convincing as well, and we could have easily been 0-4.  Yet we will be middle of the pack at the end of this round, with the task of wanting to be really serious or just giving it away.
 
 It is true that in previous years, a Melbourne side would have not got themselves back into the game from that ¾ time position, so they are doing something right. 
 
Trouble is that they are doing too much wrong, and off-setting all the fine work being done by our young players.  
 
The Demons certainly don’t need any more "senior" moments in coming weeks.

Melbourne 2.5.17 9.7.61 9.10.64 15.14.104

Fremantle 3.2.20 6.4.40 13.8.86 16.10.106

Goals

Melbourne Garlett 3 Harmes Petracca Spencer Watts 2 Kent Neal-Bullen Salem Viney

Fremantle Neale 4 Mundy 3 McCarthy 2 Balic Crozier Fyfe Grey S Hill Kersten Walters

Best 

Melbourne Oliver Petracca Garlett Watts Hunt Spencer

Fremantle Mundy Sandilands Fyfe Weller Neale S Hill

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Fremantle Nil

Injuries 

Melbourne Nil

Fremantle S Hill (corked thigh) Langdon (migraine)

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Fremantle Nil

Umpires Stevic Harris Mitchell 

Official crowd 27829 at the MCG

 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond

    Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations. With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 2 replies
  • AFLW REPORT: Collingwood

    Expectations of a comfortable win for Narrm at Victoria Park quickly evaporated as the match turned into a tense nail-biter. After a confident start by the Demons, the Pies piled on pressure and forced red and blue supporters to hold their collective breath until after the final siren. In a frenetic, physical contest, it was Captain Kate’s clutch last quarter goal and a missed shot from Collingwood’s Grace Campbell after the siren which sealed a thrilling 4-point win. Finally, Narrm supporters could breathe easy.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 2 replies
  • CASEY: Williamstown

    The Casey Demons issued a strong statement to the remaining teams in the VFL race with a thumping 76-point victory in their Elimination Final against Williamstown. This was the sixth consecutive win for the Demons, who stormed into the finals from a long way back with scalps including two of the teams still in flag contention. Senior Coach Taylor Whitford would have been delighted with the manner in which his team opened its finals campaign with high impact after securing the lead early in the game when Jai Culley delivered a precise pass to a lead from Noah Yze, who scored his first of seven straight goals for the day. Yze kicked his second on the quarter time siren, by which time the Demons were already in control. The youngster repeated the dose in the second term as the Seagulls were reduced to mere

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
  • AFLW PREVIEW: Collingwood

    Narrm time isn’t a standard concept—it’s the time within the traditional lands of Narrm, the Woiwurrung name for Melbourne. Indigenous Round runs for rounds 3 and 4 and is a powerful platform to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, community, and Australian culture. This week, suburban footy returns to the infamous Victoria Park as the mighty Narrm take on the Collingwood Magpies at 1:05pm Narrm time, Sunday 31 August. Come along if you can.

      • Thumb Down
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 9 replies
  • AFLW REPORT: St. Kilda

    The Dees demolished the Saints in a comprehensive 74-pointshellacking.  We filled our boots with percentage — now a whopping 520.7% — and sit atop the AFLW ladder. Melbourne’s game plan is on fire, and the competition is officially on notice.

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 4 replies
  • REPORT: Collingwood

    It was yet another disappointing outcome in a disappointing year, with Melbourne missing the finals for the second consecutive season. Indeed, it wasn’t even close, as the Demons' tally of seven wins was less than half the number required to rank among the top eight teams in the competition. When the dust of the game settled and supporters reflected on Melbourne's  six-point defeat at the hands of close game specialists Collingwood, Max Gawn's words about his team’s unfulfilled potential rang true … well, almost. 

      • Thanks
    • 1 reply

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.