Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted
57 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

I have VERY little confidence about this game 

I think we'll all go in with very little confidence this weekend.  If we were fielding the side we had against the Dogs, while adding the return of Gawn and Hogan, then you would go in with plenty of confidence.  But it's hard to see the positives with so many out.  Danger game for sure.

  • Like 1

Posted
14 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Maynard will surely play, hes 25, a mature body, smooth mover and is racking up the footy in VFL.  Why draft him if we arent gonna play him when our midfield is depleted?

In -     Hogan, Garlett, Maynard, J.Smith

Out - Viney (inj), Tyson (inj), Bugg (susp), White 

 

Harmes, ANB and Stretch all need to lift, they were pitiful vs the Swans and are lucky to be in the team.

.I'd bring Maynard or BenKen in. But the club will know if Maynard was ready. I thought it was a good move to bring White in this week, and he wasn't ready. He turned the ball over a lot. So it looks as though there is a big gulf between VFL and AFL, and perhaps a bigger gulf than I previously thought. Whether that gulf is quite as large for an inside midfielder - I am not sure. It may be that contested ball is a weaker area in the AFL - as opposed to the position Mitch White was playing, where if you miss a target you will be exposed. 

Posted
8 minutes ago, KingDingAling said:

White in this week, and he wasn't ready. He turned the ball over a lot.

A note on White, reminded me of another elite kick, half back we had at the club who struggled with confidence at AFL level...

Not so much on game style but both with so called elite kicks, both with no confidence to kick apart from little chip kicks that miss targets.

Anyone know who I'm talking about???

Posted
1 minute ago, rjay said:

A note on White, reminded me of another elite kick, half back we had at the club who struggled with confidence at AFL level...

Not so much on game style but both with so called elite kicks, both with no confidence to kick apart from little chip kicks that miss targets.

Anyone know who I'm talking about???

Strauss?

  • Like 1

Posted
2 minutes ago, rjay said:

Yep, rabbit in the spotlight at AFL level.

I thought he was going alright at AFL level until he broke his leg.  Never the same player.

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)
10 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I think we'll all go in with very little confidence this weekend.  If we were fielding the side we had against the Dogs, while adding the return of Gawn and Hogan, then you would go in with plenty of confidence.  But it's hard to see the positives with so many out.  Danger game for sure.

I have never thought this will be our year. All that hype after a few wins was very over- blown. We have done well with the major outs we have suffered - still filthy on all those who got suspended and cost us wins. However many positives have emerged especially with our game style which is ideally suited to finals. We also have a good game day coach with good tactical nous. Que sera sera this year but watch out from next year on.

Edited by chook fowler
  • Like 1
Posted
Just now, chook fowler said:

I have never thought this will be our year. All that hype after a few wins was very over- blown. We have done well with the major outs we have suffered - still filthy on all those who got suspended and cost us wins. However many positives have emerged especially with our game style which is ideally suited to finals. We also have a good game day coach with good tactical house. Que sera sera this year but watch out from next year on.

Such a Melbourne supporter thing to say, chook, even if it's crossed my mind from time to time.  You almost find it hard to believe sometimes that we've been playing well, but play well we have.  If not for injuries and some silly decisions from key players then we would be looking at potentially playing quite a few games in September.  

Season isn't over till it's over though.  I do share the optimism for years to come as well.

  • Like 2

Posted

Those expecting Watts to play, I wouldn't hold much hope.

Having had chronic hamstring problems back in the day, I could almost pick Watts had done his as soon as I watched him limping around. My own hammy had a bit of a twinge in sympathy.

If he's had a setback at training this last week then he's at least another 3 weeks off.

It's those slight ones that get you, they can be really tricky to deal with and easy to come back too soon...

 

Posted
Just now, Wiseblood said:

Such a Melbourne supporter thing to say, chook, even if it's crossed my mind from time to time.  You almost find it hard to believe sometimes that we've been playing well, but play well we have.  If not for injuries and some silly decisions from key players then we would be looking at potentially playing quite a few games in September.  

Season isn't over till it's over though.  I do share the optimism for years to come as well.

I remember it being reported from People that had spoken to Macca at some of those meet the coaches sessions at the beginning of the season that he felt this year was another development year and expectations were low for a premiership tilt. We are still the youngest list with a first year coach and yes we have been playing well but it has taken its toll with the physicality required for the type of football played. Will be very happy to be proven wrong and I agree it's very easy to negative as Dee supporter. 

  • Like 1

Posted

James Strauss typifies Melbourne of that era

  • Selcted at 19 in the draft which was way above where he should have gone
  • Shoulder reconstruction 
  • First AFL game and he is given the kicking out duties against a rampaging Hawthorn outfit. First game! The Hawks were rightly all over him and I'm guessing his confidence was shot. Nothing is ever made of this but it is a far, far worse debut than the Watts debacle. 
  • Breaks leg horrendously after colliding with (Carltons) Jeff Garlett. 

So so a combination of incredible bad luck and amateur hour stuff from our club. None of which was Strauss's fault

  • Like 4
Posted
6 minutes ago, rjay said:

Those expecting Watts to play, I wouldn't hold much hope.

Having had chronic hamstring problems back in the day, I could almost pick Watts had done his as soon as I watched him limping around. My own hammy had a bit of a twinge in sympathy.

If he's had a setback at training this last week then he's at least another 3 weeks off.

It's those slight ones that get you, they can be really tricky to deal with and easy to come back too soon...

 

Having a look at your avatar rjay I would really like to know how you tweaked your hamstrings 

  • Like 2
Posted
12 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

I have never thought this will be our year. All that hype after a few wins was very over- blown. We have done well with the major outs we have suffered - still filthy on all those who got suspended and cost us wins. However many positives have emerged especially with our game style which is ideally suited to finals. We also have a good game day coach with good tactical house. Que sera sera this year but watch out from next year on.

WHATEVER will be will be?

Emphasis on whatever.. We are in the goddam 8 and if the finals were played tomorrow we would have a home final against the Weagles at the G and be a realistic chance of WINNING!

I wrote us off after the hawks game. But somehow we are back in it up to our eye balls! Just need to hold on in the next month! 

Assuming we beat Carlton.

we just need to beat 1 of Adel Port or Norf and then we should have close to our best available. With 3 winnable games to finish at the G!

  • Like 2
Posted
11 minutes ago, Mud Dogs Gonna Win said:

WHATEVER will be will be?

Emphasis on whatever.. We are in the goddam 8 and if the finals were played tomorrow we would have a home final against the Weagles at the G and be a realistic chance of WINNING!

I wrote us off after the hawks game. But somehow we are back in it up to our eye balls! Just need to hold on in the next month! 

Assuming we beat Carlton.

we just need to beat 1 of Adel Port or Norf and then we should have close to our best available. With 3 winnable games to finish at the G!

If we do get there it will be an almighty achievement. I don't think I have ever known a team to be so cruelled by injuries. The players missing are not only top 22 but top 10. I will be the first in line to be slapped for my pessimism if we prevail

  • Like 2
Posted

The dogs got smashed by injury last year and got them all back late would be interesting to compare where the dogs were at with wins and injuries at the same point as us 

  • Like 2

Posted

Do any of you guys actually watch the games. Clearances and turnovers are the only things that matter, they create inside 50's that result in scores. Last year we had apparently the worst midfield in the comp. Now it looks as though more than half are out injured, Swans absolutely killed us. Vfl replacements won't do. Smell the Roses.??  This is not a ruckman we are missing this time.

 

Posted
2 minutes ago, brendan said:

The dogs got smashed by injury last year and got them all back late would be interesting to compare where the dogs were at with wins and injuries at the same point as us 

10-4

Heres the ladder after 14 games last season

Posted

Not trying to be that "Mr Positive" guy but there were not too long ago a fair amount of players that were banging down the door of the selection committee and the only reason they weren't getting a game was because we were doing so well.

Wagner and White were terrible of the weekend, honestly don't think I can say much more. But Wagner is definitely a lot better than what he dished up, he was in good form before he was dropped and was basically the victim of someone being available who is front of him. That's not the case now, so time to shine. 

This will be Goody's biggest test. Very easy for the players to fall back into the veil of negativity that seems to hang over the club. But if we do manage to get back Jeffy and Jesse, maybe just maybe that'll be enough to keep the confidence up. 

Petracca is going to have to be the man I suspect, Oliver is going to have to recapture his early season form, and those coming in will have to play out of their skins. 

Tough times ahead, but let's see how we go with week one. 

  • Like 1

Posted

FB: Jetta  Frost  Hibberd
HB: Lewis  Oscar  Hunt
C: Stretch  Oliver  Harmes
HF: Melksham  Hogan  Petracca
FF: Pedda   T Mc    Garlett
Foll: Gawn  Vince Hannan 
Int: Wagner Maynard  2 out of 4 of ANB/Kent/Kennedy/JKH

Out: Bugg, Tyson, Viney, White
In: Hogan, Maynard, hopefully Garlett and whatever other forward flankers they want to try

Vince to Gibbs
Lewis to spend the full game at half back directing traffic and away from contested situations and two way running
Maynard and others to put a body on Cripps
Melksham to Docherty
Petracca and Hannan to both play midfield minutes to get more speed around the contest
Hogan to rotate in to the midfield as well

Posted
16 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

You know that as a supporter you support the players who play for the club right?

A few months ago people were pleading the case for Lumumba being misunderstood and a great bloke who deserved our support, presumably just because he happened to wear our jumper for five minutes. They were wrong.

Now they are saying the same thing about Bugg.

I support the club, and will always stand up for players who do the right thing by the club. Those who sh!t all over the club can go and get stuffed, preferably somewhere else.

Hence I hope Bugg never pulls on the jumper again, and am totally ambivalent about seeing any of Kennedy-Harris, Kent, Spencer or Kennedy again.

For this week, Wagner & White both need to be dropped. Melksham, Neal-Bullen & Lewis survive because there is nothing at Casey.

Trengove & Smith to come in, hopefully with some or all of Hogan, Watts & Garlett.

 

Posted

This is assuming Viney and Tyson are injured and Bugg is suspended. And that Hogan is available and Watts is not.

Out: Viney, Tyson, Bugg, White

In: Kennedy-Harris, Hogan, Kent, Garlett/Kennedy

·         I would have Tom McDonald play in the midfield and play a defensive role on Cripps at stoppages. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, with Hogan coming back, our forward line becomes too top heavy with all three of Hogan, McDonald and Pedersen. And secondly, we have a big hole in our midfield this week and Cripps is an important player to stop.

·         I don’t like dropping a young player after one poor game, but the balance of our side is wrong with both White and Wagner in defence and I have more confidence that Wagner has the intensity of AFL football.

·         Melksham to play on Docherty.

Hunt OMcDonald Hibberd

Jetta Frost Wagner

Vince TMcDonald Stretch

Kent Hogan Garlett/Kennedy

Hannan Pedersen Melksham

Gawn Oliver Petracca

Kennedy-Harris Harmes Neal-Bullen Lewis

Posted
1 minute ago, poita said:

A few months ago people were pleading the case for Lumumba being misunderstood and a great bloke who deserved our support, presumably just because he happened to wear our jumper for five minutes. They were wrong.

Now they are saying the same thing about Bugg.

I support the club, and will always stand up for players who do the right thing by the club. Those who sh!t all over the club can go and get stuffed, preferably somewhere else.

Hence I hope Bugg never pulls on the jumper again, and am totally ambivalent about seeing any of Kennedy-Harris, Kent, Spencer or Kennedy again.

For this week, Wagner & White both need to be dropped. Melksham, Neal-Bullen & Lewis survive because there is nothing at Casey.

Trengove & Smith to come in, hopefully with some or all of Hogan, Watts & Garlett.

 

This is the biggest load of dribble I ever heard.  

We have had one loss and one bloke does something silly and you want to crucify him. 

Get a clue 

  • Like 2
Posted
1 minute ago, martin said:

Frost is doubtful.

Let me guess, hamstring tightness?

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: Friday 22nd November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force on a scorching morning out at Gosch's Paddock for the final session before the whole squad reunites for the Preseason Training Camp. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS It’s going to be a scorcher today but I’m in the shade at Gosch’s Paddock ready to bring you some observations from the final session before the Preseason Training Camp next week.  Salem, Fritsch & Campbell are already on the track. Still no number on Campbell’s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    UP IN LIGHTS by Whispering Jack

    Those who watched the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships closely this year would not be particularly surprised that Melbourne selected Victoria Country pair Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay on the first night of the AFL National Draft. The two left-footed midfielders are as different as chalk and cheese but they had similar impacts in their Coates Talent League teams and in the National Championships in 2024. Their interstate side was edged out at the very end of the tournament for tea

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    TRAINING: Wednesday 20th November 2024

    It’s a beautiful cool morning down at Gosch’s Paddock and I’ve arrived early to bring you my observations from today’s session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Reigning Keith Bluey Truscott champion Jack Viney is the first one out on the track.  Jack’s wearing the red version of the new training guernsey which is the only version available for sale at the Demon Shop. TRAINING: Viney, Clarry, Lever, TMac, Rivers, Petty, McVee, Bowey, JVR, Hore, Tom Campbell (in tr

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Monday 18th November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers ventured down to Gosch's Paddock for the final week of training for the 1st to 4th Years until they are joined by the rest of the senior squad for Preseason Training Camp in Mansfield next week. WAYNE RUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS No Ollie, Chin, Riv today, but Rick & Spargs turned up and McDonald was there in casual attire. Seston, and Howes did a lot of boundary running, and Tom Campbell continued his work with individual trainer in non-MFC

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    2024 Player Reviews: #11 Max Gawn

    Champion ruckman and brilliant leader, Max Gawn earned his seventh All-Australian team blazer and constantly held the team up on his shoulders in what was truly a difficult season for the Demons. Date of Birth: 30 December 1991 Height: 209cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 224 Goals MFC 2024: 11 Career Total: 109 Brownlow Medal Votes: 13 Melbourne Football Club: 2nd Best & Fairest: 405 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 12

    2024 Player Reviews: #36 Kysaiah Pickett

    The Demons’ aggressive small forward who kicks goals and defends the Demons’ ball in the forward arc. When he’s on song, he’s unstoppable but he did blot his copybook with a three week suspension in the final round. Date of Birth: 2 June 2001 Height: 171cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 106 Goals MFC 2024: 36 Career Total: 161 Brownlow Medal Votes: 3 Melbourne Football Club: 4th Best & Fairest: 369 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Friday 15th November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers took advantage of the beautiful sunshine to head down to Gosch's Paddock and witness the return of Clayton Oliver to club for his first session in the lead up to the 2025 season. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Clarry in the house!! Training: JVR, McVee, Windsor, Tholstrup, Woey, Brown, Petty, Adams, Chandler, Turner, Bowey, Seston, Kentfield, Laurie, Sparrow, Viney, Rivers, Jefferson, Hore, Howes, Verrall, AMW, Clarry Tom Campbell is here

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    2024 Player Reviews: #7 Jack Viney

    The tough on baller won his second Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy in a narrow battle with skipper Max Gawn and Alex Neal-Bullen and battled on manfully in the face of a number of injury niggles. Date of Birth: 13 April 1994 Height: 178cm Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 219 Goals MFC 2024: 10 Career Total: 66 Brownlow Medal Votes: 8

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 3

    TRAINING: Wednesday 13th November 2024

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers braved the rain and headed down to Gosch's paddock to bring you their observations from the second day of Preseason training for the 1st to 4th Year players. DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I attended some of the training today. Richo spoke to me and said not to believe what is in the media, as we will good this year. Jefferson and Kentfield looked big and strong.  Petty was doing all the training. Adams looked like he was in rehab.  KE

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...