6 hours ago, 58er said:

While I respect your opinion your very guarded almost negative ( half glass empty)  Questioning of BBB's suitability for our forward line and apprehension of his role as the spearhead plus his fitness capability Is really almost a smear against Ben  and our Coaches and players.
Here we have a bona fide A grader to add plus a group of highly rated new recruits specifically chosen to add and be given a great opportunity for our forward line to add further dimension/s  to our scoring potential.
 

It is challenging for all but no more than what the Coaching additions have proven they can deliver for other teams.
 

My answer is a resounding YES to both of your doubting questions and believe a majority of Demons fans are positive about this influx of talent to both our playing and coaching ranks.

I am so positive that a Finals berth is realistic and higher honours not totally out of the question.

Your predictions ???

 

Great response. 

Your positivity is infectious. 

I hope your predictions are right but I have been to this place so often. 

Top 8 yes, but beyond that I’m not so sure. 

6 hours ago, Farmer said:

Last week on the ABC Mick Malthouse said that he was stunned that MFC got Brown so easily, and that he thought Brown would make a big difference to to the Dees

Fair enough. It’s about what he will add to the team. One for all and all for one. It’s all about The Team. 

5 hours ago, hemingway said:

Great response. 

Your positivity is infectious. 

I hope your predictions are right but I have been to this place so often. 

Top 8 yes, but beyond that I’m not so sure. 

Hem My title of 58er should also give you an idea how Many  times Or false dawns we have had in 56 years but I believe we are getting the closest in potential players covering most positions for a balanced list ( with some depth) than in the last 5 decades plus.

If our development can be fruitful by Yze and Chocco as a point of difference plus the game day coaching supporting Goody then many other problems will disappear and results be more reliable and consistently achieved. It may take another 1 or 2 seasons for this to happen but I believe it is a great base fir this season to launch a genuine run fir success. Covid or no Covid.

 

Discussion on Ben Brown and the “new-look” MFC forward line:-

New Demons spearhead Ben Brown will lead a new-look forward line in 2021

Paywall.

58 minutes ago, demonstone said:

Paywall.

Brown back in full training and moving well on the back of last year’s nightmare knee injury.

He’s doing at least 2 full sessions a week and on track for the preseason.

Melbourne looking to improve forward conversion after failing to captalise on the midfield stocks.

Brown is expected to take pressure off young forwards in Weideman, Jackson and Pickett.

Tom McDonald training well and could be used on a wing alternating with Luke Jackson and others such as Fritsch, Petracca, Spargo and Gawn can be dangerous around goal.

On 1/10/2021 at 4:37 AM, 58er said:

James Cook didn't play an AFL game at all I don't think!

KW why you say he was a good player more than handy???

Yeah Sorry Pal I was thinking of the James Cook of the Carlton variety. Didn't think he was a total gammy but to be completely honest with you I couldn't even remember that we picked him up and played a couple of games for us. Gee I'm getting Old. 

4 hours ago, Elwood 3184 said:

Brown back in full training and moving well on the back of last year’s nightmare knee injury.

He’s doing at least 2 full sessions a week and on track for the preseason.

Melbourne looking to improve forward conversion after failing to captalise on the midfield stocks.

Brown is expected to take pressure off young forwards in Weideman, Jackson and Pickett.

Tom McDonald training well and could be used on a wing alternating with Luke Jackson and others such as Fritsch, Petracca, Spargo and Gawn can be dangerous around goal.

Are you just guessing what it says?  seems about right

 

On 1/11/2021 at 2:00 PM, hemingway said:

We need a settled team line-up with a game plan that does not revolve around Brown. Success will require a multi-pronged attack. 

This will be fascinating - he will free us up a little, too; I'd expect one 'marker' forward has just been released to create a ground space tear-away opportunity, now that BBB is coming into the attack. BBB also is a forward who leads and exploits his tremendous reach to snatch 'em. Majak may well figure in this procession, as well. That is how I would like to see our previously 'gravitationally handicapped' mid and deep forward structure coached from now on. More run, more space, more critical marking.

43 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

This will be fascinating - he will free us up a little, too; I'd expect one 'marker' forward has just been released to create a ground space tear-away opportunity, now that BBB is coming into the attack. BBB also is a forward who leads and exploits his tremendous reach to snatch 'em. Majak may well figure in this procession, as well. That is how I would like to see our previously 'gravitationally handicapped' mid and deep forward structure coached from now on. More run, more space, more critical marking.

Gravitational handicapped. 

Have not heard this one but it’s a good one. Should go in the best quotes for this season. 

Agree with your comments 56.

More run, more space etc could well apply to all clubs this season. It’s going to be a necessity and a reality. 

On 3/13/2021 at 2:16 PM, Demonland said:

 

All we need from Brown is 40 goals a year. Then we are starting to replace Hogan.. Only took us 3 years to figure it out.

38 minutes ago, Doug Reemer said:

All we need from Brown is 40 goals a year. Then we are starting to replace Hogan.. Only took us 3 years to figure it out.

I think it's unfair to state that 3 year figure.

There are only limited numbers of decent full forwards

Cameron

Kennedy

Lynch

Reiwoldt (debatable)

Franklin (permanently injured)

 

Melbourne would be vying with 14/15 other teams, to come across someone who is ready made.

You can only recruit who is available.

1 hour ago, Doug Reemer said:

All we need from Brown is 40 goals a year. Then we are starting to replace Hogan.. Only took us 3 years to figure it out.

The actual trade we did stacks up. Got a first rounder for a talented but wayward forward and spent it on a top 3 full back in the competition that's well and truly committed to excellence after a shaky first year.

But yeah, our immediate succession plan failed in recruiting a replacement until BBB. They (and we) were seduced by a 4 week T Mac-Weid sample space from round 22 2018 to week 2 finals. The sample space didn't extend to the 5th week when both players were diabolical in the 2018 prelim. 

 

1 minute ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The actual trade we did stacks up. Got a first rounder for a talented but wayward forward and spent it on a top 3 full back in the competition that's well and truly committed to excellence after a shaky first year.

But yeah, our immediate succession plan failed in recruiting a replacement until BBB. They (and we) were seduced by a 4 week T Mac-Weid sample space from round 22 2018 to week 2 finals. The sample space didn't extend to the 5th week when both players were diabolical in the 2018 prelim. 

 

Couldn't of said it better myself!

2 hours ago, Doug Reemer said:

All we need from Brown is 40 goals a year. Then we are starting to replace Hogan.. Only took us 3 years to figure it out.

How many has Hogan kicked in that period? 18! To be fair it is almost one per game. And how bad was Tommy Mac? And he averages more goals per game in 2018, 2019 and 2020 than Hogan.

2 hours ago, ManDee said:

How many has Hogan kicked in that period? 18! To be fair it is almost one per game. And how bad was Tommy Mac? And he averages more goals per game in 2018, 2019 and 2020 than Hogan.

Irrelevant. Hogan kicked 40 on in 2018 and Tmac 50 odd. 

since then. Hunt and Fristch have won our goal kicking with 20s.. I don't care what Hogan and Tmac have done since. The problem hasn't been fixed yet.

18 hours ago, Doug Reemer said:

Irrelevant. Hogan kicked 40 on in 2018 and Tmac 50 odd. 

since then. Hunt and Fristch have won our goal kicking with 20s.. I don't care what Hogan and Tmac have done since. The problem hasn't been fixed yet.

You said we are starting to replace Hogan. But Hogan has done nothing. If we had kept him we would be worse off. 

11 minutes ago, ManDee said:

You said we are starting to replace Hogan. But Hogan has done nothing. If we had kept him we would be worse off. 

?‍♂️Dude!!! Think about what you said!!!

Since Hogan has left THE MFC. We have not had a fwd kick the same amount of goals in one season that he did in 2018!!!

HENCE... Now don't think to hard.

By recruiting Ben Brown this year we are only starting to replace Hogan. I couldn't give a Flying F what he did after we traded him. We haven't filled the hole he left in the fwd line.. Its not hard to work out.

22 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The actual trade we did stacks up. Got a first rounder for a talented but wayward forward and spent it on a top 3 full back in the competition that's well and truly committed to excellence after a shaky first year.

But yeah, our immediate succession plan failed in recruiting a replacement until BBB. They (and we) were seduced by a 4 week T Mac-Weid sample space from round 22 2018 to week 2 finals. The sample space didn't extend to the 5th week when both players were diabolical in the 2018 prelim. 

 

Yet we beat more finals teams with that combination than we did in the rest of the season with flat track Jesse moping around.

Weideman showed last year he can absolutely still be one of the main targets and adequately replace Hogan. Unfortunately Tom McDonald turned from a fringe AA player to a cactus overnight. Now he gets his chance to make a stirring return to form.

1 minute ago, Doug Reemer said:

?‍♂️Dude!!! Think about what you said!!!

Since Hogan has left THE MFC. We have not had a fwd kick the same amount of goals in one season that he did in 2018!!!

HENCE... Now don't think to hard.

By recruiting Ben Brown this year we are only starting to replace Hogan. I couldn't give a Flying F what he did after we traded him. We haven't filled the hole he left in the fwd line.. Its not hard to work out.

If you had said we haven't found a 50 plus goal forward until Brown then I may agree, but you didn't.  Even you could comprehend that since Hogan left his contribution has been worse that Tommy Mac, therefore we haven't missed much. 

Just now, ManDee said:

If you had said we haven't found a 50 plus goal forward until Brown then I may agree, but you didn't.  Even you could comprehend that since Hogan left his contribution has been worse that Tommy Mac, therefore we haven't missed much. 

You've completely missed my point.

Good luck to you.

Just now, Doug Reemer said:

You've completely missed my point.

Good luck to you.

Your point was poorly made. In the last 2 years our forward line is crying out for a 40+ goal forward or 2. Tommy Mac & The Weed going down has hurt. I believe Brown & Jackson will help. Hogan leaving was a blessing.

22 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The actual trade we did stacks up. Got a first rounder for a talented but wayward forward and spent it on a top 3 full back in the competition that's well and truly committed to excellence after a shaky first year.

But yeah, our immediate succession plan failed in recruiting a replacement until BBB. They (and we) were seduced by a 4 week T Mac-Weid sample space from round 22 2018 to week 2 finals. The sample space didn't extend to the 5th week when both players were diabolical in the 2018 prelim. 

 

To be fair TMac had about a year and a half of solid work as a key forward before dropping off a cliff (remember his 2017 heroics in Perth?) And they would be within their rights to think Weideman would mature and come on, I think he actually has started to but has been battling injury since mid-2019 and had to work as the sole key forward for much of 2020. I have faith in Weid.

1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

To be fair TMac had about a year and a half of solid work as a key forward before dropping off a cliff (remember his 2017 heroics in Perth?) And they would be within their rights to think Weideman would mature and come on, I think he actually has started to but has been battling injury since mid-2019 and had to work as the sole key forward for much of 2020. I have faith in Weid.

I'm running out of faith with Weid. Its time for action. No excuses once he returns.