Jump to content

TMac our biggest loss

pitmaster
pitmaster
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

Pre-season I thought Viney was our biggest loss in the first third of the season, but the past two matches suggest I was wrong. Running Hogan far beyond forward 50 is robbing us of forward structure. It worked last year when T Mac was playing forward even though he seemed to be missed from defence. The strength of the strategy is that both T Mac and Hoges are running machines that can alternate in the forward 50 with the other pushing upfield.
With O Mac growing into his role and Lever at his fifth attempt really contributing it's apparent that T Mac as permanent forward is a real prospect.

The weird thing is that with our forward line not working at all that we keep playing as though we have serious targets up there. My guess is that Goodwin is trying to ingrain a method of play that will work once T Mac returns. Unfortunately that does not explain why we played down the line against Richmond, but it's my optimistic guess that this season will recover once we regain our structure.

Maybe a more experienced coach (Clarkson) would come up with a strong alternative short term approach but I hope what's going on is what I said above...teaching the players an aggressive forward approach that will hold up long term.

 

 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     
    32 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

    Pre-season I thought Viney was our biggest loss in the first third of the season, but the past two matches suggest I was wrong. Running Hogan far beyond forward 50 is robbing us of forward structure. It worked last year when T Mac was playing forward even though he seemed to be missed from defence. The strength of the strategy is that both T Mac and Hoges are running machines that can alternate in the forward 50 with the other pushing upfield.
    With O Mac growing into his role and Lever at his fifth attempt really contributing it's apparent that T Mac as permanent forward is a real prospect.

    The weird thing is that with our forward line not working at all that we keep playing as though we have serious targets up there. My guess is that Goodwin is trying to ingrain a method of play that will work once T Mac returns. Unfortunately that does not explain why we played down the line against Richmond, but it's my optimistic guess that this season will recover once we regain our structure.

    Maybe a more experienced coach (Clarkson) would come up with a strong alternative short term approach but I hope what's going on is what I said above...teaching the players an aggressive forward approach that will hold up long term.

     

     

    Clarkson coaching Melbourne is just the Messiah complex. Clarkson is just a naughty boy. We absolutely need TMac, Jay Viney, Jack and Todd Viney back on the pitch.

  • Quote
    • Author

    Feeling vindicated about this today especially that line in italics: Goodwin is trying to ingrain a method of play that will work once T Mac returns.

    Of course, we'll only know as the year unfolds but as TMac gains more match fitness I suspect (hope?) those panicky posts about game plans start to disappear. Add Viney into the mix and anything is possible.

    I am amazed at the lack of recognition TMac's absnce received in the media, most recently from W Carey's piece in the Hun on Friday.

    BTW bush demon, Clarkson was only an example of a more experienced coach; not for one moment was I suggesting he would come over to the red and blue.

    Edited by pitmaster

  • Quote
    •  

    straightened us up beyond recognition now Fristchy, Hannan, Spargs will get 4th,5th defenders and exploit them big style and tear them a new one.

  • Quote
    6 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

    straightened us up beyond recognition now Fristchy, Hannan, Spargs will get 4th,5th defenders and exploit them big style and tear them a new one.

    Certainly agree that our forward structure will be hard to man up against - two talls (Hogan TMcD Weed in rotation with the occasional Max) and 4 crumbers three of whom can grab a mark as well (Milk, Hannan, Fritsch) and Spargo (maybe Jeffy if can find form and enthusiasm at Casey).   Difficult to match. 

    PS forgot about DogFood (CP5).

    Edited by monoccular

  • Quote

    3 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    PS forgot about DogFood (CP5).

    That's funny, Mono!!  Maybe it will catch on!

  • Quote
    12 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    Certainly agree that our forward structure will be hard to man up against - two talls (Hogan TMcD Weed in rotation with the occasional Max) and 4 crumbers three of whom can grab a mark as well (Milk, Hannan, Fritsch) and Spargo (maybe Jeffy if can find form and enthusiasm at Casey).   Difficult to match. 

    PS forgot about DogFood (CP5).

    jeffy plays better when its warm and humid. not so good when it cold wet and slippery.

    given that, he might be a good chance for the gcs game in 2 weeks (and the alice in rnd 10) if there isn't rain forecast. also probably better suited to etihad than mcg in winter. 

    Edited by daisycutter

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, monoccular said:

    Certainly agree that our forward structure will be hard to man up against - two talls (Hogan TMcD Weed in rotation with the occasional Max) and 4 crumbers three of whom can grab a mark as well (Milk, Hannan, Fritsch) and Spargo (maybe Jeffy if can find form and enthusiasm at Casey).   Difficult to match. 

    PS forgot about DogFood (CP5).

    Yes The cat whisperer Milkshake and Jeffy [censored] me. I just barred up ??????????? 

  • Quote
    •  
    3 hours ago, monoccular said:

     

    PS forgot about DogFood (CP5).

    Much prefer 2 Dogs as a monicker,   very old joke

  • Quote

    • 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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 10 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Thanks
      • 210 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Geelong

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Thanks
      • 61 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All