Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)
11 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

SF aside from Salem / Melk at times and Fritsch probably more consistently, can you name me a player or more (especially another who runs through mid field) who is capable of hitting targets fairly often? Or at least kick it to their favoured / fat side?

Some of our entries and work inside 50 by foot was abysmal on Friday night.  I think Big M was about the only one i can recall, aside from Jones to Gus (which should have bee  paid), who managed to show some poise and foot skills coming inside 50 when he found Smith.

Contrast this with T-Mac's set shot goal accuracy.

We need our mids to start kicking a few goals also.  This bombing business just plays into our opponent's hands and makes us too predictable / easy to defend.

Separation of key forwards would help also as we were doing when T-Mac first returned.  What the hec happened to the fluidity up forward we were having after the Bulldogs game?

I can't name another player, I think Salems kicking has gone backwards or he takes the safe option chip like Lewis. It has been a problem for years, we recruit meat & potatoes, but not match winners. Our captains are two terrible kicks, how inspirational.

Edited by SFebey

Posted

While this team is being constantly reminded that they are just a team, and members thereof, and that everything works together and there is going to be ups and downs, then in my opinion there are a heap of improvements.

We are getting to the business end and the big boys are laying out their territory. No matter what the maggots did we finished off a game well even though we lost. I reckon that loss hurt a lot.We knew at the start of the season the games were not under the belt yet, but we hoped we had super talent, and it would prevail, we have, but it didn't. So far....

I personally, being an optimist put Trac in the Croswell, Kekovich and Watson category, and Tim knows it. Also i have seen all these blokes play up close. He is an untapped quantity, but never tell the "B"

Posted
11 minutes ago, willmoy said:

While this team is being constantly reminded that they are just a team, and members thereof, and that everything works together and there is going to be ups and downs, then in my opinion there are a heap of improvements.

We are getting to the business end and the big boys are laying out their territory. No matter what the maggots did we finished off a game WELL  even though we lost. I reckon that loss hurt a lot.We knew at the start of the season the games were not under the belt yet, but we hoped we had super talent, and it would prevail, we have, but it didn't. So far....

I personally, being an optimist put Trac in the Croswell, Kekovich and Watson category, and Tim knows it. Also i have seen all these blokes play up close. He is an untapped quantity, but never tell the "B"

I mentioned in another thread.. we were goalless in last qtr..

That's not really finishing it off too well...is it ?

  • Like 1
Posted
47 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Sylvia and Watts both had pretty good seasons as young players. They became Sylvia and Watts because the club had no standards and didn't develop them to reach their potential. If Petracca is giving his all at training and off field to be the best he can be then he will get better. And his first quarter on the weekend was indicative of a guy who knew he had more to give. If he's not quite getting it done at training and/or the coaches think an easy kill at Casey would get him some more touch then he should be dropped.

In the stats that matter for a guy playing half forward this year compared to (last year)

Disposals: 20.3  (18.8)
Goals: 0.8  (1.2)
Tackles: 2.7 (2.5)
Score Involvements: 6.2  (5.7)
Clangers: 3.8  (2.9)
Disposal efficiency: 66.5  (66.8)

Those numbers - and the eye test especially when he goes in to the midfield  - tell me that he hasn't improved his work rate and he hasn't improved his skill execution. 

Doesn't look like he's in a rut though...he's ok and doing enough to hold his spot in the side.

As I say, just not the superstar everyone expects yet. 

When did Watts have a better (or pretty good) season as a young player by the way?

Posted
36 minutes ago, SFebey said:

I can't name another player, I think Salems kicking has gone backwards or he takes the safe option chip like Lewis. It has been a problem for years, we recruit meat & potatoes, but not match winners. Our captains are two terrible kicks, how inspirational.

Now this is a very interesting point , I'd love a hodge as a captain

  • Like 1

Posted

I hope he lives up to his potential,  but I am concerned that what recruiters considered elite, he now seems to struggle with. We need him to be an A grader because we just can't afford another lost high draft pic One on one he should dominate but struggles to find the space.

  • Like 1
Posted
12 minutes ago, rjay said:

Doesn't look like he's in a rut though...he's ok and doing enough to hold his spot in the side.

As I say, just not the superstar everyone expects yet. 

When did Watts have a better (or pretty good) season as a young player by the way?

In 2011 in his 3rd year as a 20 year old he played every game averaged 16 disposals, 5.5 marks and a goal a game.

He played as the floating taller flanker with good skills and was looking promising. We all know what happened next and it took 5 years for his mind, body and talent to get it together in 2016

Posted
46 minutes ago, rjay said:

Doesn't look like he's in a rut though...he's ok and doing enough to hold his spot in the side.

As I say, just not the superstar everyone expects yet. 

When did Watts have a better (or pretty good) season as a young player by the way?

Spot on rjay and I doubt he ever will be a champion however a player in the 50- 100 range will do nicely. 


Posted
3 hours ago, rjay said:

Petracca is not being gifted games, he's not in a rut...his stats hold up pretty well for someone who mainly plays half forward with the one exception. He could hit the scoreboard a bit more.

His biggest problem is expectation...

Everyone else's.

He's expected to be a superstar and he's not, he may never be but he's still contributing pretty well in my mind and will get a lot better.

Nothing is to be gained by playing him at Casey as he's not Sylvia or Watts mark 2.

Get over it everyone.

Petracca is in a rut. He had one good quarter against Port to mask his poor season thus far.

The kid was pick 2 and highly rated due to his ‘freakish’ abilities.

He’s in a rut relative to his development phase.

I think we should all raise our expectations of Petracca.

  • Like 2
Posted
On 6/23/2018 at 2:07 AM, Dr.D said:

man i mentioned petracca months ago. why are demonlanders so late to the party with things? 

 

Never changes his bathwater.   he believes in being efficient.  plus, loves it's flavour.

  • Haha 1

Posted
1 hour ago, McQueen said:

Petracca is in a rut. He had one good quarter against Port to mask his poor season thus far.

The kid was pick 2 and highly rated due to his ‘freakish’ abilities.

He’s in a rut relative to his development phase.

I think we should all raise our expectations of Petracca.

Lots of early picks don't make it Steve. While I don't think he is a wash out he is far from a match winner and IMO I doubt he will be. From my view he is not fit enough seldom sees out a game is usually nacked in the last quarter. I don't think he has yet realised that talent is not all you need at the top level. Lets hope he improves his fitness level for 2019.

Posted
9 hours ago, old dee said:

Lots of early picks don't make it Steve. While I don't think he is a wash out he is far from a match winner and IMO I doubt he will be. From my view he is not fit enough seldom sees out a game is usually nacked in the last quarter. I don't think he has yet realised that talent is not all you need at the top level. Lets hope he improves his fitness level for 2019.

Why hasn't this been addressed by the coaching staff OD?

Beyond belief. Not fit enough what the hell does he do all week?ohhhh that's right preening must take considerable time.

  • Haha 1
Posted

If only Trac were more  Flower and less Dorian Gray.... we'd have a bottler. All fizz at present.

  • Love 1
Posted (edited)

No point dropping Trac.  We need our best talent on the park over the next three weeks vs three average teams.

Must win all 3 or its goodbye finals.

 

Edited by Petraccattack
Posted
19 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

No point dropping Trac.  We need our best talent on the park over the next three weeks vs three average teams.

Must win all 3 or its goodbye finals.

 

No...we need the best 'efforts' on the park.

Its abit like the dif between a team of champions.. and a champion team.

Better a B grader trying /playing flat out....than a supposed A giving 25% return on a game and going missing.

Drop him... make a statement.  Make it LOUD 

  • Like 1

Posted

I vaguely remember a game in his first year, I reckon it was v WCE in Perth in the wet, he stood out out that days as having the best skills, one touch disposals, he was streets ahead of anyone on the ground in that department that day. At that moment I thought awesome, he's going to be a star, but has disappointed since. Does anyone remember that game? Maybe it wasn't v WCE?

Posted
3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

No point dropping Trac.  We need our best talent on the park over the next three weeks vs three average teams.

Must win all 3 or its goodbye finals.

 

And its the teams, and Trac's, chance to re-build  any loss in confidence since 2 losses through absolutely hammering poor opposition. 

2 goals wins, and in Trac's case , average contributions, won't cut it  from either % build or Trac's later 2018 contributions.

Posted

Trac will be a champion player. Power/burst players take longer to develop. as opposed to endurance midfield types.  look at Dusty, took him 6-7 seasons to perform at a high level each week and run out games. Shopped himself around after 5 seasons and noone wanted him!

we will need to be patient with Trac


Posted

Article on AFL site about Trac.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-27/im-not-the-player-i-want-to-be-says-dee-petracca

The following stood out. 

 

All I want to focus on at the moment is just doing what Simon tells me to do, playing my role as that half-forward by putting a lot of pressure on. It's stuff that probably doesn't get recognised, but it does get recognised inside the four walls."

  • Like 2
Posted
4 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Article on AFL site about Trac.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-27/im-not-the-player-i-want-to-be-says-dee-petracca

The following stood out. 

 

All I want to focus on at the moment is just doing what Simon tells me to do, playing my role as that half-forward by putting a lot of pressure on. It's stuff that probably doesn't get recognised, but it does get recognised inside the four walls."

He’s making all the right noises. Time to leave him alone.

  • Like 4

Posted

I wonder how we'd go playing off half back, replacing Vince. 

His field kicking is a lot better than his goal kicking, that's for sure. 

Posted (edited)

I'm not sure this article will appease some punters.

Naturally I don't know what his role is but these stats I find damning:

Only laid 6 tackles inside 50 all year (12 games), including 7 games of 0 and 2 tackles i50 in his last 5 games including 4 weeks of 0.

He's also only laid 3 tackles i50 in the last 8 weeks with 6 games of 0.

Averages 2.6 tackles per game

Only 32 tackles so far this season

 - That's not applying pressure IMO and simply unacceptable.

As a forward he's returned 9 goals in 12 games, not good enough.

He looks sluggish and unfit, not to mention fumbly and not much composure like his first year. His stats are only slightly better than last year, which isn't too much more than his first year.

I think he has finally had the wake up call and light bulb moment that AFL footy isnt as easy as he thought, I expect a big pre-season coming this year.

Petracca and Garlett have been the busts of the year for me along with Hunt.

 

Edited by SFebey
  • Like 1
Posted
21 hours ago, DubDee said:

Trac will be a champion player. Power/burst players take longer to develop. as opposed to endurance midfield types.  look at Dusty, took him 6-7 seasons to perform at a high level each week and run out games. Shopped himself around after 5 seasons and noone wanted him!

we will need to be patient with Trac

Very very true words, be patient with a guy who's only just ticked over the 50 game mark. His stats (I know they can be misleading sometimes) are very similar to Dusty's at around the same stage of their career, and way ahead of Dangerfield's. Robbie Gray is another similar type player who's first 50 odd games a similarish to Trac's (he played more as a pure forward than the mid/fwd role he plays now). I mentioned them as they are the power/burst players who he reminds me of, won't get the 35+ an Oliver will get but can turn a game sometimes with only 15 touches. 

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 28th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from today's training session before the Demons head off to Perth for their final Practice Match. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning, not much wind, more than a couple of dozen spectators.  The players were up and about, boisterous and having fun. One of their last drills were three teams competing in a hard at it, handball game in a small area. Goody

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THE ACCIDENTAL DEMONS by The Oracle

    In the space of eight days, the Melbourne Football Club’s plans for the coming year were turned upside down by two season-ending injuries to players who were contending strongly for places in its opening round match against the GWS Giants. Shane McAdam was first player to go down with injury when he ruptured an Achilles tendon at Friday afternoon training, a week before the cut-off date for the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period (“SSP”). McAdam was beginning to get some real mom

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    PREGAME: Practice Match vs Fremantle

    The Demons hit the road for what will be their first of 8 interstate trips this year when they play their final practice match before the 2025 AFL Premiership Season against the Fremantle Dockers in Perth on Sunday, 2nd March @ 6:10pm (AEDT). 2025 AAMI Community Series Sun Mar 2 Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Oval, Mandurah, 3.10pm AWST (6.10pm AEDT)

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 142

    RETURN TO NORMAL by Whispering Jack

    One of my prized possessions is a framed, autographed guernsey bearing the number 31 worn by my childhood hero, Melbourne’s champion six time premiership player Ronald Dale Barassi who passed away on 16 September 2023, aged 87. The former captain who went on to a successful coaching career, mainly with other clubs, came back to the fold in his later years as a staunch Demon supporter who often sat across the way from me in the Northern Stand of the MCG cheering on the team. Barassi died the

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports

    PODCAST: Match SIM vs North Melbourne

    Join us LIVE on Monday night at 8:30pm—note that this special time is just for this week due to prior commitments. We'll break down the Match SIM against North Melbourne and wrap up the preseason with insights into training and our latest recruits. I apologize for skipping our annual season review show at the end of last season. After a disapponting season filled with off-field antics and a heated trade week, I needed a break. Thankfully, the offseason has recharged me, and I’m back—ready t

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 44

    GAMEDAY: Match SIM vs North Melbourne

    After an agonizingly long off-season the 2025 AFL Premiership Season is almost upon us and the Demons have their first practice hit out against the Kangaroos in a match simulation out at Arden Street. The Demons will take on the Kangaroos in match simulation play, starting from 10am AEDT and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo. The play start time was brought forward from the initial 11am bounce, due to the high temperatures forecast.  The match sim will consist of four 25-minute qu

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 465

    TRAINING: Friday 21st February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers beat the Friday heat to bring you their observations from this morning's Captain's Run out at Gosch's Paddock in the lead up to their first hit out in a Practice Match tomorrow against the Kangaroos. TRAVY14'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS On the park: Trac Spargo Gawn Viney Langdon May Fritsch Salem Henderson Rehab: McVee (updated to include Melk, Kolt, AMW and Kentfield) Spoke to "Gus" the trainer, he said these are the guys no

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 19th February 2025

    Demonlander The Analyser was the sole Trackwatcher out at Casey Fields today to bring you the following observations from this mornings preseason training session. Training  was at Casey today. It consisted of a match simulation for one half  and then a free choice activity time. Activities included kicking for goal,  aerial , contest work etc. I noticed the following players not in match simulation Jack Viney  running laps and looks fine for round one . I think Kolt looks like he’s im

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Monday 17th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were on hand at Monday morning's preseason training at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their brief observations of the session. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Gentle flush session at Gosch's this morning. Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars) McVee, McAdam. Rehabbing: Great to see Kentfield back (much slimmer), walking with Tholstrup, TMac (suspect just a management thing), Viney (still being cautious with that rib cartilage?), Melksham (

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...