Jump to content

Match Preview and Team Selection - Preliminary Final

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

I know there would be good reasons to replace Fritsch but imagine if this means he wonโ€™t play in the Grand Final? Gutted for the bloke

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    ย 
    Just now, Drunkn167 said:

    I know there would be good reasons to replace Fritsch but imagine if this means he wonโ€™t play in the Grand Final? Gutted for the bloke

    Neither Pies or Tiges have 2 genuine KPF's. Will be back in should we progress to next week.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     
    Just now, Wolfturdo said:

    Bit of credibility on the line with this decision. Better pay offย 

    so @Wolfturdo, in your view, what is a pass mark from an outcome perspective for smith?

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    The emergencies would suggest there is nothing in the O Mac being injured rumour going around this morning.

    If there had been something I think it would have been Dec Kielty on the plane as well.

  • Quote

    1 minute ago, picket fence said:

    Well I gotta say Tim Smith AS EMERGENCY IS EVEN A BIGGER SURPRISE!!

    Jeffy? Pedo?? Bigger call!?

    Absolutely feel for Bailey, but he has been played. by necessity, out of position. ย He has had a fantastic first season and is destined for bigger things. ย  Who knows, IF we do win matchups may see him back for the GF?

    Can't criticise the selection though.

    However it does look like Jeffy may have played his last game. ย It will be interesting to see his body language in the VFL GF.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    ย 
    3 minutes ago, Nasher said:

    Goodwin obviously doesnโ€™t know anything about our players. Is he the right man for the job?

    Troll! ?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    4 minutes ago, Drunkn167 said:

    I know there would be good reasons to replace Fritsch but imagine if this means he wonโ€™t play in the Grand Final? Gutted for the bloke

    He's got a long career ahead of him and he's part of a football team that is going to have sustained success for years to come. He'll get another chance.ย 

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Fritta is stiff, but they obviously have a clear role in mind for J. Smith, one that probably frees Hibberd up to play a more attacking role alongside Salem and Lewis.

    ย 

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    If smith plays well and we win then it's a genius move but of smith gets smashed or plays badly and we lose people are going to be slamming the move.ย 

    I just don't think we needed to change our winning team. But thats why Goodwin is coach and im not.ย 

    But gee I do feel sorry for bailey. I reckon it would have been hard for goody to tell him

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    3 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

    Neither Pies or Tiges have 2 genuine KPF's. Will be back in should we progress to next week.

    Totally agree. Heartbreaking for Fritter, but we'll almost certainly see him in the GF when we get through. I don't mind the change though, it makes sense. I looking forward to seeing it pay off.

  • Quote

    It's understandable.ย  Match up with WC tall forward line and the step up of the contest from last week.ย 

    JKH mised the finals and now it's Fritsch.

    If we get through it may be against Richmond who have a completely different structure so we could make a change there too.ย  Or there could be injuries.

    Just a commentย overviewing the system - taking MFC out of the equation - this is why at least everyone on the list who plays a game in the season should get a premiership medal.

  • Quote
    • Like 9

    1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

    Fritta is stiff, but they obviously have a clear role in mind for J. Smith, one that probably frees Hibberd up to play a more attacking role alongside Salem and Lewis.

    ย 

    Absolutely, we're going to need that extra push off HB, and Smith will add the extra height and intercept power.

  • Quote
    2 minutes ago, grey wolf said:

    Tough call on Fritta but you have to say the selection committee has finally got some balls!

    There was a time when we were too scared/stupid to make these calls!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    8 hours ago, GCDee said:

    I don't think Harmes to Yeo would work...ย 

    Yeo can drag him deep forward or back and would crush him in the air.ย 

    Harmes to Shuey, Viney to Redden.ย 

    Oliver & Brayshaw to run wild.ย 

    So who plays onย Yeo?ย He needs a hard tag... Yippy Yeo cannot be let of the leash. He will run wilder and let all the other animals out. He needs aย tranquilliser quick smart! Nev to the rescue with a nice bump or Viney with a crunching tackle! Either one I donโ€™t care...ย 

    I still think Harmes is the one. Harmes can beat him going the other way.ย 

  • Quote

    Theyโ€™ve gone for simplicity - defender for defender. Itโ€™s no surprise theyโ€™ve gone for Smith. There was an obvious need for another tall defender this week and Smith is the next best thing.

    I can only guess, but I suppose if they were decided on Fritsch or Tyson in the middle, they decided that the more imperfect disposal was outweighed by the superior contested game. Tyson has his issues and limitations, but at the end if the day would anyone be that confident Fritsch could deliver as a midfielder in the heat of a PF? Iโ€™m not that sure.

    Or maybe the option was never even on the table because Goodwin rates Tyson more than Demonland does. Who knows.

    Feel for Fritsch though. I reckon we can all agree that heโ€™s bloody unlucky.

  • Quote
    • Like 10
    5 minutes ago, RedButMostlyBlue said:

    Totally agree. Heartbreaking for Fritter, but we'll almost certainly see him in the GF when we get through. I don't mind the change though, it makes sense. I looking forward to seeing it pay off.

    Itโ€™s hard to predictย though, if Smith plays very well I donโ€™t think heโ€™d be dropped for the GF.ย 

  • Quote

    A really tough call, but horses for courses. I am sure Bayley will play a blinder on Sunday, so the pressure will be on Smith, Hannah, Tyson and maybe a couple of others to produce on Saturday otherwise he may well take their spot in the GF. Really feel for the young man though

  • Quote

    Very, tough call on Fritta, but he'll bounce back, I'm sure!ย  Between them, our MC have a lot of trained eyes and a ton of football judgement and nous.ย  I'll back them every time, but understand that even they are fallible (occasionally).ย  I reckon this is a courageous but correct call given the opposition.ย  Exactly as it should be, especially with the stakes as high as they are.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    ย 

    Brave decision, good decision.ย  Smith can be swung to Kennedy or Darling should our match ups not work out.ย  They are also playing 2 rucks and they will alternate forward.

    Hard decision but an obvious one.

    Edited by Guest

  • Quote

    I think the selection trade offs revolve around these factors.ย  We're trading contest and pressure for disposal efficiency with Tyson and Smith in and Fritsch out.ย  The FD reckon it will be a super hot contest and that's our "brand"

    http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-05/the-stats-files-the-three-keys-to-winning-games-in-2018

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    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

    • FEATURE: 1925

      ๏ปฟA hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.ย  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the โ€œFuchsias.โ€ They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

        • Love
        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturdayโ€™s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach inย Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but Iโ€™ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demonsโ€™ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).ย  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, basedย on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.ย  At the time, the Eagles already had two winsย off the back of a couple of the young manโ€™s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 66 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 516 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourneโ€™s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle.ย As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nationโ€™s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country.ย 

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Richmond

      The match up of teams competing in our great Aussie game at its second highest level is a rarity for a work day Thursday morning but the blustery conditions that met the players at a windswept Casey Fields was something far more commonplace.They turned the opening stanza between the Casey Demons and a somewhat depleted Richmond VFL into a mess of fumbling unforced errors, spilt marks and wasted opportunities for both sides but they did set up a significant win for the home team which is exactly what transpired on this Anzac Day round opener. Casey opened up strong against the breeze with the first goal to Aidan Johnson, the Tigers quickly responded and the game degenerated into a defensive slog and the teams were level when the first siren sounded.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All