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 won’t play in the Grand Final? Gutted for the bloke

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    Just now, Drunkn167 said:

    I know there would be good reasons to replace Fritsch but imagine if this means he won’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 off 

    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.  He has had a fantastic first season and is destined for bigger things.   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.  It will be interesting to see his body language in the VFL GF.

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

    Goodwin obviously doesn’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 won’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. 

  • 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.

     

  • 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. 

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

    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.  Match up with WC tall forward line and the step up of the contest from last week. 

    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.  Or there could be injuries.

    Just a comment 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.

     

    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... 

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

    Harmes to Shuey, Viney to Redden. 

    Oliver & Brayshaw to run wild. 

    So who plays on Yeo? 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 a tranquilliser quick smart! Nev to the rescue with a nice bump or Viney with a crunching tackle! Either one I don’t care... 

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

  • Quote

    They’ve gone for simplicity - defender for defender. It’s no surprise they’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? I’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 he’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.

    It’s hard to predict though, if Smith plays very well I don’t think he’d be dropped for the GF. 

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

  • Quote
    • Like 4
     

    Brave decision, good decision.  Smith can be swung to Kennedy or Darling should our match ups not work out.  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.  We're trading contest and pressure for disposal efficiency with Tyson and Smith in and Fritsch out.  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

    • GAMEDAY: Essendon

      It’s Game Day, and the Demons are staring down the barrel of an 0-5 start for the first time since 2012 as they take on Essendon at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. In that forgettable season, Melbourne finally broke their drought by toppling the Bombers. Can lightning strike twice? Will the Dees turn their nightmare start around and breathe life back into 2025?

        • Like
      • 80 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

      • 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?

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 489 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • 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?

        • Shocked
      • 218 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.

      • 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.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All