Making the finals

[Fanatique Demon 2,624]

Dee Zephyr, you have my vote for prophet and assistant coach. 

[old dee 23,503]

5 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Might spoon it if Goody doesn't swallow his pride during the 4 day break and review/revamp the zone/press part of the game style plus recognize the need for speed off HB & placing our best ball users with a bit of pace out wide.

If he does we can salvage something but finals are a bridge too far IMO as confidence is completely shot with most players.  The situation is that bad many have moved into survival 'flight' mode disposal decisions ie; "Here you have it!  Nah i dont want it, you have it back!".

My amature look at it...

It's time to go man on man for good chunks of a match and see who really wants it.  Zone off only if we get our noses in front by a decent winning margin.

The Ruck / engine room is the only aspect of our game that's showing any resemblance to 2018.  Everywhere else is almost flat lining and on life support.

Start with the engine room.  But no major change.  Just a decent oil change.  A bit of burst speed / agility inside.  Who?  Can Tracc bring a little in place of Viney?  If not who?  Bit of Melk?  But a massive 10 turnovers against the Tiges on Weds eve.  Needs more time?  Other issue.is.he doesnt defend / tackle.

The forward line will only start to click once Pruess is back (98%+ fit) and Jeffy / Lockhart are at his feet with a bit of Jones in the pocket also IMO.  Very small bursts in a mid field relief role only.  The remainder on the bench (eg; approx 20% to 30% to keep him fresh).

Who plays CHF?  I have no idea but maybe T-Smith for a block of 3 to 4 matches In the hope he can eventually play out 3 to 4 quarters.  If that fails maybe Keilty for a similar block.  Weids is so far off AFL right now he needs a solid stint at Casey before his next recall once he finds his mojo.

Hunt returns to HB for a decent block and see if he can get back to somewhere near 2017 form.  We need more line breaking run and pace there.  Forward craft / IQ poor at this point.

Lockhart to stay and play deep sharing the role with chunk off the bench building up his tank and experience for a decent block.

Some pace and good disposal needed off both wings via Salem, Fritschkreig, Melk and Harmes.

Drill disposal skills for the remainder of the year.  Whoever can't get reasonably close to AFL disposal levels (for their role played vs other AFL peers playing a similar role) is moved on at year's end.

Hoping for a turnaround in skills, speed of ball movement, lime.breaking run, effective transistion off HB connecting with our forwards and manic defending / attack on the footy and ball carrier.

Preparing for the worst.

You have my vote RN. Not that it means much. 

[Big Carl 333]

[Adzman 2,153]

I'm disgusted in the season thus far. It's time to tinker in preparation for next season. We won't finish last, but bottom 4 is a likely destination for season 2019.

Finals this season will not happen for us. 

[praha 11,125]

30 minutes ago, Adzman said:

I'm disgusted in the season thus far. It's time to tinker in preparation for next season. We won't finish last, but bottom 4 is a likely destination for season 2019.

Finals this season will not happen for us. 

Last is very much a possibility. We have no prise or passion. North played with a point to prove last night and at least they have a genuine forward. We undoubtedly deserve to be last atm because we are the worst team in the league.

[JV7 2,348]

I'm not sure if I envy or pitty those who think finals is still a possibility. I checked out half way through the Geelong game, writing was on the wall

Edited April 26, 2019 by JV7

[Dee Zephyr 19,173]

3 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Dee Zephyr, you have my vote for prophet and assistant coach. 

??? I hope you’re taking the Mickey, otherwise you are confusing me with someone else FD.

[Nasher 33,607]

4 hours ago, Skuit said:

The strangest thing is the number of posters on here who have just skipped straight to 7. There's the usual suspects at 2 - some of those who have managed to blend their 2 with the comfort of 7 - a very low-level all-pervasive 5, a few nut-jobs at 4 who feel guilty for some self-bathwater fan-influence notion and project that onto the players,  and then the majority who are stationed somewhere between 6 & 7. Technically, 'blame' falls under anger and bargaining, but I believe casting for culprits, or searching randomly for answers (is it you God?) deserves its own grief stage, and that it's otherwise a step toward acceptance.

As for me: a mix of denial and acceptance without any of the interim stages.

 

It’s because nobody has actually died. 

[Deemania since 56 6,562]

10 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

Don't kid yourself there is no way back the rope is cut we are shot already. It's a pity for all of us who thought differently.

A waste of paying extra for a Grand Final guarantee and it is a scam.  A Member for 35 consecutive years. 

I hope to see the improvement somewhere for faith wise. However we are now on the bottom of the ladder Norf just jumped us on percentage tonight. 

Looking to the club being a big player in the Draft. I am not in denial l am facing the bitter truth.

 

It could be (hyper-hope once again) that this year the draft will be beneficial. By now, those making such decisions on our behalf will have learned a lesson or two about player profiling before the draft dribble begins, as we all know what specifications we would be looking for amongst the offerings. 

[Dr. Gonzo 23,723]

Finals? Haha, we'll have a top 3 draft pick this year.

[Dr. Gonzo 23,723]

23 minutes ago, Nasher said:

It’s because nobody has actually died. 

Nobody except our hopes and dreams ?

[Dr. Gonzo 23,723]

1 hour ago, JV7 said:

I'm not sure if I envy or pitty those who think finals is still a possibility. I checked out half way through the Geelong game, writing was on the wall

It took me until the Essendon game but really even before round 1 I had this feeling things were not going to go well for us this year. I had us as flag contenders up until a couple of weeks before the season. The Brisbane pre-season game was a bad sign.

I just thought a lot of other teams had made significant improvements whereas we had gone backwards if anything losing Hogan and relying on Weid too much.

Anyway I'm viewing this year as one long pre-season for 2020. If things don't turn next year I'll start questioning my life choices.

 

Edited April 27, 2019 by Dr. Gonzo

[old dee 23,503]

23 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It took me until the Essendon game but really even before round 1 I had this feeling things were not going to go well for us this year. I had us as flag contenders up until a couple of weeks before the season. The Brisbane pre-season game was a bad sign.

I just thought a lot of other teams had made significant improvements whereas we had gone backwards if anything losing Hogan and relying on Weid too much.

Anyway I'm viewing this year as one long pre-season for 2020. If things don't turn next year I'll start questioning my life choices.

 

You have hit it exactly Dr. The rest of the season are practise games for me too. 

[Demon Dynasty 17,094]

3 hours ago, Big Carl said:

It's only a waste if we chuck the towel in BC and don't look to fix the causes of how we got here and improve in all aspects of the FD.  And the coach has played a big part.  The boys in that shot are still trying their guts out.

[sisso 2,555]

58 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Nobody except our hopes and dreams ?

And all our weekends for autumn and winter

[Sir Why You Little 36,670]

32 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

It's only a waste if we chuck the towel in BC and don't look to fix the causes of how we got here and improve in all aspects of the FD.  And the coach has played a big part.  The boys in that shot are still trying their guts out.

Are they really trying their guts out? Or just trying their guts out to a MFC standard?

We don’t work hard enough as a club, never have

[Neil Crompton 5,311]

My god it’s so depressing reading this and other posts. You would think someone had died.

anyway, to try and inflict a bit of positivity, I’m willing to bet that we make the finals, because I still have (a little) faith in our team. If anyone wants to make a bet with me here are my conditions:

- all money won goes to Demonland to help support this site

- my stake will be a dollar a bet with a limit of 100 bets (ie $100) If100 bets are taken, and I lose, I’ll donate $100 to Demonland.

- if you take the bet, you have to nominate the odds you’ll give me but must be at least 10:1. Therefore if you nominate 10:1 and I win, you donate $10 to Demonland.  Give the negativity here, I’m expecting way better odds than 10:1.

- all bets must be in place before the next round.

Go Dees!

[faultydet 7,594]

How good is the Rowell kid?

[R.I.P. Troy 185]

11 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

Alright, here we go, here's how it would, could, might, in theory happen -

Hawks aren't actually that good, they haven't beaten anyone impressive. The four days off trick will work and we will come in with a calmer mind and better focused on what needs to be done. Disposal efficiency climbs, workrate at least reaches adequate. Win number 2 goes on the board. We're 2-5 after 7 rounds.

Suns just barely scraped their three wins against highly variable opposition and have had a bit of luck. They were exposed by an Adelaide side that still isn't really hitting great heights of their own. Their confidence will be down after being belted in Perth by an angry Eagles side. We go 3-5, and start to believe.

I wont make any pretences about our chances against the Eagles at this stage. 3-6 after nine rounds and we are still right on the edge of season over. But just maybe we turn up with some fight and at least show we're still a meaningful team - part of the healing, redeption process.

The Giants are still up and down and massively rely on a few stars to make them potent. Simon Goodwin pulls his first ever genius positional move and somehow matches the right players to lock down on Coniglio and Whitfield. Demons finally rediscover their forward connection and just barely come through in a low-margin shootout game for the ages. We are 4-6 and starting to believe.

Round 11, we return to the Northern Territory to hunt Crows, and just like last season this is the game where things really turn. Just like last season, Adelaide wilts under the weight of lost contests and clearances. Not like last season's hammering, but an important win. We are 5-6 and looking like a menace.

Queens Birthday at the MCG. We've begun to get some players back from injury, even if not stars, May, Smith, Vandenberg and Hannan have all been trickling back into the team and giving us a deeper team capable of holding their end up while the stars do their thing. Headlines start reading "Where were these Demons at the start of the year" and players respond with "we will never be caught napping in pre-season again". Incredibly, we are 6-6 at the halfway point of the season.

With Lever coming back after the long break and the team finding a new solidarity and commitment, and the coaches having learnt a valuable lesson in flexibility and tactical initiative, the pieces come together and the Demons are now a team to take seriously for the second half of the season.

Before you know it, we've knock over four quick wins against the unreliable Dockers, tiring Lions and Blues, and ever-stumbling Bulldogs. We are 10-6 and now the ONLY team in the competition that has managed a consistent run of wins.

Suddenly, it is possible to speculate about our chances against in the Eagles, back up in the NT. It is like a whole new reality has dawned in ten weeks.

 

So, there it is, each small delusion builds into the next. Each one only a moderate madness in itself, but when you get to the end you look back and go... naaaah, that is just total, absolute madness.

If it happens, I expect not only to be given an award for my prediction, but to actually be given credit for the whole thing happening and installed as an assistant coach responsible for miracles.

 

 

I have reached a point in my life where I am willing to sell my soul to the Devil for this post to come true.

[Demon Dynasty 17,094]

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Are they really trying their guts out? Or just trying their guts out to a MFC standard?

We don’t work hard enough as a club, never have

Specifically referring to that photo (like mostly engine room players) SW.

Up until the Tigers game where so many are now losing confidence, our engine room has been getting it done albeit crudely coming inside 50.

Even after the Tiges debacle we are still No.3 in Contested and No.3 in clearances (on averages).  Our ability in the center not compromised (yet) with Maxy & the boys still firing!! ....

No.1in Center clearances.  No change on 2018!

Some teams getting the better of us at stoppage clearances ...but we've improved out of sight here up 7 places to No .4 here from No.11 for 2018.

Where we have  dropped off a little is our inside 50 dominance.  No.4 down 3 places from No.1 last year.  Delivery shizen of course maybe not as shizen but forwards not taking marks or converting either a huge prob.  No.1 for marks inside 50 last season...down a massive 16 places now...almost dead last!

The engine isn't the problem SW.  It's what's happening once it gets out and when the Opp wins their fair share which they are going to on occasions.  No team is ever going to dominate clearances and contested 100% of time.

As we know other teams are ripping us apart once they get it out.  Bottom of the heap on uncontested vs 9th last season and same with effective disposals.  We aren't able to effect/impact as many contests once the ball is out as we aren't capable of getting there often enough.

Goody's game plan isn't going to work as it stands especially with 666 in play and especially on the wide expanses of the G (i know I'm preaching to the converted here).

Outside run, run off HB and marking in general non existent vs the comp and where we were last season.  Especially up forward.  And hence forwards not converting in general.  Forward line hasn't really fired a shot all year.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2019 by Rusty Nails

[HardBallGet 127]

Whilst I don't think we'll make finals i also haven't completely given up for the following reasons.

1. A lot of posters are saying it will be impossible unless we get to 14 wins. This is a little unpredictable, but in most years 13 is enough and in some years 12 and a decent % will get you in. Working on 13 we'd need to win 12 of our 16 games.

2. Whilst our % is dirt, if we rack up the 12 wins I imagine our % will be very handy at the end of the season.

3. We have some good players playing rubbish footy. I think fitness and confidence are the 2 big issues here. Maybe they can scrounge a win or 2 and start to turn it around.

4. We have some injured talent on the sidelines. We will start to grow in strength after the bye.

5. We have a few softer games before and after the bye and maybe we can get on a roll

 

Having said all that I think the more likely outcome is we finish in the bottom 3rd of the ladder. If we play like we did against Richmond it'll be hard to imagine us beating anyone

[Sir Why You Little 36,670]

14 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Specifically referring to that photo (like mostly engine room players) SW.

Up until the Tigers game where so many are now losing confidence, our engine room has been getting it done albeit crudely coming inside 50.

Even after the Tiges debacle we are still No.3 in Contested and No.3 in clearances (on averages).  Our ability in the center not compromised (yet) with Maxy & the boys still firing!! ....

No.1in Center clearances.  No change in 2018!

Some teams getting the better of us at stoppage clearances ...but we've improved out of sight here up 7 places to No .4 here from No.11 for 2018.

Where we habe dropped off a little is our inside 50 dominance.  No.4 down 3 places from No.1 last year.  Delivery shizen of course maybe not as shizen but forwards not taking marks or converting either a huge prob.  No.1 for marks inside 50 last season...down a massive 16 places now...almost dead last!

The engine isn't the problem SW.  It's what's happening once it gets out and when the Opp wins their fair share which they are going to on occasions.  No team is ever going to dominate clearances and contested 100% of time.

As we know other teams are ripping us apart once they get it out.  Bottom of the heap on uncontested vs 9th last season and same with effective disposals.  We aren't able to effect/impact as many contests once the ball is out as we aren't capable of getting there often enough.

Goody's game plan isn't going to work as it stands especially with 666 in play and especially on the wide expanses of the G (i know I'm preaching to the converted here).

Outside run, run off HB and marking in general non existent vs the comp and where we were last season.  Especially up forward.  And hence forwards not converting in general.  Forward line hasn't really fired a shot all year.

 

 

See this is where i disagree, because part of the midfields job is to get the ball out IN A WAY THAT CAN BE USED. 

The Skill of our midfield has been overrated by a long way

no doubt about it. Our foot skills are appalling compared to other clubs

this is why i say our players work hard to an MFC standard, that is way below the benchmark of many clubs

[DV8 2,271]

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

My god it’s so depressing reading this and other posts. You would think someone had died.

 

Being Melbourne supporters of the past 5 decades, in a sense, might be just a little like how some prisoners of war might have felt ?

In that the strong sense of hopelessness , in that there seems nothing that we all can do  and that we're at the mercy of our tormentors,  and others not in contact,  who hold our destiny's in they're hands. 

 

Now I now footy is nowhere near being held captive tortured and at high risk of having your life taken from you.

But this helplessness is a lot of how I've felt over the decades, as a Demons supporter.

It has been, very despairing.

 

 

And as an 8Yr old kid,   I was ambushed in the dark of my driveway, and assaulted by an Ex Prisoner of War.  I know what PTSD looks like in its horrible form.

So did this mans family, and after them, so did his dog, years howling in pain and grief.

[bing181 9,003]

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Anyway I'm viewing this year as one long pre-season for 2020.

Nailed it - it's a season of NAB.

[Skuit 9,965]

5 hours ago, Nasher said:

It’s because nobody has actually died. 

Sounds like you're still stuck in denial Nash.