PREGAME: Rd 09 vs West Coast

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

I’ve got a bet on us to get within 42pts (choose your own line) at $1.30. Pretty good value with all the low scoring.

I highly doubt we’ll get thrashed as some are suggesting. I’ve got some level of confidence that we can win, but worry that we won’t have enough class.

[nosoupforme 3,085]

If we  drop this game the umpires  will have a say no doubt. If some don't rate us I do and  l am sure many others would share the same sentiment. Upsets do happen people.  Yes I am hoping but don't we all hope for our team to win games? 

We will know more about Melbourne tomorrow night regardless of the  players they picked.I also get the feeling that Preuss will play  maybe for Omac.    WCE 's Tom Hickey might come in late to help Vardy combat Gawn.   Could be a close game. 

Can't wait to see Oskar play. Make us proud. 

Edited May 16, 2019 by nosoupforme
.

[Whispering_Jack 30,198]

[GCDee 3,199]

5 hours ago, Jaded said:

Trashing coming up. Lol at this lineup. How far we have fallen. 

I wouldn't say a horrible injury list is "fallen" just rotten luck....

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

No Preuss is bonkers.

[Cards13 9,117]

8 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Sorry WJ, but if Oliver only manages 24 disposals, we are rooted.

That was 24 handballs and 24 kicks.

 

ps @Whispering_Jack nice humble travel brag  

[Lucifers Hero 39,868]

10 hours ago, Thehardtackler said:

Preuss was training at Optus Stadium. Would not be surprised if we tactically make him a late inclusion for Petty or one of the other talls.

Chris Scott has made a mockery of selections by changing his line up an hour before the game or during the warm ups for nearly every game last season and last week's Selwood last minute in then out selection were a joke.

If Hickey is a late in and Oscar is carrying an injury I would be all for Goodwin pulling a Scott like stunt and bringing Preuss in at the last minute.

 

On a different note, I like that we have a few new faces (Hore, Lockhart, Petty, Baker) since the prelim so it gives us a different look and Simpson something to think about.  Also, our style of play has changed. 

For mine their dangerous players are Yeo and Shuey.  Neutralise them and it cuts off supply to the fwd line.  So, Harmes to Shuey and ? to Yeo.

Have really looked fwd to this game to see our strategies against them.  Great experience and challenge for the coaching panel.  Goodwin won't be caught by surprise again. 

Even with the new faces, I still think we can win!

Edited May 16, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[rjay 24,939]

8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

If Lycett is a late in

We're not playing Port 'Lucifer'...the earliest WC could get Lycett in would be next year if he gets a transfer back from Port, a very late in.

9 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I like that we have a few new faces (Hore, Lockhart, Petty, Baker) since the prelim so it gives us a different look and Simpson something to think about.

Hardly names that would strike fear into Simpson or give him more than a moments thought....

 

11 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

For mine their dangerous players are Yeo and Shuey.  Neutralise them and it cuts off supply to the fwd line.  So, Harmes to Shuey and ? to Yeo.

I think Harmes will go to Yeo & if we must play Viney in the middle then he should mind Shuey...

I do expect Preuss to play, can't see us going with Oscar & Petty. It would make us slow as treacle in defence...

[Lucifers Hero 39,868]

7 minutes ago, rjay said:

1) We're not playing Port 'Lucifer'...the earliest WC could get Lycett in would be next year if he gets a transfer back from Port, a very late in.

2) Hardly names that would strike fear into Simpson or give him more than a moments thought....

3) I think Harmes will go to Yeo & if we must play Viney in the middle then he should mind Shuey...

4) I do expect Preuss to play, can't see us going with Oscar & Petty. It would make us slow as treacle in defence...

1) I edited Hickey for Lycett 10 minutes ago.

2) Comment was about a new look, rather than worry for Simpson.

3) My key point was the need to neutralise Shuey and Yeo less so who and how. 

4) For mine Preuss is in only if Hickey comes in.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[Deemania since 56 6,651]

13 hours ago, Pates said:

I want to see us push Tom McDonald further up the ground (assuming he’s fit to do it) get him playing mor of a CHF role and trying to use his mobility. In the 50 go different, we have Hunt, Smith, Garlett, and Petracca, in theory we should have better players at ground level with pace. 

I wonder if we’ve become to predictable with Tom being our key forward and trying to pop it on his head. Get him out of the 50 and leading hard, hopefully being more in the game will build on his confidence. 

We have to make sure they don’t get easy intercept marks. 

Leading is the key, not bombs to a static and swamped target. Tom has the mobility in basket loads. Brains need to be switched on - not panic station alerts. 

[David Williamson 37]

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Leading is the key, not bombs to a static and swamped target. Tom has the mobility in basket loads. Brains need to be switched on - not panic station alerts. 

My feeling is WCE will be prepared for us to play the Port styled lower dirty/chaos style ball inside f50 and will play majority of defenders in front, if our guys can pick off a few targets inside 50 early, have a bit of luck and put some scoreboard pressure on, we could be ok.

I think our midfield is actually in pretty good form at the moment, and this is being clouded by our poor forward 50 entries, I like Baker in, but would like to see him forward. Should be a bloody interesting game tonight.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

9 minutes ago, David Williamson said:

My feeling is WCE will be prepared for us to play the Port styled lower dirty/chaos style ball inside f50 and will play majority of defenders in front, if our guys can pick off a few targets inside 50 early, have a bit of luck and put some scoreboard pressure on, we could be ok.

I think our midfield is actually in pretty good form at the moment, and this is being clouded by our poor forward 50 entries, I like Baker in, but would like to see him forward. Should be a bloody interesting game tonight.

I like your optimism and hope it plays out that way. The pessimist in me says we will be down by 5 goals come 1/4 time.

[Dirts 429]

On 5/15/2019 at 10:51 AM, Demonland said:

Round 9
West Coast v Melbourne
Friday 17 May, 6.10pm AWST
Optus Stadium

3.55pm: All gates open

As an away game, Melbourne Members cannot gain access to the match without a valid ticket.

Tickets to the match can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Public transport

Optus Stadium is located in proximity to the Perth Stadium train station.

The precinct is also serviced by multiple bus routes.

Plan your trip to the match using Transperth's Journey Planner.

Car parking

There is no public parking available at Optus Stadium without a permit.

A limited number of spaces are available for mobility-impaired attendees. Find out more HERE.

View a map of Optus Stadium HERE.

TV times

All broadcast info in local times.

Melbourne: Seven + Fox Footy – 8.00pm
Sydney: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Brisbane: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Adelaide: 7mate + Fox Footy – 7.30pm 
Perth: 7mate + Fox Footy – 6.00pm 
Tasmania: Seven + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Canberra: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Darwin: Seven + Fox Footy – 7.30pm 

For all other regions and radio info, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide.

Mobile app

Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app.

Download it for iOS or Android.

Social media

Match hashtag: #AFLDeesEagles

Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day.

VFL and VFLW double-header

VFLW Round 2
Casey v Carlton
Saturday May 18, 12.00pm
Casey Fields

VFL Round 7
Casey v Port Melbourne
Saturday May 18, 2.00pm
Casey Fields

Admission prices

Melbourne/Casey Demons Members: FREE when you present your card on entry
Adult General Admission: $10
Concession/Pensioner General Admission: $5
Children Under 15: Free

Broadcast

Live stream: Both matches will be live streamed via YouTube.

SCREAM by Whispering Jack

The Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch painted a number of versions of his famous work “Scream” and, every time my mind goes back to last year’s Preliminary Final at Optus Stadium between Melbourne and the West Coast Eagles, each and every one of them reverberates through my mind as if my head is being pummeled by a sledgehammer. 

When I think of that half time scoreboard from that match showing West Coast at 10.9.69 to Melbourne 0.6.6, I feel like the man standing by the railing, hands cupping his ears in horror at the disaster unfolding at the place where, only a matter of weeks earlier, the Demons had sealed a place in their first finals series for a dozen seasons against the very same opposition. 

After the game, I  thought time would heal the wounds and the Demons would take the result both as a character-building lesson and a stepping stone to bigger and brighter things. They were, after all, the competition’s highest-scoring team for the season with plenty of attacking targets fed by a potent midfield and underpinned by an adequate and improving defence that had recruited a top notch key defender in Steven May and was expecting the early return from injury of another in Jake Lever?

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, you could fill the pages of the Encyclopedia Brittanica with the answer to that question and the various solutions that have been posited by all and sundry to restore the confidence of the Demon faithful and to end the nightmares endured  since the 2019 season began. Not even the last two matches with their come-from-behind, get out of gaol free, nail biting wins against Hawthorn and the Gold Coast Suns have put an end to the screaming fits.

The most common attempt to explain the reversal from last season to now, has been centred on the team’s decline in attacking strength from one that averaged almost 105 points a game in the home and away season to this year’s output of less than 70 - a startling statistic, especially in light of the fact that week after week, they are still getting the ball inside the 50 metre arc many more times than their opponents.

So far nobody, least of all, Simon Goodwin has been able to explain the club’s impotence in attack. Perhaps there is a light on the horizon after last week with Tom McDonald getting his biggest return for the season (3 goals) or perhaps they can take heart from the fact that in the space of 40 seconds at the end of last week’s game, they scored more than 10% of their entire score?

But even that will need to be augmented by a lot more work on the defensive side. For much of the season, the Demons have been leaking goals too easily and the following statistic shows up the fact that they have been unable to impose sufficient pressure on opposition forwards.

Since the opening round against Port Adelaide when they fell victim to sheer fatigue, the Demons have conceded 31 goals and only 9 behinds. 

In three of their last four games, the opposition have been deadly straight in these final quarters  –  St Kilda managed three straight and Hawthorn and the Gold Coast Suns kicked four. In between, Richmond kicked 5.4, while earlier the Cats scored 7.3 (after 6.0 in the third), Essendon 6.1 and Sydney 2.1. In other words, the pattern shows Melbourne struggling to kick goals while, at the other end, its opponents rarely miss.

If Goodwin can overcome this phenomenon, made all the more difficult by the fact that the club is ravaged by injury at the moment, he will be entitled to the tag of “genius”.  

The fact that the club has been hit by those injuries might in fact help because he has no option but to make changes to his line up this week.

Hopefully, he will find a way to ensure that, we the fans, will be screaming with delight on Friday night.

However and unfortunately, I can’t see that happening this week.

West Coast by 27 points. 

THE GAME

West Coast v Melbourne at Optus Stadium Friday 17 May 2019 at 8.10pm.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall West Coast 34 wins Melbourne 17 wins

At Optus Stadium West Coast 1 win Melbourne 1 win

Past five meetings West Coast 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches Simpson 1 win Goodwin 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7 Fox Footy Channel Live at 8.00pm

RADIO - 3AW Triple M ABC SEN

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

West Coast 18.13.121 defeated Melbourne 7.13.55 defeated Melbourne in the Preliminary Final, 2018 at Optus Stadium

In a sad end to their 2018 campaign, the Demons were humiliated in this game, failing to score a goal for the entire first half. Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver never gave up.

Injury List: Round 9

Jake Lever (knee) – test
Jordan Lewis (ankle) – test
Corey Maynard (hip) – test
Charlie Spargo (foot) – test
Sam Weideman (hip) – test
Mitch Hannan (knee) – 1 week
Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 1 week
Michael Hibberd (collarbone) – 2 weeks
Steven May (groin) – 2-3 weeks
Jake Melksham (foot) – 4-5 weeks
Joel Smith (groin) – 4-6 weeks
Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – TBA
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA 
Neville Jetta (knee) – 8-10 weeks
Guy Walker (shoulder) – Indefinite
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – Season

THE TEAMS  

Not watching tonight and never went, just too nervous. Felt me not being there and not watching might help. Hope I am right.