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Is this 1987 all over again?

Dees2014
Dees2014
in Melbourne Demons

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I seem to remember when we made our breakout first finals appearance in 1987 after 23 years in the wilderness, we just scraped into the final 5 in spite of winning something like 8 of our last ten games (l stand corrected as to the precise details). Could this be a repeat? 

With something like 17 of our senior list on the sidelines ATM, the performance in Perth was really quite remarkable, especially considering we beat them inside 50s, and it was only because of our deplorable kicking that we lost.

As we get our list back over the remainder of the season, we will get stronger. The next two games are more than winnable, then Collingwood awaits on Queen’s Birthday. By that stage we may well have half a dozen of our 1st 18 back, and then ripe for a crack after the bye. 

All is not lost. I must say l was heartened by Harmes comments after the game: something like “winning is not our only focus now, we want to play our game style, winning will come”. If this means they relax a little more and play their natural style, who knows what might happen?

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      On 19/05/2019 at 09:59, Dees2014 said:

    I seem to remember when we made our breakout first finals appearance in 1987 after 23 years in the wilderness, we just scraped into the final 5 in spite of winning something like 8 of our last ten games (l stand corrected as to the precise details). Could this be a repeat? 

    With something like 17 of our senior list on the sidelines ATM, the performance in Perth was really quite remarkable, especially considering we beat them inside 50s, and it was only because of our deplorable kicking that we lost.

    As we get our list back over the remainder of the season, we will get stronger. The next two games are more than winnable, then Collingwood awaits on Queen’s Birthday. By that stage we may well have half a dozen of our 1st 18 back, and then ripe for a crack after the bye. 

    All is not lost. I must say l was heartened by Harmes comments after the game: something like “winning is not our only focus now, we want to play our game style, winning will come”. If this means they relax a little more and play their natural style, who knows what might happen?

    Having a ripe crack can happen now. Not after the bye.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 10:32, Stormy Dee said:

    Having a ripe crack can happen now. Not after the bye.

    We have to win at least 2 of the next 3 to have any chance ... we can't be 4 & 8 by the time the bye comes around.  5 & 7 (or better) and we're a chance. 

    Getting our good players back will help but if Gawn,  Brayshaw,  Oliver,  Hunt,  Harmes,  Petracca,  T-Mac,  Jones,  Salem & maybe Frost,  Garlett & Hore can all produce their best in all the upcoming games,  we can beat any team.

    It's a big ask but that's the standard required.

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    Really need to beat the Giants to give ourselves a fighting chance. 

    They haven’t beaten us at the G since 2014 and on that day Devon Smith and Thomas Bugg were their best players, so I’m fairly optimistic we can win.

    We then beat the Crows in Alice like last time and we’re 5-6 up against the Pies at QB.

    Win that and we then need to get 5 wins from Freo (MCG), Carl (MCG), WBD (Mrvl), Saints (Mrvl) Syd (MCG).

    And then sneak 2-3 wins from Bris (G), WCE (TP), Rich (MCG), Pies (MCG), North (BA)

    All up, I think we can afford to lose 3 more games this season with the % we have. Either way, we need to nail those 5 wins against easier opponents, regardless of how we go over the next 3 weeks. If we don’t win at least 2 of the next 3, it means we can only afford to drop one of the games in the second group I’ve mentioned.

    We’ve left ourselves very little room for error with this poor start and the next 3 games define our season.

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    Nope not this year!

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    It’s improbable. As mentioned above, win 2 more games before the bye, get some players back from injury and maybe we can go on a run, but it is very unlikely.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 10:51, At the break of Gawn said:

    Really need to beat the Giants to give ourselves a fighting chance. 

    They haven’t beaten us at the G since 2014 and on that day Devon Smith and Thomas Bugg were their best players, so I’m fairly optimistic we can win.

    We then beat the Crows in Alice like last time and we’re 5-6 up against the Pies at QB.

    Win that and we then need to get 5 wins from Freo (MCG), Carl (MCG), WBD (Mrvl), Saints (Mrvl) Syd (MCG).

    And then sneak 2-3 wins from Bris (G), WCE (TP), Rich (MCG), Pies (MCG), North (BA)

    All up, I think we can afford to lose 3 more games this season with the % we have. Either way, we need to nail those 5 wins against easier opponents, regardless of how we go over the next 3 weeks. If we don’t win at least 2 of the next 3, it means we can only afford to drop one of the games in the second group I’ve mentioned.

    We’ve left ourselves very little room for error with this poor start and the next 3 games define our season.

    This is excellent post and I like your positivity. My only concern is we have a very difficult draw. We still have to play Collingwood twice. Our performance against West Coast was pleasing which gives some glimpse of hope. But we need to play 4 quarters of football consistently each week. 

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    I like your positivity but objectively it is just not our year.

    We are consistently poor in the same areas and have the worst percentage in the league.

    We are at least 7 weeks away from all current best 22 players on the injured list being ready for selection.

    We are playing three Finals locks across the next three weeks.

    We were ok on Friday night against a pretty average Eagles team that is good enough to win when it plays poorly.

    We still have too many VFL quality depth players that reflect a consistent theme of poor quality kicking.

    We may finish the year strong but we are very far off being even remotely finals caliber atm.

    GWS speed and foot skills will absolutely tear us up on the weekend. It will be an effort in margin minimisation. 

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      On 19/05/2019 at 09:59, Dees2014 said:

    All is not lost. I must say l was heartened by Harmes comments after the game: something like “winning is not our only focus now, we want to play our game style, winning will come”. If this means they relax a little more and play their natural style, who knows what might happen?

    I haven't heard these comments yet, but I find that to be a slightly troubling statement to so openly discuss on our official website (I presume?).

    Winning should always be the focus of the players, the coaches can take that attitude at some point though.

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    Not even a chance. 

    We will get belted next week by GWS. Vs Crows who knows, filth will smash us QB and then we are done. 8 wins is most I see.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 13:33, A F said:

    I haven't heard these comments yet, but I find that to be a slightly troubling statement to so openly discuss on our official website (I presume?).

    Winning should always be the focus of the players, the coaches can take that attitude at some point though.

    It's almost like we are not training style/s that adapt to circumstance. We could certainly not currently be considered "a team that can excel with plan A, but mitigate any damage successfully with a plan B" which i'd ascribe to a club that can focus on winning and not just playing a certain style.

    Edited by John Demonic

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      On 19/05/2019 at 11:31, praha said:

    I like your positivity but objectively it is just not our year.

    We are consistently poor in the same areas and have the worst percentage in the league.

    We are at least 7 weeks away from all current best 22 players on the injured list being ready for selection.

    We are playing three Finals locks across the next three weeks.

    We were ok on Friday night against a pretty average Eagles team that is good enough to win when it plays poorly.

    We still have too many VFL quality depth players that reflect a consistent theme of poor quality kicking.

    We may finish the year strong but we are very far off being even remotely finals caliber atm.

    GWS speed and foot skills will absolutely tear us up on the weekend. It will be an effort in margin minimisation. 

    Bit tough naming  the Casey boys when it was Jeffy Tommy and Trac who didn't nail the GOALS.

    Yes out field kicking needs work also I admit but a bit unfair.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 20:12, 58er said:

    Bit tough naming  the Casey boys when it was Jeffy Tommy and Trac who didn't nail the GOALS.

    Yes out field kicking needs work also I admit but a bit unfair.

    1st part...??

    2nd bit.....Understatement of the year?

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      On 19/05/2019 at 11:49, Moonshadow said:

    2019 = 1987???

    Who is this year's Tulip?

    Chunk?

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    I saw enough on Friday night from a terribly undermanned side, playing back to back interstate , off a 6 day break , 3 rotations down in the last qtr,  against the reigning premiers to still retain hope that 2019= 1987. The more I consider all those things the better I think it was. It was US who threw that game away ....even given ALL of the above. Plus crappy home biased umpiring! 

    Beat GWS on the weekend and I’m Bk on the hopium fr 2019! 

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    It’s a chance at 4 -5.  That’s why Friday night was sooooooo disappppppppping. 

    Need to win 2 of the next 3.  Cannot see us winning any at this stage. 

    NEED TO KICK GOALS.  THATS THE AIM OF THE GAME.  

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    I reckon more like 1999, of an amazing 1998 making a prelim 1999 we won 6 games, injuries and a changing of the guard with a few old blokes coming to an end.  12 months later we played of in a grand final.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 22:41, drdrake said:

    I reckon more like 1999, of an amazing 1998 making a prelim 1999 we won 6 games, injuries and a changing of the guard with a few old blokes coming to an end.  12 months later we played of in a grand final.

    Agreed. Jones, Lewis probably done by end of 2019. In 1999 we could barely field a side. Remember White having a bad start to the year after getting a leg infection or something. Farmer had an off year, just couldn't get going.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 09:59, Dees2014 said:

     

    All is not lost. I must say l was heartened by Harmes comments after the game: something like “winning is not our only focus now, we want to play our game style, winning will come”. If this means they relax a little more and play their natural style, who knows what might happen?

     

    One of the positives to come out of the 'Year we had to Have' is the new game style that is more defensive based. We have only been playing this style 3-4 games, hence IMHO this is what Harmes was referring to. Even though we had a good run in the finals last year,  the prelim & the first few games of 2019 our game style, as we all know,  was so easy to score against.

    Without the form & injury disaster that has been 2019, would we have adopted this new plan 'B' that will hold up better in finals??

    Edited by Lord Ivanhoe

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      On 19/05/2019 at 20:12, 58er said:

    Yes out field kicking needs work also I admit but a bit unfair.

    spot on here,  58er...    but more,  we need new cattle,  with good kicking ability,  starting in around 10 days time,  hopefully.

    And end of this season.

     

     I wish,  I was in charge of recruiting  3 or so years back.

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      On 19/05/2019 at 22:41, drdrake said:

    I reckon more like 1999, of an amazing 1998 making a prelim 1999 we won 6 games, injuries and a changing of the guard with a few old blokes coming to an end.  12 months later we played of in a grand final.

    ... and played like fairy-floss Dr.

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