3 hours ago, Demon Spofforth said:

Wholeheartedly agree. Been so frustrated this year when our forwards/mids get into the clear in the F50 and end up passing to someone under pressure or in a worse position. So many times I've yelled out 'have a ping FFS'!

Interestingly, that was alos a chronic problem at Essendon when Goodwin was there. I remember my often 'intemperate' Bomber friend just losing it completely a few times as the ball got passed around in their forward 50 until, inevitably, the turnover.

I wont go so far as to blame Goodwin for it, but I do wonder if there's a little bit of carried-over 'learnings' that might be approrpiate to delete.

I won't repeat what other posters have listed as there are some obvious ideas.

History is against us because in the last 9 years only Richmond rebounded after 1 year. Incidentally they won a flag on the rebound. Most teams have taken a couple of years to rebound and often they don't.

Missing this year is a Garlett type forward who kicks goals. Look at Brisbane with Cameron, W.C. with Ryan, Rioli, Cripps and Cameron, Hawthorn always had Rioli and Bruest. Richmond won a flag with a small forward line in which everybody contributed goals. A huge gap in our forward line setup that needs to be addressed

Midfielders who kick goals. Gus, Viney, Clarry and Harmes don't kick goals. The top teams have mids who love to stream down the ground and kicks goals our guys would rather handball, usually to someone in a worse position, 

Aside from better luck with injuries to our best 22.

A fit and in form VDB and Kolodjashnij on the wings would help a lot.

Edited August 7, 20196 yr by PaulRB

18 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

An assistant coach who has coached under Clarkson.

This bloke?

Tidy up their skills god dam it. 

First post so please be kind.

Like all of you, long time suffering and frustrated Demons supporter. 

I think a lot of people including the playing list think it will just happen as this year was a result of injuries, preseason etc. To some extent I agree it severely limited our ability to win. However it will not be so easy and I expect barring some miracle that we will only have a modest improvement next year - thinking something like a 2017 year.

Our problems this year have been primarily related to ball movement and skill by foot. Last year we were much quicker, decisive and accurate in disposal than we are atm. We probably wont get Langon and or Hill as we there are many more cashed up clubs and hence our Hope's lie with the draft and they will take time to develop. 2021 is probably our next genuine tilt at finals if all goes right.

4 hours ago, Older demon said:

I won't repeat what other posters have listed as there are some obvious ideas.

History is against us because in the last 9 years only Richmond rebounded after 1 year. Incidentally they won a flag on the rebound. Most teams have taken a couple of years to rebound and often they don't.

Missing this year is a Garlett type forward who kicks goals. Look at Brisbane with Cameron, W.C. with Ryan, Rioli, Cripps and Cameron, Hawthorn always had Rioli and Bruest. Richmond won a flag with a small forward line in which everybody contributed goals. A huge gap in our forward line setup that needs to be addressed

Midfielders who kick goals. Gus, Viney, Clarry and Harmes don't kick goals. The top teams have mids who love to stream down the ground and kicks goals our guys would rather handball, usually to someone in a worse position, 

Agree absolutely with the running goalkickers and the need for a genuine smart dangerous forward, but have to query the bit about history being against us.

After all, we are the yo-yo demons!

Our record over almost 30 years in seasons after we have won a final is 11th, 9th, 14th, 11th, 14th, 14th and this season.

On the other hand, we've also gone

From last with 4 wins, to winning to final (1997-98), From 14th with 6 wins to a Grand final (1999-2000) , 11th to 6th (2001-02), 14th with 5 wins to 5th with 14 wins (2003-2004).

Even I don't have the patience to tally up the number of times our percentage has change by more than point up or down from one season to the next.

I'd laugh about it except my head is sore from beating it against my desk.

13 minutes ago, CYB said:

First post so please be kind.

Like all of you, long time suffering and frustrated Demons supporter. 

I think a lot of people including the playing list think it will just happen as this year was a result of injuries, preseason etc. To some extent I agree it severely limited our ability to win. However it will not be so easy and I expect barring some miracle that we will only have a modest improvement next year - thinking something like a 2017 year.

Our problems this year have been primarily related to ball movement and skill by foot. Last year we were much quicker, decisive and accurate in disposal than we are atm. We probably wont get Langon and or Hill as we there are many more cashed up clubs and hence our Hope's lie with the draft and they will take time to develop. 2021 is probably our next genuine tilt at finals if all goes right.

Welcome to Demonland.

3 hours ago, CYB said:

First post so please be kind.

Like all of you, long time suffering and frustrated Demons supporter. 

I think a lot of people including the playing list think it will just happen as this year was a result of injuries, preseason etc. To some extent I agree it severely limited our ability to win. However it will not be so easy and I expect barring some miracle that we will only have a modest improvement next year - thinking something like a 2017 year.

Our problems this year have been primarily related to ball movement and skill by foot. Last year we were much quicker, decisive and accurate in disposal than we are atm. We probably wont get Langon and or Hill as we there are many more cashed up clubs and hence our Hope's lie with the draft and they will take time to develop. 2021 is probably our next genuine tilt at finals if all goes right.

Welcome. Good post!

Another first poster here (must be something in the weather). Born the year after we won our last premiership.

I think the biggest difference I see is that this year, and in more recent weeks, we have been playing 'scared'. By that I mean without confidence or trust in themselves and each other.

With confidence, players can run forward and zone off to create space and options - free-flowing football that we saw last year. Without, they are too scared to leave their direct opponent in case there's a turnover and they're exposed the other way. Kicks are too careful, or just kicked to the most likely area (ie straight down the line) where the opposition can easily predict and pick off. And the worse things get, the less confidence there is until, players are out there for themselves trying to protect against being cut or traded. And that just reinforces their insecurity.

You don't play senior AFL without incredible commitment and level of skill, so I don't think it's as simple as trading our way out - again.

So while I agree we need some personnel changes, some injuries to get better and the other things, but what is needed most is an attitude shift. Some way they can be confident that making a mistake won't be fatal, that taking a risk might pay off, that trusting your team-mate builds up everyone.

3 hours ago, CYB said:

First post so please be kind.

Like all of you, long time suffering and frustrated Demons supporter. 

I think a lot of people including the playing list think it will just happen as this year was a result of injuries, preseason etc. To some extent I agree it severely limited our ability to win. However it will not be so easy and I expect barring some miracle that we will only have a modest improvement next year - thinking something like a 2017 year.

Our problems this year have been primarily related to ball movement and skill by foot. Last year we were much quicker, decisive and accurate in disposal than we are atm. We probably wont get Langon and or Hill as we there are many more cashed up clubs and hence our Hope's lie with the draft and they will take time to develop. 2021 is probably our next genuine tilt at finals if all goes right.

Welcome! 

10 minutes ago, Normalitie said:

Another first poster here (must be something in the weather). Born the year after we won our last premiership.

I think the biggest difference I see is that this year, and in more recent weeks, we have been playing 'scared'. By that I mean without confidence or trust in themselves and each other.

With confidence, players can run forward and zone off to create space and options - free-flowing football that we saw last year. Without, they are too scared to leave their direct opponent in case there's a turnover and they're exposed the other way. Kicks are too careful, or just kicked to the most likely area (ie straight down the line) where the opposition can easily predict and pick off. And the worse things get, the less confidence there is until, players are out there for themselves trying to protect against being cut or traded. And that just reinforces their insecurity.

You don't play senior AFL without incredible commitment and level of skill, so I don't think it's as simple as trading our way out - again.

So while I agree we need some personnel changes, some injuries to get better and the other things, but what is needed most is an attitude shift. Some way they can be confident that making a mistake won't be fatal, that taking a risk might pay off, that trusting your team-mate builds up everyone.

And welcome to you too 

One big training camp  and one that will shake the  life out of them so to speak. Something that will make them all appreciate and gain some confidence and self esteem and the respect for each other that is lacking.

No more in saying that this is to hard to do. However it is harder on us supporting them to go each week and watch them play the way they have in 2019.