Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


Recreating the Tigers Premiership side with our list


DeeSpencer

Recommended Posts

Every year I like to do this as an exercise to see where our list shapes up and how we can catch up with the premiers. The usual caveats are:
1. You can't ever copy a side, you'll never be as good as they are, plus the game always evolves
2. We've got our own strengths to build around as well.
But you have to at least be taking the positives from their style when you can and adapting to trends before you're stuck miles behind.
So....

FB: Short  Grimes Broad
HB: Houli Astbury Vlastuin
C; Caddy  Cotchin  Ellis
HF: Lambert Riewoldt Bolton
FF: Rioli  Lynch Castagna
Foll: Soldo  Martin  Prestia
Int: Baker  Edwards  Nankervis Pickett

Backline:
Grimes: Best equivalent May. Other options: Forst. Role: Plays like an NFL free safety where he sits deepest so he can prevent out the back goals and can then man up dangerous forwards once inside 50. Pace and spoiling are key components, but reading the play is vital too, to know when to attack. Some intercept marking and reliable ball use important too. Grimes taking over from Rance and being just as good was huge for the Tigers this year. 

Broad: Frost. Options: Hibberd, J Smith. Hore. Role: Plays a mixture of zone and man. Has to have the height to man talls who come off Grimes and up the ground. Reading the play and winning or halving contests are vital here. Ball use not as important. The strong safety for NFL fans. 

Astbury: Oscar Mc. Options: Frost, Lever, Weideman, Petty. Astbury takes the marking CHF and plays them pretty tight. Whilst the other defenders zone he's often tasked with a man, but does have to know when to handover and when to hand back. Many fans will be underwhelmed but Oscar is probably the most suited to this role. It's one I'd like to see Weideman trialled in. 

Vlastuin: Lever. Options: Hibberd, Hore, Harmes, Brayshaw. The middle linebacker of the backline, he's in absolutely everything. Any attempt to get through Richmond's backline involves getting through Vlastuin. He reads the play exceptionally, is a super strong interceptor (particularly for his size) and defender in the air, uses the ball well without being a great kick. 

Short: Jetta. Options: Hibberd, Hunt, J Wagner. Played deeper this year with Grimes moving in to Rance's role, so had more lock down jobs but is also a really good kick and has the agility to get out of trouble.

Houli: Salem. Options: J Wagner, Jones, Hibberd. The quarterback, mainly zones off high half forwards and gets a stack of the ball and uses it perfectly.

Baker: Harmes Options: Hunt, Spargo, Sparrow, Hibberd, Jordon. Very much the 7th defender Baker was really used in rotations to provide the relentless run and cover needed to fill the zones and provide support running that powers the Tigers rebounding game. Neat kick, good handballer, zippy, hard at it and good enough defensively (air and ground depsite a few errors in the prelim). 

Forwardline:
Riewoldt: Weideman
. Options: Petty, Melksham. Jack does a bit of everything these days. Leads up, chops and changes deep, tackles, knocks the ball on. Probably plays more like the 2nd banana but can also have his moments. 

Lynch: Tom McDonald. Options: Petty, Preuss. The main targets inside 50 who can do things on the ground but his best work is launching at the footy with strong leads and strong hands. Reliable set shot as well.

Castagna: Fritsch. Options: Melksham, Hannan, J Smith. A speedy 3rd marking tall. Misses a lot of goals but makes up for them with defensive pressure. His ability to compete in the air for his size really adds value to the team.

Rioli: Lockhart. Options: Hannan, Spargo, Chandler, Bedford, C Wagner. Rioli does some good things with the ball but I think it's his pressure and then link up work that gives most of his value. Low possessions, high impact.

Bolton: Chandler. Options: Hannan, C Wagner, (maybe J Elliott). Another pressure small, does a bit more in the air and can provide some midfield time

Lambert: ANB. Options: Jones, Melksham, C Wagner, Lockhart, Harmes. Contest to contest run, run and more run, with some goal kicking and ball use, plus midfield rotations if need be. 

Midfield:
Soldo. Gawn. Soldo really took off as a tap run with some sneaky around the ground moves. Good player. Split time with Nank but I'd have him as the number 1.

Cotchin. Viney. Options: Brayshaw, Harmes. Very much still the heart and soul despite less role with the ball. He's ability to pressure and set the physical tone stands out.

Prestia: Oliver. Options: Brayshaw, Viney. The most prolific Tiger mid this year because his movement around stoppages is superb and he wins the ball when it's there. Took his kicking to new levels over the last two years, far more balanced and in control.

Edwards: Brayshaw. Options: Salem, Lockhart. The glue in the Richmond side with sneaky fast handballs which Gus might be able to recreate. Defensively very sound for a slight body. Only Salem could get close to his overall ball use.

Martin: Petracca. Options: Oliver, Melksham. Just a freak, knows when to go in to the middle, when to bob up around half forward and when to get the one on one deep and use it to full advantage.

Caddy: Tomlinson. Options: Vanders, Melksham, Harmes, Jordon. The bigger body winger who is defensively sound at the clearances and then provides marking help forward or back. Endurance and positioning are vital.

Ellis: ?Langdon. Options: Stretch, JKH, Baker. The gut running wingman who works super hard to get back and then to provide an option. Ball use and overhead ability is a bonus but just hard running to the right spots is so much of the job.

Pickett: Oskar Baker. Options: Harmes, Vanders, C Wagner, Sparrow. A wing/midfield/forward player but I sense the Tigers treat this spot based on who gets picked. The plan was for Graham as a tagger/defensive mid but Pickett came in and got to play with freedom and use his pace. It's why I went with Baker as I think he's a guy we just have to get games in to and we can use him as a burst player in low minutes. Has to get fitter and improve his tackling/defensive stoppage work but the upside is high.

Nankervis: Melksham. Options: Preuss, Dunkley, Sparrow, C Wagner. Very much the 22nd man for the Tigers I'd expect we'd try to get a player who can play forward/mid to add to versatility given Gawn can ruck 80% and we can use Tomlinson or key forwards to cover so the best replacement is someone who offers a bit up forward but can also mix it in the midfield.

Weaknesses/Differences
Backline: If Frost goes then we're short that 2nd and 3rd tall option who can swap on to the key forwards, he's not really a zone player anyway. Meanwhile Lever is probably too much of a zone player to ideally suit the Astbury or Broad roles, hence I had him in the Vlastuin role. Jetta and Hibberd are both better in the air than Tigers smalls but they don't have the same rebound. And I'm not sure there's a young player on the list capable of the Baker role. Harmes back is an option I like but it's putting an important midfielder in to a spot that could be filled with some smart recruiting or development.

Midfield: Do we get Langdon, is Tomlinson quick enough to tackle and chase smalls effectively? Can our inside bulls sharpen up their defensive work and ball use - can they sharpen up at all! Is Baker a midfield pace option, are the forwards? Can we be skilled and pressure well enough that we can spare Salem and Harmes to play back or wing. If not then what do we do with Brayshaw - can he play half back?

Forwards: Obviously the big key forwards are lacking but have proven capable in finals in 2018. Can ANB get his ball use and hardness over the pill to the level required to be the next Lambert he has the tank. Who else is forward is capable of some midfield rotations so that Petracca can roll forward.

 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, Nelo said:

When you put it like that we really are a terrible side. 

Not really we have a lot of unknown's on the list, potential must become kinetic, we need to find additional players that have heart and desire...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A better comparison imo would be Richmond's 2017 side with our 2019 side. Comparing us to an established side whose best players are all late 20s after they've just won their 2nd flag in 3 years and probably should have won 3 in a row, is a bit silly and unfair. 

Ultimately we can look at aiming at Richmond's 2017 season and side. Way too high a standard comparing us to an established finals side now.

also I think a fairer comparison might be Geelong's 2017 team. imo we're quite close to them in terms of how the side is structured.

Edited by praha
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Hall mark of the Tigers side is the forward half speed and pressure, and we don't really have much of that. we've got 3 pretty handy medium forwards in Fritsch, Track and Melk.. Tommy who's good but needs support, Weideman who needs to step up and probably one position open for a small forward if we can find one.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's the system Richmond use not the players

Ours worked in 2018 and broke in 2019

Essendon couldn't get rid of Houli fast enough

Caddy was dumped by Geelong

Ellis and Lambert were considered one dimensional and slow (in the mind

Get them all playing roles in a system thats consistent and they blossom

You can add Astbury and Vlaustin, nobody ever mentions them as great defenders, they play a consistent role

Edited by Satyriconhome
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/30/2019 at 5:57 PM, DeeZone said:

Not really we have a lot of unknown's on the list, potential must become kinetic, we need to find additional players that have heart and desire...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Langdon and Tomlinson that must be a start. both got grunt.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/30/2019 at 9:46 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

Horrific. No wonder they are #1 and we are 17th. 

Comparisons also odd. Liam Baker. James Harmes. Wtf. 

Gawn and perhaps Oliver are clearly our only true winners on the comparison.  

The comparisons are to find the type of players for the roles if we were to copy Richmond straight up - which I don't recommend but I think we should at least look at how they are playing as they are.

We used Spargo at half back towards the end of the year - mainly because we didn't have a lot of options but also to give us an agile zippy half back who can really run. I'm not proposing we use Spargo in that role full time, he isn't big or strong enough and his kicking isn't a positive either. But we have to at least consider options. If Hibberd is just too slow and unfit to do that job anymore or is needed deeper in the backline then we have to think about who can play that kind of role.

On 10/1/2019 at 11:51 AM, Patches O’houlihan said:

Hall mark of the Tigers side is the forward half speed and pressure, and we don't really have much of that. we've got 3 pretty handy medium forwards in Fritsch, Track and Melk.. Tommy who's good but needs support, Weideman who needs to step up and probably one position open for a small forward if we can find one.

But can we play 3 mediums in the same forward line with 2 talls who aren't good defensively? Maybe we take Melksham and move him to a wing like the Tigers did with Caddy mid year? Or do we use the 3 medium guys as an advantage and find defensive pressure and speed elswhere?

This is the type of year not only to bring in new players but to examine how are best players fit together. If we can make a few structural moves now to make the team better rather than waiting until mid year when the team balance is off then that can give us a big advantage in the early rounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all.    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation fo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Monday 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training. DEMON DYNASTY'S TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kade Chandler's left knee heavily strapped. BBB, Spargs & Jake Lever also in rehab group. Jake Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills. Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a se

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head. The Demons have now won nine of their last ten encounters with the other result, a draw.     And like a fork, it was the multi-pronged options that Melbourne had all across the ground.  It certainly helped that Hawthorn

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 8

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in the Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 262

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02. You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 46

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 50

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 357

    GAMEDAY: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 437
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!
  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 03

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 03 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 03

  • Match Preview      

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 27

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The boys dissected the clinical thrashing of Hawks praising the immense performance of Christian Petracca whilst lamenting the injury toll to our defensive unit ... LISTEN

    Demonland | March 26

  • Training  

    Monday, 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • Casey Report      

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head out on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 28

  • Match Report      

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Round 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Training  

    Friday, 22nd March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 22

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 19th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin & Walking Civil War attended Tuesday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 19

  • Training  

    Saturday, 16th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Dee Zephyr wandered down to Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning to bring you their observations from the Captain's Run in the lead up to Sunday's Round One match against the Bulldogs ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 16

  • Farewell  

    Angus Brayshaw Retires

    After 167 games including the drought breaking Premiership Angus Brayshaw has made the heart breaking decision to medically retire from football as a result of a series of serious head knocks over his nearly decade of footy. We wish Gus all the best and he'll always be a hero at Demonland ... READ MORE

    Demonland | February 22

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 03

       vs   

    Saturday 30th March 2024
    @ 07:30pm (AO)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Lever Knee Test
    Clayton Oliver Hand Test
    Oliver Sestan Concussion Test
    Steven May Ribs 1 Week
    Lachie Hunter Calf 1 Week
    Daniel Turner Hip 2-3 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 2-4 Weeks
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 7 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 12-14 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Christian Petracca 27
    2 Steven May 25
    3 Max Gawn 21
    4 Jack Viney 20
    5 Bayley Fritsch 19
    6 Clayton Oliver 18
    7 Christian Salem 12
    8 Blake Howes 11
    9 Jack Billings 10
    9 Alex Neal-Bullen 10

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...