Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)
24 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Langdon - nice winger, not skilled.

Tomlinson - depth type, not a long term fix, neither quick nor skilled.

Rivers - good half back until he builds his tank

Baker - currently walking laps

JJ - slow, an ok inside midfield option

 Nietschke - slow with the ball in hand and I kick better than he does. Half back depth. 

Langdon’s the only genuine linebreaker and there’s not a player you really want kicking the ball inside 50 from any of our mids.

Key forward depth would be nice but we already have a stack of options. We used pick 3 on a guy who can do something forward if needed. We didn’t use a single pick or trade for immediate midfield skill. 

I'm not saying you don't have some valid points. 

But what likelihood is there that we could pick up a rookie to play the role of the skilled outside mid?

Who else is out there?

Edited by Guest
Posted
35 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Motivation for a player can be a great asset to have. Hopefully we have a few who want to prove themselves and their performances reflect this. 

Posted
32 minutes ago, old dee said:

Don't worry CB, there are group who see every move by the club as just to left of JC.

Johnny Cash?  James Cagney?  Jasper Carrot?  Jackie Chan?  John Cleese?  Jim Carrey?  Joan Collins?  Jiminy Cricket?

Posted
1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Is this dodgy enough? ?

8069F8C4-958B-4297-8158-444479C526B3.png

Marvellous effort; even Prince Andrew would be proud of that one. 

Posted

Good luck to him, I hope he makes Essendon look like fools.

  • Like 9
  • Love 1
Posted

Out of interest can anyone explain why we didn't pick him in the Rookie draft where we had several picks and didn't use them and then just a few days later pick him through the SSP as a rookie. On the face of it a bit strange. I thought the point of the SSP was to have players train through the whole summer so you could make a decision on them on 6 March. 

Posted
5 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

What are the rules around playing rookies these days? Do we still have to have a longterm injured player or can we nominate one or more rookies to play for us just because we want to?

There's no restriction anymore. They can play whenever and as often as you want them to. 

  • Thanks 1
Posted

The first tall forward we've brought in over the past three years, whilst delisting or trading about six others, so this is long overdue. Brown is not a star, but will do his job most weeks.

Hopefully this will give Weideman a nudge that he is not a guaranteed round 1 starter unless he pulls his finger out. At this stage I'd have Brown and Petty well ahead of Weideman.

I'd also love to know why we've signed him now after passing on all pre season and rookie draft picks four days ago. He must have trained the house down on Monday.

  • Like 1
Posted
59 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

I'm not saying you don't have some valid points. 

But what likelihood is there that we could pick up a rookie to play the role of the skilled outside mid?

Who else is out there?

It's not easy to find the answer but it's even harder if you don't try. I would've given Connor Menaude a chance to train with us.

And apart from that I would've offered the best couple of outside mids not drafted to come down to training. A few weeks training and suddenly concerns over fitness, disposal or hardness could be gone.

I just think what the Tigers did with Stack last year was super clever and I don't like using one of our last free list spots right away without having a good look at what we need and who's available. What's the point of flexibility if you aren't going to use it?

Posted (edited)

"Brown’s ability to push up the ground and provide an option for his teammates coming out of defence is often undersold, and it was a key part of Essendon’s victory."

I would think that it is the absence of anyone on the list other than Tmac with the ability to play this role that gets Brown a spot on the list.

This was a also a key deficiency in 2019 and one that was filled by Hogan (when fit) @DeeSpencer

I think there is a real chance he plays round one.

 

Edited by Guest
Posted
26 minutes ago, It's Time said:

Out of interest can anyone explain why we didn't pick him in the Rookie draft where we had several picks and didn't use them and then just a few days later pick him through the SSP as a rookie. On the face of it a bit strange. I thought the point of the SSP was to have players train through the whole summer so you could make a decision on them on 6 March. 

I am guessing that he didn't nominate for the draft. If he had have other clubs could have selected him. Obviously had a deal with the Dees worked out. 

 

  • Thanks 1
Posted
2 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

"Brown’s ability to push up the ground and provide an option for his teammates coming out of defence is often undersold, and it was a key part of Essendon’s victory."

I would think that it is the absence of anyone on the list other than Tmac with the ability to play this role that gets Brown a a lot on the list.

This was a also a key deficiency in 2019 and one that was filled by Hogan (when fit) @DeeSpencer

 

 

Tommy Mc, Melksham and Fritsch are all very good lead up forward options and Petty has the required skill set. They mixed and matched but I'd say more often than not T Mc hit the wings and Hogan stayed deep and that's not a role I can see Brown doing with good success, he's not a dangerous match up one on one. 

I think a fit and confident Weideman still has better pack marking or pack splitting ability deep and if not him then Preuss - with some rucking time and minimal forward type providing a target as he did against the Swans or even Jackson are likely to be of more overall use to the team.

It's really Melksham and Fritsch as excellent medium marking targets plus the plan for Petty forward that make me see Brown as not a requirement if we enter the season without major injuries.

The part of the ground where the drop away between Brown and the other options is steeper is the other end of the ground. After May, Oscar and Lever we have nothing in terms of key defenders. Hore and Smith as 3rd tall options. But is Brown the best defensive tall cover available?

 

Posted
34 minutes ago, It's Time said:

Out of interest can anyone explain why we didn't pick him in the Rookie draft where we had several picks and didn't use them and then just a few days later pick him through the SSP as a rookie. On the face of it a bit strange. I thought the point of the SSP was to have players train through the whole summer so you could make a decision on them on 6 March. 

We did pretty much the same thing with Corey Wagner last year.

Clearly it was arranged to have him out of the drafts, but more of a suprise that we didn't add him as a delisted player. Maybe some salary cap relief if you got the extra rookie.

  • Like 1
Posted
43 minutes ago, It's Time said:

There's no restriction anymore. They can play whenever and as often as you want them to. 

Which raises another question. What's the point of rookies? Why not just add the player to the main list? I suspect the answer might be either (or both) minimum contract length or minimum pay level. 

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I’m assuming this selection is based purely on the infamous Sydney round 22 game when we literally ran out of key forwards (apart from Keilty who wasn’t AFL standard) and the list management department were made to look like fools in that game.

We can’t have a repeat of this fwd line again:

HF - Petracca  Melksham ANB

F.     C Wagner  Fritsch Chandler

You’ve rightly pointed out his flaws, but for someone that kicked a bag of 4 in a prime time Friday night win this year (and two 3 goal games), I think he’s a pretty good depth pick up.

The decision not to play Preuss or Keilty vs Sydney was boneheaded. 

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

May end up becoming a fight between Petty and Weid for the 3rd tall (depth posi or when needed) as the season progresses me thinks.

That's not to say those latter two won't be given an early decent stab at the 2nd KF posi, as opposed to Brown, but they would want to perform solidly early on as Brown will come straight over the top and might be hard to budge afterwards.

While i'm not in anyway suggesting Brown will be the panacea to our 2nd tall forward needs, i think he is nonetheless a very handy pick up and will certainly put the pressure on the other two which has to be a good thing plus extra depth also handy.

A bit like DS i'm still a tad worried about our outside line breaking capability on the non-Langdon wing but less so if Bennell gets up and running by about the half way mark.  If he doesn't we might regret not picking up someone like a Taylor or Stephens in the draft.

Overall though i don't mind the move here on the part of Goody, Lamb & Co.  Nothing's a gtee in footy as we know however, and there's 17 other clubs all looking to improve, all tweaking their line ups as well.  Only time will tell if it will work out as a good move or not but on the surface i'm giving it a tentative thumbs up.

Edited by Rusty Nails
Posted

I spoke to an Essendon supporter on Sunday.She rates this bloke and is not happy that he was delisted.And a lot of other Dons supporters feel the same way.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS by Whispering Jack

    Melbourne traveled across the continent to take on the Fremantle Dockers in sweltering conditions at Mandurah south of Perth in a game that delivered the club both its highlight and its lowlight in the first minute.  But first, let’s start by doing away with the usual cliches used in connection with the game. It was just a practice match and the result didn’t matter. Bad kicking is bad football. The game was played in severe heat, the swirly breeze played havoc with both teams resulting in

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 1

    PODCAST: Practice Match vs Fremantle

    Join us LIVE on Monday night at 7:30pm as we break down the Practice Match against the Dockers. As always, your questions are a vital part of 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 LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 23

    PREGAME: Rd 01 vs GWS

    After 6 agonizingly long months the 2025 AFL Premiership Season is almost upon us. The Demons return to the MCG to take on the GWS Giants and will be hoping to get their year off to a flying start.  

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 84

    POSTGAME: Practice Match vs Fremantle

    The Dees were blown out of the water early by the Fremantle Dockers before fighting back and going down by 19 points in their final practice match of the preseason before Round 1. Remember it's only a practice match if you lose.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 246

    GAMEDAY: Practice Match vs Fremantle

    It's Game Day and the Demons have hit the road for their first of 8 interstate trips this season when they take on the Fremantle Dockers in their final practice match before the start of their 2025 Premiership Campaign. GAME: Melbourne Demons vs Fremantle Dockers TIME: 6:10pm AEDT VENUE: Mandurah’s Rushton Park. TEAMS: MELBOURNE B Steven May Jake Lever Blake Howes HB Jake Bowey Trent Rivers Christian Salem C Ed Langdon Christian Petracca Jack Billings  HF Harr

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 470

    TRAINING: Friday 28th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from today's training session before the Demons head off to Perth for their final Practice Match. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning, not much wind, more than a couple of dozen spectators.  The players were up and about, boisterous and having fun. One of their last drills were three teams competing in a hard at it, handball game in a small area. Goody

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THE ACCIDENTAL DEMONS by The Oracle

    In the space of eight days, the Melbourne Football Club’s plans for the coming year were turned upside down by two season-ending injuries to players who were contending strongly for places in its opening round match against the GWS Giants. Shane McAdam was first player to go down with injury when he ruptured an Achilles tendon at Friday afternoon training, a week before the cut-off date for the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period (“SSP”). McAdam was beginning to get some real mom

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    PREGAME: Practice Match vs Fremantle

    The Demons hit the road for what will be their first of 8 interstate trips this year when they play their final practice match before the 2025 AFL Premiership Season against the Fremantle Dockers in Perth on Sunday, 2nd March @ 6:10pm (AEDT). 2025 AAMI Community Series Sun Mar 2 Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Oval, Mandurah, 3.10pm AWST (6.10pm AEDT)

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 186

    RETURN TO NORMAL by Whispering Jack

    One of my prized possessions is a framed, autographed guernsey bearing the number 31 worn by my childhood hero, Melbourne’s champion six time premiership player Ronald Dale Barassi who passed away on 16 September 2023, aged 87. The former captain who went on to a successful coaching career, mainly with other clubs, came back to the fold in his later years as a staunch Demon supporter who often sat across the way from me in the Northern Stand of the MCG cheering on the team. Barassi died the

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...