Jump to content

Two Spots Left in Final Eight

one_demon
one_demon
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Took the words out of my mouth.  Going along with the analogy, I would say that no sooner had we walked that we tripped over our own feet and fell flat on our face!

@Pates it's not so much that I'd see just making the bottom half of the 8 as complete failure, but it really wouldn't represent real progress to me either.  Similarly I've got to the point where I am indifferent finishing bottom half of the 8 compared to finishing in position 8 - 12 as neither really indicate to me that we would be getting any closer to actually winning a premiership.

I don't see that finishing top 4 is beyond us either we were a couple of close wins off it in 2018 and Brisbane came from outside the top 8 to finish top 4 last year, so as Peter Jackson put it in his Demonland podcast a while back, these things don't always follow a linear trajectory.

I don't necessarily disagree with you and @rjay but the other point is that there have been premiership winners from outside the top 4 in recent season. We should definitely be aiming for top 4, if we're not aiming for the best then I'd be questioning the mentality of the club. But I'm also a realist, and again continuing the analogy I would say that we jumped from crawling to junning and tripped ourselves up, perhaps in order to get to the pinacle we will have to be content this year with walking in preparation for the sprint to the top.

  • Quote
    •  
    10 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

    2017 rd 23 v Collingwood. Yes that was a few years ago now but that typifies Melbourne. 
     

    2018 preliminary v WCE. We had momentum, we’d beaten them there already during the season. Goalless at 1/2 time. 

    There are numerous games but those two are classic examples.


    Too often we are slow starters, we take what we perceive to be easy beats too lightly. We struggle to put sides away. Players not working hard enough thinking their teammates will pick up the slack. Lack of skill is one thing, lack of effort is another. Even when the leadership is poor players can take it upon themselves to standup but very few did. 

     

     

     

    Supporters can think that way, players don't.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    On 2/17/2020 at 1:47 PM, brendan said:

    Geelong could slide Selwood is injured and in doubt for round 1, Kelly gone, if danger fell over then fair chance they could be bottom 4 

    No. Don't let it be so. I want them on a sloooowwww slide down the ladder, say three years around 9-11 so they aren't in the race but aren't finding the absolute cream draft picks...then after a couple of recruiting  blunders they slip into 13-16 territory for let's say four more years before absolutely bottoming out in a winless season, then recover to finish 12th for four more years. 

    And the same for Hawthorn so I can enjoy an impotent Jeff Kennett howling in the pages of the Hun every few months.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Haha 1
     
    On 2/16/2020 at 9:22 PM, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    Who cares about top 8 spots anyway.

    If we don't make top 4, then we are just making up the numbers when it comes to a genuine tilt at a flag.

    I thought the players would! And the coaching team. And the Club.

     

  • Quote
    4 hours ago, pitmaster said:

    No. Don't let it be so. I want them on a sloooowwww slide down the ladder, say three years around 9-11 so they aren't in the race but aren't finding the absolute cream draft picks...then after a couple of recruiting  blunders they slip into 13-16 territory for let's say four more years before absolutely bottoming out in a winless season, then recover to finish 12th for four more years. 

    And the same for Hawthorn so I can enjoy an impotent Jeff Kennett howling in the pages of the Hun every few months.

    Haha I bet you like twisting the knife too 

  • Quote

    2 hours ago, Dingo said:

    I thought the players would! And the coaching team. And the Club.

     

    I guess making finals might mean something to our membership, sponsorship and perhaps some revenue from playing a couple of finals, but asides from that finishing in positions 5 - 8 is pretty much meaningless and hardly worth any more than finishing 8 - 12.

    The club has stated in recient days that it has an aim of a mens premiership in the next 4 years.  Premierships don't happen from outside the top 4, so if the club is serious, then just making finals can't be an achievement of any real significance.

    Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

  • Quote
    6 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    I guess making finals might mean something to our membership, sponsorship and perhaps some revenue from playing a couple of finals, but asides from that finishing in positions 5 - 8 is pretty much meaningless and hardly worth any more than finishing 8 - 12.

    The club has stated in recient days that it has an aim of a mens premiership in the next 4 years.  Premierships don't happen from outside the top 4, so if the club is serious, then just making finals can't be an achievement of any real significance.

    Ridiculous !

    Aims are Finals snd one Flag!

    5-8 could be 14/15 wins for season !

    better than 5????

    bloody oath 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    4 hours ago, 58er said:

    Ridiculous !

    Aims are Finals snd one Flag!

    5-8 could be 14/15 wins for season !

    better than 5????

    bloody oath 

    Aims can't just be finals though.  Finals without a realistic oppertunity at a flag, are a frustrating waste of time.  I could handle finishing in the top 4 and getting knocked out, because that would suggest that we are actually close to winning a flag.  The MFC consistenly made finals for the best part of 20 odd years, but never really had a serious crack at a flag, because it almost always stumbled into the top 6/top 8 and even when it made it through to the last game in September the team was physically stuffed and played up against well rested outfits.  Same deal in the 2018 prelim.

    If the club and the players give themselves a pat on the back for making the bottom half of the 8, then to me that would say they are not fair dinkum.

    Time to get serious and raise the bar.  I want the club to be ruthless and relentless in pursuit of that illusive flag.

    Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

  • Quote
    •  
    On 2/16/2020 at 9:22 PM, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    Who cares about top 8 spots anyway.

    If we don't make top 4, then we are just making up the numbers when it comes to a genuine tilt at a flag.

     

    If the Western Bulldogs had this attitude in 2016 they would still have the longest premiership drought.

    Now we have it.  

  • Quote
    On 2/16/2020 at 7:15 PM, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    According to Dal Santo and other gutsy media pundits, the 8 won’t change despite at least 2 changes every year since the final 8 was introduced in 1994

    North, Hawthorn and Port to replace Essendon and 2 other clubs that cop significant injuries. And yes it could be Richmond who couldn’t cover for their injuries at one stage mid season (losing to Geelong by 75 during their worst plight)

    The descriptor on Nicky D was a joke, right?

    Very much a fence sitter but looks good on the tele.

  • Quote

    On 2/17/2020 at 8:53 AM, ManDee said:

    I think Champion data do a fair job of counting but they are terrible at analysis.

    Very good point here MD

    Champion Data are interesting in- season because the data is as close to real time as you can get.

    In 2018, I found David King's insights using this data interesting and he never lost the faith because of the what he saw the indicators doing inside the Dees.

    However, they don't produce forecasting material. Just predictions based on history and now have rated our list as poor, when in fact a non-existent pre-season for last season was the issue and doesn't translate to a 2020 forecast.

    Burgess and other factors need to be factored which they don't do.

    Just stats collectors really and should be seen as such.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    2 hours ago, JakovichScissorKick said:

     

    If the Western Bulldogs had this attitude in 2016 they would still have the longest premiership drought.

    Now we have it.  

    Bulldogs were what the only team to win a flag from outside the top 4 in 20 years?

    Don't get me wrong if we repeated what the Bulldogs did, I'd be estatic, but it's not the percentage play by a long way.

    2018 was a drought breaker and I was very glad to see us just make finals and each to their own, but as a supporter, I no longer see just making finals as a very worthy achievement or representing much of a step forward.

  • Quote
    16 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    Aims can't just be finals though.  Finals without a realistic oppertunity at a flag, are a frustrating waste of time.  I could handle finishing in the top 4 and getting knocked out, because that would suggest that we are actually close to winning a flag.  The MFC consistenly made finals for the best part of 20 odd years, but never really had a serious crack at a flag, because it almost always stumbled into the top 6/top 8 and even when it made it through to the last game in September the team was physically stuffed and played up against well rested outfits.  Same deal in the 2018 prelim.

    If the club and the players give themselves a pat on the back for making the bottom half of the 8, then to me that would say they are not fair dinkum.

    Time to get serious and raise the bar.  I want the club to be ruthless and relentless in pursuit of that illusive flag.

    That's why they have the 4 year Plan Rodney!!!

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    3 hours ago, one_demon said:

    Adam Cooney on SEN this morning; "There's probably two or three spots in the eight up for grabs"

    You're in trouble mate when Adam Cooney is echoing your thoughts. He's an absolute gronk.

    There are 8 spots up for grabs because the [censored] season hasn't even started yet.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    • Author
    54 minutes ago, A F said:

    You're in trouble mate when Adam Cooney is echoing your thoughts. He's an absolute gronk.

    Wouldn't matter who made the comment,  How did I know. 

    Edited by one_demon

  • Quote
    • 6 months later...
    • Author
    On 2/23/2020 at 2:34 PM, A F said:

    You're in trouble mate when Adam Cooney is echoing your thoughts. He's an absolute gronk.

    Who's the gronk now?

  • Quote
    6 hours ago, one_demon said:

    Who's the gronk now?

    Not sure what you're trying to say here. You think that's vindicated something you said?

  • Quote
    • Author
    2 hours ago, A F said:

    Not sure what you're trying to say here. You think that's vindicated something you said?

    Yes my original post was correct.  It also appears the so called "Gronk" was also correct.  So I wonder who is actually the gronk here. 

    Edited by one_demon

  • Quote

    Your original post said GWS would make the 8 and I was calling Cooney the gronk, not you...

  • Quote

    • Author
    7 minutes ago, A F said:

    Your original post said GWS would make the 8 and I was calling Cooney the gronk, not you...

    You're not getting it,  that's OK.

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
    8 minutes ago, A F said:

    gronk

    All Dinosaurs Say Gronk

    The Apatasaurus says Gronk.
    The Tyrannosaurus says Gronk.
    The Red-Rimmed Ecclesiasaurus says Gronk.
    The Right-Winged Perturbasaur says Gronk.
    The Diogenes Lantern Fossil says Gronk.
    The Grated Pterodactyl says Gronk.
    The Lichtenstein Lizard-Bird says Gronk.
    The Augmented alligatosaur says Gronk.
    The Brown-Bellied Brontosaur says Gronk.
    All dinosaurs say Gronk.

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: Hawthorn

      It’s game day and the Demons are chasing a fourth straight win as we take on the high flying Hawks at the G. After decades of being tormented by the Hawks the Dees will be keen to extend their 7 year dominance over Hawthorn.

        • Like
      • 40 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 09

      Round 9 kicks off out west with the Dockers hosting a Collingwood side resting several stars. Fremantle need to make a statement on their home deck after some disappointing form on the road, while the Magpies will be keen to maintain their Top 2 position. Friday night sees a must-win clash between two sides desperate to stay in touch with the eight. St Kilda have shown glimpses while Carlton are clinging to relevance after a flat start to the season. Saturday’s twilight game at Marvel pits the Bombers against a struggling Sydney outfit. Essendon can’t afford another close match against a lower-ranked side, while the Swans risk sliding down the ladder even further. Up in Darwin, the fourth-placed Suns will look to extend their stay in the top four. The Bulldogs have hit their stride with three big wins on the trot and will be very keen to consolidate on their momentum. The always fiery Showdown looms as pivotal for both clubs. Adelaide are eyeing a spot in the Top 4 with a win, while Port Adelaide’s season could slip away if they drop another game and fall further behind the pack. Sunday begins with a yawn fest between Richmond and West Coast. The Tigers need to bank the points to stay clear of the bottom two, while the Eagles are still chasing their first win of the year. The Giants face one of the league’s toughest road trips as they travel to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats. With GWS at risk of a third straight loss, Geelong will be eager to consolidate their position inside the eight and start their climb up the ladder. The round wraps up with the top-of-the-table Lions heading to Ninja Stadium to take on the second-last Roos. The Lions should easily take care of the struggling Roos who might be powerless against the best in the comp. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 142 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Hawthorn

      Melbourne and Hawthorn who face off against each other this week have more in common than having once almost merged and about to wear a blue jumper with a red v triangle and an embroidered picture of a bird on the front. They also share the MCG as their main home ground, their supporters are associated with the leafy suburbs of Melbourne and in recent times, James Frawley graced the colours of both teams. Even more recently, both have bounced back from disastrous five game losing streaks to start off a season. Of course, the Hawks turned their bounce into a successful leap from the bottom of the ladder into a finals appearance, making it to the semifinals in 2024 and this year, they’re riding high in third place on the AFL table. The Demons are just three games into their 2025 bounce back, and are yet to climb their way out of the bottom four although they are sitting a game and percentage out of the top eight. However, with the current sportsbet odds of $3.90 to win this week’s encounter, it seems a forlorn hope that their upward progression will continue much longer.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Harvey Langford Interview

      On Wednesday I'll be interviewing the Melbourne Football Club's first pick in the 2024 National Draft and pick number 6 overall Harvey Langford. If you have any questions you want asked let me know. I will release the interview on Wednesday afternoon.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 35 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: West Coast

      On a night of counting, Melbourne captain Max Gawn made sure that his contribution counted. He was at his best and superb in the the ruck from the very start of the election night game against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, but after watching his dominance of the first quarter and a half of the clash evaporate into nothing as the Eagles booted four goals in the last ten minutes of the opening half, he turned the game on its head, with a ruckman’s masterclass in the second half.  No superlatives would be sufficient to describe the enormity of the skipper’s performance starting with his 47 hit outs, a career-high 35 possessions (22 of them contested), nine clearances, 12 score involvements and, after messing up an attempt or two, finally capping off one of the greatest rucking performances of all time, with a goal of own in the final quarter not long after he delivered a right angled pass into the arms of Daniel Turner who also goaled from a pocket (will we ever know if the pass is what was intended). That was enough to overturn a 12 point deficit after the Eagles scored the first goal of the second half into a 29 point lead at the last break and a winning final quarter (at last) for the Demons who decided not to rest their champion ruckman at the end this time around. 

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Hawthorn

      The Demons return to the MCG to take on the High Flying Hawks on Saturday Afternoon. Hawthorn will be aiming to consolidate a position in the Top 4 whilst the Dees will be looking to take a scalp and make it four wins in a row. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 334 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All