Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

CROWDOWN by Paddy Gosch

Demonland
in Match Previews

Featured Replies

Posted

The Demons open their 2020 season account with a "home" game against the Adelaide Crows at Casey Fields. It’s been more than 5 and half agonising months for the team and supporters who are eager to atone for the disappointing 2019 season which saw the Dees go from Preliminary Finalist to 2nd bottom on the ladder.

The preseason campaign has been a hard slog with the addition of respected High Performance Manager Darren Burgess. We caught a glimpse of the gut busting sessions in the Melbourne Football Club’s documentary series To Hell and Back. Faithful fans and Demonland Trackwatchers have been keeping the online community informed of the teams progress over the summer and it’s pleasing to note that the number of players on the field and out of rehab this season far outweighs the numbers from last year which had a significant impact on our fall from grace in 2019.

Going in to the first practice match of the season we have 12 players unavailable for varying reasons including injury and player load management. Most notably Max Gawn has been sidelined with a knee injury but is expected to be back for Round 1 if not for our next Marsh Series match against Hawthorn in Tasmania.

Other who will miss the game are Angus Brayshaw (elbow), Steven May (Knee), Mitch Hannan (Groin), Braydon Preuss (Knee), Kade Chandler (Wrist), Kyle Dunkley (Ankle), Harrison Petty (Groin), Corey Wagner (Knee), Harley Bennell (Calf), Kade Kolodjashnij (Head) & Aaron Nietschke (Knee).

The Demons backup ruck stocks will be tested with Gawn and Preuss unavailable. Those duties will be shared by Weideman, new number 3 draft pick Luke Jackson & discarded Bomber Mitch Brown.

Last week the injury list had a more familiar ring to it with Tom McDonald spending time in the rehab group for a knee complaint, the same knee he injured last season & Aaron vandenBerg who hobbled from the training track and did not train again for a few sessions. Both players have been named in the side this week so if they play I expect that their minutes will be managed.

Other than in the ruck the Demons have named a very strong line up for their first hit out in 2020. Most of our Best 22 with the exception of Gawn & May are available. There are a few new faces that will play their first game in the Red and Blue. Fans will get their first glimpses of rookies Luke Jackson and Kysaiah Pickett, recently acquired Adam Tomlinson (GWS) & recently traded Ed Langdon (Fremantle) as well as Key Forward Mitch Brown from Essendon.

The players not named for the clash against the Crows and not on the above mentioned injury list include; Toby Bedford, James Jordon, Trent Rivers, Jayden Hunt, Marty Hore, Oskar Baker, Josh Wagner & Austin Bradtke. These players will be lining up for Melbourne/Casey to take on Essendon at Casey today. As Essendon are not participating in a Marsh Series game this weekend they are likely to field a much stronger team than the Demons so I would not put too much stock in the result.

The Crows are also looking for redemption from a disappointing 2019 campaign which saw their coach get sacked and a number of players requesting trades to other clubs. They have also named a strong line up for the match.

It’s only a practice match and no doubt both coaches will be trialling different tactics and players out of position but I’m expecting a hard fought, even contest from two teams looking to make amends for last year.

Demons by 15 points.

85071128_922110041578577_639034811769000

PreviewSM012020.png

    • Like 1
     
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • AFLW REPORT: Port Adelaide

      Well, that was a shock. The Demons 4-game unbeaten run came to a grinding halt in a tense, scrappy affair at the sunny, windy Alberton Oval, with the Power holding on for a 2-point win. The Dees had their chances—plenty of them—but couldn't convert when it mattered most. Port’s tackling pressure rattled the Dees, triggering a fumble frenzy and surprising lack of composure from seasoned players.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • Welcome to Demonland: Steven King

      The Melbourne Football Club has selected a new coach for the 2026 season appointing Geelong Football Club assistant coach Steven King to the head role.

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Like
      • 826 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW PREVIEW: Port Adelaide

      The undefeated Demons venture across the continent to the spiritual home of the Port Adelaide Football Club on Saturday afternoon for the inaugural match for premiership points between these long-historied clubs. Alberton Oval will however, be a ground familiar to our players following a practice match there last year. We lost both the game and Liv Purcell, who missed 7 home and away matches after suffering facial fractures in the dying moments of the game.

      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: Richmond

      A glorious sunny afternoon with a typically strong Casey Fields breeze favouring the city end greeted this round four clash of the undefeated Narrm against the winless Tigers. Pre-match, the teams entered the ground through the Deearmy’s inclusive banner—"Narrm Football Weaving Communities Together and then Warumungu/Yawuru woman and Fox Boundary Rider, Megan Waters, gave the official acknowledgement of country. Any concerns that Collingwood’s strategy of last week to discombobulate the Dees would be replicated by Ryan Ferguson and his Tigers evaporated in the second quarter when Richmond failed to use the wind advantage and Narrm scored three unanswered goals. 

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Frankston

      The late-season run of Casey wins was broken in their first semifinal against Frankston in a heartbreaking end at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night that in many respects reflected their entire season. When they were bad, they committed all of the football transgressions, including poor disposal, indiscipline, an inability to exert pressure, and some terrible decision-making, as exemplified by the period in the game when they conceded nine unanswered goals from early in the second quarter until halfway through the third term. You rarely win when you do this.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond

      Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations. With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.

      • 3 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.