Jump to content

  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    The Demonland Terms of Service, which you have all recently agreed to, strictly prohibit discussions of ongoing legal matters, whether criminal or civil. Please ensure that all discussions on this forum remain focused solely on on-field & football related topics.


Recommended Posts

Posted

Just watched "All of the Melbourne Goals" on the club's site. At least six goals were the direct result of Petracca's play.

Three from direct passes to Hannan, TMac (on a good lead where he doubled back and led towards Tracca) and to Fritta.

Three from indirect play through Fritta to Melksham, through Pickett to Fritta and through Brayshaw to Hannan

Quick choice of best option and good delivery.

Six possessions like that are worth more than a haul of crappy possessions.

Let Tracca coach Clarrie on how to get to the right spots and pick the right option. If taught well, Clarrie could do the same standing on his head. He is that good also.

 

 

  • Like 12
  • Thanks 1
  • Love 1

Posted
8 minutes ago, tiers said:

Just watched "All of the Melbourne Goals" on the club's site. At least six goals were the direct result of Petracca's play.

Three from direct passes to Hannan, TMac (on a good lead where he doubled back and led towards Tracca) and to Fritta.

Three from indirect play through Fritta to Melksham, through Pickett to Fritta and through Brayshaw to Hannan

Quick choice of best option and good delivery.

Six possessions like that are worth more than a haul of crappy possessions.

Let Tracca coach Clarrie on how to get to the right spots and pick the right option. If taught well, Clarrie could do the same standing on his head. He is that good also.

 

 

There is another, as yet unnoticed side to Traccas stats,  from this game just gone.

They are All assists.

 

He is IMO, still risk averse, to try to take it on or break a tackle to take a shot himself. 

I am really happy that he has extracted his digit,  and is starting to receive some fruit for his efforts.   Instead of rissoles.

 

Keep it up Tracca,  and you have a lot more in you,  young buddy     ?

  • Like 1
Posted
11 minutes ago, GoGetRossLyon said:

Our best player now by a mile.   Hes carrying us on his back.   So impressed by his rise to the next level.   Shame his teammates havent followed him. 

No thanks.

  • Like 1
Posted

Petracca is going to be  an elite  player for us and finally is showing what he is capable of doing as you have pointed out.

14 possessions in the 1st quarter he kept us in the game as he was everywhere busting his guts as were a few others. 

It took an umpire to stop him by penalizing him for holding the ball even though the Dumb Ump said that he had no prior attempt.

Petrac will  be one of that will help us turn it around. Just have to get the mix right. Stay tuned.

  • Like 3
Posted

Looking back I don't believe that he was in a position to kick the goal himself in any of the goals and therefore there is no evidence that he was risk averse.

I don't care how he does it - kicks them himself or assists. A goal is a goal is a goal is a goal (repeating).....................................

  • Like 5
Posted

Thanks Tiers, for a positive post coming on top of the junk most of the team served up yesterday.

Posted

The free kick against him was a disgrace and an insult to the spirit of the game.

The umpires' advisers need a good hard look at themselves and learn to get out of the way. Changing interpretations so easily destroys the intent of the game.

No prior means just that. It shouldn't matter how he tries to dispose of the ball when the  opponent effectively had more control of the ball than Tracca did.

  • Like 3
Posted
5 minutes ago, tiers said:

Looking back I don't believe that he was in a position to kick the goal himself in any of the goals and therefore there is no evidence that he was risk averse.

I don't care how he does it - kicks them himself or assists. A goal is a goal is a goal is a goal (repeating).....................................

Yeah, but he's gotta develop further.   And he has plenty left over, to get out of himself. 

 

Lets not put him up on a pedestal yet again. That destroys young players development by placing a glass looking ceiling over their big heads.   And they feel like they've reached IT.

Posted
8 minutes ago, tiers said:

Looking back I don't believe that he was in a position to kick the goal himself in any of the goals and therefore there is no evidence that he was risk averse.

Maybe,  maybe not.  But if he breaks free thru an attacker, He might be able to do the finishing himself.

I'll be satisfied when he's a well rounded RuckRover and forward.

Posted

What if, in trying to break through a tackle, we lose the opportunity to score.

It's always better to look to score as efficiently and directly as possible. Tracca played it perfectly.

  • Like 2
Posted
50 minutes ago, tiers said:

The free kick against him was a disgrace and an insult to the spirit of the game.

The umpires' advisers need a good hard look at themselves and learn to get out of the way. Changing interpretations so easily destroys the intent of the game.

No prior means just that. It shouldn't matter how he tries to dispose of the ball when the  opponent effectively had more control of the ball than Tracca did.

That free kick was pathetic and handed them a crucial goal to get a break on us. The umpire even admitted no prior opportunity, but "didn't try hard enough to get rid of it" despite it being held to his body underneath his arms where it was physically impossible to handball it. That umpire should get the sack and a curb stomping for good measure.

Trac is singlehandedly keeping this team afloat. He lead our goal kicking last year, and is the main reason we won vs Carlton a few weeks back. He's been brilliant this year. Hopefully he doesn't waste the good years of his career playing in a bottom four team for years on end. Nothing would be more frustrating as a player than being dragged down by no hopers around you and answering to a dimwit coach. Here's hoping he doesn't leave!

  • Like 2
Posted
1 hour ago, tiers said:

Just watched "All of the Melbourne Goals" on the club's site. At least six goals were the direct result of Petracca's play.

Three from direct passes to Hannan, TMac (on a good lead where he doubled back and led towards Tracca) and to Fritta.

Three from indirect play through Fritta to Melksham, through Pickett to Fritta and through Brayshaw to Hannan

Quick choice of best option and good delivery.

Six possessions like that are worth more than a haul of crappy possessions.

Let Tracca coach Clarrie on how to get to the right spots and pick the right option. If taught well, Clarrie could do the same standing on his head. He is that good also.

Yep, Petracca was very good when he got it.

I think the lambasting of Oliver is overplayed. Sure, he could improve his disposal, but for my liking, the players around him need to improve their disposal more so. Oliver is the extractor and constantly wins contested possessions. If he was giving to a Harley Bennell it'd be a different story.

  • Like 2
Posted

He's our best for average score involvements.

Guess who second best is? ANB. The same ANB dropped after 2 goals and 5 score involvements against Carlton.

And Goodwin bemoans our 'connection'. He's as bad as some of our supporters with his bias.

 

  • Like 3
  • Angry 1
Posted

Trac had another very very good game. Not excellent. I’m tough. You have to be. He is now a bona fide mid imo. Who can also rest forward. 
He can try to copy Dusty and be dangerous wherever he is  

His first quarter was A grade. But then he fumbled a few and handballed too often.  With such kicking ability, he needs to burst and kick.  He created about 5 of our goals yesterday.  And we only kicked 8 !!  

  • Like 1
Posted
39 minutes ago, tiers said:

What if, in trying to break through a tackle, we lose the opportunity to score.

It's always better to look to score as efficiently and directly as possible. Tracca played it perfectly.

That's judgement at the time,  as you well know, the player with the ball will make that judgement there and then,  and hopefully they won't burn a teammate in a better spot..

What I'm getting at is, I don't want him to stay in his shell.

 

I want to see him, (now he is starting to develop), to really take the game on.  Not to just scrap, for scraps on the ground;  because Tracca is capable of using his bulk to the teams advantage.

  • Like 1
Posted
40 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

He's our best for average score involvements.

Guess who second best is? ANB. The same ANB dropped after 2 goals and 5 score involvements against Carlton.

And Goodwin bemoans our 'connection'. He's as bad as some of our supporters with his bias.

 

He needs to come in for Melskahm. 

Melky is one of Goody's mates, so it'll most likely never happen.

  • Like 2
Posted
1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He needs to come in for Melskahm. 

Melky is one of Goody's mates, so it'll most likely never happen.

Agree mate. Melksham is usually one of my faves but he's played such selfish football this year for some reason.

I'm not the biggest fan of them all, but bring in ANB, Bennell and either Weid or Brown for Melksham, Hunt and vandenBerg and not only do we have more skill forward of centre but we get back to a more 'traditional' setup that the players are more familiar with. We need to make it more simple for them.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, tiers said:

The free kick against him was a disgrace and an insult to the spirit of the game.

The umpires' advisers need a good hard look at themselves and learn to get out of the way. Changing interpretations so easily destroys the intent of the game.

No prior means just that. It shouldn't matter how he tries to dispose of the ball when the  opponent effectively had more control of the ball than Tracca did.

I can't say I agree, I wish they would pay all of those, the frustrating part for me is they don't. Players too often, grab the ball and look for the tackler, and have no intent in moving the ball on. It's a real blight on the game. The problem is highlighted with the Petracca incident, that it is up to the umpire when he blows the whistle, often a player gets tackled the same, and the umpire blows the whistle straight away and throws it up, and sometimes they wait and then ping the player, there's no consistency 

  • Like 2
Posted
2 hours ago, tiers said:

At least six goals were the direct result of Petracca's play.

Y'know, tiers, you are onto something ... his game has really improved and he sets the standard, so often in recent times. Some say he is better than Dusty ... and that is a big call ... but I could consider him improving further to achieve such a ranking. 

  • Love 1
Posted
2 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

Petracca is going to be  an elite  player for us and finally is showing what he is capable of doing as you have pointed out.

14 possessions in the 1st quarter he kept us in the game as he was everywhere busting his guts as were a few others. 

It took an umpire to stop him by penalizing him for holding the ball even though the Dumb Ump said that he had no prior attempt.

Petrac will  be one of that will help us turn it around. Just have to get the mix right. Stay tuned.

That's the goose that tried to square thing up by giving a free to us about two minutes later, to make himself look good and that he knows the rule that says you have to make a genuine attempt in the tackle to get rid of it. Even an umpire who deserves to be at French Island Prison Thirds would know that when you have the ball pinned to your chest the only way to make the bloke let go of the ball would be to break his finger and you would probably get six weeks for that if you were one of ours...

On another tack why have the Fox decided only to replay what they think is the mental giant's (stable genius) noteworthy stuff.

  • Like 1
Posted
32 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Agree mate. Melksham is usually one of my faves but he's played such selfish football this year for some reason.

I'm not the biggest fan of them all, but bring in ANB, Bennell and either Weid or Brown for Melksham, Hunt and vandenBerg and not only do we have more skill forward of centre but we get back to a more 'traditional' setup that the players are more familiar with. We need to make it more simple for them. R

 

Vandenberg had a good game played fairly well compared to some and was his second game back and will be improving. You are being picky with who should be out. I see you haven't mentioned Smith, he will be the first to go. Rivers and don't be surprised Kossi you might find they could be managed to be rested.

  • Like 1
Posted
24 minutes ago, Demon_spurs said:

I can't say I agree, I wish they would pay all of those, the frustrating part for me is they don't. Players too often, grab the ball and look for the tackler, and have no intent in moving the ball on. It's a real blight on the game. The problem is highlighted with the Petracca incident, that it is up to the umpire when he blows the whistle, often a player gets tackled the same, and the umpire blows the whistle straight away and throws it up, and sometimes they wait and then ping the player, there's no consistency 

The time between Petracca grabbing the ball and getting tackled was a split second. Then Nankervis who's 105kg and strong as an Ox latches right on to the ball. Was Petracca giving it his full attempt to knock it out - probably not. But why should he? He's been set upon as soon as he's gathered it and has a big man holding it to him. If Nankervis wants the ball to come out then: 1. Win the hitout or contest himself. 2. Don't tackle Petracca or don't tackle him arms and ball in all. 

The rule is 'holding the ball'. It was designed to penalise players caught holding it when they had options to move it on. If you get tackled right away you aren't holding the ball at all. 

I remember when Davey really revolutionised forward pressure he would sweat on opponents and give them enough time to gather the ball and take a few steps so he could run them down. It was beautiful to watch him lure defenders in to a trap. Now there's so much congestion and tight checking that guys are getting tackled before they even have the ball. It's crazy to reward tackles when with 10 guys around the ball you can pretty much fall in to a tackle at any chance.

The only good thing that came of this round of nonsense was the Hawks were the biggest victims of it. 10-1 holding the balls against the.

  • Like 2
Posted
2 minutes ago, nosoupforme said:

Vandenberg had a good game played fairly well compared to some and was his second game back and will be improving. You are being picky with who should be out. I see you haven't mentioned Smith, he will be the first to go. Rivers and don't be surprised Kossi you might find they could be managed to be rested.

This isn't the changes thread so I just stuck to the topic brought up. We all love vandenBerg's intensity, but he's not giving us what we need, which is skill forward of center. Second game back is irrelevant. Why does he get that let off but others don't?

For the record, this week I would be brining out all of vB, Smith, Lockhart, Hunt and Melksham and replacing them with ANB, OMac, Jetta, Bennell and Weid/Brown.

Posted
3 minutes ago, nosoupforme said:

Vandenberg had a good game played fairly well compared to some and was his second game back and will be improving. You are being picky with who should be out. I see you haven't mentioned Smith, he will be the first to go. Rivers and don't be surprised Kossi you might find they could be managed to be rested.

I'm with you soup.

I thought Vandenberg started to move around better,  and uses his body moving opposition out of the way, and often on the ground.   This helps create opportunities and space for teammtes.

So many times when our team tackles, the opponent is left standing upright.   Put them on the ground, and let them spend petrol tickets.

  • Like 2

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  

    TRAINING: Wednesday 19th February 2025

    Demonlander The Analyser was the sole Trackwatcher out at Casey Fields today to bring you the following observations from this mornings preseason training session. Training  was at Casey today. It consisted of a match simulation for one half  and then a free choice activity time. Activities included kicking for goal,  aerial , contest work etc. I noticed the following players not in match simulation Jack Viney  running laps and looks fine for round one . I think Kolt looks like he’s im

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Monday 17th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were on hand at Monday morning's preseason training at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their brief observations of the session. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Gentle flush session at Gosch's this morning. Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars) McVee, McAdam. Rehabbing: Great to see Kentfield back (much slimmer), walking with Tholstrup, TMac (suspect just a management thing), Viney (still being cautious with that rib cartilage?), Melksham (

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 14th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers made their way out to Casey Field's for the Melbourne Football Club's Family Series day to bring you their observations on the Match Simulation. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S MATCH SIMULATION OBSERVATIONS Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars), McVee, Windor, Kentfield, Mentha Present but not playing: Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Tholstrup, Melksham Starting Blue 18 (+ just 2 interchange): B: Petty, TMac, Lever, Howes, Bowey Salem M: Gawn, Oliver, La

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 12th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers braved the scorching morning heat to bring you the following observations of Wednesday's preseason training session from Gosch's Paddock. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Absent: Salem, Windsor (word is a foot rash going around), Viney, Bowey and Kentfield Train ons: Roy George, no Culley today. Firstly the bad news - McVee went down late, which does look like a bad hammy - towards the end of match sim, as he kicked the ball. Had to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 7th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatcher Gator ventured down the freeway to bring you his observations from Friday morning's Match Simulation out at Casey Fields. Rehab: Jake Lever and Charlie Spargo running laps.  Lever was running short distances at a fast click as well as having kick to kick with a trainer. He seems unimpeded. Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler, Shane McAdam and Tom Fullarton doing non-contact kicking and handball drills on the adjacent oval.  All moving freely at pace.  I didn’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 5th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force as the Demons returned to Gosch's Paddock for preseason training on Wednesday morning. GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kozzie a no show. Tommy Sparrow was here last week in civvies and wearing sunnies. He didn’t train. Today he’s training but he’s wearing goggles so he’s likely got an eye injury. There’s a drill where Selwyn literally lies on top of Tracc, a trainer dribbles the ball towards them and Tracc has to g

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS: 2024

    Whichever way you look at it, the Melbourne Football Club’s 2024 season can only be characterized as the year of its fall from grace. Whispering Jack looks back at the season from hell that was. After its 2021 benchmark premiership triumph, the men’s team still managed top four finishes in the next two seasons but straight sets finals losses consigned them to sixth place in both years. The big fall came in 2024 with a collapse into the bottom six and a 14th placing. At Casey, the 2022 VFL p

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    MATCH SIM: Friday 31st January 2025

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence ventured down to Casey Fields to bring you his observations from Friday's Match Simulation. Greetings Demonlanders, beautiful Day at training and the boys were hard at it, here is my report. NO SHOWS: Luker Kentfield (recovering from pneumonia in WA), also not sure I noticed Melky (Hamstring) or Will Verrall?? MODIFIED DUTIES (No Contact): Sparrow, McVee (foot), Tracc (ribs), Chandler, (AC Joint), Fullarton Noticeable events (I’ll s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

    A number of Demonland Trackwatchers swooped on Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's Preseason Training Session. DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning at Gosch's Paddock. Very healthy crowd so far.  REHAB: Fullerton, Spargo, Tholstrup, McVee Viney running laps. EDIT: JV looks to be back with the main group. Trac, Sparrow, Chandler and Verrell also training away from the main group. Currently kicking to each other ins

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!
×
×
  • Create New...