Jump to content

Featured Replies

21 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Fitness Test for Max before the weekend is what i just heard

Did Saty PM you?

 
33 minutes ago, A F said:

There's an irony in there somewhere that Max thought he needed to play in the Adelaide game, where he was convincingly beaten by an emerging ruckman. I reckon we would have been better without him in that game, but I get why he played.

For me, it was poor leadership, because I think you should realise when you are going to be an impediment on the team if you do play, and sit the game out if that's the case. Viney used to do it all the time and I didn't like it.

Anyway, I certainly don't wish injury upon Max and I love him as a player, but I'm far more confident we'll make finals if he's out for 6-8 weeks.

Really!?!

I do not understand why you'd think we're a better team without Maxy playing...

is it because we beat North?

 
9 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Really!?!

I do not understand why you'd think we're a better team without Maxy playing...

is it because we beat North?

It's because I have no faith that we'll be able to become less predictable from stoppage and since stoppage is our game, we're stuffed unless we get that right. 

37 minutes ago, A F said:

There's an irony in there somewhere that Max thought he needed to play in the Adelaide game, where he was convincingly beaten by an emerging ruckman. I reckon we would have been better without him in that game, but I get why he played.

Think that's a bit revisionist I reckon. Max was clearly hampered and didn't have his usual influence against the crows, but he was far from a liability. He had more hitouts, possessions and marks than O'Brien (all while being illegally targeted off the ball), so it's a bit of a stretch to suggest he was "convincingly beaten".

We're a better team with Max.


8 minutes ago, Accepting Mediocrity said:

Think that's a bit revisionist I reckon. Max was clearly hampered and didn't have his usual influence against the crows, but he was far from a liability. He had more hitouts, possessions and marks than O'Brien (all while being illegally targeted off the ball), so it's a bit of a stretch to suggest he was "convincingly beaten".

We're a better team with Max.

Convincingly beaten is probably unfair. He was convincingly beaten in the first half and levelled things up in the second.

16 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Sorry, should have given more detail around that, I posted it in the thread about Gawn being in doubt for the Crows fame.

TBF to everyone, it's a really tricky one. It's easy for a few of us here to say 'he shouldn't play' and then add 'see, he shouldn't have played' after the damage is done, but the context of footy club culture, being a captain, our club and it's circumstances, the coaches position being under fire somewhat and all the rest makes it a bit more messy than just a simple yes or no.

I would have been among the many who were up in arms if we had lost to the Crows too, so it's a bit of a no-win situation.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't agree with how it was handled, it's not what a good club would do, BUT I also understand we're not really at that stage yet and maybe we have to take these gambles sometimes.

Let's not forget though, we're smashing out an incredibly compacted period of footy and have been riding on the back of a clearly very banged up and sore captain who has had multiple knee injuries, and to both knees, with one as recently as this year.

We wait and see how it all pans out I guess.

internal monologue as stream of conscious post

No one I think is in my tree
I mean it must be high or low
That is you can't, you know, tune in
But it's all right
That is, I think, it's not too bad

Edited by Pollyanna

  • Author
21 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

internal monologue as stream of conscious post

Fair. Just don't think every post here needs to be having cracks at each other in disagreement.

 

 
  • Author
1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Fitness Test for Max before the weekend is what i just heard

Goody said a few days ago that they would give him til the absolute last minute.

4 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Goody said a few days ago that they would give him til the absolute last minute.

Yes i know. 
not quite a 6-8 week hiatus 


  • Author
1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes i know. 
not quite a 6-8 week hiatus 

Nope. Might have heard wrong, but wasn't it Tom Browne who apparently suggested something like that? He's not exactly Mr Credibility.

 

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Nope. Might have heard wrong, but wasn't it Tom Browne who apparently suggested something like that? He's not exactly Mr Credibility.

 

Different scenarios are flying around

The chooks need feeding

1 hour ago, binman said:

I'm totally with nasher about there no chance Goodwin selected max out of fears for his future should we lose.

My personal view is that it questioning his integrity is indeed very insulting. And again this is personal view, but i reckon it is not ok to question his integrity, but each to their own.

But i think it is ok to question his judgement and decision making, as i have done a bit of late.

On that front, why do i think he didn't rest Maxy?

Obviously i'm only guessing, but my guess would be that there may have been a number of factors he considered:

  • he had publicly said his plan was, as far as possible, to play his best team right though this period, and playing Max was fully consistent with this plan
  • maybe Tmac wasn't ready to play and he didn't want to expose jacko to a full game of rucking
  • maxy was dead keen to play and wanted to fly the flag after bartlett's very public criticism of his teammates 
  • the burgess and the doctors convinced him he was at no risk of making the lat injury worse so maxy was good to go 
  • percentage might end up playing a critical role in making the finals and playing maxy would increase the likelihood we have a big, percentage boosting win

Fair enough response. Thanks. 
 

But I have to say I disagree about the “very insulting” nature of questioning an AFL coach’s integrity. Surely a coach’s integrity is wrapped-up in the judgement and decision-making that you mention. The lines are very blurred between these things, anyway. 
 

I don’t mean to assert that the move to play a sore Gawn against the Crows, was solely to ensure Goodwin’s safety. But the guy is only human, and any suggestion this didn’t play a part in the decision made, either consciously or subconsciously, is hard to swallow. 
 

I also think his strategy of playing the best team at all times is inherently flawed, especially if it means we lack members of said best team in clashes against in-form teams, because we cooked them playing against the minor threats. 


30 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Release the beast. It’s time for Preuss imo.

With Jackson injured now we will have no choice.  Its Preuss time.

I'm gonna vote for Vandanberg into the ruck and put up a token contest and we rove to Grundy or the times he goes to grab it out, Vandenberg just nails him in tackles.

5 minutes ago, Watts the matter said:

I'm gonna vote for Vandanberg into the ruck and put up a token contest and we rove to Grundy or the times he goes to grab it out, Vandenberg just nails him in tackles.

Not a bad call. I doubt we see Tomlinson unless Oscar comes back in. Seems to be finding a role down back.

I think you have to bring Preuss in surely. This is why we recruited him.

42 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Uhoh...

 

You've got to be kidding! FFs

8 minutes ago, Watts the matter said:

I'm gonna vote for Vandanberg into the ruck and put up a token contest and we rove to Grundy or the times he goes to grab it out, Vandenberg just nails him in the tackle.

EFA according to Roy and HG


43 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Uhoh...

 

Oh so Melbourne....kid starts finding his feet.  Wins rising star.... Cue 4 to 6 injury (and we all know what that means minions).

At least he's now a true Demon...his first curse!

Edited by Rusty Nails

 
3 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Ffs. Jackson injured and out 3-4 weeks. Farrrrrrrrrrrrrk

You realise that’s about 6 matches these days?

20 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

It’s Burgess’ fault.

I blame Misson for this again!


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...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Carlton

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • Clap
      • Like
    • 0 replies
  • REPORT: North Melbourne

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 4 replies
  • CASEY: Werribee

    The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Carlton

    The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 222 replies
  • PODCAST: North Melbourne

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
    Your 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.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 29 replies
  • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

    The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

      • Haha
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 253 replies