Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


Jared Polec


picket fence

Recommended Posts

On 8/27/2020 at 12:12 PM, Axis of Bob said:

The problem with Polec is that he looks good to spectators but terrible to coaches. That's because coaches know a lot more about what things a player does away from the ball (they have vision, GPS data etc), especially this year when spectators can only watch the game on TV. Spectators only watch the player with the football or in the direct contest, often yelling "kick the bloody thing!" without realising that there's nobody to kick to (which is either outside of screen or they just don't notice). 

Polec is not a team first footballer, and he's not good enough or impactful enough for coaches to tolerate that. Especially new coaches rebuilding a club that requires good habits to be instilled first (like Shaw is trying to do at North). Polec gets good numbers, but but there's a reason why teams haven't tried especially hard to keep him.

Think about it this way: In round 8 he had 25 touches (16 contested) and a goal in a close loss to Carlton where he will probably poll 3 Brownlow votes. He was immediately dropped, and North beat Adelaide by 10 goals!! He came back in, played two ordinary games,  was dropped and was has been out of the side since. The overwhelming likelihood is that he is not following the coach's instructions (probably defensively) and that is a massive red flag in an AFL environment that requires team defence and attack more than ever. Clearly the coaches don't trust him to play his part in that.

I don't want him because he's doesn't bring enough to the team to outweigh the many red flags that his career has raised to this point. 

That game against Carlton he was meant to be tagging Cripps apparently....it is why he got dropped.

He is an outside player and i think he would actually compliment our side pretty well on the other wing.  i can imagine him having a fallout with Shaw if he is asking him to tag inside midfield bulls, it is not his thing.

Will be his last chance at a 4th AFL club.  He will be desperate to make it work.  Easily in our best 22, massive upgrade for our wing opposite Langdon.  Be silly not to interview him especially if North are going to pay fair portion of his wage.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

That game against Carlton he was meant to be tagging Cripps apparently....it is why he got dropped.

He is an outside player and i think he would actually compliment our side pretty well on the other wing.  i can imagine him having a fallout with Shaw if he is asking him to tag inside midfield bulls, it is not his thing.

This is pretty bizarre coaching if true?

North has a seemingly endless supply of bigger bodied mids, why on earth would having Polec run with him help anyone?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, BW511 said:

This is pretty bizarre coaching if true?

North has a seemingly endless supply of bigger bodied mids, why on earth would having Polec run with him help anyone?

It's pretty laughable but there are rumours out there that he was meant to be tagging Cripps lol.  Shaw might be another Goodwin, trying to put certain players in unfamiliar position is my only reasonable explanation.

 Other rumour that Harmes is asking his manager to look at options.  If true i would say in both cases it is clear the player is not happy out of their best position.  I could see it in both cases, both are somewhat out of favour!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd have him. Watched him last night. He is very outside and waits in space to get used as Landgon does. Fit perfectly for us. 

4th club is a red flag but I believe Port very much wanted to keep him just North came up with a massive offer as they missed on everyone else they chased prior. Left Brisbane with not much form to return home. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

I'd have him. Watched him last night. He is very outside and waits in space to get used as Landgon does. Fit perfectly for us. 

4th club is a red flag but I believe Port very much wanted to keep him just North came up with a massive offer as they missed on everyone else they chased prior. Left Brisbane with not much form to return home. 

Martin Pike says hello :) ? 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

I'd have him. Watched him last night. He is very outside and waits in space to get used as Landgon does. Fit perfectly for us. 

4th club is a red flag but I believe Port very much wanted to keep him just North came up with a massive offer as they missed on everyone else they chased prior. Left Brisbane with not much form to return home. 

He is on big money, would pass for that reason prefer Langdon especially if he cleans up his kicking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Selections from an article in the Herald Sun...

The Demons have shown some interest but are unlikely to part with more than a late draft pick to nab the speedster.

Melbourne is also not prepared to overpay for Polec who signed a bumper deal to move from Port Adelaide to North Melbourne at the end of 2018.

Melbourne is in the market for some more speed and polish to complement its hard nut midfield brigade as Simon Goodwin’s men attempt to break back into the top-eight next season.

Polec could help improve the Demons’ delivery and finishing skills in the forward half of the ground but Melbourne haven’t made any promises to him.

It means that while Polec is on the Dees’ radar, he is not seen as a must-have in the November exchange period.

The Demons are likely to try and meet with Polec and establish his intentions for next season and seek feedback on where things broke down at North Melbourne.

  • Like 13
  • Thanks 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going on nothing more than assumption, but our interest in Polec is probably directly related to if we can offload Tom McDonald's contract.

Do that, and have Norf pay for some of Polec's contract, and I can see it happening.  Otherwise I can't see us fitting him in our salary cap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I'm going on nothing more than assumption, but our interest in Polec is probably directly related to if we can offload Tom McDonald's contract.

Do that, and have Norf pay for some of Polec's contract, and I can see it happening.  Otherwise I can't see us fitting him in our salary cap.

Exactly the same feeling i had reading that Wise.

Edited by dazzledavey36
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I heard Polec's contract was heavily front-loaded - again it may not be right, but he might not be as expensive in terms of TPP as many assume.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

The Demons are likely to try and meet with Polec and establish his intentions for next season and seek feedback on where things broke down at North Melbourne.

My understanding at North is that Shaw doesn't listen...

...even though it's Polec's 3rd club, he may not be fully to blame for being on the outer.

He is the type of player we could do with...leg speed, foot skills.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, rjay said:

 

...even though it's Polec's 3rd club, he may not be fully to blame for being on the outer.

 

He left Brisbane in an exodus due to the culture.  Understandable.

He left Port because he got offered an insanely prosperous contract by North.  Understandable

He will leave North because they are now coached by a Shaw. Also understandable.

Edited by grazman
  • Like 4
  • Haha 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

North 2019 - 7th (Ben Cunnington 242, Robbie Tarrant 227, Todd Goldstein 192*, Trent Dumont 192, Ben Brown 190*, Jack Ziebell 190, Jared Polec 184, Shaun Higgins 170, Jasper Pittard 169, Shaun Atley 158)

Port 2018 - 5th (1. Justin Westhoff 179 , 2. Tom Jonas 162, 2. Ollie Wines 162, 4. Robbie Gray 152, 5. Jared Polec 151, 6. Chad Wingard 143, 7. Darcy Byrne-Jones 139 8. Dan Houston 131, 9. Travis Boak 126, 10. Tom Clurey 110)

Port 2017 - 22 games, Not top 10

Port 2016 - 17 games, not top 10

Port 2015 - 5 games

Port 2014 - 24 games - not top 10

So he didn't get a lot of votes earlier in his career but the two years prior to his one he's been surrounded by very good footballers in the Port count and behind some handy names at North.

There's probably enough evidence to say he's not perfect but he does bring a fair bit to the table.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


On 8/27/2020 at 12:12 PM, Axis of Bob said:

Polec is not a team first footballer, and he's not good enough or impactful enough for coaches to tolerate that. Especially new coaches rebuilding a club that requires good habits to be instilled first (like Shaw is trying to do at North). Polec gets good numbers, but but there's a reason why teams haven't tried especially hard to keep him.

Think about it this way: In round 8 he had 25 touches (16 contested) and a goal in a close loss to Carlton where he will probably poll 3 Brownlow votes. He was immediately dropped, and North beat Adelaide by 10 goals!! He came back in, played two ordinary games,  was dropped and was has been out of the side since. The overwhelming likelihood is that he is not following the coach's instructions (probably defensively) and that is a massive red flag in an AFL environment that requires team defence and attack more than ever. Clearly the coaches don't trust him to play his part in that.

Is Shaw attempting to build good habits or is he a desperate young coach preaching a mantra of contest and physicality because he doesn't have the ability to teach skills and ball movement?

Shaw has decided that at age 27 despite playing the same way for his career Polec needs to add hardness and contested ball winning. So he sends him to tag Cripps. A move that pretty much anyone would suggest isn't smart. It's a disaster. He then frees up Polec from the tag - but still has him play on ball - and he gets 25 touches and is key part to North's comeback.

David Teague gave Polec the 4 coaches votes in that game. So he was clearly aware of his value.

Polec is nearly 28 and on a fat contract for 3 more years that will likely still be chunky no matter which was you slice it, so that's a concern. And whether it's the defensive running, lack of hardness at the contest of very left sided-ness there's certainly some concerns. But it's also an opportunity where you've got a coach putting his foot down for whatever reason and very much devaluing an asset. 

If we're smart we down play it and don't show any more interest than the possibility of doing North a favour and taking a bit of cash from their books. Like the Cats with Josh Jenkins. Have it all happen late and with a minimum of interest. But if we get him stuff all there's no way he's not a huge improvement on what we have.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, rjay said:

My understanding at North is that Shaw doesn't listen...

...even though it's Polec's 3rd club, he may not be fully to blame for being on the outer.

He is the type of player we could do with...leg speed, foot skills.

Would definintely want North to pay a chunk of his contract 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Is Shaw attempting to build good habits or is he a desperate young coach preaching a mantra of contest and physicality because he doesn't have the ability to teach skills and ball movement?

Shaw has decided that at age 27 despite playing the same way for his career Polec needs to add hardness and contested ball winning. So he sends him to tag Cripps. A move that pretty much anyone would suggest isn't smart. It's a disaster. He then frees up Polec from the tag - but still has him play on ball - and he gets 25 touches and is key part to North's comeback.

David Teague gave Polec the 4 coaches votes in that game. So he was clearly aware of his value.

Polec is nearly 28 and on a fat contract for 3 more years that will likely still be chunky no matter which was you slice it, so that's a concern. And whether it's the defensive running, lack of hardness at the contest of very left sided-ness there's certainly some concerns. But it's also an opportunity where you've got a coach putting his foot down for whatever reason and very much devaluing an asset. 

If we're smart we down play it and don't show any more interest than the possibility of doing North a favour and taking a bit of cash from their books. Like the Cats with Josh Jenkins. Have it all happen late and with a minimum of interest. But if we get him stuff all there's no way he's not a huge improvement on what we have.

Get him in ! CAN Play!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/26/2020 at 1:29 PM, Lord Travis said:

He's obviously not worth what he's being paid, but on talent and output he's better than a ton of players running around in the league.

Round 8 he was BOG, had 25 disposals, 16 contested, 6 tackles, 1 goal... he got dropped. He's not being judged fairly on his output as North are a basketcase with poor culture. 

I'd wanna know if there's bad off-field issues. Moving to a fourth AFL club rings alarm bells there. If there are no off-field issues causing these moves, then I'd gladly take him for the right price. On talent and output he's a better player than half our 22 and he'd own a wing and pair nicely with Langdon in that regard.

He is that outside mid-fielder with class that would really suit us. Not sure about the coin but in the right team he could be a match winner. It compliments our midfield and I think we could become a very dangerous midfield with his addition. There is a spot waiting for him that we are sorely missing. I don't understand our desire to pick up another backman. Midfielders and half forwards with class. Yes please.

Just on North, I reckon the coach can't coach and they are all gettable. In a terrible, terrible place. Like at the beginning of our decade of bottom four results. Hope we get to play them twice next year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not sold in him, but, we need outside run and skill, he has both.

And he want missing a game at north because he is no good, he was missing a game as they were trying to send a message, playing him in the wrong spot and didn’t give a crap about him playing or them winning.

Sounds a bit like Harmes for me this season. Playing poorly in the wrong position, and then people forget what he can actually do.

I would take Polec, on a reduced salary and I wouldn’t be giving north much if possible.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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: Friday 19th April 2024

    They are out for a run just as it starts raining. It didn't last long, ended up a reasonable session weather wise.  Light duties, BBB, rehab Farris-White, Melky, Salem and Spargo, all with private trainers. They are all playing soccer, huge amount of noise. 36-40 (difficult to get a count) in the main squad, biggest I've seen it in ages. Choco is barking out the orders. Goody has intense body language as he observes. Bowey in a lime green cap (no contact), and in the sim

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    ICEBREAKER by KC from Casey

    The Casey Demons have broken the ice for season 2024 with a pulsating come-from-behind victory over Port Melbourne in which it took the lead for the first time at the halfway mark of the final quarter. The game played in mild Autumn conditions in neutral territory at Kinetic Park, Frankston, never reached great heights in standard but it proved gripping in character at the end at the Casey Demons overcame the Borough to win by 15 points after trailing badly early in the second half.  P

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    MAULED by Whispering Jack

    The writing was on the wall from the very first bounce of the football. The big men went up, Max Gawn more often than not, decisively won the ruck hit out and invariably a Brisbane Lions onballer either won the battle on the ground or halved the contest and they went at it repeatedly until they finally won out. Melbourne managed the first goal from Alex Neal-Bullen but after that the visitors shut out every area of Demon presence around the ground except in the ruck duels. It was a mauling.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 4

    PREGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demons have a bye next week and have a 13 day break before they return to the MCG on ANZAC Eve to take on the Tigers. Who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 198

    PODCAST: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 15th April @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons loss at the MCG against the Lions in the Round 05. You 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. 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 LIV

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 53

    VOTES: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    Last week Christian Petracca retook the outright lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Max Gawn, Steven May, Alex Neal-Bullen & Jack Viney. Your votes for the loss against the Lions. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 44

    POSTGAME: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The Demons 4 game winning streak has come to an end after a disappointing loss against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG going down by 22 points. 

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 505

    GAMEDAY: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    It's Game Day & Demons have a great opportunity to win their fifth game on the trot and go into the bye with 5 wins and one loss when they take on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on the Thursday night big stage.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 833

    TRAINING: Wednesday 10th April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Demon Dynasty were once again on hand at this morning's Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from training. KEV MARTIN'S CAPTAIN'S RUN OBSERVATIONS No-one in rehab this morning, a Captain's run, 26 players. Laurie, Tomlinson, Tholstrup, Chandler, Woey, and Kossie are out there. Rehabbers are out now. Marty, McAdam, Melky, Bowey, Sestan. As a guess for in and outs, I would say, out Laurie, Tomlinson, and W

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 06

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 06 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 06

  • Training  

    Friday, 19th April 2024

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin headed down to Gosch's Paddock today to bring you his observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 19

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The boys dissected the disappointing loss to Brisbane rueing our poor work at the stoppages, debated the role that fatigue played and lamenting the loss of Christian Salem ... LISTEN

    Demonland | April 16

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 06 vs Richmond

    The Demons have a bye next week and have a 13 day break before they return to the MCG on ANZAC Eve to take on the Tigers. Who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 16

  • Casey Report      

    ICE BREAKER by KC from Casey

    The Casey Demons have broken the ice for season 2024 with a pulsating come-from-behind victory over Port Melbourne in which it took the lead for the first time at the halfway mark of the final quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 14

  • Match Report      

    MAULED by Whispering Jack

    The writing was on the wall from the very first bounce of the football. The big men went up, Max Gawn more often than not, decisively won the ruck hit out and invariably a Brisbane Lions onballer either won the battle on the ground or halved the contest and they went at it repeatedly until they finally won out ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 12

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The Demons 4 game winning streak has come to an end after a disappointing loss against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG going down by 22 points ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 11

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    Last week Christian Petracca retook the outright lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Max Gawn, Steven May, Alex Neal-Bullen & Jack Viney. Your votes for the loss against the Lions. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 11

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    It's Game Day & the Demons have a great opportunity to win their fifth game on the trot and go into the bye with 5 wins and one loss when they take on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on the Thursday night big stage ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 11

  • Training  

    Wednesday, 10th April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Demon Dynasty were once again on hand at this morning's Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 10

  • Match Preview      

    THE PEOPLE SPEAK by The Demonland Crew

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome to the Demonland 2024 Grand Final Podcast … It’s been a beautiful last day of September and how sweet it is to bring you our coverage of all things that matter about the great Demon resurgence which we’ve seen over the past six or seven months ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 09

  • Training  

    Sunday, 7th April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin ventured down in the rain to Gosch's Paddock for the Demon Family Series April School Holiday Open Training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 07

  • Training  

    Monday, 1st April 2024

    Our man on the spot Bendigo Demon traveled to Adelaide for our back to back games in the City of Churches and brings you his observations from the Demon's training session at Hisense Stadium ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 01

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 07

       vs   

    Wednesday 24th April 2024
    @ 07:25pm (MCG)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 1-2 Weeks
    Marty Hore Thumb 1-2 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 3 Weeks
    Christian Salem Hamstring 3-4 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 4-5 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 9-11 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Max Gawn 67
    2 Christian Petracca 55
    3 Steven May 35
    4 Jack Viney 28
    5 Alex Neal-Bullen 27
    6 Clayton Oliver 22
    7 Bayley Fritsch 19
    8 Trent Rivers 16
    9 Judd McVee 15
    10 Kade Chandler 14

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...