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.


Alex Neal-Bullen


dazzledavey36

Recommended Posts

29 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Has been played out of position for years. he's a pure mid and has a high ceiling if given the chance.

You think the playing on ball he could compete with Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw (from us) or the equivalent first 4 from other clubs?

I don't. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd prefer hang on to ANB and trial him as a full time winger next season, he's got the endurance and running capacity to be a really dangerous endurance link up option for both attacking and defensive plays. 

his kicking is a tiny bit suspect, but i think he is improving in that space a bit as well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm impressed with the loyalty of many on here.  

No doubt that ANB is someone who gives everything he has when out on the field. He runs hard, he's a team player and, as some have already said, his kicking has improved a little this year as well.

But I also think we're quick to forget that he does some simple things poorly.  He rarely gets to position in the forward line to crumb the ball.  He is a pretty average tackler, and he still gets the fumbles with the ball at his feet.  This is after six years in the system.

While I understand why some might want to hang on to him, I think we as a club need to move on from him so we can continue to look at ways of getting better.  If ANB is still someone hanging around the fringes in the coming years, then we haven't worked hard enough (or ruthless enough as Goody might say) in making the right decisions to help us as a footy club.

He's been handy depth, but I think the time is right to look at other options going forward.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I reckon he's underrated. Which is easy when nobody rates him.

You've got to have depth. He's not going to turn into Dustin Martin anytime soon but is handy enough. You can massacre the fringe players but who's going to replace them? If he reckons he can get a better run somewhere else then let him go, otherwise at least he's got a few years of experience on a random kid.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I'm impressed with the loyalty of many on here.  

No doubt that ANB is someone who gives everything he has when out on the field. He runs hard, he's a team player and, as some have already said, his kicking has improved a little this year as well.

But I also think we're quick to forget that he does some simple things poorly.  He rarely gets to position in the forward line to crumb the ball.  He is a pretty average tackler, and he still gets the fumbles with the ball at his feet.  This is after six years in the system.

While I understand why some might want to hang on to him, I think we as a club need to move on from him so we can continue to look at ways of getting better.  If ANB is still someone hanging around the fringes in the coming years, then we haven't worked hard enough (or ruthless enough as Goody might say) in making the right decisions to help us as a footy club.

He's been handy depth, but I think the time is right to look at other options going forward.

I agree he definitely has deficiencies in his game. But I don't think tackling is one of them. His tackling has been down of late but he's definitely adequate in that area. Also just noting that tackling was down this year across all games due to various reasons.

I think last year he was disappointing but most of our squad was. This year he didn't get a good run at it with suspension and injury.

Some may forget he in 2018 he was:

- ranked top 5 for forcing turnovers (and scoring from them)

- ranked 10th in goal assists

- ranked 9th for total tackles inside 50

I know I'll be shot down for looking at numbers from two years ago but his 2018 season was statistically comparable to Dan Butlers this year. (yes I am aware he played more games but I image Butler's avg's staying the same if he were to continue into finals).

Butler 2020

image.png.821633eee81795c2978b0316bf11f9c6.png ANB 2018

image.png.b33d0174d51c9d0b56e2490b02600616.png

I think this is probably a lousy comparison but I feel these two play similar roles with their running and what is asked of them. Butler much better user of the ball obviously but I feel ANB is cleaning up this area of his game. If he can get back to his 17/18 form he'll be best 22 and we can keep some continuity with our playing group. Agree Wiseblood with losing patience with players like this but he's the same age group as our core players and I think could go up a notch to get back to his best as he does so much well.

Anyway food for thought. I am not too fussed tbh if he does go but I would certainly want to get something decent in return or have him added to a larger trade for value.

 

image.png

Edited by Yung Blood
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Supermercado said:

I reckon he's underrated. Which is easy when nobody rates him.

You've got to have depth. He's not going to turn into Dustin Martin anytime soon but is handy enough. You can massacre the fringe players but who's going to replace them? If he reckons he can get a better run somewhere else then let him go, otherwise at least he's got a few years of experience on a random kid.

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Turner said:

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. We’ll be lucky to get a late third rounder for him. 

Edited by Ethan Tremblay
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. 

didnt realise we only targeted, talented non-speculative picks once and drafted alphabetically every other season? 

  • Facepalm 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, chook fowler said:

the use of movement and fast in the same sentence with respect to Oscar in an oxymoron.

Good golly, oh - braces! You're absolutely correct, Chook! Sorry about that ... must have been thinking forward, relating 'fast' to the absence of OMac on our list. The adverbial form 'rapidly' may well have been an improvement. Still, between you and I, it seems that the sentiment, not the word, is amicably amiable. 'Carna Dees@

Link to comment
Share on other sites


12 minutes ago, Turner said:

didnt realise we only targeted, talented non-speculative picks once and drafted alphabetically every other season? 

I suspect you realise that the players you're using for comparisom were all higher picks than we'd be dealing with here in a draft that was not compromised and in which there was a lot of exposed form to make decisions on - none of which applies to the situation for this draft.  If you think we're guaranteed a player of the quality of the three you mentioned from this, or even the same chance they'll be that quality, you should stay away from games involving probability.

As has been noted by others, there are plenty of reasons we could consider moving ANB on - salary cap space, part of a larger deal for a player who fills a need or to trade up.  But simply to pick a random player in the 40s (or wherever it slips to after all the compensation/academy/etcs) doesn't fill me with hope.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. We’ll be lucky to get a late third rounder for him. 

I can see that logic, but I also think we've got Pickett and a rejuvenated Spargo as the starters in the half forward spots. Then some if not all of Hannan, Hunt, Bedford and Chandler on the list to fight for spots. If we keep ANB and he isn't a consistent part of the side then we've really got a collection of speculative talent as is. 

If there's not a lot of confidence that he'll be a regular in the side then we're losing a lot less for moving him on. There's ways to replace the list spot with a less speculative pick as well - delisted player, mature ager, trade up picks etc.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, Standard Deviation said:

I suspect you realise that the players you're using for comparisom were all higher picks than we'd be dealing with here in a draft that was not compromised and in which there was a lot of exposed form to make decisions on - none of which applies to the situation for this draft.  If you think we're guaranteed a player of the quality of the three you mentioned from this, or even the same chance they'll be that quality, you should stay away from games involving probability.

As has been noted by others, there are plenty of reasons we could consider moving ANB on - salary cap space, part of a larger deal for a player who fills a need or to trade up.  But simply to pick a random player in the 40s (or wherever it slips to after all the compensation/academy/etcs) doesn't fill me with hope.

its all part of the big picture, maybe we'll package up the picks for a player, a first rounder to an academy club, he might be on too much cash for his output and we are deeeep in that spot. every draft theres 150 gamers picked in the 40s its a gamble worth taking even if we did carry the pick through

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, deanox said:

You think the playing on ball he could compete with Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw (from us) or the equivalent first 4 from other clubs?

I don't. 

when you're 13th at stoppages then yeah he should be getting more minutes. no chance simon Goodwin even thought about it

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Turner said:

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

Did I suggest playing him in front of anyone? You're making the logic up.

  • Like 3
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  

    DISCO INFERNO by Whispering Jack

    Two weeks ago, when the curtain came down on Melbourne’s game against the Brisbane Lions, the team trudged off the MCG looking tired and despondent at the end of a tough run of games played in quick succession. In the days that followed, the fans wanted answers about their team’s lamentable performance that night and foremost among their concerns was whether the loss was a one off result of fatigue or was it due to other factor(s) of far greater consequence.  As it turns out, the answer to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 15

    TIGERS PUNT CASEY by KC from Casey

    The afternoon atmosphere at the Swinburne Centre was somewhat surreal as the game between Richmond VFL and the Casey Demons unfolded on what was really a normal work day for most Melburnians. The Yarra Park precinct marched to the rhythm of city life, the trains rolled by, pedestrians walked by with their dogs and the traffic on Punt Road and Brunton Avenue swirled past while inside the arena, a football battle ensued. And what a battle it was? The Tigers came in with a record of two wins f

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    PREGAME: Rd 08 vs Geelong

    After returning to the winners list the Demons have a 10 day break until they face the unbeaten Cats at the MCG on Saturday Night. Who comes in and who goes out for this crucial match?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 165

    PODCAST: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 29th April @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Tigers in the Round 07. 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

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 19

    VOTES: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    Last week Captain Max Gawn overtook reigning champion Christian Petracca in the Demonland Player of the Year Award. Steven May, Jack Viney & Alex Neal-Bullen make up the Top 5. Your votes for the win against the Tigers. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 54

    POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demons put their foot down after half time to notch up a clinical win by 43 points over the Tigers at the MCG on ANZAC Eve keeping touch with the Top 4.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 379

    GAMEDAY: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    It's Game Day and the Demons once again open the round of football with their annual clash against Richmond on ANZAC Eve. The Tigers, coached by former Dees champion and Premiership assistant coach Adem Yze have a plethora of stars missing due to injury but beware the wounded Tiger. The Dees will have to be switched on tonight. A win will keep them in the hunt for the Top 4 whilst a loss could see them fall out of the 8 for the first time since 2020.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 683

    TRAINING: Tuesday 23rd April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin ventured down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you his observations from this morning's Captain's Run including some hints at the changes for our ANZAC Eve clash against the Tigers. Sunny, though a touch windy, this morning, 23 of them no emergencies.  Forwards out first. Harrison Petty, JvR, Jack Billings, Kade Chandler, Kozzy, Bayley Fritsch, and coach Stafford.  The backs join them, Steven May, Jake Lever, Woey, Judd McVee, Blake Howes, Tom McDonald

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    OOZEE by The Oracle

    There’s a touch of irony in the fact that Adem Yze played his first game for Melbourne in Round 13, 1995 against the club he now coaches. For that game, he wore the number 44 guernsey and got six touches in a game the team won by 11 points.  The man whose first name was often misspelled, soon changed to the number 13 and it turned out lucky for him. He became a highly revered Demon with a record of 271 games during which his presence was acknowledged by the fans with the chant of “Oozee” wh

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews 3
  • 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 07

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 07 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 07

  • Match Report      

    DISCO INFERNO by Whispering Jack

    Two weeks ago, when the curtain came down on Melbourne’s game against the Brisbane Lions, the team trudged off the MCG looking tired and despondent at the end of a tough run of games played in quick succession ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 25

  • Casey Report      

    TIGERS PUNT CASEY by KC from Casey

    The afternoon atmosphere at the Swinburne Centre was somewhat surreal as the game between Richmond VFL and the Casey Demons unfolded on what was really a normal work day for most Melburnians ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 25

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demons put their foot down after half time to notch up a clinical win by 43 points over the Tigers at the MCG on ANZAC Eve keeping touch with the Top 4 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 24

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    Last week Captain Max Gawn overtook reigning champion Christian Petracca in the Demonland Player of the Year Award. Steven May, Jack Viney & Alex Neal-Bullen make up the Top 5. Your votes for the win against the Tigers. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 24

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 08 vs Geelong

    The Demons have a 10 day break until they face the unbeaten Cats at the MCG on Saturday Night. Who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | April 24

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    It's Game Day on ANZAC Eve & the Demons take on the Tigers, coached by former Dees champion & Premiership assistant Adem Yze. The Dees will have to be switched on tonight & a win will keep them in the hunt for the Top 4 whilst a loss could see them fall out of the 8 for the first time since 2020 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 24

  • Match Preview      

    OOZEE by The Oracle

    There’s a touch of irony in the fact that Adem Yze played his first game for Melbourne in Round 13, 1995 against the club he now coaches. For that game, he wore the number 44 guernsey and got six touches in a game the team won by 11 points ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 23

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 23rd April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin ventured down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you his observations from this morning's Captain's Run including some hints at the changes for our ANZAC Eve clash against the Tigers ... READ MORE

    Demonland | April 23

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 08

       vs   

    Saturday 4th May 2024
    @ 07:30pm (MCG)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 3-4 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 3-4 Weeks
    Christian Salem Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 7-9 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Max Gawn 83
    2 Christian Petracca 55
    3 Steven May 48
    4 Jack Viney 28
    5 Alex Neal-Bullen 27
    6 Clayton Oliver 23
    7 Jake Lever 22
    8 Trent Rivers 20
    9 Bayley Fritsch 19
    =10 Ed Langdon 15
    =10 Judd McVee 15

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...