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POSTGAME: Practice Match vs Bulldogs

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Never fun to lose, even though pre-season. Understandably got monstered in the midfield - probably by the best midfield in the comp.

 

Most sad to see was some of our Casey players of the past few years don’t seem to have advanced at the rate you’d hope - Bedford, Baker (arguably Sparrow) culprits. If they’re in the selection frame in the next two months we’re in strife.

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    4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    AS FD says one can forgive the centre clearance play but our inability to run and spread was disappointing to say the least.

    Tom Mac AVB and probably Hunt are not the future.

    Plus was that other than one shot Fritsch nailed the gettable goals. Had two shots from the boundary which were never likely.

    Jones was solid and Trac was average at best.

    Anyway too early for panic but there wasn't much to excite in that hit out.

    Had the Dogs kicked straight in the first half you could probably add another four goals to the loss

    I thought Hunt was reasonably good

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    17 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

    Yes I have only seen 2 training sessions this year but watching the game I noticed that we were not switching play or moving the ball in any way that resembled the what I have witnessed. I know we were missing  perhaps 10 first pick players but I thought in a preseason match you would keep trying to play to the system you train? 

    With the new man on the mark rule it's just inexcusable not to move the ball around more. Steve May set the tone by just blasting kick out after kick out 80m from goal. But really all the defenders had plenty of chances to move it around. 

    It made the game super contested and dangerous too. 

    Beware a Melbourne game, both sides will get injuries due to how often we just hack the ball around to all parts.

     

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    Get rid of spargo.

    Sparrow sucks

    Jordan has no idea 

    Baker is a turnover merchant who applies no pressure 

    Where is our depth??!!

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    No time for panic - yet! We were truly smashed today by a well drilled unit, right across the ground.

    The big plusses - May and Lever , with glimpses from Langdon, Nibbler, Fritsch and Jackson, Harmes looked much better mid field, but overall pantsed by the Bont et al.

    The concerns - kids did not show much - but doesn’t help chasing tail all day. Turnover skills again an issue.

    The big question marks - Vanders (what does he actually do?), Tommy Mac - his chase down in the last quarter was great, but where were the other clunking marks?


    A big 10 days in front of the whole club. Like a previous poster, concerned that Benny Brown mentioned the “learnings” that would come from a thrashing like this. The induction program is obviously working well.

    Time for a real statement come round 1 lads

     

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    Absolutely owned by the dogs and the score didn't reflect their total dominance

    Bit of a whack from the Bont in the postgame interview describing the win and their ability to keep the ball out of the Melbourne forward line "It was a bit of tick but you know you're going to come up against really strong teams during the course of the year"

     

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    • Sad 1
     

    Viney confirmed out for RD 1 by Goody.

     

     

    Edited by Demon Jack

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    5 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

    Any word on Steven May?? Is he ok? If concussed, is he out for 2 weeks under new rules?? That’s all I care about. We would have been lost without him. 

    12 day rule so he'll miss Freo if its a confirmed concussion

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    Jordan did ok, bit to work with here. 
    Harmes improved 

    Lever much improved 

    May brilliant 

    Jones still best 22. 
    AnB was good

    AvB good in first half then quiet. 
    Rivers played well, will be a very good player. 
     

    Baker, Sparrow, TMac poor

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    2 minutes ago, Vineytime said:

    Jordan did ok, bit to work with here. 
    Harmes improved 

    Lever much improved 

    May brilliant 

    Jones still best 22. 
    AnB was good

    AvB good in first half then quiet. 
    Rivers played well, will be a very good player. 
     

    Baker, Sparrow, TMac poor

    AVB with 5 disposals was NOT good

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    I thought both May and Lever were very good at the contests they got to but slack at times when they didn't get where they needed to be. They are also both the main culprits for our horrendous ball movement from the backline.

    If both of them had 5 turnovers missing simple kicks it would've been preferrable to what they served up. There were times where May grabbed the ball from Rivers for the kick out and did nothing with it. And times where Lever was sitting 30m out for a short kick and wasn't used and just copped it.

    Troy Chaplin was the one assistant we kept after last year and he and his leaders need to work out why they played without any ambition at all.

    They even bought Bowey on and never kicked to the guy. From what we've seen he's a beautiful kick, look him and give him the ball.

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    3 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

    I realise that, so that is why I’m asking the question. 

    Just said on 7 news that it was head-neck and not, repeat not, a concussion issue.

    that said, still said that he will be tested before round 1 (or words to that effect), but not subject to concussion protocol 

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    4 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

    I realise that, so that is why I’m asking the question. 

    you said 2 weeks. the rule is 12 days.

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    6 minutes ago, Vineytime said:

    Jordan did ok, bit to work with here. 
    Harmes improved 

    Lever much improved 

    May brilliant 

    Jones still best 22. 
    AnB was good

    AvB good in first half then quiet. 
    Rivers played well, will be a very good player. 
     

    Baker, Sparrow, TMac poor

    What is there to work with jordan

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    • Haha 1

    18 minutes ago, xiss said:

    Absolutely owned by the dogs and the score didn't reflect their total dominance

    Bit of a whack from the Bont in the postgame interview describing the win and their ability to keep the ball out of the Melbourne forward line "It was a bit of tick but you know you're going to come up against really strong teams during the course of the year"

     

    Agree. We didn’t exactly threaten today 

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    Agree with most of the above. Biggest issue for me is still disposal and decision making - or lack of. Really missed Salem, and to a lesser extent, Hibberd: no drive off half back.

    Feel like we have to play Bowey. He'll get beaten more often than not, but he needs to be fast-tracked.

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    Not a surprising result given the players we had missing. WB could play their system without resistance in the middle. That makes it much easier to control every contest on the ground. They are a full strength side. Physically more mature and more experienced.

    I think those younger players we have will be ready to deliver in 2024. Our 'star' players will be 29 or so by then. If we still exist by then we could be seeing something special.

    We didnt stick many tackles, alot of slipping over. I thought that Jones was good.

    I am encouraged by Jordan, Rivers looks like he has second year blues. (Under a lot of pressure as well)

    Add Hibberd, Salem, Oliver and Brayshaw for round 1

    Edited by defuture15
    Spelling

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    2 minutes ago, Elegt said:

    What is there to work with jordan

    He has moments where he can stick a tackle and his work rate is good, he clearly keeps the engine running.

    Struggles to win the ball, his use isn't terrible but not good and he's one paced. All up it's an odd package. I know he's one paced which isn't what we really need but I'm surprised he hasn't been used on the wing. He's got to be better than Baker.

    His big motor would clearly be of more use if we ever moved the ball and could reward his tank. The complete lack of that today hurt him.

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    It's only a practice match! It's only a practice match! But ...

    1. We looked like fumblers with sh*t disposal who are second to the ball. Good judges of footy tell me that's not an encouraging state of affairs.

    2. If Jones, Tommy, AVB, etc, get regular games, whether it's because of injuries of just because the selectors like them, we're in deep trouble.

    3. 

    57 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

    Fritsch kicked well today i thought, what game were you watching, our most dangerous forward.

    I like Fritsch, but it's a danger sign if he's our most dangerous forward in more than an a few odd games here and there.

    4. The Sparrows, Jordans, Bakers, etc, did not really give any glimpse that that they're anything more than the next Gysberts, Mortons, Tapscotts, Bleases, etc.

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