Jump to content

CHANGES: Rd 02 vs St. Kilda

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

This would be my ins based on gut feeling. 

In: Viney, Melksham

Out: Harmes Sparrow

We know Goody is a fan of Melksham, and being on a quick deck we could use Melkshams clean kicking skills. Melksham has only played the 1 VFL game so they may just go with the one change being Viney for Harmes.

 
On 3/22/2021 at 3:53 PM, Mental Demons said:

If we are going to beat the Saints, we need to be quicker. I am not too sure how much we can do that. St Kilda are not a big team. Chandler for Jackson is an improvement. I think if we play Jackson we are no chance of beating the Saints.

Yep, Chandler would be good relieving in the ruck. ?

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    • Shocked 1

    I hope this now gives Brayshae the opportunity to spend more quality minutes as an inside midfielder.

    • Like 4
     

    Bummer about Harmes being out,

    watch the replay first 30 seconds of the first quarter, he got a pass from the certre scrum side stepped or went past an opponent   heading for the edge of the square and goal,   AND a free kick goes to the dockers behind him.

    I am not a Harmes fan but he got himself into some great positions,   simillar to Spargo getting into the stream of football.

     

    Chandler needs to play somewhere,   If Harmes is out  then Viney comes in if he is fit enough    Do not think there will be many other changes    We won, rusty   but we won,  4 points in the bank.   Give those players another chance, But is not going to be a walk in the park.

    in that case...

    In: Viney, Melksham, Hibbo

    Out: Sparrow, Jones, Harmes

    Vandenberg injury sub 


    Well done to Lord Nev for his inside word about the Harmes injury.

    Harmes has been off the boil for a while now and may have been in contention to be dropped for Viney anyway.

    • Like 3

    Harmes now out injured for 6 weeks with broken wrist...Viney for Harmes

     
    5 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Did I just read that Brayshaw will be playing wing for the year? 

    I cannot understand Goodwin. 

    Is that the same player that once got a 37 possession 3 goal game playing as an inside mid?

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Sad 1
    9 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Did I just read that Brayshaw will be playing wing for the year? 

    I cannot understand Goodwin. 

    Last year Brayshaw played between the arcs for a large part of games..  He was the 'go-to' player in transition.  So if he plays on the wing I'm guessing his role will be as a link-up player controlling one side of the ground rather the Langdon type wing who is more a run-and-carry player because of his speed.

    The structures and players will need to be well set up to help them play those roles to optimise our ball movement out of defence.

    Despite not being 'fast', Brayshaw has very good footy IQ, has good vision and regardless of what some on here say is a good user of the ball.  If my hunch is right about how his wing role might evolve then it could be good move. 

    Edited by Lucifer's Hero

    • Like 6

    9 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Did I just read that Brayshaw will be playing wing for the year? 

    I cannot understand Goodwin. 

    It worked pretty well on the weekend so lets wait and see...

    • Like 4
    18 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

    in that case...

    In: Viney, Melksham, Hibbo

    Out: Sparrow, Jones, Harmes

    Vandenberg injury sub 

    What has Melksham done to deserve a recall ? Did he play a blinder last week ? 

    His form in the last couple of seasons has been poor and I would have thought he should earn a recall particularly when others have done a full pre season and have greater match fitness. I'd love to think we are past the days of gifting players games on reputation
     

     

    • Like 5
    18 minutes ago, rjay said:

    Harmes now out injured for 6 weeks with broken wrist...Viney for Harmes

    Disappointing news - despite the lack of love for James Harmes from some here at Demonland I think we are a better team with him in the side - played out of position most of last year which was not his choice

    Edited by Sydee

    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Latest Injury List:

    image.png.d974e7d3fa506cdfde7a602e727ac99c.png

    		   

    Some serious outs for the Saints.  They get Max King back but he is lacking match practice and would be having nightmares playing against May again.  If any of our Hibberd, Viney or Melksham return they will at least have some match practice.  Injuries will be no excuse for us should we lose this weekend as they are worse off than us.

    Petracca and May won us the game last time we played them.  We need an all team effort this week.

    We must bank these early wins against wounded opponents. 

    		   
         
    Edit:  Just saw the news re Harmes' wrist.  Fortunately, I think we have plenty of coverage for him and his role.  If Viney is ready it is an easy swap this or next week.    
         
         
         
         

    Apologies if mentioned earlier/somewhere else, what’s the latest with Ben Browns injury?

    15 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Last year Brayshaw played between the arcs for a large part of games..  He was the 'go-to' player in transition.  So if he plays on the wing I'm guessing his role will be as a link-up player controlling one side of the ground rather the Langdon type wing who is more a run-and-carry player because of his speed.

    The structures and players will need to be well set up to help them play those roles to optimise our ball movement out of defence.

    Despite not being 'fast', Brayshaw has very good footy IQ, has good vision and regardless of what some on here say is a good user of the ball.  If my hunch is right about how his wing role might evolve then it could be good move. 

     

    11 minutes ago, rjay said:

    It worked pretty well on the weekend so lets wait and see...

     

    Disagree with both of you. 18 touches with 9 handballs and 9 kicks going at a touch over 60% with four turnovers. 

    I watched him closely, and aside from a few good individual pieces of play, he was underwhelming. The bloke came third in a brownlow after playing his natural game ffs. Are we thinking about this?!? I am completely disillusioned with Goodwin. 

    Against better sides, his lack of transition speed will be found out. His natural instinct is to see ball get ball so I've never understood Goodwin's propensity to play natural inside and contested ball winners on a wing with a role that goes completely against their natural game. We've always had issues with our mids being sucked into the contest. And part of that is due to playing natural ball winners in outside positions who find it hard to hold space. When has it worked over the last two years or three years? Tyson, Jones, Brayshaw, AVB.. 

    Tom Phillips was there as a cheap option over the trade period. Look at how played for Hawthorn on the weekend. A natural wingman. 

    Gus is not even a top runner at the club either so the extended quarters and fewer rotations are not going to help him. His ball use is iffy at best. 

    I will wait a few more games when we play better oppo, but it's already concerning. We've seen this before and to what effect? 

    • Like 6

    1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I hope this now gives Brayshae the opportunity to spend more quality minutes as an inside midfielder.

    I have a feeling that this year they will generally only run two pure inside mids at a time, and sometimes perhaps even only one. 

    Meaning a mix of two (sometimes one) of Oliver, Viney,  Tracc and sometimes Sparrow. Which leaves no rotation for Gus i don't think. 

    To augment this set up, as they have shown already in the two practice games and the Freo game, they will run players like Jordon, Kozzie, Sparrow, Harmes (when available), ANB and even players like Melksham and Jackson (who i'm sure will at some point play as mid whilst Max is still in the ruck) as mids.

    51 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Did I just read that Brayshaw will be playing wing for the year? 

    I cannot understand Goodwin. 

    Who would you play on the wing? We have a lot of inside mids 

    11 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Against better sides, his lack of transition speed will be found out. His natural instinct is to see ball get ball so I've never understood Goodwin's propensity to play natural inside and contested ball winners on a wing with a role that goes completely against their natural game. We've always had issues with our mids being sucked into the contest. And part of that is due to playing natural ball winners in outside positions who find it hard to hold space. When has it worked over the last two years or three years? Tyson, Jones, Brayshaw, AVB.. 

    Agree with you it’s not ideal and we should’ve done more over summer (though less convinced on Phillips).

    But I think Gus’ transition speed kills us more on ball than the wing. If he doesn’t get his hands on it at centre clearances opposition mids spring right past him. Remember we had 2 off the back of the square covering in 2018.

    We could use Pickett at bounces then swap Gus in from half forward. 

    But then we’re back to who’s playing on the wing? Can’t have Baker. Vanders is similar problems as Gus with the ball (only worse) but a better defensive player. Jordon maybe? Bowey maybe?

    • Like 3

    Gus with a foot injury at training so might not be an issue 

    • Sad 1
    1 minute ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Gus with a foot injury at training so might not be an issue 

    As in, an injury today? Know it's early, but flare up of previous one or new one?


    No way Gus will be risked, and fingers crossed its not something long term.

     

    In  -      Viney,   Bedford

    Out -    Harmes, Brayshaw

     

    Bedford has been playing well at Casey and we need running power.  Saints seem like a perfect matchup for him.

    Edited by Pickett2Jackson

     
    29 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Tom Phillips was there as a cheap option over the trade period. Look at how played for Hawthorn on the weekend. A natural wingman. 

    I'm on record as saying we should have gone after Phillips, in fact I think I was the first on here to mention the possibility.

    For whatever reason, we didn't make that move.

    ...so, now Brayshaw is probably our best bet.

    Certainly streets ahead of Baker.

    Hopefully one the kids will stand up and demand a shot but until then it looks like Brayshaw is the man.

     

    • Like 1
    22 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    Disagree with both of you. 18 touches with 9 handballs and 9 kicks going at a touch over 60% with four turnovers. 

    I watched him closely, and aside from a few good individual pieces of play, he was underwhelming. The bloke came third in a brownlow after playing his natural game ffs. Are we thinking about this?!? I am completely disillusioned with Goodwin. 

    Against better sides, his lack of transition speed will be found out. His natural instinct is to see ball get ball so I've never understood Goodwin's propensity to play natural inside and contested ball winners on a wing with a role that goes completely against their natural game. We've always had issues with our mids being sucked into the contest. And part of that is due to playing natural ball winners in outside positions who find it hard to hold space. When has it worked over the last two years or three years? Tyson, Jones, Brayshaw, AVB.. 

    Tom Phillips was there as a cheap option over the trade period. Look at how played for Hawthorn on the weekend. A natural wingman. 

    Gus is not even a top runner at the club either so the extended quarters and fewer rotations are not going to help him. His ball use is iffy at best. 

    I will wait a few more games when we play better oppo, but it's already concerning. We've seen this before and to what effect? 

    Pure speculation on my part but I can see different elements to our game plan being applied when we play thru the wings:. 

    • fast, attacking play (ala Tigers/Bulldogs) thru Langdon
    • 'controlled' football (ala Geelong/WCE) thru Brayshaw. 

    But as I said earlier it requires good positioning/structures and players to be well versed in each style.

    These make us less predictable to the opp but more predictable to team mates.  And we have more of a chance to to control the tempo of games which we haven't been good at in the past.   

    But as I said pure guess work on my part,

    • Like 1

    Guest
    This topic is now closed to further replies.
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Shocked
        • Like
      • 489 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Like
      • 179 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All