Jump to content

Featured Replies

1 minute ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

In Petty and Hibberd

Out May and Jordon

Jordon sub. 

Don't mind that Red. But are we losing an extra midfield rotation by dropping Jordon.

 

Melks has to play next week. He wasn;t great today for sure, but there is no point giving someone a run and then dropping them next game. Completely defeats the purpose

 
53 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

You don't change a winning side unless forced. 

May out

Petty or Daw in. 

Straight swap for another full back. 

 

Except that we made a change after last week's win, and won again?

I've never understood that mantra. 

Clearly, it doesn't add up.

 

Just now, JimmyGadson said:

 

Except that we made a change after last week's win, and won again?

I've never understood that mantra. 

Clearly, it doesn't add up.

That wasn't a change, it was a reshuffle.  We swapped one of the players on the ground for the substitute.  Still the same set of players, just a different one starting with a vest on.  ?


In: Petty, Hibberd 

Out: May, Jetta 

Jordan the sub instead of Sparrow

No chance jetts gets dropped. He was fantastic today.

On a day for small forwards, the type of players that often score the bulk of opposition goals,  none of theirs did any damage.

 
20 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

 

Except that we made a change after last week's win, and won again?

I've never understood that mantra. 

Clearly, it doesn't add up.

 

What doesn't add up?

Obviously it happens that unforced changes are sometimes made to winning sides.

For example a clear best 22 player coming back from injury (like buddy or melk this week).

Or perhaps a player breaking team rules, or some other misdemeanour.

Or perhaps after a scrappy win against an easy beat.

Or just coz.

But as a general rule, coaches are loathe to make changes to winning sides. It has always been thus. A mantra if you will.

 

Edited by binman

1 hour ago, Kent said:

Melksham should never have been inCheesy

Yep. You don't have to convince me. He has skills but just doesn't give the required effort.


May will be missing regardless you'd think. Whether it's concussion or something more serious I can't see him being right for the Hawks. Definitely time to bring Petty in, does that mean we shift Tommo as our key defender or have Petty take the main role initially and make sure our zone is well set up for Lever?

Daw could be an option as well, bring him in with BBB and perhaps look at shifting TMac into a defensive role.

Also does Melksham keep his spot, for me he didn't do a whole lot apart from kicking his easy goal. I'd say give him another week to give him a chance to get some form but he got so many chances last year. I think he get's one more week but thin ice.

I thought Jetta was good, didn't do a hell of a lot wrong. The argument keeps coming though are we better with him or Hibberd in?

1 hour ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Yeah I was still angry after the win when I posted that, have calmed down now.

gary coleman wtf GIF

Seems I was the only one wildly frustrated with TMac today and pleased that Ben Brown was waiting in the wings. I did think that Tomald played reasonably well in round one (with steadily diminishing returns ever since), so now I don't know if it's confirmation bias or not. Out TMac and probably May. In Brown and Majak. 

And no disrespect, but our other 150-plus games veterans in Nev, Nat and Melksham can no longer be relied upon in clutch situations either (e.g. finals), and should probably be transitioned out sooner rather than later. It's not the same at other clubs, but veteran players at other clubs haven't been through the same as what ours have. 

We have coverage for the above-mentioned players, and our maturity is beginning to shine without them. I'm also confident that our next generation of veterans will continue to perform and lead the club and nurture our recruits in a way that our current ones haven't been able to due to a multitude of circumstances.  

IN : PETTY, HIBBERD

OUT: MAY, SPARROW

 

Hibberd the sub.


3 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Seems I was the only one wildly frustrated with TMac today and pleased that Ben Brown was waiting in the wings. I did think that Tomald played reasonably well in round one (with steadily diminishing returns ever since), so now I don't know if it's confirmation bias or not. Out TMac and probably May. In Brown and Majak. 

And no disrespect, but our other 150-plus games veterans in Nev, Nat and Melksham can no longer be relied upon in clutch situations either (e.g. finals), and should probably be transitioned out sooner rather than later. It's not the same at other clubs, but veteran players at other clubs haven't been through the same as what ours have. 

We have coverage for the above-mentioned players, and our maturity is beginning to shine without them. I'm also confident that our next generation of veterans will continue to perform and lead the club and nurture our recruits in a way that our current ones haven't been able to due to a multitude of circumstances.  

I initially had thought that, but I also did think he competed at contests to bring the ball to ground when marking the ball just wasn't going to happen. But he actually did take quite a few marks and played a connector role rather that a forward kicking goals. I think his output needs to be better but 2 good games, one more last week, and one ok-ish today. I think he keeps his spot for next week.

Any word on whether we're going to bring BBB straight in after one Casey match?

Basically we need a replacement for May. That would be Petty for me. Then the Jordan, Swallow and Jetta positions are all up for grabs but do we have suitable replacements? Not convinced. And would love one of our big forwards to come in but don’t believe they are ready yet. Weid didn’t get a kick and BB only played a half in a practice match. 

5 minutes ago, Pates said:

I initially had thought that, but I also did think he competed at contests to bring the ball to ground when marking the ball just wasn't going to happen. But he actually did take quite a few marks and played a connector role rather that a forward kicking goals. I think his output needs to be better but 2 good games, one more last week, and one ok-ish today. I think he keeps his spot for next week.

Any word on whether we're going to bring BBB straight in after one Casey match?

Took the equal-most marks on the ground in a stat that I think is super-important for us. But it's what he does after those marks - and moreso when he's trying to win the ball in tight situations but mostly just gets in the way - that just seems a poor fit with what the rest of our team is doing right now. 

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Think we may go small next week -

Out: May, Jordon
In: Hibberd, Sparrow (as a starter)

Doubt Melk gets dropped but understand the calls for him to go

Sparrow only played 17% less game time than Jordon, somehow. 

I was very outspoken about Melksham getting a Gig today and he is a weak link . Given the way we are playing you cannot have a bloke that is not of that ilk.As iterated he needs to force selectors to pick him. He didn't and to my mind he should not play until he displays the grunt expected!


Given what I saw yesterday BB Is teasingly close very tantalisingly so!

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

Given what I saw yesterday BB Is teasingly close very tantalisingly so!

Goodwin reckons a few weeks away for he & Weid. Wants them fit and in form before throwing them in the team. That's an approach that should let them hit the ground running when they resume at AFL level

 

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • PODCAST: Essendon

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. 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. 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.

      • Thanks
    • 23 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Fremantle

    The Demons return home to the MCG in search of their first win for the 2025 Premiership season when they take on the Fremantle Dockers on Saturday afternoon. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 59 replies
    Demonland
  • VOTES: Essendon

    Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year ahead of Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Thanks
    • 22 replies
    Demonland
  • POSTGAME: Essendon

    Despite a spirited third quarter surge, the Demons have slumped to their worst start to a season since 2012, remaining winless and second last on the ladder after a 39-point defeat to Essendon at Adelaide Oval in Gather Round.

      • Vomit
      • Sad
      • Thanks
    • 252 replies
    Demonland
  • GAMEDAY: Essendon

    It’s Game Day, and the Demons are staring down the barrel of an 0-5 start for the first time since 2012 as they take on Essendon at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. In that forgettable season, Melbourne finally broke their drought by toppling the Bombers. Can lightning strike twice? Will the Dees turn their nightmare start around and breathe life back into 2025?

      • Like
    • 723 replies
    Demonland
  • 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.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland