Are the Demons pretenders?

[Supreme_Demon 3,834]

I don't usually like to start negative topics like this.

But the question needs to be asked....are the Demons pretenders this year in 2021?

I understand we are 12 wins and only 3 losses. A fantastic effort so far.

We have definitely improved from last year in 2020.

However, we need to win games we are expected to win against teams lower than us on the ladder.

We haven't done anything at all yet. There are no new Premiership cups in our cabinet and the 1964 Premiership cup has probably collected a lot of dust on it.

Losing to the Giants was absolutely not good enough.

It reminds me of the shock loss to the Sydney Swans in 1994. 

Why Ben Brown wasn't selected to play as full forward for the Demons yesterday against the Giants was a bizarre decision. It was a huge selection error in my opinion.

Anyway, it isn't just about the match yesterday. Our form the last few weeks has been poor and I hope we do something as a circuit breaker against Port Power who we play next week over in Adelaide on Thursday night.

The match against Port Power is definitely season defining and after a disappointing loss against the Giants it is crucial that we bounce back.

 

If the Demons don't then we are kidding ourselves if we think we are a chance to win the Premiership this year.

I honestly hope I am wrong....it must be the MFCSS that has mentally scarred me over many years I guess?

C'mon Demons! Bounce back against Port Power and prove to all the naysayers that we are NOT pretenders!

[Grr-owl 1,219]

Well, for what it's worth, I don't think we'll win the cup this year, though we'll give it a crack and gain experience. Next year is when the program comes to fruition and we jump through the premiership window. Hopefully it'll be open at the time....

[ucanchoose 1,816]

No.... West coast however....

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,293]

We will find out in the next month….

[SPC 3,549]

No, just out of form in a lot of areas. Only 5-6 players are playing well the last few weeks consistently. Mainly down back

[faultydet 7,594]

Pretenders.

If you are "out of form", you don't beat the Bulldogs and Lions in consecutive weeks, between losses to Collingwood, Adelaide and the Giants.

That happens when you are not mentally prepared for the challenge. That is a very common story over the past 4 decades.

Port will roll us next week, and it is back to situation normal for Demon supporters being the brunt of office jokes again.

 

It will be well deserved.

[Mr Steve 3,820]

If they bounce back on Thursday night no. Our starts are a worry for me, when you play teams like Collingwood and the Crows you have to beat them up early and they fold. We haven't done that to any of the lower teams this year. 

[Sydee 4,413]

49 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

I don't usually like to start negative topics like this.

But the question needs to be asked....are the Demons pretenders this year in 2021?

I understand we are 12 wins and only 3 losses. A fantastic effort so far.

We have definitely improved from last year in 2020.

However, we need to win games we are expected to win against teams lower than us on the ladder.

We haven't done anything at all yet. There are no new Premiership cups in our cabinet and the 1964 Premiership cup has probably collected a lot of dust on it.

Losing to the Giants was absolutely not good enough.

It reminds me of the shock loss to the Sydney Swans in 1994. 

Why Ben Brown wasn't selected to play as full forward for the Demons yesterday against the Giants was a bizarre decision. It was a huge selection error in my opinion.

Anyway, it isn't just about the match yesterday. Our form the last few weeks has been poor and I hope we do something as a circuit breaker against Port Power who we play next week over in Adelaide on Thursday night.

The match against Port Power is definitely season defining and after a disappointing loss against the Giants it is crucial that we bounce back.

 

If the Demons don't then we are kidding ourselves if we think we are a chance to win the Premiership this year.

I honestly hope I am wrong....it must be the MFCSS that has mentally scarred me over many years I guess?

C'mon Demons! Bounce back against Port Power and prove to all the naysayers that we are NOT pretenders!

Please - BB played in the twos and didn’t do anything to suggest he would have made any difference at all

we are really clutching at straws thinking he is the saviour of our forward line problems 

did nothing last year

had virtually no pre-season this year and so far has been pretty damn underwhelming in the VFL and AFL

could he possibly improve - maybe but atm he’s showing nothing to suggest he can add to what is already a pretty dismal and impotent forward line 

[Gator 17,332]

55 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

I don't usually like to start negative topics like this.

But the question needs to be asked....are the Demons pretenders this year in 2021?

I understand we are 12 wins and only 3 losses. A fantastic effort so far.

We have definitely improved from last year in 2020.

However, we need to win games we are expected to win against teams lower than us on the ladder.

We haven't done anything at all yet. There are no new Premiership cups in our cabinet and the 1964 Premiership cup has probably collected a lot of dust on it.

Losing to the Giants was absolutely not good enough.

It reminds me of the shock loss to the Sydney Swans in 1994. 

Why Ben Brown wasn't selected to play as full forward for the Demons yesterday against the Giants was a bizarre decision. It was a huge selection error in my opinion.

Anyway, it isn't just about the match yesterday. Our form the last few weeks has been poor and I hope we do something as a circuit breaker against Port Power who we play next week over in Adelaide on Thursday night.

The match against Port Power is definitely season defining and after a disappointing loss against the Giants it is crucial that we bounce back.

 

If the Demons don't then we are kidding ourselves if we think we are a chance to win the Premiership this year.

I honestly hope I am wrong....it must be the MFCSS that has mentally scarred me over many years I guess?

C'mon Demons! Bounce back against Port Power and prove to all the naysayers that we are NOT pretenders!

Are Geelong who lost to Adelaide and Brisbane by 10 goals pretenders ?

Are the Dogs, who lost to an undermanned Richmond as well as your ''pretenders'' ?

Are Port, who've lost to Geelong, Brisbane, West Coast and the Dogs, i.e. nearly every top 8 team they've played ?

This year is very close and there's no super team.  Anyone who finishes top 4 can win it and anyone who finishes top 4 will have queries against them.  Melbourne are no super team and there are queries.  We have 6-7 weeks to start playing better football and finish top 4.  If we finish 5th we're cooked.

Edited July 4, 2021 by Hannibal Inc.

[Redleg 40,895]

4 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Please - BB played in the twos and didn’t do anything to suggest he would have made any difference at all

we are really clutching at straws thinking he is the saviour of our forward line problems 

did nothing last year

had virtually no pre-season this year and so far has been pretty damn underwhelming in the VFL and AFL

could he possibly improve - maybe but atm he’s showing nothing to suggest he can add to what is already a pretty dismal and impotent forward line 

Not disagreeing that he isn't the saviour, but his size and ability would have helped.

TBH,  Weid has played far better than BB the last 2 VFL games.

[Sydee 4,413]

2 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Pretenders.

If you are "out of form", you don't beat the Bulldogs and Lions in consecutive weeks, between losses to Collingwood, Adelaide and the Giants.

That happens when you are not mentally prepared for the challenge. That is a very common story over the past 4 decades.

Port will roll us next week, and it is back to situation normal for Demon supporters being the brunt of office jokes again.

 

It will be well deserved.

Depressing if true - the good times didn’t last very long 

Such is life for the long suffering, MFC supporter

 

[Sydee 4,413]

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

Not disagreeing that he isn't the saviour, but his size and ability would have helped.

TBH,  Weid has played far better than BB the last 2 VFL games.

Size means nothing - if that was the only relevant factor I’d be putting Daw in before BB at least he is physically capable of offering a strong contest in a pack situation 

Unfortunately he is no star forward and fitness is still probably not up to AFL standard 

[Tricky 341]

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Not disagreeing that he isn't the saviour, but his size and ability would have helped.

TBH,  Weid has played far better than BB the last 2 VFL games.

I would take either Wied or BB at this point. Forward line was a complete shambles yesterday...

[darkhorse72 1,916]

No, they are just learning that you need 100% concentration and focus to sustain success. 

[rpfc 28,384]

The odds say we will be 5th by the end of next round…

If we are as good as some of us think we should be - we should not let a top 4 position slip.

This Thursday is huge. Win and we stay top 2 and beat another good team. Lose and we are most likely 5th and inviting pressure.

[dl4e 5,851]

Wait until the end of the year but history tends to lead to a yes. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

I just think opposition Coaches have worked us out. The run from the middle has dried up

We have serious work to do

Thursday night will be a real test

[WERRIDEE 5,472]

This week will say a lot about the club win and we are top 2 lose and we are pretenders.

[Fork 'em 6,983]

31 minutes ago, faultydet said:

 Port will roll us next week, and it is back to situation normal for Demon supporters being the brunt of office jokes again.

 

It will be well deserved.

You might deserve it.
But I forken don't.

[Supermercado 2,797]

It's an even enough season that there's opportunities if we get going again. Better than 2004 style hitting the top of the ladder after Round 18 then not winning another game.

[layzie 33,793]

It’s fork in the road. You need to make slight adjustments as the season goes on and it depends what answers we can come up with.

[Fork 'em 6,983]

7 minutes ago, Supermercado said:

It's an even enough season that there's opportunities if we get going again. Better than 2004 style hitting the top of the ladder after Round 18 then not winning another game.

Whether this year is better than 2004 is yet to be decided.

[monoccular 17,424]

47 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Pretenders.

If you are "out of form", you don't beat the Bulldogs and Lions in consecutive weeks, between losses to Collingwood, Adelaide and the Giants.

That happens when you are not mentally prepared for the challenge. That is a very common story over the past 4 decades.

Port will roll us next week, and it is back to situation normal for Demon supporters being the brunt of office jokes again.

 

It will be well deserved.

Actually closer to 6 decades than 4. 

[leave it to deever 17,511]

We are the real deal as shown by the teams we have beaten.

Sadly a few players have dropped in form and our selection has been off.

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

 Certainly looks like we are. Yes we are 12-3 but boy how many of those games were you truly happy with rather than just saying I’ll definitely take that one because we were playing well. 
 

The only games we were truly convincing in we’re against Doggies and Richmond and 1 half against the Lions. Yes all quality opposition - does it say some thing about the mental state of our team when we play top oppositions vs when we are just expected to win?