Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Spargo has definitely been to the Selwood, Hunter, McLean, Mathieson school of head ducking.

I'd say he's even worse than Selwood, Selwood tends to raise the arm/drop the knees when he is being tackled - in recent weeks Spargo seems to pick up the ball and actively look to attack the opposition player with his head and throwing his head back looking for a free. 

Still love him though.

Agree, but I'd have him in the Caleb Daniel faculty.

 

He definitely does drop his knees. 

I don't like it. It s***s me when Mathieson does it. As it does when Selwood does it. Charlie should cut it out.

 

4 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

He definitely does drop his knees. 

I don't like it. It s***s me when Mathieson does it. As it does when Selwood does it. Charlie should cut it out.

 

Agree 100%, I despise those guys for doing it and hating how Spargo has picked up this habit.

Needs to cut it out of his game.

 

what i don't understand is during any game you will hear an umpire say he 'ducked' or use wording that says the player contributed to the tackle. Which is good umpiring then you see someone like Selwood drop his knees, then the tackler go for the waist and then Selwood slides his opponents arms up to his shoulders. all in one motion. Its obvious from the moon whats going on, but the umpire will call  high tackle. its insane. Selwoods frees for/against ratio is off the charts, as was Cyril Rioli a consistent ducker, diver.

how important is it? well both those players have plenty of premierships and awards. thing is I believe its easy to police.

 

but how fair to our players have to play? not exaggerate an in the back ? Max Gawn gets bullocked 20 metres off the ball constantly to keep him away from marking contests. he's the opposite, no gesticulating, just soldiers on.


13 minutes ago, Bay Riffin said:

but how fair to our players have to play? not exaggerate an in the back ? Max Gawn gets bullocked 20 metres off the ball constantly to keep him away from marking contests. he's the opposite, no gesticulating, just soldiers on.

He did actually look back at the umpire to say WTF. It was so obvious and I was absolutely gobsmacked the umpire missed it. Max was perfectly positioned, exactly where he was meant to be, the cats player with no eyes for the ball completely blocked him. 

I found it funny that the two pieces of analysis that King put forward in First Crack, one was a blatant free kick to Gawn and the other was a kick that travelled 10m but was given as a kick on goal. 

EDIT: thought this was the post match thread. So one more time, I love Spargypants!

Edited by Pates

3 hours ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

He doesn’t throw the ball and get away with it like Selwood does.

Or kick it out with insufficient intent. Won’t mention 3 reports either

When he kicks a goal, the oppo fans call out "Spargo, you're another ducker", so I suppose he must be.

(I think that's what they're saying.)

 
4 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

When he kicks a goal, the oppo fans call out "Spargo, you're another ducker", so I suppose he must be.

(I think that's what they're saying.)

Autocorrect is a spectator at our matches?

Who cares if he does? It’s not illegal.

If he is blatant about it, it won’t get paid. If he keeps ducking and gets caught holding the ball, the coaches will stamp it out quick smart.

I hate it when Selwood and the others do it. I don’t care when our players do, especially if they suck the umpires in. Yes I’m a one eyed, biased hypocrite, so what?


4 hours ago, btdemon said:

I haven't posted for a long time. I was just listening to the latest podcast. Andy and Binman defending Spargo as NOT being a ducker. I love Charlie Spargo and I'm glad he's playing for us. He is smart, tough and seems to be a wonderful team player. However, he is rivalling Selwood and Mathieson as a pro-ducker. he has a different technique from Selwood and Mathieson. Selwood drops his knees as a first response to feeling a tackle. Mathieson does the same and throws his head back dramatically. Spargo is like a cat rubbing its head up against your leg. He immediately leans his head into the armpit of the tackler. Being small he gets rewarded for it consistently and has made it an important part of his armoury. Yes, it's smart but if I was an opposition supporter I would hate it just like I hate it with Selwood and Mathieson. But Spargs, keep doing what you're doing.

I can see why

Just delete this thread.

A disgrace

He's small and crafty. Every sport has crafty athletes that aren't blessed with great height, super speed, sublime strength, etc. 

They use craft, nous, cunning and other things to get through. Think about the great knuckleball pitchers in baseball,  or the 'goons' in ice hockey and Ric Flair in every one of his heel title runs. 

I love it! 

  • Author
6 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

I can see why

Just delete this thread.

A disgrace

Actually, you just reminded me why I have curtailed partaking in forum discussions. Over and out.

Selwood has played 332 games and ducked for 14 years.  I think Charlie is a mere apprentice at this stage and hardly as effective as getting the umps love.  

I mentioned this on another forum, I wish he would stop doing it, it makes it hard for me to be righteous about, Selwood, Shuey, Mathieson and Co. And I really want to be righteous on this one, because Selwood and Mathieson annoy the Carp out of me


I don't see the obsession with ducking as a marker for character.

Tacklers and umpires adjust and the game gets better as a result.

There may be some room for umpires to improve their adjudication of ducking but it's not the player's issue.

People telling Charlie to stop ducking when he's gotten us a fair few goals by doing it.

If Charlie Spargo ducks and wins a free kick, that turns into a goal to win us a Grand Final i'll call in to Melbourne radio and tell everyone complaining to suck [censored] and praise be to the short blonde stallion that is Charlie Spargo.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

I can see why

Just delete this thread.

A disgrace

Why? There is certainly a number of people on here who share his opinion. It certainly is worthy of conversation. 

I am surprised that so many supporter admit that he does it and are fine with it. He throws his head back before contact is even made. I've given it to a number of other opposition players over the years for doing it and I absolutely hate it.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

I can see why

Just delete this thread.

A disgrace

Thank goodness he didn't recommend we all join hands and sing Kumbuya. 


Oh yeah he ducks. And I don't care because others have been getting away with it for years. 

He did duck in the Geelong game and the ump was onto it.

He does play low to the ground however and has been justly rewarded several times this year. Not so much a ducker - that won't get him a free - but he does run low and plays for high contact. Just like Caleb Daniel and no-one's bagging CB so let Spargo get on with it.

 

 Just a philosophical question. Is ducking a small mans curse or small mans revenge? 

I have mixed feelings about it, when a player is smaller than average, I feel like it is almost a protective instinct, it makes the tackler think I have to be careful to not give away a free here. Instead of half killing the smaller player, they are a bit slower on the tackle, creating a sliver of time towards disposal of the ball. I know it is popular to hate on Selwood here, and I don't like his cheap shots, but he was a target for a long time and found a way to protect himself, fair play I thought.

On the other hand it is diving, and as such, cheating. 

So forgive me for splitting hairs, but I see two different types of ducking; the cheating Mathieson version where the whole plan is to get a free from the start and the Spargo type where it is more of a protective instinct during the tackle.


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...

Featured Content

  • AFLW REPORT: Gold Coast

    The forecast said wind. The ladder said mismatch. The scoreboard said obliteration. Melbourne didn’t just beat Gold Coast — they dismantled them: 13.15 (93) to 0.6 (6). An 87-point obliteration, the Suns held goalless, and the Demons delivering their second-highest winning margin and third-highest score in AFLW history.

    • 0 replies
  • 2025 Player Reviews: #28 Will Verrall

    It was a tough ask for him to break through as a 199cm ruckman in the shadow of an all-time great in that position who is also the club captain. He had some good days at Casey but was unable to progress and was delisted at the end of the season.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 5 replies
  • 2025 Player Reviews: #29 Tom Campbell

    The 33-year-old Campbell has yet to play AFL football for Melbourne, but his Casey form has been strong and he has been retained as a ready-made ruck depth option who is widely regarded as someone who is excellent for the culture of the club.

      • Thumb Down
      • Haha
    • 8 replies
  • 2025 Player Reviews: #30 Harry Sharp 

    The Demons acquired an interesting player in Sharp, who narrowly missed securing a spot in the Lions’ premiership team last year. The 22-year-old medium forward played in the opening round this season and ended up with 18 senior games, although he was substituted in or out in for ten of those matches. He demonstrated glimpses of form, but ultimately ended the year on the margins of the team.

      • Like
    • 14 replies
  • 2025 Player Reviews: #31 Bayley Fritsch

    Worked his way back after a slow start and a further slump in form going into the midseason but became a solid contributor for the club in the latter half of 2025. Closing in on 300 goals for the club.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 4 replies
  • AFLW PREVIEW: Gold Coast

    On Friday, the Demons return to our Casey Fields fortress where they have a 77% win rate. The scent of September is in the air and the struggling Suns are on the horizon. The Cranbourne weather forecast? Ominous, like the match itself: a strong chance of carnage. Let’s be honest, last week’s first half against the West Coast was a training drill but we dropped our guard in the final quarter. While this match is a mismatch on paper — second versus seventeenth — football is won in the wind, the contests, and the moments.

      • Like
    • 3 replies

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.