Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


How far off were we from a perfect 2021?


Gawndy the Great

Recommended Posts

17-1-4 (130.8%) for a total of 70 pts was our record in the 2021 home and away season. 3-0-0 (213.1%) was our finals record taking our overall season performance to 20-1-4 (139.4%). 

We had some fantastic wins with 80% win-loss against the top 8 sides. But i want to examine how close we really were to pulling off one of the most amazing seasons in AFL history. Our finals will go down in the history books as being one of the most dominant and clinical performances, effectively putting to bed beyond any doubt that we were the best team in 2021. But this thread is not about that. I wanted to hone in on where we left some points on the table and determine how close we were to pulling off a lossless season. 

Round 10: AFC vs MFC 96-95. It was a tantalizing game of football by one of the up and coming (surprisingly) teams in the AFL. The Crows put up a performance that everyone was probably a little unprepared for including the players out on the ground. We hadn't seen that brand of fast ball movement and tactics against our defensive structures. Whilst the Crows were at/near the bottom, they were definitely giving us a sneak peak of the threat they will pose with their list in the years to come.  

How close were we? Really really close. I think we all agree we were robbed in this game of at least 2 points. A few very controversial non free kicks in the last 1-2 mins. It was also probably the first signs of fatigue starting to set in in the season. Salem was rested, our forward 50 connection was not where we wanted it to be. Some interesting stats from the game. +37 disposals Crows, +7 i50 Dees, +23 clearances Dees, +11 contested possessions, 15-6 to 14-11 and we were in front for about 70%

Round 13: MFC vs CFC 63-80. We actually started this game well, but you could tell there was a lack of intensity in comparison to the Pies from the get go. Could have been that wave 3 was kicking in, but probably had more to do with the Pies playing out of their skins for Bucks. In retrospect, this was one of, if not the worst performance of 2021 and it was only a 3 goal loss. We have all heard that good teams can still find a way to win, even if they are not playing well, but we didn't use the ball well enough (despite having lower turnovers that the Pies). The Pies were able to get their kick-mark game going (97- 124), which we were never really looked to undo. Surprisingly we took back the lead in the 3rd quarter and also won the free kick count (28-17), but after being beaten in the clearances and back-to-back-to-back goals to start the last quarter, it was just not going to be our day.

How close were we? Had a sniff. I'd say that the occasion had the Pies playing well above themselves and that a few players had already checked out for the upcoming bye. 

Round 16: MFC vs GWS 55-64 Cant say i recall too much from this game other than thinking we were outcoached. I have always rated GWSs stoppage work - they are so tenacious and clean at the contest and were able to get the ball out of traffic quickly and seamlessly, to their runners with such ease. Our goal kicking accuracy also really let us down with a 2.4 to 1.2 last quarter performance that had it been reversed, would have just got us over the line. We had +1 scoring shots, had much more of the ball but were smashed in the stoppage game. The narrative of the inevitable fall was also starting to take hold in the media. Only lead for 2 mins, but probably was the impetus of GWS late season build of form.

How close were we? Could of, should of, would of. Bad kicking = Bad football. 

Round 18: MFC vs HFC 79-79. I hate the Hawks (lot of rivalry with mates during early 2000s) and so whenever we dont win, it feels like the end of the world for me at least. This game had a cracking first quarter, but my attention was drawn to the intensity of HFC and thought it was not going to be a walk in the park despite where they were on the ladder. It had some similarities to the Crows about 2 months earlier. Whilst we beat them comprehensively earlier in the year, it was only the last quarter where we were able to build a generous lead. We all know the genius coaching of Clarko and how he is able to take our game away from us and we saw it again on this occasion with a Clarko masterclass. We had well and truly settled into being one of the least accurate goal kicking teams with another poor 11-13 to 12-7 display.  

How close were we? Statistically speaking, this was ours, but had the game gone on another 1-2 mins, you feel like we were lucky to hang onto the 2 points in the end. 

Round 19: MFC vs WB 65-85 Our first and only back-to-back loss of the year but more importantly, our last one too. Like the first encounter, it was a subdued game where both teams were trying to find a weakness but not really challenging each other. The Doggies were able to adjust their game style to suit the conditions. The umpires had an absolute howler of a game where they were responsible for changing the momentum in the last quarter even though we got to within a goal of the margin. Doggies had a freakish forward 50 stoppage conversion game and our goal kicking accuracy again haunted us with a 1.4 opening quarter. 

How close were we? Loading, umpiring & goal kicking accuracy. Projected score (champion data) had us winning by 1. 

So there you go folks, we were 18 points away from the statistically perfect season. We had no blow outs, despite clearly hitting some form issues after the bye and our total losing margin for the whole year was 49 points. FORTY-NINE POINTS! I still cannot believe that. An amazing 2021 capped off in the best way possible. It is going to be tough to top that in 2022 but it is absolutely possible.  

Edited by CYB
  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That Bulldogs defeat was the worst performance of the year. Empty stadium, horrendous weather, horrendous umpiring but honestly a game where for the first time all year I thought to myself “We aren’t good enough”. Dogs were clearly the better team on the night. 

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Winning games when not playing our best was huge. In previous years one loss could’ve turned into a 2-3 loss slump. I wouldn’t count a draw and a loss on consecutive weeks two losses in a row. When was the last time we didn’t lose two games in a row in a season?

  • Like 3
  • Thinking 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was there any confirmation from the club about training loads or other reasons for our drop off in form after the bye?

just curious. We looked unbeatable the rest of the time

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


We came to within 4 points of the Dogs at the start of the last quarter despite them playing with 3 extra players on the field.

25-11 free kicks, it was a bit of a joke. 

But we allowed too much room to Bont - which didn't really occur in the grand final - the mistakes in the grand final were mostly getting the wrong match ups inside defensive 50 for 2 of his goals.

And we just couldn't punish them inside 50 even with Keath injured and Schache at full back. Ben Brown was only just warming in to Ben Brown form.

The Hawks draw and Crows loss were both a mix of mental lapses and being unable to full recover when we weren't switched on. You can't be 100% switched on every game but it was disappointed that we got it together enough to win then didn't.

GWS beat us around the ball and defended really well, but we simply didn't have the forwards to over power them and when we sent Hunt forward to win it he decided to run, bounce and get tackled rather than kick maybe the 1 goal we needed to put doubt in to them and break them open. I left that game feeling we either had to win the midfield, get a target inside 50 or pressure like crazy to win games and we went 0-3 against a tricky match up and still had every change to pinch it.

The Collingwood game was our 1 truly awful performance. Nothing went right that day. Weid was awful. The midfield banged it around and had no accountability. We didn't adapt to the width of the ground. The key defenders were panicking and the match ups were bad. There were few redeeming qualities to that effort at all. It was very 2020 and had me worried.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Too many what ifs. I don't we were anywhere near a perfect season. In my mind winning the middle patch against the contenders meant we were in good shape this year and I confidence we'd be a serious contender.

I also thought that the wb loss was just two teams cautiously watching each other. I only took the fact that we matched up to them well without dominating. 

The had a patch in the middle that I was a real kick in the guts where the team needed to lose a few games. I think that we were took more learnings in what to do tough games than the doggies did in winning big against the lower ranked teams. I think this really showed in the grand final where the doggies challeneged us but we were able to dry up scoring, absorb their pressure and swing it the other way. The doggies just kinda gave up. 

Remember collingwood went 20-2 and still didn't win a flag. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Was there any confirmation from the club about training loads or other reasons for our drop off in form after the bye?

just curious. We looked unbeatable the rest of the time

They didnt put out a press release (why would you) but a few players have mentioned it in interviews

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting that we went 6-3-1 in our double up games, but 11-1 in the other 12.

We also went 4-1 the first time we played sides in the double ups with the inexplicable loss to the Crows. But 2-2-1 in the repeat games with GWS, Dogs, Hawks find a way to improve on us. Not entirely sure that means much though. GWS might've beaten us the first time around if not for injuries, the Dogs probably match up better against us at the G and that game was closer than the result says and the Hawks played us pretty tight both times. Once we put the game to bed with a huge last quarter as they were tiring, the 2nd time we stuffed around enough to keep them in it.

The 3 sides we played in the finals for the 2nd/3rd times we obviously went 3-0. So if it was coaches figuring us out a bit it didn't last.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone slightly concerned about our MCG form since the middle of the year.

1) an ordinary scrappy win over Essendon

2) a really poor first 3 quarters in a close loss to GWS

3) an inexplicable draw to a 4-11 Hawthorn at the time.

4) A loss to the Dogs in which we trailed all night.

5) an ordinary to poor win over Adelaide in which we conceded a run of about 5 goals to an injury riddled bottom 4 side.

Hoping those game were more indicative of our mid- late season flat spot rather than an actual issue we have with the venue.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I am entirely convinced that Melbourne loaded heavy after the bye, and the Bulldogs loaded heavy running into the finals. Both were the better teams all year. Geelong have skewed data because of their home ground.

No season is perfect, but ours was as close to perfect a finals series as you’ll get. It was remarkable. The only game we looked in for a battle in we won by 74 points.

Edited by The heart beats true
  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Anyone slightly concerned about our MCG form since the middle of the year.

1) an ordinary scrappy win over Essendon

2) a really poor first 3 quarters in a close loss to GWS

3) an inexplicable draw to a 4-11 Hawthorn at the time.

4) A loss to the Dogs in which we trailed all night.

5) an ordinary to poor win over Adelaide in which we conceded a run of about 5 goals to an injury riddled bottom 4 side.

Hoping those game were more indicative of our mid- late season flat spot rather than an actual issue we have with the venue.

It’s worth noting that optus over in WA now has the exact dimensions of the MCG. So I think, if you’re just looking at how we deal w different oval sizes, we should be including those finals wins in with our MCG record. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lack of maturity vs Crows and Hawthorn (plus umpires) cost us the 4 points (combined) in those games. We were 16 points up against the Crows but didn't manage to slow the game down, and were up by a kick with 30 seconds left vs Hawthorn and (I think) Lever kicked the ball long to a contest when he had some open players in the pocket he could have chipped to and eaten up the last seconds of the game.

Vs the Bulldogs we were just at the end of our loading phase and I think our coaching panel consciously held some things back that cost us the game knowing full well we had bigger fish to fry. Even so we could very well have won if we weren't so inaccurate.

Fair play to Collingwood and GWS, I think those were the only two games this year where the best team on the day won. Bulldogs beat us fair and square too, but we didn't put all our cards on the table that day.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

That Bulldogs defeat was the worst performance of the year. Empty stadium, horrendous weather, horrendous umpiring but honestly a game where for the first time all year I thought to myself “We aren’t good enough”. Dogs were clearly the better team on the night. 

We leaked too many fwd50 stoppage goals in that game. If I remember correctly, it was Hibberd that was responsible for most of them and it caused him to lose his spot. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the perspective that every loss we had during the season was a stepping stone towards our premiership. It’s nice to wonder what might have been if we were undefeated all year, but at the end of the day, the journey turned out how it turned out, and we won the flag.

  • Like 6
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all.    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation fo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Monday 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training. DEMON DYNASTY'S TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kade Chandler's left knee heavily strapped. BBB, Spargs & Jake Lever also in rehab group. Jake Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills. Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a se

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head. The Demons have now won nine of their last ten encounters with the other result, a draw.     And like a fork, it was the multi-pronged options that Melbourne had all across the ground.  It certainly helped that Hawthorn

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 8

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in the Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 276

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02. You 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. Listen & Chat

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 46

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 50

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 359

    GAMEDAY: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 437
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 03

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 03 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 03

  • Match Preview      

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 27

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The boys dissected the clinical thrashing of Hawks praising the immense performance of Christian Petracca whilst lamenting the injury toll to our defensive unit ... LISTEN

    Demonland | March 26

  • Training  

    Monday, 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • Casey Report      

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head out on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 28

  • Match Report      

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Round 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Training  

    Friday, 22nd March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 22

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 19th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin & Walking Civil War attended Tuesday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 19

  • Training  

    Saturday, 16th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Dee Zephyr wandered down to Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning to bring you their observations from the Captain's Run in the lead up to Sunday's Round One match against the Bulldogs ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 16

  • Farewell  

    Angus Brayshaw Retires

    After 167 games including the drought breaking Premiership Angus Brayshaw has made the heart breaking decision to medically retire from football as a result of a series of serious head knocks over his nearly decade of footy. We wish Gus all the best and he'll always be a hero at Demonland ... READ MORE

    Demonland | February 22

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 03

       vs   

    Saturday 30th March 2024
    @ 07:30pm (AO)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Lever Knee Test
    Clayton Oliver Hand Test
    Oliver Sestan Concussion Test
    Steven May Ribs 1 Week
    Lachie Hunter Calf 1 Week
    Daniel Turner Hip 2-3 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 2-4 Weeks
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 7 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 12-14 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Christian Petracca 27
    2 Steven May 25
    3 Max Gawn 21
    4 Jack Viney 20
    5 Bayley Fritsch 19
    6 Clayton Oliver 18
    7 Christian Salem 12
    8 Blake Howes 11
    9 Jack Billings 10
    9 Alex Neal-Bullen 10

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...