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.


Will a team improve enough to challenge us next year?


WERRIDEE

Recommended Posts

21 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

"You must always strive to be the best, 
but you must never believe you are the best" 

- Juan Manuel Fangio

I am the Greatest

- Muhammad Ali

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/29/2021 at 5:54 PM, Docs Demons said:

We can improve which is scary HOWEVER it is above the shoulders that count. Keep our feet firmly on the ground and have the desire again then I think we can do it again. 

Whoops, I think we were ‘freed from desire’ not long after the granny. 

Edited by FlashInThePan
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Injuries and a lack of hunger could be our downfall.

I want to win a flag in 2022 more than I did this time last year for the  2021 season, which is bizarre considering we've reached Mt Everest and you could be entitled for being more relaxed the following year. Hopefully the players feel the same. (I would imagine winning a flag at the G is a massive carrot to dangle in front of the players)

I know this sounds silly but beware sides such as Essendon, St Kilda and Carlton. Both clubs are paying $26 odd for the flag and I'm pretty sure premiers such as Melbourne, Bulldogs and West Coast were paying about that amount in the pre season when they won their flags.

Can see a lot of improvement in Essendon or Carlton. St Kilda less so, but they had a tough run with injury and still came 10th.

 

 

Edited by Bring-Back-Powell
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, mauriesy said:

Why? If we continue to improve, more players will have "career best years". Depth, fitness and good management can take care of injuries unless they are really numerous and/or severe.

Simply making the point that the majority of players were in great form this year and on the law of averages it’s unlikely to happEn to that degree again. 

Re injuries, good management can’t help collision type injuries for example 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Simply making the point that the majority of players were in great form this year and on the law of averages it’s unlikely to happen to that degree again.

We had eight players under-21 in the grand final who are only going to get better. One acquitted himself really well in only his 7th game. We didn't have a player with 200 games experience and only one player over 30. Players like Jordon, Hunt, Tomlinson, Daw, Melksham, Weideman, Mitch Brown and Smith are there as role-playing back-ups.

Of course injures may happen to key players, but the "law of averages" therefore says to me that we are not going to get worse.

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, mauriesy said:

We had eight players under-21 in the grand final who are only going to get better. One acquitted himself really well in only his 7th game. We didn't have a player with 200 games experience and only one player over 30. Players like Jordon, Hunt, Tomlinson, Daw, Melksham, Weideman, Mitch Brown and Smith are there as role-playing back-ups.

Of course injures may happen to key players, but the "law of averages" therefore says to me that we are not going to get worse.

 

I guess we will find out.  I reckon there might be a few cranky people on here next season when we lose a couple of games early

just because players are young does not mean that will naturally be better next year. We will be targeted, pressure will build. improvement is not linear.  I still think we will be right in the mix but I'm not as confident as some. we did miss finals the previous 2 seasons

Link to comment
Share on other sites


2 minutes ago, DubDee said:

I guess we will find out.  I reckon there might be a few cranky people on here next season when we lose a couple of games early

just because players are young does not mean that will naturally be better next year. We will be targeted, pressure will build. improvement is not linear.  I still think we will be right in the mix but I'm not as confident as some. we did miss finals the previous 2 seasons

Just give the players next year off then I reckon?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every year teams will challenge those at the top, that's footy.  Reviewing the finals and H&A, barely any top 8 side threatened us over the journey. Has any of the top 8 a new player that would change their chances, not in trading they haven't.  But they might develop and refine a new system that can crack ours.  Is saying that, our teams philosophy of total selflessness makes up for gaps in our players, but doing what the team needs first and they have learnt how it leads to success.  Given our age demographic we should continue at least incremental improvements in playing decision marking and skills.  This has already been flagged by Gawny.    The next half decade looks very bright, but there are always challenges. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/31/2021 at 11:20 AM, sue said:

Yes, but if they got that 1 goal closer they could have overtaken us wihtin the quarter. A team can be apparently far better than the opponent and still lose. That too is footy.  If you weren't nervous at that point in the game you couldn't possibly be a Demons supporter.  😀    

Anyway, while we  had a great year and a great final series all I'm saying is we shouldn't get over-confident about the size of the gap between us and other teams.   But if it makes any of us happy to be over-confident, fine. Just as long as the players are not.  (Confidence within bounds is of course good.)

Honestly? I wasn't nervous.

We had finished strongly all year. We were in front. They were throwing everything at us and all they could do was slowly cut down our lead.

How many times this year did we build a lead and then absorb the opposition momentum when we knew it would come? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the true joys of watching our dees this year was the apparent lack of a weakness anywhere on the ground. To use the accepted parlance our last six were as good as other teams' first or second six.

Who would be be the last six? The usual suspects Spargo, Nibbler, Harmes, Sparrow, Jordon, Hibbo all played to their potential and, in their time on the field, did not show any deficiency in class or effort.

The next six who did not make the squad are also capable of matching the performance of the rest of the team. No gaps.

Will this sustain us for multiple flags? Who knows but at this stage we are the best placed in the AFL.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/29/2021 at 11:01 AM, deelusions from afar said:

I think Brisbane will come back hard - losing Cam Rayner for the season who has the potential to be their Dusty / Petracca type player and then losing Hipwood and McStay for all the finals.

They were very unlucky to lose to the dogs - I think they're only a player or two away from being very dangerous.

GWS and Sydney certainly have enough talent on their lists to trouble anyone if it all comes together (including injuries and suspensions) at the right time of year.

I think Carlton will come good under Voss but would think it would take a few years of "learnings" to get them playing the right way.  Don't we know about that!

I think the Tigers will also improve when they get their injured players back, but l don’t expect Dusty to be the force he was. The cats to be mid-list and miss the finals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In short term Brisbane will be the real challengers.  As @deelusions from afarnoted, losing Hipwood and McStay for the finals simply blew their season away.  The same would have happened to us without Brown and McDonald in the same scenario.  They were really unlucky to lose to the Dogs in the semi, and could have actually been our opponent in the GF.

However, the one that will be up and coming are Essendon.  Draper, Zerk-Thatcher, Perkins and Harrison Jones are exactly the types of players around which to build a premiership side....just like we did!  And Parish is finally showing the form in the same way that we knew Petracca would show one day.  When we played them, they really took us to the wire, and have that same youthful enthusiasm that can take you a long way.

Pity is they spent capital on Shiel, Devon Smith and Stringer, who are brilliant one day and miserable the next.  Worse is that when they do come good, their sactimonious fans will be even more unbearable!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/29/2021 at 2:13 PM, robbiefrom13 said:

Even when Bontempelli kicked his third, I had little concern - we were the fittest, we were stronger and we had more stars.  I was sure we'd run it out better than the Dogs.  I said to the young Bulldogs fan next to me, "you watch, they'll put Jackson in the ruck, Harmes will go onto Daniels and shut him down, it's what they do."  he laughed and said something about living in hope - but then it all kicked off.  We were so far a different article, the doggies looked absolutely astonished - and then they folded.  Anybody would have. 

We have got a list nobody can match.  Gawn Oliver and Petracca - who beats that?  but then there's Jackson as well!  Not forgetting Viney and a queue of rising strong learners.  The best backline, able to shut down anybody.  Who has got hold of them in the past twelve months?  Kozzie is only starting, so is Ben Brown really.  Fritsch is pretty good!  We have arrived, and I have never seen a more capable set of players at Melbourne, including 1964; never mind the competition-leading fitness and the team ethos.  We've got the wings sorted, and we can kick goals.  Bowie and Salem are rock-sloid, smart, skilled - absolute guns.  

You hesitate to look over-confident, but the objective facts seem to me to point at MFC being the benchmark by quite a margin.  Short of us stuffing it up, why would anyone think we're going to be looking back later and saying "i'm not surprised"?  This is the  box-seat!   

Clearly the most gifted and well organised team in the competition.  And young enough for it all to be in front of them! 

Max shows the way - hard-working to the nth degree, but with that in place, it's all about fun.  I loved the way Petracca spoke so unselfconsciously about knowing he had the talent.  It's simply a fact.  This is all new for us, but it's real and we should enjoy!

Gee the future really is very bright.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

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 262

    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 357

    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...