Jump to content

Welcome to Demonland: Blake Howes

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

1 hour ago, Grimes Times said:

left hand bounce, right foot kick and did he kick it to himself in the last play??

How good was he drilling it to himself?! On a serious note good to see he can move fwd and be a leading target.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

    Blake Howes will head to the Demons as a wingman who can play at either end. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images 

    AFL Draft 2021: Demons thrilled as they secure their two main target

    What an odd opening statement...

    "Melbourne has enjoyed a rare win at the national draft when it secured two of its top first-round targets exactly 20 picks apart across two nights."

  • Quote
    • Haha 3
     
    6 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

    What an odd opening statement...

    "Melbourne has enjoyed a rare win at the national draft when it secured two of its top first-round targets exactly 20 picks apart across two nights."

    Rare in terms of getting both its targets with an average draft hand. 

    It's just poorly worded.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    5 minutes ago, Matt said:

    Paywall. Can someone put the article up?

    Rival recruiters have lauded the reigning premier’s draft haul after snaring versatile 193cm tall Jacob Van Rooyen at No. 19 and tall wingman Blake Howes at 39.

    The Demons had Howes right in the mix with their first selection and then, after opting for Van Rooyen as part of a close call, tried to strike a trade with Adelaide when Howes was still available at pick 36.

     

  • Quote
    • Thanks 2
    12 minutes ago, adonski said:

    Rival recruiters have lauded the reigning premier’s draft haul

    If the rival recruiters thought our draftees were that good, how come no-one selected them (especially Howes) earlier than what we did?

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
    8 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

    If the rival recruiters thought our draftees were that good, how come no-one selected them (especially Howes) earlier than what we did?


    I’m similarly suspicious, but could it be due to needs?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    7 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

    If the rival recruiters thought our draftees were that good, how come no-one selected them (especially Howes) earlier than what we did?

    How come teams let us grab Fritsch at pick 31, or Rivers at pick 32?

    Everyone sees it differently, with picks a scarce resource 

    Draft was supposed to be even between picks 15-40 odd

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 2

    How many times have you eaten out and wished you'd ordered the steak instead of the hamburger.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    • Haha 3

    31 minutes ago, Dante said:

    How many times have you eaten out and wished you'd ordered the steak instead of the hamburger.

     

    I never regret ordering a hamburger ☺️🍔

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 2
    1 hour ago, mauriesy said:

    If the rival recruiters thought our draftees were that good, how come no-one selected them (especially Howes) earlier than what we did?

    My guess? 

    Clubs naturally look at what the premiers are doing.

    West Coast are the outliers since the dogs won the flag in 2016, in so far as the other winners have all been manic contest teams with really strong, combative midfields with game plans that emphasise territory over precision ball movement.

    This model requires inside mids and contested ball winners across every line. And a key element of both the tiger's and dee's game plans is top line intercepting key defenders and rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills (the latter is true of the dogs too). 

    I wonder if the other clubs, all playing catch up except the dogs and to a lesser extent the tigers (who needed an injection of young, manic energy - and drafted accordingly), prioritised such players. And conversely had less interest in outside players, wingers and key forwards such as JVR and Howes. 

    We have enough inside mids and contested ball winners. And more than enough top line intercepting defenders, not to mention rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills.

    So we can afford to target a key forward AND and winger. And seem to have done exactly that 

    Edited by binman

  • Quote
    • Like 8
    • Love 1
    37 minutes ago, binman said:

    My guess? 

    Clubs naturally look at what the premiers are doing.

    West Coast are the outliers since the dogs won the flag in 2016, in so far as the other winners have all been manic contest teams with really strong, combative midfields with game plans that emphasise territory over precision ball movement.

    This model requires inside mids and contested ball winners across every line. And a key element of both the tiger's and dee's game plans is top line intercepting key defenders and rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills (the latter is true of the dogs too). 

    I wonder if the other clubs, all playing catch up except the dogs and to a lesser extent the tigers (who needed an injection young, manic energy - and  drafted accordingly), prioritised such players. And conversely had less interest in outside players, wingers and key forwards such as JVR and Howes. 

    We have enough inside mids and contested ball winners. And more than enough top line intercepting defenders, not to mention rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills.

    So we can afford to target a key forward AND and winger. And seem to have done exactly that 

     

    Agreed, we drafted for needs and by the look of it, have come up trumps. JT is future proofing our list with these young draftees.

    In all my years of being a devoted Dees supporter, and it it has been a lot of years, I have never seen such a deep and balanced list.

    The fight for spots in the 1's is going to be fierce next year. By the way I am a long time Demonland viewer and first time poster.

    Very excited about our event at the G this Sunday for the Melbourne faithful. Great times for our beloved club

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Quote
    • Like 12
    • Love 2

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    10 minutes ago, binman said:

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

    2 good ones will get the job done. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    1 hour ago, mauriesy said:

    If the rival recruiters thought our draftees were that good, how come no-one selected them (especially Howes) earlier than what we did?

    I must admit I do cringe when I hear 'We didnt think a quality pick like this would be available so late in the draft'.

    and think of this what if scenario...

    Say every other club has a different choice for Nos 1 player including MFC who thinks it is JVR. And say all the other clubs agree the 2nd best player  is JVR. So in an uncompromised draft the Dees have pick 18 and pick JVR.

    So the agreed 2nd best player in the draft goes to the  Dees at pick 18 ( I know, we think it mazing)

    The humidity in Cairns is pickling my brain.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    11 minutes ago, binman said:

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    16 minutes ago, TRACATTACK said:

     

    Agreed, we drafted for needs and by the look of it, have come up trumps. JT is future proofing our list with these young draftees.

    In all my years of being a devoted Dees supporter, and it it has been a lot of years, I have never seen such a deep and balanced list.

     

    We were able to do so because JT and Tim lamb have one such a brilliant job getting the foundation prices in place in the last 6-7 drafts. 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1
    Just now, TRACATTACK said:
    12 minutes ago, binman said:

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

    Dogga is already way beyond being a good back up ruck, he is the nearly 200cm hybrid prototype of a ruck/midfielder that most clubs can only aspire to emulate atmo. As a matter of fact I would also put Maxy in the category of a ruck/midfielder. His clean hands and speed over the ground for a man his size is just awesome. They are an awesome combo that will only improve.

    Maxs' insistence in leaving Dogga in the centre square in the 3rd quarter was match winning and great coaching, as was adjusting our centre square setup at half time.

    Mac Andrew may very well get to that level eventually but I suspect it will take him a while. It's a shame he didn't come to us as our Academy player but I wish him well, seems like a nice young man with lovely family.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    39 minutes ago, binman said:

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

    The irony of clubs following the lead of the premiers is that teams which make it to the top have often done something different from the pack, rather than follow the leader. We employed the two ruckmen model. Richmond didn't really do this (Shaun Grigg anyone?). Whether it was "Clarko's cluster" or Richmond's manic pressure, we didn't just blindly copy what went beforehand.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    40 minutes ago, binman said:

    Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. 

    A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck. 

    Jacko and Gawn didn’t change too many games purely in the ruck, so I still think teams can get by with serviceable ruck options against most sides.

    But the ruck as a forward is something that even recently has been a liability. With the right forward mix and ball movement that liability can be flipped to become really useful. Defenders are just too good for almost all key forwards. But if you move it quickly and give a ruck a run and jump at it they’re more chance of breaking even against defenders than most key forwards. The extra height, reach and physicality makes a ruck in the forward line a weapon. Especially when you can mix and match between Jackson’s athleticism and Gawn’s reach 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    1 hour ago, Doggas front teeth said:

    I never regret ordering a hamburger ☺️🍔

    porterhouse or ribeye? Maccas or Griil'd?

  • Quote
    On 11/29/2021 at 1:12 PM, 58er said:

    Still no details on Mackies weaknesses. Really I just think you comment wildly with rash generalisations and maybe your knowledge is very shallow.

    Imagine if any of our Coaches reported like this a player would not know what they were good at or not. 

    Really not worth reading your posts Mach 5 as they lack critical detail . M

    Might be time you just blocked him then and moved on maybe.

  • Quote
    •  
    11 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    The irony of clubs following the lead of the premiers is that teams which make it to the top have often done something different from the pack, rather than follow the leader. We employed the two ruckmen model. Richmond didn't really do this (Shaun Grigg anyone?). Whether it was "Clarko's cluster" or Richmond's manic pressure, we didn't just blindly copy what went beforehand.

     

    Agree.

    The other point of difference is our defensive system, which i'd argue that whilst it has elements of other systems (eg zones, intercepts marking etc) is unique in many ways. 

    That said, whilst we didn't blindly follow the tigers or the dogs there is no question we used their template of pressure, win the contest football as the foundation of our moil.

    And you could also argue that we borrowed elements of the WC and cat's game plans - specifically the ability to switch to temp/hold onto the ball mode when needed. 

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Drafting for needs makes a bit of sense after the top few picks because the talent pool is skewed and flattens off. That said, each recruiting team has emphasis on different things, so every club thinks they picked up a player who was better (or at least worthy) of their pick. Hawthorn would only look at good kicks in the late 2000s. The Tigers have favoured speed and pressure. We have favoured players who could win contested ball. Howes and Van Rooyen were almost certainly higher on our draft board than selected.

    I think we are in a bit of a unique position with our inside midfield, ruck and defensive talent being so strong. It meant that only outside midfielders and forwards would improve our best side.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • 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. Unfortunately, performances like these went against the grain of what Melbourne has been producing from virtually midway through 2024 and extending right through to the present day. This is a game between two clubs who have faltered over the past couple of years because their disposal efficiency is appalling. Neither of them can hit the side of a barn door but history tells us that every once in a while such teams have their lucky days or come up against an opponent in even worse shape and hence, one of them will come up trumps in this match.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Thanks
      • 257 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 17 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All