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.


CHANGES: Rd 13 vs Collingwood


Demonland

Recommended Posts

11 hours ago, BDA said:

We have no key forward in any kind of form. I sya we try Petty inside 50 and leave Thommo in

And give Hibberd a run if he's fit (i don't know if he is)

Out: Hunt and Brown (not sure whether Mitch or Ben, its a toss up)

In: Hibberd and MAy

Yes I think this is what it's come to. No point playing Weid we'll only get more of the same 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

People are either entrenched in their anti-Weid glasses or didn't go to the game if they honestly think Ben Brown should stay in ahead of him after tonight.

So just replace a non performer with another non performer?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Ben Brown has been poor nearly all year. Take off the ginger goggles.

History of good games means absolutely nothing.

What about Weid's history of poor games?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The greatest relief is the timing. We know the bones of the side are the best in the league. We have 10 weeks to find the right combination and for key players to find form. If I were an opposition supporter, I’d be annoyed this slump occurred now and not later in the season.

The forward line is a big concern. We badly need Ben Brown to perform as he did at the end of 2020 - the question is whether you allow him to find form at Melbourne or Casey. This time last season, Weidemann and Brown were trading places and it looks like the same thing is happening. If McDonald is a longterm injury the equation is different and I wonder if Weidemann would play more freely if he knew his place in the side wasn’t so vulnerable. (Obviously, not the ideal mindset for an elite athlete).

Petty seemed to drift to CHF last night and seemed comfortable: Perhaps not the answer but worth experimenting with in the same way we did with Tom McDonald 4-5 years ago.

IN: Weidemann, May, Hibberd

OUT: B Brown, M Brown, Hunt

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, John Demonic said:

Sam Reid surely gets the gong for the Kent Kingsley Award for Spuds who perform well against us. Might've been one of the all time great KKA performances. A performance worthy of a starting gig in our forward line. If only we had the mid season trade period...

Definitely. 

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


11 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Ben Brown isn't reliable this year.

Don't understand why so many live in the past.

Yet you want Weid LOL

  • Love 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ni doubt in my mind we are loading. 

Why?

Because, one,  you can see they are not covering the ground, are unusually fumbly and in the last two weeks are shaged at the end of quaters and the whole second half.

And two, this is exactly what happened last year at exactly the same point in the year, including our sudden inability to score and stop the opposition marking the ball.

I won't be surprised if we lose next week too.

Edited by binman
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
  • Thinking 1
  • Sad 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ungarieboy said:

Changes should always improve a side.

Our backs are in no drastic need of improvement, but regardless, this will occur naturally with Mays inclusion. Tomilson is no fullback (we recruited him as a wing option) but still a good 3rd tall option - allowing flexibility of one of Petty, May, Lever to be considered forward.  Swans exposed Hunts defence (isolated one out), which also allowed them to push their forwards/wingers up the ground and cramp our forward line. Other teams will try and follow this - though May coming back, it may not be as effective considering he plays a goal keeper role.

The Swans and Dockers also showed how to stop us from scoring and it's simple actually, clog up the space in our forward line preventing our marking targets from leading to the "v" in front of goal (our smalls are pressure players not leading/marking options), then pressure the midfield to force a long kick (seems to be our preference, rather than lowering eyes going into the 50).  Tmac, was crucial to this as he competed in the air, allowing our pressure smalls and midfielders a chance at ground level - which also puts pressure on their backs and midfielders; and consequently restricting their ability to run off and transition the ball quickly. Petty may help here, otherwise Gawn seems next best. Fritsch is a third tall and should not be considered as a KPF. Note Gawn forward weakens our midfield play, as Jackson doesn't do enough in the air around the ground.

Our midfield loves to run out the front of the contest, but unfortunately this means if theirs get there hands on the ball first we are exposed to a quick clearance. Teams have worked this out to and are defending our front, and using the release handball to move the ball forward from the back of the contest.

May is an obvious in, and M Brown an out - he's the same type of player as his namesake (so is Weids).  

Also having a small as an emergency seriously exposes us if a tall is injured - Hibberd or Rivers would be better suited 

Gawn going forward is currently weakening our midfield, but it shouldn't - remember the Grand Final turned when we had Jackson in the middle. Jackson's performed as an AFL-level ruck and then midfielder before, but right now he's out of form. Which is killing us because Gawn was winning us the match wherever he went yesterday, including FF, but we couldn't get it to work because Jackson was being beaten in the ruck.'

I'm really unsure about Petty to the forward line. The May-Petty-Lever combo won us a flag and they work very well together. He hasn't trained as a forward in a long time and one of our major issues is connection - the mids and Petty aren't just going to start magically working out leading patterns/timing etc. when we flip our lock-down defender to the forward line. And it would mean retaining Tomlinson, who maybe needs a week under his belt to get back into it, but last night was really poor.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Part of the problem is they like to play one side of the ground all the time, going to the city end they go the Southern Stand side, going to the punt road end members stand side they do not switch it around, quite a few times last night ball on HFF line players calling for it across the ground free but we just bomb it into pockets, and again I will say this BB got his majority of his goals at north on the lead bit hard to lead if that's where the pack is.  Sides have worked it out against us lets see what the coaching staff come up with.

Not making excuses but we looked a little slow and I am just wondering if they are being loaded up before the break.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Outs. .  F.Umbles. L.Ittlehandballstonoone  T.Acklingovertheshoulder

ins.  S.Ure-handling.   K.Ickstoadangerousspotinsidefifty
S.Coringpower

R.Uthless also needs to be recalled after missing this year so far 

Edited by spirit of norm smith
H
  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Docs Demons said:

Ben Brown has to go. Who for I have no idea but he is to slow and cumbersome. Would also look closely at Picket and Spargo. No influence at all on the game. When they actually win the ball they just turn it over, Hunt also needs to go for Hibberd. Thank goodness we had Gawn and Gus as they were about only guys that won their contests and had a go.

Wow wee. The Deez kicked nine goals for the game. Two of them were a direct result of Picket's work - both of which no other player in the club could have executed. Outside of BF, he was the only Dee forward that remotely looked like dragging us over the winner's line. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Lord Nev said:

You pick on form. Weid had 3 goals and 10 marks, Brown is badly out of form. Pretty simple decision really.

To be honest I don't what the answer is but I do know it's not and never will be Weid plays one reasonable game in every 10

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, loges said:

To be honest I don't what the answer is but I do know it's not and never will be Weid plays one reasonable game in every 10

There's not one answer, but you don't just continue with out of form players when others are performing at VFL level. We've been down that path as a club, it didn't go well.

Absolutist answers are pretty lame.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Mr Steve said:

Watched the VFL today and only Rivers Baker and Weid played well enough to get a call up. 

Hey MS. Also caught a bit of the game. Problem is the Magoos are so far below the intense standard of the AFL, that we get false readings on players. For example, Weed plays well at level, but the pressure and intensity is probably half of what he gets in the AFL. He gets badly exposed at senior level, poor guy. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


12 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

There's not one answer, but you don't just continue with out of form players when others are performing at VFL level. We've been down that path as a club, it didn't go well.

Absolutist answers are pretty lame.

So are continual face palms 

  • Facepalm 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

FWIW . . . with a few exceptions that continually get exposed as dumb footballers, individual players are not the problem. The comp has broken down our game style. Freeo and Swans, because they are well coached and have good players, perfected interrumpere stilus. 

I'm not an expert by any means, but I would have thought our style flaws are relatively easily addressed. For example, let's focus on sticking tackles and handling the ball cleanly under pressure. Improvements in these two areas will go a long way to fixing our forward line woes. BBB has lost form for sure, but he's not going to regain it in a substandard second tier comp, nor in our senior team with the ball being bombed into the arms of McCartin all night long either.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aside from personnel changes, also think we'd benefit from Gus getting back to the wing (Rivers or Hibberd in), and Kozzy attending a few centre bounces again. Reckon we need to shake up the clearance setup a bit.

 

  • Like 8
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Watched the whole Casey game at the ground yesterday. Hibberd played a basically flawless game. If he’s fit enough, he absolutely comes in, for Hunt I presume. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reckon we will persevere with Ben Brown for the time being in the hope that he comes good

May will be back which adds a lot and Rivers could get an early recall. If so, Brayshaw goes back to the wing

Maybe swap Weideman for Mitch Brown in the hope that Weideman finds some form in the seniors. 

Nearly all of the others have points in the bank but our glaring weakness is our forward line and to a lesser extent, the delivery into the forward line

But the forwards can't expect lace-out delivery unless they present properly.  And that isn't happening.  Also, our small forwards (collectively) need to step up and start hitting the scoreboard

As for the tall forwards, we need Ben Brown, Weideman/M Brown and a resting ruck (Gawn or Jackson) all competing hard, fighting for the front position and/or creating separation

The options aren't really there with our tall forwards so what is needed is a greater output from what we've got.  Van Rooyen looks like he needs plenty of time in the reserves.  Project player

Fritsch as the floating 3rd forward is playing his role but he could be a much bigger weapon if the tall forwards play their roles well

At times last night we looked like a one-man team (Max Gawn) The big bloke needs help and lots of it

n.b. T-Mac may or may not be available so the above is based on his unavailability

Edited by Macca
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Listening to Goodys presser, I don’t think Weideman will come in. So it will be Brown and Brown again. Also said TMac would have scans during the week! May will come in for Tomlinson, who was way off the pace. I think Hibberd should come in, probably for Hunt. I would like to see Bedford in the 22. Maybe Gus gets into the midfield rotation, and Sparrow out? Quite a few players are down on form, the only way to get that back is to play. Yesterdays game could have gone either way, let’s not forget that.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Gawn going forward is currently weakening our midfield, but it shouldn't - remember the Grand Final turned when we had Jackson in the middle. Jackson's performed as an AFL-level ruck and then midfielder before, but right now he's out of form. Which is killing us because Gawn was winning us the match wherever he went yesterday, including FF, but we couldn't get it to work because Jackson was being beaten in the ruck.'

I'm really unsure about Petty to the forward line. The May-Petty-Lever combo won us a flag and they work very well together. He hasn't trained as a forward in a long time and one of our major issues is connection - the mids and Petty aren't just going to start magically working out leading patterns/timing etc. when we flip our lock-down defender to the forward line. And it would mean retaining Tomlinson, who maybe needs a week under his belt to get back into it, but last night was really poor.

Fully agree with this. Jackson is flying under the radar with regards to the blame game on here. He needs to decide where he is going to be playing his footy next year, because I think at the moment that is really affecting his game

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    ICEBREAKER by KC from Casey

    The Casey Demons have broken the ice for season 2024 with a pulsating come-from-behind victory over Port Melbourne in which it took the lead for the first time at the halfway mark of the final quarter. The game played in mild Autumn conditions in neutral territory at Kinetic Park, Frankston, never reached great heights in standard but it proved gripping in character at the end at the Casey Demons overcame the Borough to win by 15 points after trailing badly early in the second half.  P

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    MAULED by Whispering Jack

    The writing was on the wall from the very first bounce of the football. The big men went up, Max Gawn more often than not, decisively won the ruck hit out and invariably a Brisbane Lions onballer either won the battle on the ground or halved the contest and they went at it repeatedly until they finally won out. Melbourne managed the first goal from Alex Neal-Bullen but after that the visitors shut out every area of Demon presence around the ground except in the ruck duels. It was a mauling.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 4

    PREGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demons have a bye next week and have a 13 day break before they return to the MCG on ANZAC Eve to take on the Tigers. Who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 151

    PODCAST: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 15th April @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons loss at the MCG against the Lions in the Round 05. 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 LIV

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 47

    VOTES: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    Last week Christian Petracca retook the outright lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Max Gawn, Steven May, Alex Neal-Bullen & Jack Viney. Your votes for the loss against the Lions. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 39

    POSTGAME: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    The Demons 4 game winning streak has come to an end after a disappointing loss against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG going down by 22 points. 

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 502

    GAMEDAY: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

    It's Game Day & Demons have a great opportunity to win their fifth game on the trot and go into the bye with 5 wins and one loss when they take on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on the Thursday night big stage.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 833

    TRAINING: Wednesday 10th April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Demon Dynasty were once again on hand at this morning's Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from training. KEV MARTIN'S CAPTAIN'S RUN OBSERVATIONS No-one in rehab this morning, a Captain's run, 26 players. Laurie, Tomlinson, Tholstrup, Chandler, Woey, and Kossie are out there. Rehabbers are out now. Marty, McAdam, Melky, Bowey, Sestan. As a guess for in and outs, I would say, out Laurie, Tomlinson, and W

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THE PEOPLE SPEAK by The Demonland Crew

    DEMONLAND: Good evening, Demon fans and welcome to the Demonland 2024 Grand Final Podcast … It’s been a beautiful last day of September and how sweet it is to bring you our coverage of all things that matter about the great Demon resurgence which we’ve seen over the past six or seven months. How our team overcame a turbulent off season and a disappointing start to 2024 on a humid night in Sydney, turned our detractors into believers and then ended the year triumphant in the finals with our capta

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews 3
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...