Jump to content

Featured Replies

51 minutes ago, A F said:

Salem to the wing in my book too.

We had Charlie and Harmes running through there this year. We can exploit Salem's kicking up the ground, freeing up Langdon on the opposite wing.

How many teams have their most skilled player predominantly on the wing? Seems like a waste the way footy is played. Wingers get more of the ball in slow defensive half back situations than half backs do!

If you want to get maximum value for Salem’s kicking then he has to be on ball. Getting the ball through the corridor to forwards.

There’s 3 different ways to achieve this:

1. Start him as a midfielder, he’s a big boy, about time he plays like it  

2. rotate him from half back on ball, similar to Nick Daicos

3. rotate him from half forward or some wing minutes, with Petracca forward or Harmes/Gus wing.

 
13 minutes ago, Demon3 said:

I dont think everyone is piling on him, most have been defending him. I am piling on him a bit and i make no apologies for it. I hope he bounces back next year, but he was really poor this year, weaponless i reckon.

11 posts in less than 2 pages D3 - that has to be a record!
(would love it if we could chat about someone other than Christian (required player) Salem. No problem with your opinion, but I think defending it 11 times is a bit over the top. Thanks)

4 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

11 posts in less than 2 pages D3 - that has to be a record!
(would love it if we could chat about someone other than Christian (required player) Salem. No problem with your opinion, but I think defending it 11 times is a bit over the top. Thanks)

No worries Neil.. dont think I have ever been disrespectful to any posters, they replied to my post, im just engaging. Didn't know there was rule about posting replies? 

Also you can chat about whoever you like.

 

Harmes is an excellent puzzle piece with the speed and gut running to play wing, mid or half forward. Salem is a gun half back capable of moving on ball if we want to mix it up.

We had the right player to let go to freshen up the midfield mix and we inexplicably gave him a 6 year deal!!

46 minutes ago, Norm Smith's Curse said:

Why would we be using the draft to solve the KPF problem in four years time if our premiership window is now?

I agree, a KPF drafted now is not going going to help us next year.  We already have JVR in the hopper for next year and we're not going in with him and a draftee as our KPFs.  There's every reason to believe that we'll get at least a season combined out of B.Brown and TMac each year for the next two years that they are contracted.  Together with JVR and two ruckmen that's a full complement of tall forwards.

Three years is when we will need a KPF replacement, but maybe this year isn't the right year to be reaching for one at the pointy end of the draft, it's risky with Cadman and Jefferson the only ones rated by Cal Twomey as first round prospects:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/832462/cal-twomey-s-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-august-ranking

Maybe someone like Isaac Keeler rated at #29 represents better value and should be available at a pick we receive in the Jackson trade.

Additionally we can look to clear cap space and chase a ready-made KPF in the trade and FA market over the next two years. As I posted earlier, we have 11 expendable players coming out of contract over the next 3 years, there's probably $3M or $4M of cap space there:

2022: Hibberd, Melksham, Hunt
2023: Dunstan, ANB, Weideman, Tomlinson
2024: B.Brown, Harmes, McDonald, J.Smith

 

 

 


"Carlton is not seeking to offload Zac Williams, despite a report on Monday suggesting he was “gettable”.  An RSN report said Carlton was “subtly shopping him (Williams) around”, despite the 27-year-old being just two years into a lucrative six-year deal.  That report has been categorically denied to foxfooty.com.au."

The skeptical me thinks they hadn't yet told Williams/his Manger he was being "subtly" shopped around!

Hope we don't get linked to Williams, already sick of being linked to guys with immovable contracts. 

1 hour ago, Demon3 said:

Yeah maybe not ruthless but smart and aggressive. All i am saying is that while Salem's best is very good, what if we dont see that again, and he doesn't recapture the form he had. lets face it He isn't going to get any quicker. 

All just food for thought.

Trading Salem would be aggressive, but certainly not smart. Bloke had a down year with injury but is one of the premier HBFs in the league when fit. 

 

He's also not a winger's [censored]. Number 1 requirement for a wingman in today's game - running capacity. Salem doesn't have it.

 

Re Salem, when fit, he's one of only a couple that I trust with ball in hand.

He, like a few others, played when they probably needed a break and his form reflected this.

Instead of trading him, what would be more aggressive is to instruct him to slice teams zone through the middle, rather than our predictable down the line play to create a stoppage. 

Why are we talking about Salem in a trade rumours thread? Am I missing something? 

Understand people are desperate to share their opinion on what the team needs/doesn’t need but that shouldn’t live in a trade rumour thread, surely. 


1 hour ago, Demon3 said:

Yeah maybe not ruthless but smart and aggressive. All i am saying is that while Salem's best is very good, what if we dont see that again, and he doesn't recapture the form he had. lets face it He isn't going to get any quicker. 

All just food for thought.

He came into the year hampered and after 10 weeks out was off it significantly. My worry is that his condition may be degenerative as opposed to regenerative. Similar to BBB, but he was a liability in almost every game he played. 
 

In a game style that is now looking to launch off HB, we are in desperate need of a versatile playmaker who can defend one on one and launch the counter punch. I think this year we had nobody to pull those kicks and hence were left to use the wings.

Bowey will develop but I’m not sure whether he’ll make it to the elite category. Salem right now is nowhere near what we need him to be. Not sure he has a spot in the 22 atm. I don’t think he’d be looking to move either tbh - maybe next year if he is not able to improve.

Unfortunately I think this role has now become a priority to rectify in the off-season , which means we would need to use our trade/draft capital to lure a readymade playmaker to the club over the needs of a KPF.
 

The reason is, our forward line looks remarkably different and more effective when we get it in more quickly. Think about how clinical we are from centre bounce clearances … Look at how good the Pies forward line functions … they look a-grade with a bunch of c graders. Our fwd line [censored] over there’s on paper. 

2 hours ago, Demon3 said:

That's true, but what if it was to help get us to Cadmen?

Yeah we need to take a few calculated risks, but relying on JVR and Cadman (yes 2 exciting KPF prospects) would be very risky seeing as neither has played an AFL game yet. We are stuck with a catch 22, but if we are giving up quality (which Dogga and Salem are), I want known quality in return.

Potential is as equally dangerous as it is promising.

2 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Salem should be moved to the wing. Bowey should be taking that half back slot. 

Salem has neither the pace of a Langdon, nor the gut running of a Gus.

His weapon is his kicking, so half back is his natural position.

What about chasing after Tanner Bruhn from GWS?

We could look to rotate him as a wingman and a half-forward.

The kid can certainly play!

Just have a look at his highlights video from GWS.

https://youtu.be/vlqS4buD0UI

Tanner Bruhn wants to move back to Victoria as well. He is currently got North Melbourne and Geelong keen for his signature. But why not us?

After missing out on Adam Cerra last year this could be the chance we need to boost our midfield even more.

16 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yeah we need to take a few calculated risks, but relying on JVR and Cadman (yes 2 exciting KPF prospects) would be very risky seeing as neither has played an AFL game yet. We are stuck with a catch 22, but if we are giving up quality (which Dogga and Salem are), I want known quality in return.

Potential is as equally dangerous as it is promising.

Agree,  and to be fair, i only said Salem could be put out to see if there are any nibbles, but what if in 3/4 years time, we have 2 young key fwds that are key pillars in our team and driving a 1-2 punch to the GF and keeps us at the top echelon of teams for ten years..  but we ignored it and went for Some tall fwd from the Gold coast who cant get a game.

Its all just conversation starters.


3 hours ago, KysaiahMessiah said:

Disagree, he doesn't hold many marks atm, but he launches at it.

You must watch a different bloke to me, Weed lacks competitiveness 

  • Author
2 hours ago, Norm Smith's Curse said:

Why would we be using the draft to solve the KPF problem in four years time if our premiership window is now?

I get what you're saying but there's no reason we can't look to the future while we challenge in the present. Genuine key forward talents are hard to come by, both via the draft and on the trade market. If you can get yourself in a position to set up your key forward pillars for the next 10 years (JvR and Cadman) then you would be negligent not look at it. Of course I wouldn't advocate for compromising our ability to compete for a flag by selling required players in order to do this. But by chance the currency we get for Jackson (if he goes) does enable us to get him then it's a no brainer in my view and may set us up for a sustained window to challenge.

fish mcasey kicked 3 goals playing as a tall forward in the crom magoos in the sanfl in the prelim loss to the might redlegs

caaarlton was sniffing around but i have it on reasonable surety that they dropped off in their interest

will be going cheap as a former pick #6 who - thus far - has really not kicked on

197cm, 95kg, played chb as a junior but hasn't found a role at adelaide

3 hours ago, Travy14 said:

One bad year and everyone piles on Salem.

Yeh he had a bad year,  but not a horrible one.  If we trade him now we don't get what he is worth.  Which is an AA calibre HBF.

Watch him bounce back next yr!!

Salem started really well against Sydney showing what he can do, but his impact diminished once they put Clarke on him as a tagger

Salem has had 2 good years. before that he had potential. He is now slow, but will he stay slow? Debatable.  The Coaching group played him all year when there were obviously better choices. So was he injured? The coaches said he was ok to play, but Im sure now they will say "he said he was right to go". Very unfair to Salem whom would only do as asked. My point is that it is only unfair to put him up on the block if the coaching group sticks with he was good to go. The player tries his best but the unflinching coach picks the team. The coach I believe played a player all year when he should have been rested. But the motto of the year was play through the pain. How did that go for us? Goody needs to answer a few questions, in my book.

 

Edited by Damo


3 hours ago, Demon3 said:

I dont think everyone is piling on him, most have been defending him. I am piling on him a bit and i make no apologies for it. I hope he bounces back next year, but he was really poor this year, weaponless i reckon.

The 6 pages I have read are piling on him to the level of trading him,  which is crazy.

He played 12(13 but subbed of in 5min mark of rd1) games this season and in 6 of them went 20+ possessions at well over 75% efficiency and a few games of 117, 18 and 19 possessions.  It wasn't a really poor season.  Just we have very high expectations of him. 

He came back well after he hurt his knee then tapered off,  which maybe it started to flare up again which is why he missed the last round.

29 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Salem started really well against Sydney showing what he can do, but his impact diminished once they put Clarke on him as a tagger

100%,  Clarke has done it to all the best in the league not just Salem.  We should have played Bowie in that game as well as Salem and make them choose who to shut out.

Hindsight hey haha,  hopefully they are both in the same side next year!

 
2 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

What about chasing after Tanner Bruhn from GWS?

We could look to rotate him as a wingman and a half-forward.

The kid can certainly play!

Just have a look at his highlights video from GWS.

https://youtu.be/vlqS4buD0UI

Tanner Bruhn wants to move back to Victoria as well. He is currently got North Melbourne and Geelong keen for his signature. But why not us?

After missing out on Adam Cerra last year this could be the chance we need to boost our midfield even more.

That vision is very underwhelming.. I am not chasing anyone based off that footage..


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: Round 13

    Follow all the action from every Round 13 clash excluding the Dees as the 2025 AFL Premiership Season rolls on. With Melbourne playing in the final match of the round on King's Birthday, all eyes turn to the rest of the competition. Who are you tipping to win? And more importantly, which results best serve the Demons’ finals aspirations? Join the discussion and keep track of the matches that could shape the ladder and impact our run to September.

      • Haha
      • Like
    • 123 replies
  • PREVIEW: Collingwood

    Having convincingly defeated last year’s premier and decisively outplayed the runner-up with 8.2 in the final quarter, nothing epitomized the Melbourne Football Club’s performance more than its 1.12 final half, particularly the eight consecutive behinds in the last term, against a struggling St Kilda team in the midst of a dismal losing streak. Just when stability and consistency were anticipated within the Demon ranks, they delivered a quintessential performance marked by instability and ill-conceived decisions, with the most striking aspect being their inaccuracy in kicking for goal, which suggested a lack of preparation (instead of sleeping in their hotel in Alice, were they having a night on the turps) rather than a well-rested team. Let’s face it - this kicking disease that makes them look like raw amateurs is becoming a millstone around the team’s neck.

    • 1 reply
  • CASEY: Sydney

    The Casey Demons were always expected to emerge victorious in their matchup against the lowly-ranked Sydney Swans at picturesque Tramway Oval, situated in the shadows of the SCG in Moore Park. They dominated the proceedings in the opening two and a half quarters of the game but had little to show for it. This was primarily due to their own sloppy errors in a low-standard game that produced a number of crowded mauls reminiscent of the rugby game popular in old Sydney Town. However, when the Swans tired, as teams often do when they turn games into ugly defensive contests, Casey lifted the standard of its own play and … it was off to the races. Not to nearby Randwick but to a different race with an objective of piling on goal after goal on the way to a mammoth victory. At the 25-minute mark of the third quarter, the Demons held a slender 14-point lead over the Swans, who are ahead on the ladder of only the previous week's opposition, the ailing Bullants. Forty minutes later, they had more than fully compensated for the sloppiness of their earlier play with a decisive 94-point victory, that culminated in a rousing finish which yielded thirteen unanswered goals. Kicks hit their targets, the ball found itself going through the middle and every player made a contribution.

    • 1 reply
  • REPORT: St. Kilda

    Hands up if you thought, like me, at half-time in yesterday’s game at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs that Melbourne’s disposal around the ground and, in particular, its kicking inaccuracy in front of the goals couldn’t get any worse. Well, it did. And what’s even more damning for the Melbourne Football Club is that the game against St Kilda and its resurgence from the bottomless pit of its miserable start to the season wasn’t just lost through poor conversion for goal but rather in the 15 minutes when the entire team went into a slumber and was mugged by the out-of-form Saints. Their six goals two behinds (one goal less than the Demons managed for the whole game) weaved a path of destruction from which they were unable to recover. Ross Lyon’s astute use of pressure to contain the situation once they had asserted their grip on the game, and Melbourne’s self-destructive wastefulness, assured that outcome. The old adage about the insanity of repeatedly doing something and expecting a different result, was out there. Two years ago, the score line in Melbourne’s loss to the Giants at this same ground was 5 goals 15 behinds - a ratio of one goal per four scoring shots - was perfectly replicated with yesterday’s 7 goals 21 behinds. 
    This has been going on for a while and opens up a number of questions. I’ll put forward a few that come to mind from this performance. The obvious first question is whether the club can find a suitable coach to instruct players on proper kicking techniques or is this a skill that can no longer be developed at this stage of the development of our playing group? Another concern is the team's ability to counter an opponent's dominance during a run on as exemplified by the Saints in the first quarter. Did the Demons underestimate their opponents, considering St Kilda's goals during this period were scored by relatively unknown forwards? Furthermore, given the modest attendance of 6,721 at TIO Traeger Park and the team's poor past performances at this venue, is it prudent to prioritize financial gain over potentially sacrificing valuable premiership points by relinquishing home ground advantage, notwithstanding the cultural significance of the team's connection to the Red Centre? 

    • 4 replies
  • PREGAME: Collingwood

    After a disappointing loss in Alice Springs the Demons return to the MCG to take on the Magpies in the annual King's Birthday Big Freeze for MND game. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Like
    • 381 replies
  • PODCAST: St. Kilda

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 2nd June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we have a chat with former Demon ruckman Jeff White about his YouTube channel First Use where he dissects ruck setups and contests. We'll then discuss the Dees disappointing loss to the Saints in Alice Springs.
    Your 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.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • Shocked
      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 47 replies