Jump to content

POSTGAME: Rd 21 vs Collingwood

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

Still stinging but with some reflection I have to acknowledge a few things.

- The game was probably the best H&A game that has been played all year and perhaps in the past 2-3. It was a scintillating game for neutrals and both sides played a very top brand of football. 

- in the end it was 7 points. Expected score would probably tell another story , but unless there is some witchery about, everyone is still trying to work how the Pies keep on doing it.

- Our system is strong but has pretty obvious weakness. The Pies were able to rise to the occasion and exploit it just enough to get the 4 points. 
 

- fitness maybe part of the problem, if our face outs however I think the more pertinent issue is our team defence. We have been in front in all games and teams seem to adjust mid game to counter it. They take more risks, and they seem to keep pulling it off. Some of it is luck, but where there is smoke there is fire. Goody has to address this and the leaders on the ground need to identify it in game and learn how to respond. How good were our responses last year? We haven’t come from behind many times at all this year. 

 

Edited by CYB

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    Not sure why, but Spargo was alone on at least three occasions, and in a better postion to kick a goal than the player in possession, but was ignored.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Thanks 2
     
    1 minute ago, He de mon said:

    Not sure why, but Spargo was alone on at least three occasions, and in a better postion to kick a goal than the player in possession, but was ignored.

    Not just Spargs, happened with Pickett too.

    I get that we have the pocket delivery part of the game plan, but surely it also allows for hitting up teammates in open spots?

  • Quote
    • Like 8
    2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

    Yes but our defense starts with forward 50 pressure which was missing. No pressure up the ground makes an impossible task for our defenders.

    Need to drop one of Spargo or ANB. Kozzy has given us something over the last month so gets a pass.

    Give Chandler a go. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    9 minutes ago, He de mon said:

    Not sure why, but Spargo was alone on at least three occasions, and in a better postion to kick a goal than the player in possession, but was ignored.

    Yep. Could watch him literally screaming for the ball on multiple occasions. What do we do? Kick it to BBB in the pocket with half of Collingwood surrounding him.

    Pure madness.

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 1

    Happened frequently, one that sticks out was when Rivers was running down the wing line and had a free player at the top of the 50 running towards goal. Rives didn't even look and bombed to the pocket.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Sad 1
    36 minutes ago, He de mon said:

    Not sure why, but Spargo was alone on at least three occasions, and in a better postion to kick a goal than the player in possession, but was ignored.

    I don't get it - using those options forces the oppo defense to pay attention as well meaning they can't just double team Brown/Fritsch. Use those options and the forward line opens up.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
     
    23 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    Not just Spargs, happened with Pickett too.

    I get that we have the pocket delivery part of the game plan, but surely it also allows for hitting up teammates in open spots?

    We’ve been doing it all year and it’s maddening. We cost ourselves goals every game (yes, even when we win). We make it harder on ourselves!!!!!!!!

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    7 minutes ago, Nascent said:

    Happened frequently, one that sticks out was when Rivers was running down the wing line and had a free player at the top of the 50 running towards goal. Rives didn't even look and bombed to the pocket.

    That's team orders. Turning it over on 50 in the corridor is a non negotiable thus the pocket.

    On the other hand if Goodwin said "back your judgement"............

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    They will not kick that straight against us again. Talk about taking your chances. Gravity is undefeated and I look forward to it slapping those smug wankers back down to earth soon enough. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    I don’t get people writing this off as ‘they kicked straight and we didn’t, won’t happen again’. Cast your mind back 2 weeks ago against the Dogs. It was a carbon copy game. We get out to a 4 goal lead, they dominate us after half time and kick straight. It did happen again, 2 weeks later.

    I see 2 clear issues. Fitness, which I’ve spoken about a bit, it’s not working and we got it wrong. We aren’t at the level required to execute consistently.

    The other issue is on turnover teams are getting the ball deep and straight against us. Those are much easier goals to kick - hence the accuracy of our opponents. That’s a big structural issue.

  • Quote
    • Like 8
    29 minutes ago, von said:

    They will not kick that straight against us again. Talk about taking your chances. Gravity is undefeated and I look forward to it slapping those smug wankers back down to earth soon enough. 

    And we're unlikely to have an almost 2-1 ratio of inside 50's

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Can’t believe how bad I’m feeling still.

    Been sitting in my guts all day.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1
    58 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    That's team orders. Turning it over on 50 in the corridor is a non negotiable thus the pocket.

    On the other hand if Goodwin said "back your judgement"............

    Nup, I doubt it. Rivers has never been one to have good vision. Kicking long is his one wood.

  • Quote

    16 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

    Can’t believe how bad I’m feeling still.

    Been sitting in my guts all day.

     

    I'm ok now.
    Gonna suck when I front up to the collingwood morons at work on Monday tho'.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Haha 1
    10 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

    I'm ok now.
    Gonna suck when I front up to the collingwood morons at work on Monday tho'.

    Don't think I have any. If I do I'll just say the umps got them home.

  • Quote

    Obviously several reasons why we lost but it is concerning that in both the Bulldogs and Pies games HTB was not applied consistently to both sides.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    5 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

    Our inside 50 conversion rate was 4% above AFL average last night. As poor as it looked at times, we scored fine. We lost because their conversion was 16% higher than AFL average. We defended poorly all across the ground, especially defensive 50.

    This was a defensive loss, not an offensive one. 

    The coaches would be furious we got into another shootout instead of slowing the game down and controlling it. It’s a failure on their part that they weren’t able to get the players to do that. I was sitting near the bench, and last night is the most animated and angry I can remember seeing Goodwin.

     If only Goodwin could turn those looks into words and subsequently although more quickly into onfield deeds and we could all reap the very subsequential benefits of having a reactive Coach with tricks up his sleeves for control of the strings that contribute to player dominance. 

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, von said:

    They will not kick that straight against us again. Talk about taking your chances. Gravity is undefeated and I look forward to it slapping those smug wankers back down to earth soon enough. 

    They did in rd 13

     

    In fact the 4thqtr rd 13 and 1st qtr this round they kicked 11 straight

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1

    1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

    I don't get it - using those options forces the oppo defense to pay attention as well meaning they can't just double team Brown/Fritsch. Use those options and the forward line opens up.

    That's all we offer opponents - an opportunity to double team in our forward line specialists - because of a distinct lack of mobility and no real support structures near goal. Had we that plan to be fully mobile, our midfielders' kicks would hit targets, opposition defenders would be forced to play catch-up all game (exhausting and uncertain), and the half-backs + flankers + midfielders and half-forwards we field would have targets to more easily hit, more frequently. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, CYB said:

    Still stinging but with some reflection I have to acknowledge a few things.

    - The game was probably the best H&A game that has been played all year and perhaps in the past 2-3. It was a scintillating game for neutrals and both sides played a very top brand of football. 

    - in the end it was 7 points. Expected score would probably tell another story , but unless there is some witchery about, everyone is still trying to work how the Pies keep on doing it.

    - Our system is strong but has pretty obvious weakness. The Pies were able to rise to the occasion and exploit it just enough to get the 4 points. 
     

    - fitness maybe part of the problem, if our face outs however I think the more pertinent issue is our team defence. We have been in front in all games and teams seem to adjust mid game to counter it. They take more risks, and they seem to keep pulling it off. Some of it is luck, but where there is smoke there is fire. Goody has to address this and the leaders on the ground need to identify it in game and learn how to respond. How good were our responses last year? We haven’t come from behind many times at all this year. 

     

    I checked out the expected scores for you. We would have won (surprise surprise). 

    92.7 to 82.0. 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    And we're unlikely to have an almost 2-1 ratio of inside 50's

    We do that quite often. We dominated the game in many areas. Our game plan as boring and predictable as it is is still a more sustainable one. We are a few players taking the next step or a bit of forward line cohesion away from playing great football.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    21 minutes ago, loges said:

    Obviously several reasons why we lost but it is concerning that in both the Bulldogs and Pies games HTB was not applied consistently to both sides.

    We have received less frees than every other team this year. This is one reason why.

  • Quote
    • Angry 2

    All this talk about not wanting to get into a shoot-out is a bit moot

    If the opposition want to attack at breakneck speed through the corridor, criss-crossing or switching play towards goal then it's up to our team to stop them doing that (if we can)

    If we intercept then we are in a great position to counter-attack at speed.  Hesitate and the moment is lost

    Teams are abandoning the safety-first way of playing (boundary line play or holding on to the ball for an eternity) Working for a stoppage can be counter-productive unless positives come from those stoppages

    One thing is for sure, we haven't played with an open forward line for most of the season.  The other teams have flooded back with a high concentration on intercept marks ... and with the better teams, they intercept and then they are off to the races

    To play at that breakneck speed using all of the ground requires highly skilled players.  McRae has summed up his list of players well and he is playing to their strengths

    Edited by Macca

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    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

    • 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.

      • 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

    • 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
      • 182 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

    • PODCAST: Geelong

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. 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. 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.

        • Thanks
      • 40 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Geelong

      Captain Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year in his quest to take out his 3rd trophy. He leads Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who are in equal 2nd place followed by Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. You votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Thanks
      • 30 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All