Jump to content

PODCAST: QF Preview vs Sydney

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 
  • Author

While you are waiting for the Podcast check out our interview with journalist Ian Munro author of Between the Flags, a book that chronicles the events during our 57 year Premiership drought and tries to make sense of almost 6 decades of heartache.

Here's the link to the website if your interested in buying what should be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those whose hearts beat true ... Between the Flags

 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1
     

    I've held this one over from after the Carlton game: 'Okay, we've seen Plan A (move it deliberately along the boundary line) Plan B (Move it more quickly with some switching). How likely is it we're going to see a Plan C?'

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Q.  Assuming Salo is fit, can we fit both him and Bowser into the team?  They both add value with their ball use.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
     
    5 hours ago, Demonland said:

    If you have any questions for us about the match whether it be tactics, team selection or the finals in general let us know here and we will read it out on the show and attempt to answer it.

    How do we cope with Sydney’s flooding ???Experts at clogging up our forward line

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2

    54 minutes ago, Rhino said:

    How do we cope with Sydney’s flooding ???Experts at clogging up our forward line

    Not just their flooding but their short passing game chipping through our zone which worked against us earlier in the year as well as against Freo later in the year.

    Edited by Dr. Gonzo

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Rhino said:

    How do we cope with Sydney’s flooding ???Experts at clogging up our forward line

    I think the reason our forward line was flooded last time had more to do with us than them. We moved the ball way too slow which allowed them to flood back in numbers. Probably due to fatigue.

    If you watch last year's finals you'll see that our transition play from d50 excellent. We switched the ball more often with the likes of Langdon but the key was our forwards sprinted the other way causing an outnumber up forward because the teams couldn't go with us. I may be wrong though and we aren't allowed this freedom now for whatever reason, but I'd like to hear what the boys on the pod think.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    As far as I am concerned, it will be the midfield battle that determines the outcome. Our mids are well schooled in the transition from attack to defence and vis versa. 
     

    Agains Brisbane we did not look to tag their most effective mids in Neale, McCluggage etc we opted to make them accountable by making sure they had attacking players on them. I like that we did that. With a tag some players have the freedom to attack as they wish without precaution, and  not be accountable for an opponent. 
     

    So part off the discussion I want to hear is do we do as we did against Brisbane and trust in our attacking midfield or do we tag players from the start? I think we attack from the outset proactively and, if required look to tag players that are hurting us as a plan B.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Where does the panel think the game will be won or lost, and what is the way that Sydney will try and beat us?  I cant really get a handle on their game so would be interested in your take.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Patrick McCartin is a key worry for me, was AA worthy this year - I feel like he is really going to shine in these finals. Personally I think we have to attack with smaller types providing running pressure. I think he would eat Tmac alive at the moment.  

  • Quote

    Looking at @WheeloRatings stats on another thread Sydney and Melb are pretty well matched.  If Sydney have weaknesses they are relatively poor (not terrible) in defending marks on lead, causing opposition clangers (interested in the panels thoughts on why as they are ranked #2 on tackles and #3 on tackle difference - do they lack structure at stoppages?), stopping opposition shots on goal, and bottom 6 for centre clearances.

    Considering where they rank poorly, what tactics do you think we will use this week? I’m guessing we will try and play a typical forward 50 game and it will all be decided on our forward 50 pressure and scores we generate from forward half turnover but interested in your thoughts. If we generate reasonable score from turnover Sydney can’t win.

    Who will go to Isaac Heeney?

     

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Does either Sydney or Melbourne have a particular advantage due to the field geometry, relative to the SCG/MCG and will this be a factor? Does it enhance or make our tactics more difficult to execute?

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Does Sydney try similar manning up tactics that Carlton did a couple of weeks ago?

    I'm also thinking we're likely to play our game our way, without adapting to counter Sydney too much. However we do have a penchant for picking 1-2 key opposition players and countering/ negating their influence. Interestingly we have often been a bit left field in our choice of target: Bailey not Neale last week was an example.

    Will we try to unexpectedly seek to curtail the influence of a 2nd tier but surprisingly important cog? If so, who?

    And for Heeney, could we try an option like Hibberd because Heeney plays high and will drag Hibberd to the ball where he can use his kicking to our advantage?

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    I assume that James Jordon did not play for Casey because he was not eligible due to not having played enough games in the 2s during the season.

    If James is not selected to play for the Demons this week and barring injuries it is unlikely that he will play who do we play on the other wing?

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    What is the single most important KPI the team needs to be ahead of the opposition?

    For me it looks like against Sydney the contested footy metrics will be the deciding factor. 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Reports were that Trac left the training track on the weekend with a calf complaint. The club insists that he will be fine to line up against the Swans. Someone in the thread about his injury claims that Tony Jones reported that Trac cancelled his media commitments for today. 

    If Trac fails to prove his fitness for Friday who comes in to replace him?

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    1 hour ago, ElDiablo14 said:

    What is the single most important KPI the team needs to be ahead of the opposition?

    For me it looks like against Sydney the contested footy metrics will be the deciding factor. 

    Goals 

  • Quote
    • Haha 3

    Prediction and Preference time. 

    If we lose this week we will be playing the winner of Brisbane and Richmond at the MCG? Who would the panelists prefer to play and why?

    If we win this week we go straight into a Prelim and potentially face Geelong, Collingwood, Fremantle or Bulldogs at the G. Who of that quartet would you prefer to face off in a Preliminary Final?

    And finally if you could have your pick who would you like to play in a Grand Final?

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
     
    2 minutes ago, Lefty said:

    Prediction and Preference time. 

    If we lose this week we will be playing the winner of Brisbane and Richmond at the MCG? Who would the panelists prefer to play and why?

    If we win this week we go straight into a Prelim and potentially face Geelong, Collingwood, Fremantle or Bulldogs at the G. Who of that quartet would you prefer to face off in a Preliminary Final?

    And finally if you could have your pick who would you like to play in a Grand Final?

    Easy answer IMO, Brisbane and Freo

  • Quote

    Enjoying the podcasts gentlemen, your efforts are appreciated.

    Not so much a question more a topic of discussion if I may.

    Reflecting on this season and how it stacks up against last season, we finished 2021 H&A games with a percentage of 130.8

    We finish 2022 H&A games with a percentage of 130.5

    Not wanting to get to get too far ahead of this game but Friday night against the Swans (a very well coached and drilled team), the opportunity to have a finals series like last year begins and wouldn’t it be great if we matched or went close to our 2021 finals campaign percentage of 213.1, or even better eclipse Geelong’s record of 227.1.

    We’re set up for it. Let’s make history.

    Last year we arrived at the finals with almost a full list to choose from, this year similar. We came in with momentum last year and I believe that momentum is building in a similar way.

    The team and football department have got us to where we want to be, the opportunity to repeat last year on our home ground in front of mfc members and fans.

    I wait with great anticipation.

    Tried to PM you George, good on you for the shout out to Kongwak last week.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 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

    • GAMEDAY: West Coast

      It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 26 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 153 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 563 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All