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.


PODCAST: QF vs Sydney


Demonland

Recommended Posts

We forced more turnovers than Sydney 81 to 75 yet they scored 70 points from turnovers from their 91 points in total and we weren't able to capitalise when we turned the ball over?

We folded under the pressure of Sydney's high pressure. How can we combat that in the future? If we get through the Lions and somehow get through the Cats we are most likely going to have to play the Swans or Collingwood in a Granny and we've seen the results of our 4 matches against those 2 high pressure teams.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I couldn't make the trek down from Brisbane last Friday. Knowing we had the double chance I wanted to get to Melbourne for either the Semi or the Prelim (and hopefully a Granny).

In Round 23 I was able to watch us live at the Gabba and we played with a totally different strategy going forward. We seemed to revert to a kick it to the pocket strategy or just bomb it in this week.

Can any of you explain to me why that was as it was difficult to ascertain that from watching on the telly?

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would be interested in your thoughts on the 3 50m penalties, the Buddy flop and general ‘discipline’.

also we lacked overlap run and bombed into f50.  Was this forced on us by Sydney, or was it an unforced strategy?

too many key players were down, do you think with all the ‘new season’ talk, open training etc we got ahead of ourselves?  What changes will we make (or should we make) this week?

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a 2018 Preliminary Final Richmond played a hampered Dusty in a tacit admission that their chances of success hinged on his presence (they still lost heavily). With a similar injury (corky) to Trac do you think we might be tempted to do likewise and if so would we be sending out the same signals? 

Can the presence of an 80% fit superstar lift all his team mates enough to make up that difference? If so can you think of any famous examples where this has worked or backfired? 

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

It’d be great if you guys can discuss the strategy of playing Gawn as a forward for the majority of the game. Gawn has barely fired a shot as a forward, he provides little to no leads and almost tempts our midfielders to bomb it in long as opposed to lowering their eyes. 

Why has Goodwin been pursuing it for so long and is it finally time to just scrap the idea? 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Let talk about key stats.

We won the disposal count, inside 50s, free kicks, hitouts, contested possessions, marks inside 50, contested marks.

We got belted in the pressure department, pressure acts, tackles and hence turnovers and scores from turnovers.

Is the latter the reason we couldn't capitalise on the former?

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

I am convinced defending this premiership has left us very fatigued. We start well and fade. This has been the case for both the season itself and within most games. Rather than reaching our peak, i think we are just hanging on. A prelim appearance will be a good result from here.

Question for the pod - do we die wondering with the same 22, or do we do we roll the dice on some fresher names who are perhaps not as weighed down by a long season?

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If we were to go out in straight sets, how does the Club respond during the player draft/trading period? Does it:

a. undertake minimal list changes in the belief that a couple of game style tweaks and natural improvement in player development and skills can deliver a flag in 2023,

b. undertake a minor list renovation, moving on a couple of good servants that are unlikely to play in our next flag,

c. undertake a moderately radical list renovation, moving on eight or so players, including at least a couple that played in the 2021 flag, or

d. do something else?

Thank you for a wonderful pod each week. I'm a big fan.

Edited by Queanbeyan Demon
typo
  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
  • Shocked 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the time has come to roll the dice with Tmac, if we don't do it this week we can't wait till a Prelim to try has to be Friday night.

Gives him the extra game against higher quality opposition and gives us the extra Key Forward we have been craving since Tmac went down. This will allow Gawny to spend rucking and playing his more traditional role around the ground.

Its a risk but a calculated one, no point having him as a sub he needs to play to free up BBB, Gawny/ Jacko when up forward.

We won't be winning anything without another key Forward in our line up.

If we lose doing it so be it, we can't beat the other contenders with our current set up.

We need to roll the dice to alleviate pressure from BBB and the resting ruck.

This will bring the smaller forwards into the game and straighten us up significantly.

 

Edited by YesitwasaWin4theAges
  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

If we were to go out in straight sets, how does the Club respond during the player draft/trading period? Does it:

a. undertake minimal list changes in the belief that a couple of game style tweaks and natural improvement in player development and skills can deliver a flag in 2023,

b. undertake a minor list renovation, moving on a couple of good servants that are unlikely to play in our next flag,

c. undertake a moderately radical list renovation, moving on eight or so players, including at least a couple that played in the 2021 flag, or

d. do something else?

Thank you for a wonderful pod each week. I'm a big fan.

Might save this one for the post season show. Hopefully it’s not needed after a Flag. 

please bring this one up again should we lose this week (or the next). 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

Would be interested in your thoughts on the 3 50m penalties, the Buddy flop and general ‘discipline’.

also we lacked overlap run and bombed into f50.  Was this forced on us by Sydney, or was it an unforced strategy?

too many key players were down, do you think with all the ‘new season’ talk, open training etc we got ahead of ourselves?  What changes will we make (or should we make) this week?

It was certainly a lacklustre performance by some of our boys.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Goody’s gastro impacted quite a few in our team, but we will never know if that was the case.  We don’t make excuses!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It’s been bugging me since round 7 that we suddenly became a lot easier to score against.  We have had all sorts of semi logical reasons thrown up such as loading, lack of forward pressure, injuries etc etc.  All have some merit. But last Friday none of these were a factor, May was unbelievable with 16 intercepts, and yet we still conceded scores from 42% of Sydney inside 50s versus our average of 31% in finals last year.

Any ideas why?  Are we missing Brayshaw as that defensive winger getting back into D50?  Max has had 33% fewer spoils this year than last. Do we need him back doing 80% ruck work in the defensive role to help out in D50 and rest him on the bench instead of up forward? Do we need Bowey in for defensive ground balls that cost us against Sydney?  Look forward to the podcast.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can adversity bring a certain strength? We’ve got injury niggles, just lost on our own turf, looking at a steep climb ahead to have any chance at the flag. What can the coaches do to mentally prepare the team for what looks like a very difficult few weeks, after what was a very difficult year?

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


1. Was the round 23 domination of the Lions, in hindsight, not ideal preparation for the ferocious pressure the Swans brought defensively ?  

Looking ahead to the Lions: 

2. Could we expect a few surprises thrown up by Fagan to test us tactically? (If you were Fagan, what would YOU do?)

3.  Even if something has served us well in the past, going back to it again and again, might be the fastest track to elimination, given our opponents are adapatable and can prepare for it. Are there some positional or tactical changes we still could make to what we did in round 23, to ensure we get the win? 

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

Are the 'incidents' in this game overplayed and were we just beaten by an all round better team on the night?

We really wanted to kick long to the pocket as much as possible in this one, despite it being the plan did this hurt us at times considering the Rd 23 game our delivery into the 50 was so varied?

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

I’m curious to know if the guys think the pre-finals bye worked against us (and to a lesser extent Geelong)? It seems both Collingwood and Sydney were able to apply enormous pressure during their respective matches despite the fact that @binman and others were anticipating those (relatively) younger teams would begin to run out of steam come finals time. I can’t help but wonder if the pre-finals bye helped Syd and Coll freshen up more than it helped us freshen up. It will be interesting to see how the pies fare against Fremantle having to back up again next week. While Sydney will obviously get to freshen up again ahead of their prelim.

 

 

Edited by Deetective Sgt. Taggert
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a comment on last year's finals series.

 

We played Brisbane, Geelong and Western bulldogs. All teams who couldn't apply much pressure and didn't play man on man footy.

This year our hardest games have been against teams playing high pressure man on man, like Sydney, Collingwood and Carlton.

 

my question is: can the demons find a way to play against the man on man style and kick away again? It seems to me like our model stands up against certain teams but not others.

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im not saying they should bring in Tmac. But we were horribly exposed for the lack of a second key forward.

Even if Melksham kicked straight. We constantly win the ball in the middle and snap it out to CHF to only have ANB or Sparrow contest it and with Brayshaw not on the wing now we lack a link up down the line. We need one of Smith or Weid or JVR in to straighten us up.

In finals you HAVE to kick down the line and take territory when the pressure is on. You need big fwds to compete and at least half the contest. That IMO is not having Spargo ANB or Sparrow (who played well) trying to wrestle 2 opponents and if we go in and ask Petracca to play 80% fwd we are kidding ourselves.

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

48 minutes ago, Deetective Sgt. Taggert said:

I’m curious to know if the guys think the pre-finals bye worked against us (and to a lesser extent Geelong)? It seems both Collingwood and Sydney were able to apply enormous pressure during their respective matches despite the fact that @binman and others were anticipating those (relatively) younger teams would begin to run out of steam come finals time. I can’t help but wonder if the pre-finals bye helped Syd and Coll freshen up more than it helped us freshen up. It will be interesting to see how the pies fare against Fremantle having to back up again next week. While Sydney will obviously get to freshen up again ahead of their prelim.

The pre-finals bye was the one factor that we couldn't actually plan for based on past experience, given how much of a topic the training loads to replicate 2021, has been around these parts. The r23 pressure that Brisbanes defence put up can't have helped prepare us either! Curious indeed.

Edited by John Demonic
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

First time poster, long time listener. Love the pod!

Question I'd love your thoughts on that's driving me crazy... 

What is it about the MCG this year? It cannot be a coincidence we win almost every away game and feels like we've lost almost every home game at the G (the Carlton win was hardly convincing). Is it the Melbourne weather given nearly all the MCG games have been cold & drizzly which leads to the frustrating fumbling we keep seeing? Do we need the warmer conditions to execute cleaner?

Keep up the good work & go dees!

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all.    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation fo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Monday 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training. DEMON DYNASTY'S TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kade Chandler's left knee heavily strapped. BBB, Spargs & Jake Lever also in rehab group. Jake Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills. Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a se

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head. The Demons have now won nine of their last ten encounters with the other result, a draw.     And like a fork, it was the multi-pronged options that Melbourne had all across the ground.  It certainly helped that Hawthorn

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 8

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in the Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 261

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02. 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

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 46

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 50

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 357

    GAMEDAY: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 437
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 03

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 03 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 03

  • Match Preview      

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 27

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The boys dissected the clinical thrashing of Hawks praising the immense performance of Christian Petracca whilst lamenting the injury toll to our defensive unit ... LISTEN

    Demonland | March 26

  • Training  

    Monday, 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • Casey Report      

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head out on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 28

  • Match Report      

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Round 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Training  

    Friday, 22nd March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 22

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 19th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin & Walking Civil War attended Tuesday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 19

  • Training  

    Saturday, 16th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Dee Zephyr wandered down to Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning to bring you their observations from the Captain's Run in the lead up to Sunday's Round One match against the Bulldogs ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 16

  • Farewell  

    Angus Brayshaw Retires

    After 167 games including the drought breaking Premiership Angus Brayshaw has made the heart breaking decision to medically retire from football as a result of a series of serious head knocks over his nearly decade of footy. We wish Gus all the best and he'll always be a hero at Demonland ... READ MORE

    Demonland | February 22

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 03

       vs   

    Saturday 30th March 2024
    @ 07:30pm (AO)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Lever Knee Test
    Clayton Oliver Hand Test
    Oliver Sestan Concussion Test
    Steven May Ribs 1 Week
    Lachie Hunter Calf 1 Week
    Daniel Turner Hip 2-3 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 2-4 Weeks
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 7 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 12-14 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Christian Petracca 27
    2 Steven May 25
    3 Max Gawn 21
    4 Jack Viney 20
    5 Bayley Fritsch 19
    6 Clayton Oliver 18
    7 Christian Salem 12
    8 Blake Howes 11
    9 Jack Billings 10
    9 Alex Neal-Bullen 10

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...