Jump to content

Featured Replies

7 minutes ago, Abyssal said:

PETTY, whilst he has the capacity to be in the best 3 tall defenders in the game, I think he best used by us as a forward, therefore 2023, itโ€™s Petty & VanRooyen key forwards. No room for B. Brown.

Worth a try

Petty has been great when well supported down back. But has coughed up some crucial frees and lost crucial 1 on 1s in the last 5 or 6 weeks

If he can be the next Tmac, defender turned forward,ย  that'd be a great outcome

We have Smith, Tomlinson (if not traded) and Turner as 3rd defender options

Edited by Graeme Yeats' Mullet

ย 

One other change. I agree with most other Demonlanders - we need to address our fitness. Our last halves this year have been earmarked by fade out after fade out.ย 

Hopefully this forces Goodwin to face some realities,

His refusal to play a 2nd tall once Tmac was injured and Weid didnโ€™t work out was just stupid.

Our fitness is a major issue the fact we couldnโ€™t run out games most of the year is a complete 180 on last year,ย Selwyn Griffith clearly not upto fillingย Burgess shoes some one new need to be brought in.

Our entires fwd are to predictable and slow. Percentage play they may be but when everyone know where itโ€™s going itโ€™s to easy to counter by the good sides.

One of our defensive smalls fwds need to make way for a more attacking player like Bedford or the like.

Not worried about loosing Jackson now, I donโ€™t think he cuts it as a fwd and we have Gawn for now in the ruck where he belongs. Use the money to get a genuine tall fwd.

 

List changes:

Retirements:ย 

Ben Brownย  ย Mitch Brown.

Melks

Hibberd

Dump:

Rosman, Spargo, Jackson, (of his own free wil) Tomlinson, D Snith and J Snith.

ย 

  • Demonland changed the title to CHANGES: 2023

Game plan:

Goodwin has one game plan and doesnโ€™t stray from it. It worked in 2021 because essentially all of our important players were in a purple patch of form ( Gawn kicking a winning goal against Geelong round 23 and kicking 5 in a prelim?) coming into finals with a team that had no injuries.ย 
ย 

He doesnโ€™t change players up mid game in reaction to whatโ€™s happening in front of him like Longmire would do, he will just accept losses if weโ€™re beaten. I donโ€™t even know what the game day coach does to be honest.ย 
ย 

Can anyone identify what plan B is? Or what changes weโ€™ve made this year mid game? Any at all.ย 
ย 

For example - relyingย on Gawn to take amazing amazing pack marks all around the ground. Hasnโ€™t worked for many weeks so far and yet we just persist.ย 
ย 

Tonight we tried to do a switch play which Iโ€™ve been calling for, for the entire year. We have paddocks of space to use and we still just kick it up the ground relying on Gawn to mark it.

Forward Line:

Iโ€™ve been saying this ( like a million other people) for years. Itโ€™s [censored]. In big games it will cost us and lo and behold, it just cost us then.ย 
ย 

Kicking to Ben Brown who had to compete against packs of Brisbane defenders blah blah blah. The answer to this is โ€˜yes, but weโ€™ve kicked such high scores beforeโ€™. Which is only true when Game plan A is working. When it doesnโ€™t? No change.ย 
ย 

Fritcsh is exactly like Gunston. Except he has no roughhead or buddy to play with and he isnโ€™t being handed the kinds of deliveries that Hawks midfield of them, weโ€™re getting.ย 
ย 

He was a cherry on top for the hawks, for us, heโ€™s our roughhead and BBB is our buddy. No wonder weโ€™re so dysfunctional.ย 
ย 

When we score highly, itโ€™s when game plan A is working. WE DONT HAVE A FUNCTIONING FORWARD LINE AND HAVENT FOR OVER A DECADE.

We *can* score heavily if everything goes our way, but if not, we donโ€™t have a plan B so our forward line deficiencyโ€™s get exposed. Like it just was.

Over hyped list based on last year:

ANB is a good, solid player. He actually makes us better with him in the team. In saying that: our reliance on him is absurd considering how much of a liability he is to us.ย 
ย 

Same problem with Salem who doesnโ€™t have the heart of ANB but is way more skilled. He is a ghost of the player he was last year. No damage at all and heโ€™s just soft. sure heโ€™s a great kick, but Rich who is a similar player, makes him look average because Rich ads defensive pressure, which Salem hasnโ€™t been able to continue.

Melksham again, the reliance on this guy for what he is, is ridiculous. He was never as good as what we expect him to be and because weideman hasnโ€™t come through, well, heโ€™s just next.ย 
ย 

Our forward line, coupled with no clear plan for them to work with from our coaches, is filled with out of position players that are seemingly filling holes on top of an over reliance on players that cannot be expected to be the players we want them to be. We dominate from the backline (anyone that criticises our backline is just deluded and shifting blame, they hardly ever lose unless we get smashed up the ground), we spend large parts of games getting repeat entries with not a lot of reward whether that is missing easy goals or KICKING IT TO THE POCKET WHERE 3-4 DEFENDERS KILL THE BALL.ย 
ย 

Again, sometimes this works, but when it doesnโ€™t, whatโ€™s plan B? What changes do we make?

ย 

Conclusion:

ย 

Ok my main belief in change is game plan. Been saying it all year even when we win. Not making changes and being so predictable that every fan knows what weโ€™re going to do, is the problem. Secondary to this, we donโ€™t have the players to just persist with game plan A, when there are coaches out there much more creative that Goodwin, that can negate it.ย 
ย 

CASE IN POINT: Petty goes forward for the first time this year in the last 5 minutes of a season ending game and voila, he gets a goal the couldโ€™ve saved us.ย 
ย 

If we were to bring in Curnow, McKay, and replace ANB or Melksham with letโ€™s say, a Jamie Elliot type player, then sure, keep with Plan A. But thatโ€™s not going to happenโ€ฆ. So maybe we try and change things up?

ย 

Ill just ask this, what is the difference between last years game plan and this years?ย 
ย 

Can anyone tell me if there is a difference?

Edited by BoBo


Hunt, Harmes and Weideman all chances to be at other clubs.

Dees will hit the draft a bit more this year.

JVR and Howes will feature more next year.

That's the extent of the rumours I've heard so far.

ย 

Look we will have Tom McDonald back fit, our backline is good except when they give away dumb frees or penalities & our midfield is good. Trac will be fitter & van Rooyen will get a go.

Just now hope the players realise winning flags isn't that easy.

ย 

Hope Tomlinson regains his ability to bend down next year so we can chuck Petty forward

14 minutes ago, BoBo said:

If we were to bring in Curnow, McKay, and replace ANB or Melksham with letโ€™s say, a Jamie Elliot type player, then sure, keep with Plan A. But thatโ€™s not going to happenโ€ฆ. So maybe we try and change things up?

ย 

Ill just ask this, what is the difference between last years game plan and this years?ย 
ย 

Can anyone tell me if there is a difference?

Difference between this year and last year is fitness, we look good in first half's but have consistently faded, if we could play out games we would still be in finals.

Tmac is a huge out not because he is a great player but the role he plays and the structure he brings.

ย Teams have now also had 2 years to adjust to our game style and work on counters.

No use pinning for Curnow Elliot and McKay you have to work with what you have and maybe try and find a roughie from another team. We didnโ€™t even try Vanrooyen all year or bring Petty fwd when we had coverage in Tomlinson down back.

Dont get beaten by what you know I always say, ย but safe to say Goodwin hasnโ€™t learned that lesson yet

Edited by Garbo


1 hour ago, adonski said:

The Goodwin-Melbourne relationship is at risk of quickly turning into a Luke Beverage situation of a coach clearly out of their depth who will waste years with a good list because of one flag

Nonsense. Theyโ€™re both the best coaches their clubs have had in 50 years.

Bevo gets criticised for selection lotto and a wide open skills based game plan

Goodwin for conservative selection and a down the line game plan

Thereโ€™s a Bulldogs forum version of you wanting Bevo to do exactly what Goodwin doesย 

Changes for next year is my emotions being on par with this lady when I continue to get [censored] over with my multi's...

ย 

ย 

Screenshot_20220910-000309_Facebook.jpg

14 minutes ago, Bates Mate said:

You lost me with spargo, one of only a handful of players who can see the openings and hit up a lead

I really like Spargoโ€™s ball use and creativity.

What I donโ€™t like is you donโ€™t see it often enough. I also donโ€™t like that he canโ€™t crumb a goal, can barely kick 45 and is a dodgy shot for goal.

Fitness. I know itโ€™s wildly unpopular to talk about it but we have been crushed after half time.

Weโ€™ve won 4 of our last 15 second halves. We got our fitness horribly wrong.

1 minute ago, Garbo said:

Difference between this year and last year is fitness, we look good in first half's but have consistently faded, if we could play out games we would still be in finals.

Tmac is a huge out not because he is a great player but the role he plays and the structure he brings.

ย Teams have now also had 2 years to adjust to our game style and work on counters.

No use pinning for Curnow Elliot and McKay you have to work with what you have and maybe try and find a roughy from another team. We didnโ€™t even try Vanrooyen all year or bring Petty fwd when we had coverage in Tomlinson down back.

Dont get beaten by what you know I always say, ย but safe to say Goodwin hasnโ€™t learned that lesson yet

Yeah fair, I didnโ€™t mention our fitness but it seems an issue for sure.ย 
ย 

I honestly think that TMAC would make us a little bit better for sureโ€ฆ but he is not enough to address the player/strategy issues we have.ย 
ย 

Iโ€™m only mentioning curnow/Mackay/Elliot as a hypothetical answer as a reason to not change from game plan A. As in, it * could* work if we had players of that caliber, but we donโ€™t, so itโ€™s fanciful to continue, like you said,

My point about the game plan is that we donโ€™t make changes to accentuate the players we do have, we just plow ahead and hope weโ€™re good enough to win instead of reacting to whatโ€™s happening in front of us.


1 minute ago, DeeSpencer said:

Nonsense. Theyโ€™re both the best coaches their clubs have had in 50 years.

Bevo gets criticised for selection lotto and a wide open skills based game plan

Goodwin for conservative selection and a down the line game plan

Thereโ€™s a Bulldogs forum version of you wanting Bevo to do exactly what Goodwin doesย 

The bulldogs version of me would be content seeing both coaches out of the job I think

2 minutes ago, adonski said:

The bulldogs version of me would be content seeing both coaches out of the job I think

Youโ€™d fire 15 coaches a year. Are you on the Essendon board?ย 

Just now, DeeSpencer said:

Youโ€™d fire 15 coaches a year. Are you on the Essendon board?ย 

I can guarantee the 3 remaining in their jobs would be tactical mastermindsย 

4 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

Fitness. I know itโ€™s wildly unpopular to talk about it but we have been crushed after half time.

Weโ€™ve won 4 of our last 15 second halves. We got our fitness horribly wrong.

Agree,ย  buy thats also the difference after you make the GF.ย  Everyone else gets a better rest and an earlier start

1 hour ago, adonski said:

The Goodwin-Melbourne relationship is at risk of quickly turning into a Luke Beverage situation of a coach clearly out of their depth who will waste years with a good list because of one flag

Goodwin is a great relationship builder, and that is a vital trait, among many positive traits he does have as a coach. But overall, there are just far better candidates out there. We have a really good list, and we know itโ€™s more than capable, but itโ€™s going to waste IMO.


21 minutes ago, adonski said:

Hope Tomlinson regains his ability to bend down next year so we can chuck Petty forward

Or Disco Turner steps up, he showed good things against the filth

There needs to be serious changes next year. But they need to be calculated changes.

Peanut intimations about firing Goody can be swept under the rug immediately. Iโ€™m bloody hurting and agree with assessments made re: not thinking fresh on who our second tall should be and the eventual predictable nature of our game plan. However, you can feel free to pot his performance tonight, but he is our only premiership coach in 58 years. Only a glue sniffing moron would intimate he should go based on that.ย 

We do need a mini-renovation. If Tomald isnโ€™t guaranteed 16 plus games next year, BBBโ€™s role should be questioned. JVR needs a run after a year of seasoning at Casey. Injury management and fitness regimes need serious attention.ย 

Besides that, take a lot of the suggestions in this thread with an UluแนŸu sized grain of salt.

1 hour ago, frankie_d said:

iโ€™m sitting here at the G after that.ย 

ย 
apart from being pretty upset, I am furious that Goodwin failed to do anything about the dysfunctional forward line. itโ€™s been evident from the Queens birthday game. and it took until the game was lost for him to put someone (Petty - kicked one and gave away another) up there who might change things up.ย 
ย 
We are in danger of being a one hit wonder.ย 

The forward line was not the issue tonight, we got slaughtered by the Lions midfield. ย 

ย 
2 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

The forward line was not the issue tonight, we got slaughtered by the Lions midfield. ย 

both.ย 

47 minutes ago, Maldonboy38 said:

One other change. I agree with most other Demonlanders - we need to address our fitness. Our last halves this year have been earmarked by fade out after fade out.ย 

we win Maldonboy first 10 then lose 8 from 14!

ย 

in 6 of the 8 losses we were up by three goals - the othe two we are within a goal

ย 


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

  • PODCAST: Essendon

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th 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.

    • 28 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Fremantle

    The Demons return home to the MCG in search of their first win for the 2025 Premiership season when they take on the Fremantle Dockers on Saturday afternoon. Who comes in and who goes out?

    • 60 replies
    Demonland
  • VOTES: Essendon

    Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year ahead of Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Like
    • 22 replies
    Demonland
  • POSTGAME: Essendon

    Despite a spirited third quarter surge, the Demons have slumped to their worst start to a season since 2012, remaining winless and second last on the ladder after a 39-point defeat to Essendon at Adelaide Oval in Gather Round.

      • Vomit
      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 255 replies
    Demonland
  • GAMEDAY: Essendon

    Itโ€™s Game Day, and the Demons are staring down the barrel of an 0-5 start for the first time since 2012 as they take on Essendon at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. In that forgettable season, Melbourne finally broke their drought by toppling the Bombers. Can lightning strike twice? Will the Dees turn their nightmare start around and breathe life back into 2025?

      • Haha
      • Like
    • 723 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: Essendon

    As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the ย Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measlyย 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?ย  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland