Jump to content

MCG Bogey ground

bandicoot
bandicoot
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

@Watson11 brings up a good discussion: 

“Would love some discussion on why the G is such a bogey ground for us against good teams. Since Goody has been coach we have had 4 wins and 21 losses against sides that finished top 6 that year.

Is it psychological, or is our game plan fundamentally flawed and too easy to pick apart by the best teams on the wider ground?

PS Please don’t roll out the myth that we play Optus well and it’s the same width because it isn’t (it’s 130m wide versus the G’s 141m)”

The way our defence is structured relies on intercept marking and zoning off players. The smaller the ground the easier it is to do. Unfortunately the MCG with its wider boundaries means there are more chances to isolate our defenders and play one-on-one. 
 

Larger grounds also need either very quick players or elite foot skills… we don’t have either 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 3
     

    My theories:

    Our list has a lot of ordinary kicks. 

    We only have one true winger.

    Our forwards are either hopeless in the air (Spargo and ANB) or hopeless on the deck (Brown). The MCG favours players who are less one dimensional. 

  • Quote

    Get the Forward Line Functioning properly and we will kick big scores on the hallowed turf. 
     

  • Quote
    •  

    Regardless of the reasons, it would seem ludicrous for any team let alone an MCG tenant to develop a game plan not suited to the home of the Grand Final.

     

     

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Don’t buy into the theory. We started the year 6-0 at the G. Only two finalist in that group but still. 

    our form was poor and we happened to be played at the G second half of the year

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Honestly I reckon we just choke when we play there.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    31 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

    @Watson11 brings up a good discussion: 

     

    “Would love some discussion on why the G is such a bogey ground for us against good teams. Since Goody has been coach we have had 4 wins and 21 losses against sides that finished top 6 that year.

    Is it psychological, or is our game plan fundamentally flawed and too easy to pick apart by the best teams on the wider ground?

    PS Please don’t roll out the myth that we play Optus well and it’s the same width because it isn’t (it’s 130m wide versus the G’s 141m)”

    The way our defence is structured relies on intercept marking and zoning off players. The smaller the ground the easier it is to do. Unfortunately the MCG with its wider boundaries means there are more chances to isolate our defenders and play one-on-one. 
     

    Larger grounds also need either very quick players or elite foot skills… we don’t have either 

    Happy for the discussion but the difference between Optus and the G is like two Max Gawns on either side. Negligible 

    when we played well early in the year we won at the G. When we were poor we lost

  • Quote
    10 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    Don’t buy into the theory. We started the year 6-0 at the G. Only two finalist in that group but still. 

    our form was poor and we happened to be played at the G second half of the year

    Record at the G last year was 8-2 from a quick look

  • Quote
    •  
    • Author
    16 minutes ago, biggestred said:

    Theyve been redoing goshs paddock to be the size of the G remember 

    Have they finished the works on the oval?

  • Quote

    In the second half of 2021, our MCG form was definitely not as good as other venues. Similar story to this year.

    Scrappy win over Essendon, draw with the Hawks, largest loss of the year to Bulldogs and survived a 3rd qtr scare against lowly Adelaide.

    I don’t know if it’s possible, but could they look at tinkering their game plan to suit the G more?

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, praha said:

    Honestly I reckon we just choke when we play there.

    Too much noise!

  • Quote
    • Haha 3

    Our poor results have been about the second halves.

    We go into the rooms congratulating ourselves, the MCC members applauding and it must feel like we are rolling. They become self absorbed and forget that in an even league the other can at least pick up the pressure and take the game on with nothing to lose.

    We panic, kick to boundary and try to congest the area around the footy. That opens up big spaces on the G and the opposition can get one on one, or uncongested areas to play to, as they carry the ball well and hit their players. We also try to fill the area a kick behind and kick infront at stoppages, or when a free kick or mark. This give the oppo a good chance to clear into open space again and go into attack if they are effective with the disposals.

    We play a game with more freedom when we have a good lead, and if it doesn't work we get panicky, unconfident and make errors.  Then we get exhausted chasing and playing that fast, get into the defensive, offensive transition positions,  when the oppo start getting more ball.

    it starts with bathwater, and ends with exhaustion, as we get overrun. 

    Edited by kev martin

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Author
    4 hours ago, kev martin said:

     

    We panic, kick to boundary and try to congest the area around the footy. That opens up big spaces on the G and the opposition can get one on one, or uncongested areas to play to, as they carry the ball well and hit their players. We also try to fill the area a kick behind and kick infront at stoppages, or when a free kick or mark. This give the oppo a good chance to clear into open space again and go into attack if they are effective with the disposals.

     

    Spot on 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    10 hours ago, DubDee said:

    Don’t buy into the theory. We started the year 6-0 at the G. Only two finalist in that group but still. 

    our form was poor and we happened to be played at the G second half of the year

    No we didn’t. 

    The majority of our MCG games were pre-bye (9 of our first 13 were at the G, then 3 of our last 9 prior to finals, or 5 of our last 11 including finals). 

    We played at the G two times from Rounds 16-23. 

    Edited by titan_uranus

  • Quote

    Quite often I think the majority on Demonland have no sense of humour.

    lighten up folks it is just a game of sport / entertainment.

    The Ukraine   is serious. 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Is it the MCG or is it fitness? Or something else completely? We're very keen to find an elephant in the room when it could just be a chicken or the egg scenario. 

    I don't have the answer but we need to focus on the controllables being our fitness program, gameplan tweaking and personnel. This will hopefully translate to better home form.

  • Quote

    • 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

    • NON-MFC: Round 10

      The Sir Doug Nicholls Round kicks off in Darwin with a Top 4 clash between the Suns and the Hawks. On Friday night the Swans will be seeking to rebound from a challenging start to the season, while the Blues have the Top 8 in their sights after their sluggish start. Saturdays matches kick off with a blockbuster between the Collingwood and Kuwarna with the Magpies looking to maintain their strong form and the Crows aiming to make a statement on the road. The Power face a difficult task to revive their season against a resilient Cats side looking to make amends for their narrow loss last week. The Giants aim to reinforce their top-eight status, while the Dockers will be looking to break the travel hoodoo. The sole Saturday game is a critical matchup for both teams, as the Bulldogs strive to cemet their spot in the top six and the Bombers desperately want break into the 8. Sundays start with a bottom 3 clash between the Tigers and Kangaroos with both teams wanting to avoid the being in wooden spoon contention. The Round concludes with the Eagles still searching for their first win of the season, while the Saints look to keep their finals hopes alive with a crucial away victory. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 87 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Brisbane

      And just like that, we’re Narrm again. Even though the annual AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round which commemorates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to our game has been a welcome addition to our calendar for ten years, more lately it has been a portent of tough times ahead for we beleaguered Narrm supporters. Ever since the club broke through for its historic 2021 premiership, this has become a troubling time of the year for the club. For example, it all began when Melbourne rebranded itself as Narrm across the two rounds of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to become the first club to adopt an Indigenous club name especially for the occasion. It won its first outing under the brand against lowly North Melbourne to go to 10 wins and no losses but not without a struggle or a major injury to  star winger Ed Langdon who broke his ribs and missed several weeks. In the following week, still as Narrm, the team’s 17 game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Dockers. That came along with more injuries, a plague that remained with them for the remainder of the season until, beset by injuries, the Dees were eliminated from the finals in straight sets. It was even worse last year, when Narrm inexplicably lowered its colours in Perth to the Waalit Marawar Eagles. Oh, the shame of it all! At least this year, if there is a corner to turn around, it has to be in the direction of something better. To that end, I produced a special pre-game chant in the local Narrm language - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb” which roughly translated is “every heart beats true for the red and the blue.” >y belief is that if all of the Narrm faithful recite it long enough, then it might prove to be the only way to beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw at Marvel Stadium against a North Melbourne team that lacks the ability and know how to win games (except when playing Melbourne). Brisbane are, however, a different kettle of fish at home and have very few positional weaknesses. They are a midfield powerhouse, strong in defence and have plenty of forward options, particularly their small and medium sized players, to kick a winning score this week after the sting of last week’s below par performance.

        • Thumb Down
      • 9 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Hawthorn

      There was a time during the current Melbourne cycle that goes back to before the premiership when the club was the toughest to beat in the fourth quarter. The Demons were not only hard to beat at any time but it was virtually impossible to get the better them when scores were close at three quarter time. It was only three or four years ago but they were fit, strong and resilient in body and mind. Sadly, those days are over. This has been the case since the club fell off its pedestal about 12 months ago after it beat Geelong and then lost to Carlton. In both instances, Melbourne put together strong, stirring final quarters, one that resulted in victory, the other, in defeat. Since then, the drop off has been dramatic to the point where it can neither pull off victory in close matches, nor can it even go down in defeat  gallantly.

      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Footscray

      At twenty-four minutes into the third term of the game between the Casey Demons and Footscray VFL at Whitten Oval, the visitors were coasting. They were winning all over the ground, had the ascendancy in the ruck battles and held a 26 point lead on a day perfect for football. What could go wrong? Everything. The Bulldogs moved into overdrive in the last five minutes of the term and booted three straight goals to reduce the margin to a highly retrievable eight points at the last break. Bouyed by that effort, their confidence was on a high level during the interval and they ran all over the despondent Demons and kicked another five goals to lead by a comfortable margin of four goals deep into the final term before Paddy Cross kicked a couple of too late goals for a despondent Casey. A testament to their lack of pressure in the latter stages of the game was the fact that Footscray’s last ten scoring shots were nine goals and one rushed behind. Things might have been different for the Demons who went into the game after last week’s bye with 12 AFL listed players. Blake Howes was held over for the AFL game but two others, Jack Billings and Taj Woewodin (not officially listed as injured) were also missing and they could have been handy at the end. Another mystery of the current VFL system.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Brisbane

      The Demons head back out on the road in Round 10 when they travel to Queensland to take on the reigning Premiers and the top of the table Lions who look very formidable. Can the Dees cause a massive upset? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 270 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Hawthorn

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Demons loss to the Hawks. 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.

        • Haha
        • Love
        • Like
      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All