2023 Season Preview

[Demonland 72,217]

[adonski 12,178]

"You do not win flags relying on goal sneaks"

Did he watch last years granny!

Can't take a best 22 seriously without Bowza

Edited December 27, 2022 by adonski

[Deebauched 1,220]

You realise how much public interest  in cricket has waned when AFL 'predictions' click bait in December is more newsworthy.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Deebauched

[mauriesy 7,299]

Why does this review think we'll lose to Richmond in Round 6 (Anzac Eve)?

[durango 2,008]

Most reviews are opinions of a writers who supports a different club and hopes that when they play his club it will win.

Injuries will play a big part in the 2023 season with Walsh and King having delayed starts to the season.

Clayton has had surgery and it may effect his season like 2019?

 

[rjay 24,939]

29 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

Why does this review think we'll lose to Richmond in Round 6 (Anzac Eve)?

I don't get Richmond...they've picked up 2 good to very good (not great) mids.

They replace Edwards and Lambert who to date have been better.

Prestia is a big injury..

Lynch is struggling with injury.

Grimes another injury concern.

Cotchin is done and Reiwoldt not far behind.

Martin is the mystery...will he or won't he.

[rjay 24,939]

2 minutes ago, durango said:

Clayton has had surgery and it may effect his season like 2019?

Shoulder surgery and delayed return to full training is a lot different to cleaning up a thumb issue and straight back into full training.

[Deebauched 1,220]

Cant stand Geelong. How many key dees players have they recklessly injured in recent years. Viney smashed jaw, White almost killed with a vicious kick to the head and Oliver this year.All at the cattery i think.

No reports of course.

[durango 2,008]

14 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

Cant stand Geelong. How many key dees players have they recklessly injured in recent years. Viney smashed jaw, White almost killed with a vicious kick to the head and Oliver this year.All at the cattery i think.

No reports of course.

Don't forget Steven May's broken jaw with the errant elbow which when you look at the vision was intentional trying to stop May's tackle.

[D4Life 2,475]

I’m more an optimist and typically prefer focus on all great things Demons:

2021 AFL flag

2022 AFLW flag and Casey flag

But I can’t resist the anti-Cats theme around Demonland.

- Good to see Duckwood gone (could play & lead, but will be missed)!

- Hawkins protected species, gets all frees and not getting rubbed out!

- AFL bias toward them as ex Cats or relations have had significant roles at AFL.

- Cattery huge benefits financially(govt funded), umpiring bias, get 8/9 at home, then often 6-8 across MCG/Marvel so away not as big a disadvantage.

- Recruitment wise, cost of housing, provided a big salary cap advantage. By my calcs at least a 10% advantage, that allows them to keep an extra A grade (eg Cameron) & b grade player!

- Bad losers, Scott 2022 prelim!

Yes they deserve credit for being well run from Costa/ Cooke era onwards. But I really don’t like them!

[D4Life 2,475]

Demon positives:

- Grundy will be great, as he can really play, and will add to Max fitness wise, re rest during matches and if either slightly injured, can miss a week or two, still having AA ruckman playing.

- Hunter a step above JJ on the wing, he won a B&F at Dogs, can really play. Also JJ is ideal 23 player, can cover multiple positions.

- Longer pre season for all.

- Kossie, Sparrow, JJ, Bowey, JVR, Rivers, Petty all that year older!

- TMac & BBB seemingly fit! Tomlinson 2nd year back after knee injury might be moving better, so more realistic back up!

- Having won a flag, know what’s required and that our best can do it!

[cantstandyasam 700]

2 hours ago, Deebauched said:

Cant stand Geelong. How many key dees players have they recklessly injured in recent years. Viney smashed jaw, White almost killed with a vicious kick to the head and Oliver this year.All at the cattery i think.

No reports of course.

Yet when Chandler lays a perfect tackle running a player down and in the momentum lands on him it's 2 weeks. Hawkins swings wildly and breaks May"s jaw zippo. Selwood kicks Oliver's hands zippo etc.......

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

I still think we have a 5 year window for the premiership then it will get harder so we have to make this our year after a terrible finals series. It won't be easy. Collingwood will improve with Mitchell and McStay, Richmond will improve with Hopper and Taranto, Brisbane will improve with Ashcroft, Gunston and Dunkley and Freo should improve with Jackson and O'Meara.

We have most spots covered now with the inclusion of Hunter and Grundy.

THE BACKLINE

That's our foundation that won as the flag in '21. May and Petty continued on their good work and Brayshaw was a revelation across half back but a few went missing in  '22. Rivers wasn't his usual self. Bowey couldn't get a game at the end of the year, Salem was terrible hopefully he will prove next year that it was due to injuries and Hibberd could very well be on his last legs. We need them to hit 21 form again.

 

THE MIDFIELD

Is a great strength with Oliver and Petracca arguably in the best few midfielders in the competition. Viney and Gawn also were great. Langdon had a good year without being great needs to find his '21 form again if we are to advance next year. Hunter will help him on the wing a great player when on song but can lose form, he's won a B&F and a premiership so he can play hopefully we can get the good Hunter. Brayshaw is intriguing his best form was at half back but he has made it clear that he wants to play midfield. I think he will start in the midfield and play a bit back if need be especially if they don't use 2 of the 3 in Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd.

Harmes and Sparrow should be mainstays and it will be interesting to see Jordon fight for his spot in the side.

 

THE FORWARD LINE

Our clear weakness. We have a great crumbing forward in Pickett I expect him to spend more time in the middle this year and a great medium forward in Fritsch. Brown played injured so we didn't see the best of him and McDonald couldn't get out on the park in the second half of the year which proved costly. A weakness could prove to be a real strength if van Rooyen can be useful. Competition for spots is healthy and if van Rooyen can put pressure on Brown and McDonald it can only be a good thing. If fully fit I say Brown and McDonald get first crack but if they are sore or out of form van Rooyen gets his chance it will be exciting to see if he can add a new dimension to the team. Neal-Bullen and Spargo will be there again but it would be nice to see them kick more goals to go with their good defensive work. Melksham will be an interesting one he can play a defensive role on anyone down back which should make him a handy sub. Gawn as CHF Didn't work in the end so I expect McDonald to CHF and Gawn to play all over the ground like Grundy where need be.

 

BEST TEAM

B: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw

C:  Langdon, Petracca, Hunter

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett

F: Gawn, Brown, Fritsch

FOLL: Grundy, Oliver, Viney

IC: Harmes, Spargo, Bowey, Sparrow

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: Jordon, van Rooyen, J.Smith

Edited December 28, 2022 by WERRIDEE

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

Lever has to find his '21 form again had a pretty poor year for his standards. Clubs started to work him out by limiting his intercepting.

[loges 6,767]

28 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Lever has to find his '21 form again had a pretty poor year for his standards. Clubs started to work him out by limiting his intercepting.

Was clearly hampered by an ankle last half of the season, seemed to be coming off to get it re strapped and treated nearly every game 

[58er 6,456]

16 hours ago, D4Life said:

Demon positives:

- Grundy will be great, as he can really play, and will add to Max fitness wise, re rest during matches and if either slightly injured, can miss a week or two, still having AA ruckman playing.

- Hunter a step above JJ on the wing, he won a B&F at Dogs, can really play. Also JJ is ideal 23 player, can cover multiple positions.

- Longer pre season for all.

- Kossie, Sparrow, JJ, Bowey, JVR, Rivers, Petty all that year older!

- TMac & BBB seemingly fit! Tomlinson 2nd year back after knee injury might be moving better, so more realistic back up!

- Having won a flag, know what’s required and that our best can do it!

Great points D4Life,

Some extras mow( bonuses), 

 

Also Salo Rick Trac and BBB plus Tmac back and all  will have better less interrupted and much greater fitness ALL season especially at the pointy end of the campaign

Coach and Selectors will be more flexible and choose players on form not sentiment.

ONE of Chandler AMW Laurie Schache or the recruits Jeffer Adams Seston  or Verrill will play and make the  Seniors grade probably as a 23 selection. 

No last half fade outs as players are all fitter and not played "nearly fit ". 

So much upside for a team that finished 2nd on ladder and similar % to 2021 with very hard Draw. 

Bring  2023 on!!! 

[58er 6,456]

6 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I still think we have a 5 year window for the premiership then it will get harder so we have to make this our year after a terrible finals series. It won't be easy. Collingwood will improve with Mitchell and McStay, Richmond will improve with Hopper and Taranto, Brisbane will improve with Ashcroft, Gunston and Dunkley and Freo should improve with Jackson and O'Meara.

We have most spots covered now with the inclusion of Hunter and Grundy.

THE BACKLINE

That's our foundation that won as the flag in '21. May and Petty continued on their good work and Brayshaw was a revelation across half back but a few went missing in  '22. Rivers wasn't his usual self. Bowey couldn't get a game at the end of the year, Salem was terrible hopefully he will prove next year that it was due to injuries and Hibberd could very well be on his last legs. We need them to hit 21 form again.

 

THE MIDFIELD

Is a great strength with Oliver and Petracca arguably in the best few midfielders in the competition. Viney and Gawn also were great. Langdon had a good year without being great needs to find his '21 form again if we are to advance next year. Hunter will help him on the wing a great player when on song but can lose form, he's won a B&F and a premiership so he can play hopefully we can get the good Hunter. Brayshaw is intriguing his best form was at half back but he has made it clear that he wants to play midfield. I think he will start in the midfield and play a bit back if need be especially if they don't use 2 of the 3 in Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd.

Harmes and Sparrow should be mainstays and it will be interesting to see Jordon fight for his spot in the side.

 

THE FORWARD LINE

Our clear weakness. We have a great crumbing forward in Pickett I expect him to spend more time in the middle this year and a great medium forward in Fritsch. Brown played injured so we didn't see the best of him and McDonald couldn't get out on the park in the second half of the year which proved costly. A weakness could prove to be a real strength if van Rooyen can be useful. Competition for spots is healthy and if van Rooyen can put pressure on Brown and McDonald it can only be a good thing. If fully fit I say Brown and McDonald get first crack but if they are sore or out of form van Rooyen gets his chance it will be exciting to see if he can add a new dimension to the team. Neal-Bullen and Spargo will be there again but it would be nice to see them kick more goals to go with their good defensive work. Melksham will be an interesting one he can play a defensive role on anyone down back which should make him a handy sub. Gawn as CHF Didn't work in the end so I expect McDonald to CHF and Gawn to play all over the ground like Grundy where need be.

 

BEST TEAM

B: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw

C:  Langdon, Petracca, Hunter

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett

F: Gawn, Brown, Fritsch

FOLL: Grundy, Oliver, Viney

IC: Harmes, Spargo, Bowey, Sparrow

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: Jordon, van Rooyen, J.Smith

I feel JVR must start in Seniors early ( in Melksham's place) and give us a difference on the forward line. 

one of ANB Sparrow or Spargo might have to make way for Chandler or another half forward running type 

Turner /Tommo might play important role in defence if Petty (in desperation or in cameo roles) goes forward.

Depth is greater so pressure on all players on the list to make the best 23.

 

[picket fence 17,172]

18 hours ago, durango said:

Don't forget Steven May's broken jaw with the errant elbow which when you look at the vision was intentional trying to stop May's tackle.

My hatred of Jeelong borders on the Insane!

[Bitter but optimistic 22,241]

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

My hatred of Jeelong borders on the Insane!

Jeelong notwithstanding, I have always held a clear and unflinching view of your sanity picket.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,183]

We need to unpick how we went from 2021 second half specialists to 2022 second half faders. This aside, partner a fit TMac with a maturing JVR and get Lever back fit and in form. Sort those three and we are set for another shot at success and that is before we consider the upgrades with Grundy and Hunter and the likely breakout improvements that may come from our 2nd-4th years (outside JVR). This assumes that all that went right this year remains steady, which of course is unlikely to occur.   

I dont believe any teams best touches ours its a matter of whether we can get the stars to align once again. 

[durango 2,008]

15 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

We need to unpick how we went from 2021 second half specialists to 2022 second half faders. This aside, partner a fit TMac with a maturing JVR and get Lever back fit and in form. Sort those three and we are set for another shot at success and that is before we consider the upgrades with Grundy and Hunter and the likely breakout improvements that may come from our 2nd-4th years (outside JVR). This assumes that all that went right this year remains steady, which of course is unlikely to occur.   

I dont believe any teams best touches ours its a matter of whether we can get the stars to align once again. 

I think we have a great list but we need players like BB, TMac, Grundy and Hunter to get back their best and team remain injury free and anything is possible.

We have a number of X factor junior players who may develop fast in this season like Laurie, Howes, JVR, AMW, Taj Woewodin and Seston.

If some of these juniors push players in the current best 23 then we will be a much better team in 2023 than 2022.

Edited December 28, 2022 by durango

[picket fence 17,172]

1 hour ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

We need to unpick how we went from 2021 second half specialists to 2022 second half faders. This aside, partner a fit TMac with a maturing JVR and get Lever back fit and in form. Sort those three and we are set for another shot at success and that is before we consider the upgrades with Grundy and Hunter and the likely breakout improvements that may come from our 2nd-4th years (outside JVR). This assumes that all that went right this year remains steady, which of course is unlikely to occur.   

I dont believe any teams best touches ours its a matter of whether we can get the stars to align once again. 

 Start with

1 Fitness

2 Not picking teams on form

[DubDee 25,891]

The pressure is rising on Goodwin?? Really?

why do the herald keep banging on about this? They had a full article on this last month. Goody has been the most successful coach in the league over the past two years, arguably only Scott ahead of him. He has helped assemble and develop an amazing group. Once the list gets fit, rested and does a full preseason, I have us as premiership favourites 

staggering how underrated Goody still is. Compare him with Bevo - won a flag then missed finals the next two years but no pressure

[Wodjathefirst 2,632]

57 minutes ago, DubDee said:

The pressure is rising on Goodwin?? Really?

why do the herald keep banging on about this? They had a full article on this last month. Goody has been the most successful coach in the league over the past two years, arguably only Scott ahead of him. He has helped assemble and develop an amazing group. Once the list gets fit, rested and does a full preseason, I have us as premiership favourites 

staggering how underrated Goody still is. Compare him with Bevo - won a flag then missed finals the next two years but no pressure

I sort of don’t mind how this year there is a tendency of the mainstream media (and therefore the public) to write off Goody and MFC.  It means we can start the season flying under the radar, so to speak 

A complete opposite to what happened last season. I feel that we, both the team and supporter base, (or could just be me) don’t have to endure feeling the pressure of everyone wanting to benchmark against and beat the reigning premiers.

Looking forward to season 2023…hoping it goes like it did for us in 2021….GO DEES!

 

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,183]

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

The pressure is rising on Goodwin?? Really?

why do the herald keep banging on about this? They had a full article on this last month. Goody has been the most successful coach in the league over the past two years, arguably only Scott ahead of him. He has helped assemble and develop an amazing group. Once the list gets fit, rested and does a full preseason, I have us as premiership favourites 

staggering how underrated Goody still is. Compare him with Bevo - won a flag then missed finals the next two years but no pressure

The pressure will be on Goodwin in the first 6-8 weeks to have us looking like the late 2021/early 2022 model with some tweaks. If we look like the mid to late 2022 model the pressure will rise pretty quickly. Our list is too good for the 6 win 8 loss way we finished the season and I suggest there will be little patience to waste the premiership window we have.