Jump to content

INFERNO by Whispering Jack

Demonland
in Match Reports

Featured Replies

Posted
The Demons ventured onto Moorabbin’s RSEA Park on Friday afternoon for their match simulation exercise against St Kilda and predictably managed to comprehensively thrash their undermanned opposition over the four serious periods of play by 16.9.105 to 6.10.46.

Back in the day when they used to call these preseason affairs “practice matches”, it was commonly accepted that you took no notice of the result and instead hoped that the team made a good fist of things while avoiding injury to players. It was a bonus if you uncovered one or two new recruits who can play a bit. 

To that end, it was almost mission accomplished, the exception being a scare involving star defender Jake Lever who might have a recurrence of the injury that kept him in rehab for a few weeks when training resumed after Christmas. 

Otherwise, Melbourne dominated play for most of the game, flexing its midfield muscle with its dominant midfield led by Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney strengthened by the addition of Bulldogs recruit Lachie Hunter who looks like being the yin on the wing to the yang of Ed Langdon. 

And then there was the irresistible ruck pairing of Collingwood’s two-time All-Australian Brodie Grundy with six-time All-Australian Max Gawn that will no doubt play havoc with the minds of opposition coaches in 2023. 

The added bonus was young defender Judd McVee from Western Australia who appears to have moved forward in leaps and bounds in the off season and will certainly make a claim for a place in the Demons strong back half this year. 

Tom McDonald is back after his injury woes of last year and Ben Brown looked fit and keen up forward in what will be a stronger attacking combination once Bayley Fritsch returns to the mix. At first sight, the forward connection that went missing late in the last season seems to be back. McDonald showed his versatility going into defence to cover for Lever after the first main break. 

Another danger sign is the extra arrow to Kysaiah Pickett’s bow with a move for more minutes in the midfield. He was his usual hard to pin down self in that role and also produced some blistering runs with the ball that left his opponents gasping for air in the thirty plus degree heat inferno and scored a couple of classy goals as well.

When the first four periods of match simulation came to an end, the main players made their exit off stage and the fans interested enough to stay at the ground were treated to three more periods of junk time by teams comprised of the remainder of the respective lists and a helping of VFL players. 

Those periods were won by the Saints who had more of their seasoned players on the ground and ended in farcical circumstances four minutes early with fill ins doing the umpiring because the real ones called it a day after the sixth period. 

They should have played a separate VFL game altogether if they were really serious about giving their reserves a fair dinkum hit out.

MELBOURNE 3.3.21 8.6.54 10.7.67 16.9.105

ST KILDA 2.1.13 2.3.15 5.8.38 6.10.46 

Goals Petracca 3 Brown Gawn Pickett 2 Chandler Grundy Hunter Langdon McDonald Neal-Bullen Rivers 

Best Hunter Petracca Oliver Viney Pickett Rivers

Full scores including the extra three periods with the balance of team lists and VFL top ups:-

MELBOURNE 3.3.21 8.6.54 10.7.67 16.9.105 17.13.115 19.14.128 20.16.136

ST KILDA 2.1.13 2.3.15 5.8.38 6.10.46 9.12.66 12.14.86 15.17.107

Statistics (from Lampers at bigfooty.com)

Jake Bowey 14 kicks 2 handballs 7 marks 1 score assist 
Angus Brayshaw 13 kicks 3 handballs 9 marks 2 score assists
Ben Brown 7 kicks 2 handballs 6 marks 2 goals 
Kade Chandler 8 kicks 5 handballs 5 marks 1 goal 1 behind 2 score assists 
Max Gawn 10 kicks 6 handballs 7 marks 15 hit outs 2 goals 1 behind, 1 score assist
Brodie Grundy 4 kicks 4 handballs 2 marks 20 hit outs 1 goal
James Harmes 3 kicks 3 handballs
Lachie Hunter 17 kicks 10 handballs 9 marks 1 goal 3 score assists
Ed Langdon 10 kicks 5 handballs 6 marks 1 goal 1 score assist
Jake Lever 6 kicks 3 handballs 4 marks 
Tom McDonald 4 kicks 3 handballs 2 marks 2 hit outs 1 goal 2 behinds
Judd McVee 12 kicks 4 handballs 6 marks
Steven May 19 kicks 2 handballs 5 marks
Alex Neal-Bullen 11 kicks 4 handballs 5 marks 1 goal 1 behind
Clayton Oliver 10 kicks 16 handballs 3 marks 2 score assists 
Christian Petracca 14 kicks 8 handballs 5 marks 3 goals 1 behind 5 score assists
Harry Petty 7 kicks 2 handballs 5 marks 
Kysiaih Pickett 15 kicks 2 handballs 7 marks 2 goals 1 behind 
Trent Rivers 11 kicks 8 handballs 9 marks 1 goal
Charlie Spargo 4 kicks 3 handballs 4 marks 3 score assists
Tom Sparrow 6 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 2 behinds
Jacob van Rooyen 1 kick 2 handballs
Jack Viney 9 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 1 score assist

ReportMatchSIM2023.png
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 4
    • Demonland changed the title to INFERNO by Whispering Jack
     
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line 
 Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Love
        • Like
      • 222 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
      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.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Haha
        • Like
      • 255 replies
      Demonland
    View All