Jump to content

Playing injured

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

AFL news: Max Gawn on playing injured in finals, Brodie Grundy and what Lachie Hunter will add to Melbourne

Article in today’s Herald Sun tells the story of how Max Gawn was initially ruled out of last year’s semi final vs Brisbane due to a painful hip injury – only to win a last-minute reprieve. A couple of scans on the day before the game earned him a reprieve just as Jacob Van Rooyen was poised to make a shock finals debut against the Lions in his place.

After feeling good and playing well in the first half (the Dees led by 22 points at the main break), it all “came caving in during the second half” and Max struggled to see out the game.

“It was certainly in my head space as the game wore on. But I tried to stay in the moment as much as I could,” Gawn said.

“I was doing quite well to stay in the moment in that game to make sure our team didn’t know there was anything wrong. We had five or six guys in the same position that game.”

We knew that the Demons were in dire straits on the night and it’s been debated and discussed before but we knew we were going into a cut throat final at way under full rat power. We rolled the dice and lost.

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 8
    • Sad 1
     
    10 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

    We rolled the dice and lost.

    Unfortunately if there were 5 or 6 guys in the same position we didn't have the dice to roll.

    Edited by rjay

  • Quote
    • Like 7

    By now we'd all guessed as much that something was wrong with Max, but that sounds really quite harsh.  Not that there was much choice around finals.  Glad we're treating Max and his aging body more carefully this year

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     

    And yet we had a dominant Casey team full of competent  AFL players that our coach had no faith in.

    Sydney also failed dismally at selection  by selecting players on one leg for a grand final.

  • Quote
    • Like 9
    • Thanks 1
    • Sad 1

    From various reports the 5-6 probably were:  Fritsch (knee),  Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs),  Brown (knee).   Maybe Lever?   All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. 

    To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky.  Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble.

    Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22.  Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions).  Would we have not got value bringing on our sub:  Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured).  Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel!  No idea why we almost never use our sub!!

    Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max.  A very  poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. 

    Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game.

     

    Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

  • Quote
    • Like 19
    • Thanks 2

    In 2021 we had a great side and a good run with injuries. Unfortunately in 2022 we had a poor run with injuries.

    It takes a good fit side to win a premiership which means that there is always an element of luck involved…..unfortunately.

    Fingers crossed for 2023.

  • Quote
    • Like 8
    39 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    From various reports the 5-6 probably were:  Fritsch (knee),  Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs),  Brown (knee).   Maybe Lever?   All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. 

    To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky.  Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble.

    Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22.  Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions).  Would we have not got value bringing on our sub:  Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured).  Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel!  No idea why we almost never use our sub!!

    Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max.  A very  poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. 

    Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game.

     

    Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

    Thanks Luci.  Nice ‘balanced’ assessment and summary.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    We beat Brisbane so easily during the year....Let's risk it in a do or die final with quarter of our best players under massive injury clouds.  We are sooooo much better than Brisbane.  We got their measure~!

    Dumb coaching, dumb for players to put their hands up to play when under done.

    I still question whether Goodwin is the right guy.....Most coaches in the AFL would do great with our list.   Seems way too predictable and uninspiring in a number of areas.....Team selection/ team flexibility/game plan/non use of super sub.  

    As a team it looked like it was a grind to play and there seemed to be very little flair after the first five games of the season or so. We tried to win every game in the same or similar fashion.  

    Hopefully we allow a bit more creative flair this year!   I fear if we continue to play a dour style we will start off the season great but fade as the season goes on .  It looks boring to play our style, it is often boring to watch.....We got so many players with x factor, allow them to use it!

     

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    44 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    From various reports the 5-6 probably were:  Fritsch (knee),  Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs),  Brown (knee).   Maybe Lever?   All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. 

    To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky.  Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble.

    Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22.  Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions).  Would we have not got value bringing on our sub:  Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured).  Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel!  No idea why we almost never use our sub!!

    Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max.  A very  poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. 

    Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game.

     

    Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

    Mind blowing the sub wasn’t used.

    Great summation.

    To be fair, Goodwin has amended his faults every season, consistently improves.

    Player management will be prime… so the big question must be: what will be the issue this year?

  • Quote
    • Like 9
    • Thanks 1

    Are we repeating history? Seems no need to play and risk Lever and his dodgy ankles today. Get him cherry ripe for Round 1.

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Clap 1

    1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    And yet we had a dominant Casey team full of competent  AFL players that our coach had no faith in.

    Sydney also failed dismally at selection  by selecting players on one leg for a grand final.

    Name them...there was no one at Casey that would have made a difference that's why they went with what they had

     

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    29 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

    I still question whether Goodwin is the right guy.....

    … too bad that ridiculous thread is no longer available, huh. 
    🙄 

    edit: sorry NeveroddoreveN… I was up most of the night working in order to free up time for today’s match, therefore I’m grumpy. 
    Note to self: don’t post on DL BEFORE coffee. 

    Edited by WalkingCivilWar

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    From various reports the 5-6 probably were:  Fritsch (knee),  Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs),  Brown (knee).   Maybe Lever?   All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. 

    To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky.  Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble.

    Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22.  Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions).  Would we have not got value bringing on our sub:  Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured).  Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel!  No idea why we almost never use our sub!!

    Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max.  A very  poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. 

    Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game.

     

    Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

    Great post, Luci. 👏 

    Incidentally, the Fritta knee thing is true. He sustained an injury during a training session when Greg Stafford accidentally flattened him. He had surgery immediately upon season’s end.

  • Quote
    7 minutes ago, rjay said:

    Name them...there was no one at Casey that would have made a difference that's why they went with what they had

     

    With respect rjay, I’d prefer a fit average quality player to an unfit top 22 player for a crucial final any day of the week. At least they will run out the whole game, instead of collapsing in a heap after half time. If we did in fact have 5-6 injured players then that is incredibly bad luck. Playing those injured players in a final is incredibly poor management imv.

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    Thought it was obvious for a few weeks players were sore, even Kozzie was in a knee strapping. Not sure players from Casey had the quality. Player management needs to be better this year 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    From various reports the 5-6 probably were:  Fritsch (knee),  Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs),  Brown (knee).   Maybe Lever?   All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. 

    To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky.  Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble.

    Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22.  Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions).  Would we have not got value bringing on our sub:  Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured).  Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel!  No idea why we almost never use our sub!!

    Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max.  A very  poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. 

    Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game.

     

    Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

    you bet it does😆

  • Quote
    4 hours ago, rjay said:

    Unfortunately if there were 5 or 6 guys in the same position we didn't have the dice to roll.

    That's not true. It didn't just start in the Finals but about Round 13. Some smart tinkering and rolling of dice in the rounds for say 3/4 positions out of our injured crew might have given the team greater run  and carry. 

    Agsin in the article in the Sun  today I hope we play McVee today on HBF and use Angus in the midfield along with Sparrow Jordon Harmes and Pickett plus cameo for Rivers as well. We know we can switch mid game so give our younger players a go including Chandler on the HFF as well. JVR needs a better option with less others KPF  just to alienate his chance of all of them  going up together which is a very Melb thing. Refer to first goal for Saints  last week !! 

  • Quote

    Don't play injured players in finals or anytime for that matter. By the semi final last year we only lasted 20 mins into the first quarter and then on we were done.

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    4 hours ago, rjay said:

    Unfortunately if there were 5 or 6 guys in the same position we didn't have the dice to roll.

    I remember talking about this last year and a few on here were lambasting me for suggesting that the club would be playing injured players.

    Happens all the time and we had too many of them and should have looked at who could be replaced. 

    I hope the FD sees the depth in a better light this year.

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    1 hour ago, Wodjathefirst said:

    In 2021 we had a great side and a good run with injuries. Unfortunately in 2022 we had a poor run with injuries.

    It takes a good fit side to win a premiership which means that there is always an element of luck involved…..unfortunately.

    Fingers crossed for 2023.

    Agreed.  We had a very good chance to win the semi but doubt we would have won a prelim given our injury list.

    Nonetheless, a win in the semi would have saved a straight set exit and stopped the run of third/fourth quarter fade outs.

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Lefty said:

    Are we repeating history? Seems no need to play and risk Lever and his dodgy ankles today. Get him cherry ripe for Round 1.

    Agree just was thinking the same thing . 
    Give McVee a full game and try another youngster. Jake should be ok for Round1 but if he goes off early with another leg/ankle/ knee  type issue and returns to the field it is insanity. Repeating itself AGAIN. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    2 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    Agreed.  We had a very good chance to win the semi but doubt we would have won a prelim given our injury list.

    Nonetheless, a win in the semi would have saved a straight set exit and stopped the run of third/fourth quarter fade outs.

    And  rest for injured players does wonders !! 

  • Quote

    So easy in hindsight. I was one who advocated that we try and rest more players during 2022, but in the end we were fighting for top4 and couldn’t risk a loss. Geelong got it tight, but are gifted wins at home in the lead up to the finals versus mainly [censored] Victorian sides or disinterested interstate teams - who they could probably beat with most of their senior backline, Hawkins or Cameron and rest from VFL.

    All teams would have injured players in finals and would roll the dice to some extent. Sometimes it works (ie Brisbane in 2003) and sometimes it doesn’t.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    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?

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 54 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.

      • 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.

      • 0 replies
      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?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 190 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.

        • Like
      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All