PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Jaded No More 42,506]

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Oh boy 

“Sources have already suggested to me that May’s injury might be a little bit worse than a niggle,” Healy said.

“We’ll see how that plays out over the ensuing weeks, but there’s no question they’ll take a cautious approach to selection with a 31-year-old with a calf strain.

“That’s what’s been suggested to me, that’s the history of calf issues with older blokes.

“You’re not going to take a risk with him, I’d be staggered if he’s playing if he’s not training this week.

“Then it’s a question of what the scans tell you, it could be one week or two or three.”

 

Old man injury that one. Hibbo and Jones both had heaps of trouble with it. Definitely not worth risking. We can’t win a flag without him so he has to be managed conservatively. Just sucks that we have 3 very hard games to start the season. 

[heath55 62]

3 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Old man injury that one. Hibbo and Jones both had heaps of trouble with it. Definitely not worth risking. We can’t win a flag without him so he has to be managed conservatively. Just sucks that we have 3 very hard games to start the season. 

Spot on…it could be a tough season if we come out on the bad end of these first three games…

[picket fence 12,086]

3 hours ago, binman said:

Turner to Darcy or hugle Hagen. Neither are super strong

Ungle Bungle kicked 5 against us last year🤯

[Demon Dynasty 11,787]

May out would put a dampner on things if it comes to pass.

Let's hope not.

To say he's a critical part of our defence is an obvious understatement.

While i realise he isn't like for like, is Disco an option if May doesn't make it?

Edited March 15 by Demon Dynasty

[picket fence 12,086]

1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Laurie is a huge surprise!
Either as a sub or we’re replacing Fritsch with a smaller option considered how tall our forward line is already.
Good on him!

More than a surprise !!! Based on my training reports he has done little to earn it

[Neil Crompton 3,657]

How about being a little bit more positive. May’s injury will give an opportunity to Turner or perhaps Schache. Either choice would be great to see. We complained last year about playing injured players and not blooding players. Well now we have the opportunity to rectify that. I’m sure these guys will not let us down. Can’t wait for Saturday night.

[Redleg 31,840]

If May is out and Tomo is in poor form, it could be Tom back and Schache in to play against his old side.

Schache can play back as well and you would hope he has something to prove and could play to his best. If not him then JVR forward.

Also, while I wish Laurie and McVee well, I can’t believe Laurie might be preferred to JJ.

Edited March 15 by Redleg

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 2,302]

If May was a confirmed out, why would the club not just announce it with the other outs. Why allow it to play out in the media? Simply to try and fool the Dogs? Surely they’d have wind of what’s really going on anyway. There are no real secrets in footy these days. 

[Demongirl35 578]

Hopefully not an on going thing this year or for the rest of his(Mays) career 

Makes me want us to make a play for McKay at years end

[DeeSpencer 19,971]

7 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

If May was a confirmed out, why would the club not just announce it with the other outs. Why allow it to play out in the media? Simply to try and fool the Dogs? Surely they’d have wind of what’s really going on anyway. There are no real secrets in footy these days. 

I think they've known Fritsch and Viney were out for a while, no point making it look like a mass collapse of our players all at the same time. The Dogs might still have to play for May, so keep them guessing for a while longer yet

[DubDee 16,149]

give May as long as he needs to get him 100% right 

we were 10-0 last year and it did FA. 

Turner is a player. get him out there

[DeeSpencer 19,971]

14 minutes ago, Redleg said:

If May is out and Tomo is in poor form, it could be Tom back and Schache in to play against his old side.

Schache can play back as well and you would hope he has something to prove and could play to his best. If not him then JVR forward.

Also, while I wish Laurie and McVee well, I can’t believe Laurie might be preferred to JJ.

Laurie might not offer much but he has some class and craftiness, JJ just doesn't offer much at all as a forward. They'd have to play him wing and use Hunter and Langdon forward which isn't the plan. I'm tipping JJ is the sub.

There's now a challenge set to Woey to show he's close to a debut because I think he was next man up as a half forward flanker.

And the same for AMW who has the talent, just needs a run of matches to build match fitness after missing a lot of preseason.

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 2,302]

9News are taking it to the bank that May is out

[Dee Zephyr 14,333]

This victory will be even sweeter if we knock them off with 4 of our best out. Bring it on!

[adonski 7,002]

In brighter news, hearing info that Dunkley & Hunter are out for the Dogs

[Travy14 852]

May out, means Tommo or Disco in.  Not gonna restructure completely in round 1.

I think it will be Tommo with the experience against a very tall fwd line.  Expect Max to play alot behind the ball to help out this week.

If it was a smaller, less experienced fwd line I recon disco would be the guy.

Let's be happy these injuries are at this time of the year and not 2/3rds of the way through

[BDA 15,131]

Show some faith folks. Unfortunate for May but we’ll win regardless because we are the better team. Turner to deputise with distinction. 25 point win coming up.

And good look Laurie and McVee. We’re all right behind you both.

[Demon Disciple 9,194]

Where’s the poster who always says “relax, we’ve got this”, I need his words of wisdom at the moment.

 

[Supreme_Demon 1,983]

Disappointing if Steven May is indeed out. But no point risking him with a calf strain.

 

I would play Daniel "Disco" Turner as his replacement. Adam Tomlinson is sadly in terrible form. He was humiliated against that Saints rookie SSP player Anthony Caminiti a few weeks ago.

 

As for the debutants. I was quite (pleasantly) surprised that Bailey Laurie was selected. I am a fan of his, but I will admit that I don't believe he had shown enough to warrant a debut yet. I hope he proves us all wrong in his unexpected selection.

 

Judd McVee, on the other hand, has certainly earnt his debut and I look forward to seeing him play. He was definitely a surprise packet this pre-season in 2023 as I thought he struggled last year. Congratulations to him and his hard work to break into the Demons senior AFL team!

 

Additionally, I am looking forward to seeing the "tap brothers" in Max Gawn and his new ruck teammate in ex Magpie Brodie Grundy go against Tim English from the Bulldogs. It will certainly be fascinating to watch how we perform with two All Australian ruckmen in the team.

 

Lastly, I am fascinated to see how former Bulldog Lachie Hunter will play against his old side. Will he have a point to prove against his previous coach Luke Beveridge?

 

Saturday night will certainly be an exciting game between the Demons against the Bulldogs!

Edited March 15 by Supreme_Demon

[BW511 1,667]

Reckon the dogs (Bevo) will have plenty of fire for Hunter, hopefully it allows us to get off to a flyer while they target the man.

 

[dazzledavey36 42,218]

27 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

May out, means Tommo or Disco in.  Not gonna restructure completely in round 1.

I think it will be Tommo with the experience against a very tall fwd line.  Expect Max to play alot behind the ball to help out this week.

If it was a smaller, less experienced fwd line I recon disco would be the guy.

Let's be happy these injuries are at this time of the year and not 2/3rds of the way through

Tommo got absolutely torn apart by a kid against St Kilda who was only signed a week prior to the SSP.

He's cooked and should not be playing unless our backline is in complete crisis in which this instance, it isn't.

[heath55 62]

31 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

May out, means Tommo or Disco in.  Not gonna restructure completely in round 1.

I think it will be Tommo with the experience against a very tall fwd line.  Expect Max to play alot behind the ball to help out this week.

If it was a smaller, less experienced fwd line I recon disco would be the guy.

Let's be happy these injuries are at this time of the year and not 2/3rds of the way through

Especially when there was a clear difference between McDonald playing and when he was out the 2nd half of the year in terms of forward structure and entry - I doubt they’ll mess with that and it would be more and in game move if it was needed

[dazzledavey36 42,218]

 

[brendan 2,988]

Pressure through the midfield will be an absolute priority this week can’t have clean ball coming into the bulldogs forwards, kozzy could potentially be the most important player for us this week 

[mo64 4,669]

I'm in the rather exclusive Bailey Laurie fan club. I thinks he's got some football smarts and is handy around goal. Hope the kid does well, but I think he may be a sub.