PREGAME: Rd 06 vs Richmond

[CHF 2,607]

I can see that the coaches and selectors will be looking at structures for the next two games against Hawks and North given that they are only 5 days apart. After the bombers game and how bad we played, there will be a lot of intense discussion on the best team for each of these matches.

I also hope that the coaches have a good review of their performance leading up to the game last week and during the game it's self. It is not all on the players. The team did not look to be properly primed for the game and there looked to be no attempt by the coaches to change the course of the match when it was going against us. 

All the talk in the pre season of how the team and coaches had worked on ways to turn around the momentum in a match proved to be just that, talk.

Spargo will be an out and possibly Sparrow - both to concussion protocols. I can see a number of other changes over the next two matches with Schache, Laurie, Howe and even possibly Sestan getting a run along with some returning injured players such as Lever, Hibberd and Brown. I might be inclined to hold Gawn back until the North game.

Interesting situation for us given the ladder this round. We lie 6th on the ladder with the top 4 teams playing each other. 1 plays 4 and 2 plays 3. The 5th placed team, Swans play the Cats down at the Valley of Death. A win by us this round will see us jump a few spots......... if we win.

[Demon Dynasty 15,579]

After watching the Casey Game

In:

Dunstan, Laurie, Schache, Lever (assuming he's fully recovered)

Out:

Sparrow, Spargo (inj), Melk, Tommo

Players potentially on the fringe if someone sticks their hand up at Casey / Key player/s return from injury over the coming few weeks.

Macca (BBB/Gawn)

JVR (BBB/Gawn)

McVee / Bowey (Should Hibberd and/or Disco bust the door down in the next few weeks/months)

P.S.  Harmes could also potentially fill for Spargo.  Had a good hit out at Casey but might need a few more weeks to get super cherry ripe & fit?

Edited April 16, 2023 by Demon Dynasty

[Turner 1,482]

OUT: McDonald, Spargo, Sparrow, Tomlinson

IN: Lever, Brown, Schache, Dunstan

[Spargonicus 426]

18 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Might need to put him in a time machine to early 2021 to find his leadership. 

Best thing he’s done as a captain since then is stay on the bench in the bang bang bang time 

Bagging Gawn: peak MFCSS.

[Deemania since 56 6,172]

On 4/15/2023 at 11:27 PM, layzie said:

At least we've proven to be good off 9 day breaks 

Uneasy feeling about Richmond - despite watching their pre-season dismembering at the hands of the Dees. Maybe I will feel better closer to the game-day. A little onfield leadership and a vast increase in creative play may just give us the points. Nankervis tends to play well against us. We owe Cotchin a little discomfort around the throat.

[picket fence 15,273]

5 hours ago, Turner said:

OUT: McDonald, Spargo, Sparrow, Tomlinson

IN: Lever, Brown, Schache, Dunstan

Like this except that Harmsy should play as well

[Deemania since 56 6,172]

8 hours ago, CHF said:

All the talk in the pre season of how the team and coaches had worked on ways to turn around the momentum in a match proved to be just that, talk.

Something is going wrong - repeatedly - with the 'lessons' and what is taken away after the game as resolution steps.

[Lucifers Hero 37,172]

Richmond are a rabble.

They barely have a fwd line have no ruck division and a disconnected midfield.  Dusty, Cotchin and Reiwoldt are passed it.  Grimes not far behind.

They will resort to rough and nasty tactics as they did last year, mirroring their coach's style.

If we can't beat them then we do not deserve to be in contention.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,322]

2 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Richmond are a rabble.

They barely have a fwd line have no ruck division and a disconnected midfield.  Dusty, Cotchin and Reiwoldt are passed it.  Grimes not far behind.

They will resort to rough and nasty tactics as they did last year, mirroring their coach's style.

If we can't beat them then we do not deserve to be in contention.

Ahhh Luci ....... I note that the Jayden Hunt broken heart has finally been repaired!

[Engorged Onion 9,365]

1 minute ago, Lucifers Hero said:

If we can't beat them then we do not deserve to be in contention.

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments, these sorts of statements certainly reflect the posters mood and are not reflective of reality..

Geelong last year lost to

Hawthorn

Freo (at home)

St Kilda

[Lucifers Hero 37,172]

4 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments, these sorts of statements certainly reflect the posters mood and are not reflective of reality..

Geelong last year lost to

Hawthorn

Freo (at home)

St Kilda

Sure any team can win on any given day.  But have a look at their injury list and the deficiencies in available team that I listed.  Seriously, they are a rabble.  If we lose this, it won't be easy to be top 4 which is where we need to be to be in contention.

My mood is very bright, thank you!

[Roost it far 6,228]

This next month is the perfect opportunity to give Schache a string of games to see if he can replace TMac or Brown in the team. I hope he can but it's a long shot. I'd use JVR as the lead up crash and bash and keep Schache near the goals. Gawn needs another 2 at least on the sidelines and Grundy could do with Schache in support. Oh and there's a chance Laurie has earned a game and we've got to bring Harmes back in. Good week for a change up after that performance. I so wish we still had Darren Burgess at our club. I think he might be the gold dust. Oh and if anyone needs some reclaimed timber furniture made I'm offering a 20% discount till the end of April!

[Lucifers Hero 37,172]

18 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Ahhh Luci ....... I note that the Jayden Hunt broken heart has finally been repaired!

Sadly no😢

Just giving my new =#1 fave a go.  Love the twinkle in his eye!

[old55 21,356]

9 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

This next month is the perfect opportunity to give Schache a string of games to see if he can replace TMac or Brown in the team. I hope he can but it's a long shot. I'd use JVR as the lead up crash and bash and keep Schache near the goals. Gawn needs another 2 at least on the sidelines and Grundy could do with Schache in support. Oh and there's a chance Laurie has earned a game and we've got to bring Harmes back in. Good week for a change up after that performance. I so wish we still had Darren Burgess at our club. I think he might be the gold dust. Oh and if anyone needs some reclaimed timber furniture made I'm offering a 20% discount till the end of April!

After Saturday's result Demonland generally is in the market for some new deckchairs.

[WalkingCivilWar 32,339]

35 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Ahhh Luci ....... I note that the Jayden Hunt broken heart has finally been repaired!

 

15 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Sadly no😢

Just giving my new =#1 fave a go.  Love the twinkle in his eye!

Salo says hi, and what am I… chopped liver? 😁

[WalkingCivilWar 32,339]

17 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Sadly no😢

Just giving my new =#1 fave a go.  Love the twinkle in his eye!

Awesome choice for your new #1 Luci. His obvious talent aside, he’s a really sweet, well-mannered kid. Again, the No D***Head policy still working a treat. ❤️💙

[Lucifers Hero 37,172]

28 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

 

Salo says hi, and what am I… chopped liver? 😁

I still love him!  Notice the = in the =#1 faves.  He just has a new buddy in McVee and of course Hunt is the other =#1 fave.

Edited April 16, 2023 by Lucifers Hero

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 5,824]

10 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

We must not play Gawn.

Our opponent doesn't have two rucks like Essendon did. They don't even have one. 

We have a second game five days after ANZAC Eve. It's not the right time to bring Gawn back. 

If he's even fit for ANZAC Eve, hold him, and bring him back the following week against North.

I don't think it's an issue if he plays the Anzac Eve game or comes back 5 days later against Norf, but it would be madness playing him In both games.

Without tampering too much for the Norf game we should consider the  number of players we rest Grundy, Tmac, Maysie etc.

Its a long season list management is key, if the brains trust can manage the team to still be competitive and strong enough to take the 4 points im all for it.

 

[Demon Dynasty 15,579]

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Richmond are a rabble.

They barely have a fwd line have no ruck division and a disconnected midfield.  Dusty, Cotchin and Reiwoldt are passed it.  Grimes not far behind.

They will resort to rough and nasty tactics as they did last year, mirroring their coach's style.

If we can't beat them then we do not deserve to be in contention.

 

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Something is going wrong - repeatedly - with the 'lessons' and what is taken away after the game as resolution steps.

 

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments, these sorts of statements certainly reflect the posters mood and are not reflective of reality..

Geelong last year lost to

Hawthorn

Freo (at home)

St Kilda

 

1 hour ago, old55 said:

After Saturday's result Demonland generally is in the market for some new deckchairs.

Something to be said about deck chairs however, for a smattering of players their form in the this first five rounds is a fair way off their season 2022 form.

That can be turned around in a week or two however.  Or... a few changes made might assist.

The worry for mine are the differences between our best and worst, especially the two starts against Brisvegas & Essendrug.

Goodwin needs to take charge here in a group sense.

i can understand one match from five.  But to come out seemingly not switched on for the start of 2 out of 5 at season's start!??

There's a potential for a not-so-good  pattern to form here and we can't afford 3 in 6 or even 3 in 8 at this level.

Time for Goody to do a bit of soul searching before we get deeper into the mire.

The old footy trueism "it's 80% above the shoulders" was never more applicable right now for the mighty Demons and its head coach (with input from support crew).

A bit of tough love & home truths might need to be handed out to some or all.

[YearOfTheDees 3,095]

Win this week and we should be in the top three again. Gee we are having a bad start to the year. 

[loges 6,100]

2 minutes ago, YearOfTheDees said:

Win this week and we should be in the top three again. Gee we are having a bad start to the year. 

Wouldn't be too flippant until we actually win this week first.

[dl4e 5,594]

2 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments, these sorts of statements certainly reflect the posters mood and are not reflective of reality..

Geelong last year lost to

Hawthorn

Freo (at home)

St Kilda

And in 2021 didn't we lose to the filth ( our biggest loss ) who got the wooden spoon.

[Docs Demons 1,660]

3 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Uneasy feeling about Richmond - despite watching their pre-season dismembering at the hands of the Dees. Maybe I will feel better closer to the game-day. A little onfield leadership and a vast increase in creative play may just give us the points. Nankervis tends to play well against us. We owe Cotchin a little discomfort around the throat.

Think you will find Nankervis will be out. Whilst we all had the Bombers game down as a win which was a bit cocky by us, this game should be a given !!

[leave it to deever 15,737]

On 4/16/2023 at 10:16 AM, Swooper1987 said:

Sounded from Goodwin's presser that Gawn is playing this week. He is a quick healer, although I guess he has technically already missed 4 given he only lasted 5 minutes into the Brisbane game. Yesterday showed how important he is to our defence. Grundy does some things very well, but defending isn't one of them.  Hopefully Lever is right to go too.  Beware the wounded Tiger.

That would be awesome.  I think Grundy has been good but he's nowhere near Max's marking ability. Max is much stronger.

[layzie 28,939]

Can we please not bring Max back for this game as a knee jerk reaction to what happened on Saturday?

Don't take any risks with this, yes I'm not a doctor but I have a feeling I'm definitely right on this one. Long season, get him cherry ripe. I don't like how quick the panic button gets hit when we lose.