The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on at the special day and time of Tuesday, 18th April @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman and I as we dissect the disappointing loss to Essendon at Adelaide Oval during the Gather Round.

You 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.

Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast

Call: 03 9016 3666

Skype: Demonland31

Is there anything we can really do if our 'no fly zone' defence concedes 15 marks inside 50?

If I didn't see the game but saw that stat, 9 times out of 10 I'd assume we were beaten.

Very concerning the amount of marks taken 40 out directly in front.

Was the defence totally out of sorts.

Also we need to practice hanballing more, to often we are making easy handballs hit the deck or handballing to someone that is "hot".  Has been consistent since rd 2.

Only a few that get a pass mark from today, which means the team was off, but that is twice now.  This can't become a reoccurring issue!

May looks lost without Lever. 
 

is this real?

Discuss

No goals from the 10 minute mark in the second quarter (Kozzy's second) until the second minute of the fourth quarter... and a range of behinds by the end of the game.  Not our most accurate this season...

Would you please discuss our forward set up for this game?

Can we discuss the mental/psychological side of footy?

I can't understand why the team is a roller coaster in terms of their approach to every game.

Some games we start with the right attitude and intensity. Other games like yesterday, we seem to be flat and going through the motions.

Is this something the coaches are responsible for? Or, is it the players?

  On 15/04/2023 at 23:11, ElDiablo14 said:

Can we discuss the mental/psychological side of footy?

I can't understand why the team is a roller coaster in terms of their approach to every game.

Some games we start with the right attitude and intensity. Other games like yesterday, we seem to be flat and going through the motions.

Is this something the coaches are responsible for? Or, is it the players?

Good question ElDiab.  I don’t think we can blame the wet conditions, the consecutive road trips, or the absence of a few players for the way we played in Saturday’s loss.  To my eyes, we were just never ‘switched on’, plain & simple!  How can this be?

Edited April 16, 20231 yr by Deeoldfart
Typo

Like the thoughts of the panel on whether Schache would have been a better replacement for BBB than Melksham against Essendon? 

Josh has kicked 9 goals 3 behinds in his three VFL games this year and offers a lot as a second ruck too.

Do you think he is a chance to play against Richmond especially if Gawn doesn’t get up? 

Edited April 16, 20231 yr by OhMyDees

Seems like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have flipped the script this season. Comfortable at home, woeful away. Is there still time to rectify this onset of travel sickness? Or will demonlanders be reaching for brown paper bags?

Edited April 16, 20231 yr by Tarax Club

Grateful for the panels comment on the lack of pressure and run through the middle - it seemed we just couldn’t go with them and they had spare players everywhere, they just waltzed through the middle, and could enter their fwd 50 with little pressure on the ball carrier, thus asking the impossible of our defence.
 

The question is why?  Reading between the lines of Goody’s presser, he acknowledged that they would review their preparation during the week but he seemed to suggest that he didn’t think this was the reason for why it didn’t look like Melbourne. I don’t buy the missing player argument and I don’t think Goody was entertaining it either: a game should still “look like Melbourne” even with a few missing players. Indeed, that is why we have Casey playing with the same approach.

If it’s not preparation, not missing players and not niggles so early in the season, it must be effort/attitude.  
 

Even if you don’t fully agree that attitude was an important explanatory factor, I’d be curious for the panel’s thoughts on what concrete actions  the coaches can take, particularly when it’s not about the performance of one or two individuals but seemingly most of the squad?  You arguably can’t just single out one or two players and push them back to Casey and you also can’t dump half the squad but, at the same time, surely some accountability is necessary if a ruthless culture is to be built and sustained.

Sorry, this has turned into a long question and commentary so feel free to weave into the discussion as you see fit. 

  On 15/04/2023 at 23:11, ElDiablo14 said:

Can we discuss the mental/psychological side of footy?

I can't understand why the team is a roller coaster in terms of their approach to every game.

Some games we start with the right attitude and intensity. Other games like yesterday, we seem to be flat and going through the motions.

Is this something the coaches are responsible for? Or, is it the players?

Brilliant question. 

As a coach, how do you get your team wanting it more than the opposition every single week? It has to be one of the toughest parts of the gig to consistently say all the right things and hope your players don't get ahead of themselves.

It's easy to say that players should be giving 110% every single week but we're all human and have blips here and there. How do you coach for this?

Ruthless is a strong word to describe teams. We were ruthless in 2021 partly by way of our system and team buy-in to the plan and desire to lift the cup. But mostly, the effort was also unquestionable, it was there every game, 100%.

I think everyone put * on the Lions game due to Gawn and prevailing conditions. After what we dished up against Essendon, im thinking this is now the emergence of a new trend and i think its not all just about effort / attitude but more or less executing the new game plan. We are not yet comfortable playing the kamikaze , outside , uncontested, through the corridor game plan. its bit like trying to work in a change of golf-swing, the rehearsals look and feel great but when you feel the heat, you fall back on what you know and is in your comfort zone.

My hope is that (similar to the Cats last year) it will take some time to click and we will have ups and downs but ultimately hit our straps when it matters most. Getting back close to our best 22 is always a bonus too.

 

  On 16/04/2023 at 23:07, layzie said:

Brilliant question. 

As a coach, how do you get your team wanting it more than the opposition every single week? It has to be one of the toughest parts of the gig to consistently say all the right things and hope your players don't get ahead of themselves.

It's easy to say that players should be giving 110% every single week but we're all human and have blips here and there. How do you coach for this?

For me, what makes it more baffling is that they are now a champion team.

I believe the pride of a champion team should/can be enough to go out there and perform to a consistent level. 

I am certain that, with the quality list we have, lots of games could be won purely based on effort/work rate. Even at the times when the skills and structure crumble.

Spend 10 mins explaining what being ‘5%’ off in the contest means.

Not first to the contest, lose territory. Make it harder on the backs, mids chasing tail.

Not competitive in clearances, forward handballs at stoppages. Clean kicks into backline, May becomes less relevant as ball is cleaner and to advantage.

There are plenty of other examples of how, in the world of 6-6-6, you can get punished if you don’t show up mentally prepared and connected against any team.

  On 15/04/2023 at 23:11, ElDiablo14 said:

Can we discuss the mental/psychological side of footy?

I can't understand why the team is a roller coaster in terms of their approach to every game.

Some games we start with the right attitude and intensity. Other games like yesterday, we seem to be flat and going through the motions.

Is this something the coaches are responsible for? Or, is it the players?

Expanding on this, I think teams are going after us knowing we are fragile. If we don’t have our leaders in the side and in form, we can simply crumble.

We’ve got systems in place that are very solid, if on our terms, but it seems we keep flirting with the line of what’s sustainable. I’m not convinced we have the right balance.

Do you think we can reach the point where team harmony and game plan can click for a long enough period to have a shot at this years flag?

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 20231 yr by BW511

I imagined the 2021 premiership would cure the MFCSS forever. It's back. Please advise remedy.

It seems we have a number of specific defensive roles, including that of FB and intercepting back (may, Lever). Tommo did OK when he took Mays role earlier in the year, but panicked when he had to play Lever’s intercept role.  If not him (obviously) then who do we have as a Lever mark 2 for when the glass ankle strikes again? 

 

  On 17/04/2023 at 00:51, buck_nekkid said:

It seems we have a number of specific defensive roles, including that of FB and intercepting back (may, Lever). Tommo did OK when he took Mays role earlier in the year, but panicked when he had to play Lever’s intercept role.  If not him (obviously) then who do we have as a Lever mark 2 for when the glass ankle strikes again? 

 

Disco Turner? 🕺

  On 17/04/2023 at 00:30, Queanbeyan Demon said:

I imagined the 2021 premiership would cure the MFCSS forever. It's back. Please advise remedy.

I prescribe 1x rewatch of the 2021 grand final and if still feeling symptoms, the mii of the 2021 PF against Geelong. 
If you are still suffering please return for a new prescription.

Here are my questions for the Demonland podcast this week.

Firstly, what the hell happened against Essendon?! Was Simon Goodwin outcoached by Brad Scott?

Secondly, is it just me, or is Adam Tomlinson a mere shadow of the player he was before his ACL injury? Should we continue to give him games or let Daniel "Disco" Turner have a chance?

Thirdly, what is wrong with Ben Brown's back? Should we look to give Josh Schache an opportunity in the Demons forward line?

Fourthly, with Charlie Spargo unfortunately getting concussed, should we give Bailey Laurie another go at AFL level in the senior side or leave Jake Melksham in the team to play that role?

Fifthly, will Max Gawn be hopefully fit and ready to return this week against the Tigers? We desperately need him, but I don't wish to rush him back either.

Finally, what do we need to do to beat Richmond on ANZAC Eve?

Just on the Gather Round what did you make of the crowd for match? Given that the game was a double header most of the crowd was always going to consist of Port supporters for the second match.

Andy you called this headline from the NewsCorp:

Gather Round sold out claims exposed by vision of empty seats

 

 

  Quote

 

The AFL’s inaugural Gather Round is off and running with fans being treated to four games so far during the round five spectacle.

Unfortunately it was the fifth game of the round that exposed one of the league’s biggest talking points.

Keen to show just how big a hit the first instalment of Gather Round is, one of the major points of emphasis was drawing fans from all over to every single contest.

When all nine games were listed as having been sold out the trumpets could be heard ringing out from the AFL headquarters.

That all fell apart however when footy fans flicked their TV’s on for the late Saturday afternoon contest between Melbourne and Essendon.

Despite both teams holding 3-1 records and sitting inside the top four on the ladder entering the round, the fans failed to flock through the gates for the encounter.

As the cameras panned out ahead of the opening bounce, empty seats could be seen as far as the eye could see.

Adelaide Oval has a capacity of more than 53,000 and while the early conditions saw rain falling, the images of the stands show that figure won’t be in any trouble.

Footy fans didn’t hesitate to point out the blatant issue with the AFL’s ticket claim.

Nine News’ Nat Yoannidis wrote: “The AFL has an odd definition of ‘sell out’.”

The Advocate’s Alex Fair wrote: “There’s a lot of empty seats for a so-called “sell out”.”

Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs will play straight after the Demons and Bombers match comes to an end.

The AFL expected more fans to be in attendance for the second game of the doubleheader with Port Adelaide fans buying a “significant portion of tickets”, according to Fox Footy.

 

Whilst the article is calling out the AFL for claiming that all 9 games are a sellout when clearly they are not but it's also taking a dig at the Dees and Bombers as if they couldn't fill the stadium.

What did you make of the crowd? It sounded as if the Bombers had more fans there. Should the Dees/Bombers have had their own stand alone game?

  On 18/04/2023 at 04:54, mandeelorian said:

Just on the Gather Round what did you make of the crowd for match? Given that the game was a double header most of the crowd was always going to consist of Port supporters for the second match.

Andy you called this headline from the NewsCorp:

Gather Round sold out claims exposed by vision of empty seats

 

 

Whilst the article is calling out the AFL for claiming that all 9 games are a sellout when clearly they are not but it's also taking a dig at the Dees and Bombers as if they couldn't fill the stadium.

What did you make of the crowd? It sounded as if the Bombers had more fans there. Should the Dees/Bombers have had their own stand alone game?

Well if it was sold as a double header and the majority were only going to the other game, not sure how Dees and Port fans could get more tickets?

Or was each game sold individually?

Apparently fans from the first games could stay on if they like, so sellout was based on the overall number for the two matches.

Thanks for the podcast, lots of questions already, but if you get time -

One aspect of our premiership year that I thought was crucial was our ability to wrest back control of games when things got out of hand. We seemed to have a real focus on playing different tempos to respond to what was happening in the game, positive and negative, i.e., capitalise on momentum when we had it, slow things down periodically when the opposition had a run on, know when to go all-out and when to take a breather and re-calibrate.

Do you think that's something lacking at the moment, and if so, is it a stand-alone thing or a symptom of other issues (leadership?). Or perhaps are we prioritising something else that fits better with the 2023 game style we're trying to achieve?

When they showed Viney on the screen shaking his head I couldn’t help shake my head also. Just wondering if you fellas did the same. 😁
I found Viney’s post-match interview interesting. He touched on a little about how we’ll get extra recovery and extra training heading into Richmond, something we obviously didn’t get heading into Essendon. No excuses, but we were very slow to cover the ground when Essendon switched and moved the ball. It really was uncharacteristic.

Edited April 18, 20231 yr by Dee Zephyr