Jump to content

Featured Replies

15 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

Grundy is ok in the ruck and in front of the ball.  His defensive skills are poor, dropping off the main too easily in the the back half - made Bombers rucks look like gods and did the same in D against tigers. He also doesn’t mark well enough.  I wouldn’t be dropping him, but be getting him to work on the defensive side of his game.

Grundy stood up in my book when JVR got the knees in the back after taking the mark of the day.

Always loved that in players i coached.

 
1 hour ago, Vipercrunch said:

That's not correct.  Looking at his heat maps for all 6 games, he played back for rounds 1 and 2 (WB and Lions), and returned back for round 5 (Ess) because Lever was out.  He was forward against Sydney and West Coast, then again for Richmond.  We've won every time his played as a forward, not that anyone should read much into that.

Yes, You are correct about round 5, slipped my mind but I am trying to not think about that game ever again.  

1 hour ago, Sydee said:

Tells you something about the form of the blokes at Casey last week that might be his replacement in F50.

Don't look at his contribution as just goals scored - yes that's obviously one of his main KPIs as a forward and I still think he will have games soon where he kicks multiple goals - this week could be one of those. What he is much better at than (BB & Schache) is competing strongly in the air stopping opposition intercept marks and chasing when the ball hits the ground

I wish we had two Petty's so one could play back but we don't. May is in very poor form IMO - if he was flying, we probably wouldn't even have to think about Petty going back

I really value him so highly as a defender and don't know why we are robbing Steven to pay Jacob. 
We have seen this regularly in defence but forward in these games he has only taken a handful of marks. 

We are going shorter in defence with the 7 rotation now being - May, Lever, Rivers, Brayshaw, Hibberd, Bowey and McVee which in turn has seen an increase in marks by opposition inside their attacking 50. 
 

5 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Yep....horses and courses.

He might well make for a left field shuffle of the magnets in a game whereby all the widgets and stars align to make it a workable ploy..

Other than that he is a key link in the fabric of our defence.

Experiments.....  we can meddle elsewhere

As they say.... Harry in defence aint broke...let's  not 'fix' it .

Agreed that it ain't broke. 
I'm a big campaigner for the Keep Petty in defence, I haven't seen enough results to change my mind yet. 

10 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Other than that he is a key link in the fabric of our defence.

Experiments.....  we can meddle elsewhere

As they say.... Harry in defence aint broke...let's  not 'fix' it .

I don't know whether the Petty forward experiment will work. But if clubs didn't experiment, Neitz would never have become a full forward.

 
2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

If we move Petty to defence this week then IMO it’s defence for the year for him. I don’t want us to keep flipping him from week to week. Whether it’s forward or back, he needs to get stability with May/Lever or JVR/whoever. Flipping him around is giving me Brad Miller vibes - never got settled and never got to his potential as a result. 

If he’s a forward then leave him there. If not, move him back and get Brown back into the side. 

This is where the problem is and why I'm now thinking Petty will probably stay up forward for a while yet to learn the position a bit better. I think he’s improving as a forward and needs a run of games there to develop into the position. 
BBB and Tmac are both struggling with injuries and form this year and there will times when we can’t get either of them on the pitch. We can’t leave it to JVR and Max. 

14 hours ago, deejammin' said:

I agree if they’re injured. But last year we were 7-0 playing a VFL West Coast side and 8-0 playing the Roos and we didn’t rest sore players, that’s when we should’ve. Right now we’re 4-2, not in very good form and have a chance to play close to our full strength lineup. If players are injured, sure, rest them. But if they’re just a bit sore but capable of playing we need to get our best team on the park, in the right positions and find some form. Let’s get to 5-2 and 6-2 and then think about resting players with niggles, right now I’d like to see us play. 

I get that. I just think we have three weeks we should win even with a few managed.


2 hours ago, DubDee said:

Why the hell are we playing on saturday after playing monday night?  Tigers get a sunday match.  we are playing north, clearly not a blockbuster

[censored] me

Agreed but Coll & Ess have short breaks too and their games are nasty unlike ours.

Both sides could be cooked by half time. I wouldnt bet on either of them.

34 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I get that. I just think we have three weeks we should win even with a few managed.

I hope you’re right if we do rest some guys. Such an even top 12 atm it’d be great to put a gap on the competitors.

Unless absolutely necessary I would prefer us to have no changes. We havent had a settled side at all this season and I think thats why its taking us a while to click in games. 

 

I wouldn't have any talk on indicating resting anyone. every bit of Media plays up questions to teams that we play saying lying questions on us resting, and we get the backwash..

18 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

Grundy is ok in the ruck and in front of the ball.  His defensive skills are poor, dropping off the main too easily in the the back half - made Bombers rucks look like gods and did the same in D against tigers. He also doesn’t mark well enough.  I wouldn’t be dropping him, but be getting him to work on the defensive side of his game.

Defense isn't Grundy's strength for sure, but it's no worse than most other rucks. Essendon's rucks did well against him because they overworked him in 2-1. One took a break, the other tagged in. He wasn't able to keep up, and most ruckman wouldn't on their own. Even Max has had games in the past where teams like Port or Saints worked him over and beat him.

Grundy's form overall has been fine though. Hardwick acknowledged him as the game changer in the 3rd quarter, so opposition coaches rate his impact. If his form keeps improving, we'll be in for a treat!


3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't know whether the Petty forward experiment will work. But if clubs didn't experiment, Neitz would never have become a full forward.

I think we've seen the experiment's results...jmo.

He has excellent craft down back....and just the other side of sfa up the forward arc. Just seems terribly list most times. It's quite odd really. Fine reader of the ball but doesn't seem to translate  from one end to the other..

I stand to be corrected but Neeta was a swing player capable of both ends but played most earlier games as a fwd..  .. at Melb he went back as a CHB but returned to his natural forward slot.

Harry is no Neeta....  very few are ;) 

Just my two bobs worth,

I think May is struggling with an injury or confidence.  If Petty goes back then the defense grouping is very similar to when May had an easier time.

So that leaves a hole up forward, BBB kicked 4 points in Casey, but if he had kicked straight, we would not hesitate.

Yes I know   If your Auntie had nuts she would be your uncle.   But this means Norths best goes onto BBB and gives Rooey the lesser player, and maybe Fritta gets it easier.    And get Kossy to sign and he plays without any concerns for the next 5 years.   

Go Dees

3 hours ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Grundy stood up in my book when JVR got the knees in the back after taking the mark of the day.

Always loved that in players i coached.

Who was  that [censored] of a Ninthmond player..   what a tuffy 

3 hours ago, FritschyBusiness said:

Yes, You are correct about round 5, slipped my mind but I am trying to not think about that game ever again.  

I really value him so highly as a defender and don't know why we are robbing Steven to pay Jacob. 
We have seen this regularly in defence but forward in these games he has only taken a handful of marks. 

We are going shorter in defence with the 7 rotation now being - May, Lever, Rivers, Brayshaw, Hibberd, Bowey and McVee which in turn has seen an increase in marks by opposition inside their attacking 50. 
 

Agreed that it ain't broke. 
I'm a big campaigner for the Keep Petty in defence, I haven't seen enough results to change my mind yet. 

There has to be a solution to the forward line that doesn't include exposing May Hibberd and Lever to their injury management issues.

Max behind the ball down back and Petty continues his synergy with usual defenders.

 

On AFL 360 last night Goodwin said Gawn and Petty give us the aerial presence we haven't had for a while.  We can all recall the numerous games where defenders marked in fwd 50.

On thinking about that, technically McD and Brown should provide it and they have in the past.  I wonder whether their respective past injuries (McD's foot; Brown's knee) prevent them from jumping and therefore it is difficult for them to contest and mark or bring the ball to ground.

Therefore their one wood and now maybe only trick is to lead out.  Very easy to defend if a fwd has only one tool.  So their absence from the team may not be their form or perhaps their form is a result of not being able to jump and contest.  They have run out of tricks so to speak.

So Petty isn't necessarily there to kick goals.  He is there to mark or to give our small players a chance at ground level.  Ditto Max.  They will kick goals from time to time.  Worth noting that of the 15 goals we kicked vs Tigers only two were kicked by Petty and Gawn. 

Edited by Lucifers Hero


12 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Who was  that [censored] of a Ninthmond player..   what a tuffy 

Tylar Young I believe.

5 minutes ago, IRW said:

There has to be a solution to the forward line that doesn't include exposing May Hibberd and Lever to their injury management issues.

Max behind the ball down back and Petty continues his synergy with usual defenders.

 

The solution with the forward line would be TMac or Brown but both are either out of form or not healthy/fit enough for the role at the level its required to be. 

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Would ice after a game on his achilles be a sign of concern or just standard practice for a 33 year old with a recent achilles problem?

With respect to the Petty forward or back debate, I'm wondering whether the thinking is that Turner has progressed enough through the pecking order so that we have the luxury of trying to turn Petty into a true key position forward. Whether they play this year or not, Brown and McDonald are both nearing the end, so the intention might be to have key defenders of May, Lever, D Turner and Tomlinson and key forwards of van Rooyen, Petty and eventually Jefferson.  

LDVC - agree with most of what you say but, sadly and reluctantly I am beginning to think that Tomlinson is becoming history.   Don’t like it but it is looking that way. 

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't know whether the Petty forward experiment will work. But if clubs didn't experiment, Neitz would never have become a full forward.

A Coleman medalist what’s more. 

16 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Who was  that [censored] of a Ninthmond player..   what a tuffy 

 

3 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Tylar Young I believe.

And of course the MRO didn’t see anything in it.  

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't know whether the Petty forward experiment will work. But if clubs didn't experiment, Neitz would never have become a full forward.

And never  should have.Was the best chb in the afl by  a mile.

Just now, FritschyBusiness said:

The solution with the forward line would be TMac or Brown but both are either out of form or not healthy/fit enough for the role at the level its required to be. 

They show every sign of being on their last legs and I'm a fan of both of them.

Weid ( of whom I was not a fan)was being used much more suitably to his natural skills by the Bombers on Sunday .

If they can get Brown fit and kick on the lead it's problem solved.

I doubt it will happen though 

Part of TMacs history was that he could run up and down  the ground as well as stand tall in the middle of a pack.

I think the runnings gone. 

 


6 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

And of course the MRO didn’t see anything in it.  

It just went with flow of that night's umpiring. Absolutely deplorable 

How is it with all the colours to.choose from some nuffy decided to kit the maggots in yellow and black....i mean  ...wtf

We didn't take anywhere near enough of our chances to rest and freshen up players last year and paid for it in the long run. 

In terms of who needs the rest most it's difficult to determine, but, i think these 4 players should be given a run next week. Two were never dropped and two have form justifying a place, at leat to have a taste. 

  • Ben Brown
  • James Harmes 
  • Luke Dunstan 
  • Bailey Laurie 

Beyond that I'd consider Daniel Turner if another tall needs to miss. 

16 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

It just went with flow of that night's umpiring. Absolutely deplorable 

How is it with all the colours to.choose from some nuffy decided to kit the maggots in yellow and black....i mean  ...wtf

They wear yellow and black to every MCG game.  Daft, I know but that is how they work...

Edited by Lucifers Hero

 
1 hour ago, 640MD said:

Just my two bobs worth,

I think May is struggling with an injury or confidence.  If Petty goes back then the defense grouping is very similar to when May had an easier time.

So that leaves a hole up forward, BBB kicked 4 points in Casey, but if he had kicked straight, we would not hesitate.

Yes I know   If your Auntie had nuts she would be your uncle.   But this means Norths best goes onto BBB and gives Rooey the lesser player, and maybe Fritta gets it easier.    And get Kossy to sign and he plays without any concerns for the next 5 years.   

Go Dees

That is the first i've heard that saying and it has made my day. Ill make it my life's purpose to use it as often as i can. 

It's these sort of numbers as well as comments Goodwin has made that make me think Petty will be persisted with up forward.  I am pretty sure the green ones are on the side of the ledger that we want them to be.

image.png.7a6da1ab8ff4259ceafdef3c61383fd0.png

 

Edited by Vipercrunch


Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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?

    • 169 replies
  • 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
  • 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.

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 253 replies