Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 09 vs Hawthorn

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

35 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Smith has looked absolutely electric in patches in the VFL the last two weeks. He kicked well against Box Hill but he did not finish well against Gold Coast. There is not many players with his athletic profile in the competition.

Smith was really poor against the Suns.

Kicked a goal in the first and then sprayed a couple of shots badly, hardly having any involvement in the last 3/4 as I recall.

BBB would have to be in before him.

I think WJ suggested to me, bringing in Howes and playing him hff for bits. He is 190 cms and can take a mark and is mobile. This is probably the game to try him.

    • Like 4
     
    26 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

    Goodwin stated in his press conference today that Salem won’t play this week. As the VFL has a bye this week, he will play VFL next week and go from there. So officially no Salem for minimum two more matches.

    Probably the right call. Love Salem but he will be super under-done if he tries to play a game in the 1s this weekend, best to get some game time into the legs at Casey.

    Looking forward to Jefferson taking Frost to the cleaners

    • Like 1
    • Haha 4
     
    5 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Smith was really poor against the Suns.

    Kicked a goal in the first and then sprayed a couple of shots badly, hardly having any involvement in the last 3/4 as I recall.

    BBB would have to be in before him.

    I think WJ suggested to me, bringing in Howes and playing him hff for bits. He is 190 cms and can take a mark and is mobile. This is probably the game to try him.

    Smith has kicked 3 goals & 2 goals in the last two weeks. He completely drifted in and out of both games but he also had patches where he absolutely dominated both times. (The period versus GCS he fluffed his chances.) Listening to Goodwin's press conference, Smith is going to get a trial in the next 10 weeks and Brown is plan B(BB).

    Howes body and intensity is not AFL ready. I am a big fan, but I think he is a 2024 project. There is not much chance he plays forward at AFL level because he has not played there at VFL level. If he plays this season it will be in a high half back role.

    • Like 4
    32 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

    Goodwin stated in his press conference today that Salem won’t play this week. As the VFL has a bye this week, he will play VFL next week and go from there. So officially no Salem for minimum two more matches.

    Yep, sounds like they're targeting KB or a week before.

    • Like 2

    On 5/7/2023 at 8:01 AM, Kent said:

    Hunter is  not fit enough in my view No acceleration is forced to attempt to balk which then  puts him self and team mates under pressure. He did it multiple times last night.

    Reasonable observation - and given that - possibly a reasonable area for some focus. He most certainly was a little static across the game; I had expected him to be a far more manoeuvrable, running clearance machine. 

    On 5/7/2023 at 7:54 AM, John Demonic said:

    Looking forward to getting my annual dose of Frost ball, and not from the weather!

    Yep, it will be good to see Frosty play - keeps us all full of smiles and tolerances - admire his speed, too.

    • Like 2

    I am open to trusting the coaches but can anyone tell me what Goody sees in Petty down forward?  He can mark and link but he is yet to actually perform the main role of a forward to kick some goals! I am convinced our backline will be better if he is down there, I really hope I am wrong. 

    • Like 2
     
    24 minutes ago, Robbie57 said:

    I am open to trusting the coaches but can anyone tell me what Goody sees in Petty down forward?  He can mark and link but he is yet to actually perform the main role of a forward to kick some goals! I am convinced our backline will be better if he is down there, I really hope I am wrong. 

    1) he competes well and is an excellent mark.

    2) he takes a good defender.

    3) he's better than Tmac or BB at ground level and follow up. 

    I actually think the thing he needs to improve on is his link play. So if JVR and Max are the more stay at home/forward 50 players, Petty needs to get up the ground more and take marks, and link inside 50. This is something that an uninhibited and fit TMac at his best does. BB is more your stay at home, lead from the square forward - that doesn't mean he doesn't work up the ground sometimes, even into defensive 50, but I'm being crude with the descriptions.

    At this stage, Petty is a better bet than those two. He's also a very good reader of the game, better in defence, but he reads the game. The only alternative to Petty if those two aren't options is someone like Joel Smith, who doesn't have a good game sense IMO and doesn't have a footy brain, but has excellent athletic traits that could link play and help at ground level.

    In the end, I think they've turned to Petty because the other options are thin. But if it clicks for Petty forward (a bit like 2019), our forward half becomes super dangerous with tall marking targets in Max (elite), JVR, Petty and the mobile, but good above his head Fritsch. We'd be a handful in the air, being complemented by very good ground level players in Kozzy, Chandler and Spargo.

    Edited by A F

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
    23 minutes ago, Robbie57 said:

    I am open to trusting the coaches but can anyone tell me what Goody sees in Petty down forward?  He can mark and link but he is yet to actually perform the main role of a forward to kick some goals! I am convinced our backline will be better if he is down there, I really hope I am wrong. 

    I've found the best way to think about it is that he is a defensive forward, he's not really there to kick bags but to make a contest, bring it to ground and apply pressure, something that our forwards last year weren't really doing. 

    • Like 4

    Just now, Hawny for Gawny said:

    I've found the best way to think about it is that he is a defensive forward, he's not really there to kick bags but to make a contest, bring it to ground and apply pressure, something that our forwards last year weren't really doing. 

    This user name is excellent. 10 stars out of 10.

    • Like 3
    • Love 1
    26 minutes ago, Robbie57 said:

    I am open to trusting the coaches but can anyone tell me what Goody sees in Petty down forward?  He can mark and link but he is yet to actually perform the main role of a forward to kick some goals! I am convinced our backline will be better if he is down there, I really hope I am wrong. 

    Im in the same boat as you.  Whilst he is "taking a Def" a Def is taking him.  He isn't offering a great deal and he doesn't have proper leading patterns.

    JVR brings the ball to ground and I think BBB would compliment him well.  But, im also not a premiership coach so il trust they know what they are doing!

    I’m one of those whose firmly of the belief that Petty is currently a better option forward.

    He competes in the air and on the ground, and now is the time to really experiment and get a good look at it. The alternatives aren’t bashing down the door, and it allows us to still play with the structure we want - 2 big marking players forward, Fritta, and Koz. Then we hope to get a mismatch on the 3rd target - be it Gawn or JVR, to take a grab or bring it to ground.

    We can’t win games 70 to 50 anymore. Turnover game styles are capable of easily scoring 100 points now, so we need to get our forward craft right, and trust our backline to continue to hold up as best it can.

    Also, don’t whinge about our lack of coaching creativity if you want to keep players where they were in 2022. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

    • Like 5
    23 minutes ago, A F said:

    This user name is excellent. 10 stars out of 10.

    Now we just need @Hawny for Gawny to ask Andy a Q on the podcast thread or leave a review, so we get to hear him read the name out loud :laugh:

    • Haha 2
    On 5/7/2023 at 8:01 AM, Kent said:

    Hunter is  not fit enough in my view No acceleration is forced to attempt to balk which then  puts him self and team mates under pressure. He did it multiple times last night.

    Fitness isn’t the problem, if anything he might be too fit and we might’ve trained the speed out of him. 

    A week off or cutting his game time down towards 70% could help. But we might have to wait until the bye to see if there’s much change with a freshen up.

    • Haha 1

    2 hours ago, adonski said:

    Looking forward to Jefferson taking Frost to the cleaners

     Yes, but looking forward to seeing Frosty play, again. I have missed his unique pitch on the game. 

    29 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    I’m one of those whose firmly of the belief that Petty is currently a better option forward.

    He competes in the air and on the ground, and now is the time to really experiment and get a good look at it. The alternatives aren’t bashing down the door, and it allows us to still play with the structure we want - 2 big marking players forward, Fritta, and Koz. Then we hope to get a mismatch on the 3rd target - be it Gawn or JVR, to take a grab or bring it to ground.

    We can’t win games 70 to 50 anymore. Turnover game styles are capable of easily scoring 100 points now, so we need to get our forward craft right, and trust our backline to continue to hold up as best it can.

    Also, don’t whinge about our lack of coaching creativity if you want to keep players where they were in 2022. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

    I agree THBT, There is more to forward craft than goal kicking. If the club is talking about the ‘Collective’, the forward line collective performs better with a tall, mobile, strong player in Petty. To the naysayers,  Go back and look JVR first quarter goal last week. JVR would not have taken that mark and kick the goal without Petty blocking GC players behind. 
     

    Pre season training reports had Petty training as a KB. Give him time as his defensive forward work is very good. 

    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, A F said:

    1) he competes well and is an excellent mark.

    2) he takes a good defender.

    3) he's better than Tmac or BB at ground level and follow up. 

    I actually think the thing he needs to improve on is his link play. So if JVR and Max are the more stay at home/forward 50 players, Petty needs to get up the ground more and take marks, and link inside 50. This is something that an uninhibited and fit TMac at his best does. BB is more your stay at home, lead from the square forward - that doesn't mean he doesn't work up the ground sometimes, even into defensive 50, but I'm being crude with the descriptions.

    At this stage, Petty is a better bet than those two. He's also a very good reader of the game, better in defence, but he reads the game. The only alternative to Petty if those two aren't options is someone like Joel Smith, who doesn't have a good game sense IMO and doesn't have a footy brain, but has excellent athletic traits that could link play and help at ground level.

    In the end, I think they've turned to Petty because the other options are thin. But if it clicks for Petty forward (a bit like 2019), our forward half becomes super dangerous with tall marking targets in Max (elite), JVR, Petty and the mobile, but good above his head Fritsch. We'd be a handful in the air, being complemented by very good ground level players in Kozzy, Chandler and Spargo.

    He’s serviceable. It’s still the glaring gap on our list moving into next year.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    51 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

    Now we just need @Hawny for Gawny to ask Andy a Q on the podcast thread or leave a review, so we get to hear him read the name out loud :laugh:

    Next week is my time to shine.

    • Haha 4
    1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    Yep, it will be good to see Frosty play - keeps us all full of smiles and tolerances - admire his speed, too.

    His 150th this week 56.
    Good on him, gave us some entertainment and was part of a defence that got us to a prelim. 

    • Like 3

    3 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

    His 150th this week 56.
    Good on him, gave us some entertainment and was part of a defence that got us to a prelim. 

    Never forget that brilliant run down of one of the quickest players in the game,  Petrocelli ( over west coast I think) . Ragdolled him. Got up, got the free then promptly kicked a 20 metre pass out on the full. That seems to sum him up somehow. Did things that were incredible and terrible...often back to back. Good luck to him though 150 AFL games is good career by any standards. Fond and scary memories of him lol

    • Like 4
    • Clap 1

    So going on Goody:

    This week no BBB, no Salem, Hibbo in, Spargo likely, Smith a chance, JvR definitely being picked  and Petty stays forward.

    So likely Hibbo for Turner, Smith for JvR  if suspended, Spargo in and one of Harmes, JJ, someone else? to the Sub. Still not really clear how Spargo in works - someone must be dropped.

     

    19 hours ago, A F said:

    I tried to invite the Hawthorn supporting wife along. She declined. Still haven't been able to work out if it's because her team is rubbish; or if it's about getting a baby sitter for our two year old; or it's about watching football with me (don't blame her); or all of the above.

    Our son is Melbourne, but she has this ridiculous rule that she won't convert to Melbourne (we've been together since 2007 FFS) unless we beat Hawthorn in a GF. She thinks she's pretty safe there, I reckon! I'd love to beat Hawthorn in a GF, but I'd much prefer they stay in the bottom 4 forever and eventually fold.

    I hope your kids have a big, memorable victory, mate.

    Cheers AF.

    Fortunately, my wife has no interest at all in AFL so I'm free to indoctrinate the kids without her running interference. 

    I'd rather they stay in the doldrums for a long time as well. They seem to be a making all the mistakes we did during our tanking period so our wish may well come true. I hope it does. I don't like that club at all.

    • Like 3
     
    1 hour ago, Hawny for Gawny said:

    Next week is my time to shine.

    Do you smoke durries in the car park and deliver pizzas?

    Just now, Tarax Club said:

    Do you smoke durries in the car park and deliver pizzas?

    Nah get the missus to do that, she's great at Max Gawn role-play.

    • Haha 3

    Guest
    This topic is now closed to further replies.
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: West Coast

      It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

        • Thumb Down
        • Haha
      • 48 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Haha
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Like
      • 175 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 563 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All