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PREGAME: Rd 13 vs Collingwood

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Hibbo available.  Melksham available.  Clarry hopefulllllllllllly available.  

Bowsa out concussed. 
Harmes out suspended (stupid). 
 

Tomlinson stays in v Cameron/Cox forward.   May on Mihocek.  
Lever 3rd tall or on Johnson. 

No more slow and wide.  Rather run and gun and more chaos style 
 

    • Like 2
     

    Can’t wait. Bring it on, seems this game has been on everyone’s lips and minds for the last month including the players. 

    • Like 2
    8 hours ago, A F said:

    I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

    I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

    But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

    He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

    We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

    I agree. Both he and Sparrow kick the ball ridiculously high. I think they could hit the roof at Marvel. The trajectory makes accuracy that much harder. Having said that, Rivers' miskicks are numerous and over all distances which is unusual. I wonder if his knee is giving him grief.

     
    8 hours ago, A F said:

    I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

    I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

    But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

    He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

    We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

    Im hearing you, AF, but there's no chance Rivers gets rested.

    • Like 1

    Haven't been more confident of a win this year. We'll bury them.

    • Like 3
    • Haha 2
    • Shocked 1

    10 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

    Out. Bowey (concussed), Harmes (suspended/omitted), Smith (omitted)

    Ins. Hibberd, Oliver, Ben Brown

    I don't care what Benny is doing wrong in the eyes of the coaches, he's still good for a cheap free and mark each week. That's 2 goals we could use. Didn't mind the Smith experiment but it didn't work. Stick to what you know. I'll also cop TMac back if he's fit.

    Harmes will cop a week for his bump but will be dropped either way. When he cops his week I expect it to be one of the shorter threads in Demonland's history. Great clubman and servant, but he's not up to it at the minute. 

    Not sure who I'd play as sub in my scenario. Maybe Chandler? I prefer the sub to have a bit of X-Factor rather than the 23rd man which is generally another vanilla midfielder.

     

    Melksham

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
    2 minutes ago, Kent said:

    Melksham

    My three ins....  

    Oliver, Hibberd and Milkshake

    Smith was neither particularly good nor particularly bad but you could ask what he did do that would make retaining in the lineup mandatory. 

    We're going to need a little bit of something playing the Pies...  Melky might bring a bag of tricks.

    • Like 1
     

    Genuine question. 

    When was the last time we were underdogs for a game?

    Did it occur at all in 2022? Geelong in Geelong maybe?

    It’s a chance for us to be the hunters. No one actually expects us to win. Let’s relish that. 

    • Like 3
    • Love 2

    I think Smith has to stay another week. In fact I would give him a stretch of 4 games.

    His stats don't look great but he at least launched at the ball and created a contest. There was some nearly moments there.

    Goodwin has to back this experiment in and not drop him immediately like he did with Schache, that's just [censored] poor development. He's also versatile. If a defender goes down then we can swing him down back.

    With that in mind it's simply non negotiable that a tall like Ben Brown simply has to come in. I am having massive anxiety the amount of intercept marks Darcy Moore will take when he's manning up on our CHF players of last night in Kozzie and Spargo.

    Make this happen Goody

    • Like 2

    9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

    IN: Oliver, Hibberd, Turner

    OUT: Bowey, Tomlinson, Harmes

    Chandler the sub.

    Don't want to see Tomlinson in a Melbourne jumper again he's too slow Turner should have always been ahead of him.

     

    Does it matter how many goals kicked on Tomlinson when you keep a team with 2 Coleman medallist’s to 44 points? Our defence has not looked that good in some time. 

    Have you forgotten what Casboult did with his extra 15kgs to Turner? How do you think he would have gone with McKay?

    Hibbo for Bowser

    Oliver for Harmes 

    One of Spargo/Chandler as sub. 

    That is all. 

    Edited by Lil_red_fire_engine

    • Like 10
    10 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Raised this on the game thread but if Viney’s opponent’s head made contact with the ground in the tackle then he’ll get an automatic 1 week at the MRP I’d imagine.

    Shhhh, don’t mention this again🤞

    1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

    Can’t wait. Bring it on, seems this game has been on everyone’s lips and minds for the last month including the players. 

    Yep, I’m totally with you.  Hope we smash ‘em, and if that is asking for too much, beat them by a point.  I’m easy to please.

    • Like 3
    1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Hibbo available.  Melksham available.  Clarry hopefulllllllllllly available.  

    Bowsa out concussed. 
    Harmes out suspended (stupid). 
     

    Tomlinson stays in v Cameron/Cox forward.   May on Mihocek.  
    Lever 3rd tall or on Johnson. 

    No more slow and wide.  Rather run and gun and more chaos style 
     

    Agree it must have been 90% wide last night. 

    • Like 2

    The Dees’ performance, and attitude, seem to rise and fall with the reputation and ability of its opponents.

    Despite all the best intentions and words of affirmation, the players can’t seem to rise to the occasion unless there’s a worthy opponent facing them . For this reason I expect our team to play a much stronger brand against the Magpies. 

    We may not win but I’m certain the output will be far more impressive than what was served up against a pathetic Carlton team that brought us down to their level 

    Edited by joeboy

    • Like 3

    9 hours ago, A F said:

    I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

    I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

    But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

    He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

    We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

    24 disposals. 5 intercepts. 5 score involvements. Big contest wins late.

    Just about every aspect of his game is in really good order aside from kicking at full speed which is really difficult.

    But geez we’ve been crying out for our defenders to run and take the game on, surely we live with some shanks whilst he tries to add that to his game?

    10 day break and the bye will both help. We can’t lose Bowey and then rest our other half back runner.

    • Like 11
    • Clap 3
    6 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

    On current form line, we won't get close to Collingwood.

    I just really hope we can put some form together for the second half of the year. 

    Atm it feels like second half of last year all over again. 

    So unconvincing, sloppy, selfish and patchy. 

    Have to disagree I’m afraid. We’re a couple of moments away from being 10-2 without playing well. Last night our defence was superb against a solid forward line. Our younger brigade stepped up and showed a lot. It’s June, Collingwood aren’t untouchable and we’ll have Oliver back and Petty coming in after the bye. We then play predominantly at the G, the very ground we’re setting ourselves up to excel on. I actually think we’re tracking beautifully. I also think we’ll beat the Pies but I don’t think it matters either way. The Premiership remains ours to lose. 

    • Like 8

    Interesting opening odds for next week, would have sort we would be a tad longer and the Pie shorter. 

    I can see us winning this game. 

    32 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I think Smith has to stay another week. In fact I would give him a stretch of 4 games.

    His stats don't look great but he at least launched at the ball and created a contest. There was some nearly moments there.

    Goodwin has to back this experiment in and not drop him immediately like he did with Schache, that's just [censored] poor development. He's also versatile. If a defender goes down then we can swing him down back.

    With that in mind it's simply non negotiable that a tall like Ben Brown simply has to come in. I am having massive anxiety the amount of intercept marks Darcy Moore will take when he's manning up on our CHF players of last night in Kozzie and Spargo.

    Make this happen Goody

    Brown isn’t stopping Moore and you know it. We need to be careful coming into 50 and we need a player leading into space and taking Moore with him

    8 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    Have to disagree I’m afraid. We’re a couple of moments away from being 10-2 without playing well. Last night our defence was superb against a solid forward line. Our younger brigade stepped up and showed a lot. It’s June, Collingwood aren’t untouchable and we’ll have Oliver back and Petty coming in after the bye. We then play predominantly at the G, the very ground we’re setting ourselves up to excel on. I actually think we’re tracking beautifully. I also think we’ll beat the Pies but I don’t think it matters either way. The Premiership remains ours to lose. 

    Have the keep the belief BUT did you watch last night ?? It was sloppy.  Poor goalkicking.  Skills were terrible.  Kozzzy hasn’t crumbed a pack since round 1.  Inefficient with the footy (As confirmed by Richo and Goody in post match comments). Positives were 1/Clearances finally improved 2/Defence was good. Otherwise we were sub par.  

    • Like 1

    8 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    Brown isn’t stopping Moore and you know it. We need to be careful coming into 50 and we need a player leading into space and taking Moore with him

    @Roost it far ditto. Good call. Last night we kicked it to Weitering too much.  Moore (and Murphy) will eat those.  

    • Like 2

    Really looking forward to next week. We played the brand we think wins finals last night and we're priming ourselves for September, unlike last year when we were broken and couldn't score.

    This match will be a good entree but not the main course. Don't forget that Collingwood failed in last year's finals too. Their method is not a proven finals product.

    • Like 6

    Tomlinson stays in - our backline structure looks so much more strong and stable with three taller players. May & Lever having such great games v Blues has a lot to do with Tomlinson taking McKay. 

    I want BBB in, but I liked the athletic option of J Smith. He has never had a good run due to injury and would like to see what he can do. I would also have him running with Moore to make him accountable. Smith's speed and athleticism could really trouble Moore, who hates being made accountable.

    OUT: Bowie, Harmes

    IN: Hibberd, Oliver.

    Collingwood are in rare form, being quick AND skilful. But they are not strong one-on-one. Their inside midfielders take a lot of hits so Sidebottom (injured now) 2 x Daicos, McCreary etc.. can play wide and unaccountable. And our half forwards have to play quick and brutal to stop their half back running. 

    • Like 4
     
    52 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I think Smith has to stay another week. In fact I would give him a stretch of 4 games.

    His stats don't look great but he at least launched at the ball and created a contest. There was some nearly moments there.

    Goodwin has to back this experiment in and not drop him immediately like he did with Schache, that's just [censored] poor development. He's also versatile. If a defender goes down then we can swing him down back.

    With that in mind it's simply non negotiable that a tall like Ben Brown simply has to come in. I am having massive anxiety the amount of intercept marks Darcy Moore will take when he's manning up on our CHF players of last night in Kozzie and Spargo.

    Make this happen Goody

    There’s no way Smith stays in AND they bring in another tall. They aren’t dropping one of our important smalls for Smith to play half forward flank. 

    It’s either BBB shows he has some mobility, Schache shows he can compete, they gamble on Melksham again or they stick with Smith for his mobility even if he doesn’t know what he’s doing. 

    We’ve been managing Gawn, Grundy and JVR’s minutes all year too. 

    Grundy should be up for a big 4 quarter effort. Max hopefully has some confidence up as a forward. JVR just played a good game and even Fritsch started to hit some packs properly in the second half last night.

    Those guys are our best chance of nullifying Moore with the other tall staying out of the way.

    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

    Genuine question. 

    When was the last time we were underdogs for a game?

    Did it occur at all in 2022? Geelong in Geelong maybe?

    It’s a chance for us to be the hunters. No one actually expects us to win. Let’s relish that. 

    And conversely, let's see how the Collywobbles deal with being the hunted for the next 11-12 weeks.

    • Like 1

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