Melbourne went into the bye in a bit of a quandary having lost their third game in a row after its long winning run that straddled both sides of its drought-breaking premiership had come to an end. The Demons were second on the ladder having lost top spot to Brisbane who also had a 10-3 record along with Fremantle. They faced a match up against the Lions without skipper Max Gawn (ankle) and with key forward Tom McDonald looking at three months on the sidelines. Steven May was coming off a stint with injury and another week off after the application of a week’s club discipline suspension and his protagonist in that matter, Jake Melksham had missed the Queens Birthday clash with an injured hand. Some potentially damaging stories about events involving club personnel from 18 months beforehand were being circulated in the press and naysayers were predicting tough times ahead. Despite the negativity surrounding the club at the time, the Demons were able to regroup to win their next two games and regained top spot. Despite some ups and downs in the run home they finished the home and away season in second place before the combined weight of a number of niggling injuries saw them out of the finals in straight sets.

This year, we’re a game behind the 2022 mark but are coming off a couple of tough but successful battles. Where do you feel we stand looking at the future from here?

We’re coming off a W on the MCG against Collingwood this year compared to a disappointing loss to them last year which was our third straight defeat.

We should be at least as confident looking forward to the rest of 2023. 

The bye - isn’t this the best time to do some loading?

Probably need to go 8 and 2 to be sure of top 4 with the extra game this season. 7 and 3 might do it.  Our best is still to come and if we can steer clear of injury the second half of the season will be better than the first.  Gawn and Grundy will be the difference in a few of the games to come.  It's a considerable advantage and a luxury that all of our opponents to come don't have.  

5 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Probably need to go 8 and 2 to be sure of top 4 with the extra game this season. 7 and 3 might do it.  Our best is still to come and if we can steer clear of injury the second half of the season will be better than the first.  Gawn and Grundy will be the difference in a few of the games to come.  It's a considerable advantage and a luxury that all of our opponents to come don't have.  

Starting with the Geelong game. What's our recent record post bye?

 

10 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Probably need to go 8 and 2 to be sure of top 4 with the extra game this season. 7 and 3 might do it.  Our best is still to come and if we can steer clear of injury the second half of the season will be better than the first.  Gawn and Grundy will be the difference in a few of the games to come.  It's a considerable advantage and a luxury that all of our opponents to come don't have.  

i have a feeling we will win 10 and zero or close to it

The Dees are coming No injuries and game plan back on track! Team selection starting to gel

Great time to be a Dees supporter

 

We have hit the bye with a great win in front of a finals like crowd

We are 9 and 4 with a very healthy list - that's way more important in the grand scheme of things.

Our defensive system is back to its best.

 

We are very well placed to attack the second half of the year, midfield and backline are on top of their game after a couple of quieter weeks and few injuries. Just have to get the forward line to finish off a little better and we are right in the hunt for flag #14

I’m predicting a 9-1 finish or perhaps 10-0, likely finish too 2

Scraped in against a team who had been up for a long time and were clearly off the boil/ missing key personnel. Of real concern was the inaccuracy of our kicking.

Having said that, it was pleasing to watch a revitalised Salem, the skilful McVee and perhaps most of all the surprisingly composed Tomlinson playing like an A grade defender. Time will tell.

We travelled 5 times in the first ten games. And have played 5 of the remaining 7 teams currently in the top 8, for a 2-3 record.

Games against Adelaide, St Kilda, Brisbane, Geelong, Richmond, Sydney, GWS, Carlton, North and Hawthorn.

I'd expect us to bank at least 7 more wins. Suspect 16 wins will land you top 4 this season given 23-game season.

Geelong v Port this weekend will be crucial to our top 2 chance. If Port win it's hard to see us catching up 3 games to the Pies or Port in the next ten. Collingwood play Port in Adelaide which could leave the door ajar slightly.

Our last four games are comparatively easy assuming we do the right thing and win in the next 5-6 weeks.

Beat Brisbane at the MCG and we could in theory go 10-0

Dont think we need to be top 2 to win it. Pies will either be 1 or 2 so we can get a game at G against them and I do think if Port are top 2 we can beat them away at our best. 

Either way, focus on Geelong. We are typically [censored] off a bye and they've given us the cats in Geelong!

As for the record, if we go in on a 4-5 game streak into finals that will be enough to build confidence in the squad. Ideally we got 8-2 at worse.

We essentially have an invisible bye. It was 10 days between the Carlton and Collingwood games and will be another 10 days between the Collingwood and Geelong games, even though we have our nominal "bye" in between. 

As a football watcher, I've never liked byes, so I quite like the breakdown (even though I detest Thursday night football). But what does it mean for the players? Physically, I suspect it's quite a good arrangement. They get longish breaks between three games, but not so long that they might lose any condition. But do they get the mental break they might need?

Any good highlights from the last time we had a bye? 

Were there any good rubdowns at the massage table or solid walks around the block? Any of the players see any good movies or new tv shows on Netflix? 

Edited June 15, 20231 yr by layzie

16 minutes ago, layzie said:

Any good highlights from the last time we had a bye? 

Were there any good rubdowns at the massage table or solid walks around the block? Any of the players see any good movies or new tv shows on Netflix? 

Get into any mischief? Get involved in off-field punch-ups...? (When was the Entrecote fiasco?)

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Get into any mischief? Get involved in off-field punch-ups...? (When was the Entrecote fiasco?)

From memory I think it was just before the Pies game. Still enjoyable!