Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 22 vs Carlton

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 
8 hours ago, Deebauched said:

Did the public interest in womens soccer start with the success the US team had in recent years?

Australia basically copies everything the yanks do.

Due to the power and massive influence of the 4th and 5th estates Im assuming its the corporate media that got the consumer fired up about womens soccer.

Australia has changed so much since i moved o/seas.  Its weird.

Ever considered it is the standard and quality of women's soccer that is getting consumers fired up about it? 

    • Like 5
    • Clap 1
    10 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Smith's selection is interesting

    On paper the forward line looks unbalanced but let's see.

    Would love to see Petracca kick 6 straight

    He'll play back won't he? 

    • Like 5
     
    11 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Smith's selection is interesting

    On paper the forward line looks unbalanced but let's see.

    Would love to see Petracca kick 6 straight

    How so? Swap Pickett for Jordan and it’s bloody dangerous.

    • Like 2
    15 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    I believe we always pick a ruckman as an emergency. Usually the breakdown of the emergencies is one forward, one defender, one midfielder (non-ruckman) and one ruckman.

    As I see it, Schache is an emergency because he's the next ruckman in line after Gawn and Grundy. 

    Please stop making sense - it's discombobulating here.

    • Like 3
    • Haha 3

    10 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Please stop making sense - it's discombobulating here.

    Discombobulate is one of my favourite words. 

    • Like 2
    • Haha 2

    I'm more confident with Grundy in the ruck when max is off than van Rooyen. He can stay forward. 

    I know max has been smashing it out of the ball park but maybe he can have more of a rest on the bench than forward and let Grundy ruck a bit more

    • Like 3
     
    16 minutes ago, binman said:

    He'll play back won't he? 

    If Smith plays back then one of Grundy or Gawn will need to play predominantly forward.

    Good luck to that

    • Like 1

    Clarry in for Harmes a no brainer and great news.

    As for Grundy i just can't see the why....

    So Petty is out.  He was effectively a forward and playing the role beutifully with impact.

    We've seen with our own eyes how Max has grown another leg once Grundy exited "letting Max be Max".

    Joel Smith was surely the next option before Grundy yet we don't bring in either Tomlinson or Hibb (sub) which allows Smith to play that role.  So looks like Smith is playing the Tomo role.

    That part might work but i'm not sold on Grundy into the team.  As i've said from half way through the season.... sub at best.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 2

    Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

    If Smith plays back then one of Grundy or Gawn will need to play predominantly forward.

    Good luck to that

    Grundy rucks most of the first half, plays a bit forward and Max plays mostly forward, a bit of ruck. 

    Grundy is subbed at or after half-time for Hibberd, Smith goes forward, Max rucks the entire rest of the match fresh. 

    We can afford to do this because we're playing one more mid than we have in the past so our run won't be compromised.

    • Like 9
    2 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    If Smith plays back then one of Grundy or Gawn will need to play predominantly forward.

    Good luck to that

    Um, I think you'll find Grundy WILL be playing predominantly forward (70 - 30?).

    Where else do you imagine Grundy playing?

    Just coming off the bench?

    • Like 5
    • Clap 1

    What are the experts going to do if Max has a good game AND Grundy is in the side.

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    38 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    I believe we always pick a ruckman as an emergency. Usually the breakdown of the emergencies is one forward, one defender, one midfielder (non-ruckman) and one ruckman.

    As I see it, Schache is an emergency because he's the next ruckman in line after Gawn and Grundy. 

    Hmm not sure. I can’t recall seeing him in as an emergency in a long time.

    • Like 1
    10 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Grundy rucks most of the first half, plays a bit forward and Max plays mostly forward, a bit of ruck. 

    Grundy is subbed at or after half-time for Hibberd, Smith goes forward, Max rucks the entire rest of the match fresh. 

    We can afford to do this because we're playing one more mid than we have in the past so our run won't be compromised.

    Lordy no thanks 55.

    We'd probably end up either well behind or so far behind, we'd be chasing tail for the most part or kissing the game Goodbye by half time.

    Has to be Max for the first 3 quarters or so .....then Grundy, but only with the game well in hand imv.

    Grundy spending significant time at CBs (aside from coming on as sub late) = handing the momentum / game to the oppo.

    The diff between Max & Grundy is chalk and cheese.

    Not sure what's changed that has lead Goody to back flip on the Grundy to VFL decision so soon. 

    Yes Petty is out but Grundy hardly demanded a call up based on his two matches at Casey.  You have to ask what was the point of all the 'forward craft' learnings nonsense we heard from the FD here.   There was certainly no learnings that i witnessed.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Thanks 1

    Very stoked clarry is back and Grundy to kick 2 or 3 …. We’ll all be happy d’landers after both of them help us beat the Blues on Saturday night ❤️💙 

    • Like 6

    Hibbo stiff as

    hopefully is in for finals

    • Like 2
    35 minutes ago, binman said:

    He'll play back won't he? 

    I really hope not. He’s like a crazy blind woman putting on lipstick down back. Up forward that’s ok

    • Like 1
    • Haha 2
    29 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Please stop making sense - it's discombobulating here.

    I was taught never to use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.

    • Haha 4
    12 minutes ago, binman said:

    Um, I think you'll find Grundy WILL be playing predominantly forward (70 - 30?).

    Where else do you imagine Grundy playing?

    Just coming off the bench?

    Other way around... Max to have MORE MINUTES FORWARD!!

    • Like 1

    22 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

    There was a beautiful bit of video analysis by someone on YouTube (if only I could remember their username) about how that staging cost Carlton 10 seconds, and how those crucial seconds gave us the time to win with no response from them.  Sooo satisfying 😇😈

    In that case the man deserves a beer, haha

    • Like 2
    1 minute ago, picket fence said:

    Other way around... Max to have MORE MINUTES FORWARD!!

    No thanks. Max is much better around the ground.

    • Like 2
    17 minutes ago, binman said:

    Um, I think you'll find Grundy WILL be playing predominantly forward (70 - 30?).

    Where else do you imagine Grundy playing?

    Just coming off the bench?

    Grundy to start in the goal square with instruction to bring the ball to ground if he can't mark. Oliver will be short of match practise so to swap with Tracc 50/50 forward and on ball.

    • Like 5
     
    18 minutes ago, binman said:

    Um, I think you'll find Grundy WILL be playing predominantly forward (70 - 30?).

    Where else do you imagine Grundy playing?

    Just coming off the bench?

    Maybe supporting Lever and May and covering space in the backend a (although I would prefer Hibberd in this role) and allowing Max to play forward of Centre.

    Not sure if he compliments JVR and Smith up forward.

    Edited by Jibroni

    • Like 1

    Here's how I see the team lining up throughout the match

    With this team there are no players listed on the interchange as the use of the '/' is more appropriate. 

    As we know, all the players often spend at least 80% of the game on the ground

    Feel free to critique as my line-up is more of a guess

    FB   Bowey       May      McVee/Smith

    HB   Rivers       Lever     Salem

    C     Hunter      Brayshaw/Sparrow  Langdon

    HF   Petracca    JVR      Chandler/ANB

    FF    Melksham  Grundy   Pickett

    R      Gawn         Oliver     Viney/Jordon

    Of course, all players spend time on the bench so the '/' used could be used anywhere

    And Smith, Gawn, Grundy & JVR could all be used at CHF or FF (rotating?)

    Grundy & Gawn could also spend time in the backline (Grundy to ruck as well)

    Hibberd to be the sub again to provide fresh legs in the backline?

    Edited by Macca

    • Like 2

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

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Gold Coast

      The Gold Coast Suns find themselves outside of the top eight for the first time since Round 1 with pressure is mounting on the entire organisation. Their coach Damien Hardwick expressed his frustration at his team’s condition last week by making a middle-finger gesture on television that earned him a fine for his troubles. He showed his desperation by claiming that Fox should pick up the tab.  There’s little doubt the Suns have shown improvement in 2025, and their position on the ladder is influenced to some extent by having played fewer games than their rivals for a playoff role at the end of the season, courtesy of the disruption caused by Cyclone Alfred in March.  However, they are following the same trajectory that hindered the club in past years whenever they appeared to be nearing their potential. As a consequence, that Hardwick gesture should be considered as more than a mere behavioral lapse. It’s a distress signal that does not bode well for the Queenslanders. While the Suns are eager to remain in contention with the top eight, Melbourne faces its own crisis, which is similarly deep-seated but in a much different way. After recovering from a disappointing start to the season and nearing a return to respectability among its peer clubs, the Demons have experienced a decline in status, driven by the fact that while their form has been reasonable (see their performance against the ladder leader in the Kings Birthday match), their conversion in front of goal is poor enough to rank last in the competition. Furthermore, their opponents find them exceptionally easy to score against. As a result, they have effectively eliminated themselves from the finals race and are again positioned to finish in the bottom half of the ladder.

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 15

      As the Demons head into their Bye Round, it's time to turn our attention to the other matches being played. Which teams are you tipping this week? And which results would be most favourable for the Demons if we can manage to turn our season around? Follow all the non-Melbourne games here and join the conversation as the ladder continues to take shape.

      • 284 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Port Adelaide

      Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived. Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

      • 3 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Essendon

      Casey’s unbeaten run was extended for at least another fortnight after the Demons overran a persistent Essendon line up by 29 points at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne last night. After conceding the first goal of the evening, Casey went on a scoring spree from about ten minutes in, with five unanswered majors with its fleet of midsized runners headed by the much improved Paddy Cross who kicked two in quick succession and livewire Ricky Mentha who also kicked an early goal. Leading the charge was recruit of the year, Riley Bonner while Bailey Laurie continued his impressive vein of form. With Tom Campbell missing from the lineup, Will Verrall stepped up to the plate demonstrating his improvement under the veteran ruckman’s tutelage. The Demons were looking comfortable for much of the second quarter and held a 25-point lead until the Bombers struck back with two goals in the shadows of half time. On the other side of the main break their revival continued with first three goals of the half. Harry Sharp, who had been quiet scrambled in the Demons’ first score of the third term to bring the margin back to a single point at the 17 minute mark and the game became an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the quarter and into the final moments of the last.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Gold Coast

      The Demons have the Bye next week but then are on the road once again when they come up against the Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast in what could be a last ditch effort to salvage their season. Who comes in and who comes out?

        • Haha
        • Like
      • 316 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Port Adelaide

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Power.
      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/

        • Thanks
      • 33 replies
      Demonland
    View All