Another shout out to the Demon Army, cheered their tails off in a 68,000 crowd with mostly Blues fans. Their presence at the city end didn't go unnoticed. 

Gents

Are we back to 4 weeks ago when we first said it was best to finish 4th?

Obviously we need to beat Hawthorn to secure top 4. Then the Sydney game may be inconsequential for us.

Would you use the Sydney game to rest players and maybe experiment with some new game day strategies?

Viney, Trac, Max, May could benefit from some rest before finals.

Thanks for all your hard work on the pod fellas 

A question on our forward line - with our tall forward options being limited, do you think that a shorter forward line of JVR, Fritta, Melksham, Trac, Kozzy and Chandler (with Nibbler and Spargo as those high half forwards Binman has discussed) would work come finals?

Or is maintaining our two tall structure more important even if it means playing a not quite right TMac or Ben Brown (no disrespect to either as they are both champions of our club whose bodies have unfortunately let them down this year)?

And where does Grundy fit into either set up - if at all? 

Thanks fellas and looking forward to tuning in!

  On 13/08/2023 at 23:59, demoncat said:

Thanks for all your hard work on the pod fellas 

A question on our forward line - with our tall forward options being limited, do you think that a shorter forward line of JVR, Fritta, Melksham, Trac, Kozzy and Chandler (with Nibbler and Spargo as those high half forwards Binman has discussed) would work come finals?

Or is maintaining our two tall structure more important even if it means playing a not quite right TMac or Ben Brown (no disrespect to either as they are both champions of our club whose bodies have unfortunately let them down this year)?

And where does Grundy fit into either set up - if at all? 

Thanks fellas and looking forward to tuning in!

Grundy would be out if we have one of BBB or TMac in. 

JVR would be a relief ruck for Max.

This podcast that’s all red and blue,

A mustn’t miss all Dees review.

Binman’s a tactician,

George has erudition

And Andy’s heart always beats true.

Edit: missed the obligatory “long time listener first time caller”.

Looking forward to the pod as I chew my nails with finals fast approaching.

First is to second @monoccular’s question, can we get Gawndy to work as it hasn’t seemed to (other than to split the workload), it certainly hasn’t delivered goals as yet. Other teams seem to make it happen (with lesser rucks) but we seem to be adding 2 all Australian rucks together and getting the output of 1.

Second, was TMac as crocked as reports suggest or was he perhaps under instruction along the lines of “for [censored] sake just don’t get hurt”?

Finally was it just me or did we seem to panic in the last few minutes against the blues? It seemed rushed and there didn’t seem to be a set play or plays to get a decent shot at goal.

Edited August 14, 20231 yr by Fromgotowoewodin

As we approach September, the Demonland pod takes on even more significance to adoring Demon fans.  Keep up the great work guys! 

My question, which is probably already covered above:  IMO, finding our optimal forward line mix will be a key to how far we can progress in September.  What does this mix look like, given current form and player availability?

My question for you boys is about the make up of of our midfield. Obviously the theme of the year has been about our forward structures and rightly so but in regards to the midfield mix now that we have Oliver back I think that also needs to be looked at.

There seems to be a narrative that Jj is about to lose his spot but that leaves a midfield of Petracca Oliver Viney Brayshaw and Sparrow. For mine JJ is a good point of difference and shows poise, class and generally makes good decisions. Also he had some games with high tackle numbers back in 2021 so if he can rediscover that part of his game I think I’m happy to have him in ahead of sparrow for now and we don’t lose much. Also concerned that Goodwin seemed to abandon the kozzie in the middle experiment on the weekend as well which was a great way to get him involved in the game.

Would love to get some discussion on this

Lads.

I think we’ll get another look at Grundy this week if they expect Fristch to be back for rd 24 makes it a pretty easy decision if it fails again.

I think the way forward into finals is this.

Oliver returns to the middle, Petracca starts Fwd and plays predominantly as a forward unless the panic button is hit and once and if Fristch comes back he takes Grundys spot and Smith stays in.

Tracc JVR Chandler

Pickett Smith/Grundy/Fristch Melk

Thoughts?

 

 

I'm a big Salem fan but his ball handling seemed to be off this week. And some of his ki ks. We need him in top form for the finals.

Here's a big picture question for the panel: Has our premiership window shut already? We ripped it up in 2018, but got embarassed in the Preliminary Final. Then we wasted two years until finally snatching the prize in 2021. Should we have had three by then? I am still confident about this year - I don't think Carlton's form can last - but we are not clearly superior like we were in the first half of 2022 before the troops started reporting to the infirmary. 

  On 14/08/2023 at 06:21, Go Lordie said:

I'm a big Salem fan but his ball handling seemed to be off this week. And some of his ki ks. We need him in top form for the finals.

Here's a big picture question for the panel: Has our premiership window shut already? We ripped it up in 2018, but got embarassed in the Preliminary Final. Then we wasted two years until finally snatching the prize in 2021. Should we have had three by then? I am still confident about this year - I don't think Carlton's form can last - but we are not clearly superior like we were in the first half of 2022 before the troops started reporting to the infirmary. 

No way our window is shut.

Our core still has 3 or 4 years in their prime, bar a couple of key players (May and Max).

On top.of that we have a lot of young guns coming through. JVR, Bowey,Rivers, McVee, Sparrow, Kozzy.

The club just needs to do smart trading and recruiting. We should be in contention for another 4 or 5 years.

 

  On 14/08/2023 at 06:21, Go Lordie said:

I'm a big Salem fan but his ball handling seemed to be off this week. And some of his ki ks. We need him in top form for the finals.

Here's a big picture question for the panel: Has our premiership window shut already? We ripped it up in 2018, but got embarassed in the Preliminary Final. Then we wasted two years until finally snatching the prize in 2021. Should we have had three by then? I am still confident about this year - I don't think Carlton's form can last - but we are not clearly superior like we were in the first half of 2022 before the troops started reporting to the infirmary. 

To me 2021 was the first year that we could have won the Premiership - 2018 was way too soon and were shown up by the actual contenders at the pointy end and 2019 was a total write off given the injuries. 2020 is an interesting one as we’ll never know for sure how much COVID impacted our season, but I think a lot of what we developed that year - fitness and defensive game plan - came to the fore the following season, along with our shrewd recruiting of Ben Brown to nail down what would become our Premiership 22.

So in my view we’re in our third year of genuinely contending and we should have at least another few seasons with this core performing at their peak (with strong recruiting and development potentially extending that for years to come) 

 

  On 14/08/2023 at 06:24, ElDiablo14 said:

No way our window is shut.

Our core still has 3 or 4 years in their prime, bar a couple of key players (May and Max).

On top.of that we have a lot of young guns coming through. JVR, Bowey,Rivers, McVee, Sparrow, Kozzy.

The club just needs to do smart trading and recruiting. We should be in contention for another 4 or 5 years.

 

I hope you're right, ED. But I think Bowey, Rivers, Sparrow and Kozzie have already "come through". Not a lot more upside there, but several years more, certainly. JVR I think has upside. With a bit more meat on him he may be able to take more pack marks. Along with Melk and the resting ruckman, he doesn't seem to be mobile enough in the forward line. Am I delusional or should two or more forwards lead to the left, the right and up the centre when a kick is coming in? I know it gets crowded down there if it's a set-piece kick (a mark or a free), but people in N42 were calling on the forwards to "give him something" as players were about to kick it into the F50. It drives me mad when our three talls are all in the same pack with little or no chance of clunking it. Mind you, kicking to a leading player requires a certain level of foot skills...

  On 14/08/2023 at 06:37, demoncat said:

To me 2021 was the first year that we could have won the Premiership - 2018 was way too soon and were shown up by the actual contenders at the pointy end and 2019 was a total write off given the injuries. 2020 is an interesting one as we’ll never know for sure how much COVID impacted our season, but I think a lot of what we developed that year - fitness and defensive game plan - came to the fore the following season, along with our shrewd recruiting of Ben Brown to nail down what would become our Premiership 22.

So in my view we’re in our third year of genuinely contending and we should have at least another few seasons with this core performing at their peak (with strong recruiting and development potentially extending that for years to come) 

 

My comments about the window closing were based on concerns about Max's longevity. We got Grundy in to help extend Max's career, but he doesn't adequately fill in for Max when he plays. Who could? Max is amazing: ruckman, clearance specialist with his kicks from ruck contests, he's a mid-fielder who wins ground balls, he takes intercepting marks down back and his marks around the ground give us access to the forward line. There's no-one like him and I am worried about how long he can continue. It's my view that we can't win another premiership without Max in best form. 

Edited August 14, 20231 yr by Go Lordie

I did not get to watch Casey this weekend but note that TMac kicked 1 goal from 3 marks and 10 disposals. Not ideal form off surgery and long stint on the sidelines. You spoken at length about why Schache won't be considered for a call up so I won't bother asking and Matt Jefferson is too raw to bring in.

So. Do we just leave the forward line as is or do we break the glass and see if TMac can add anything in the next 2 weeks.

Love the podcast. I'm hoping listening this week will bring me back off the ledge. I think MFCSS is contagious and I have a bad case. Thanks Andy.

Really enjoying the Podcast fellas. Love the different perspectives that you all bring as well as the commentary and questions from the audience. It really does cover the whole gamut of each game with a good cross section of the Demon voices. But I digress.

Do you think we might see the return of Spargo to the team possibly replacing JJ? I really think we miss the pressure that he brings in that high half forward role (thanks Binman) and he is an elite user of the ball by foot. I just wish he got more of the pill. Hopefully those 28 possies in the 2s this week can rub off on his game in the seniors.

  On 13/08/2023 at 22:08, Webber said:

Watched the Casey game yesterday with @binman, and needless to say, in the gorgeous sunshine falling onto a perfectly grassed Princes Park, we (by which I mean he) had happy solutions for all the chinks in the Dees armour, all despite Casey falling frustratingly short (poor goal conversion in the last was the killer). So listen in to the podcast, Demonlanders, between @Demonland Andy’s MFCSS in flux, @george_on_the_outer’s rational wisdom, and positive binners happy contextualising, it’s gonna be a CRACKER!
 

By the by, Harry Petty was there in his moonboot. I doubt he’s had surgery yet. They’ll be waiting for the acute foot to settle, making for a less irritable reaction post-surgery. He looked relaxed and happy, as did Max. Charlie Spargo was another level yesterday, ran all day, and more than anyone else gave Casey its best looks at a win. Tommo dominant down back as always. 
 

 

I know you cant really comment having not seem Pettys Injury..but I well remember Clarke doing his Lisfranc maybe 10 years ago? and basically never being a player again. Was traded and played  few games for Geelong and that was it. Has treatment for this injury  improved or is there a decent likliehood that Petty ( having a bad version of this) may be finished or close to?  Part B of this question is at what point are they likely to know? It could impact off season trading in a big way

Going to cut off questions here guys. Thanks for all the questions and comments. You will all get your shoutouts on the show. I will not charge you for any therapy you may or may not receive. 

  On 14/08/2023 at 07:45, Demonland said:

Going to cut off questions here guys. Thanks for all the questions and comments. You will all get your shoutouts on the show. I will not charge you for any therapy you may or may not receive. 

phew. Just got in. 😁

If we play Carlton in finals and they have the same tactic of keeping Weitering/ spare a ruckman behind the ball (that locks it in their half) how do you guys think the Dees can overcome this? 
 

Seemed like the blues were forcing our long kicks by pressuring the ball handler and being ready to intercept handballs/immediately pressure handball recipients, so what other means do we have tactically?

Given that the Hawks are placed in 16th position on the ladder they have not been on my radar all year and I have not watched a minute of any of their matches with the exception of their game against the Demons earlier in the season. In the past few weeks they have piqued my interest as they took dismantled the Pies and put a dent in the Dogs finals aspirations. This is a team that worries me greatly. They have likely sewn up 16th place and therefore will not lose the prized 3rd pick in the draft and therefore are probably playing like they've got nothing to lose. Well that's the sense I get from not having watched a minute of them playing in the past few weeks but you get the gist. So why am I so nervous to play against a team like this. Help put my fears to bed. What do we need to do to defeat these Kingslayers and who do I have to worry about?

  On 14/08/2023 at 07:48, BoBo said:

If we play Carlton in finals and they have the same tactic of keeping Weitering/ spare a ruckman behind the ball (that locks it in their half) how do you guys think the Dees can overcome this? 
 

Seemed like the blues were forcing our long kicks by pressuring the ball handler and being ready to intercept handballs/immediately pressure handball recipients, so what other means do we have tactically?

They left the door open through the middle, re Salem and Bowey chances in the last quarter.

You'll have to kick back to the corridor and have the pace and dare to cut through their defence.

Hi Andy and team, please don’t forget to mention the BCNA game this week. It’s a major fund raiser for this incredible cause. If you cannot be there you can purchase a virtual seat. If you haven’t experienced this before, it’s a day that will stay with you forever. 🩷🩷

Edited August 14, 20231 yr by jane02
Change

  On 14/08/2023 at 08:19, jane02 said:

Hi Andy and team, please don’t forget to mention the BCNA game this week. It’s a major fund raiser for this incredible cause. If you cannot be there you can purchase a virtual seat. If you haven’t experienced this before, it’s a day that will stay with you forever. 🩷🩷

Thanks for the reminder. I've put it into the preview.

  On 14/08/2023 at 07:56, Redjacket said:

Given that the Hawks are placed in 16th position on the ladder they have not been on my radar all year and I have not watched a minute of any of their matches with the exception of their game against the Demons earlier in the season. In the past few weeks they have piqued my interest as they took dismantled the Pies and put a dent in the Dogs finals aspirations. This is a team that worries me greatly. They have likely sewn up 16th place and therefore will not lose the prized 3rd pick in the draft and therefore are probably playing like they've got nothing to lose. Well that's the sense I get from not having watched a minute of them playing in the past few weeks but you get the gist. So why am I so nervous to play against a team like this. Help put my fears to bed. What do we need to do to defeat these Kingslayers and who do I have to worry about?

Sneaky!!!! But it's a good segway for me to ask the guys this very question and I too have seen very little of the Hawks this season.