Jump to content

Featured Replies

What I would like is this. I want the ins and outs for this week (and next) to ensure that we either end up finishing 2nd or 4th in two weeks.
Not particular or fussed what it ends up being. Both equates to home finals and as a bonus I (we) have an opportunity to go to the game.  The best interests of the team align with my best interests.
How is that for being positively self pecuniary and selfish at the same time.
 

 
2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

He doesn’t need to be the Tmac of old. If he can run a game out and compete in the air, that’ll do. 
He understands forward patterns and leading. Assuming his foot injury hasn’t impacted his ability to take a mark or halve an aerial contest. That’s all he needs to do. 
Much like BBB, we just need one of them to find enough juice to play 6 games at ok pace for 120 minutes. 

Totally agree.

He has to come in for the system alone. And he can take a grab. He'll give it his best as well

 
1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

Smith is not reliable enough in the backline. He causes panic. We look way better when Hibbo was in there. He totally blanketed Martin. 
Smith is a high impact low possession player with versatility. He’s a perfect sub. 

Carlton kicked 6 goals in the first 3/4 despite our midfield being beaten. The backline was good with Smith and he blanketed the resting ruck with some great spoils due to his closing speed. 

I like Smith better forward but he’s been pigeon holed as a sub due to versatility. 

The perfect sub is our 23rd best player. 

Huge loss for the Hawks

 


Schache and McDonald have zero intensity. Tomlinson would be a better forward option than these two or Grundy at this stage. 

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Smith is not reliable enough in the backline. He causes panic. We look way better when Hibbo was in there. He totally blanketed Martin. 
Smith is a high impact low possession player with versatility. He’s a perfect sub. 

Its interesting how we all see it differently.

We gave up 20 inside 50s in the first quarter yet a backline with Smith in it repelled them to maintain the damage to one goal. 

We gave up ascendency for the first 8 minutes of the last to Carlton and they kicked 3 goals in a Smithless backline. 

Martin had next to no impact prior to Hibbo's entry into the game.

Not saying Hibberd shouldnt be in the 22 but we defended much better with Smith in the back 6. 

20 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Its interesting how we all see it differently.

We gave up 20 inside 50s in the first quarter yet a backline with Smith in it repelled them to maintain the damage to one goal. 

We gave up ascendency for the first 8 minutes of the last to Carlton and they kicked 3 goals in a Smithless backline. 

Martin had next to no impact prior to Hibbo's entry into the game.

Not saying Hibberd shouldnt be in the 22 but we defended much better with Smith in the back 6. 

I think it’s fair to give credit to Smith for being part of the first quarter dam wall, but not at all fair to suggest he would have made a difference in the last quarter burst which was entirely on our midfield for letting them come out the front of stoppage far too easily.

 
11 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I think it’s fair to give credit to Smith for being part of the first quarter dam wall, but not at all fair to suggest he would have made a difference in the last quarter burst which was entirely on our midfield for letting them come out the front of stoppage far too easily.

Not giving him credit, although I would back him to contest TDK better than Lever did for goal 2. Its more so that I dont recall a single thing he did in the 20 q1 inside 50s that would support him not being a good backline option. 

1 hour ago, SPC said:

Schache and McDonald have zero intensity. Tomlinson would be a better forward option than these two or Grundy at this stage. 

Agree. Tomlinson today was terrific. Close to, if not, BOG.
Does something neither Schache or TMac do. He gets involved and is effective. 
I’d still have Joel Smith and JvR as key forwards, Max forward when not rucking and Grundy resting on the bench rather than forward. I know that’s ‘expensive’ but I just can’t see anyone else to take the centre bounce. Grundy ok there and around the ground. He just ain’t a forward.


1 hour ago, SPC said:

Schache and McDonald have zero intensity. Tomlinson would be a better forward option than these two or Grundy at this stage. 

100% agree - at least Tommo reads the play well, competes in the air and will provide the smalls with crumbing opportunities.....

3 hours ago, BDA said:

Ordinarily I would agree but we don’t have many games left. If he shows something I say bring him in.

This is the reality...

Bring him against Hawks for a win. Next game against the Swans should be a relatively dead rubber for us unless Pies beat Lions.

That's two games to get him up to speed for September. There's really no other choice

This talk of Smith either forward or backward is niether here nor there. It is our forward line that matters the most and I think Smith is best placed to replace Petty.

3 hours ago, Wodjathefirst said:

What I would like is this. I want the ins and outs for this week (and next) to ensure that we either end up finishing 2nd or 4th in two weeks.
Not particular or fussed what it ends up being. Both equates to home finals and as a bonus I (we) have an opportunity to go to the game.  The best interests of the team align with my best interests.
How is that for being positively self pecuniary and selfish at the same time.
 

Yeah but it's also positively correct.


1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

following the vfl game, i would think...

OUT: jordon, grundy
IN: spargo, tomlinson

smith forward and hibb remains the sub

Yep although I worry about Breust. I think Hibbo should come in for him.

17 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Personally 4th spot is our best option

Agree, but I’d settle for 2nd.

42 minutes ago, dl4e said:

This talk of Smith either forward or backward is niether here nor there. It is our forward line that matters the most and I think Smith is best placed to replace Petty.

This.

Any of the other options (Grundy, McDonald, Brown, Tomlinson) are too slow and unable to get any sort of seperation from their man. They can wrestle and bring the ball to ground but opposition sides simply play a spare or help defender to nullify this as we saw last night with Grundy and previously with Brown.

Smith attacks every contest with genuine speed. His swing up forward resulted us in a more dynamic forward line and crucial mark+goal to keep us in it. He's not a world beater, he doesn't have the greatest footbal IQ and probably won't ever put together a four-quarter performance... But he gives you at least some of what Petty has with his aggression, speed and athletisicm to make a genuine contest in the air, at ground level and defensively pressure wise. He is the best option and they will pull the trigger on it this week.

Out: Grundy, JJ

In: Tomlinson, Spargo

Sub: Tomlinson or Hibberd

I like that we're slowly bringing Hibberd back into the main side. He was pulling up too sore too often and they've done well managing him via VFL and as a sub. He's too important to lose to another injury now hence why I think Tomlinson comes to provide suppor there with Smith moving forward.

Hopefully if we stay healthy, Fritta comes back and Smith will go back to ultimate Super Sub.

Edited by Young Blood

47 minutes ago, dl4e said:

This talk of Smith either forward or backward is niether here nor there. It is our forward line that matters the most and I think Smith is best placed to replace Petty.

I'm coming around to this view too.

His acceleration from a standing start is crucial. 

Snap - what young blood said (juts read it)

Edited by binman


1 hour ago, M_9 said:

Agree. Tomlinson today was terrific. Close to, if not, BOG.
Does something neither Schache or TMac do. He gets involved and is effective. 
I’d still have Joel Smith and JvR as key forwards, Max forward when not rucking and Grundy resting on the bench rather than forward. I know that’s ‘expensive’ but I just can’t see anyone else to take the centre bounce. Grundy ok there and around the ground. He just ain’t a forward.

Agree now that tomlinson did OK today. He was always stiff to be dropped in the first place.

It's now too late on Kingys Premiership runway to try anything new. Tomlinson to 4rd tall defender. Smith forward. Grundy out and small in. Who that for others to nominate. Hibberd in anywhere. Jordan out . Not to return.

7 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

This.

Any of the other options (Grundy, McDonald, Brown, Tomlinson) are too slow and unable to get any sort of seperation from their man. They can wrestle and bring the ball to ground but opposition sides simply play a spare or help defender to nullify this as we saw last night with Grundy and previously with Brown.

Smith attacks every contest with genuine speed. His swing up forward resulted us in a more dynamic forward line and crucial mark+goal to keep us in it. He's not a world beater, he doesn't have the greatest footbal IQ and probably won't ever put together a four-quarter performance... But he gives you at least some of what Petty has with his aggression, speed and athletisicm to make a genuine contest in the air, at ground level and defensively pressure wise. He is the best option and they will pull the trigger on it this week.

Out: Grundy, JJ

In: Tomlinson, Spargo

Sub: Tomlinson or Hibberd

I like that we're slowly bringing Hibberd back into the main side. He was pulling up too sore too often and they've done well managing him via VFL and as a sub. He's too important to lose to another injury now hence why I think Tomlinson comes to provide suppor there with Smith moving forward.

Hopefully if we stay healthy, Fritta comes back and Smith will go back to ultimate Super Sub.

Agree on Smith's footy iq not being brilliant, but it mater less up forward.

Put him up there and tell him to go wild. Run, jump, spoil - and worry about the oppo defender's footy iq

Watching Tmac live today, he has no acceleration. Not surprising given he's coming back from yet another foot injury.

29 minutes ago, Wodjathefirst said:

Agree, but I’d settle for 2nd.

Me too but rolling the Pies in the QF will be sweet

 
18 minutes ago, binman said:

Agree on Smith's footy iq not being brilliant, but it mater less up forward.

Put him up there and tell him to go wild. Run, jump, spoil - and worry about the oppo defender's footy iq

Watching Tmac live today, he has no acceleration. Not surprising given he's coming back from yet another foot injury.

Must play Smith forward and I’m a Tomlinson needs to play back supporter. I think we structure up far better like this. Lever is a floater, Tomlinson can play close and May does what May does. Melksham back as the sub when Fritta plays, Grundy out, JJ out, Hibberd in. That my friend is the Premiership line up

25 minutes ago, binman said:

Agree on Smith's footy iq not being brilliant, but it mater less up forward.

Put him up there and tell him to go wild. Run, jump, spoil - and worry about the oppo defender's footy iq

Watching Tmac live today, he has no acceleration. Not surprising given he's coming back from yet another foot injury.

Yep and like Grundy last night Tmac can basically only really run in straight lines. They can't turn. As soon either of them go past the ball or player there's pretty much no chance of winning it back or at least creating some sort of pressure.

Let Smith, JVR, Melk, Trac, and the smalls create some chaos down there 😈

Edited by Young Blood


Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: Round 13

    Follow all the action from every Round 13 clash excluding the Dees as the 2025 AFL Premiership Season rolls on. With Melbourne playing in the final match of the round on King's Birthday, all eyes turn to the rest of the competition. Who are you tipping to win? And more importantly, which results best serve the Demons’ finals aspirations? Join the discussion and keep track of the matches that could shape the ladder and impact our run to September.

    • 25 replies
  • PREVIEW: Collingwood

    Having convincingly defeated last year’s premier and decisively outplayed the runner-up with 8.2 in the final quarter, nothing epitomized the Melbourne Football Club’s performance more than its 1.12 final half, particularly the eight consecutive behinds in the last term, against a struggling St Kilda team in the midst of a dismal losing streak. Just when stability and consistency were anticipated within the Demon ranks, they delivered a quintessential performance marked by instability and ill-conceived decisions, with the most striking aspect being their inaccuracy in kicking for goal, which suggested a lack of preparation (instead of sleeping in their hotel in Alice, were they having a night on the turps) rather than a well-rested team. Let’s face it - this kicking disease that makes them look like raw amateurs is becoming a millstone around the team’s neck.

    • 1 reply
  • CASEY: Sydney

    The Casey Demons were always expected to emerge victorious in their matchup against the lowly-ranked Sydney Swans at picturesque Tramway Oval, situated in the shadows of the SCG in Moore Park. They dominated the proceedings in the opening two and a half quarters of the game but had little to show for it. This was primarily due to their own sloppy errors in a low-standard game that produced a number of crowded mauls reminiscent of the rugby game popular in old Sydney Town. However, when the Swans tired, as teams often do when they turn games into ugly defensive contests, Casey lifted the standard of its own play and … it was off to the races. Not to nearby Randwick but to a different race with an objective of piling on goal after goal on the way to a mammoth victory. At the 25-minute mark of the third quarter, the Demons held a slender 14-point lead over the Swans, who are ahead on the ladder of only the previous week's opposition, the ailing Bullants. Forty minutes later, they had more than fully compensated for the sloppiness of their earlier play with a decisive 94-point victory, that culminated in a rousing finish which yielded thirteen unanswered goals. Kicks hit their targets, the ball found itself going through the middle and every player made a contribution.

    • 1 reply
  • REPORT: St. Kilda

    Hands up if you thought, like me, at half-time in yesterday’s game at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs that Melbourne’s disposal around the ground and, in particular, its kicking inaccuracy in front of the goals couldn’t get any worse. Well, it did. And what’s even more damning for the Melbourne Football Club is that the game against St Kilda and its resurgence from the bottomless pit of its miserable start to the season wasn’t just lost through poor conversion for goal but rather in the 15 minutes when the entire team went into a slumber and was mugged by the out-of-form Saints. Their six goals two behinds (one goal less than the Demons managed for the whole game) weaved a path of destruction from which they were unable to recover. Ross Lyon’s astute use of pressure to contain the situation once they had asserted their grip on the game, and Melbourne’s self-destructive wastefulness, assured that outcome. The old adage about the insanity of repeatedly doing something and expecting a different result, was out there. Two years ago, the score line in Melbourne’s loss to the Giants at this same ground was 5 goals 15 behinds - a ratio of one goal per four scoring shots - was perfectly replicated with yesterday’s 7 goals 21 behinds. 
    This has been going on for a while and opens up a number of questions. I’ll put forward a few that come to mind from this performance. The obvious first question is whether the club can find a suitable coach to instruct players on proper kicking techniques or is this a skill that can no longer be developed at this stage of the development of our playing group? Another concern is the team's ability to counter an opponent's dominance during a run on as exemplified by the Saints in the first quarter. Did the Demons underestimate their opponents, considering St Kilda's goals during this period were scored by relatively unknown forwards? Furthermore, given the modest attendance of 6,721 at TIO Traeger Park and the team's poor past performances at this venue, is it prudent to prioritize financial gain over potentially sacrificing valuable premiership points by relinquishing home ground advantage, notwithstanding the cultural significance of the team's connection to the Red Centre? 

    • 4 replies
  • PREGAME: Collingwood

    After a disappointing loss in Alice Springs the Demons return to the MCG to take on the Magpies in the annual King's Birthday Big Freeze for MND game. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Like
    • 232 replies
  • PODCAST: St. Kilda

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 2nd June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we have a chat with former Demon ruckman Jeff White about his YouTube channel First Use where he dissects ruck setups and contests. We'll then discuss the Dees disappointing loss to the Saints in Alice Springs.
    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/

      • Angry
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 47 replies