Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 24 vs Sydney

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

21 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

What’s the argument for not resting players? Is it the risk of a potential “rustiness” when a rested player returns? If so, isn’t this negated somewhat by all finals teams forced into a supposed rust-onset via the pre-finals bye? Sure, in that regard it’s two weeks vs one week. But we’re talking about elite athletes here. I have trouble accepting that such a break would create any significant drop in form. They’d still be training and keeping their skills sharpened. 
 

But it’s more than merely resting a player. It’s insurance that we have them playing finals. As for any suggestion that the AFL would come down on a club for employing such a tactic - did they “come down” on the Cats last year?

I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur.

If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year. 

    • Like 8
    • Love 1
    • Clap 1
     

    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 5
    2 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

    Get your hair gel ready boys and girls! 

    • Haha 8
     

    We're still trying to polish cohesion and will be making a significant change with Fritsch coming in. We need to use it as a dress rehearsal for the QF and go in with our preferred structure. Maybe use the sub to rest whoever needs it most.

    • Like 9
    8 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

    Updated weather forecast has Sunday having less showers.

    Rain or showers? Surely the Dees wouldn't take to the field if unwashed? It's possible for the Filth, Geelong and Carlton but not the Dees, purveyors of the Palmolive. 

    • Haha 1

    46 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

    • Like 5
    1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Form - both the team and individuals are well served by continuity 

    Fitness - match fitness is the best fitness and you risk fresh injuries when you back players off then ramp them up fresh

    Casey - if we take half the casey side out we are likely ending their season, meaning our depth players no longer have opportunities for match fitness 

    North and Richmond have retired players, Geelong have sent half their list in for surgery. Essendon have half a dozen who were fit last week and suddenly aren’t.

    If we took a dozen out we’d be questioned but I don’t think the AFL would crack down on us for leaving a couple out.


    Form - true, continuity is important, but all teams are about to have their continuity halted after next weekend (which is why some coaches have come out against it). 
     

    Fitness - the risk of fresh injuries after being rested - is their much evidence of this? Coming off an injury, and being brought back too soon, sure. But getting injured after being rested for a week (while still maintaining peak physical fitness)? I’d need to see the stats on that. 
     

    Again, the Cats employed resting their older players throughout the season last year. And key players, at that (Selwood, Hawkins, Dangerfield and Isaac Smith, who was rested in Rnd 22 and went on to win the Norm Smith). It was all about making sure they had the best team available in the final game of the year, and didn’t see the above issues as much of a threat to that aim  

    Gawn and May would be it. No need to go crazy. 


     

     

    1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

    Yes but as discussed what does that do to other other forward metrics, pressure, running, tackles but to name 3?

     

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    5 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    If we rest anyone this week they would've had the best part of 3wks off, not 2 and thats where it is treading a line. 

    • Like 1

    6 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    I think they’ll do what they did in the roos game, which was to use the bench as a way of minimising injury risk and manage load.

    Tracc, viney and maxy all spent a big chunk of the last quarter on the bench.

    Sure manage any plsyer really needing a spell, but otherwise use the bench to give your A graders and young blokes a decent chop out.

    • Like 4
    2 hours ago, seventyfour said:

    I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur.

    If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year. 

    I’m not sure I really buy this. Whoever we play first in the finals is not going to be afraid of us because we beat the Swans. I don’t think any of the top teams would have any of this so-called “fear” going in any direction. Everyone is gettable this year. There are no true monoliths, and it’s made for a great season. 

    really hard to get excited about this game. 

     

    15 days til finals starts!

    • Shocked 1

    Resting is dangerous IMO. It will mean one game in 5 weeks if (big if) we win our QF - 5 weeks from the Hawthorn game to PF weekend and just the QF played. That’s too risky IMO.

    • Like 3
    4 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    really hard to get excited about this game. 

     

    15 days til finals starts!

    I'm very excited about the game. Assuming we go in with "the Finals team" (I think we will, as this is what Goodwin's philosophy would dictate), this is our first chance to see the side that 23 rounds of football has thrown up as our best chance to win it all.

    Very enticing. Wish it wasn't being played on a postage-stamp of a ground though. Absolutely hate the SCG as a football ground.

    • Like 1

    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

    • Haha 1
    6 minutes ago, Garbo said:

    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

    Thomas has been know to float around the club a bit.

    With the mooted medium sized forward line we should be taking the preferred option of our players lowering their eyes and hitting up targets to our medium forwards

    Our forwards leading their backmen out of the hot spot with others leading into that area for better goal scoring opportunities

    With the long bomb to the pocket becoming way less of an option and less of a decent percentage play

    Of course, the above is easier said than done but if we're going medium, more of a necessity

    The game against Sydney is effectively one where we can practice such methods

    Edited by Macca

    • Like 1
    52 minutes ago, Garbo said:

    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

    Perfect reason/excuse to rest players if all other results go our way. We want the Pies at the G in a QF. We'll beat Sydney if it doesn't change this outcome. There's no way we'd risk playing Brisbane in a QF at the Gabba.

    Edited by Roost it far


    I am really hopeful Tom McDonald plays as our second tall forward against Sydney.

    I think structurally it makes sense. Especially as he can also share ruck duties with Jacob van Rooyen in the forward line too.

    Anyway, the selection committee have a lot to ponder this week. đŸ€”

    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

    I also think T-mac could be important this week in making sure we give Max a bit of an extra rest leading into finals.

    With T-Mac, JVR, Fritta and Melky in the forward line, i expect T-Mac and JVR will share the ruck load a bit!

    2 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

    I am really hopeful Tom McDonald plays as our second tall forward against Sydney.

    I think structurally it makes sense. Especially as he can also share ruck duties with Jacob van Rooyen in the forward line too.

    Anyway, the selection committee have a lot to ponder this week. đŸ€”

    I hope we select him as the substitute and make that sub relatively early in the game (mid-3rd quarter or along those lines).

    • Like 3
     
    1 hour ago, binman said:

    I think they’ll do what they did in the roos game, which was to use the bench as a way of minimising injury risk and manage load.

    Tracc, viney and maxy all spent a big chunk of the last quarter on the bench.

    Sure manage any plsyer really needing a spell, but otherwise use the bench to give your A graders and young blokes a decent chop out.

    Tracc has a Brownlow to win!

    Edited by dee-tox

    • Love 1

    I can't keep up with the weather forecast for Sydney on Sunday.

    Last Sunday, we were looking at dry and 21.

    Then Monday, we were looking at torrential rain and 16.

    Now we're back to 21 with a possible shower.

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 3

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

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 365 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 26 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Like
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All