Jump to content

  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not to permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


James Leake



Recommended Posts

12 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i wonder whether this says more about the quality of tasmanian kids emerging or the lack of quality coming out of victoria, in particular

It was probably easier for aspiring footballers who lived outside of the most locked down city in the world in the years leading up to the draft

  • Like 3
  • Clap 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i wonder whether this says more about the quality of tasmanian kids emerging or the lack of quality coming out of victoria, in particular

It's interesting, I'd say maybe both.  The allies were very strong in the national championships, so they beat not just the vic players but WA and SA pretty handily too.  The Tassie Devils in the Coates league were very well placed there too, so that possibly goes to suggest that the quality in Vic could be a little lighter this year.

It also sounds like this year has a fairly shallow draft overall, and that they don't expect a lot of players to be selected overall.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Demonland has made the difficult decision to not to permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials.

We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.

On 26/10/2023 at 17:49, dazzledavey36 said:

Leake is class and skill above Sanders.

Sanders is a ball winning machine and is one dimensional in terms of hes pigeon-holed to play one position only.

Leake is athletically far more gifted then Sander and has genuine versatility and X factor.


I’m on Leake for 6.

Finally figured out who Sanders reminds me of. Sorry Colonel, probably a bit unfair but it’s another chicken-related moniker - Brock McLean.

  • Like 2
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know this is the Leake thread, but I’ll add - my fear with Sanders is that he’s like McLean, or Dom Tyson, or Darcy Parish, or any number of others... players that if they’re not in the midfield, they don’t have the tools to fit anywhere else.

And if he’s with us, he ain’t unseating Viney, Oliver or Petracca.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, Mach5 said:

I know this is the Leake thread, but I’ll add - my fear with Sanders is that he’s like McLean, or Dom Tyson, or Darcy Parish, or any number of others... players that if they’re not in the midfield, they don’t have the tools to fit anywhere else.

And if he’s with us, he ain’t unseating Viney, Oliver or Petracca.

Very good post. I remember those sort of guys in junior footy too. Always got to play on the ball but could not mark or kick properly. Often get set in midfield on personality and get enough kicks to stay there and get noticed. Prime example. Bailey Smith

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will place my trust in JT. He has the skill to see past who will become an AFL player, particularly with pick 6 and 11. If it’s Sanders I’ll trust he is the man. As long as he is given the free rein to pick best available. 
 

  • Like 2
  • Clap 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


1 hour ago, Mach5 said:

I know this is the Leake thread, but I’ll add - my fear with Sanders is that he’s like McLean, or Dom Tyson, or Darcy Parish, or any number of others... players that if they’re not in the midfield, they don’t have the tools to fit anywhere else.

And if he’s with us, he ain’t unseating Viney, Oliver or Petracca.

Viney will be 30 next season, Petracca will be a forward sooner than later IMO and Oliver I’m not allowed to post about.

And even with all that I don’t see why Sanders would be a very handy half forward or wing rotation early in his career with the way he accumulates and moves the ball on quickly.

Im just not sure how good he is or more importantly if he’ll be there at our pick, but I’m not worried about positional overlap. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Viney will be 30 next season, Petracca will be a forward sooner than later IMO and Oliver I’m not allowed to post about.

And even with all that I don’t see why Sanders would be a very handy half forward or wing rotation early in his career with the way he accumulates and moves the ball on quickly.

Im just not sure how good he is or more importantly if he’ll be there at our pick, but I’m not worried about positional overlap. 


I am. I’m very wary of any player that can’t have an impact unless placed in a primary midfielder role. This is exactly why I’d choose Leake over Sanders - Leake has demonstrated an ability to have a critical impact wherever he has been positioned on the field. Just pure footy ability.

  • Like 6
  • Clap 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Mach5 said:


I am. I’m very wary of any player that can’t have an impact unless placed in a primary midfielder role. This is exactly why I’d choose Leake over Sanders - Leake has demonstrated an ability to have a critical impact wherever he has been positioned on the field. Just pure footy ability.

Clayton Oliver no good then? How about two time brownlow medalist Lachie Neale? Or brownlow medalist Cripps? Versatility is nice to have, but if you're a gun midfielder then why would you ever play any other position.

Talk about impact, Sanders is the best performed midfielder in this 2023 draft class. He won the Larke medal for best player in the national championships. He's a ball winner, he's got burst of pace, classy agile mover, good kicking skills, strong overhead, hits the scoreboard, leadership qualities. There's no reason why he won't make it as a good AFL midfielder. He's probably the safest bet in this whole draft class and looks to me like hell carve out a Joel Selwood type career.

If JT and the recruiters decide Leake is our guy, then we'll all support him and hope he's a star. At this point in time, he's a lesser player than Sanders and hasn't shown much as a midfielder yet. Pick 6 is a lot to spend on a flanker sized intercept defender when there's potentially a superb midfielder on offer.

  • Like 7
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Lord Travis said:

Pick 6 is a lot to spend on a flanker sized intercept defender when there's potentially a superb midfielder on offer.

Well, I guess we'll either look like geniuses or just plain stupid...

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


5 hours ago, FrothiesLiam said:

Giants rumored to be into Leake and Windsor with their first pick so if we want leake then we'd have to take him with 6 


Makes sense. Caruso at GWS appears to be a shrewd operator in the Lamb/Taylor vein.

On the Gettable podcast it was proposed to him that GWS would be keen on a few of these, pretty sure it included Leake & Windsor, maybe Caddy. The interviewers pointed out that some of the names elicited a visible response from Caruso, without any specifics.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Mach5 said:


Makes sense. Caruso at GWS appears to be a shrewd operator in the Lamb/Taylor vein.

On the Gettable podcast it was proposed to him that GWS would be keen on a few of these, pretty sure it included Leake & Windsor, maybe Caddy. The interviewers pointed out that some of the names elicited a visible response from Caruso, without any specifics.

Caruso seems a very astute operator

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They maybe playing ducks and drakes to get Curtin et al, JT will know who is fair dinkum. Lol.!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 31/10/2023 at 05:23, The Jackson FIX said:

We’d have to be looking at him as a mid/frwd option - no way Lexer and May would welcome a Leake in the backline 

Why is that ? Pray tell. 

  • Haha 1
  • Clap 1
  • Facepalm 1
  • Thinking 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 30/10/2023 at 20:40, durango said:

I have watched some highlights and I don't think he is worthy of a pick 6.

He uses his strength to win the ball but that will not work in the AFL against bigger and stronger bodies.

Players develop with weight programs. Don’t be so naive most 18yo recruits start out needing physical development.

They are not all freaks like Clarry.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This was the game in which James Leake transformed himself from a solid defender into contender for the top 10 as a dynamic forward. He was swung forward at half time with his Devils team trailing and he went on a tear in the third quarter, clunking every mark in his area with clean hands and slotting three goals for the term.

 

 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 4
  • Thinking 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    TRAINING: Friday 1st December 2023

    Demonland Trackwatchers WERRIDEE, HAWK THE DEMON, DEMON WHEELS, WALKING CIVIL WAR, SCOOP JUNIOR & KEV MARTIN ventured down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from Friday's Preseason Training Session which closes out the first week back on the track for the Demons. WERRIDEE'S RUNNING COMMENTARY OF HIS OBSERVATIONS: Farris-White and Sestan out there early kick to kick Rivers and Bowey running laps Roo and Laurie kick to kick Billing’s in no33

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I'm interviewing the Melbourne Football Club Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor early next week on the Demonland Podcast. I'll be asking him about moving up the draft order, our new recruits (both Draftees and Trades), Daniel Curtin, our recent recruits who have yet to play a senior game, who he thinks will be the next Judd McVee and more. If you have any further questions let me know below and I'll see if I can squeeze them in. I will release the podcast either Monday or Tuesday.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 76

    TOO LITTLE TOO LATE by Meggs

    It was a hot afternoon at IKON where the ferocious Cats came to play, had read the manual on how to beat us and the Demons were unable to match them for the first three quarters.     With physical pressure, they took the game on with relative ease and though our resistance seemed better than the previous two weeks it was still not good enough.     Within the opening minute, Kate Hore marks within range, but her shot was a miss-kick, like a fat iron, and it kinda set a flat tone f

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports

    TURNAROUND by Meggs

    Following successive comprehensive defeats by fellow Top Four heavyweights the Demons play down a division this Sunday against the highly promising Cats.     Strangely, no games against the Cats for five seasons and now we play them twice in one season.     With the blueprint on how to defeat the Dees available on the dark web the real question is, will we crumble again under the finals pressure cooker or will we rediscover our #DemonSpirit and execute a turnaround?   Mak

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews

    THE SECRET IS OUT by Meggs

    We were expecting that after last week’s comprehensive defeat by Brisbane, our coach Mick Stinear would have his charges coming out breathing finals fire. Instead, it was North who had the aggression, the numbers, who blocked our scoring avenues and rendered us impotent, unable to match the Kangas during any phase of the match.   Darren Crocker, the North coach, later highlighted that how to beat Melbourne is no secret following recent losses to Adelaide and Brisbane and now North.  

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports

    CATCH EM ON THE HOP by Meggs

    A sunny Sunday afternoon feast of finals footy awaits at our team’s favourite home ground, Ikon Park.  Great vibes at Princes Park where we remain undefeated from 7 matches and counting. Expect the Dees to come out strongly, sparring and outmuscling the Kangaroos in the middle.  With Paxy back firing and our gun forwards mesmerising, hopefully we catch ‘em on the hop. Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane have filled ten of the twelve Grand Final spots in AFLW history, and this dominance

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews

    COLD AGGRESSION by Meggs

    “Cold aggression”, Lions star full forward Dakota Davidson called it. Brisbane outmuscled, outran, and ultimately overwhelmed us. They certainly came to play and exorcised their 2022 grand final grudge defeating the Demons in the rematch by 25 points. Stats count and Brisbane won the key ones. Inside 50s 42 to 24, centre clearances 8 to 6, uncontested possessions 133 to 75 and 51 marks to 27. The Lions’ sustained pressure is the kind we usually bring for other teams.   There

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports

    HOME PRIZE by Meggs

    Big stakes this weekend. For the winner, will it be a Dees minor premiership and potential home grand final or will it be a Lion‘s Top Four finish and a double chance?    Huge interest circulates in the how the ladder unfolds over this weekend’s final round of the 2023 home and away season with some 10 teams vying for 8 places.     It’s AFLW Pride Week, a celebration of people from all walks of life coming together, being respected, loved and accepted. Women’s football continues

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews

    WICKED WIND by Meggs

    Hang out to your hats. The strong blustery conditions made it extremely difficult for either team to execute footy skills but nonetheless an entertaining match ensured for those brave enough to venture down to Casey Fields on Saturday. Impressive Irish player Aine Tighe was a late withdrawal for Freo. Maddie Gay was also a late change, and she was replaced with 19 year-old Georgia Gall, the 6-foot ex Melbourne Stars BBL cricketer who has been impressing the coaches in scrimmage games.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...