The Demons will take to the field in their first hit out for 2024 against another team when they take on the Tigers at Casey Fields in a Scratch Match consisting of 7 "quarters".

Melbourne vs Richmond

Date: Sunday 18th Feb
Location: Casey Fields
Gate open: 9.30am
Match commences: 10am
Watch: Foxtel & Kayo
Inclusions:
Seven-quarter match simulation
Signing opportunities
Kids' activities
Partner giveaways

What are your expectations? What do you want to see from the Demons? Who are you excited to see play?

Will Kayo/Fox show the lot or only the first 4 quarters?

5 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Will Kayo/Fox show the lot or only the first 4 quarters?

I would assume they will show the lot. Certainly would on Kayo as there is no other programming for it to switch to.

Excited to see the new boys Kolt & Windsor show their wares.

I expect that we will see Laurie play in the guts for a large chunk of the game.

14 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Will Kayo/Fox show the lot or only the first 4 quarters?

Foxtel's telecast is scheduled to finish at 1pm (3 hours in total).

Doesn't mean they won't go over time.

any chance that Clarrie might play a quarter or two ?

I'll be very interested to see what our tall forward set up will be in these practice matches.

Tom Lynch will not be playing for the Tiges so there is a chance to try a defender or two up forward just to work on connection in case we need to break glass at some point this season.

I am not too sure how many will be out but the following is my stab at first 18 with what I think are players who have minor injuries or are a bit underdone to play yet left out (see list).

B: McVee May Hore/Tomlinson

HB: Rivers/Brayshaw Lever Bowey

C: Langdon Petracca Billings

HF: ANB Schache Chandler/Tholstrup

F: Pickett* JVR Fritsch

Ru: Gawn Sparrow Viney

Int: Salem (should be managed back to just two quarters), Laurie, Windsor, Spargo

Injured/unavailabe: Oliver, McAdam, Petty, T.Mac, Melky, Hunter, Fullarton, B.Brown, Turner

* Pickett out Rd 1 (susp).

To play final 2 quarters with VFL players - Howes, Jefferson, Adams, Verrall, Sestan, Woewodin, K.Brown, Farris-White, Moniz-Wakefield

And in the absence of injured tall forwards, Schache has to be given first shot at the role of forward/back-up ruck.

We cannot continue to risk JVR getting injured as the back-up ruck - yes I get that he is better qualified to do it, but Schache deserves first shot at it before we try more risky/reward options such as swap out a defender such as May to fix our forward woes.

The other thing we all should remember is that the SCG favours talls - it is shorter than other grounds and you need more marklng options than normal. Hence Schache is required for the season opener and should only miss if he shows absolutely nothing in our two practice games.

I am making my first trip down to Casey this Sunday. Is there adequate parking if I am a little late for the 10am start time. Might not get there till just after 10.

As this is a substitute for the Family Day will players be available after the game for autographs or at least the players who might not be playing?

Is there any seating available?

Thank you in advance for any answers. Excited to see the Dees play live in the flesh again.

28 minutes ago, pingu said:

I am making my first trip down to Casey this Sunday. Is there adequate parking if I am a little late for the 10am start time. Might not get there till just after 10.

With Richmond playing there should be a decent crowd, so expect a fair walk if you arrive after the start time.

28 minutes ago, pingu said:

As this is a substitute for the Family Day will players be available after the game for autographs or at least the players who might not be playing?

This will be interesting. I'm guessing many of our top players will do their work early and be showered and dressed before the end of the match. Will they stick around, or sneak out the back?

28 minutes ago, pingu said:

Is there any seating available?

No. Expect to stand at the back of the hill, particularly if you arrive late. Limited seating is usually taken by players, staff, families, etc.

28 minutes ago, pingu said:

Thank you in advance for any answers. Excited to see the Dees play live in the flesh again.

 

Gonna be interesting to see how Yze deals with our midfield as he would have an intimate knowledge of how we tick. Will also be interesting to see any new tricks we have learned from McQualter and how he handles the Tigers midfield as he has very first hand experience with.

I know it's only a practice match but I'm jumping out of my skin.

Edited February 13, 20241 yr by Redjacket

I understand that Jefferson has had an interrupted/modified preseason but from all reports he has integrated back into the main group over the last few sessions. I'd like to see him get plenty of forward minutes in these games against the better opposition defenders to see what he has to offer. With injuries to BBB, TMac, Petty & Fullarton the pin might need to be pulled on him earlier than we might have liked. Let's see what he can do.

14 minutes ago, mandeelorian said:

I understand that Jefferson has had an interrupted/modified preseason but from all reports he has integrated back into the main group over the last few sessions. I'd like to see him get plenty of forward minutes in these games against the better opposition defenders to see what he has to offer. With injuries to BBB, TMac, Petty & Fullarton the pin might need to be pulled on him earlier than we might have liked. Let's see what he can do.

Suspect he'll play in the 5th, 6th, 7th 'quarters' when they play the younger guys, from what I recall that's what happened with these sort of games last year 

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

I am not too sure how many will be out but the following is my stab at first 18 with what I think are players who have minor injuries or are a bit underdone to play yet left out (see list).

B: McVee May Hore/Tomlinson

HB: Rivers/Brayshaw Lever Bowey

C: Langdon Petracca Billings

HF: ANB Schache Chandler/Tholstrup

F: Pickett* JVR Fritsch

Ru: Gawn Sparrow Viney

Int: Salem (should be managed back to just two quarters), Laurie, Windsor, Spargo

Injured/unavailabe: Oliver, McAdam, Petty, T.Mac, Melky, Hunter, Fullarton, B.Brown, Turner

* Pickett out Rd 1 (susp).

To play final 2 quarters with VFL players - Howes, Jefferson, Adams, Verrall, Sestan, Woewodin, K.Brown, Farris-White, Moniz ….

My sources tell me that Werridee has reported this post to admin. Something about ‘cutting my lunch’.

1 hour ago, pingu said:

I am making my first trip down to Casey this Sunday. Is there adequate parking if I am a little late for the 10am start time. Might not get there till just after 10.

As this is a substitute for the Family Day will players be available after the game for autographs or at least the players who might not be playing?

Is there any seating available?

Thank you in advance for any answers. Excited to see the Dees play live in the flesh again.

As Poita said, Richmond fans will be out in force. There’s the main carpark and another one adjacent to it. Plenty of parking spaces is about the only redeeming feature of Casey, from a spectator’s perspective… IN MY EVER SO HUMBLE OPINION.

There’s one stand that seats 300 but that’s reserved for players’ families/friends. Other than that, standing or sitting on the grass is your only option. I can’t even say with certainty that camp-chairs are permitted because at the beginning of our W season they weren’t, but thanks to our own @Katrina Dee Fan that silly rule was overturned. Whether or not that’s changed is anyone’s guess 🤷‍♀️ Capacity is officially 9,000, camp-chairs would surely affect that number.

The Club has stated there’ll be signing opportunities. My guess is that this will be conducted after the match.

PS: don’t forget to come to the Demon Army tent for a snag in bread with or without onion, and/or a delish cupcake, probs best without onion, but you do you, we don’t judge 😃). We’ll also have plenty of cold soft drinks and water, and we accept card and cash.

Keen to see the younger wave of players get some game time and hopefully put their cases forward for a birth in the best 22 for round 0.

Laurie, Howes, Turner and Woewodin in particular. Obviously a good chance to see our fresh draftees in Windsor, Tholstrup and Brown in action as well.

Also looking forward to seeing Adams and maybe a bit of Jefferson if he gets some game time after spending a decent time in rehab. Not expecting much but hopefully some hints of their talent to look forward to.

Think Billings and McAdam can really do some damage in the front half as well, hopefully they can put their best foot forward.

Edited February 13, 20241 yr by Nascent

6 minutes ago, Nascent said:

Think Billings and McAdam can really do some damage in the front half as well, hopefully they can out their best foot forward.

I hope we see McAdam in one of the 2 practice games in the lead up to Opening Round. Hopefully over the niggle from last week. If not in the Tigers game then fingers crossed for the Blues game.

I hope for. 1 No injuries. 2. Windsor to lay strong claim for the second wing. 3. Validation of the improvement in Laurie and Howes to be AFL ready. 4. Billings to show some clean kicks into a leading JVR. 5. No injuries.  

Edited February 13, 20241 yr by Lil_red_fire_engine

I'll also add the first look at a Schache/JvR combination in the absence of Petty.

I'm keen to see where Brayshaw plays. Mid or defence? I would love it if Riv gets some more midfield minutes but reports from training in the past few weeks suggest he will be played off halfback.

Will Judd be given the coveted role on Dusty? Who will take the Hibberd role?

Footys almost back!!!1

Let’s keep the thread on topic folks. No derailments. Footy is nigh.

Don’t forget to buy a snag from @WalkingCivilWar at the Demon Army BBQ to support the cheersquad. 

Mention Demonland to get 0% off. 

It's beginning to feel a bit like footmas.

 

I’m hoping to see some evidence of what we have been working on in the off season. 

ball movement, hitting targets, connection between d50, mid and F50. 

What? a man can dream can’t he?!

4 hours ago, M_9 said:

My sources tell me that Werridee has reported this post to admin. Something about ‘cutting my lunch’.

agree, but at least this report had some words to go with the team.