33 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

... Tomlinson and Howes improved and did enough to book their places for round O....

Yeah I'm not too sure. Think we need one 193cm defender but two?

We have May, Lever, Bowey, Rivers, McVee. Will Salo be a full time mid if Clarry comes back?

7 minutes ago, von said:

My favourite part was how the commentators went from talking up our problems and the off season pre game while talking Carlton up to talking about how we are a quality outfit and finished top 4 the last 3 years by the end. 

Montagna has stuck with us the whole summer. Has always said we will be there when the whips are cracking.

Loved how he threw in the bit about us spending only 2 weeks out of the Top 4 the last three seasons. Just to remind everyone about our consistency.

It's a practice match.

Clearly enough, those who said our season was shot because of last week look pretty silly tonight, as was always going to be the case.

Equally, don't take tonight's result and declare "we're back" or "David King's an [censored]". You might be right (on both counts) but it's a practice match and for that reason it just doesn't matter anywhere near as much as the media want it to.

Of course, there are clearly important things to come out of the match - ball movement, defensive structure, the additions of Windsor and Billings, the promise we see in Salem and Rivers. 

Take those, plus the lack of injuries (AFAIK...?!), and get ready for hopefully another season of being ensconced in the top 4.

Just now, dee-tox said:

Yeah I'm not too sure. Think we need one 193cm defender but two?

We have May, Lever, Bowey, Rivers, McVee. Will Salo be a full time mid if Clarry comes back?

Howes' height is irrelevant, he's a flanker, could be 180cm for all it matters.

Salo absolutely should be full time (or close to it) mid. Can maybe take a half back rotation when they want to give Riv a go on ball or can do 10% forward alongside Sparrow and Tracc more forward when Clarry is back.

We need skill and balance in the midfield. Oliver doesn't provide that. And Salo needs the challenge. He's lost a yard of pace and is better off in close to the contest and then playing a sweeper midfield role.

Howes is a project that may ultimately not be ready this year. He's still so skinny and iffy at the contest. But it's his speed, endurance and skills that we need to invest in at half back or cover with someone else with fresh legs.

26 minutes ago, von said:

My favourite part was how the commentators went from talking up our problems and the off season pre game while talking Carlton up to talking about how we are a quality outfit and finished top 4 the last 3 years by the end. 

And also I think they reminded everyone that MFC have only been out of the top 4 for (I think) 2 weeks I the past 3 seasons.  Is that some sort of record?

ADDITIONS:

Kicking lower into the forward line ❤️ 😁 with a lot more movement up forward.

Windsor looks a goer - smooth, fast and composed.  

Billings will add poise.  

Still undecided about Laurie.

Shack improved over last year (and of course over his last game 🤦‍♂️) though still needs some angry pills.

Mini cameos from Kynan and Kolt suggest that they will be important later 2024 or in 2025.  Verrall got a taste - a year or so away, of course for a young ruck.

bring on the real season. Go Dees

 

Edited February 28, 20241 yr by monoccular

Plenty of positives but I am touch worried about Chandler who seems to be missing something that we saw early last season. 

Schache did a job I guess but looked far from convincing in the first half particularly.

The best sign for me? Gawn has had enough. If you have a crack at a Demon's head, answer to the man!

Enough, is enough, is enough. I get the feeling this is a line in the sand season for the Melbourne Demons. And our skipper is going to lead the way where the AFL has so dismally failed us, and others.

Win, lose or draw this season, I really don't care. The flags will come, maybe this year, definitely in the future, but we need to fly our flag and stop the rot. Stand up for your brothers Demons, nobody else will!

 

10 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Montagna has stuck with us the whole summer. Has always said we will be there when the whips are cracking.

Loved how he threw in the bit about us spending only 2 weeks out of the Top 4 the last three seasons. Just to remind everyone about our consistency.

That is a truly amazing stat.

And it's impossible for it to be a statistical anomaly. 

Sustainaned excellence.

59 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

If we can get games like that out of Sparrow this season we’re laughing. 

Lots to like tonight, we will miss Kozzie next week, but others need to step up in his absence.

C’meth the man Sparrow 

i hope the Club have put it to him, Angus has been forced out. Tom Sparrow you are the one to step up. He has serious talent, he was a solid contributor in the ‘21 GF

Good Luck Tom…

Lots to like:     
-   our leaders stood up as they usually do;     
-   defence was well organised;
-   Windsor was great, Billings was solid, and our other ‘newbies’ showed glimpses with
     limited opportunities;   
-   forward half delivery was much improved on ‘23;   
-   field kicking and general ball move movement were good;   
-   Salo and Sparrow through the middle

I’m generally an insomniac, but I’ll sleep well tonight.

10 minutes ago, BigBadBustling said:

Gawn has had enough. If you have a crack at a Demon's head, answer to the man!

Love the angry Max - certainly made above clear to all 

loved it 

That was a very promising display against a team I rate highly. Truthfully they didn't look like scoring and only did when they munged it to their two key forwards. 

After fretting about the midfield depth all summer i liked the different looks in there with Salem and Koz. 

Tide turned every time Gawn is off the ground - quite amazing how much he controls our fortunes. 

Love Salem in the middle

Sparrow in for a big year

Windsor looks elite

Goalkicking accuracy still an issue

Lack of connection still an issue at times (players dropping the ball in the hotspot and no-one contesting)

It's still February but that was a great warm up to the season, really whet the appetite for next week.

CARLTON V MELBOURNE

CARLTON

Player	Time On Ground %	Ranking Points	Disposals	Kick Ins	CBA
A.Saad	83	98	26	6	0
P.Cripps	76	89	25	0	21
G.Hewett	79	101	25	0	19
A.Cerra	79	69	22	0	15
S.Docherty	72	96	22	0	12
B.Acres	83	82	19	0	0
B.Kemp	98	95	19	0	0
H.McKay	87	107	18	0	0
O.Hollands	81	60	16	0	8
L.Fogarty	74	84	15	0	3
T.De Koning	76	63	14	0	0
M.McGovern	68	60	14	3	0
N.Newman	65	48	14	0	0
E.Hollands	71	48	12	0	0
J.Boyd	77	71	11	2	0
D.Cuningham	77	56	11	0	6
C.Curnow	92	66	10	0	0
A.Cincotta	81	39	9	0	0
O.Fantasia	82	36	9	0	0
J.Binns	45	12	7	0	0
M.Pittonet	41	20	7	0	0
M.Cottrell	83	6	6	0	0
L.Young	96	60	6	0	0
B.Wilson	24	8	3	0	0
J.Motlop	12	3	1	0	0

MELBOURNE

Player	Time On Ground %	Ranking Points	Disposals	Kick Ins	CBA
M.Gawn	74	185	24	0	0
T.Rivers	84	80	24	0	0
A.Neal-Bullen	83	110	23	0	3
C.Petracca	71	79	23	0	17
C.Salem	74	102	23	0	22
J.Viney	77	114	23	0	20
T.Sparrow	83	112	20	0	10
J.Billings	77	91	17	0	0
E.Langdon	92	60	17	0	0
B.Laurie	73	58	17	0	0
J.Bowey	79	76	16	3	0
J.Lever	99	95	16	0	0
K.Pickett	80	102	15	0	9
B.Fritsch	91	42	13	0	0
J.van Rooyen	65	79	11	0	0
C.Windsor	66	77	11	0	0
S.May	92	73	10	0	0
A.Tomlinson	100	78	10	0	0
J.McVee	77	34	9	0	0
J.Schache	78	57	9	0	0
K.Chandler	79	49	7	0	0
B.Howes	69	44	6	0	0
K.Brown	12	6	3	0	0
K.Tholstrup	13	8	2	0	3
W.Verrall	12	7	2	0	0

Nathan Brown was all smiles in the stands with Adem Yze and son Noah. It was great to see these two hanging out together. Reminded me of the time I fell in love with this club.

I wont be getting too carried away with the result. Blues weren't applying much pressure and really missed a quality key defender.

Van Rooyen looked bloody impressive. Listed at 193cm but was way too big for McGovern (191cm).They moved Young (202cm) onto him late who didnt look much bigger than him. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Love Salem in the middle

Sparrow in for a big year

Windsor looks elite

Goalkicking accuracy still an issue

Lack of connection still an issue at times (players dropping the ball in the hotspot and no-one contesting)

It's still February but that was a great warm up to the season, really whet the appetite for next week.

Quote

Lack of connection still an issue at times (players dropping the ball in the hotspot and no-one contesting)

- but kicking it much lower and not bombing high to allow our forwards to be slaughtered as they contest.

Keep this up and many of our 'forward connection' woes will reduce.

 

It's ultimately a practice match and means very little in the grand scheme of things but the things i noticed: 

• The improvement in efficiency inside 50 was obvious
• the midfield and stoppage set ups look good, McQualter has made an impact. 
• Tommy Sparrow is ready for his best year. 
• Windsor, Howes, Billings all improve the team

 

 

 

Good to see a live match.

We held up the ball when the booers looked like getting on a run. The boos came out as soon as MFC players ran out of the sheds. Gee they went quiet when it was obvious their team wasn't playing, except for a few quick ball movements through the corridors. Good to see the backs huddle and talk about what to do when it did come fast into them. Hopefully they can get a strategy that will nullify the fast ball.

The wind being strong and gusty, caused a few problems for the set shots.

When the boos had the wind I thought we milked the time well.

Loved that we emptied the forward flanks, which gave the forwards a place to lead into. Hopefully it was based on strategy and not lazy opponents. 

Salem on the ball was great, vision, timing, tackling and when given space, delivery of the ball.

Tracc blew up early, the heat was not his friend.

Howes, Schache, and Chandler are our weakest links.

JVR has good hands.

May has lost some speed.

Oh, Kossie, getting close to being a game winner/turner kind of player.

Sparrow's two way running was amazing, looking very fit.

Gawn, led by example. 

We have a great structure, defensive and offensive. Well done players, hearing the coaches and executing. Though, our forward area looked stagnant at times.

Pleased we took multiple marks in the attacking 50.

Looking forward to the season real.

Go Dees.

Edited February 28, 20241 yr by kev martin

 

We played extremely well and had no injuries. Perfect.

While our delivery inside 50 was better, we were a bit risky going inside the corridor at times and this cost us several turnover goals. I don't think we have to take a lot more risk with our ball movement than we did last year. We need to be a bit more precise with our final delivery inside 50 and kick straight.

Kossie, Fritsch and JVR need to convert better.

I still have doubts about Laurie and Schache but we are low on soldiers early in the season.

Windsor needs to work on his kicking but is clearly a future player.

Tholstrup looked great for 2 possessions.

Salem did well in the midfield and exceeded my expectations. Not sure how he fits when Clarrie comes back though.

It was a practice match, all you can take out is process (and not outcome); and we looked like we took time with the footy and preferred to enter the forward line to the advantage side of a specific player or contest. 

We have a big midfield and they should take their time - we should have more holding the footy decisions against us than we do - it’s our great strength and we should be pushing the limits of how long to hang on to it to make a good decision, and asking teams to bring us down.

 

The best thing said on the day was when Goodwin talked to Fox before the game about ‘not worrying too heavily about what we are not, and embracing what we do well’ and that is music. We are never going to be a precision footy team, we are never going to avoid mistakes, but we are a team with a midfield of bulls and we should that should lean into that and make the most of it.

Edited February 28, 20241 yr by rpfc

What I find jaw droppingly confundicating is that in the Match Day thread, the only mentions that ANB got were critical of his play early on, after which there was no mention of him at all??!!! Then, to make matters worse, in the Post Game thread where posters were giving us highly detailed lists of players that impressed them and why, again not one single mention of ANB!!

The guy had 83% game time, was equal second in possessions with 23, and his tackling figures were in the top five. He worked his [censored] off for the entirety of the game, and was one of our most effective players.

He was without a doubt one of the best on ground and certainly deserving of much more credit than the Demonlanders give him.

*Scratches head*

Edited February 28, 20241 yr by hardtack