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PREGAME: Opening Round vs Sydney

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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On 28/02/2024 at 21:24, Demonland said:

The Demons head up to Sydney to open the 2024 AFL Season against the Swans at the SCG. Who will debut for the Dees? Will Clarry be recalled to the team?
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I hope this guy is saving him self for the real deal kicks a bit straighter in front of goal against Sydney than his pre-season games.

    • Like 2
     

    Itching for this game and the season to begin.

    It's been a long off season without alot of joy as a supporter this year, but I did really like some of the signs we showed against Carlton in particular.

    Backs to the wall, it's time to stand up and let our footy do some talking.

    Won't be getting too carried away whether we win or loose this one game, but looking for us to build another dominant season where we are in control for most of the year and build into finals like in 2021 - just hope we don't get decimated by injuries again like last year.

    • Like 2
    13 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    Itching for this game and the season to begin.

    It's been a long off season without alot of joy as a supporter this year, but I did really like some of the signs we showed against Carlton in particular.

    Backs to the wall, it's time to stand up and let our footy do some talking.

    Won't be getting too carried away whether we win or loose this one game, but looking for us to build another dominant season where we are in control for most of the year and build into finals like in 2021 - just hope we don't get decimated by injuries again like last year.

    I believe if your namesake was playing in the QF last year, Gus would still be playing and we would have been into the Prelim Final and possibly winning the flag.

    Maynard would never have done that if Rodney was out there.

     

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    • Author

    For our Sydneysiders and traveling Melburnians there is an SCG Open Training Session

    https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times/

    Wednesday 6 March
    3:15pm onwards with player signing at the conclusion of training.

    Screen-Shot-2024-03-01-at-11.13.33-am.pn

    I am arriving in Sydney on Wednesday and will attempt to make this sessions but will depend on no flight delays and traffic in Sydney. May be pushing it.

    • Thanks 3
    1 hour ago, deebunked said:

    Richmond v Carlton is played ever year as a major R1 opening game because it works.  Id like to see us play Essendon R1 not the doggies. ffs

    OLIVER. too good a player to rot in the magoo's.

    If he says he wants to play against Swans then play him.

    I'm not sure players are the best judges of their own readiness to play under any circumstance.

    • Like 3

    5 hours ago, Dannyz said:

    What would ruffling up JJ achieve? 

    Premiership player who always went about things the right way. 

     

    5 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

    He left the FC

    Would you rather Viney tap him on the backside every time he gets a kick?

    Geez, talk about going from one extreme to the other. Why are roughing up JJ & tapping him on the backside the only two choices for Viney? Just because Danny says no to roughing him up doesn’t mean he suggests the tap on the backside.

    FWIW, JJ left our Club because we weren’t in a position to afford him the opportunity that he’s now getting at Sydney. Zero animosity. He left with our collective blessing. Same goes for Toby. 

    Edited by WalkingCivilWar

    The majority of football commentators have Sydney finishing in the 8, a few have them top 4. I’d forgotten Mills was out, they have some young key fwds that are still finding their way. I’ve got them finishing anywhere from 7th - 10th. I think we’ll account for them easily.

    • Like 2

    I love sticking the boots into the AFL as much as anyone but after the first match of this season it will be two out of the last three seasons that hasn’t kicked off with Carlton and Richmond. And we will have been in two of those three games. 

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    Highly unlikely to be any changes, other than Kozzie, from the side that defeated Carlton.

    The Swans are likely to go big, so we have to make sure we are tall enough though, especially as the SCG is a short ground, suited to bigs.

    Unless we have banned Oliver, then he has to play and with Kozzie out, there's a spot for him.

    The big issue is the sub. Normally we go small and a player like Tholstrup would be ideal, except that in our case we have to have a back up big because if we lose one of our bigs, we are then in danger of being smashed in the air - Sydney will have Grundy, Ladhams, McDonald, Amartey and possibly even McLean.

    Personally I'd have Fullarton, so that he can cover the rucks, but I am not sure how well he went in reserves - if he struggled then it lends itself to T-Mac being sub.

    That means:

    B: McVee May Tomlinson

    HB: Rivers Lever Bowey

    C: Langdon Salem Windsor

    HF: ANB Schache Billings

    F: Chandler JVR Fritsch

    Ru: Gawn Petracca Viney

    Int: Sparrow, Oliver, Howes (def) Laurie (fwd)

    Sub: Fullarton

    Emerg: K.Brown, T.Mac, Tholstrup

    • Like 5

    6 hours ago, Redleg said:

    I believe if your namesake was playing in the QF last year, Gus would still be playing and we would have been into the Prelim Final and possibly winning the flag.

    Maynard would never have done that if Rodney was out there.

     

    But there's no way Rodney would have played the next week if he did what Maynard did.

    Equally, there's no way Maynard would have played the next week if he did what he did and Rodney was out there.

    • Like 1
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    From The Age (Jake Niall) :

    Gun Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver is on track to play in the AFL season opener against the Swans at the SCG, subject to confirming his fitness levels. 

    The Demons confirmed that Oliver was trending in the right direction to be selected and play at senior level in the first game of 2024.

    But Oliver, who performed well in the VFL practice match against Carlton on Wednesday, had to show he was fit enough to run out the game at senior level, according to a senior club source, speaking on condition of anonymity about a player who has been in headlines over summer.

    Woohoo! 

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    2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

    I tell you what if Windsor kicks one of his pacy running goals I'll be up on the couch

    Make sure the clear plastic cover is put on pre game

    Edited by Stiff Arm

    • Haha 7
    7 hours ago, Stiff Arm said:

    Make sure the clear plastic cover is put on pre game

     

    • Haha 2
    On 29/02/2024 at 14:20, Demon17 said:

    After yesterday, and Clarry's performance last week ....

    Clarry's not the story

    Smith is off the radar

    Thanks to hair testing ladder and max's leadership culture is not the story.

    Looking forward to a nice quiet week media-wise, but no doubt it can change quickly.

    I'm now intrigued to see what the media line/target will be till season opener.

    Powell-Pepper???  hang on - maybe Caulfield now?

    I'm sure they'll find some pseudo muck somewhere. Don't forget that they are professionals.

    • Sad 1

    Not sure why we are the underdogs in this one, Sydney aren't that great a side and are missing a lot of first choice mids especially if Adams is out as well now....the SCG doesnt hold any fears for us we should be able to come away with the W

    • Like 1

    Venue: Sydney home ground advantage. No rain forecasted and good weather.

    Midfield: With Parker and Mills out, it will be interesting to see the results of Adam’s knee scans and if they have to rest him. Gulden and Warners are absolute jets, but I’d say we have the midfield advantage with more consistent structure.

    Ruck: Was also interesting to see Grundy and Ladhams share the ruck in the practice match. Even draw here given G&G’s history.

    Defence & Forwards: About even. I’d say we have an advantage with our defensive structure but I don’t think we have a clear solution to Papley and Heeney. In terms of our forwards I think if we can continue with the great forward entries against Carlton we can run over them.

     

    Absolutely cannot wait. Dees by 36 points.

    • Like 3
    On 29/02/2024 at 13:06, 58er said:

    We will miss Kozzie who played a ripper. His tackling and pressure doesn't stop.

    It really is an imperative that a greater percentage of our fwds take the hint, bite the bullet (in terms of bravery, alone) to tackle and harass and beat opponent backmen the way Kozzie does so consistently and chase, chase, interrupt, tackle and rebound with the ball. How many clues do they need?

    • Like 2

    On 29/02/2024 at 15:35, Kit Walker said:

    If Oliver is fit enough to play footy and is available for selection, he plays AFL. Simple as that.

    It’s not that simple and I’m glad it’s not.

    We have copped heat all through the off season regarding our culture and the steps with Clarrie were started last year, before any stories broke in the media.

    I love Clarrie as a player and what he brings but this is part of building a solid team first sacrifice culture like 2021. Nobody no matter how good they are is immune from that

    • Like 8
    2 hours ago, TheWiz said:

    Venue: Sydney home ground advantage. No rain forecasted and good weather.

    Midfield: With Parker and Mills out, it will be interesting to see the results of Adam’s knee scans and if they have to rest him. Gulden and Warners are absolute jets, but I’d say we have the midfield advantage with more consistent structure.

    Ruck: Was also interesting to see Grundy and Ladhams share the ruck in the practice match. Even draw here given G&G’s history.

    Defence & Forwards: About even. I’d say we have an advantage with our defensive structure but I don’t think we have a clear solution to Papley and Heeney. In terms of our forwards I think if we can continue with the great forward entries against Carlton we can run over them.

     

    Absolutely cannot wait. Dees by 36 points.

    Watched the Sydney game against Brisbane and Ladhams was far away the better ruckman between he and Grundy.

    Grundy ran around looking like he lacked the required match fitness.

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    • Author

    Swans duo Tom Papley and Chad Warner were rested for the Lions clash but are expected to be fit for Opening Round. Jake Lloyd also didn’t play due to a sore hip.

    Livewire Swans forward Will Hayward wasn’t seen from quarter-time onwards after copping a bump from Lions defender Darcy Wilmot, who was penalised for high contact.

    Mills and Parker will also miss the Opening Round. 

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