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PREGAME: Opening Round vs Sydney

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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14 hours ago, dl4e said:

Just bring clarrie back. He is too good a footy player. Windsor to debut. 2nd ruck is a good question. Schache is not up to it.

What option do we have?

Schache has to play Round 1 up forward with LVR no matter what

 

Can't play 5 smalls and LVR

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    3 hours ago, binman said:

    I doubt clarry plays, and I hope he doesn't.

    Agree Billings and Windsor are locks.

    And I think Howes and Brown will also debut (Brown for koz, comes out round one).

    I wonder how often it's happened that a top 4 team debuts three draftees in the first game of the following season.

    If I'm right, and Laurie plays, we will have 7 players 21 and under in our game against the swans:

    JVR, Bowser, Laurie, McVee, Howes, Windsor and Brown.

    When you consider that best 22 players in Koz, Sparrow and Rivers are 22, 23 and 22 respectively, we have a very solid core of young players (and petts and chin ate only 24).

    It's possible we will have 9 players 22 and under against the swans.

    That's a profile usually only a team in  rebuild phase would have. 

    By way of contrast the pies have the oldest list in the AFL.

    And how many players under 22 running around ladt night?

     

    To be fair despite our 25 in age plus dominance on this team we are in reality in transition with the under 22’s about to play a major role in many differing positions. It gives a renewed freshness and vitality to our game plan and opens up I believe a potential of no ceiling on the expectations for 2024. And we have others to add to our mix with already recognised AFL credentials.

    Now there is sunshine over our Club yes the clouds and rain will not magically disappear but it looks possible that we have managed to ward off any major damage to our on ground footy fabric. Indeed it may well have prospered and we may make hay while the sun shines in spite of the sceptics who were assembling en masse. 

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    1 hour ago, Damo said:

    I actually thought Schache showed more last night than Id seen before. His disposal is normally quite good and he buttered up for a few marks and ground balls. Tommo I also saw encouraging marks and disposals from. 

    Not saying they would be 1st 22 every week but I was quite relieved they held their ends up, in consideration of my expectations.

    Me too re Schache and I’ve been a hard critic of him on demonland. 

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    16 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

    What option do we have?

    Schache has to play Round 1 up forward with LVR no matter what

     

    Can't play 5 smalls and LVR

    LVR = loan value ratio. Don't want to over capitalise in our forward line?

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    13 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

    B: McVee - May - Tomlinson
    HB: Rivers - Lever - Bowey
    C: Langdon - Petracca - Windsor
    HF: Neal-Bullen - van Rooyen - Billings
    F: Schache - Fritsch - Chandler
    Foll: Gawn - Salem - Viney
    I/c: Laurie - Howes - Sparrow - Pup Brown
    Sub: Woewodin

    would love it to be oliver in for laurie 

    For Kossie. 

    • Like 1

    3 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

    I thought Bowey was back to his best.

    Gee we were quick at times.

    Young Windsor's legs hardly seem to be moving but he just steals away from other players.

    Salo in the middle is a lock for me. Well played Goodwin.

    Maybe if Clarry plays, Tracc can go fwd.

    We will miss Kozzie who played a ripper. His tackling and pressure doesn't stop. It's the sort of game I always hope he delivers. I know he's been around a few years but maybe this is the season we see the star quality in him(consistently)

    Max is like a good vintage red. 

    I was very impressed with Jvr who showed Curnow up. He doesn't look huge but he times his leap perfectly. I don't want him in the ruck. He is a natural fwd. Preferably a chf. 

    Do we keep Schacke at FF until someone else is fit?

    When is Fullerton ready to help out Max?

    Great to see Sparrow play like he did. I've always thought of him as a Petracca 2.0 but he needs to keep stringing together some more games like this.

    Viney. Just a rock solid leader who gives his all and shows no signs of aging.

    We have a great influx of young talent coming up so goodbye to those who have said goodbye to our premiership window.

    And as I said before if you believe the narrative that we are on the way out, then I feel really sorry for Carlton supporters.

    Yes it's only a practice match. But Carlton were a team that almost made the grand final last year so it must count for something.

    Personally I think we beat them by a lot more. Once again our kicking at goal at times was wayward. But praise must be given for our bullet like and accurate i50 kicks and corresponding marks.

    Despite his poor goal shooting, Fritta looked like he was over his foot injuries and moving very well.

    Billings is a great addition to the team and he proved it last night.

    There's no four points but for a practice game it's the next best thing.

    Go Dee's.

     

     

     

    Worth far more than four points on all fronts really. Hardly a negative also including the Casey bonuses. Clarry MJ Seston Woe Kolt Fullarton for the run and fitness Tmac Hore AMW Verrall all the Demons a really great hit out indeed. 

    • Like 2
    22 minutes ago, 58er said:

     

     

    8 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

    Can't understand the hate for Schache on this forum

    Considering we have no other options he still won't get a game in most eyes LOL 

     
    1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

    That seems backwards compared to the normal path, but we go in aaaallll directions around here.

    Don't mind the crankies, they just like yelling at each other about things going back as far as Barry Prendergast!

    As far back as Rory Sloane you mean?

    8 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

     

    Considering we have no other options he still won't get a game in most eyes LOL 

    I know, right? 


    28 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

    Can't understand the hate for Schache on this forum

    Lacks any desperation. His ruck work at boundaries is non competitive & cost 2 goals.

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    23 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

    Lacks any desperation. His ruck work at boundaries is non competitive & cost 2 goals.

    He's not a ruckman? What sort of desperation do you want to see?

    3 hours ago, Damo said:

    I actually thought Schache showed more last night than Id seen before. His disposal is normally quite good and he buttered up for a few marks and ground balls. Tommo I also saw encouraging marks and disposals from. 

    Not saying they would be 1st 22 every week but I was quite relieved they held their ends up, in consideration of my expectations.

    Agree. I thought he was pretty good. There were a couple of marking contests where he scrapped hard enough to bring the ball to ground. And his two goals were class kicks.

    On his rucking, i get the knock that he struggles with the physicality aspect, but it's a specialist skill that takes time to develop. It certainly did for JVR.

    In fact, a better comparisons is probably Joe Daniher, who was woeful in the ruck when they first started using him there, but is now more than serviceable.  

    Happy for him to play forward, and continue to build his ruck craft, with JVR helping out in the ruck occasionally as he did last night. The alternative is flogging JVR and/or brining Fullarton in.

    The shackster has earned first crack at the forward ruck role IMO. 

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    1 hour ago, 58er said:

     

    Now there is sunshine over our Club yes the clouds and rain will not magically disappear but it looks possible that we have managed to ward off any major damage to our on ground footy fabric. Indeed it may well have prospered and we may make hay while the sun shines in spite of the sceptics who were assembling en masse. 

    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?

    • Like 2

    We should be a great chance to knock off the Swans, they are a tough opponent but will be missing Parker and Mills from a midfield that isn't particularly strong on contested ball in the first place - if Max can get on top of Grundy we should get first use plenty of times out of the centre on the small ground.

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    2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    I see that the AFL's own media people can't work out whether next week should be called Opening Round or Round 1 so they've used both. 

    I have no problem with the concept of Opening Round showcasing a couple of "blockbusters" in a non-footy state. They should have just called it Round 1 and just had 10 teams with a Bye and move on. It just makes it so confusing.

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    5 hours ago, binman said:

    I doubt clarry plays, and I hope he doesn't.

    Agree. He will come back in soon though (as he should).

    Liked the midfield mix last night and felt like they hit targets in almost every spot inside the 50. Hope Clarry was watching…

    25 minutes ago, binman said:

    In fact, a better comparisons is probably Joe Daniher, who was woeful in the ruck when they first started using him there, but is now more than serviceable.  

    I think Joe is still hopeless in the ruck...it's his work on the ground with 2nd and 3rd efforts where he comes into his own.

    Going to be interesting to see how the rule change effects him.

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    17 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

    Related to the thread title, though not to the OP's particular question, what outcomes affecting next week do we hope for from the Swannies' Bears clash tomorrow?

    The start time delayed due to extreme heat - let's hope the heat has an impact on their players

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    3 hours ago, In Harmes Way said:

    He's got a lot to answer for.

    Yeah, recruited our premiership captain.

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    1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

    Lacks any desperation. His ruck work at boundaries is non competitive & cost 2 goals.

    We don't have any option

    Verrall is still 3-4 years away

    Fullerton is recovering

    LVR should not be in the ruck

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    2 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

    Can't understand the hate for Schache on this forum

    Positions Vacant:

    On line footy forum has vacancy for a “Whipping Boy”.

    The successful candidate would exhibit the following.

    Preferred traits;

    an ultra-strengthened carapace

    ability to rebound from a less than perfect performance

    elite resilience …

    Edited by Tarax Club

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    5 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Yeah, recruited our premiership captain.

    Fortunately we brought in other people to recruit the rest of the team! 🤣

    • Like 1

    This is the first time the Dees have played back to back games at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 2001/2002. Unless I make a rare trip to Melbourne these days I don't get to see my Demons play live very often so I am pumped for this game. Sitting with the corporates this time so I'll be the loudest one in my section. Most of my colleagues have zero idea about footy. Could get ugly. Go Dees.

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