This may be a bit premature but given that we should have a considerable cap chest by the end of the season (Gus 😔, Tmac, BBB), how should the club use this as an opportunity to strengthen our list? What are the two most important positions?

Welcome to season 2024 gentlemen.

George, thumbs up for your excellent report ‘Nought from Zero’ on our opening encounter.

I thought point by point you crisply highlighted the reasons for our first up mis-step, like you I am choosing my words carefully, it’s too early in the season to be too harsh.

We saw in the practice match against the Blues some signs of improvement in our F50 entries with an emphasis on low hard flat kicks, suggesting there had been some off season work in this area. However when the real money is on the table for 4 premiership points the new found kicking/disposal skills disappeared under real game day pressure.

The Sydney coaching panel, led by the best in the business had done their homework and unravelled us quite easily in the end.

Longmire has shown the rest of the competition how to upset the Demons.

I would like to hear from the panel how we best respond, beginning with selection, not ending there, but please also discuss how we exploit the Dogs backline, is it simply switch up to preseason Blues game style entries, one can hope.

Just a reminder that the podcast will not be live tonight (Monday) but will be live tomorrow night (Tuesday) due to today's public holiday.

Bowey is a huge loss, I think he was primed for a great year. We need a replacement for him. Who is that? I don’t see a natural cover besides Salem. Do we roll the dice and try Laurie or Woewodin there?

My concern is our bottom four or five players. In 2021, we were strong on every line with seemingly 23 in-form players and no passengers. But currently I think we are carrying at least four players who would struggle to get a game with any of the other top teams. I won't name them, but last Thursday their sub-standard contributions were obvious. The problem won't be fixed by the return of Kosi and Petty because there is bound to be other injuries in later games, meaning the bottom four will remain weak. I just can't see us winning a flag if this state of affairs persists. Like to hear whether you agree that this problem exists and whether we can do anything about it. 

Could you discuss the loss of Yze in terms of his game day role in the box and how he seemed to complement Goodie in the sense that Goodwin seems a stronger strategist than tactician and perhaps Yze a stronger tactician?  

The pluses.

I think we tried to lower eyes and hit up more and less dump kicks but I don’t think we had forwards leading to available ball carriers enough.

Howes and Windsor showed enough

Clarry got through and was handy already 

the minus

Gawn didn’t adapt to Grundy’s tactic which will be copied

Do you think running and leaping at the ruck contest would be a better option for Max? Blocking that should be penalised

My wondering relates to the striking difference between the Carlton pre-season game and the Sydney match, and how much the weather played in the results.

The coaches have stated that they are looking for only a goal more on average per game - and the tweaks to the game plan appear to be faster movement out of defense, and bringing in a bit more speed (windsor) and footskills (salem) through the midfield, with the goal of better inside 50 scoring efficiency.

The Carlton game would have left the coaches very happy - there were over 20 marks inside 50. But it was a dry night without much pressure and some room to move in the 50.

Thursday was the opposite scenario. I agree that Goodwin was outcoached on Thursday, but Goody is known for sticking to his gameplan regardless of the conditions, with the goal of applying the strategy as much as possible for the players to become familiar with it. It often looks like stupid coaching when we are losing.

Last year we had a woeful record in the wet, and that has carried on this year too. Our bread and butter used to suit wet weather - a pure territory game, high contest, defensive, low scoring. However the coaches understand the game has changed and we are evolving. It takes a long time for clubs to fully adapt to new gameplans and master them. 

This is a roundabout way of saying that the weather was for me the biggest factor in our poor performance. Gawn noted it was one of most draining games he had played. Not only was it slippery, but it was humid. That started our problems, and the stubborness of the coach, and the absence of half our best forwards only seemed to exacerbate the issue.

However - we were level with them at three quarter time. Despite everyone agreeing we were woeful.

My question is - do we simply write this one off as a a weather related aberration, or is there something deeply flawed in our gameplan (coaches) or the execution of it (players). 

I'm going with weather as the primary issue, but also think the adjustments to the gameplan will take time, and until we get Petty and Kosi back, we won't be executing to the best of our ability. 

Feel free to ignore this lengthy point/question/rant.

Go Dees 

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Wylie D
Typo

9 hours ago, Demonland said:

Just a reminder that the podcast will not be live tonight (Monday) but will be live tomorrow night (Tuesday) due to today's public holiday.

Too hot today anyway 🥵

10 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Too hot today anyway 🥵

My aircon is working overtime.

9 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Bowey is a huge loss, I think he was primed for a great year. We need a replacement for him. Who is that? I don’t see a natural cover besides Salem. Do we roll the dice and try Laurie or Woewodin there?

Agree re Woewoden maybe: Laurie no way.  Somewhere I even heard Spargo suggested.  😮

On 08/03/2024 at 09:08, binman said:

And every player taking the opportunity to bump into him and block him when he is running contest to contest. 

What annoys me the most. Is not one of players seems to care or at least try  to even up on the opposition ruckman.

 

This needs to be addressed ASAP.

On 08/03/2024 at 17:38, DiscoStu17 said:

I think that the umps should be advised before the game that running into Max is not on - I know it’s not the 1980s but giving a free away by throwing one of these nuisance players into the ground is well worth it IMHO. 

I also believe Max could run more aggressively into position and look at potential assailants. They are looking for a cheap shot and do not want 110+kg to run through them. 

What about Max being  a bit clumsy ? He is too nice I think sometimes. Or we employ JVR to be  a  bit physical in a clumsy way. 

Apologies as I haven’t read all the replies.

But for me, we can’t afford to have/carry/play, Chandler, Laurie, Spargo (I’ll give Billings a pass barely played) all in the same team.

I was amazed to see Spargo playing given he has been injured most of the last month. All 3 of these players are too much the same, no real pace, don’t get enough of it and can easily be exposed.

Last one for me, gee Schache is a a disgrace. After seeing a little in the pre season. This guy is a typical list clogger. If he wasn’t tall he would have never been drafted. I can see why they didn’t use him in that semi final now. He is as soft as pensioners fart. Having said all that I bet Goodwin plays him again against the dogs.

 

 

On 08/03/2024 at 18:38, DiscoStu17 said:

I think that the umps should be advised before the game that running into Max is not on - I know it’s not the 1980s but giving a free away by throwing one of these nuisance players into the ground is well worth it IMHO. 

I also believe Max could run more aggressively into position and look at potential assailants. They are looking for a cheap shot and do not want 110+kg to run through them. 

This is a great point.  That one infringement was paid off the ball means that doing this is not OK, and it should be paid everytime.

1 hour ago, Doug Reemer said:

What annoys me the most. Is not one of players seems to care or at least try  to even up on the opposition ruckman.

 

This needs to be addressed ASAP.

Good observation - McInerney ran into Max at one point when he was looking the other way - put him on the ground and clearly sore - no free kick no reaction from our playing group. McInerney also tried to ruff up McVee - again no real response.

I think we have been coached not to overreact but there is a fine line between overreacting and supporting your teammates and showing the opposition that sort of stuff is not on

My question is whether or not you think Jefferson is capable of playing AFL football successfully.

I'm not wanting to knock the kid but he seems to me to be following the same path as a few that have failed before him namely Weideman and Josh Schache. These guys have skills, but they seem to lack the intensity to compete at the top level. 

I did take some heart from watching Cadman live last Saturday night - he looked a completely different player than the young kid that looked out of his depth somewhat last year. JUH was similar in his first block of games. Maybe Matt will follow their path - he is an important player and quite critical you'd think to our future prospects up forward so keen to get your collective take on him at this stage of his career

 

1 hour ago, Sydee said:

no free kick no reaction from our playing group.

I'm pretty sure we did get a free kick.

How did the panel see the games of our debutants, Windsor and Howes? And also Billings once he was subbed in?

Going to cut the questions off here. We have a lot to talk about. Thank you to all who contributed. It is very much appreciated.

On 07/03/2024 at 22:20, Demonland said:

The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Tuesday, 12th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the loss to Sydney in the Opening Round of the season.

You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.

If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast

Call: 03 9016 3666

Skype: Demonland31

I reckon the four victorian sides were sacrificed (not withstanding) Carlton getting up for the Gods of the AFL to have their way, mind you I'm very happy that the unmentionables lost 

22 minutes ago, The Ox said:

I reckon the four victorian sides were sacrificed (not withstanding) Carlton getting up for the Gods of the AFL to have their way, mind you I'm very happy that the unmentionables lost 

I like your conspiracy thinking.

Perhaps the AFL scripted it perfectly only for their plan to have come undone by Harry McKay kicking straight instead of spraying it spoiling their plans for him to finally nail that at the death shot in their Carlton vs Collingwood Grand Final.

On 07/03/2024 at 22:20, Demonland said:

The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Tuesday, 12th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the loss to Sydney in the Opening Round of the season.

You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.

If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast

Call: 03 9016 3666

Skype: Demonland31

 

Is this still on tonight?

29 minutes ago, Doug Reemer said:

Is this still on tonight?

Yes LIVE now. Had a computer meltdown just prior to broadcast.