Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Are the "What they are saying in opposition land" threads going to start up again this year?

I really liked those.

 
10 minutes ago, Left Foot Snap said:

Wow, I didn't get that.

And I have no idea how I did!! After my annual tussle with Ticketek and the Melbourne app it just appeared.

    • Like 1
     
    29 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    If they replace Tomlinson with TMac surely people will start doubting Goodwin’s coaching. I mean Tomlinson played his role, he’s no champ but sheesh he was above plenty last week. TMac can only dream of being that useful.l . 

    If we lose and Tmac has a poor one, then those questions will be up and about for sure.

    Fortunately I think we will account for the dogs quite well.

    Imagine the squabbling on here if we get done..............


    10 minutes ago, Olgreybeard49 said:

    And I have no idea how I did!! After my annual tussle with Ticketek and the Melbourne app it just appeared.

    It’s just the worst system, I’ve never got any idea what tickets go with what

    27 minutes ago, Demonland said:

     

    Anyone else hear about the whisper Joey heard about Max being sick?

    Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Clap 1
     

    I think the FD must prefer TMac to Tomlinson because TMac is more versatile, he can go back, forward and do ruck minutes. He did have a good pre-season.

    Good to see Hore for Bowey, if so that means Salem stays in the midfield.

    Interesting to see whether it's BBB or Fullarton for Love Shack.

    • Like 7
    41 minutes ago, sue said:

    Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

    It's happened often, most notably for me being after the KB last year, where he had a great game.

    Following week we had the bye, then week after that he was omitted for Petty.


    2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

    Not letting a player who’s keen to leave the club do so because they’re “required”, then dropping them for the second game of the season despite a solid performance in the first, is the epitome of poor player-management. 

    Goodwin, though rich in “learnings”, seems to have learned nothing from the selection debacle of last year’s finals campaign. 
     

    Time to drop Goodwin to the VFL to see if he can execute his learnings. 

    I can't believe the hand wringing about dropping Tomlinson. Actually, that's not entirely true; I've been here long enough.

    Tomlinson was outpointed positionally several times last week but was saved by the slippery conditions on several occasions. No basic level key defender should be beaten defensively on that postage stamp ground in slippery conditions, so being serviceable last week is no particular recommendation. There were 3 contested marks taken by forwards all game and they were all Sydney players - it was an easy day to be a defensive tall defender.

    The point is that Tomlinson's game was fine enough but not exactly a defence for him being replaced by a better option. If TMac comes in it's because he's a better footballer than Tomlinson. TMac is slow but he's certainly no slower than Tomlinson, and TMac is much better at everything else. 

    Did Tomlinson deserve to be dropped? It doesn't matter because we're selecting a team to win this week. Whether a fringe veteran 'deserves a game' isn't relevant because that isn't how you select a team, you select a team to win the match you're playing. 

    • Like 8
    • Thanks 3
    13 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

    Did Tomlinson deserve to be dropped? It doesn't matter because we're selecting a team to win this week. Whether a fringe veteran 'deserves a game' isn't relevant because that isn't how you select a team, you select a team to win the match you're playing. 

    I don't disagree with this, but you also select teams to win all year and win in September. Confidence and chemistry are important for both of these, and both are impacted negatively when you drop blokes who played well.

    Whilst I think Tommo is stiff and played his role well, there is obviously more to it then we know or ever will.

    He did badly get touched  up by Harry McKay in the practice game and I thought after that he wasn't a certainty for round 1. 

    Actually more excited for Marty Hore's return. His numbers at VFL level was through the roof and took the most marks in the competition for 2023.

    I think we bounce back and win this one.

    • Like 3

    8 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

    I don't disagree with this, but you also select teams to win all year and win in September.

    Which is why it’s important to get the better player into the team early in the year so that he can build confidence and chemistry with the other defenders. It’s not like Tomlinson, who has played fewer than 10 games a season since he came to Melbourne 5 years ago, has suddenly been blindsided that he’s a fringe AFL player.

    I think that’s the nub of it. We think one player is better than the other, so we’re picking who we think is the best player.

    Edited by Axis of Bob

    • Like 3

    I think it is possible that 2 of Tmac, Brown and Fullarton play. The Doggies backline is very undersized and probably their weakest line. Might it be that 2 of those 3 play and play forward, along with JVR to stretch them and stand under our "woeful forward entries"?

    On winning games.  You need to get to September,  then it’s a short sharp season different to the other. 

    2 hours ago, sue said:

    Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

    I'm sure they noticed as well. There must be strong reasons why Tommo was dropped after a very solid performance.

    The problem for me is that it's happened to Tommo before.

    Combined with other selections like Laurie getting the nod over Billings last week and selected again this round seems contrary to players performances.

    This is all hot off the heals of the Laurie sub selection in the pie final and then Grundy being omitted in both finals.

    There may be inside logic as you say to all these but taken collectively for the outsider looking in, it's very, very hard to fathom.

    • Like 1
    35 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Actually more excited for Marty Hore's return. His numbers at VFL level was through the roof and took the most marks in the competition

    Stoked he's back at the Mfc.

    Always thought he's underrated.

    • Like 1

    marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

    my concern remains around his ball use

    Edited by whatwhat say what

    • Like 2

    While Tommo is stiff, he still makes me nervous with the highball and ground ball. So does TMAC but probably a lesser extent. 
    My thoughts on our back 6 is that we have too many interceptors and not enough defender's. Lever needs to be more like May and lock down first. Lever was so poor last week. Most backlines play taller, so maybe we bring in Hore for Tommo and Salem goes back for Bowzer. 
     

    Picket to play 50/50 Mid as will Tracc and Clarry to find his touch. 

    15 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

    my concern remains around his ball use

    i recall Hore being a nice kick but could be wrong

    • Like 1
     
    2 hours ago, sue said:

    Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

    Injury? Our medical queue is already quite busy - and thus, embarrassing to some extent. Here we go, again ... unexpected changes ... almost silent in their implementation ... why are they doing this?

    50 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

    my concern remains around his ball use

    He also played a fair chunk of matches in 2019 with May & Lever.  Albeit 2019 wasn't a great year in general of course and there's been a big improvement from those two since.  May's first year as well and we know how that faired.

    Marty had a marginally higher seasonal player rating than both May & Lever that year!

    His overall DE% was below average @ 69% (AFL average approx 73%)

    His kicking efficiency was also below AFL average @ 66% (i believe AFL average is somewhere around 69%).  Would be worth seeing that result against tall defender's averages though.

    He averaged 4.1 turnovers a game, ranked 7th worst overall but behind two other defenders in Salo (4.2) & Hibbo (4.3)

    Marty averaged 4.5 rebounds a game that year.  Only 2nd to Salo with 5.

    Ranked 2nd in intercept averages (7.5) to Lever (7.9)

    Alot of water under the bridge since.  Marty will be a very interesting watch this season.  Good luck son!

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 7
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1

    Guest
    This topic is now closed to further replies.
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: Essendon

      It’s Game Day, and the Demons are staring down the barrel of an 0-5 start for the first time since 2012 as they take on Essendon at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. In that forgettable season, Melbourne finally broke their drought by toppling the Bombers. Can lightning strike twice? Will the Dees turn their nightmare start around and breathe life back into 2025?

        • Haha
        • Like
      • 48 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Like
      • 489 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 193 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All