The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02.

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Injuries to May and Lever would normally make us panic. What will be our approach now? In the longer term, what should be our succession plan?

I imagine there will be lots of questions on this topic, but with May, and presumably Lever (pending any updates in the week) both out the obvious replacements I can see are Petty back to defence and Tommo in (especially with Disco Turner injured).

 

Do you guys think these will be the changes or can you see Jed Adams getting game? 

what did we think of the backline without Lever and May second half ? I thought they were superb with last minute spoils by Howes, Tmac then Trac saving 3 shots on goal. Our defence is really humming so good signs. 

The injuries to May and Lever can be somewhat covered in the short term. The spanner that these injuries throw into the works is in our forward line. We obviously had a plan with playing Petty in the forward line to give Ben Brown a chop out in the next few weeks especially with the 5 day break between the Port and Crows games. What happens to the plans to manage and nurse Ben Brown through the next few weeks with Petty going down back? Do we bring Fullarton in? Does Tommo come in and either Petty or TMac go forward? Interesting times. Hopefully everyone is well drilled in the systems for there to be minimal disruptions during this crisis.

Welcome back Positive Lingers. Thought  Ed Langdon played his best game for the Demons in a long time. Along with Windsor and Billings we have genuine weapons on either side of the ground. 

That’s the Bayley Fritsch we pay to see each week. Outbodying defenders, taking speccies and kicking sausage rolls. 5 goals brings his tally to 9 for the season. If he kicked straight last week he would be putting his hand up for a Coleman. 

I originally wasn't a fan of having JVR do so much ruckwork this early in his career but he competes hard and it seems to be a good way to get him into the game. For young key position forwards like him there are games where you find it hard to get a kick,  keeping him involved can only help. Thoughts on this? 

I know Binman will probably say he's not like other young talls, would reslish the challenge and doesn't need the cotton wool treatment 😜

 

Our small forwards shone once again. 3 goals to Pickett and 2 goals to Chandler. Have we found the perfect small roving forward mix. Will Charlie Spargo be able to work his way back into the side?

All the Nibbler Knockers need to take a good hard look at themselves. He was excellent today. That is all.

Petracca was absolutely huge in this match. Some of his work out of the middle to pin point passes to JVR and Fritsch were just phenomenal. His goal off one step from just inside 50 was immense. He is an absolute bull. The Hawks chose to target Clarry, who still had a solid game, but all that did was allow Trac to get off the leash.

Binman said in the pregame thread:
Goody said before the season last year they planned to use the sub in two ways - tactically or as part of their load management strategy.

What is panels thoughts on using the sub as a load management strategy?

Personally I don’t like it, for the exact reason in this game you lose key players early in the Match.

Note I’m not suggesting it was used in this way for this Match because I don’t know if it was or wasn’t.  Marty Hore ended up being the best replacement given the circumstances!

Great response from all the team when Tracca ran all the way back to play defender and spoil a certain Hawks goal.

You would have thought from the response he kicked the sealer.

Wonderful spirit de corps. ( If that's spelled right,).

It bodes well for us and we are obviously hungry.

Ps Goody got it right again.

Edited March 24, 20241 yr by leave it to deever

21 hours ago, pingu said:

That’s the Bayley Fritsch we pay to see each week. Outbodying defenders, taking speccies and kicking sausage rolls. 5 goals brings his tally to 9 for the season. If he kicked straight last week he would be putting his hand up for a Coleman. 

Fritsch is criminally underrated. Up there with Toby Greene for being pound for pound one of the best users of the body in the AFL 

Keen to get your thoughts Andy/Binman on my new (equal) fave (current) Demon, Blake Howes — I’ve been waiting for this cool-headed-kid to bear fruit ever since JT again managed to steal him in the draft at #39 in 2021, amidst doing some research on his attributes. I began to lose a tiny bit of my staunch belief of how much he’d be able to add to this side, but boy how that belief has now been not only repaid, but well & truly transcended. So much so, that I think he may have even surpassed Judd’s inclusion — & that’s close to my heart for I caught him in Jan of 23’ & called his potential R1 debut & thus take small pleasure out of spotting that one alongside my four young ens 😂 
 

Blake personifies the word balance, in respect to what our defensive side needed with his clear attributes of; balance, steeliness, acumen, critical-thinking, precision, adaptability & most adroitly of all, a truly exceptional level of composure! I’ve also been taken with his size, reach & closing speed — all things that have been a very nice surprise.

What have you guys been most excited by, surprised with, in Blake Howes? And do you think you may have put together the 3 most underrated debutant games in the last decade?

Howes acumen has been integral to helping tighten our Zone Defence, which will be more vital than ever in wks ahead — Let’s hope the rest of the footy world begins to catch-on to how impressive his performances have been.

 

 

 

About 10 minutes into the game I was completely relaxed, knowing we'd win by 5+ goals. Opposition coaches are scared to kick the ball long and risk turnover to Gawn, May and Lever. I hadn't seen such spineless ball movement since the Neeld era Demons. Question is, does the panel think teams will move the ball with more confidence against a side missing Lever and May?  I'm quietly confident that we have the depth to cover them, I'd probably favour Petty going back with Thommo and TMac. Same Forward line as round 1 should be ok

The question of the week is obviously how we cover the May and (probably) Lever absences.  I will be keen to hear your solution(s), and potential matchups vs Port and the Crows.

Mrs. DoF and I are heading off tomorrow to drive to Adelaide.  The Pod is certain to keep us well informed and entertained for the first part of the trip.

Keep up the great work guys.  
Go Dees / Redleggers!

How certain are you that Salem won’t be moved from the midfield? 😉

This post is mostly to get the panels thoughts on our game strategy against Port, especially around stoppages.

The between the arcs stoppages is where the greatest score from stoppages comes from, and which also determines who will be playing a forward half game.  I think it is a very important and generally an ignored part of tactics.

So far this season, as far as scores from between the arcs stoppages goes, we are -20 points versus Sydney, +14 versus the dogs, and +15 versus the Hawks.  

Our structures and our opponents strategies in our first 3 games was also interesting.  We tend to do the same each week. Sydney tended to push +1 to stoppages, the dogs decided to settle for even numbers at stoppages, and the Hawks pushed +1 or +2 to the stoppage (and still got smashed).  

Interested in what you think will happen this week against Port.  Both midfields are very good, and both defences will be suspect (Port because they always are, and us because we will be down May and Lever).  Last year Port pushed a +1 to the stoppage in the wet and smashed us. Butters had 41 possessions and 10 clearances.  How do you think it will be played this week.  I suspect we will do the same and push a spare behind the ball.  Do you think Port will push a +1 to the stoppage again?  Or will they push a spare behind the ball to help their suspect defence. The good news is the forecast is 31C and fine.  The bad news is there is a small chance of a shower late in the day (we play at 7pm).

 

one smart bit of play that the Dees implemented in the last quarter was a bit of tempo footy to slow things down a bit .we were chipping it around . supporters around me we getting a bit agitated with this because we weren't going for the juggular and trying to win by 70 plus points . but there weren't seeing the larger picture . we were a man down with a healthy lead . we have brown and petty and also tmac who we are trying to nurse through a hectic schedule over the next 3 weeks leading into the bye without 2 key figures in defence now . slowing the play down late in the game was smart and meant we weren't going to overtax some of these players by playing quick footy and possibly forcing turnovers when the game was done and dusted . what do you guys think ? do you think this was an intentional strategy by goody and the footy department given the developments of the day and keeping in mind the next few weeks ?

I'm going to cut the questions off here as I'm flat chat today. I've put the show notes together already and I think we've adequately covered all the topics. I'm going to lock the thread and reopen it later on.

We'll be LIVE at 8:30pm tonight.

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

Call: 03 9016 3666

Skype: Demonland31

We'll be LIVE in 5 mins.

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

Call: 03 9016 3666

Skype: Demonland31

Love the expat love fellas. Can echo all those who describe how integral you are to keeping us all attached to our club. Thank you! 

P.S @DutchDemons and I have the international MFC museum in Amsterdam for anyone visiting 😂

10 hours ago, Skrull said:

one smart bit of play that the Dees implemented in the last quarter was a bit of tempo footy to slow things down a bit .we were chipping it around . supporters around me we getting a bit agitated with this because we weren't going for the juggular and trying to win by 70 plus points . but there weren't seeing the larger picture . we were a man down with a healthy lead . we have brown and petty and also tmac who we are trying to nurse through a hectic schedule over the next 3 weeks leading into the bye without 2 key figures in defence now . slowing the play down late in the game was smart and meant we weren't going to overtax some of these players by playing quick footy and possibly forcing turnovers when the game was done and dusted . what do you guys think ? do you think this was an intentional strategy by goody and the footy department given the developments of the day and keeping in mind the next few weeks ?

Choco wouldv'e been yelling out.... "Spread the field... Easy Kicks! "