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PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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52 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Trying to find info on any evolution in the Port Adelaide gamestyle,

Seems like Wines it taking more stoppages and spending less time forward which is hardly surprising or radical.

Marshall is taking a ton of marks (10 and 9) and creating many more goal assists than previous seasons, but both Marshall and Dixon have barely 50/50 goal accuracy. Maybe playing further out and taking their marks and set shots from further out?

Then again, maybe their forward stats are just skewed by the bizarre game against the Eagles. Finlayson 0.4, Dixon 3.3, Marshall 0.3, Bergman 0.3. Could and probably should have been a 100 point win despite letting West Coast score 70.

Which brings up the next point - West Coast 70 and Richmond scoring 92 despite both games being dominated by Port suggests that Port are pretty leaky defensively, and all that despite no tall forward scoring more than one goal against them.

Hard to get much of a read on them other than that, with just two games to look at and against what is basically the second-last and third-last teams (with only Collingwood below).

Did I mention only Collingwood is below then. Because Collingwood is last - clearly 0-3 is lower than 0-2.

Just recapping, Collingwood; the worst.

They have a very high press, leaving heaps of space out the back if a midfield is capable of exploiting it on the turnover. Langdon, ANB, Chandler, Windsor, Petracca, Pickett should be able to give them a lot of trouble.

Edited by Chook

    • Like 6
     
    8 minutes ago, Demonland said:

     

    Interesting… I was told by two of our trainers yesterday that they fly out on Wednesday following training at Casey. Maybe plans have changed. 

    12 minutes ago, Chook said:

    They have a very high press, leaving heaps of space out the back if a midfield is capable of exploiting it on the turnover. Langdon, ANB, Chandler, Windsor, Petracca, Pickett should be able to give them a lot of trouble.

    I like it. The run and run and run style of footy.  

     
    1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

    Trying to find info on any evolution in the Port Adelaide gamestyle,

    Seems like Wines it taking more stoppages and spending less time forward which is hardly surprising or radical.

    Marshall is taking a ton of marks (10 and 9) and creating many more goal assists than previous seasons, but both Marshall and Dixon have barely 50/50 goal accuracy. Maybe playing further out and taking their marks and set shots from further out?

    Then again, maybe their forward stats are just skewed by the bizarre game against the Eagles. Finlayson 0.4, Dixon 3.3, Marshall 0.3, Bergman 0.3. Could and probably should have been a 100 point win despite letting West Coast score 70.

    Which brings up the next point - West Coast 70 and Richmond scoring 92 despite both games being dominated by Port suggests that Port are pretty leaky defensively, and all that despite no tall forward scoring more than one goal against them.

    Hard to get much of a read on them other than that, with just two games to look at and against what is basically the second-last and third-last teams (with only Collingwood below).

    Did I mention only Collingwood is below then. Because Collingwood is last - clearly 0-3 is lower than 0-2.

    Just recapping, Collingwood; the worst.

    Garry Lyon suggesting their defence is the weak link.

    It was their midfield the did the damage to us last year. Butters 40+ possessions and 2 goals I think. Port overan us in the rain. 3g 6b to 1g 3b in the last. The 4 pt margin was very flattering to us I thought.

    Our players seem to really struggle with wet conditions. Their failure to adapt to slippery conditions in Sydney was very costly

    • Like 1

    This week is very difficult to pick, as far as I can see it we have three options. I’m going glass half full and Lever and Chin get up. In no particularly order:

    1. Keep Petty forward, Bring in Tomlinson for May, Hore stays sub. 
    2. Petty back for May, bring Fullarton or AMW or another forward in. Hore stays sub.

    3. Hore in for May, Petty back, Riv, Salem play more mid, play slightly smaller up front. Runner as sub AMW or Woey etc.

    My preference is 2 as Port are pretty big up forward and I see Petty as a better matchup for Dixon, with TMac on Finlayson and Howes or Lever manning Marshall. But I could see us going with 1, I would’ve leant that way had Tommo’s kicking not been so putrid in the VFL. 
    3 would be very risky but could pay off if Max can roll back to help out blocking Dixon and Marshall.

    Tough. 

    Edited by deejammin'


    This week and next is actually christmas in March/April, two games in one week in Adelaide.

    For somebody who has not grown up with going to watch the Dees week in week out.

    I have become thoroughly appreciative of hearing all the stories of past tales and happenings of the club I love over the years reading demonland and demonology.

    I've actually never attended a traditional milestone game so for myself it's a pretty big deal and it so happens to be a player close to the heart.

    (Well if you include Neita's 273rd record breaking game in 2006 as a milestone game then I'm lying)

    This week no other man deserves the plaudits more than our very own blood and soul of the MFC.

    First to come last to leave when it comes to signing autographs smiling for photos with the kiddies and the big kiddies in all of us.

    Through thick and thin the man has stuck fat with this football club and no one hurt more when the club was down on its knees and 5 hit out of luck.

    Lead us to the promise land once again our midfield wrecking bull, we salute you for your never say die attitude and commitment to the MFC.

    Congratulations Jack Viney on 200 courageous games for the MFC. fitting its in SA where the bloodline made its start in the game.

    JV7#200

    Carn the Dees, the charge to the flag starts in the city of churches⛪️ win both and we will be dreaming of Christmas in September once again.

     

     

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    23 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    Garry Lyon suggesting their defence is the weak link.

    It was their midfield the did the damage to us last year. Butters 40+ possessions and 2 goals I think. Port overan us in the rain. 3g 6b to 1g 3b in the last. The 4 pt margin was very flattering to us I thought.

    Our players seem to really struggle with wet conditions. Their failure to adapt to slippery conditions in Sydney was very costly

    We have never played slippery/wet conditions well at all during the Goodwin era.

    • Like 1
    4 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

    Just think Dixon will swallow T Mac one on one

    Tom is bigger than Tommo.

    • Like 1
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    8 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

    We have never played slippery/wet conditions well at all during the Goodwin era.

    In the early part of 2021 we were good in the wet. 
    We beat Richmond Anzac Eve and Swans a couple of weeks later in the wet.

    We beat the Cats and Blues also in partially wet games. 

    And last year against Port one of our best quarters of the year was the 3rd where we piled on 7 goals and it was absolutely bucketing down.

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    19 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Tom is bigger than Tommo.

    And i suspect may have added a few kgs up top over the pre-seaaon to assist against the bigger bulls.

    Looks to be in great nic

    • Like 1

    45 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

    This week and next is actually christmas in March/April, two games in one week in Adelaide.

    For somebody who has not grown up with going to watch the Dees week in week out.

    I have become thoroughly appreciative of hearing all the stories of past tales and happenings of the club I love over the years reading demonland and demonology.

    I've actually never attended a traditional milestone game so for myself it's a pretty big deal and it so happens to be a player close to the heart.

    (Well if you include Neita's 273rd record breaking game in 2006 as a milestone game then I'm lying)

    This week no other man deserves the plaudits more than our very own blood and soul of the MFC.

    First to come last to leave when it comes to signing autographs smiling for photos with the kiddies and the big kiddies in all of us.

    Through thick and thin the man has stuck fat with this football club and no one hurt more when the club was down on its knees and 5 hit out of luck.

    Lead us to the promise land once again our midfield wrecking bull, we salute you for your never say die attitude and commitment to the MFC.

    Congratulations Jack Viney on 200 courageous games for the MFC. fitting its in SA where the bloodline made its start in the game.

    JV7#200

    Carn the Dees, the charge to the flag starts in the city of churches⛪️ win both and we will be dreaming of Christmas in September once again.

     

     

    Great summary and great recognition of one of our true heart and soul players. JV Does get forgotten a bit with Gawny Trac and Clarry but equally as well respected and responsible in the theme of our footy. Will be there for the Gather Round match and can’t wait for this block of 3 games inc. Lions to show us where we are in 2024. 

    Go Dees. 

    2 hours ago, Chook said:

    Michael Hibberd was All Australian in 2017 after missing four games to start his first year at the club. It's a long season.

    I hope he can follow in the same footsteps as the great man. But he has had several consecutive soft tissue injuries. Doesn’t bode well.

    2 hours ago, Chook said:

    They have a very high press, leaving heaps of space out the back if a midfield is capable of exploiting it on the turnover. Langdon, ANB, Chandler, Windsor, Petracca, Pickett should be able to give them a lot of trouble.

    Spot on.

    And we are much better placed this season to exploit that high press with all the work we have done to improve our fast transition from the back half.

    I'm quietly confident of handy win for this reason.

    I'm amazed they haven't looked to set up differently defensively this season.

    I just assumed they would, as they are not going to win a flag if they don't sort their defence.

    Hinkley must be pretty confident his method can deliver the goods.

    • Like 1
    2 hours ago, Demonland said:

     

     

    2 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

    Interesting… I was told by two of our trainers yesterday that they fly out on Wednesday following training at Casey. Maybe plans have changed. 

    In conclusion, Tom Morris and WCW are possibly the same person 😂


    19 minutes ago, binman said:

    Spot on.

    And we are much better placed this season to exploit that high press with all the work we have done to improve our fast transition from the back half.

    I'm quietly confident of handy win for this reason.

    I'm amazed they haven't looked to set up differently defensively this season.

    I just assumed they would, as they are not going to win a flag if they don't sort their defence.

    Hinkley must be pretty confident his method can deliver the goods.

    Well to be fair, he does have a midfield featuring Butters, Rozee, JHF, Wines, Drew and Boak, and a forward line featuring Dixon, Marshall, Finlayson, Rioli and SPP.

    If he’s backing those two areas of the ground to be as dominant as they ought to be, and Ratugolea and BZT to help in defence, perhaps it’s not all that bad for him to still want a high press?

    • Like 4

    This week I’m interested in seeing whether the pear have a different mode of play to what we’ve seen in their first 2 games.

    With respect to Richmond, Port have not played anyone of note so far this season.

    That might be a reason why their defence has pressed so far forward. 
    If they do the same this week, I would expect us to win by 50+ points.

    I’m glad to see that May was our only serious out this week. Mabior almost took out 2 others, including JVR in a ruck contest. Could have easily been a broken jaw. Not saying that JVR can’t ruck, but he needed to be made aware that jumping early and hard against Chol was his best option. Or (very) late.

    I rate Port around the same level as the doggies. But we are missing one of our best, and we can’t be sure what the opposition may throw at us.
    It could be a cracker.

     

     

     

    • Like 2
    23 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

     

    In conclusion, Tom Morris and WCW are possibly the same person 😂

    Not possible… I’m not a misogynistic, homophobic slimeball. And as far as I know he’s not the chook whisperer 😅

    5 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

    It's actually quite fitting that he gets to play it against his childhood friend Ollie Wines. Let's hope we TEAR THEM A NEW ONE. 

    Fitting and somewhat ironic.

    Viney's and Wines' first ever AFL games were against each other in round one 2013 at the 'G when Wines won the RS nomination and Melbourne were thrashed by 79 points.

    • Like 2
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    Thoughts on our kick-ins so far this season?

    I really liked seeing Judd McVee take most of our kick-ins against Hawks. Most of our best ball users are at half-back - McVee, Bowey, Salem (when he's moved back), Rivers, and Howes if he keeps to the level he's been at so far.

    I hope we continue seeing McVee and co on kick-ins, less of May who can pretty much only go long and down the line.

    Screenshot 2024-03-26 at 7.52.37 pm.png

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    1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

    We’ll smack both these teams 

    That is one very full half empty glass from Roost! :D :D

    Love to see it.

    • Love 2
    6 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

    Thought this was quite an interesting read from (believe it or not) Damien Barrett:

    BARRETT: No self-pity as under-fire Melbourne confronts its demons -

    https://www.afl.com.au/news/1095159

    While it’s a well written article, all I have to say to the AFL Media right now is STFU. 
    You feasted on our issues in the off season like a pack of starving vultures. Now we won two games against mediocre opponents and suddenly we are in the good books?

    Go Away GIF by NETFLIX

    • Like 2
     
    22 minutes ago, Gator said:

    Fitting and somewhat ironic.

    Viney's and Wines' first ever AFL games were against each other in round one 2013 at the 'G when Wines won the RS nomination and Melbourne were thrashed by 79 points.

    I remember that game Gator. I was still living in the UK at the time and had come back for a month long holiday so was at the G that day. I was also at the game a week later when we were beaten by over 130 points on Saturday night prime time. It's hard to believe that we're the same football club now. 

    • Like 1
    6 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

    While it’s a well written article, all I have to say to the AFL Media right now is STFU. 
    You feasted on our issues in the off season like a pack of starving vultures. Now we won two games against mediocre opponents and suddenly we are in the good books?

    I knew this would happen. Starving vultures is the best way to describe them, especially in the offseason. The media has a hard job in the offseason as there's not much for them to report on, so they go to town on whatever news (usually negative) is available. And there's no real right of reply from clubs or players because there's no games being played.

    However the media seems to think supporters don't keep receipts once the games roll around. Not true.

    Edited by Chook

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