Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

At the very least it will be in Kozzie out Salem.

Will have to seen who plays well at Casey. Depth is real thin.

I don't think Tholstrup and Woewodin are ready or at the level yet.

Petty, Brown, JvR and Fritsch hardly got near it but you have to perist with that group unless you want to substitute one of the talls for Fullarton (surely not Schache).

We need to work out what we're doing with Oliver. Get his hand right and stick him in the middle. If he's not fit, give him 6 weeks off and make him do a mini pre-season. If not that, play him through the middle for 60% and work his way up.

    • Like 8

    I hope Kozzie has reflected deeply on the effect his absence has had on the team, and avoids any repetition of his indiscretions   

    As above - out Salem, in Kozzie

    Does Casey have a game this week, or is there another bloody bye?
    No obvious promotions - would give the Kolt another week.  
     

    How far off is Bowey?   

    Edited by monoccular

    • Like 1
     

    It's too early to make definitive calls, but I'll try anyway.

    Pickett straight back in for Tholstrup. Was nice seeing his debut but he's not ready and shouldn't have played (not the first time we've got that wrong this year, we have to get better).

    Presumably Salem misses. I actually liked Woey's efforts at half-back and wouldn't be against him getting a full game down there. But would be amazing if Hore was fit as he'd be the perfect replacement IMO (push Rivers up more and have Hore cover down back more).

    Oliver can't play again with this level of impairment in his hand. If he hasn't improved sufficiently he has to be left out to heal and someone else has to play that role. But if that happens, our depth is going to be really tested as we just don't have the list depth in the middle.

    Could see Hunter getting Billings' spot too.

    Not sure what else we can do, other than dropping one of Brown or Petty and trying a different look. That might be easier when McAdam's fit but he will need time in the VFL first.

    • Like 1

    Out: Salem, BBB, Woey

    In: Hore, AMW, Pickett

    FB: McVee May T Mc
    HB: Hore Lever AMW
    C; Langdon Rivers Windsor
    HF: Chandler Petty ANB 
    FF: Pickett Fritsch Petracca
    Foll: Gawn Viney Oliver 
    Int: Howes, Sparrow, JVR, Billings  
    S: Kolt

    Time for Rivers mid, Petracca and Sparrow forward more to provide the height.

    It’s a young/inexperienced backline for sure but got to get run in the midfield a lot more athleticism in the forward line.

    Edited by DeeSpencer

    • Like 1
    16 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Do we have a vfL game in our bye week?

    Hopefully yes

    If so we have two weeks to decide
     

    If history is any guide no. Our VFL draw seems to always be anti productive to the AFL one

    2 hours ago, Nascent said:

    At the very least it will be in Kozzie out Salem.

    Will have to seen who plays well at Casey. Depth is real thin.

    I don't think Tholstrup and Woewodin are ready or at the level yet.

    Petty, Brown, JvR and Fritsch hardly got near it but you have to perist with that group unless you want to substitute one of the talls for Fullarton (surely not Schache).

    We need to work out what we're doing with Oliver. Get his hand right and stick him in the middle. If he's not fit, give him 6 weeks off and make him do a mini pre-season. If not that, play him through the middle for 60% and work his way up.

    Petty needs a mini pre-season imho IF he's to ever get back to the form he displayed prior to injury last season.

    Fullarton comes in to replace him for one or two matches during Petty's absence.

    McAdam (assuming he makes it) for the remainder (or earlier if ready in preference to Fullarton).

    Petty does his mini pre (roughly 6 weeks) then needs to knock the door down at Casey before any return.

    We are effectively a man down with him playing at present he is that far off.  Not just in an attacking sense either.  His ability to pressure/tackle is nowhere near where it needs to be for this level right now.

    I'd persist and bring in Joey (Woey) for Salem.

    Moniz / Hunter competing with Kolt (for sub) but dependent on how they perform against Port.

    Kozzie comes in for Kolt.

    I'd also review where Clarry is at.  If it's just the finger and he needs these two weeks off to get it right, all good.  If it's more than that and some sort of fitness issue then we might need to put another mini into him a la Petty before he returns as well.

    Problem is, who would you have come in to cover for Clarry during that time (if needed)?

    Edit:  i just re-read your post and saw the Clarry pre-season suggestion.  A part i hadn't read prior to writing the above.  Seriously.   Uncanny!!  Thought i was reading my response to your post 😅

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 3
     
    2 hours ago, monoccular said:

    I hope Kozzie has reflected deeply on the effect his absence has had on the team, and avoids any repetition of his indiscretions   

    As above - out Salem, in Kozzie

    Does Casey have a game this week, or is there another bloody bye?
    No obvious promotions - would give the Kolt another week.  
     

    How far off is Bowey?   

     

    1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Do we have a vfL game in our bye week?

    Hopefully yes

    If so we have two weeks to decide
     

    Only one is this Sat against Port.  A bye the following week.  The AFL have completely torched the VFL scheduling and comp.

    Bowey approx four weeks but might be one or two more if there's any setbacks and/or he may need a week or two to build up his tank via Casey.

    Need to get selection right. 

    Also feels like we've gone back to playing hurt players and pushing through the pain barrier. Hopefully the bye does us good.

    • Like 2

    I forgot about Billings.  Possibly Moniz for him if he hits the mark this week at Casey?

    One of the most insipid performances i've seen in the red & blue last night.

    • Like 1

    With Salem and Bowey out and Hunter hopefully fit, I would explore pushing Windsor to half back to fill the high half back role and play Hunter/Langdon on the wings. Let's see how Hunter goes tomorrow and see if he is AFL ready. Windsor has the ingredients to play this role and his pace could be even more advantage at half back.

    Woewodin looks better suited in the forward line and is not really quick enough or skilled enough to play the Bowey/Salem role. Would Woewodin be a better option up forward than Tholstrup at this stage. I think probably yes, but it is marginal.

    I don't think Clarrie can play in the centre bounce until he gets his hand right. He is just a liability at the moment. Rivers did a good job in there and we need to explore that a bit more. If Rivers is designated more midfield minutes, AMW or Turner could be options to play in the backline.  Let's see how Turner goes tomorrow and see if he is AFL ready.

    Brown has had 7 and 2 pressure acts in the last two games. He is a witches hat unless he marks the ball and really needs to kick at least 3 goals a game to be accretive. So far this year Brown has had two very good games (WB and Port) and three very poor ones (Hawthorn, Adelaide and Brisbane). I think we need to go smaller in the forward line and rely on Petty, JVR and Fritch as forward targets because our game relies on pressure.

    Tholstrup got a tough introduction but, with 17 pressure acts, he was equal 5th for us in that stat last night. This is a good sign for the future. 

    Kossie will obviously be back.

    • Like 2
    18 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

    With Salem and Bowey out and Hunter hopefully fit, I would explore pushing Windsor to half back to fill the high half back role and play Hunter/Langdon on the wings. Let's see how Hunter goes tomorrow and see if he is AFL ready. Windsor has the ingredients to play this role and his pace could be even more advantage at half back.

    Woewodin looks better suited in the forward line and is not really quick enough or skilled enough to play the Bowey/Salem role. Would Woewodin be a better option up forward than Tholstrup at this stage. I think probably yes, but it is marginal.

    I don't think Clarrie can play in the centre bounce until he gets his hand right. He is just a liability at the moment. Rivers did a good job in there and we need to explore that a bit more. If Rivers is designated more midfield minutes, AMW or Turner could be options to play in the backline.  Let's see how Turner goes tomorrow and see if he is AFL ready.

    Brown has had 7 and 2 pressure acts in the last two games. He is a witches hat unless he marks the ball and really needs to kick at least 3 goals a game to be accretive. So far this year Brown has had two very good games (WB and Port) and three very poor ones (Hawthorn, Adelaide and Brisbane). I think we need to go smaller in the forward line and rely on Petty, JVR and Fritch as forward targets because our game relies on pressure.

    Tholstrup got a tough introduction but, with 17 pressure acts, he was equal 5th for us in that stat last night. This is a good sign for the future. 

    Kossie will obviously be back.

    I'm definitely open to pushing Windsor behind the ball more, particularly now that we're down both Bowey and Salem (good kicks x 2). I'm also very much in favour of pushing Rivers into the middle more but without Bowey and Salem, that robs us of so much run. Hence the Windsor move, which as you say then opens up a spot for Hunter. Goodwin alluded to this as an option in his mid-week presser, when asked about how Hunter gets back into the side, so I reckon it's a reasonable chance of happening.

    Brown and Petty were both bad last night, albeit at least Petty has the excuse of having Harris Andrews as his opponent. On last night's evidence one should be dropped, but the principal problem last night was the belting we got in the middle. When we have been strong in the middle, Brown's presence forward has been very important for us. I think we need to cut him and Petty some slack for last night.

    • Like 3
    2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

    I forgot about Billings.  Possibly Moniz for him if he hits the mark this week at Casey?

    One of the most insipid performances i've seen in the red & blue last night.

    Just flat out not good enough from him last night. 3 in a row deserves a Casey stint. 

     

    • Like 2

    i fully expect, given the rest that we've now got ahead of us, that the football dept will back the team that was performing well before the flat game vs bears

    OUT: salem, billings
    IN: hunter, pickett

    • Like 3
    9 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

     

    Only one is this Sat against Port.  A bye the following week.  The AFL have completely torched the VFL scheduling and comp.

    Bowey approx four weeks but might be one or two more if there's any setbacks and/or he may need a week or two to build up his tank via Casey.

    Does having an injured collarbone/shoulder affect fitness? Shouldn't Bowey be able to maintain his fitness level during his recovery?

    I'm going to presume last night's performance was an aberration and assume wholesale changes aren't required. The forwards can hardly be blamed for not getting near the ball when the midfield was so soundly beaten. However, if it's possible, I'd like to persist with Rivers in the midfield. He's got pace, defensive skills when needed and unlike a lot of our midfield is capable of kicking on either foot. He's the perfect Brayshaw replacement.   

    • Like 2

    we are too tall with 6 keys

    Petty or Brown or JVR to be dropped

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

    In: Pickett, BBB

    Out: Salem, Hore

     

     

    Umm...am I reading this right? A player who is not playing last night should be dropped and a player who did play last night is to be promoted into the team? Or is there a joke here I'm not getting?

    • Like 1

    9 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    In: Pickett, BBB

    Out: Salem, Hore

     

     

    I think there’s a typo there. BBB out. Hore in. Agree. BBB cooked.

    Edited by M_9

    • Like 1
    34 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    Does having an injured collarbone/shoulder affect fitness? Shouldn't Bowey be able to maintain his fitness level during his recovery?

    I'm going to presume last night's performance was an aberration and assume wholesale changes aren't required. The forwards can hardly be blamed for not getting near the ball when the midfield was so soundly beaten. However, if it's possible, I'd like to persist with Rivers in the midfield. He's got pace, defensive skills when needed and unlike a lot of our midfield is capable of kicking on either foot. He's the perfect Brayshaw replacement.   

    Webber would be handy to ask about the collarbone issue.

    I can only guess that in the early stages you may not be able to pound the turf as such and that might be where the setback is that then requires a stint of 'catching up' to get back to required fitness levels.

    No doubt there are other aerobic alternatives but at the end of the day this game is mostly about being able to cover the turf over and over again, especially the role he plays.  So you need to get a certain amount of Kms into the legs.

    Entirely agree on not putting much blame on the forwards last night.  However Petty looked pretty cooked for mine and to have him and BBB in the same forward line, where both are a fair bit off their optimum levels (and BB unlikely to ever get back there) can't be a good thing surely?

    P.S.  Agree Rivers is a must to bring in to the middle for decent stints.  He's a significant step up from Salo.  Hopefully Goodwin woke to this last night.

    Turner or Bowey can come in and play the Rivers role once theyre fully fit and finding some form at Casey.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 1

    Minimal changes.  Hore for Salem and Pickett replaces Tholstrup.

    • Like 2
     
    18 minutes ago, M_9 said:

    I think there’s a typo there. BBB out. Hore in. Agree. BBB cooked.

    @Demonland Would it be possible to have a constant window with our injury list/availabilities somewhere on the front page of the site?

    It’s a bit of a P.I.T.A having to go and look for the Injury List thread, then scroll through that to find the latest post from the club. 

    Anyway, for anyone else thinking Marty Hore is an option, he was listed as 2-3 weeks away, last Monday. 

    Here is the most recent list for all the would-be team selectors. Expecting a fresh one soon with Salem’s report  

    IMG_0456.jpeg

    Edited by Mel Bourne


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

    Featured Content

    • 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

    • 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
      • 201 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Geelong

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your 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.

      • 52 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Geelong

      Captain Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year in his quest to take out his 3rd trophy. He leads Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who are in equal 2nd place followed by Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. You votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Like
      • 30 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All