Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 10 vs West Coast

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 
48 minutes ago, DubDee said:

who knows?

would be handy if he could though

I'm all in on giving Tomlinson a try up forward. We know he can ruck. Neither Turner or JVR setting the world on fire atm. One of either Verrell or Fullarton might be selected but VFL form for both has been moderate and I believe doesn't warrant being chosen. For me nothing to lose by trying Tomlinson in the front half. He may well surprise.  Unfortunately, for some reason, his card is marked and it is unlikely to happen.

    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

    He can barely play back. Casey stats have been hiding some ordinary form where he’s consistently beat at the contest. None of his attributes make sense as a forward, although he’d be potentially ok as a ruck around the ground 

    He (Tommo) did play some time in the ruck at GWS...so maybe he is the better choice.

    • Like 1
     
    8 minutes ago, Deelectable said:

    I'm all in on giving Tomlinson a try up forward. We know he can ruck. Neither Turner or JVR setting the world on fire atm. One of either Verrell or Fullarton might be selected but VFL form for both has been moderate and I believe doesn't warrant being chosen. For me nothing to lose by trying Tomlinson in the front half. He may well surprise.  Unfortunately, for some reason, his card is marked and it is unlikely to happen.

    but he was already tried fwd when we first traded him. and numerous times at GWS. He lacks fwd nouse, agility and skill. Key back is his only position

    • Clap 1
    13 minutes ago, rjay said:

    He (Tommo) did play some time in the ruck at GWS...so maybe he is the better choice.

    I don't think the 5 minutes a quarter that Max is on the bench is enough of a reason to pick someone, it's a matter of who is the most value forward. Fullarton's the logical choice if he's healthy because he's basically a big forward flanker and we can hopefully leave the actual forward line play to Petty, Fritsch and Tracc.

    • Like 3

    50 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

    I worry about Petty's little foot if he's going to do ruck work. Precious boy

    This probably says more about you than Petty. 

    • Like 9
    • Love 1
    • Haha 2
    • Clap 1

    Bowsa’s 50th this weekend. 🥳

    Considering he played every match from debuting in 2021 to midway through 2022, this feels like it’s a long time coming.

    Because some of us are doing Sleep at the ‘G tomorrow night, banner making is tonight. Let’s hope the little ginger one isn’t dropped this week since we’ll be acknowledging his milestone on the banner.
    #Awkies
    😂

    42 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    but he was already tried fwd when we first traded him. and numerous times at GWS. He lacks fwd nouse, agility and skill. Key back is his only position

    Yes but that was four years ago. He has developed as a good player. Also his time forward was a very small sample size. Verrell has shown a bit in the ruck but nothing up forward. Fullarton has shown something up forward but nothing in the ruck. I would be very loathe to risk Petty. Having said all that can't see Tomlinson being selected. His card is marked.

    • Love 1
     
    42 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    I don't think the 5 minutes a quarter that Max is on the bench is enough of a reason to pick someone, it's a matter of who is the most value forward. Fullarton's the logical choice if he's healthy because he's basically a big forward flanker and we can hopefully leave the actual forward line play to Petty, Fritsch and Tracc.

    You're probably right...but I haven't been overly impressed with Fullarton forward or in the ruck.

    As it stands he (Fullarton) may be injured anyway.

    Edited by rjay

    3 hours ago, Redleg said:

    IMO if its dry BBB and Verrall come in for JVR and Disco.

    I would ruck Verrall and Petty or even Tom Mac a bit, depending on match ups.

    Woey to get a full game in front of the family and friends.

    I would manage Max and freshen him and save him the flight as well.

    If Salem is fit he is in. 

    Surely you aren’t suggesting our Premiership captain doesn’t even travel to Perth.  

    3 hours ago, jnrmac said:

    WHY CAN"T TOMMO PLAY FWD?

    I was going to say Tomo might not understand our forward structures, but … 🤔

    • Haha 2

    18 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    Surely you aren’t suggesting our Premiership captain doesn’t even travel to Perth.  

     

    Well actually yes.

    Max could be exhausted mentally and physically with the playing, training, extra commitments as Captain and family with 2 young kids.

    Instead of him travelling/playing, I would give him a break to be with his family, to refresh and have some footy downtime.

    I am sure if we can do that a couple of times this year, say against the Roos, we will have more chance of having a fit Max in the finals.

    Eagles are not strong in the ruck and tbh I don't think that would be a reason for us not winning.

    The Cats manage multiple players during the season.

    1 hour ago, D Rev said:

    This probably says more about you than Petty. 

    😂

    So true! I do really care about the guys wellbeing

    2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    I am sure if we can do that a couple of times this year, say against the Roos, we will have more chance of having a fit Max in the finals.

    Agree... this should be factored into the list selection and the annual plan for any player over 28.

    We need to think about doing the same for Viney and May for example

    If we can get these players through to 34/35 in top condition then list balance looks completely different.

    I'm starting to think that given injuries of around 5 players is the norm for most clubs our list sizes are perhaps too small by say 5 players.

     

    On 11/05/2024 at 12:31, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Assuming he’s available, do we put the Salem to midfield experiment back on the agenda?

    I think Trac needs to spend far more time up forward as he’s a natural forward who will get plenty of looks each game. But we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    Salo's a renowned slow starter when returning from injury.

    Personally if that is the intention  (straight back in as a mid field experiment) i'd prefer to see him put in (at least) two solid hit outs at Casey and produce some pretty solid form as well!

    He hasn't exactly set the world on fire through the middle imo and i wouldn't see him as being a 'proven' starting mid fielder (yet) either.

    As a coach, action always speaks louder than words.  How bad does he want to play this role?  Does he have what's required to make a difference?

    It's a big ask for any non-midfielder to suddenly run through there on a regular basis, mentally but especially physically.  No different for Salo.

    Of course that won't happen as SG never utilises Casey for this sort of match fitness / form build up for non-fringe regular 22s for some reason.

    Alternatively if he's just slotting back to his usual HB role there shld be no issues coming in (off the bench?).

    • Like 1
    19 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

    Salo's a renowned slow starter when returning from injury.

    Personally if that is the intention  (straight back in as a mid field experiment) i'd prefer to see him put in (at least) two solid hit outs at Casey and produce some pretty solid form as well!

    He hasn't exactly set the world on fire through the middle imo and i wouldn't see him as being a 'proven' starting mid fielder (yet) either.

    As a coach, action always speaks louder than words.  How bad does he want to play this role?  Does he have what's required to make a difference?

    It's a big ask for any non-midfielder to suddenly run through there on a regular basis, mentally but especially physically.  No different for Salo.

    Of course that won't happen as SG never utilises Casey for this sort of match fitness / form build up for non-fringe regular 22s for some reason.

    Alternatively if he's just slotting back to his usual HB role there shld be no issues coming in (off the bench?).

    I think the VFL is treated like an extra training session these days, rather than a respected competition, which is a real shame

    • Like 3
    • Sad 1

    51 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Well actually yes.

    Max could be exhausted mentally and physically with the playing, training, extra commitments as Captain and family with 2 young kids.

    Instead of him travelling/playing, I would give him a break to be with his family, to refresh and have some footy downtime.

    I am sure if we can do that a couple of times this year, say against the Roos, we will have more chance of having a fit Max in the finals.

    Eagles are not strong in the ruck and tbh I don't think that would be a reason for us not winning.

    The Cats manage multiple players during the season.

    Everybody is different and I'm not being judgmental. However, some people might find it restful and refreshing to be away from the family for a couple of days.

    10 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

    Left field: Tommo in to the backline, and send May to FF, just for this game. 
    Tommo at least has decent form in the VFL, and I love to see May crash a few packs up forward. 

    How long have you seen Maysie crash forward packs in the AFL for Melbourne?? 

    5, 10 or 15 minutes total in his 100 games certainly not on the last 50/60 for sure. If we need such a n upsetting the defence move to gains in the forward line at the start of a game then that sends a real upshot of absolute panic in our team against a bottom team. 

    You only need to see how we still are vulnerable when one of our 4 or 5 AA mids or defenders gets injured during a game to abandon such a knife in the foot such as this suggestion. 

    Switch  around our forwards and mids because it’s fast area if the ground thst causes us more grief than any mother. 

    Only if it’s later in the game maybe May and Petty could swap if as a last resort is needed. But it’s most likely  not our defence in strife but our forwards. And our history over 4/5 years shows we win these sorts of games with a team effort. 

    43 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

    He hasn't exactly set the world on fire through the middle imo and i wouldn't see him as being a 'proven' starting mid fielder (yet) either.

    He quite frankly hasn't set the world on fire at all since getting injured in round 1 2022.

    28 degrees in Perth on Sunday. Is that abnormally high for this time of year over there?

    8 hours ago, D Rev said:

    I think May would explode at this as a suggestion

    I believe he played his junior footy as a forward and from last year's D'land interview he mentioned he was a bit miffed at the Suns when he was asked to play in defence but eventually embraced it.  

    Personally, I don't mind seeing these sort of moves if the game isn't close.  Doubt it's going to lead to an onslaught of goals one way or the other but the experience of playing in different positions has value.

    • Like 1

    I think under no circumstances should be tamper with our backline. Apart from a short lapse in the first quarter against Carlton, it has done an unbelievable job. Having TMac in great form back there has been the final piece in the jigsaw.

     

    With Salem, his form before his injury was not that great. To me, he seemed to be a little bit slow for a midfielder but I suspect he would be best served by a short stint at Casey to find form and fitness.

     

    If Fullarton is fit, surely this is exactly the situation the club got him for: we need a fill-in forward/ruck, and this is his opportunity. If we don't select him, why have we got him?

    • Like 1

    4 hours ago, DubDee said:

    but he was already tried fwd when we first traded him. and numerous times at GWS. He lacks fwd nouse, agility and skill. Key back is his only position

    Other than that - it's all systems go for Tommo.

    • Haha 4
    • Shocked 1
    1 hour ago, Ollie fan said:

    I think under no circumstances should be tamper with our backline. Apart from a short lapse in the first quarter against Carlton, it has done an unbelievable job. Having TMac in great form back there has been the final piece in the jigsaw.

    With Salem, his form before his injury was not that great. To me, he seemed to be a little bit slow for a midfielder but I suspect he would be best served by a short stint at Casey to find form and fitness.

    If Fullarton is fit, surely this is exactly the situation the club got him for: we need a fill-in forward/ruck, and this is his opportunity. If we don't select him, why have we got him?

    Cos he's cheap and cheerful. And we may not have arrived at the 'break glass in an emergency' point yet.

    1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    28 degrees in Perth on Sunday. Is that abnormally high for this time of year over there?

    It is but we have certainly had a long summer, it’s high 20s all week. 4.20pm WST Sunday should be perfect for footy.

    West Coast will be up for a challenge at home, but if we play as we have in the last couple of games outside of that first quarter vs Carlton, we should win

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
     
    4 hours ago, Young Blood said:

    I worry about Petty's little foot if he's going to do ruck work. Precious boy

    Not funny.

    I heard an interview with Tom McDonald recently and he had a foot injury a couple of years so. And he understands what Petty is experiencing. It’s not only a physical recovery but also psychological.

    Petty will be worried that if he puts too much pressure on his foot that he will injure it again.So the more he plays and stays uninsured , the more his confidence will grow.
    I think that’s what Tommy said!

    • Like 2
    • Love 2
    38 minutes ago, Dingo said:

    So the more he plays and stays uninsured , the more his confidence will grow.

    I think that’s what Tommy said!

    Uninjured?

    • Haha 1

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

    Featured Content

    • 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.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 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?

        • Thanks
      • 472 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?

        • Thanks
      • 120 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.

        • Like
      • 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.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 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?

        • Thanks
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All