Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 12 vs Fremantle



Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

This is pretty much a game to ensure we stay in the race for the top four.

We have no 'genuine natural' forwards in any real form bar Fritta (2.5 goals per game in 24) & Kozzy and Kozzy's being used substantially in the mid field to give us some drive out of there of late (1.7 goals per game... nb given his minutes in the middle).

Besides Tracc spending significant minutes forward or getting away from the oppo out the front of CBs and scoring (1.2 goals a game). 

Then the occasional (every other match) goal from Viney (0.6), our other 'regular' genuine mids generally don't score goals.

Sparrow 0.3

Clarry 1 goal in 11 matches

You then have...

An under done out-of-form Petty potentially carrying a niggle and who's probably going to also be asked to relieve Max in the middle for 12% or so of CBAs.

He's also struggled to do what he's supposed to do.  Having only scored 2 goals in 9 matches, averaging a whopping 0.2 goals a match so far. 

That's on track for one goal every 5 matches at this point.  Name me another team, bar North and/or the Eagles, that would keep playing someone so out of form for this many weeks here?

An under done Smacca who may or may not comtribute.

And Chin, who while i love his scrapping ability and pressure side at ground level, is also a hit and miss prospect in front of the sticks, averaging less than a goal a game so far in 24 (0.9)

Then there's the occasional cameo from Nibbla averaging 0.6 goals per match.  Again that's approx 1 goal every other game.

I know we're a defensive side and usually keep teams to lowish scores but i'm strugglimg to see how we kick a winning score here against decent oppo (Freo being one of those) or better opponents from here, bar some sort of miracle from Petty, Brown or Roo (1.3 goals)  / Melky on their returns.

Turner would probably need to kick at least two or more (if he plays) this week yes?  Possible but again an unreliable score source at this point.

Let's face it, we presently have a very uninspiring forward line in a talent/form 'genuine natural forward' sense where you can actually put your trust in them to score each week.  And potentiality to kick multiple goals on top, bar Fritta & Kozzy.

And no i'm not putting BBB in here as he is just too hit & miss as a week to week proposition at this stage of his career in terms of even making it on the park let alone scoring (1.2 goals on ave so far in 2024).

Our forward woes and ability to put goals on the board (against decent or better oppo) continues to be our Achilles heal 3 years on from 2021.

Edited by Demon Dynasty
  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
  • Clap 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

This is pretty much a game to ensure we stay in the race for the top four.

We have no 'genuine natural' forwards in any real form bar Fritta (2.5 goals per game in 24) & Kozzy and Kozzy's being used substantially in the mid field to give us some drive out of there of late (1.7 goals per game... nb given his minutes in the middle).

Besides Tracc spending significant minutes forward or getting away from the oppo out the front of CBs and scoring (1.2 goals a game). 

Then the occasional (every other match) goal from Viney (0.6), our other 'regular' genuine mids generally don't score goals.

Sparrow 0.3

Clarry 1 goal in 11 matches

You then have...

An under done out-of-form Petty potentially carrying a niggle and who's probably going to also be asked to relieve Max in the middle for 12% or so of CBAs.

He's also struggled to do what he's supposed to do.  Having only scored 2 goals in 9 matches, averaging a whopping 0.2 goals a match so far. 

That's on track for one goal every 5 matches at this point.  Name me another team, bar North and/or the Eagles, that would keep playing someone so out of form for this many weeks here?

An under done Smacca who may or may not comtribute.

And Chin, who while i love his scrapping ability and pressure side at ground level, is also a hit and miss prospect in front of the sticks, averaging less than a goal a game so far in 24 (0.9)

Then there's the occasional cameo from Nibbla averaging 0.6 goals per match.  Again that's approx 1 goal every other game.

I know we're a defensive side and usually keep teams to lowish scores but i'm strugglimg to see how we kick a winning score here against decent oppo (Freo being one of those) or better opponents from here, bar some sort of miracle from Petty, Brown or Roo (1.3 goals)  / Melky on their returns.

Turner would probably need to kick at least two or more (if he plays) this week yes?  Possible but again an unreliable score source at this point.

Let's face it, we presently have a very uninspiring forward line in a talent/form 'genuine natural forward' sense where you can actually put your trust in them to score each week.  And potentiality to kick multiple goals on top, bar Fritta & Kozzy.

And no i'm not putting BBB in here as he is just too hit & miss as a week to week proposition at this stage of his career in terms of even making it on the park let alone scoring (1.2 goals on ave so far in 2024).

Our forward woes and ability to put goals on the board (against decent or better oppo) continues to be our Achilles heal 3 years on from 2021.

Well we've averaged a goal a game more than Freo this year 905 points vs 842. Defence very close 774 to 761. Don't expect a scorefest.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are 7-1 when Max Gawn gets Coaches Votes and 0-3 when he doesn't. (The Brisbane game was the only game we lost when he got votes.) Up against Darcy and Jackson this week, we need a big game from Max.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Let's face it, we presently have a very uninspiring forward line in a talent/form 'genuine natural forward' sense where you can actually put your trust in them to score each week.  And potentiality to kick multiple goals on top, bar Fritta & Kozzy.

Good summary. Unfortuantely we need to accept that this problem won't go away. If we win the flag this year, it'll come from having the #1 defence, from midfielders kicking goals, and from goalkicking accuracy in the finals.

It was Fritsch, Pickett and Petracca who hit the scoreboard in the 2021 finals, with the cameo from Gawn that we can never expect to happen again.

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We are 7-1 when Max Gawn gets Coaches Votes and 0-3 when he doesn't. (The Brisbane game was the only game we lost when he got votes.) Up against Darcy and Jackson this week, we need a big game from Max.

A barometer in every sense of the word. 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

This is pretty much a game to ensure we stay in the race for the top four.

We have no 'genuine natural' forwards in any real form bar Fritta (2.5 goals per game in 24) & Kozzy and Kozzy's being used substantially in the mid field to give us some drive out of there of late (1.7 goals per game... nb given his minutes in the middle).

Besides Tracc spending significant minutes forward or getting away from the oppo out the front of CBs and scoring (1.2 goals a game). 

Then the occasional (every other match) goal from Viney (0.6), our other 'regular' genuine mids generally don't score goals.

Sparrow 0.3

Clarry 1 goal in 11 matches

You then have...

An under done out-of-form Petty potentially carrying a niggle and who's probably going to also be asked to relieve Max in the middle for 12% or so of CBAs.

He's also struggled to do what he's supposed to do.  Having only scored 2 goals in 9 matches, averaging a whopping 0.2 goals a match so far. 

That's on track for one goal every 5 matches at this point.  Name me another team, bar North and/or the Eagles, that would keep playing someone so out of form for this many weeks here?

An under done Smacca who may or may not comtribute.

And Chin, who while i love his scrapping ability and pressure side at ground level, is also a hit and miss prospect in front of the sticks, averaging less than a goal a game so far in 24 (0.9)

Then there's the occasional cameo from Nibbla averaging 0.6 goals per match.  Again that's approx 1 goal every other game.

I know we're a defensive side and usually keep teams to lowish scores but i'm strugglimg to see how we kick a winning score here against decent oppo (Freo being one of those) or better opponents from here, bar some sort of miracle from Petty, Brown or Roo (1.3 goals)  / Melky on their returns.

Turner would probably need to kick at least two or more (if he plays) this week yes?  Possible but again an unreliable score source at this point.

Let's face it, we presently have a very uninspiring forward line in a talent/form 'genuine natural forward' sense where you can actually put your trust in them to score each week.  And potentiality to kick multiple goals on top, bar Fritta & Kozzy.

And no i'm not putting BBB in here as he is just too hit & miss as a week to week proposition at this stage of his career in terms of even making it on the park let alone scoring (1.2 goals on ave so far in 2024).

Our forward woes and ability to put goals on the board (against decent or better oppo) continues to be our Achilles heal 3 years on from 2021.

Fair comments 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really disappointed in the loss of JVR. I feel other parts of the field could absorb a loss better than our (rightly) maligned forward line missing one of its key cogs, eg - Tomlinson being a proven and ready made replacement for Lever in our defence.

Our forward line functioned poorly without JVR against West Coast, and Petty is going to really have to pick up the slack this time around.

Clearly BBB or Turner will come in. The question is do you go with the proven forward who can barely move anymore but can still pull off a blinder such as the Port game in round 3, or a player with potential that's new to the forward line gig?

Really important game this weekend. Win and we're third with opportunities in the coming month (depleted Pies, North, an inconsistent Brisbane away and West Coast at home). Lose and we're quite frankly going around in circles and will probably be fighting for 7th or 8th spot all year.  

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites


1 hour ago, layzie said:

A barometer in every sense of the word. 

 

image.png.a4d326de6206acb430a8e43821e0ccf4.png

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Really disappointed in the loss of JVR. I feel other parts of the field could absorb a loss better than our (rightly) maligned forward line missing one of its key cogs, eg - Tomlinson being a proven and ready made replacement for Lever in our defence.

Our forward line functioned poorly without JVR against West Coast, and Petty is going to really have to pick up the slack this time around.

Clearly BBB or Turner will come in. The question is do you go with the proven forward who can barely move anymore but can still pull off a blinder such as the Port game in round 3, or a player with potential that's new to the forward line gig?

Really important game this weekend. Win and we're third with opportunities in the coming month (depleted Pies, North, an inconsistent Brisbane away and West Coast at home). Lose and we're quite frankly going around in circles and will probably be fighting for 7th or 8th spot all year.  

We had 21 shots at goal from only 36 inside 50s against West Coast. The forward line actually functioned very well from limited supply.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, CHF said:

I would think that one of Brown or Turner on the IC along with Sparrow, Hunter, McVee and Woewodin and Laurie as Sub.

 

I would go with Turner as a forward rather than Brown.

If we can't win with this team, sack the coach! We'll be playing with five on the bench. Might seem unfair, but I like it!

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If we can't win with this team, sack the coach! We'll be playing with five on the bench. Might seem unfair, but I like it!

Think this is a real 50/50 game. The loss of JVR has made it that bit harder.

  • Haha 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, DemonWA said:

I'd play Brown over disco personally 

Depends whether he can run out the full game or not, seems to be a big doubt on recent outings 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Cyclops said:

Please, please! No Brown, no Billings.

U CAN BET UR BOTTOM $$$ That in the absence of Roo BBB Will be on the bench!!

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

57 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We had 21 shots at goal from only 36 inside 50s against West Coast. The forward line actually functioned very well from limited supply.

I agree. The midfield let us down in that game.

  • Like 3
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

58 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We had 21 shots at goal from only 36 inside 50s against West Coast. The forward line actually functioned very well from limited supply.

Well there you go, and fair call. Those stats tell a different story to what I saw on game day.

Watching the game, it was clear to me that if Fritta wasn't marking the ball up forward, then nobody was. BBB and Petty took 1 mark between them and hence we missed JVR who will at least take 3 marks a game on his own and is more accurate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


39 minutes ago, loges said:

Depends whether he can run out the full game or not, seems to be a big doubt on recent outings 

Agreed 

Disco has been trialled as a forward in a handful of games. He has had one good showing in that role and a few quiet matches.

 

If I recall he's always been a 3rd tall, not a 2nd. No doubt he could be a good defensive option on Pearce or one of their other backs but I'd back Ben to have another crack. I'm one to pick a forward line to kick goals rather than limit impact of their backs. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

U CAN BET UR BOTTOM $$$ That in the absence of Roo BBB Will be on the bench!!

Is it more believable when you shout it?

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, DemonWA said:

Agreed 

Disco has been trialled as a forward in a handful of games. He has had one good showing in that role and a few quiet matches.

 

If I recall he's always been a 3rd tall, not a 2nd. No doubt he could be a good defensive option on Pearce or one of their other backs but I'd back Ben to have another crack. I'm one to pick a forward line to kick goals rather than limit impact of their backs. 

So he has a better record than Petty?

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    2024 Player Reviews: #5 Christian Petracca

    Date of Birth: 4 January 1996 Height: 187cm Games MFC 2024: 13 Career Total: 189 Goals MFC 2024: 14 Career Total: 184 Brownlow Medal Votes 16 Melbourne’s most important player who dominated the first half of the season until his untimely injury in the Kings Birthday clash put an end to his season. At the time, he was on his way to many personal honours and the club in strong finals contention. When the season did end for Melbourne and Petracca was slowly recovering, he

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 12

    2024 Player Reviews: #2 Jacob van Rooyen

    Date of Birth: 16 April 2003 Height: 193cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 41 Goals MFC 2024: 30 Career Total: 58 Brownlow Medal Votes 1 Strong marking youngster who plays forward and relief ruck, continued to make significant strides forward in his career path. The Demons have high hopes for van Rooyen as he stakes his claim to become an elite attacking forward.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 17

    LIVE AND LET DIE by Meggs

    The Demons’ impressive late season charge to finals will most likely come unstuck this Saturday evening when the Bombers blow up the also-ran Blues in the Ikon Park double-header.   To mangle McCartney, what does it matter to ya? To have any chance to play next week Narrm has got a job to do and needs to do it well.  We’ve got to give the Pie sheilas hell, say live and let die! It’s Indigenous Round for this game and the chance to celebrate and engage with Aboriginal and Torres

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    2024 Player Reviews: #32 Tom Sparrow

    Had to shoulder more responsibility as the club’s injury concerns deepened but needs to step up more as he closes in on 100 games. Date of Birth: 31 May 2000 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 95 Goals MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 34 Games CDFC: 1 Goals CDFL: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 24

    2024 Player Reviews: #35 Harry Petty

    Date of Birth: 12 November 1999 Height: 197cm Games MFC 2024: 20 Career Total: 82 Goals MFC 2024: 9 Career Total: 28 Brownlow Medal Votes 3 Failed to fulfill the promise of his breakout six goal effort against the Tigers in 2023 and was generally disappointing as a key forward. It remains to be seen whether Simon Goodwin will persevere with him in attack or return him to the backline where he was an important cog in the club’s 2021 premiership success.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 17

    2024 Player Reviews: #22 Blake Howes

    After a bright start to the season, playing mostly in defence, Howes seemed to lose his way in midseason but fought back with some good performances at Casey and finished the year back at AFL level. One to watch in 2024. Date of Birth: 7 March 2003 Height: 191cm Games MFC 2024: 15 Career Total:  15 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total:  0 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #33 Tom Fullarton

    Originally an NBL basketballer with the Brisbane Bullets, he moved across town in 2019 to the AFL Lions where he played 19 games before crossing to Melbourne where he was expected to fill a role as a back up ruckman/key forward. Unfortunately, didn’t quite get there although he did finish equal sixth in Casey’s best and fairest award. Date of Birth: 23 February 1999 Height: 198cm Games CDFC: 14 Goals CDFL: 13

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 6

    2024 Player Reviews: #10 Angus Brayshaw

    Sadly, had to wrap up a great career in midstream on the back of multiple concussions which culminated in the Maynard hit in the 2023 Qualifying Final. His loss to the club was inestimable over and above his on field talent given his character and leadership qualities, all of which have been sorely missed. Date of Birth: 9 January 1996 Height: 188cm Games MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 167 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 49

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 8

    2024 Player Reviews: #40 Taj Woewodin

    The son of former Demon Brownlow Medalist Shane, Taj added a further 16 games to his overall tally of games but a number were as substitute. He is slowly fitting into the team structure but without doing anything spectacular and needs to take further steps forward in 2025 for his career to progress. Date of Birth: 26 March 2003 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 16 Career Total: 20 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 3 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...