Jump to content

PREGAME: Rd 12 vs Fremantle

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

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 3
    • Thanks 1
    • Clap 2
     
    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
    6 hours ago, FTB said:

    Turner for JVR the only change.

    Woey sub again.

    Taj deserves to start tbh

    • Like 5
     

    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
    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

    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
    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

    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
     
    1 hour ago, layzie said:

    A barometer in every sense of the word. 

     

    image.png.a4d326de6206acb430a8e43821e0ccf4.png

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    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

    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
    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

    I'd play Brown over disco personally 

    • Shocked 1
    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 

    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

    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
    9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

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

    I hope it is only to warm it up.

    • Haha 1
    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.

    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

    My cousin is off to the Alice for the game and has just 'wet' herself; Kossie is on the same flight.

    • Like 2
    • Love 2

    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

    Again,

    1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

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

    All 3 phases of the game really as Goodwin would say.

     
    On 28/05/2024 at 17:01, Diamond_Jim said:

     

    Grass is relatively spongey at Alice.

     

    IMG_2870.thumb.jpeg.319b80a2a28eb8a0650c3cd26f9e784e.jpeg

    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

    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
      • 488 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
      • 144 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