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PREGAME: Rd 20 vs GWS

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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2 hours ago, No10 said:

Jefferson was a first round pick. Playing consistently well in VFL. In his second year.

Maybe Turner sits it out. But it’s a game to play the kid. Desperately holding on to the season isn’t necessarily the best strategy.

 

I would not play Jefferson until our season is officially done. The kid is improving but this would be a big jump in class for him.

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    14 hours ago, Clintosaurus said:

    8-3 at the G this year gives me confidence.

    We also have a bizarre 16-3-1 record on Saturday nights since the start of 2021. It's by far our favourite time slot.

    GWS also seem to be winning games on the back of kicking 6 behinds a game which is unsustainable.

    Both of these factors are predicated on us bringing the minimum standard of AFL pressure. Last week's pressure against Fremantle wouldn't stack up against Nar Nar Goon's thirds.

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    55 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

     

    I would not play Jefferson until our season is officially done. The kid is improving but this would be a big jump in class for him.

    He might actually benefit from playing in a better standard?

    a lot of players look better when the game is cleaner and faster opposed to the congested [censored] fight the VFL is these days.

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    Jeffo has me some slight Lucas Cook vibes. May never see him play seniors if his form is so inconsistent. 

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    15 hours ago, Pirlo said:

    Fritsch 35

    Pickett 27

    JVR 25

    Those are our only goal kickers with more than 15.

    Pickett is playing in the midfield and JVR in the ruck. And people want to drop the one who has kicked the most of all of them and is on track for another 45 goal season. Unbelievable.

    Slightly arguing against your own point: yes, Fritch is highest, and yes Pickett and JVR have been playing minutes in the midfield. Not the greatest endorsement.

    Fritch is off his best form, he’s down on almost every metric. Jefferson isn’t going to set the world alight, but too often we’ve done too little in selection.

    Pumping my own tires, but on point - I said Max should be extremely limited minutes against West Coast. That game needed to be won without causing injury to the captain and our only ruck.

    This game needs to be won, while also giving one of our big player investments a run.

    • Like 2

    2 hours ago, binman said:

    The problem is jeffo hasn't been playing consistently well in the VFL.

    In fact the only consistent thing about his career thus far is how inconsistent both his performances, and of more concern, his effort has been.

    Take the game against Frankston. With the rain, terrible day for forwards so he gets a pass on his performance. But effort is a non-negotiable and his was poor.

    Compare and contrast Jefferson's second season in the VFL to JVR's first season in the VFL.

    Chalk and cheese.

    Chalk and cheese, fair point. But… JVR is a more solid, aggressive player.

    Could it be that Jefferson will show greater improvement at the higher skill of AFL - as @Doug Reemer said?

    I certainly don’t expect Jefferson to be an upgrade on a like-for-like basis. It’s a bigger view on what it does for both players, also perhaps the wider team.

    • Like 1

    Crazy that we were ever favourites in this one. We've blown out now and GWS has shortened to favourites. We will struggle with GWS the same way we do against Freo; younger and faster mids, and more agile forwards. Stinks of another belting until it's wet.

    21 hours ago, picket fence said:

    Oh God NOOOOOOO ! I want Jeffo to get a gig or two this year but NOT with Fritta at Half back!

    Well when Fritsch has no impact he has been shifted to the wing/HB

     

    Gee whiz, Jeffo gets ill and then has one bad game and the wolves are back out again. He’s tracking fine all things considered, not sure why Demonland has such hostility towards him. 
     

    I would give Billings a full game, yes he’s not the future but 18 touches and a goal in 1.5 quarters is about as good as he could have possibly done as sub, and that should be rewarded. Maybe K.Brown comes in after his huge effort over the weekend. Gawn in obviously. That’s about it. I’m certain Goody will back his regulars in.  
     

    Very confident we win this one. 

    • Like 1

    #Don't shoot the messenger but the punters have this game as basically a toss up:

     

    Screenshot_20240723_161345_Sportsbet.jpg

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    23 minutes ago, binman said:

    #Don't shoot the messenger but the punters have this game as basically a toss up:

     

    Screenshot_20240723_161345_Sportsbet.jpg

    I believe GWS have a particularly luke warm record at the G, which I'm sure is part of the rationale behind these odds. Similarly our MCG form this year has been solid. 

     

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    5 hours ago, OhMyDees said:

    Jeffo has me some slight Lucas Cook vibes. May never see him play seniors if his form is so inconsistent. 

    *shudder

    5 hours ago, DemonWA said:

    I believe GWS have a particularly luke warm record at the G, which I'm sure is part of the rationale behind these odds. Similarly our MCG form this year has been solid. 

     

    That and form.

    They have won all of one more game than us.

    And like us have won three of their last five games.

    Punters assess games more objectively and strip out emotion than fans of participating teams.

    Edited by binman

    • Like 3

    Confirmed Outs -

    Koltyn Tholstrup - Concussion 1 - 2 weeks

    Christian Salem - Hamstring 3 - 4 weeks

     

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    On 22/07/2024 at 15:58, Little Richard said:

    Brown in should be a lock, he's earned a game and at the moment looks like he'll offer more than Kolt and a couple of others.

    Kolt wasn't great against the Dockers, but he wasn't Robinson Crusoe in that department.  Brown looks way too small to be playing big minutes (which Kolt has been doing) in the AFL.  He needs another pre season (at least). 

    It sounds like Salem will be out, likely for Gawn.  This is an absolute must-win game for us, we need to pick a side that will maximise our chances of winning.

    GWS have had a pretty easy run the last ~6 weeks and haven't been too convincing.  We are a dead-set chance against them at home with (a supporter created) wind at our sails!

     

    • Like 1

    Would be fascinating to track the injuries of our players and games missed over multiple season. 

    Salem would have to have to have had a horror run during his career. Really deflating to lose him. 

    Out: Tholstrup, Salem

    In: Gawn, Howes

    Billings probably gets Tholstrups half forward spot after his performance.

    Woewodin, K Brown or Laurie potentially brought in as sub for someone else if they want to make further changes. 

    • Like 2

    Laurie has looked a class above at Casey.

    He hasn't impacted at AFL level....but has he had much ground time?

    The big chance he did get was when Brayshaw was pole-axed in the Final. He hardly touched it that day.Let's not write hom off for that.

    But I see a very constructive and skillful footballer when I watch Casey. I think he has a tank too,  since he  apparently was a middle-distance runner. Let's see how he goes with another chance with more ground-time.

    Howes also is way over VFL standard, and is an excellent replacement for Salem.

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    32 minutes ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

    Laurie has looked a class above at Casey.

    He hasn't impacted at AFL level....but has he had much ground time?

    The big chance he did get was when Brayshaw was pole-axed in the Final. He hardly touched it that day.Let's not write hom off for that.

    But I see a very constructive and skillful footballer when I watch Casey. I think he has a tank too,  since he  apparently was a middle-distance runner. Let's see how he goes with another chance with more ground-time.

    Howes also is way over VFL standard, and is an excellent replacement for Salem.

    Laurie and Bowie were both identified as outstanding ball users in their draft pool.  We need that, plus leg speed, to play the game we are trying to. Worth a good look at the lad to see what he can do.  Hore and “Pup” on form, and max to fill a huge hole.  Kolt, Salo out.

    1 hour ago, binman said:

    That and form.

    They have won all of one more game than us.

    And like us have won three of their last four. 

    Punters assess games more objectively and strip out emotion than fans of participating teams.

    I wish that were true. Sadly we haven't won three of our last four ...

    Round 16  v Brisbane  - loss

    Round 17 v WC -  win

    Round 18 v Essendon - win

    Round 19 v Freo  - loss

     

    • Like 1

    Just watching Midweek Tackle on Fox and they mentioned that Goodwin isn’t well and is pushing to get right to coach this weekend.

    McQualter is standing in at the presser tomorrow and will coach this weekend if required.

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    51 minutes ago, Winners at last said:

    I wish that were true. Sadly we haven't won three of our last four ...

    Round 16  v Brisbane  - loss

    Round 17 v WC -  win

    Round 18 v Essendon - win

    Round 19 v Freo  - loss

     

    True nuff.

     
    1 hour ago, binman said:

    True nuff.

    To be fair both us and GWS have won three of our last five games.

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