Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

A pretty harsh list analysis of Melbourne’s 2024 season from John Ralph appeared in recently in the Herald Sun ~IMG_7122.thumb.jpeg.3861a38336b44fcf205d70c0bf32ba59.jpeg
I don’t mind some tough analysis and it will be worth revisiting this at various stages of the preseason and again during 2025 to see if some of the critical areas were addressed.

 

 
 

Fair analysis IMO. No excuses given that we'll start the season with a full and fit list unlike this year.


Amazing first paragraph (2023) doesn’t anyone check these details anymore. 
Other than that a fair analysis. The Media and wider community expect us to fall away in 2025, but inside the Club there is genuine optimism for a serious Finals tilt…

so here we go.

A harsh but fair analysis.

Would of been nice to get the year right though.

The Demons will be under pressure to perform in season 2025.

 
37 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Amazing first paragraph (2023) doesn’t anyone check these details anymore. 
Other than that a fair analysis. The Media and wider community expect us to fall away in 2025, but inside the Club there is genuine optimism for a serious Finals tilt…

so here we go.

I share that optimism.

Have a good run with injuries and I think it could be a big year for us.

I am also going to do a Picket and as well as Jeffo think it will be a breakout year for Verrall.

Edited by Redleg


Max made the comment the other day that we aren't the same Demons of 2021 any more, which is true, but just off the cuff, I think we'd actually have as good if not better side on paper.

Big outs:

Hibbo (and admittedly I think this is a big out)

ANB

Dogga

Brayshaw

Harmes

Jordan

BBB

 

Ins:

Mc Vee

Winsor

Van Rooyan

Chandler

Disco

AMW

 

Honestly just think we need some guys like Salo and Spargo to have injury free seasons, Trac, Clary and Bowser to be there normal selves again a few of the mature guys like Sparrow and Rivers to take that next step and regularly impact games.  I'd contest that Kossie is a better more mature player than in 2021.  That 3 - 4 year group of Roo, Disco and Chandler are already coming on nicely and I'd expect them to continue on their curve.  I'd also expect several the 2 - 3 year players like Woewy, Brown and the Kolts have real potential to be solid regulars in the side.

 

I still remember all the experts writing us off at the end of 2020, questioning if we'd even make finals the next season.

 

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Max made the comment the other day that we aren't the same Demons of 2021 any more, which is true, but just off the cuff, I think we'd actually have as good if not better side on paper.

Big outs:

Hibbo (and admittedly I think this is a big out)

ANB

Dogga

Brayshaw

Harmes

Jordan

BBB

 

Ins:

Mc Vee

Winsor

Van Rooyan

Chandler

Disco

AMW

 

Honestly just think we need some guys like Salo and Spargo to have injury free seasons, Trac, Clary and Bowser to be there normal selves again a few of the mature guys like Sparrow and Rivers to take that next step and regularly impact games.  I'd contest that Kossie is a better more mature player than in 2021.  That 3 - 4 year group of Roo, Disco and Chandler are already coming on nicely and I'd expect them to continue on their curve.  I'd also expect several the 2 - 3 year players like Woewy, Brown and the Kolts have real potential to be solid regulars in the side.

 

I still remember all the experts writing us off at the end of 2020, questioning if we'd even make finals the next season.

 

2021 clearly better team for mine

sideshow bob was good for 3 goals a game; pig would save 3 a game

brayshaw is a massive loss from an attitude, leadership, and standards perspective

if yr saying 2021 form vs 2024 form, i think the only players who in our 2024 side would come in to our 2021 make-up would by mcvee in place of harmes - but even that would upset the 'balance' of the side to some degree - and windsor instead of jj

jvr next in


1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

….and Jones, Van den berg & Hunt gone from 2021.

True, though none could get a game come finals in 2021, so no great loss. 

2 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Absolutely, we had injuries to almost all our key forwards BBB, TMac, Petty when he was breaking out, Fritsch foot fractured, then Melksham goes down in last round playing football of his life, Clarrie went off the rails mid season, Brayshaw taken out by that scum in first final! We were very unlucky with injury in 2023! Any one of the above had been 100% for the season and I think we would have won the flag!

Next year with a solid preseason and luck with injuries Demons can give it a real shake!

we still have top end talent in:

Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, May, Fritsch and Kossie

emerging stars in:

JVR, Windsor & Rivers

proven premiership players:

Viney, Lever, TMac, Langdon

premiership players with something to prove:

Bowey, Salem, Sparrow, Petty, Spargo (2024 injury ruined)

Up and coming:

McVee,

need to step up:

Turner, Chandler, Kolt, AMW, Howe

Draft:

one of 5 or 9 to be top 18 and if both top 18 would be great!!

External pressure off Goodwin and some new assistants will help and Jones can only help with the Petracca, Oliver turmoil!!

I think there is a lot to be positive about! Also off field starting to settle will help. Smith on board will help!

Go Demons!

 

 

Looks like I put this in wrong thread 😃

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

Geelong have a few benefits no other team have access to:

-   government funded stadium, freeing up cash flow for other spending

- unique ground with 9-10 home games and 99% crowd for cats supporters, influencing umpiring

- 7 away games split between MCG and Marvel so 3-4 at each, so they know both grounds well, reduces away ground disadvantage, plus their supporters can attend, reducing umpiring bias

- real estate in Geelong cheaper that adds 10-20% salary cap benefit

- Geelong/ Western region is a goldmine for players returning “home”

- lucked out on father son over the years!

They also have a stable administration, recruited well, and seem a good club.

Richmond tried topping up after last flag and it didn’t work out.
 

Melbourne have continually gone to the draft and picked up good younger players, so I’m hoping our drop off won’t be anything like the Tigers. However, Our trading last 3-4 years has been poor.

5 hours ago, M_9 said:

Fair analysis IMO. No excuses given that we'll start the season with a full and fit list unlike this year.

Except for Kozzie ... punitively treated, again. 

1 hour ago, D4Life said:

Melbourne have continually gone to the draft and picked up good younger players

They are okay and some could be/are good but hard to see any of them at the elite level. (Perhaps Windsor)


16 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

They are okay and some could be/are good but hard to see any of them at the elite level. (Perhaps Windsor)

JVR? McVee? 

If we swapped McDonald and Pettty, both scoring and defending would improve.

Petty is in no way our long term tall up forward.

 

2021 broke peoples brains. We were never as good as the QF, PF, and GF trailblaze.

We also did well to finish 1st with a come back win over Geelong down there. 

We have the same core and have added to it in measurable ways. What we have lacked is a gameplan that allows our best players to get the ball in good positions to score goals. And what we didn’t have in 2024 is luck with injury and the still minds of a few aimless 20 something blokes.

2025 I have high hopes for - especially with Goodwin still there and with the quiet way he has about him, to get this group back to concentrating on footy.

I don’t think we will win the flag - but I expect us to be tough to beat every week and potent as we coalesce around a positive game plan.

 
11 hours ago, adonski said:

Ralph couldn't analyse a shopping list

With a variety of herbs, half a kilo of mixed beef and veal mince, several tomatoes, a carrot, zucchini and garlic, and significant cheese stocks to go with a series of flat pasta sheets, do the Demons really have what it takes to produce a carbonara in 2025? And can they afford the garlic bread?

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

How many finals have they won in the last 8 years again?


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • GAMEDAY: West Coast

    It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

      • Thanks
    • 94 replies
    Demonland
  • FEATURE: 1925

    A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: West Coast

    Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

    • 1 reply
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 08

    Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

    • 181 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: West Coast

    The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Haha
      • Like
    • 563 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Richmond

    The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

    • 0 replies
    Demonland