Jump to content

Rebound or Rebuild?

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

The Herald Sun’s take on where 2025 will take the Melbourne Football Club.

Predictions, best 23: Rebound or rebuild? Dees’ writing on the wall

Melbourne’s best 23 according to Callum Dick

FB: Petty, May, Salem
HB: Windsor, Lever, Rivers
C: Sharp, Oliver, Langdon
HF: Pickett, Fritsch, Chandler
FF: Tholstrup, Van Rooyen, Johnson
FOLL: Gawn, Petracca, Viney
INT: McDonald, Bowey, Harvey Langford, McVee, Sparrow

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 5
     

    Aidan Johnson ahead of Disco

    Might be time to bring back public executions for the author

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 4
     
    5 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

    …2nd ruck….or we have the same problem as last year….killing JVR.

    Get your affairs in order Jacob

  • Quote
    • Haha 3

     

    Love the opening paragraph: 'think'!

    2019, 2020 and 2021 say hullo.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    24 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    Re-plumb? Re-tool?

    Riffing on the season, 'tis re-birth?

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Haha 2
    3 hours ago, adonski said:

    Get your affairs in order Jacob

    'Jacob', eh, @Whispering_Jack?

    Don't you have a ladder that takes us to heaven?

    Right, then; you're our mascot for the 2025 climb and outcome.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    8 hours ago, adonski said:

    Aidan Johnson ahead of Disco

    Might be time to bring back public executions for the author

     

    Yep. Big miss, that.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    'The Demons still think they're in the premiership window, but missed the top eight last year'.....

    This is what [censored] me about the media.... quick to go on about our straight sets and missing last year but fawning over the pies and cats after they both missed the finals directly after the wins... we missed the 8 so are bad - pies missed the eight and are one of the favourites for the flag.... [censored] 

     

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    • Angry 1

    7 minutes ago, Sideshow Bob said:

    'The Demons still think they're in the premiership window, but missed the top eight last year'.....

    This is what [censored] me about the media.... quick to go on about our straight sets and missing last year but fawning over the pies and cats after they both missed the finals directly after the wins... we missed the 8 so are bad - pies missed the eight and are one of the favourites for the flag.... [censored] 

     

    The difference being we couldn’t score, and it was the same problem over and over

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    • Sad 1
    6 hours ago, Demon Head said:

    IMG_7856.thumb.jpeg.8730f2c81af57c5d704a17420a9ca7d2.jpeg

    This article is a bit pus.

    No mention of Windsor who had a brilliant first season. Turner. Kolt likely to have an impact this year.

    Petty back into defence. I reckon they'll be angling for him to take over from May in 2026.

    And. It's not just about our forward line.

    All elements of our game plan need to be transformed and our coach has finally stated this. From the backline right through.

    No mention of this either. Maybe he's getting content for this article from a super coach forum.

    We can rebound if we can nail down a fast transition game style. We have the talent (pending no serious injuries)

    I think the players will love to embrace something new.

    I'm heading overseas for most of September in 2025, so expect us to run deep into the finals. 😁

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Clap 2

    We can win the flag. Media don't want us to.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 4
    6 hours ago, chook fowler said:

    No mention of Turner which I find surprising. I predict a strong year from him.

     

    5 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

    McVee is more likely to be vice captain than be on the bench.

     

    The author’s living up to his surname. 🤭

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 6

    Definitely a rebound year if we avoid serious injuries.

    Reasons?

    1. If Oliver and Trac are fit and in the right frame of mind, the positive effect will be enormous.

    2. Langford an excellent draft pick. Looks AFL ready.

    3. Johnson has point to prove and could provide much-needed relief for the overworked Max.

    4. Further improvement likely from Turner, Windsor, McVee, Van Rooyen  and Tholstrup.

    5. Petty back where he belongs.

    6. Viney still going strong.

    7. Pickett provides the X-factor every team needs.

    8. Little mention of Harry Sharp so far, but if his all-round skills improve he could just develop into a surprise replacement for ANB. At 22, he has outstanding speed, Langdon-like aerobic capacity and his best years ahead.

    I accept that we still lack a truly dominant key forward and that some of the predictions above may come unstuck.

    Still, what is there right now not to be optimistic about?

     

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    • Thanks 1
    • Clap 1

    1 minute ago, Dee-tonator said:

    Definitely a rebound year if we avoid serious injuries.

    Reasons?

    1. If Oliver and Trac are fit and in the right frame of mind, the positive effect will be enormous.

    2. Langford an excellent draft pick. Looks AFL ready.

    3. Johnson has point to prove and could provide much-needed relief for the overworked Max.

    4. Further improvement likely from Turner, Windsor, McVee, Van Rooyen  and Tholstrup.

    5. Petty back where he belongs.

    6. Viney still going strong.

    7. Pickett provides the X-factor every team needs.

    8. Little mention of Harry Sharp so far, but if his all-round skills improve he could just develop into a surprise replacement for ANB. At 22, he has outstanding speed, Langdon-like aerobic capacity and his best years ahead.

    I accept that we still lack a truly dominant key forward and that some of the predictions above may come unstuck.

    Still, what is there right now not to be optimistic about?

     

    Agree with that, we have the the potential to improve all 3 parts of the ground in 2025, got a good group of youngsters too which is where a lot of it'll come from

    Mids:

    • Clarry back to a version which closer resembles his previous self
    • Rivers is an explosive goal kicking midfielder in the waiting, will take his game to the next level in 25'
    • Agree re Langford, looks plug & play

    Backs:

    • Petty back
    • Salem not injured by 28.12.24 - world record? If we get a full year out of him (wishful thinking) our ball movement will improve a lot
    • Windsor and potentially even Xavier Lindsay off half back give us a lot more speed

    Forwards:

    • Disco Turner the break out tip for 2025, only played 18 career games, will surprise a few
    • Another pre-season into JVR, Kolt helps
    • As a Jefferson believer reckon he may surprise a couple too
  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 1
    • Clap 2
    6 hours ago, DubDee said:

    Re-plumb? Re-tool?

    Re-arrange. They chafed last year and produced a nasty rash

    Edited by John Demonic

  • Quote
    • Haha 5

    It's a re-set, because it involves, I would say, a reasonably significant shift in game style, but it will hopefully also be a progression on 2024's first half. An emphasis on faster attack and slingshot. I hope we look to move the ball inside 50 more centrally like we did in '18 too.

    Having said all this, you could make an argument that we're rebuilding on the run, but still relying on our mature stars to play important roles, whilst giving the merging group more responsibility.

    JVR, Jefferson, Turner, McVee, Bowey, AMW, Kolt, Howes, Windsor, Langford and Lindsay are all going to be important pieces of our 2025-2027 puzzle. Jefferson, Howes and AMW may not make it, but I'm hopeful they will, particularly the latter two.

    I'm quite happy for the football world to have little faith in Melbourne until the halfway mark of the season, just as was the case in 2021. Hopefully the players use this as fire to get themselves going next year and show everyone that we're still a serious football team and club.

  • Quote
    • Like 8
     
    2 hours ago, Brownie said:

    I'm heading overseas for most of September in 2025, so expect us to run deep into the finals. 😁

    Don’t go!!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    13 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

    The Herald Sun’s take on where 2025 will take the Melbourne Football Club.

    Predictions, best 23: Rebound or rebuild? Dees’ writing on the wall

    Melbourne’s best 23 according to Callum Dick

    FB: Petty, May, Salem
    HB: Windsor, Lever, Rivers
    C: Sharp, Oliver, Langdon
    HF: Pickett, Fritsch, Chandler
    FF: Tholstrup, Van Rooyen, Johnson
    FOLL: Gawn, Petracca, Viney
    INT: McDonald, Bowey, Harvey Langford, McVee, Sparrow

    Turner???? 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • 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

    • 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
      • 147 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
      • 270 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Geelong

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Thanks
      • 36 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Geelong

      Captain Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year in his quest to take out his 3rd trophy. He leads Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who are in equal 2nd place followed by Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. You votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Thanks
      • 28 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Geelong

      The Demons have slumped to their worst start to a season since 2012, falling to 0–4 after a more spirited showing against the Cats at Kardinia Park. Despite the improved effort, they went down by 39 points, and the road ahead is looking increasingly grim.

        • Sad
      • 313 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All