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PREGAME: Rd 01 vs GWS

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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5 hours ago, Roost it far said:

It’s genuinely exciting and I reckon watching the Tigers should give us all encouragement for what’s coming up. Sharp has experience, you can say the same for Johnson and Henderson and Langford and Lindsay are high, ready to play draftees and Jefferson appears to have shown enough to get his chance. I say bring it on, I’d much rather be here than where Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon are.

We are nothing like the tigers… we are still playing 14 premiership players. We are almost even odds to win the match not rank outsiders 

    • Like 1
     
    4 hours ago, waynewussell said:

    That’s just 11 players who represented the club in our last AFL premiership outing! Bring it on! (Round 25 1994)

    Lucky 🍀 13 by my count Wayne.

    Where have they gone? Retired Hibbo, Gus and BBB. Departed: Jackson, Harmes and ANB. Suspension: Pickett. Emergency: Tmac. Injured/Recovery Charlie Spargo.

    Edited by Tarax Club

    • Like 8
    9 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

    Lucky 🍀 13 by my count Wayne.

    Where have they gone? Retired Hibbo, Gus and BBB. Departed: Jackson, Harmes and ANB. Suspension: Pickett. Emergency: Tmac. Injured/Recovery Charlie Spargo.

    Amazing how fast it’s changed think till last year it was only Jackson 

    • Like 1
     
    25 minutes ago, Garbo said:

    Amazing how fast it’s changed think till last year it was only Jackson 

    Selections for the first game are surprisingly bold. Feels like a real sea change. The future is never known, let’s hope if the opportunities present we’re capable of grasping them with both hands.

    • Like 5
    • Clap 1

    He has definitely pulled the trigger on a couple of spots that were up for grabs.

    Looks like there will be a bit of selection pressure for positions this year.

    It was good to see Spargs on the field against Sandy - thought he looked good. Then Melk on the radio sounded like he was close to being right as well.

    I think our forward line functions much better with those two

    • Like 4

    Hmm six newbies, plus Petracca 'replacing' whoever filled in for him for 6 months plus 2025 Oliver 'replacing' 2024 Oliver and hopefully the likes of Roo, Rivers, Windsor and Tholstrup (and even Petty) being noticeably better this year there is so much of an X factor for this year! It's so hard to know right now how our year will pan out. But even the fact that good players Jetta and 'Chunk' were superseded by the end of '21 helped us go all the way that year. I'd love to see history repeats itself 

    • Like 4
    10 hours ago, praha said:

    I might be wrong but this is definitely a changing of the guard moment. This will be a genuine journey. We might surprise but people should temper their expectations. 

    Wise words, with fingers crossed.

    For those questioning the high amount of debutants, our large injury list (fortunately quantity not quality) has necessitated the volume of first gamers.

    Billings is the only player on the list of available players that arguably should’ve gotten a game ahead of one of the debutants due to what he has to offer on the wing. T Mac and Campbell are best 23 quality but not needed while Spargo, who’s technically available needs a couple of weeks at Casey to build himself up. 

    The rest of the available players like Laurie, Sestan, Fullarton, Brown, Adams, Woewodin, Verrall and Mentha aren’t going to move the needle at this stage of their careers and you couldn’t say with any confidence that those players would provide any more than the 6 debutants.

    • Like 11
     
    22 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    For those questioning the high amount of debutants, our large injury list (fortunately quantity not quality) has necessitated the volume of first gamers.

    Billings is the only player on the list of available players that arguably should’ve gotten a game ahead of one of the debutants due to what he has to offer on the wing. T Mac and Campbell are best 23 quality but not needed while Spargo, who’s technically available needs a couple of weeks at Casey to build himself up. 

    The rest of the available players like Laurie, Sestan, Fullarton, Brown, Adams, Woewodin, Verrall and Mentha aren’t going to move the needle at this stage of their careers and you couldn’t say with any confidence that those players would provide any more than the 6 debutants.

    I disagree Campbell is best 23. He is serviceable and plan B to Max getting injured. His ‘journey man’ status informs us he has great qualities, but not as a best 23 man in any team.

    • Like 1
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    Interesting that Goody focused on “pressuring the ball” as a key reason these guys all got selected.  This is where both Carlton and Hawks looked vulnerable - as soon as pressure on the ball and the player went up, Tiggers and Bombers both shut their opponents down.  This may be the new way we win.  Lots of pressure and 2 way running required!

    • Like 8

    12 hours ago, Kev said:

     Sharp is faster, good endurance, and better kicking skills than ANB.

    What we will miss from ANB is that gut running and his leadership qualities. 

    ANB also knew how to find the ball (16 possessions a game) from a flank and defend (5 tackles a game) across 176 games. 

    Also possibly the most astute role player in the AFL to the point that multiple teams did studies with their like players on his application to role to try and replicate.

    Sharp I like but it was his disposal and inability to accumulate that had him on the fringe of a strong Brisbane side.

     I rate Sharps potential but I will take the proven form of  176 mostly under rated games. 

    Edited by Lil_red_fire_engine

    • Like 9
    • Clap 1
    38 minutes ago, Nietaphart said:

    I disagree Campbell is best 23. He is serviceable and plan B to Max getting injured. His ‘journey man’ status informs us he has great qualities, but not as a best 23 man in any team.

    People used to say the same about Pedo and he proved them all wrong

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1
    8 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

    Lucky 🍀 13 by my count Wayne.

    Where have they gone? Retired Hibbo, Gus and BBB. Departed: Jackson, Harmes and ANB. Suspension: Pickett. Emergency: Tmac. Injured/Recovery Charlie Spargo.

    Everyone forgets about our sub for the GF - James Jordon. Also “departed”.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    For those questioning the high amount of debutants, our large injury list (fortunately quantity not quality) has necessitated the volume of first gamers.

    Billings is the only player on the list of available players that arguably should’ve gotten a game ahead of one of the debutants due to what he has to offer on the wing. T Mac and Campbell are best 23 quality but not needed while Spargo, who’s technically available needs a couple of weeks at Casey to build himself up. 

    The rest of the available players like Laurie, Sestan, Fullarton, Brown, Adams, Woewodin, Verrall and Mentha aren’t going to move the needle at this stage of their careers and you couldn’t say with any confidence that those players would provide any more than the 6 debutants.

    Yes, but 6 debutantes is still adventurous. Goodwin could definitely gone with TMac and Billings, added Laurie and Woewodin who have AFL exposure, and squeezed Melksham and Spargo in from injury early, but he didn't. He wasn't forced into the debutantes decision.

    Edited by old55

    • Like 3
    • Clap 1
    9 hours ago, Oxdee said:

    We are nothing like the tigers… we are still playing 14 premiership players. We are almost even odds to win the match not rank outsiders 

    I’m talking about the further injection of youth. Our team is full of kids.


    2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    For those questioning the high amount of debutants, our large injury list (fortunately quantity not quality) has necessitated the volume of first gamers.

    Billings is the only player on the list of available players that arguably should’ve gotten a game ahead of one of the debutants due to what he has to offer on the wing. T Mac and Campbell are best 23 quality but not needed while Spargo, who’s technically available needs a couple of weeks at Casey to build himself up. 

    The rest of the available players like Laurie, Sestan, Fullarton, Brown, Adams, Woewodin, Verrall and Mentha aren’t going to move the needle at this stage of their careers and you couldn’t say with any confidence that those players would provide any more than the 6 debutants.

    Yes, I'd rather give the newbies a go than play those not ready or tried before that you meniton. 

    For mine the experience of Johnson, Henderson and Sharp to some extent balances out the inexperience of Langford, Linsay and Jefferson who will probably play limited minutes.

    I like that these guys a getting a go as we don't have a lot of depth in our injury list that can come in this year:  McVee, Pickett, Tholstrop and maybe Melksham.

    So getting games into the debs is a good thing.  We will need them to play during the year.

    Edited by Lucifers Hero

    • Like 4
    15 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    I’m talking about the further injection of youth. Our team is full of kids.

    Only Langford and Lindsay are 18/19.  Jefferson is 21. 

    The rest of the team have been in the VFL/AFL system for at least several years.  Long enough to physically develop and perform a role albeit not expected to star.  Just do the role and that is enough while the 3 true debutants learn.

    Edited by Lucifers Hero

    • Like 8
    9 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

    Lucky 🍀 13 by my count Wayne.

    Where have they gone? Retired Hibbo, Gus and BBB. Departed: Jackson, Harmes and ANB. Suspension: Pickett. Emergency: Tmac. Injured/Recovery Charlie Spargo.

    + jj in the departed column

    i for one am happy to see the likes of sharp and henderson given an opportunity in lieu of woey 2.0 and laurie, neither of who have shown the ability to step up from vfl to afl level with any impact

    billings we know what we're going to get; average at best - definitely give me lindsay having first crack at the wing role over him

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    2 hours ago, Nietaphart said:

    I disagree Campbell is best 23. He is serviceable and plan B to Max getting injured. His ‘journey man’ status informs us he has great qualities, but not as a best 23 man in any team.

    Did you go to the nth Melb practice match & watch him play against Xerri …more than serviceable & will do the job if needed. So def a fringe 23 player (of which when all fit we have a few )

    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

    ANB also knew how to find the ball (16 possessions a game) from a flank and defend (5 tackles a game) across 176 games. 

    Also possibly the most astute role player in the AFL to the point that multiple teams did studies with their like players on his application to role to try and replicate.

    Sharp I like but it was his disposal and inability to accumulate that had him on the fringe of a strong Brisbane side.

     I rate Sharps potential but I will take the proven form of  176 mostly under rated games. 

    Neale-Bullen replicated the Kane Lambert role.

    • Like 2

    On 03/03/2025 at 18:42, jaydenh10 said:

    5 debuts is crazy work for one game

    But maybe some validity or is it just time to be crazy

    59 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    Only Langford and Lindsay are 18/19.  Jefferson is 21. 

    The rest of the team have been in the VFL/AFL system for at least several years.  Long enough to physically develop and perform a role albeit not expected to star.  Just do the role and that is enough while the 3 true debutants learn.

    You can add Windsor, JVR and a few others to the youthful players in the team.

     
    21 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    You can add Windsor, JVR and a few others to the youthful players in the team.

    Windsor maybe.  JVR will be 22 in a few weeks.

    Remember that Pickett, Jackson, Bowey, Rivers, Petty, Sparrow, Spargo were all  premiership players when between 18 and 21 years of age.

    I agree we have some youth tomorrow but I reckon that is a ok.  If we lose it won't be because of the debs.

    • Like 2

    Ok its saturday 11.05am ,no training reports and the game is not until tomorrow.I am not going to get thru PLEASE HELP,afake report anything😵


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