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PREGAME: Rd 04 vs Geelong

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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1 hour ago, layzie said:

Didn't Harry Madden once say that he didn't really do any fitness work and that rucking all day was more than enough to keep him in shape? Something like that.

Sounds right. Get fit, push yourself to next contest.

 
1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Doesn’t sound like Lever’s a certainty at all according to the injury report.

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Exactly how I read that too . Hopefully.... but we've had this situation countless times.

I'd really rather wait another week if be the case. The end of year is possibly more important than this game. Just my thinking

Is he skiing in Aspen this September?

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    29 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    Is he skiing in Aspen this September?

    Nearly spat my drink....

    That Sir is Platinum.. lol

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    21 hours ago, Adam The God said:

    Here we go. This is what I'd like to see this week. I know, a lot of changes, so unlikely.

    In. Sestan, Lever, Windsor, Spargo, Turner and Kozzy

    Out. Hendo, TMac, AJ, Lindsay, Sparrow and Billings

    Sestan May Petty

    Bowey Lever Windsor

    Sharp Oliver Langdon

    Chandler JVR Spargo

    Trac Fritta Turner

    Max Langford Kozzy

    Salem Viney Rivers Howes

    Sub. Melksham

    If Jeffo fit....AUTOMATIC IN!! Replacing Fritsch

    Edited by picket fence

    Hoyney had some interesting stats on SEN from Geelongs last 50 games. Simply if they less than average (41%) time with ball they lose, more they win.

    Saints controlled the ball for 3Q and beat them, Lions did in 2nd half. So…..having good skills to hit targets and control ball is key this week - not just bang it down the line OR switch inside and miss your target by 10m and turn it over!

    simples….

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    13 minutes ago, 1964nowMORE said:

    Hoyney had some interesting stats on SEN from Geelongs last 50 games. Simply if they less than average (41%) time with ball they lose, more they win.

    Saints controlled the ball for 3Q and beat them, Lions did in 2nd half. So…..having good skills to hit targets and control ball is key this week - not just bang it down the line OR switch inside and miss your target by 10m and turn it over!

    simples….

    Bodes well... we can't hold a mark, handball to the ground, fumble the unfumblable ( new word ) , kick to God knows where and Max is the oppos midfield best friend currently.

    It's litterland ... we'll struggle. It would be a big game if we were on form. And here we are.....

    12 hours ago, Ungarieboy said:

    Melksam straight into the side last week is something I'd be revisiting. Good player but my recollection is he takes a few games to build up form (particularly these last few years); unfortunately we can't do that in firsts anymore. Lack of defensive pressure and inability to rotate through midfield means it's him OR Fritsch. Picket should replace him. Viney could move to forwards with Langford replacing him. Then he and picket can rotate through midfield (unfortunately we are still one midfield rotation short - which allows Sparrow to stay).

    Then we need true marking targets (tall, medium or small) - which presently is JVR and Frisch; possibly Picket. This lack of marking threat allows the opposition to confidentiality leave there player to double team us in the air. I'd actually give consideration to Gawn and McDonald playing forward (even swapping in the ruck).

    Melk does take a few games to get going but provided he's well over the injury and managed well on the track mid-week, he has immense upside for us.

    As you said, we are lacking marking forwards. Melk is a key marking forward with vice like hands and lead up experience, craft and skills.

    He is exactly the player you want in the team given our lack of dangerous targets of late.

    Some say it's between him and Fritta. I'm not an expert so not sure if this is the way or not.

    If it is then on recent form and trust (ie; selecting a player as i know what i'm going to get) im choosing Melk at this point.

    I'd be sending a long overdue message to Fritta as well that you aren't exempt from earning your spot. You need to perform consistently with only the odd off week. Not the other way round.

    Leaving Fritta in can only be sending a very poor message to the rest of the playing group imo given his fall away from acceptable AFL performance levels.

    You simply cannot have an under performing player in a role sense, refusing to chase or give max effort / 2nd efforts when it's his turn to go.

    No doubt not alone but he is a senior player and one that's consistently under performing in his role of late.

    If Simon wants to keep awarding mediocrity and poor examples, especially from senior players, then we are probably going to see more of same shizen performances going forward. This is a brutal sport that will eat up anyone who goes in to matches with the wrong mind set or thinking they can just swan their way through unscathed.

    It will eventually come back to bite the player/s, the Coaches and the club.

    You can bury your head in the sand and pretend it will somehow miraculously resolve itself if you keep doing more of the same. Or you can address it and look for solutions and alternative ways / means and methods.

    The game is ever changing and unforgiving. You have to adapt and be ruthless when required and needed.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 2
    4 hours ago, GCDee said:

    We are certainly bringing in a lot of class this week by the sounds of it. There are zero excuses.

    Another [censored] weak performance and Goodwin must go.

    And what happened after we dumped Bailey and brought in Todd Viney for the rest of the season? We lost even more matches than we were doing under Bailey, the win loss ratio went backwards.

    In fact, that’s what has happened Every Single Time we’ve replaced a coach during the season. Even after Neeld. 15% win loss ratio? Neil Craig (an experienced senior AFL coach): hold my beer, I can lose even more matches and get it lower, just watch

    In fact, that’s what happens pretty much every time a coach is moved on mid year, no matter the club. And not just in the AFL

    None of this exceptional. Or even surprising. Except to footy fans who continue to delude themselves that there’s an easy fix and a knight in shining armor just waiting for a tap on the shoulder to come in and solve all our problems.

    Edited by bing181

    • Like 5
     

    All I want in life is to see a centre bounce midfield of Windsor, Pickett and Oliver. Langford to rotate through the guts and petracca at half forward all night. We will be so much better off with that.

    Otherwise i fear I’ll be driving back up the highway before half time.

    I also realise that this doesn’t leave Jack viney with a spot in the team but I am perfectly fine with that given how he’s going.

    Edited by FearTheBeard

    • Like 3

    Play AJ & Rooh in the same team?

    One off the bench to cover the other and share the ruck duties with Max?

    Max is in severe need of a meaningful chop out imv and resting forward is not his go.

    Surely we need to maintain our structure up forward with at least one of AJ or Rooh playing the KF role while the other is on the bench or covering for Max in the ruck?

    Kane is a click baiter but be also does highlight some valid footy issues on occasions.

    99% ruck time for Max in 2024 & 2025 (at his age) is just not sustainable...

    Max ... "the Pseudo Everything" ...

    https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14u15uNfQvZ/?mibextid=xfxF2i

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 1

    I think with this new games style we are playing. I'd like to see Windsor, Kozzie, McVee, Lindsay, Spargo and Laurie in the team.

    These guys will handle the ball better than some of our players with the quicker style play, with Bowie, Chin and to a lesser extent Salem.

    The game plan could work. But there is big change, and tough calls on guys like T-Mac, Sparrow, Fritsch, Howes, Viney and Rivers(role not spot)

    Just now, picket fence said:

    If Jeffo fit....AUTOMATIC IN!!

    1 hour ago, bing181 said:

    And what happened after we dumped Bailey and brought in Todd Viney for the rest of the season? We lost even more matches than we were doing under Bailey, the win loss ratio went backwards.

    In fact, that’s what has happened Every Single Time we’ve replaced a coach during the season. Even after Neeld. 15% win loss ratio? Neil Craig (an experienced senior AFL coach): hold my beer, I can lose even more matches and get it lower, just watch

    In fact, that’s what happens pretty much every time a coach is moved on mid year, no matter the club. And not just in the AFL

    None of this exceptional. Or even surprising. Except to footy fans who continue to delude themselves that there’s an easy fix and a knight in shining armor just waiting for a tap on the shoulder to come in and solve all our problems.

    I'd Axe Fritsch AND Viney... BUT won't happen, coz lovey dovey prevails!

    On 29/03/2025 at 16:45, spirit of norm smith said:

    Lever May Salem

    Rivers Petty Bowey

    Windsor. Viney. Langdon

    Sharp. Turner. Petracca

    Fritsch. JVR. Pickett

    Gawn. Oliver. Langdon

    Tmac. Sparrow Chandler Johnson

    Sub. Melksham

    Id have TMac for Petty with Petty as sub for Melksham.

    Im a little compromised with my desire to have players return only after coming through the 2's compromise for Kossie and Lever.

    Now that I've seen the injury list this is my team for this week.

    B: Lever, May, Bowey

    HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

    C: Langdon, Langford, Rivers

    HF: Petracca, Turner, Viney

    F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Spargo

    FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Pickett

    IC: Laurie, Melksham, Chandler, Sparrow

    SUB: Henderson

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    2 hours ago, Travy14 said:

    I'd like to see Windsor, Kozzie, McVee, Lindsay, Spargo and Laurie in the team.

    Laurie’s an interesting one. Wraps on him as a junior were that he had excellent disposal. Perhaps one of those role-players we need. Fewer disposals against less turnovers?

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    6 hours ago, bing181 said:

    Laurie’s an interesting one. Wraps on him as a junior were that he had excellent disposal. Perhaps one of those role-players we need. Fewer disposals against less turnovers?

    There’s no use being a good kick if you can’t get the ball in the first place.

    Our foot skills are horrendous but so is our run and spread, and unfortunately neither Laurie nor Spargo can run or spread to AFL standard.

    • Like 3
    12 hours ago, 1964nowMORE said:

    Hoyney had some interesting stats on SEN from Geelongs last 50 games. Simply if they less than average (41%) time with ball they lose, more they win.

    Saints controlled the ball for 3Q and beat them, Lions did in 2nd half. So…..having good skills to hit targets and control ball is key this week - not just bang it down the line OR switch inside and miss your target by 10m and turn it over!

    simples….

    Simples! Luckily we are a side that are excellent at controlling the ball!

    7 hours ago, bing181 said:

    Laurie’s an interesting one. Wraps on him as a junior were that he had excellent disposal. Perhaps one of those role-players we need. Fewer disposals against less turnovers?

    Probably my mid-week pessimism kicking in but I feel Melbourne is a list filled with ‘13-possession-a-game-excellent-disposal-at-underage-level-but-not-quite-seeing-that-with-AFL-level-pressure’ types.


    10 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

    Play AJ & Rooh in the same team?

    One off the bench to cover the other and share the ruck duties with Max?

    Max is in severe need of a meaningful chop out imv and resting forward is not his go.

    Surely we need to maintain our structure up forward with at least one of AJ or Rooh playing the KF role while the other is on the bench or covering for Max in the ruck?

    Kane is a click baiter but be also does highlight some valid footy issues on occasions.

    99% ruck time for Max in 2024 & 2025 (at his age) is just not sustainable...

    Max ... "the Pseudo Everything" ...

    https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14u15uNfQvZ/?mibextid=xfxF2i

    This is how Max wants it, he feels he can grind the other ruck down by playing 85%+ time on ground and running all day. That’s why they couldn’t get Grundy to work as Max wouldn't give up tog and Grundy isn’t a permanent forward.

    Personally I think Max should’ve been told to make it work..

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    6 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

    This is how Max wants it, he feels he can grind the other ruck down by playing 85%+ time on ground and running all day. That’s why they couldn’t get Grundy to work as Max wouldn't give up tog and Grundy isn’t a permanent forward.

    Personally I think Max should’ve been told to make it work..

    Yep... individual player's wants and desires need to be balanced out by the coaching crew to roll with whatever is best for the 'team' on the day surely.

    Match up aspects obviously a core component. My suggestion might be valid one week, and completely arssed up the next. Mind you it could also be arssed up almost always!

    Sometimes the coach needs to protect the player from their own good intentions and beliefs and just implement what's required.

    Goes without saying that the season is also a long grind. Player management, particularly the senior fellas, is super critical as we know.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

    • Like 4

    Imagine the happy clappers - who have been very very quiet - coming out of the woodwork if we win.

    You know who you are

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    10 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

    Fritta got to be dropped. May also running out of credits

    If Fritsch isn't dropped it tells you everything about Goodwin and being too close to the players. Selection integrity has always been a failing for Goodwin. Its one of the reasons Jordon and Bedford left.

    Our standards have dropped alarmingly and someone needs to pay.

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    2 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    Imagine the happy clappers - who have been very very quiet - coming out of the woodwork if we win.

    You know who you are

    I was very confident prior to the North game. I remain confident but the turnaround needs to happen soon.


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