Jump to content

The brutal 10-week fixture

titan_uranus
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

The debate around resting Max and some of the kids late on Thursday was valid (although a few other sides seemed to get good leads and ease off, including the Dogs and Fremantle).

But it's worth remembering how brutal our next 10 weeks is, as until recently I'd forgotten just how tough this stretch is:

  1. Round 8 - West Coast in Perth

  2. Round 9 - Hawthorn at the MCG

  3. Round 10 - Brisbane at the Gabba

  4. Round 11 - Sydney at the MCG

  5. Round 12 - St Kilda at Alice Springs

  6. Round 13 - Collingwood at the MCG

  7. Round 14 - Port Adelaide in Adelaide (6-day break vs Port on an 8-day break)

  8. Round 15 - bye

  9. Round 16 - Gold Coast on the Gold Coast

  10. Round 17 - Adelaide in Adelaide

That's 6 out of 10 weeks on the road, with travel at least every second week. It also features games against the sides currently sitting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th on the ladder (plus Sydney, who are 14th but we never play well against them).

Of course, the trade off is that our first 7 games featured just a trip down the highway and a neutral Gather Round game, whilst our final 7 games are all in Melbourne. And yes, non-Victorian clubs do this for all 24 weeks, not just 10.

Regardless, if we want to achieve anything in 2025, we have to navigate this 10 week block well. So it doesn't surprise me that we looked to give Gawn a break, nor will it surprise me if we see Campbell getting games as soon as this week.

  • Quote
    • Like 10
    • Thanks 7
     
    1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

    The debate around resting Max and some of the kids late on Thursday was valid (although a few other sides seemed to get good leads and ease off, including the Dogs and Fremantle).

    But it's worth remembering how brutal our next 10 weeks is, as until recently I'd forgotten just how tough this stretch is:

    1. Round 8 - West Coast in Perth

    2. Round 9 - Hawthorn at the MCG

    3. Round 10 - Brisbane at the Gabba

    4. Round 11 - Sydney at the MCG

    5. Round 12 - St Kilda at Alice Springs

    6. Round 13 - Collingwood at the MCG

    7. Round 14 - Port Adelaide in Adelaide (6-day break vs Port on an 8-day break)

    8. Round 15 - bye

    9. Round 16 - Gold Coast on the Gold Coast

    10. Round 17 - Adelaide in Adelaide

    That's 6 out of 10 weeks on the road, with travel at least every second week. It also features games against the sides currently sitting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th on the ladder (plus Sydney, who are 14th but we never play well against them).

    Of course, the trade off is that our first 7 games featured just a trip down the highway and a neutral Gather Round game, whilst our final 7 games are all in Melbourne. And yes, non-Victorian clubs do this for all 24 weeks, not just 10.

    Regardless, if we want to achieve anything in 2025, we have to navigate this 10 week block well. So it doesn't surprise me that we looked to give Gawn a break, nor will it surprise me if we see Campbell getting games as soon as this week.

    Bring it on, the harder, the better

    We'll soon find out if our team is good enough and whether the new game plan can stand up

    The tough fixture will answer a lot of questions that we have right now

    A pass mark might be 5 & 4 and if that happened we'd then have an overall record of 7 & 9 after that block of 10 weeks

    Edited by Macca

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 5
     
    6 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

    That's 6 out of 10 weeks on the road, with travel at least every second week. It also features games against the sides currently sitting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th on the ladder (plus Sydney, who are 14th but we never play well against them).

    We’re not going to win them but I want to see some deep, bloody teeth marks on every opposition team across that stretch

  • Quote
    • Thanks 2
    6 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

    The debate around resting Max and some of the kids late on Thursday was valid (although a few other sides seemed to get good leads and ease off, including the Dogs and Fremantle).

    But it's worth remembering how brutal our next 10 weeks is, as until recently I'd forgotten just how tough this stretch is:

    1. Round 8 - West Coast in Perth

    2. Round 9 - Hawthorn at the MCG

    3. Round 10 - Brisbane at the Gabba

    4. Round 11 - Sydney at the MCG

    5. Round 12 - St Kilda at Alice Springs

    6. Round 13 - Collingwood at the MCG

    7. Round 14 - Port Adelaide in Adelaide (6-day break vs Port on an 8-day break)

    8. Round 15 - bye

    9. Round 16 - Gold Coast on the Gold Coast

    10. Round 17 - Adelaide in Adelaide

    We will win at least 8 of those 😄

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 4
    • Haha 3
    • Clap 1
    • Vomit 1

    The next 8 weeks is operation ‘give Essendon- stuff all’ where we turn their pick 4 to pick 18.

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    • Love 5
    • Haha 1

    We'll either be booking our skiing or getting ready for finals at the end of that. Just beat Hawthorn and Collingwood amongst the wins.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1
    12 hours ago, SPC said:

    The next 8 weeks is operation ‘give Essendon- stuff all’ where we turn their pick 4 to pick 18.

    Their List Manager has been in charge of that Operation for two decades

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 2
     
    13 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

    Their List Manager has been in charge of that Operation for two decades

    Dodoro? I think he left at the end of last season.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    21 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

    The debate around resting Max and some of the kids late on Thursday was valid (although a few other sides seemed to get good leads and ease off, including the Dogs and Fremantle).

    But it's worth remembering how brutal our next 10 weeks is, as until recently I'd forgotten just how tough this stretch is:

    1. Round 8 - West Coast in Perth

    2. Round 9 - Hawthorn at the MCG

    3. Round 10 - Brisbane at the Gabba

    4. Round 11 - Sydney at the MCG

    5. Round 12 - St Kilda at Alice Springs

    6. Round 13 - Collingwood at the MCG

    7. Round 14 - Port Adelaide in Adelaide (6-day break vs Port on an 8-day break)

    8. Round 15 - bye

    9. Round 16 - Gold Coast on the Gold Coast

    10. Round 17 - Adelaide in Adelaide

    That's 6 out of 10 weeks on the road, with travel at least every second week. It also features games against the sides currently sitting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th on the ladder (plus Sydney, who are 14th but we never play well against them).

    Of course, the trade off is that our first 7 games featured just a trip down the highway and a neutral Gather Round game, whilst our final 7 games are all in Melbourne. And yes, non-Victorian clubs do this for all 24 weeks, not just 10.

    Regardless, if we want to achieve anything in 2025, we have to navigate this 10 week block well. So it doesn't surprise me that we looked to give Gawn a break, nor will it surprise me if we see Campbell getting games as soon as this week.

    The upside is that we have only one short break in that period, with 7+ days every round except for the PA match.

    Edited by deanox

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2

    I would say when you’re a below average team in this competition every game is potentially brutal. We don’t have the luxury of a home ground advantage and we are not that good a team. Take every win we get.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thumb Down 1

    It's been a great debate indeed. Looking forward to seeing how it plays out and if we are fresher as a result.

  • Quote

    we are 2-5
    we will need 13 wins + % to make the 8
    we have 16 games left

    so we need to go 11-5 MINIMUM to make finals. probably 12 - 4.
    we play hawks and pies twice and brisbane and gold coast away

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Tough

    But not nearly as tough as our boys, if they believe and give no quarter.

    We CAN do this. Those are not unwinnable games.

    Our best is great, just need to keep it up.

  • Quote
    • Love 5

    I think in a strange way tough is better, I kinda feel like we looked at the first 5-6 rounds and saw certain games as easy W's. We've been brought right back down to earth and now we will be the underdogs in most of those games (at least until we actually show we're the real deal).

  • Quote

    On 28/04/2025 at 23:42, titan_uranus said:

    The debate around resting Max and some of the kids late on Thursday was valid (although a few other sides seemed to get good leads and ease off, including the Dogs and Fremantle).

    But it's worth remembering how brutal our next 10 weeks is, as until recently I'd forgotten just how tough this stretch is:

    1. Round 8 - West Coast in Perth

    2. Round 9 - Hawthorn at the MCG

    3. Round 10 - Brisbane at the Gabba

    4. Round 11 - Sydney at the MCG

    5. Round 12 - St Kilda at Alice Springs

    6. Round 13 - Collingwood at the MCG

    7. Round 14 - Port Adelaide in Adelaide (6-day break vs Port on an 8-day break)

    8. Round 15 - bye

    9. Round 16 - Gold Coast on the Gold Coast

    10. Round 17 - Adelaide in Adelaide

    That's 6 out of 10 weeks on the road, with travel at least every second week. It also features games against the sides currently sitting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th on the ladder (plus Sydney, who are 14th but we never play well against them).

    Of course, the trade off is that our first 7 games featured just a trip down the highway and a neutral Gather Round game, whilst our final 7 games are all in Melbourne. And yes, non-Victorian clubs do this for all 24 weeks, not just 10.

    Regardless, if we want to achieve anything in 2025, we have to navigate this 10 week block well. So it doesn't surprise me that we looked to give Gawn a break, nor will it surprise me if we see Campbell getting games as soon as this week.

    Good Lord

    Ain't Gunna be easy.

  • Quote
    9 hours ago, Pates said:

    I think in a strange way tough is better, I kinda feel like we looked at the first 5-6 rounds and saw certain games as easy W's. We've been brought right back down to earth and now we will be the underdogs in most of those games (at least until we actually show we're the real deal).

    yes because we should have beaten north and essendon and wed be 4-3 instead of 2-5. gold coast look to have improved significantly but if wed shown up..... and if wed held on against gws wed be 5-2 and cruising. wasting games v north and essendon is gross.

  • Quote

    • 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: St. Kilda

      When looking back at the disastrous end to the game, I find it a waste of time to concentrate on the final few moments when utter confusion reigned. Forget the 6-6-6 mess, the failure to mark the most dangerous man on the field, the inability to seal the game when opportunities presented themselves to Clayton Oliver, Harry Petty and Charlie Spargo, the vision of match winning players of recent weeks in Kozzy Pickett and Jake Melksham spending helpless minutes on the interchange bench and the powerlessness of seizing the opportunity to slow the tempo of the game down in those final moments.

        • Clap
      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Sandringham

      The Casey Demons rebounded from a sluggish start to manufacture a decisive win against Sandringham in the final showdown, culminating a quarter century of intense rivalry between the fluctuating alignments of teams affiliated with AFL clubs Melbourne and St Kilda, as the Saints and the Zebras prepare to forge independent paths in 2026. After conceding three of the first four goals of the match, the Demons went on a goal kicking rampage instigated by the winning ruck combination of Tom Campbell with 26 hitouts, 26 disposals and 13 clearances and his apprentice Will Verrall who contributed 20 hitouts. This gave first use of the ball to the likes of Jack Billings, Bayley Laurie, Riley Bonner and Koltyn Tholstrup who was impressive early. By the first break they had added seven goals and took a strong grip on the game. The Demons were well served up forward early by Mitch Hardie and, as the game progressed, Harry Sharp proved a menace with a five goal performance. Emerging young forwards Matthew Jefferson and Luker Kentfield kicked two each but the former let himself down with some poor kicking for goal.
      Young draft talent Will Duursma showed the depth of his talent and looks well out of reach for Melbourne this year. Kalani White was used sparingly and had a brief but uneventful stint in the ruck.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons return to the scene of the crime on Saturday to face the wooden spooners the Eagles at the Docklands. Who comes in and who goes out? Like moving deck chairs on the Titanic.

        • Haha
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 46 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: St. Kilda

      This season cannot end soon enough. Disgraceful.

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 440 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: St. Kilda

      Captain Max Gawn still has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Christian Petracca, Kozzy Pickett, Jake Bowey & Clayton Oliver. Your votes please; 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Sad
        • Clap
        • Like
      • 25 replies
      Demonland

    • GAMEDAY: St. Kilda

      It's Game Day and there are only 5 games to go. Can the Demons find some consistency and form as they stagger towards the finish line of another uninspiring season?

        • Haha
      • 566 replies
      Demonland
    View All