The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse a famous victory by the Demons over the Lions at the Gabba.

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.

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Strength and conditioning showed out strong today. A sign of things to come?

30 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Strength and conditioning showed out strong today. A sign of things to come?

Perhaps Binman was correct and Brisbane were in fact loading.

That was a win for the ages! One thing that stood out to me was our attitude and intensity, especially in the last quarter. We left a few goals out there, for sure, but we kept at it with plenty of second, third and fourth efforts as required, and if a mistake was made, we just kept on going without dropping our heads. It reminded me of our best a few years ago, when the last quarter was always ours, mainly due to intensity, pressure and 1%ers. With some tidier skills (including better goal kicking), we are not too far away from our win over Brisbane in the Qualifying final in '21 (a stretch I know, but a Demon can dream!).

Hi gentlemen,

what a great way to close out my weekend. I’m keen to get your thoughts on what you thought was the biggest difference in our game plan vs previous weeks or what is it we executed differently.

As an addition how good was melksham on andrews today and Oliver kept Neale to only 6 clearances 2 huge performances and I’m still super impressed with the youth in the team. I’m sure no matter where we finish this year trading out to get Lindsay was a master stroke

Max Gawn statue when?

Melksham seems to have returned to the form we originally recruited him for.

For me in the past he seemed to have struggled stringing great games together. I hope he continues in his present state for a good many games.

Do you think his injury and absence from the game has given him a new lease of life ?

Does this often happen when players get sidelined for significant periods of time?

He's older too, so do they possibly realise that their careers are limited and it motivates them more?

He's in scintillating form and will worry other coaches.

I'll get my monies worth while I'm here and ask if you think if Bowey's shoulder injury lowered his performance for a significant time because he too is back to his best? It seems well and truly behind him.

These two were the main reason we won for me. They deserve a shout out which I'm sure you'll give.

And lastly weren't you guys proud to see players giving a bit back when their mates got some rough stuff? It really demonstrates a great espirit de corps. Something I felt had been lacking and an important element of a good team.

Edited May 18May 18 by leave it to deever

i will give credit where credit is due and also say that i wrote off melk a month and abit back, anyways turner stays down back has been our best defender, end of story.

Perhaps a full and unreserved apology to our fitness team? Helps a lot when you get to choose from a pretty healthy list. With Viney and Lever to return next Sunday it seems only Marty Hore is unavailable from the 43 this week?

I rate Daniel Turner very highly as a forward prospect. He’s got strong hands and is a more reliable set shot than many of our current key forwards. That said, he’s also a very impressive defender. He reads the play exceptionally well, is strong overhead, clean at ground level, and composed with ball in hand. I genuinely think he has the makings of a top-quality backman.

What I really like is the flexibility he and Petty provide. Both are capable of swinging forward or back depending on the needs of the game. But for now, I’d keep Turner in defence and leave Petty up forward.

Edited May 18May 18 by Deeminion

G’day guys. A couple of related questions for you to ponder please:

1. Over the last month, both Vines and Clarrie have played critical roles in quelling the influence of a key playmaker in the opposition’s midfield. With Vines likely to return from Concussion Protocols this week, who do you think is likely get a ‘run with / run off’ role against Sydney (or will it somehow be shared?)

2. Heeney and Warner are key playmakers in the Sydney midfield, and are both in excellent form. One or the other seem likely to be the target of a run-with role. Who do you think will it will be?

Thanks, as always, for your hard work and passion.

Edited May 19May 19 by Deeoldfart

I thought Trac's game was underappreciated. I'd even say it was his best since King's Birthday. despite not being his cleanest.

31 x disposals

7 x I50s

8 x Score involvements

9 x clearances (the game high) and 7 of them from the middle

He also attended 29 centre bounces and played extensively through the midfield so I found this extremely encouraging, what did you guys think and did his game also fill you with confidence?

Despite a couple of undisciplined moments, I thought Melksham was instrumental in our win. He plays the defensive forward role so effectively that Brisbane had to shift one of the league’s best defenders to full forward. I still can't believe he was 'managed' for the game against the Hawks. He would’ve been the ideal match-up for Sicily. He has to stay in the side!

Fantastic win, really didn’t see it coming. Obviously Melksham has been really integral with his own form but as a leader of the forward line, I am curious what the panel thinks our best forward mix is with regards to the rest of the season, ie what is the balance between key forwards and small /medium forwards . Or is it just a horses for courses decision with having flexible swing men like Turner and Petty play forward or back depending on the game/game situation ?

How immense was Max Gawn in those last five minutes. Those couple of contest marks were crucial to stopping any comeback by the Lions. We are so blessed to have such a courageous leader.

I’d love to get the panel’s thoughts on the backup ruck role that Aidan Johnson played yesterday. Max clearly needs a chop out during games. As much as we’d love him to ruck all day, it’s just not realistic. He needs those breaks so he can produce moments like we saw in the dying stages.

At the same time, we don’t want to rob Peter to pay Paul by dragging a forward like Petty or Roo out of the attacking 50, only to have them bashed up in the ruck and worn out from covering extra ground.

It also seems the selectors aren't overly keen on picking Campbell, and given this is Johnson’s second call-up, he appears to be first in line for the role. On top of that, his ability to contribute as a forward and hit the scoreboard adds another string to his bow.

So how did you assess his game, and do you think he’s our best option in that backup ruck role going forward?

Clarry deserves a lot of kudos for everything he's been through over the past two years. He's clearly faced challenges off the field, working to get both his mind and body right. On top of that, he’s had to endure an incessant and often cruel media pile-on. To come back and embrace a new role is something that should be commended. The media seems to pick and choose which struggling players they target, and unfortunately, our club and our players often seem like easy marks, while other clubs get a free pass with barely a mention. But I digress.

Clarry's form has been up and down, and perhaps other issues have affected his performances at times. Still, talent and class always find a way to shine through, and I think we caught more than a glimpse of that on the weekend.

I love Clarry.

We've been blessed with some of the talent we have unearthed in the last couple of years and this years crop in particular have been fantastic editions to the team. Langford has had a super start to the season despite a couple of uncharacteristic howlers yesterday. Equally as impressive, particularly yesterday, was Xavier Lindsay. He is going to be an absolute beauty.

Selection this week should be interesting. Viney & Lever should be returning from injury. If they are both deemed fit to play. Who comes in and who will come out?

Wow what a game.

Our desperation and want to compete in the last quarter was outstanding

I was flummoxed by the choice of Fritsch as sub being such a one dimensional player and luckily he could be used as a tactical sub and we avoided any injuries. I thought he came on and played well. Tackling pressure and worked harder than we’ve seen so maybe he has got the message.

Max what more can we say.  Saved us in the last. Loved what Langford did in the last. I watched it back and noticed how desperate he was to win the ball and won quite a few 50/50 contests. I’m really excited by the youth. Langford, Lindsay and although he had an off day, Windsor.

With viney and lever hopefully coming back next week. Will be interesting to see who comes out.

Loving Disco in the backline. Competes hard. Trac was powerful and Clarry silencing the critics. Winners all over the ground and Melksham seems to be Brisbanes kryptonite.

They were looking a class above for the first half, we would waste opportunities then they would spread hard, find space then hit a target inside 50. But we shut that down with our intense pressure

In all honesty should have won by more but I’m super content with the win and our lounge room was rocking last night. My daughters and I were all screaming and we even got the dees flags waving late into the last.

Thanks again guys for the pod. And Andy I contribute a lot of this success to your rant after the Bombers game. We’ve gone 4-1 since then.

Would love to hear your take on why we ran out the game so well this week despite being so bad for the the year so far, or why lions were even worse despite being one of the better final qtr teams this year and if you think we have turned a corner in this regard.

My working theory is we were never that bad to begin with but because of our turn overs you end up working twice as hard and end up out on our feet before the other team.

Edited May 19May 19 by Garbo

What did the panel make of Fritta as sub this week? I wanted to give a shoutout to him, I was skeptical again to see he’d been selected in the team, but I thought this was an awesome use of him. He came in with so much energy and did some really important things at a critical time. I’d be happy to have him as sub again just until he get’s back into his best form. It’s a shame he didn’t kick that second goal but he looked happier this week with a role to play.

A win for the ages!! Indeed it was. DEFEATING THE REIGNING PREMIERS AT THEIR HOME GROUND … a very special pod this week 💙❤️💙❤️

What got us excited

1. Jake Melksham. His goalkicking won the game. His goalkicking gives us confidence. His kick on the left to hit Sparrow was superb. Great game to kick 4 and to nullify Andrews. 👏👏

2. Xavier Lindsay. Such a bright future. His 3rd quarter was special. Run down tackle. Pass to Melksham inside50 to goal. 11 possessions in the quarter. Gave us momentum. His last quarter run and so nearly a special goal. XL20👏👏

3. Clarry. Love ya Clarry. His 3rd qtr effort's were special - firstly his contested ball and kick to goal and second to tackle, bump, desparate knock on to Langdon to Kozzy for the goal. 👏👏

4. Max Gawn is simply the greatest EVER. Loved he punched the ball forwards with grunt. 46 hitouts. 8 clearances. We won centre clearances again (which is one of best stats) 18-11. Not sure if we turned centre clearances into scores @binman . Maxy also was superb with interception marking. 👏👏

Trac was good. Signs of him getting back to his best are getting close. A few fumbles but he was good.

Backline of May, McVee, Tmcd, Turner were good.

Loved AJ as 2nd ruck , just a bullock type player & gives 100%. All heart & loved the goal celebration

Bowsa is having a great year and just behind Maxey in B&F. His composure and delivery were excellent

Fritta as our super sub. He was energised. He ran, he tackled, he took contested marks Who was this man ? Shades of 2021 even

What worries me?

1. Charlie Spargo is so below AFL standard. His missed tackle in the first as Wilmot pushed him aside. Poor. He was negative 3 metre gained at half time. His 3rd qtr. Pass to Fritsch was pathetic. In fact 20 metres out, stud the shot. Then Trac bursts through centre, bullet pass to Spargo marks 25 metre out. Kick out of bounds on the full. 🤬Had 2 good tackles in the 3rd. That’s it. Must go. Must be dropped.

2. Goalkicking accuracy. Apart from Melksham, I’m not confident in our goalkicking. Sharp twice , Spargo, Petty, Trac, Kozzzy, Fritta all missed shots from 30 metres out. They didn’t look confident. Love Kozzzy but 2.4 …what might have been.

3. Windsor ball use. Had 6 kicks & 3 shocking turnovers, two were Lions rebounds and goals. Love the kid but needs to fix up ball use.

? Only one question this week - can we request these umps next week ?

Overall they were okay with only a few rough ones … but overall I thought they didn’t overumpire and let the play flow

Going to cut off the questions here. We have a lot to discuss. See you at 8:00pm

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