A season and a half has passed since Round Zero 2024 when the Demons opened the season in steamy conditions in the Harbour City with a lacklustre performance against a team that ended up dominating the competition for all but the final game of the season.

MELBOURNE 1.6.12 2.8.20 7.8.50 9.10.64

SYDNEY SWANS 3.3.21 4.3.27 7.12.54 12.14.86

GOALS

MELBOURNE Fritsch 4 Viney 2 Langdon Petracca van Rooyen

SYDNEY SWANS Hayward McLean 2 Florent Fox Heeney McDonald McInerney Papley Warner Wicks

BEST

MELBOURNE Viney May Salem Petracca Oliver Gawn

SYDNEY SWANS Heeney Grundy Blakey Warner Papley Florent Rampe

THE TEAMS

Wow, both teams have been up and down since they last played.

Ironically, the game was their second home and away game in a row because they played each other in the final round of 2023.

7 blokes no longer in our best 22.

25 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

7 blokes no longer in our best 22.

Name names?

2 hours ago, Rolling Stone said:

Name names?

They possibly mean players on that team sheet who didn't play vs Brisbane?

So...
Howes
Tomlinson
Schache
JVR
ANB
Bilings
Laurie

Replaced by...
Melksham
Pickett
Turner
Petty
Lindsay
Langford
Sharp

The main problem from this one stemmed from losing Bowser early on with the shoulder injury from which he has only just got back into form.

It was a great, courageous act – but I really hope he doesn’t go so kamikaze again.

I feel we have a better side than the last time we met.

Better player imo in bold

Out -

Howes
Tomlinson
Schache
JVR
ANB
Bilings
Laurie


In -

Melksham
Pickett
Turner
Petty
Lindsay
Langford
Sharp

Was at that game. Notably Grundy in his first outing for Sydney pantsed Gawn. His tactic of running straight at the body at the centre bounce was something Max was unprepared for.

Pretty sure you'll see a different Gawn this weekend.

We also lost Bowser to the shoulder injury and the ball was like a cake of soap, We dropped everything. A terrible night.

Despite that we were only 2pts down at 3/4 time and were overun.

Suspect the boys have a lot more belief this time around.

49 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Was at that game. Notably Grundy in his first outing for Sydney pantsed Gawn. His tactic of running straight at the body at the centre bounce was something Max was unprepared for.

Pretty sure you'll see a different Gawn this weekend.

We also lost Bowser to the shoulder injury and the ball was like a cake of soap, We dropped everything. A terrible night.

Despite that we were only 2pts down at 3/4 time and were overun.

Suspect the boys have a lot more belief this time around.

Pretty sure Gawn was crook that night. I’m expecting an absolute master class from Gawn this weekend. Grundy will be wishing he’d retired.

11 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Pretty sure Gawn was crook that night. I’m expecting an absolute master class from Gawn this weekend. Grundy will be wishing he’d retired.

Max commented after the game he wasn't as across the new ruck rules as he should have been

He may also have been crook - it was a very hot and humid night

10 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Pretty sure Gawn was crook that night. I’m expecting an absolute master class from Gawn this weekend. Grundy will be wishing he’d retired.

Grundy was bordering on illegal tactics last time grabbing him and running straight into him bith the ball in the air.

14 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Max commented after the game he wasn't as across the new ruck rules as he should have been

That’s like:

• Beethoven saying he wasn’t across how pianos work,

• Newton saying he’s a bit rusty on gravity, and

• Michelangelo saying he’s still figuring out which end of the brush to use.

If Max was confused, it’s only because the rules were drawn with crayons and changed in crayon again at half-time.

Edited May 20, 2025May 20 by Queanbeyan Demon

12 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

That’s like:

• Beethoven saying he wasn’t across how pianos work,

• Newton saying he’s a bit rusty on gravity, and

• Michelangelo saying he’s still figuring out which end of the brush to use.

If Max was confused, it’s only because the rules were drawn with crayons and changed in crayon again at half-time.

Or Harry Houdini locking his keys in the car....

41 minutes ago, Bay Riffin said:

Grundy was bordering on illegal tactics last time grabbing him and running straight into him bith the ball in the air.

The art of footy perhaps ? ... being borderline illegal.

There is no way Grundy will beat Max on Sunday.

Not saying we will win the clearances however. The Swans are not to be underestimated.

Going to be a very interesting duel all round.

4 hours ago, JTR said:

They possibly mean players on that team sheet who didn't play vs Brisbane?

So...
Howes
Tomlinson
Schache
JVR
ANB
Bilings
Laurie

Replaced by...
Melksham
Pickett
Turner
Petty
Lindsay
Langford
Sharp

The only player on that list last year who is missed is ANB and Tomlinson retired. The rest a are VFL talents.

I was so angry about having to be a part of opening round. Having to travel to Sydney for the first game of the year sucked, and I felt bad for the many Dees fans who couldn’t attend and therefore missed out on being at our first game of the season. But what made me super angry is that we were picked to participate in the stupid idea of opening round because the AFL sure loves them a narrative, in this case: Grundy up against his former side. I maintain we wouldn’t have been involved in opening round if not for this.

10 hours ago, jnrmac said:

….

Pretty sure you'll see a different Gawn this weekend.

We also lost Bowser to the shoulder injury and the ball was like a cake of soap, We dropped everything. A terrible night.

Despite that we were only 2pts down at 3/4 time and were overun.

Suspect the boys have a lot more belief this time around.

I’ve already mentioned Bowser, but I thought we were 1st to the ball for most of the game but were undone by the [censored] conditions – a bit like most of the games in the northern states “opening round“ this year. When nobody can pick up the ball, it just degenerates into a farce.

While I’m here, I also think that the SCG should be made to make some sort of recompense for their effort (or lack of) getting the ground ready for a match 3 weeks after some bloody concert. If they can’t get the ground ready in time, they can transfer it to another ground or forfeit. Stuff them!

19 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Pretty sure Gawn was crook that night. I’m expecting an absolute master class from Gawn this weekend. Grundy will be wishing he’d retired.

Ta

King to a Swans supporter this am who said Grundy is in very good form.And Heaney too.

16 minutes ago, Dingo said:

Ta

King to a Swans supporter this am who said Grundy is in very good form.And Heaney too.

I hope Grundy is in career best form as it will make Max’s game even more impressive.