Dons won their second half against the doggies after getting pounded in the first half, so you can assume they’ll take turn around into this game.

If we play like we did today then we win, but conversely this could be a ‘back to earth’ kinda game if we aren’t switched on.

Let’s get it done Dees

Just now, BoBo said:

Dons won their second half against the doggies after getting pounded in the first half, so you can assume they’ll take turn around into this game.

If we play like we did today then we win, but conversely this could be a ‘back to earth’ kinda game if we aren’t switched on.

Let’s get it done Dees

Presumably the Dogs eased off?

Agree with you though. All the gains from today will be undone in an instant if we lose next week.

Team-wise, reports are we want to get a look at Kentfield but I'm not sure we want to change our height/forward set up right now. If we do, we'll have to drop one of TMac or Petty, probably the former, but I'm not convinced that's the right call with the way Petty is getting involved as second ruck.

Is Rivers fit? If so, he can have a go in Laurie's spot, on the proviso that he runs both ways and lays some tackles.

I know he’s not a star at either end but I thought Petty was solid enough as relief ruck today to keep playing that role going forward.

29 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Presumably the Dogs eased off?

Agree with you though. All the gains from today will be undone in an instant if we lose next week.

Team-wise, reports are we want to get a look at Kentfield but I'm not sure we want to change our height/forward set up right now. If we do, we'll have to drop one of TMac or Petty, probably the former, but I'm not convinced that's the right call with the way Petty is getting involved as second ruck.

Is Rivers fit? If so, he can have a go in Laurie's spot, on the proviso that he runs both ways and lays some tackles.

Dogs may have eased off but the Dons definitely played better especially in the 3rd. Pressure went up and they started hitting targets. The kind of half that gets a struggling team to realise they can play footy.

I personally wouldn’t make any changes from today. I thought we looked balanced across the ground and like someone mentioned in the post game thread, Petty looked really good in relief ruck. I thought he looked quite mobile in that role.

You can't drop Melksham after that game. You can't NOT bring in Fritta after his last game either.|

Sadly, Laurie will probably go if Fritta is fit.

Not sure what's happening with Rivers.

7 minutes ago, Big Col said:

You can't drop Melksham after that game. You can't NOT bring in Fritta after his last game either.|

Sadly, Laurie will probably go if Fritta is fit.

Not sure what's happening with Rivers.

7 minutes ago, Big Col said:

You can't drop Melksham after that game. You can't NOT bring in Fritta after his last game either.|

Sadly, Laurie will probably go if Fritta is fit.

Not sure what's happening with Rivers.

Pretty sure Fritsch bit his dogs leg off or something, so could be out a few weeks.

1 hour ago, Rossmillan said:

Controversial - I’m not bringing Fritsch back in - he’s not unconditional - I think Melksham keeps his place.

It’s not either or.

Fritsch is our best goal kicker over the past 5 years, obviously he comes in.

he has averaged around 45 goals a season as a skinny 3rd fwd. He flies for everything. With Mihocek he will flourish

Him and melksham at HF will create chaos in this new fast game style

Laurie out for either Rivers or Fritsch depending who is fit, if neither, no change

1 minute ago, sisso said:

Laurie out for either Rivers or Fritsch depending who is fit, if neither, no change

Laurie played 60% TOG, which is what they do now without a sub and capped roations. He didnt have a poor game imo. No change

Melksham looked so proppy in the last. He was either cramping in the groin (uncomfortable!) or twinged it slightly.

8 hours ago, Big Col said:

You can't drop Melksham after that game. You can't NOT bring in Fritta after his last game either.|

Sadly, Laurie will probably go if Fritta is fit.

Not sure what's happening with Rivers.

Riv is reading a west coast contract Cant concentrate on footy

14 minutes ago, rpfc said:

He was either cramping in the groin (uncomfortable!)

Oh God, is that possible? Now that my age begins with a 4 I find I can trigger calf and hammy cramps rolling the wrong way in bed. Never had a groin cramp, or even really imagined it, but if that starts happening, I’m throwing in the towel.

Here's some Cramps you might enjoy, @Nasher .

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Oh God, is that possible? Now that my age begins with a 4 I find I can trigger calf and hammy cramps rolling the wrong way in bed. Never had a groin cramp, or even really imagined it, but if that starts happening, I’m throwing in the towel.

@Nasher I can tell you that adductor cramps are a thing that they are beyond horrible.

Edited April 5Apr 5 by deanox

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Oh God, is that possible? Now that my age begins with a 4 I find I can trigger calf and hammy cramps rolling the wrong way in bed. Never had a groin cramp, or even really imagined it, but if that starts happening, I’m throwing in the towel.

Can confirm getting a cramp in the muscle that goesfrom the inner hip down the thigh to the inside of the knee is less than fun.

Edit to add - magnesium powder at night helps.

Edited April 5Apr 5 by biggestred

The Bombers had a red hot go at the Dogs in the 2nd half and their pressure was outstanding. No way will this game be a cruise for us, and the South Australian grounds are normally smaller so will suit a less skilled team.

I love Petty as 2nd ruck. He was competitive in the air and adds another body at ground level.

As good as Luker was at Casey, his game was not AFL-worthy.

I feel sorry for Laurie who I thought played a good role yesterday, but is first in line to be dropped if Fritsch is ready to return. If Fritsch isn't ready, no change for me.

I am a huge Trent rivers fan, but did we miss him yesterday? Did we miss Jiath? Salem, Lindsay and Kolt worked so well with Lever Petty and TMac I would let them settle and build as a unit.

I’m more worried about this game than I was against the Suns. Please Dees, do not lose to this mob 😭

Official Danger game.

Any hint of complacency and we will get done. Bring out out all the cliches. Keep the [censored] lid on, no drinking any bathwater of any kind least of all your own.

Essendon will take some confidence from the second half of their game, which is disappointing for a Demon fan.

However, it is a good test of the new Demons team. A win is essential, especially against teams like Essendon and Richmond.

I thought Petty was quite good in his role.

To be truthful, I cannot speculate whether the team will be unchanged or who will make room for who. I just hope that whoever plays, plays four quarters and we win. And, it is good that there is pressure for players to perform to hold their position. It seems Steven King is quite flexible with his selections.

10 hours ago, DubDee said:

It’s not either or.

Fritsch is our best goal kicker over the past 5 years, obviously he comes in.

he has averaged around 45 goals a season as a skinny 3rd fwd. He flies for everything. With Mihocek he will flourish

Him and melksham at HF will create chaos in this new fast game style

As I said, it’s controversial.

Fritsch is a bloody good player, no denying that. I just think the difference his best and worst is too wide. Again maybe controversial but he has purple patches, but then has lean patches and defensively goes missing.

I think Melksham offers more hunger and desperation especially defensively. He also isn’t a bad goal scorer.

For team balance, I wouldn’t play both, but I can see how others could make an argument to do so.

What I really liked about today was the desperation to run, chase and tackle with ferocity. It was desire at the contest that got us over the line.

2 hours ago, Kent said:

Riv is reading a west coast contract Cant concentrate on footy

In all seriousness, if there’s something going on behind the scenes with Rivers, and I don’t think he’ll hang around in VIC anyway, trade him end of this year before he’s a free agent in 2027, and before Tassie takes over the draft

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

You have to be kidding me dropping T.Mac and putting Petty back. Petty has been terrible needs to be dropped. Not a forward not a backman. Kentfield comes in for Petty and if Fritsch is available he comes in for Laurie but if he isn't Laurie stays in the side.

B: Lever, McDonald, Salem

HB: Tholstrup, Turner, Lindsay

C: Langford, Sparrow, Windsor

HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, Culley

F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Steele, K.Pickett

IC: Howes, Langdon, Sharp, L.Pickett, Kentfield

EMERG: Laurie, Heath, Jefferson

Petty is a crucial utility for the team, who fights hard and can clunk important marks like he did yesterday. He stays in for the foreseeable future in my opinion.

Left field suggestion - bring in Heath to give Gawn a bit more of a chop out. Surely Gawn can't keep this level up all season.

Appreciate its very hard to drop anyone from the team that took care of Goldcoast and there's a bunch of players coming back from injury / performing at VFL level - what a great problem to have!

Very important to play Rivers here.

Two weeks for the knee to settle is nice and an obvious reason he didn’t play at Casey.

I’ve heard the inflammation has come right down.

He’s a talent who has been loyal and he deserves to slot back in for Laurie.

Just now, Dannyz said:

Very important to play Rivers here.

Two weeks for the knee to settle is nice and an obvious reason he didn’t play at Casey.

I’ve heard the inflammation has come right down.

He’s a talent who has been loyal and he deserves to slot back in for Laurie.

good to know

i think the trick is going to be in what role?

king has already said that he will play 'behind' the ball when he returns to the side rather than thru the midfield

personally i'm not dropping tholstrup from the half-back / push-up-to-the-contest lockdown role, so is it rivers or howes? does trent have the discipline to play as a locked-in defender that howes has been performing well in 2026?