On 13/04/2026 at 23:01, Benny Dee said:

Jvr down back potentially one of the dumbest things I've read on demonland

Why?

The year he was drafted he was played both forward and back. Including during the u18 carnival where he was played more back than forward

If one or two key backs went down during a game would it be the dumbest thing then.

In taylor, kentfield, mathews

Out. Salem, melksham, mcdonald

20 hours ago, Greg Schneider said:

Yeh he looks so good up forward! Let’s just continue doing that where he’s showed no improvement now in his 5th year of doing it. You don’t have to be an expert to see he’s not going to make it up there. He was literally drafted as a swing man, how is the thought of trying him down back so preposterous ?

David Cordner, even looks like him. Get him to Oakleigh to replace Rino Pretto, oh god, am I having a stroke?

I agree given our injuries and positions , we might need to debut Xavier Taylor . @picket fence It’s early, and he needs more development, but he has the talent

Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (injured) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured)

Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Moniz-Wakefield. Taylor

ANW Petty Lever

Howes Turner Lindsay

Langdon Steele Windsor

Sharp Kentfield Chandler

Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch

Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy

Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Taylor

Emerg. Johnson Jefferson Laurie

Edited yesterday at 20:531 day by spirit of norm smith
XT

20 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Zorko out with a calf.

Neale's 300th.

20 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Zorko out with a calf.

Neale's 300th.

Just what we did not need Neal's 300 No chance this week .... as long as we beat Richmond next week.... if we do not the rot sets in

20 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Zorko out with a calf.

Neale's 300th.

Laurie for Melksham isn’t making us better, I’d try one of Luker, Jeff or AJ and Petty has to play back, likely on WC’s Captain.

Salem for XTaylor feels right if a little early

I think TMac is a worry but we likely need his experience and perhaps he can limit Harris’s intercepts?

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Laurie for Melksham isn’t making us better, I’d try one of Luker, Jeff or AJ and Petty has to play back, likely on WC’s Captain.

Salem for XTaylor feels right if a little early

I think TMac is a worry but we likely need his experience and perhaps he can limit Harris’s intercepts?

Tbh, just back in forward line regardless of who comes in. Even if Melksham isn’t injured, Andrews that good so it doesn’t necessarily mean we have the silver bullet.

He would always be on the move, on the attack so collectively, the mids need to be smart with ball delivery, and the forwards just need to just as proactive. Can’t allow Andrews front position.

Mihochek is the key because his work rate and leading patterns inside the forward 50 has always been an underrated part of his game.

I reckon onus will go on him to lead the forwards out on the field.

good that Zorko is out - my loathing of him is only exceeded by Maynard.

Our forward line has to step up & we can't just let Harris Andrews dominate

3 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Laurie for Melksham isn’t making us better, I’d try one of Luker, Jeff or AJ and Petty has to play back, likely on WC’s Captain.

Salem for XTaylor feels right if a little early

I think TMac is a worry but we likely need his experience and perhaps he can limit Harris’s intercepts?

Can't be playing T Mc forward in the year of 2026. Mihocek is in the side to compete with Harris, he'll do as well as anyone if we can actually get the ball movement above terrible.

Laurie (or Henderson) aren't long term answers but the team balance was wrong with Mihocek, JVR, Petty, Melksham and Fritsch in the same forward line.

It led to a half forward rotation of Fritsch, Sharp and Latrell which is a pretty diabolical defensive trio and not guys you want coming up to stoppages, winning a crucial contested ground ball at half back or closing down space in the corridor.

2 hours ago, chook fowler said:

good that Zorko is out - my loathing of him is only exceeded by Maynard.

Other way round for me..

Zorko

Maynard

Daylight

P.Voss - new addition

All week I've thought we'd do Petty back, T Mc out and Jeffo in. But now I'm thinking there's just no use throwing Jeffo to the Lions and Petty having a bag kicked on him.

So I wouldn't change the talls, not when we're also down Salem, Bowey, Rivers and CJ and really scraping for half back depth.

I'd go:
Out: Melksham, Salem and if needed Lindsay (rest/inj)

In: Henderson (if fit, otherwise Laurie), X Taylor and if needed AMW

Jeffo and Kentfield both getting closer to coming in next week after another hit out in the real VFL game.

Just now, Sideshow Bob said:

Other way round for me..

Zorko

Maynard

Daylight

P.Voss - new addition

Plus Phaat Furg Shultz and soft as uncontested possesions Faicos

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Can't be playing T Mc forward in the year of 2026. Mihocek is in the side to compete with Harris, he'll do as well as anyone if we can actually get the ball movement above terrible.

Laurie (or Henderson) aren't long term answers but the team balance was wrong with Mihocek, JVR, Petty, Melksham and Fritsch in the same forward line.

It led to a half forward rotation of Fritsch, Sharp and Latrell which is a pretty diabolical defensive trio and not guys you want coming up to stoppages, winning a crucial contested ground ball at half back or closing down space in the corridor.

Correct re: TMac, that was a brain fade as he’s a high IQ player but definitely a backman if he plays. I’d always play Petty back and Mihochek is a good first crack at Harris.

As others have said if we allow them the chip/mark game without significant pressure we may get punished. We’re going to miss a fit GC style Melksham.

Have confirmed this game is free-to-air in Sydney.

It will be a big test of our young, undefeated star.

3pm on a sunday is dangerously close to a nap time. Hopefully he'll be able to stay on the park for a full four quarters and get the Demon's the win.

If Littlest Goffy can get the team up again I will officially be contacting the club about a formal position.

Unfortunately we don't have the luxury of making statements at selections due to injuries (cough...JVR...cough....)

IN - AMW, Jefferson, Laurie, Taylor (for his debut!)

OUT - Salem (inj), Melksham (inj), Lindsay (rested/injured) T Mac (omitted)

Apologies but that's not an inspiring set of ins to come in against the premiers.

Would have like to have seen Kentfield get his debut but according to the training thread that looks unlikely.

A structural change I would make:

1) Petty back to defence full time (even though I don't rate him highly as a defender)

2) T Mac out.

3) JVR back into the second ruck to get him back involved. We've given him every chance to succeed by largely keeping him out of the ruck aside from the Freo game, and he hasn't responded aside from round 1.

4) Jeffo to come in and allow us to play two tall forwards at the one time - two of Checkers, JVR and Jeffo in the fwd line while the other is on the bench or in the ruck (JVR).

On 12/04/2026 at 17:06, Coolx2 said:

It is no good saying we lack depth if you not going to give MFC listed players who are stuck in the reserves or become almost a full time emergency. King (coach) is not a miracle worker unless he makes changes to the way players play whether there are positional changes (change of role). Last year players careers were destroyed. Kynan and Sestan in paricular. I say bring on the changes, forget reputations.

Sesto is doing OK at Port Melbourne. getting 20 plus possessions in all his games and in their best. He may still find his way back to the AFL as a mature player. I don't think his career is over yet, and he was made offers for this seaso,n but didn't want to go interstate.

This could be our youngest/most inexperienced team for 10 years!

7 Senior players out. Depth is severely tested

In: Taylor, Moniz-Wakefield, Jefferson, Laurie

Out: McDonald, Salem, Melksham, Lindsay

*Petty moves back

** If Draper and Fort both play, we might unleash the Mooose

Out: Xavier
In: Xavier

?

off topic but - does anyone know where dees fans and DA will be for anzac eve?

booking tix now.

Assume M33/M34??

@Ghostwriter

🙂

50 minutes ago, DubDee said:

off topic but - does anyone know where dees fans and DA will be for anzac eve?

booking tix now.

Assume M33/M34??

@Ghostwriter

🙂

M33

11 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

I agree given our injuries and positions , we might need to debut Xavier Taylor . @picket fence It’s early, and he needs more development, but he has the talent

Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (injured) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured)

Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Moniz-Wakefield. Taylor

ANW Petty Lever

Howes Turner Lindsay

Langdon Steele Windsor

Sharp Kentfield Chandler

Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch

Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy

Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Taylor

Emerg. Johnson Jefferson Laurie

@Roost it far @picket fence

Xavier Taylor in.

Given injuries to Rivers, Bowey and Salem.

I think AMW also is a must include. He should get first crack at Charlie Cameron. With McVee departing, we need a steady small defender to pickup quick small forwards.

Love a Dee debut and the kid just has a swagger about him that I love. Will be interested to see who else makes way and who else comes in.
I won't be surprised if they line him up on Cameron first up and I dont think the kid would be overawed.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Lil_red_fire_engine

13 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

M33

Thanks Ghosty!!

See you there with my boy