Leaderboard

Just back: Some comments: Hogan: Simply an asset. Aggressive, quick, strong hands, awkward but reliable kick. N Jones: Busy. Just Jones Salem: Will be a lock for 22 on this form. Played down back and had a lot of it and kicked very well. Toumpas: Made the odd mistake but found plenty of it and kicked well. Dawes: Can't get a clean mark, they were all two grabbers. Not that impressive but worked hard. Viney: Aggressive, plenty of the ball and linked up well. Brayshaw looked taken aback by Viney's attack on the ball. He'll learn. Lumumba: As you'd expect. Just blowing the cobwebs away. Brayshaw: Pretty much unsighted by me. Gawn: Did ok competing up forward and rucked well but was beaten by Jamar who will be no 1 on todays form. Tyson: Not prolific but classy. McKenzie: Prolific but not classy. Pity he can't do more with the ball but he cut Kent right out of the play coming off half back. Dunn: Solid workout BILLY STRETCH: What did we pay for this bloke? Well it was a bargain. Plenty of the ball, ran well, clean hands, kicked well. I loved his father and I'll love watching Billy. Frost: Solid at both ends. I really like this bloke. Kent: Rarely sighted. I was disappointed as I love this bloke. Cross: Just gets it but made some awful disposal clangers. Newton: Didn't notice him much. I think he's that sort of player as I noticed another poster praised him. Garland: Solid Pedersen: Good competitive hitout. Competed well in the ruck and around the ground. Michie: Started really well and I thought was one of our better players but died out a little. Found a lot of the ball. T Mac: Solid Riley: Solid O Mac: Was involved in a bit but a project player I'd have thought. Grimes: Solid. No kicking clangers that I saw. Garlett: On this form he'll be the recruit of the season and Malthouse will just look silly. Class above. Jamar: Best ruckman. Took a good grab but little involvement other than that. Spencer: A game to forget for Jake. Bail: Played very well early with plenty of the ball and played centre square a bit. Great run, clean with the ball. M Jones: Played well. Kicked well and has pace. In best 22 on todays form I'd have thought. Terlich: Lots of the ball and played as Terlich plays. Harmes: Aggressive at the ball but not pressing ahead of the other "competing" mids for a spot. It seemed to me to be a day where the "definite" 22 just went through the paces, got a bit of the ball and looked to find some touch. The other players had something to prove and some took their chances. I don't think Stretch is ready but was impressive, Toump and Salem were good and Salem in particular has stepped up significantly as you'd expect. There were times when there was no flow in the game with multiple kicks across half back but there did seem to be a more attacking flavor to the game plan. Pity that a few missed but shyte happens. I'll be interested to compare my impressions with others.

Made it out there. I'm going to save you most my long story about stupidly thinking the whole of Eastern Melbourne is pretty close by, going to do the 1000 steps then battling traffic through Belgrave to cut down to Casey. Except for saying they're are now many more housing developments along Clyde road and each one comes with a roundabout and Australians seem to have absolutely no understanding of how to drive through roundabouts. So I made it there at about 5 passed 3 which turned out to be quite a bit in to the 1st quarter. They played 4 quick quarters with pretty quick breaks besides 3/4 time when they went inside but not for much more than 5 or so minutes. The red team won by about 5 goals. Reds:Hogan, Garlett, Dawes, Gawn, Spencer, Cross, Tyson, Viney, Garland, Dunn, McDonald, Riley, Stretch, Salem Blues (MFC jumper): Jones, Frost, Pedersen, Oscar Mc, Jamar, Toumpas, Terlich, Grimes, Viv, HL, Kent, Brayshaw Unsure what team: Newton, Riley, Bail, Matt Jones, Harmes MIA: Fitzy, Watts and White (running laps), Hunt (had been training), Trengove, ANB, KIng, Howe, Vince Can't remember seeing Vandenberg at all Jetta and JKH obviously in Perth Petracca there in casual clothes. Knee in a bandage/brace whatever you call it. Pumping all his fellow young guys up on the bench. Smiling. Showing great character. Hogan was largely opposed to Bryce Rutherford from Casey, so I'd temper expectations. He also had a few uncharacteristic drops otherwise he couldve kicked 6. Garlett was cleaning them up though. Dawes was double grabbing but presenting and bringing it to ground, had a good match up on Frost for the first half or so. Frost was solid, then went forward. Tom McDonald played on his brother, which allowed him to run off and get involved in rebound, he wasn't perfect but took a couple of nice marks. Playing with Dunn and Garland they were much more organised in the backline than the other team and Salem was benefited and capitalised from that. He has the most lovely pure kicking action and looked a natural back there at least rebounding. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for Terlich and Grimes at the other end. Grimes had a couple of shocking turnovers. Preseason seems to have done nothing for his confidence, balance or execution by foot. Dished off a hospital handball as well and generally looked like he just can't find the right space to link up. I guess he's got a month to change that. Terlich was ok, but in an effort to move the ball on quickly he grubbed a left foot kick off half a step and he followed a great bursting run through half back with a kick straight to a leading CHF in the centre of the ground. In some ways its moving the ball on quickly, but if it's not marked it becomes a very dangerous spot to have the ball in dispute. This kick was easily spoiled by the defender right on the hammer of the forward. Newton got hold of the ball at used it pretty well at times. Stretch seemed a natural running player. Links up well, not perfect by foot but you can see him improving and being a very good running player, I think he'll get a shot this year. Toumpas had some good moments. Aidan Riley was really cracking in at the contests. Jordie McKenzie was finding space and the footy from half back, but unfortunately his kicking is still far from AFL level, went for a penetrating forward entry from 60m out but the ball went 30m deep but 60m high. Viv Michie had some moments, he seems a solid tackler, my main concern is he just doesn't play at the speed required. Jamar dealt with Spencer pretty easily in the rucks and probably had the advantage on Gawn as well. It annoys me we will still look to drop a ruck behind the ball from half forward stoppages, I hate that tactic. Gawn might have been edged in the ruck but he's as good as if not better than most of our midfielders on the spread and had plenty of touches of the footy. Draws men and gives solid handballs at times. Lumumba was pretty involved, playing a fair bit on the ball for the blues. At times he really broke the game open with run and spread. A couple of other times he ran in to team mates in contests though, which is hard to tell who's fault it is. Certainly rather them running in to each other than both sitting back at this stage. Lumumba will help us move the ball on quicker, but it wont always end well when he goes on his big runs. Both Matt Jones and Bail bobbed up in times. Bail finding plenty of space. Matt Jones with a nice break away from a pack and hit up kick to a leading forward. Crossy was involved in everything early, found a heap of the footy a couple of poor turnovers though before he settled down. With the ball running on in to space and the only two in the area Viney and Brayshaw contested a loose ball. Brayshaw (in a move he'll probably regret) tried to initiate a bump with Viney and seemed only to run his jaw in to Viney's shoulder. He didn't take part much after that but he stayed on straight after and then on the bench didn't have it iced or much concern for him. It was right in front of the main crowd so likely others saw it and maybe tracked him better than I did.

My first venture out to see the boys this pre season, and the following are my highlights of the events: N.Jones, was dominant, classy, prolific, and everything you expect of a leader. Salem will be a revelation off the half back line.. his silky skills and reading of the play were clearly obvious today. He made difficult passes look simple, and he was creative and impressive. Garlett will quickly become a fan favourite.. he makes something out of nothing , and his skills are sublime. As Baghdad Bob said earlier, he'll make Malthouse look foolish, which is not a bad thing. Newton, looked to be coasting but got a lot of the ball and regularly used it well. Toumpas was neat and efficient, but his gait looks weird, and it's hard to tell if he'll ever be quick enough when the pressure is exerted. Hogan had little to beat, being matched up against an undersized, top up player, but he has obviously been given the liberty to travel far and wide for his kicks, often marking the ball around the wing area. He is strong, fit and aggressive, though I noticed him pull up from a possible collision with a much smaller opponent for fear of having to attend a funeral the next day. I have no doubt he'd be happy to attend once the season is in progress though. Gawn looks very fit and actually looks like an athlete rather than a woodcutter. I liked the way he moved around the ground and actually did more impressive stuff below his knees than above his head. Dunn is a general and is taking his vice captaincy role very seriously.. he was very vocal and extremely instructive Disappointments from today: Ball movement was still not as slick as hoped for. It WAS very hot but the day was still and conducive to effective transfer of the ball. No dominant ruckman who could regularly impose on a game. Brayshaw appearing to sustain a jaw injury, albeit seemingly not serious. Senior players, who will remain nameless at this early stage of the season , making the same clangers we've grown to detest. The umpires, who continued to make game changing decisions against us.

Ben Guthrie on Twitter: The Demons are going through their final prep ahead of today's intra-club at Casey. There will be 3 x 20 min q's. No wonder we have a maths crisis* in this country. Three 20 minute quarters. Hmmm. *Note: We may or may not actually have a maths crisis

Hi all, went out to Casey today for a look and wish i could offer some new insights but my summary pretty much echoes the thoughts of others (text below). Have been a regular attendee of training for a few years now but first time putting my thoughts out there for the harsh collective of demonlanders to rip apart piece by piece.. I'm also on the committee of the MFC Young Professionals and have included an interview with Howie after the game on our Facebook page for those interested (https://www.facebook.com/mfcyoungprofessionals). Intra-Club Report Nice sunny day out at Casey and a good chance for new recruits and old stagers to show what they’ve learnt as a group over summer.. Garlett played very well, showing his skill around goals and up the ground, will really fill the void of that crumbing forward we’ve missed the last few years. Lumumba looked the goods with a few of his trademark flashy runs from half back and think his disposal and decision-making is pretty solid, would like to see him off half back combining with Salem who did some really nice things today and linked up well as the go-to quarterback player when looking to pierce the ball to a target coming out of defence. No surprises from Nath Jones, Dom Tyson or Viney - Jones got plenty of it as usual, Dom Tyson sidestepped his way beautifully through traffic and Viney went in hard and was vocal out on the ground. Hogan found plenty of space up the ground, don’t know if he ran his opponent off his feet but don’t think he’ll be given that kind of freedom when the real stuff starts. Kicked a few goals but didn’t think he dominated as have seen him do for Casey in the past. Frost was trialled forward and Pedersen in defence so not sure if they’re just experimenting there but I think Pedo looks more comfortable in both positions than the youngster at the moment. Brayshaw went off after a collision with Viney and didn’t take any further part in the game but apparently he’d been sick during the week so it was just precautionary. Petracca was on the interchange bench with strapped knee giving plenty of enthusiastic encouragement and support and getting around all players.. if he’s flat, he’s not showing it, was really good to see him so up and about, just a reflection of the kids personality I think.. Daniel Cross last on the track getting the rig out to kick the pill around with McKenzie and Viney well after everyone else had hit the sheds, just a true leader.. Intra-Club Votes 5 – Garlett 4 – N. Jones 3 – Salem 2 – Hogan 1 – Lumumba/Dunn

Well said BB, Matt Jones Terlich, McKenzie, Bail were solid today, stand outs for me today were Salem, Cross, Garlett , Nathan Jones - pleasant surprises Billy Stretch and Frost Agree Dawes was still double grabbing disappointingly, although he managed to hold on with the second Gawn and Spencer were about on par today, not the day for big men, about the only one still going full steam at the end was Pedersen Vandenberg didn't play because his shoulder needs one more week, Watts because of his groin, White his toe, Vince and Howie with hammy and Jack Fitzpatrick with back related issue (I think), Hunt same still working to full fitness Had a chat to Petracca, he is fine, just wants to stay involved, more pleased with his tweet referencing a 'computer'/console game, and JB HiFi coughed up 20 new ones, said he might mention he wouldn't mind a Mercedes in a tweet Howie is getting frustrated, the fitness/medical staff are holding him back, he hasn't been given a return to aim at, just has to follow day by day, understands the caution though, Bernice Vince redoing his didn't help

I didn't arrive until late so only saw the last half. First impression was there was more intensity than there has been for three or four years. By putting Toumpas and Salem in the backline, we have SIGNIFICANTLY improved kicking out of the backline and speed. Toumpas very much impressed, and Salem's accurate kicking is a phenomenon, particularly kicking in from the square - now that will be a change. The Red Team had Hogan, Dawes and Gawn up forward, and out musled the opposition impressively responding to accurate kicks forward, but we do need to improve overhead marking in our talls: Dawes contested gamely but seems only to have two or three grabs or none at all; hogan, gee he is a strong mark when it is sent directly to him (is another Neitz I reckon) but he too dropped relatively easy contested marks; and Maxy Gawn, I am his biggest fan, but he is very frustrating to watch sometimes. Today his positioning was perfect, contested very strongly, but he too dropped three overhad marks he should have taken, particularly with his height, and the fact he got both hands to the ball all three times. I think Maxy will be a huge star but he does need to use his natural advantages ( his height and his speed) to greater advantage. Hopefully our great coaches will get him there. Overall really impressive for the first hit out which was very encouraging.

Too much info!

My sincere thanks to those who make the journey and report in advance. To those who will later dissolve the thread into bickering about who is the least clever, in advance also, I hate you.

Just about everything has been reported, but I would like to add a couple more observations: * Viney is one tough, hard and competitive beast. Brayshaw thought he had a chance one on one going for the loose ball. Not only did Viney win it hands down, but Brayshaw walked away holding his jaw. Certainly hope he was OK, and although he played on for another 10 minutes, he was last seen going up the race with a trainer, still feeling the side of his face. * Garlett was simply a streak in the forward line. Something we haven't seen since Flash. Just when you think the ball is bouncing around going nowhere, in he comes...making everyone else look like they are standing still. And his snap from deep in the pocket under pressure was an obsolute pearler. Most of the crowd were silent, because they didn't believe it was a goal. * Salem kicking in will be an monumental step up. Accurate, raking kicks to the open man was a delight to watch. Grimes is going to struggle to find a spot when you already have Garland, Dunn, McDonald, Lamumba and Frost filling the main spots. Where do Howe and Jack fit in if Salem is in the mix as well? * Gee Jonesy is great. His carving through a series of players in the first quarter was beautiful to watch. And Cross is another one who seems to make time stand still when he has the ball in his hands. Again poetry in motion * Jamar absolutely owned the ruck, but dropped out of the game around the ground too quickly. Pedersen is going to be the bonus player for us as he can play in virtually any role....forward, back or ruck. * Lamumba is something special to us as well. Finally, we have someone who can break lines and open the game up. Even when he marks with his back to the play, he twists in mid-air looking for the next option...no static play in the backline with him around!

Our only requirement for entry is that you can correctly spell the name of the group.. oh this is awkward..

I'll wait for the real summaries.. That was a pretty ordinary effort by Burgo.

Come on ...go with the big statement HH ! If we lose this one I am never posting on Demonland again.....

From year one I've watched Watts get into perfect positions to hurt the opposition, slipping out back and into space, only to be ignored as though he was as invisible to our ball carriers as he was to their defenders. He has a great awareness of space and how to use it to his advantage to avoid contact. He needs to work harder when the opposition has the ball (the same skill can be used to close down dangerous space and slow other team's transition). He needs to learn how to grab someone around their hips and NOT LET GO. I have not given up on him yet.

GO DEMONS!!! Lets start the season off with a win

http://titusoreily.com/what-the-hell-is-a-match-day-experience/?

OD I hope that is because your eyesight has failed. Perhaps you could listen.

You have inspired me to get the train, if I can survive on Victoria St, can survive anywhere.....your ageism notwithstanding, I will be the distinguished looking gentleman with the grey beard and the scooter

Who said people wont be at Cranbourne at 2 ? I will. For too long a lot of MFC supporters act like little gods deeming nobody lives more than 10 kms from the GPO. That's one of the reasons our supporter base is so low and one of the oldest in age. We seem to look down on people who live out here, I live in Pakenham and cant make training at Goshs paddock, but I enjoy the reports put on this site from Dees supporters. But hold training or match practice out here and the noses rise a bit higher. Come out breathe the air , we are people and Dees supporters out here too.

Tweet from Ben Guthrie: "The Dees' intra club match at Casey Fields has finished up. Salem BOG. Hogan and Garlett dominant up forward. Billy Stretch impressive." Only one man's opinion, of course, but with three of the four not having played a game for us and the other only playing a few cameos in 2014, it's a comment I like a lot.

Intraclub matches are perfect for Melbourne supporters with MFCSS. If the forwards dominate we can safely assume that the backline is not up to AFL standard. If the backline dominate we can safely assume that the forwards are going be a weakness. It’s a perfect Lose-Lose situation.

As well as a like button should we have a dislike button? And if you get too many dislikes you are sin binned for a period, a form of peer review system.

I would also like to make sure that we have enough to lock Hogan up to a good deal for 2017 and beyond before season 2016 kicks off.

64 was not our last flag, it was our most recent. Its does feel like the last one though.

And by the same token, poor form in an intra-club means little?

Someone wants the MFC to bite... they aren't.

It's not a final ruling only a ruling that the case can be heard. There now needs an adverse finding against the CAS ruling for the athlete to succeed and that would be on the facts of the way in which the hearing was conducted. The article covers proceedings in a German court whose procedures are different to ours. It therefore won't have much bearing but, depending on what happens with the Tribunal result, it could encourage one of the parties to draw it all out a bit longer.

We all have this idea that players can suddenly change over the course of one Summer, it rarely happens like that. Most improvement will come from playing during the season I would imagine.

Well looks like the usual suspects in Grimes, Mckenzie, Terlich and Spencer will continueto roll on for 2015... cheers for the reports

Did Vandenberg play?

JKH and Nev Jetta make final squad for tomorrow eagles Vs All-stars game. Looking forward to see how JKH goes

I think he was rested for the entire fourth quarter

Hogan and Garlett!... seven goals between them. Yay!

'Sam Frost goals'. I thought he nicked a hammy at training on Monday.

Image courtesy of DeestroyAll

Not a great trainer in terms of stamina, work ethic etc. by all training reports, but put a ball in his hand and let him play the game, and boy is Garlett a beauty: Garlett hits Dawes with a nice pass Matty Jones - fine work. Runs and carries the ball with a bounce and finds Garlett, who finishes with a goal. Jeff Garlett produces some pace and class and kicks a fine goal Jeff Garlett kicks a fine goal from the boundary. Nice work by the new Dee Jeff Garlett again kicks truly. He's been very good. * Continually editied as GARLETT KEEPS DOING STUFF!!!!!111one!!!!11

3 goals for Garlett now.

Jezus - I read this too quickly and just saw - distinguished looking gentleman with the grey beard and hooters and now I am having a disturbing visual that just won't go away.

Yeah i read it. I dont like the whole fire works idea but I do think gathering your supporters in the one area and getting a united cheer squad at the 'Barrackers End' as well as draping banners from the stand is pretty cool. I would like us to have some visual presence at our home ground. I know the G isn't like any Premier League ground where we can colour the seats red and blue, so improvising like that isnt a bad idea. I know Stynes and Schwabb got some signs erected on the northern stand that say 'Never Say Die Demons' and some other such stuff. Hardly notice them though as they are on the Northern side and the TV cameras shoot from the same side. No offence to anyone here that may be a part of the MFC cheer-squad, but i reckon we have one of the worst cheer squads in the AFL. Run by a bunch of nasty older woman who are typical footy nuffies. I had the displeasure of meeting them all two seasons ago when I tried to sit behind the goals, one nasty cow asks "are you a member, I quickly produced my MFC members card to which she replied "that's not a Cheer Squad membership!" ..i realize that it must have been an extreme inconvenience to her to have me occupy 1 of the vacant 40 odd seats in their area and try to give voice to their cause so I quickly left. No wonder we are such a disjointed supporter group. What ever happened to Angelo, the mohawk bloke who ran the 'Red Seat cheer squad' and the bloke who used to wear the Ricky Jackson #45 hoodie? That group seems to have disappeared. I am not calling for radical change here, I am just looking at improving on what we have at our disposal. Forget fire works, dancers, singers, just look at the basics like getting MFC + MCC mermbers sitting together again, establishing an after match function room at the MCG where fans can gather and players come. That improves my match day experience more than singing and fire works.

I know it's the software and not the Demonland administrator's fault, but auto-censoring the diminutive of Richard is patently ridiculous.

they ALL do have their own little barrows for sure. For me a number of sources works well and then try to figure out what is common to all and check that against any known facts etc. Like you though, dont trust them as such

I just came here to post this article. If anyone disagrees with it then I think Australian Rules football probably isn't for them.

After several years of injuries to players during the pre-season the club thought this may help. Unfortunately a few players experienced bad punctures and will be out 4-2-6 weeks.

A failed heroin importer in an Indonesian gaol awaiting clemency?

Maybe I missed something here, but what happened to that clause where if more than 2 players in the same sporting team are found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs, then the entire team faces sanctions (ie. can't compete)?

Well it introduces a plethora of outcomes really. There hasnt been a lot of reason and common sense to date so where shall that take us ? At what point do any of the less affected take to their own road and realise that to little its but some sort of game. To Hird , well this narcissistic prima dona is in his own private orbit and as such is beyond the common realm; but the players and though I enforce the notion its their own bloody fault I concede certain irregularities of the locker room etc, it is theirs to direct now, if they so wish. I sense its too late for these pea brains, they are both cause and victim of the footy club mentality which has so well served those that ought unfair advantage. If I may be so crass as to suggest a rather vulgar analogy its like the morning after when one's eyes eventually pry open from a drunken slumber and realise that you arent alone and that the previous evening's adventure might have gone awry and one longs for their clothes and avenue of escape: I have no doubt there are some essendon players, indeed their parents , and so called guardians , that now look to the door and know its too late. what say I? [censored] them !!

what then makes me curious is...... All the way along it seems as though the players ..or rather' cannon fodder' ruled by EFC have sought time; but that now time is by another's clock. .......If the tribunal does indeed come down on the side of righteousness and the feeble grumble then it must be that EFC is still moored in the same boat.. ie. Its players refuse to play lest they be outed.( this I find the most humourous of all but... ) So the bummer s attempt a game of clandestine deceit ( almost an oxymoron , however as with many things to do with this episode it has special waivers ) At what stage do the other 17 simply put Gill the Dill in a corner and basically threaten to pumble him lest he enact some late common sense to the situation Is there any foundation of the game that this felonious club hasn't trampled upon. Much is made supposedly of the NEED for this club but I argue can it be more than 17 others ?? I dont see it. Where and when is the tipping point for jettisoning this bunch of fwits ? The AwFuL is about to start its little dance aka as broadcast rights. It must surely be able to portray itself as master of its game lest the value be 2/3 of 3/5 of bugger all. A suggestion to Dill. March to Windy Hill and lay down the law..threaten their very existence i.e licence. everyone has had enough . EFC are not only taking the plss but attempting force majeure...and ironically they arent...not any more.

Intra Club after today? Call it off that would be far too dangerous at this stage. And I am not sure on the NAB either, that could be dangerous as well. And as for round 1 forget it I say too much can go wrong.

I am, so I can't afford to go out there