Leaderboard

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/roughead-out-indefinitely Very sad and worrying news for Roughy, his family and the club. Hope he responds well to the treatment as is able to get back to full health.

Good thing Brock McLean isn't replacing Jones.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-16/rivals-circle-free-agent-demon-defender-neville-jetta Apparently sparking a bit of interest outside the club. Doesn't strike me as very likely to leave - I expect the club values him greatly and he will get an offer accordingly, and he seems to me to be a particularly loyal person. I reckon he will want to be a part of what is to come. It's definitely been an amazing career turnaround, and just goes to show what can be done with some struggling players with a decent system around them. He's become one of our most consistent players and definitely a personal favourite of mine.

Still wish she would teach the Hulk to kick.

I coach women's AFL in Central Queensland and got the pleasure of spending a day coaching women from our region with Tayla. Was absolutely stoked to meet one of the original Melbourne Demon women's players, and had a great chat to her about the Women's League and it's just as you've said, there's very little in way of structure and planning. The girls who currently play with the Demons or Dogs sides don't really know one another unless they happen to play at a club level together and there is very little training or bonding together - they sort of just turn up and are expected to play on the big stage with women they hardly know. Tayla seemed to looked forward to the introduction of more teams including a Queensland side, where there was far more structure, training, planning etc, where they could play their best football and really earn the respect of the public. Sad she won't stay a Demon but very happy for her, was a lovely young women and hopefully the bigger league will give the women the best chance to ply their trade and show their skills in front of the nation.

Who came up with the observation first? The Age 3 days ago or the Geelong Advertiser? http://www.smh.com.au/sport/opposition-analyst-western-bulldogs-defence-learn-new-tricks-20160513-goukwu.html I had just posted this on another thread: The difficulty with the "diamond or star pattern" or whatever you want to call it, is that it is good for 30 seconds at the bounce of the ball in the middle. It doesn't work when the ball has been moved up the field and a turnover results. Or as seen multiple times in the St.Kilda game, the play is on the opposite side to the interchange and Saints players were coming off the bench and slipping in behind the defenders un-marked. Against the Dogs we saw their mids prepared to run into the open space behind the defenders and how many times did they kick goals from inside the goal square without a Melbourne player in sight? We saw 18 uncontested marks inside the defensive 50 with St.Kilda, and a good number again against the Dogs. I think Bealzebub said in another thread, who also has a basketball background, you have to be able to transition from zone to man-on-man or even a combination of both. Sticking with 1 plan doesn't always work, you must adjust to the oppositions capabilities.

I was up at the GC last week for the game and intended to catch up with a player (who I won't name) for a few beers afterwards. Not long after the thumping win I got a text through saying a few other players would be joining us. However, Jones wanted none of it and told the group they were bound to the hotel and an extra early morning recovery was called. This was on the back of Melbourne's dismal record after a win and turning the focus to next week. Whilst I was personally disappointed not to "get around the boys" it was pleasing to see a great show of leadership.

Then why post? Or even open the thread? Dislike button required. [censored]

He's without doubt now the most consistent Jetta. Not being blessed with the pace of his cousins has probably proven to be a blessing rather than the curse we thought it might be, as it has forced him to bust a gut developing the other areas of his game. He's definitely the toughest Jetta, too.

I mentioned this in the game day thread yesterday. Jetta is an A grade defender now. He's been beating his opponent every week since the start of 2015. He holds our backline together and wins contests in the same way that Rance does. Given Rance is lauded as one of, if not, the best defender in the league, I'd say Jetta is not far behind. He is criminally underrated, at least in the media. This news appears to suggest internally opposition clubs rate him very highly. Well done, Nev. You're a star and I loved your high five down at Geelong last year. Oh and no fears Jets will leave. None whatsoever.

The philosophy here is actually great. It's a bit like the triangle offense in the NBA: every player has a role, and if every player plays that role perfectly, the offense is unbeatable. That translate into defense, with more fast breaks, better transition. We saw it with the Bulls in the 90s, Lakers last decade, and the Warriors now who have tweaked it and incorporated it into their defense. As King said, it puts the onus onto the midfield to win the ball. If they don't, it is then the responsibility of the midfielders and the half-backers to run both ways and get back into defense to block the hole. It absolutely has to work like a well-oiled machine. There is zero margin for error. Many on here bemoan Melbourne for playing an "outdated" style but we're trying something new and unique and once (if) it works, then everything will be fine. It demands accountable football 100% of the time. I don't think we lost against the Saints or the Bulldogs because of this. We lost in other areas of the ground. They were flat against the Saints, who won too much of the ball at the stoppage. The Bulldogs played the MCG better than we did and had players those few extra feet out of stoppages. They got the handball out and they had a few meters of space to deliver forward. Ultimately I think that in our losses this year excluding the North loss, we've lost it in the middle, not down back. In matches where Vince, Gawn, Jones and even Oliver aren't particularly influential -- they might get the stats but don't really provide us with much run or drive -- we tend to struggle.

As the Fonz would say - exactamundo! In the first half Gawn got smashed, Hogan was ineffectual, Jones was average, Garlett went missing and Pederson was poor. Yes and so was Watts. Yet Watts was the only one of those players who markedly improved their performance in the second half. A bit of balance would not go astray.

The difficulty with the "diamond or star pattern" or whatever you want to call it, is that it is good for 30 seconds at the bounce of the ball in the middle. It doesn't work when the ball has been moved up the field and a turnover results. Or as seen multiple times in the St.Kilda game, the play is on the opposite side to the interchange and Saints players were coming off the bench and slipping in behind the defenders un-marked. Against the Dogs we saw their mids prepared to run into the open space behind the defenders and how many times did they kick goals from inside the goal square without a Melbourne player in sight? We saw 18 uncontested marks inside the defensive 50 with St.Kilda, and a good number again against the Dogs. I think Bealzebub said in another thread, who also has a baskeball background, you have to be able to transition from zone to man-on-man or even a combination of both. Sticking with 1 plan doesn't always work, you must adjust to the oppositions capabilities.

Maybe we could try a pyramid scheme against Geelong

I thought we already agreed on demonland he was leaving? FWIW i have a cousin playing for the same team with the same player manager and he has told me Prestia is leaving. It is just whether he comes to Melbourne.

So many good posts on this thread it's impossible to quote them all. The most important point is that this is above all a work in progress. I think that's why, for the time being, we're playing an extreme form of it. To work well under pressure, it needs 6 out of 6 defenders (and however many mids) to be in the right position and to respond in the right way. If one out of the 6 is out of position, then the flood gates open. As it stands, we're trying to get a bunch of kids (Hunt, Wagner, Salem, O-Mac etc) to learn it within their first 30 (or in some cases 10) games. Plus a bunch of seasoned players (Lumumba, Dunn, Garland, Grimes, etc) to adjust to a plan that's almost the complete opposite of what they've done for years. I've left out Jetta, Vince & T-Mac because they're the ones who at this stage are anywhere near getting it right. That leaves a helluva lot of holes. And we need more talls - the problem for T-Mac is that he has to get to the drop zone of every ball that's bombed in, because he's the only one that can contest against a tall forward. The Dogs knew this, and when the ball comes in long & high, it's easy for them to work out where he is (because he's the only one who's going to make a contest) and impede him to make sure he doesn't get to the drop. And it only looks bad when we're the "hunted" - when other teams have done their homework on us and worked out specifically how to beat it, and are coached to play in that fashion. We can't fly under the radar any more. But when we do eventually get it right, it will work very well indeed and we'll be an exhilarating team to watch, and very hard to stop.

Who wouldn't want to go to a team that has recently admitted they knew their recruiting strategy wouldn't win them a premiership.....

I noticed it since preseason and I like it. Usually teams follow the half backs up and then it becomes 4 v 4 down back with the Dees defenders in perfect position to win the ball back and our 2 half backs are aggressive up the ground. What concerns me is whether the plan B is there. Riewoldt followed the half backs up against the Saints and shredded us in transition, as McDonald never got back on him and Lumumba and co were confused. I also think it highlights the need for versatile defenders. Every defender has to be a strong aerial defender, strong intercept mark, good reader of the play and good at ground level. Jetta, Hunt, Wagner, Lumumba, Salem and Vince all have good attributes to play this style but they also have weaknesses. Tommy McDonald's endurance and ability to attack the ball in the air and mark is made for this game plan, but he has to be reading it well and jumping for his marks. On the days he has confidence issues he turns a strength in to a weakness. The less said about Dunn and Garland the better.

He's contracted until the end of 2017. He will get a compensation payout. He might want to leave the club he trusted who injected him with substances they've forgotten the names of. He's likely to earn double what's he's on now. He'd be treated as a DFA in resepcts of the compensation Essendon would get, which is none. He would still get to the club of his choice.

For those of you who, like me, did not understand our failure to play man-on-man against the Saints, and again on Sunday, it was explained last night by King. Here it is: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/video/id-dkczdqMzE6LndKLOC0cqCBdRAmrq9zUW/The-Demons-Diamond-Defence

I know I will get howled down for this, but I don't rate Prestia as highly as others on here and more to the point, don't see him as one of our major needs. I think we need more outside pace and I don't think he is that. We also need another key back and a second ruck. If the Tigers offer to Hurley is correct, I would imagine they would win a bidding war with us, if he leaves the Bombers, as we have a number to satisfy. I can see the Tigers letting a few go to make a fair bit of room in the cap. I would be looking carefully at the GWS talent pool, as they have plenty not getting a game.

More importantly, he is only a kid and has the majority of his life ahead of him.

I agree. A good analogy is pro golfers. The best players hit pressure shots under the gun because of swings that are metronomic. Same goes for nba basketballers. The best shot i have ever seen is curry. His shooting action is pure and the same from wherever he shoots from on the court. The main problem with hogan is that his run up and action is a little different every time

A heap of goals ! The problem with the diamond is not so much if we lose the tap but when we push forward hard and turn the ball over. I don't recall us getting killed from the centre square bounces - but when we push up and lose the ball - mark it down as an easy goal against us.

He lives just near me. Top bloke and down to earth. I have wished him well on behalf of all Demon supporters. I tried to get him to consider joining the Dees, a couple of years back but he wouldn't even give it a second thought. I wonder why?

why? because they need to learn how to play it against a team who is playing well. Its not good only practacing against teams like gold coast,collingwood, richmond etc because it was always gonna work against them. We will have to wear some cheap goals and lots of them against better sides. If we slowly learn how to give up a cheap goal then kick 2 goals ourselves i think we will be happy.

It's heavily reliant upon Gawn winning it to the midfield IMO. If the opposition win the ball out with a quick clearance kick we're out of position around the 50m line/half forward. (See example on replay). Risk for reward. If there is a sudden turnover on our forward line. Quick movement by the opposition can also put us out of whack. I like the initiative shown and I see the positives; it's critical we (i) win the ball/clearance (ii) maintain possession (iii) get the right execution - effective disposal. Obviously the opposition analysts of teams will back their plan to win the ball, or try nullify Gawn's influence - see Hickey on Gawn, Dogs v Gawn.

Don't get the posters on here wanting to drop Michie. He was clearly our 2nd best defender. So he did not get much in the way of tackles or contested possessions. One of our problems is the number of times we had 2 or 3 players attacking the ball, creating a contest between themselves and having no outlet. Watch the Dogs attack a contest. They had 1 player in the contest and 2 or 3 on the periphery to get the quick throw. I think this is the role Viv was tasked with this week (and last) He has quick hands, is a decent and accurate kick and has composure. Watch the bit of play in the 3rd quarter (at the end) under significant pressure but kept his head, weighed up two options and delivered. His only blemish on the weekend was a kick to Watts when in my (armchair) opinion there was a better option. His kicking was penetrating and accurate and he had 6 intercept marks. I would be surprised if he gets dropped this week. For those of you old enough to remember him Craig Bradley played a similar role. I used to refer to him as a sheep dog just hanging around the packs. But he was a terrific link man who moved the ball on to the running players. Every team needs them (no I am not saying Viv is as good as Braddles). This is the 4th time he has played in defence in my time watching his career and I think he is getting better. The commentators (Hodge I think) even said he had been good off the HBF. And before I get smashed in replies yes I am a big fan of Viv's. I think he has become a whipping boy on this site. Plenty of excuses found for others who turn it over heaps but praised for one bit of good play. I personally do not like potting players as they are doing something I failed at many (many) years ago. Smash away.

Related: The Demon shop was chockers on Sunday with the queue to pay snaking right around the perimeter.

All depends on Max, if we lose out of the middle we're going to get scored against heavily, if we win it's going to allow us to score heavily from clearance. i like the idea but i do think we need a plan B because while it allows us to have the patches where we kick 5-6 goals quickly, it allows the opposition to do the same at times.

Neville is a Dee.

I'd be rapt if we nabbed Hurley. Melksham, McCartney and Goodwin handy acquisitions in such a decision. Interesting that Richmond has entered the fray at Round 8 and we were rumoured to be into him in late March. Tigers asleep at the wheel again with a late bid. #desperation

Predictable. Kicked 3 goals and set up others. Not a great game, but definitely a pass on any (reasonable) construction. Junk time goals? Nope. It's good that we arrested a potential 10-15 goal blow out and competed until the final siren against a top 4 team. The Bulldogs do not ease the foot of the accelerator in 'junk time', which I take it you mean the entire second half given that's when Watts lifted his game, kicked his goals and set up others.

Neville is a little champ. He is a leader at the club and I will eat my polyester scarf if he leaves.

For the love of God! He can't leave "as a free agent" because he isn't entitled to free agency status. All he's allowed to do is bin his contract and walk to other clubs under the category of Delisted Free Agent. All current banned Essendon players have this right, and this right alone, simply due to Essendon's breach of contract for allowing a WADA-breaching injection regime into the club.

Wished they stop showing the stringer goal where hunter should have been called for dropping the ball!! Pretty sure a drop kick whilst being tackled is illegal.

Let's put Pythagoras at CHB. Knows how to switch play.

That's a bit obtuse

David King just advocated Fremantle tanking. I [censored] you not. "What's the incentive for winning?" Of all the shows to say it on

Nathan Jones: Spoke about the momentum at the club. Said they were disappointed not to be closer on the weekend (as the effort was good) but we played the youngest and most inexperienced team across the competition. Dogs beat us up in contested ball, but we were still the 4th highest rated contested ball team on the weekend (made me happy). Jones rates the Dogs as the real deal. Nath then spoke about the Diamond Defence plan - said all the emphasis is on the contest in the middle of the ground especially against the dogs. Re: Jesse Hogan's kicking. Jonesy defended him and said his kicking is usually pretty good. Said Jesse is working on it but did kick 7 straight 3 weeks ago. (Well played skipper). They then showed Jesse's run up as junior and it was very similar and Dunstall said he's an efficient kick and won't need to change much - and said it's really not much of a big deal. Spoke about giving it out to Riewoldt after the Richmond win but didn't reveal much. Gerald asked him about rotations and about his drop off in output after half time. Nath said he thinks it's more to do with overcoming the neck injury and that he's building into it now. Goodwin hand over - Nath said it's a really smooth process. Roos handles day to day but they see the game the same way so that's a big help. Goodwin should get credit for us being more attacking. Then spoke about how fun it is to be attacking and kicking goals. Then he spoke about surfing with Gerald and going surfing with Jesse and James Harmes. Sounds promising for those who like to read WAY too much into those sort of comments. Seemed very relaxed and happy.

His only goal yesterday was in junk time. His four gettable misses earlier were all when we needed a goal to keep us in the game. His last miss ended up as a coast to coast turnaround that sealed our fate. He has to kick the pressure goals and that requires a reliable kicking action for long term sustainability as a key forward.

Did you miss the post above that says Dr Larkins believes he should be rested for the remainder of the year? Additionally, we have no idea what his record was with concussions prior to joining an AFL team. Players who attack the ball like Brayshaw does are likely to have suffered numerous concussions in junior competition... there is one such kid in my son's team (just under 14's) who has already suffered two or three concussions this year... to the point where he woke up with such a bad headache that he had to go to the hospital for an immediate check-up. Not only did Blease retire due to issues but also there is the well publicised case of Daniel Bell who suffered brain damage. I find it rather incredible that some supporters see the need to put these players out there regardless of potential major health issues, simply in order to improve our chances of winning a few games. Some things are simply bigger than the game.

Forget about the physical similarities, Weideman thinks and plays like a key forward and that's not Watts' go. Weideman attacks marking contests with belief and fearlessness and that has never been Watts' strong suit.

Weideman is developing ahead of schedule. He's showing great ability already and is close to matching what Hogan did at VFL level in his first year. Once he adds more strength to his upper body he'll be a ripper at AFL level. Hulett is going nicely as well. He's still learning and is a bit behind, but he uses his body well and attacks the contest. He just needs to work on consistency and leading to the right spots.

Just signed a colleague in Rome up, basically she couldn't back out after the Richmond win. (She started the season saying MFCSS, but admitting any sort of love for the club was a mistake, I have hounded her since (and inferred that her contract renewal depended on it.)) I have a couple of seppos in BKK I'm working on too.

Prefer the dodecahedron myself

Then you'd be a traitor... ...Lord Commander.

Interesting to see how he'd be going in the Best and Fairest. Can't remember him having a bad game or an opponent kicking a bag on him. Obviously not getting the Press of Gawn or Viney but he has had a great year so far.

Can't see him leaving at all after we gave him a second shot at it back in 2013. Seems a very loyal type. Just can't see it happening.