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Thought Frost did well in his return.

Bitter has risen in Katherine I shall end my perilous outback odyssey in Darwin this afternoon and make a grand entrance at the football this evening I expect the team to be inspired by my presence and thrash those Westralians soundly!

She may need a penicillin shot.

Ripper, I can watch the footy shows again on Monday

Good Evening fellow demonlanders, as posts from Darwin seem rather thin we shall attempt to fill the void. Team arrived at midnight last night, according to our source the flight was delayed. Consequently the training session was delayed somewhat, commencing just after 11:30 am this morning rather than the advertised 10:30 am start. Which was just fine, the Marrara ground is a picture, its surface is well grassed and some additional 'outdoor' new seating has been built on the outer side of the ground adjacent to the Michael Long Centre. The grandstand now honours the late Maurice Rioli no doubt Junior Boy will be in attendance come Saturday night. Being the nominated 'home' team Demons really get the pick of the facilities using the more modern change rooms and gym facilities of the Michael Long Centre. Fremantle get the more antiquated visitors dungeon deep in the bowels of the stadium we assume. Perhaps a swap of change rooms would be in order after Captain Viney's call for the team to get back to the 'basics'! Goal kicking practice for a few of the forwards was the first appearance of players on to the ground. Led by a Tom McDonald mini-clinic, he has a rock-solid goal kicking technique, head and ball position is maintained prior to a faultless ball drop and an efficient and linear kicking action, a bio-mechanics masterpiece. Even Bayley Fritsch struggled for accuracy deep in the forward pocket but Tom split the middle consistently. Goody appeared and purposely strode up to the coaches box to take in the view, which was decidedly smoky after recent scrub fires close to the oval. Sunset will indubitably be enhanced, hopefully it will not affect athletic performance game time. Meanwhile the small advance party were called back inside for what appears to be another meeting. The bane of the modern workplace it seems, although contemporary orthodoxy suggests footy as well as being a "game of inches" is won or lost between the players ears. Hope they were listening. Whilst this was going on one of the factotums was placing colourful plastic position discs around the forward fifty arcs both ends of the ground. The full team session was about to begin! Max Gawn demonstrated his ability to kick the high degree of difficulty checkside goal with ease from the tightest forward pocket position as the team positively bounded out of the team meeting on to the ground. The team approached training in a spirited and positive frame of mind. The mostly brief drills initially focused on sharp ball handling skills, hand-balling, short-passing by foot and some contested drills gaining possession in packs without much contact. After the the first series of ball-handling drills the team divided into forwards, mid-fielders and defenders. For what appeared to be succinct on field tutorials with the line coaches. Sam Frost joined the defenders, as did Bernie Vince who seemed to be the only emergency traveling up. But surprisingly, given Goody's mantra about total team defense, much of the later part of the training session was dedicated to ball movement into the forward fifty. The colourful plastic position discs came into play, with a complex drill which almost seemed to mimic marching girl precision with speed, with variations on a big "W" pattern. Anyway lowering the eyes, delivering a well weighted and directed pass either by foot or by hand was the theme. Post-training those fans in attendance including your top-end correspondents got to meet the players. After last year's disappointment here against a resurgent crows outfit, the guys seemed to be enjoying the territory warmth and hopefully can re-discover the spark to re-launch our assault for a finals berth. Go you Mighty Demons !

It was ugly, it was tough to watch and the skills in the conditions were not flash. But in the end we rock and rolled them by 9 goals and, had we said we would win by that margin earlier today, everyone would have taken it. There were some real positives tonight. Petracca returned to form in a big way which was great to see. Did some really classy things but he also worked his backside off around the ball on the defensive end. Had 5 tackles to go with 28 possessions (just needed to kick his goals!) and that's excellent. Now he needs to keep it up. Clarry and Gawn are stars, Salem and Harmes continues to improve and Gus is having a terrific year. Bayley Fritsch looked a cut above in the conditions with his clean hands and silky skills. I thought the changes we made worked really well. Stretch did some good things and used the ball well. Jeffy, while not having a huge impact, gave us some pressure and zip at the fall of the ball and seeing him lay 6 tackles was really good. He will only get better from that. Frosty was excellent down back, albeit against average opponents, while I thought Spargo worked himself into the game. It's good to see Goodwin make the right changes and it showed tonight. Obviously, we still need to work on how we use the ball going forward. We look terrific when we lower our eyes and have space for the forwards to lead into. We still bomb it far too much, although we were still able to have 37 shots on goal. Turn that into, say, 23.13 and we have smashed them off the peninsula. Our defence was better tonight as well as we stifled their run. I was a little worried their outside runners could make us pay, but we were far more organised and it showed. Let's take the win and see it as a way to get our season back on track. It was also good to add more to our percentage which is still the second best in the competition. Yes, this was easy opposition but after last week we need to ensure we get these wins, and we did that tonight. It's nice to be back on the winners list, even if it was a little ugly at times.

Has anyone credited Salem? kid is a gun and deserves some recognition

I thought Tyson was really very good today. Good on him.

Agree, and 14 of those 17 were contested. Great comeback by him. Terrific reward for all his hard work and perseverance.

That’s just silly, we’d need 113,361 inside 50 entries.

After years of lazy players at Melbourne, it's great to watch Bayley Fritsch who never gives up.

tyson has wracked up the pill in atrocious conditions - ran hard both ways all day held a team goalless go dees

Oscar is so much better with another tall down back. Frost was really good tonight.

Positives and negatives to take from that. We absolutely dominated them for 95% of the game. We were clinical through the middle, we out-ran them, our press held up, and we clearly tried (although didn't always succeed) to lower our eyes going inside. Oliver was outstanding, Brayshaw great, Petracca improved, and both Stretch and Garlett were welcome additions (Stretch in particular, his side steps were excellent). And our percentage jumped nearly 3%. On the other hand, too many of the same problems were still there. We still press so high that our opponents score too easily in the space out the back. We still don't convert enough of our inside 50 dominance (+50 inside 50s should be a 154 point win, not a 54 point win). We still commit horrendous turnovers (Jetta to Mundy in the first quarter). Good to get the win and the percentage boost, and I think most of our selections worked out for the better, but clearly still plenty to work on. Did you watch the game Moonshadow, or are you just going from the stats? Fremantle's plan was to congest our forward line. There just wasn't room to move. It wasn't like we had oodles of space and Garlett wasn't able or willing to use it. He had little room to move. He ran, chased, tackled and pressured more than he was before he was dropped and certainly more than our forward line was doing the past three weeks. And he gave us another dimension to the forward line.

Yes.

Tyson had a Tyson game. Could not ask more of his application and he kept racking it up but he turns back into traffic, handballs at peoples feet and tackles with his arms not his body. I may have gone too early on Baker last two weeks looked a lot better on a wing uses his pace well to creat an option. Great to see Vanders back he is a serious unit.

Vanders certainly hasn’t lost any size during his rehab

It's only a lose-lose game for those who want it to be that way. For me, I'll be happy with a win to help kick start our season again. I still firmly believe that our best footy can match it with any team in the league (with the exception possibly being the Tigers at the MCG) and we have plenty of time to correct the mistakes we've been making and right the ship. We can do that with a win tonight and I see that as a positive thing, regardless of how it is achieved.

Add Billy to that. Good to see him cut through with some speed and move the ball forward. All the changes played their part.

Frost was very solid, probably should have been in weeks ago.

Surely JKH must get a crack at it before its too late.

Fair effort from VDB to get 17 touches in 2 quarters after a year and 3/4 out of the game.

I think we need to kick the ball off the ground more. In those conditions there is significant advantage to it.

Funny commentary as it’s pi55ing down and the ground is awash: “Casey are kicking with both the wind and the tide at the moment...” Commetti-esque.

Joel Smith spent most of the night getting in Hogan’s way tonight.

I love Clarry.

Best game from Trac this year.

Another ripping game from Fritter tonight. 25 touches, 14 of them contested and he got them all over the ground. Can spend some time at half back, run through the wings and we know how good he is up forward. Was a one touch player all night in the conditions and you feel confident every time he has the pill that he can hit a target. Brilliant selection by Jason Taylor and his team.

Thank god we won. My concern apart from our kicking for goal is that the players look rooted. I am not holding out much hope for a positive result next week unfortunately. The sooner we get rid of this Darwin game the better.

That would have been a goal to Hill in any other week. Frost's closing speed saves us there, so he's a good inclusion IMO.

Made the trip again. No Jayden torp heroics yet - thought Clarry might try one before. Getting very dewy. Can we please kick straight?!!

Stretchy has been in everything so far tonight. Great signs for him.

Is it weaker, or is it just less experienced and still learning a game plan? Their senior coach had been with them for 8 seasons and 180+ games, given them time to learn a system and tweak and improve. They've played finals 4 times in the last 5 season's, meaning they've been well analysed by opposition during that time and have had to keep evolving. On the other hand we are 1.5 years into Goodwin's tenure and the time that we have been worth analysing by the opposition. Before that we had 3years of rebuilding from the foundations. Dont confuse Melbourne in 2013 with any other club in terms of development. When Goodwin took over we were only just AFL standard.

Probably not in the best today but Baker is easily our most exciting talent at Casey... he’s going to be a fan favourite sooner than later.

Little bit of silver lining was it was only very minor, but given the conditions and the fact the Key Talls were never going to be super important (although I thought Pedo was very good ) they decided to just wrap him up and put him in the showers early like they did with McKenna. He'll be all good for next week.

And that’s it - they remain goalless and Casey win again Peter Jackson VFL 2018 Casey Demons 1.4.10 2.6.18 4.12.36 5.14.44 North Melbourne VFL 0.2.2 0.3.3 0.4.4 0.7.7 Goals Casey Demons Kennedy Harris 3 Hannan C Wagner North Melbourne VFL Best Casey Demons Lockhart Kennedy-Harris Tyson Munro Vandenberg C Wagner North Melbourne VFL Rippon Davies-Uniacke Preuss McKay Holmes Northe Statistics Oskar Baker 1 behind 17 kicks 4 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 78 dream team points Harley Balic 10 kicks 9 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 10 tackles 97 dream team points Tomas Bugg 13 kicks 18 handballs 31 disposals 2 marks 11 tackles 128 dream team points Lachlan Filipovic 1 behind 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 3 tackles 4 hit outs 41 dream team points Mitch Hannan 1 goal 7 kicks 17 handballs 24 disposals 3 marks 12 tackles 116 dream team points Jack Hutchins 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 63 dream team points Declan Keilty 1 kick 1 handballs 2 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 32 dream team points Jay Kennedy Harris 3 goals 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles 106 dream team points Dean Kent 1 behind 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 9 tackles 85 dream team point Mitchell King 6 kicks 6 disposals 2 tackles 16 hit outs 37 dream team points Jay Lockhart 15 kicks 5 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Pat McKenna 1 kick 8 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 25 dream team points Corey Machaya 1 behind 8 kicks 14 handballs 22 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 85 dream team points James Munro 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 88 dream team points Cameron Pedersen 13 kicks 10 handballs 23 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 87 dream team points Harrison Petty 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 41 dream team points Tim Smith 1 behind 9 kicks 7 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 59 dream team points Corey Stockdale 17 kicks 2 handballs 19 disposals 1 mark 8 tackles 91 dream team points Dom Tyson 8 kicks 23 handballs 31 disposals 7 marks 15 tackles 145 dream team points Aaron vandenBerg 1 behind 13 kicks 10 handballs 23 disposals 16 tackles 108 dream team points Corey Wagner 1 goal 14 kicks 5 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 15 tackles 123 dream team points Josh Wagner 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 8 tackles 82 dream team points Sam Weideman 2 behinds 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 3 hit outs 66 dream team points

AVB is on a mission. What a bull!

I will miss the bulk of the game. My wife has organised dinner out with an old friend of hers (who, frankly I don't really like ) How can wives be so thoughtless ? My next wife might be better on that score.

Just a tad difficult for me to comprehend the playing conditions given that I'm following the commentary from my hotel balcony in Athens where it's already 25 degrees at 8:22 am (sorry - just had to brag to someone)

Thrilled Jeffy is playing today. I know he can go missing in games - whole games - and heck, maybe even his VFL form probably doesn't warrant it! But the guy is a star small forward, he can turn it on and be a real influence. I think he is the player we've been crying out for in our forward line, and I reckon he'll capitalise on our high inside 50 game. Hope he doesn't leave the team again, even say after a couple of lean games.

I’ve unfortunately seen all of our losses at the “G” this year, starting with Cats, Hawks, Tigers, Pies & Saints. In all of them our lack of speed or running both ways, combined with backline pressing too high means that when the ball transitions from our forward line often with 30 plus players in it, to the other end, when our forwards and mids don’t chase, the opposition have 1-2-3 players streaming into our backline typically three on three , so we end up outnumbered and the opposition scores. This is the major reason our backline is leaking like a sieve, and this happens more at the “G” with more open spaces. probably why we are winning at Etihad as a narrow ground! When you like at the Tigers backline there back six hold deeper than most teams and almost have a goalkeeper guarding the goals. Their forwards use manic pressure, and supported by their mids, retain the ball in the forward line, without the backs typically joining in. Then when they have to defend their mids really run, and forwards if need be! As Lever settled in our back six were starting to hold deeper and someone guarded the goals. Since he went down, we’ve lost structure and shape in the backline. Pies pantsed us out of the middle and missing Lever really hurt, against Port umpires killed us, but we were too short down back, and last week Petty was either not ready or incredibly nervous, and adding Petty debut next to Joel Smith game6-7 was not very smart. in all our ‘G’ losses the number of opposition breaks down a wing with no Demons in sight is depressing. When you play Tyson, Lewis, Petty, Hannan & Weideman is is amplified. This weeks selections of Spargo, Stretch, Garlett & Frost bring in more speed than who they replaced, and hopefully two way run & tackling pressure. That’s e-nuff from me! Looking at the wild weather at Mornington beach, might be a good day to be playing in Darwin. Go Demons, pump those Dockers!!!

No Fyfe, no Sandilands. This is a very winnable game. Dockers by 37.

I’m currently hydrating on VB and will head off to the ground soon. There will likely be a pub stop on route. It’s rather hot atm Im pumped over this game. I’ve followed Melbourne to Sydney, Canberra and Darwin previously and never seen a win I’ll break the ice tonight Sadly the maid remained at The Manor so my celebrations will probably be a solitary affair - still they can be quite enjoyable

Footy, Seaworld style. Looking forward to the runners coming out on Jetskis

Need to take 5 or more players off the ground from each side to give this game a chance. At present it is almost an irrelevancy. Long time since I've seen a player jump the fence to get the ball !!

Agreed and the only way to try and help get back to positional football* is to scrub the interchange ... Rugby League are talking about bringing their interchange numbers down from 8 per team per game to 4 or 6. We have 90 and that high number is ruining the sport as a spectacle - the contest is obviously still there but the aesthetics are often ugly. I've largely switched off and I know a stack of people who are doing the same - they will watch their own team play and that is about it. And that is not a healthy situation. The other issue is the mindless possessions which leads to far too much uncontested footy ... whatever happened to the rule where a player had to kick over their mark? I asked that question here about 7 or 8 years ago. I don't mind rugby as a sport but I don't need another version of it ... footy is as its best when it is totally unique from other sports We need long kicking and the high mark back as a staple. Otherwise the sport is just a hybrid version of other sports. And those elements can return if we simply follow the rules of the game. With constant rest, there are now too many players that are able to play on the ball all day. Wills & Harrison never had 'rotations' as an option. Bring the interchange numbers down to 10 per team per game. *By default, positional football would alleviate congestion as a matter of course. We saw how it all worked before the explosion of rotation numbers.

What an inspirational young man! Very happy for him for what he has achieved so far. Just hope he can go on to carve out a long and distinguished career with the Dees. So, far, looking good!

Ok. As it stands, we’re in the 8 (albeit just) with the second highest % in the comp. Let’s put the wallowing in misery to one side for a moment and consider that if we win tonight, we’re still a good show to make finals. We can do this. If we should lose tonight, then I’ll burn the whole [censored] to the ground, shave my head, climb a bell tower and finish off any stragglers. Go Dees.

Fritsch is a ripper. Pick 31, number 31, doing an iconic number proud.

Outside of some of the defenders, who tend to get a few cheapy chip kicks, he is our best by a fair margin Spalding. Kicking efficiency 77.2% Next best is T-Mac @ 71.9% Salem not far behind @ 70.4%