Leaderboard

Wasted? I am getting a little over all of the spewing on the kids that got selected. If he was a first rounder and was cruising around like a millionaire, then OK, have a crack. But this kid was a late selection (60+) if I recall, and part of our academy. There was enough positivity about him being selected at this pick at the time, as a project type for us. Everyone overlooked the Stack kid picked up by Richmond. About 100 times he was overlooked (Draft and rookie selections), and people even overlooked him when they had room on their lists still to fill. It is not a perfect science. Gotta say that things will turn. Not everyone will make it, some will exit our system. Others may be selected in the ones and become players and do better. Some on our list will improve and make it. Bedford has played something like 5 games at this level and you are making this call? How many games did Michael Tuck play in the reserves before he got his chance? I get that everybody is pizzed off with being stone motherless last, but it getting a bit annoying that people can’t feel that way and still support the kids that we have (and will have until the end of this year at least), recognise that Casey is important to our success at senior level, and do more than just spit vitriol. I want all of them to play better, to push the seniors hard for spots and make the seniors work harder to stay in front of them. Most of these guys are just kids, and unless they are freaks will take time.

I'm very much against dropping Weideman. He needs as many senior games as possible this year with an eye to the future. We're last after six rounds and won't be playing finals, so why on earth would you drop a 21 year old tall forward in his 4th year ? He's obviously down on confidence, but tell him you'll back him. He'll learn far more at AFL level than VFL. Hés just completed six games in a row, which is the most he's ever played consecutively. I'd be getting 22 games into him. The rest of this year should be an investment in his and the club's future. What's the point of dropping him, bringing him back, dropping him again, etc. ? Some on here don't rate him as a prospect, which is fine, but this is a year to develop players for the future. If you're still desperate to play finals I suggest you re-evaluate your expectations. It just doesn't make sense to me to not give him a year in the seniors when we won't be playing finals. At least he'll enter next year as a 40+ game player. What's the point of him entering next year as a 30 game player...

Just a fleeting visit. We’re not here to stay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cwiBma5WKg

The most dangerous animal in Africa...

Why would any supporter want to play finals only to make up the numbers ? I have zero interest in finals in 2019, not that it matters, because it obviously won't happen anyway. The club should already have one eye on 2020 and what they need to do to improve the list. Keep developing young players, strategise structures and ball movement, and improve our field organisation. Resident Demonland bedwetters won't see a path forward, which is fine. however the core of our list is still very good and one that can bounce back with better health and shrewd decision making.

I think we need to calm down... We have had a terrible start to the year and I really do think that this group having a month less break/pre-season for the first time in their careers is having a pernicious effect on the group. We have played poorly but our midfield finally has a constellation with Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes, our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form, and our backline has solid base to build on assuming (yeah, yeah) that injuries are not permanent features of careers. I don't think we can claw our way back to relevance for this year but we are not what we used to be.

Max is damned if he says something, anything, and damned if he's silent. Haters gonna hate.

Matsuo, as is screechingly obvious, I was responding to the way people were reacting to the article itself. And for what it is worth, your earlier claims about 'Pendles, Danger etc would not have throughts about finals not being guaranteed' are just ridiculous, even a perfect inversion of reality. I swear, you're coming across as one of those people who are addicted to "Be a Winner" seminars and "Rich Dad Poor Dad" style self-help books. So much anger stirred up in you against what is just basic, normal, and practical humility.

It's pretty clear that the players and coaches have no idea why we're not winning. Gawn is still banging on about defence. Yeah, it'd help us if we were better defensively, but what's killing us is our forward connection and our ability to hit the scoreboard. It worries me that he and the rest of the coaching staff apparently don't see this. We're second for clearances and CPs and third for tackles inside 50, but last for efficiency inside 50 and DE. So it's blatantly obvious that if we were more efficient in our attack, this would cover our weaker defence (as it did in 2017 and 2018). Further, if you're attacking, it means the other team can't. Whatsmore, scoreboard pressure seems to be a dangerously underrated factor here. Whenever we fail to convert our forward half dominance and eventually leak a goal out the back, it's like a psychological knife through our hearts. Are coaches and players on the same page here? It seems Goodwin is saying it's forward connection and Gawn, the representative for the players, is saying it's defence.

I'm not sure I get the love for Patton on here. If he were going cheap, maybe.... very maybe He's a power forward in his 8th season who has only kicked 130 goals in his career. He's had three knee reconstructions and last year only managed 10 goals from 12 games. He's played 89 games in 8 seasons and only made 149 tackles in his entire career. He's big, slow and doesn't influence games consistently.

I disagree with the notion that he's damned if he stays quiet or damned if he says something. I've been saying for a while now, STFU, Max. Stop banging on in the media. He's not damned if he doesn't write an article in the Herald Sun. FCS, he doesn't have to write anything! Focus on getting better, not writing bloody articles.

You’d prefer him to say they thought finals were guaranteed? Personally I’d hate it if the players thought they were.

Doesn’t deserve it? You are a clown. The bloke deserves all the accolades coming his way for what he has given the club.

The two are not mutually exclusive.

People are weird, hey? Quote: "Only actions can get us out of the fix we are in" Response: "Shows how mentally weak you are"

Stupid article that shows our fragile mentality.

Who knows what the selectors decide I just hope for Declan Keilty finally gets his chance to play. He had a good hit out against a strong Richmond side and kicked 2 goals as well .Can you ask for more as his form has stood up so far this year in the VFL. He can help our forward line as a big key forward and pinch hit in the ruck. Can also play as a key back. Could end up being a valuable player. If his form is holding up then why isn't Delcan given a chance? Come on Goody you haven't anything to lose now as you have already lost them. He deserves a game because he has earned it not given to him. Given and earned are two different meanings. IN Keilty and who ever OUT. ??? ask goody.

Oh dear...

Sorry to get this thread going again, but I thought it was the most appropriate place to put it. I got the opportunity yesterday to speak with the friend of mine within the McCartney family. It's the only contact I have in terms of knowing anything from within the club, so I tread carefully in asking a few questions. The main thing I got out of it was that the McCartney/Goodwin 'feud' is rubbish. They are pretty disappointed and annoyed at Tom Morris, who is either making the stuff up or has horrible contacts. The day that story broke Goody and Macca had already spoken numerous times during the day, and that has occurred for the entire pre-season and the first six rounds of this season. Both of them are on the same page, as are the coaches. There is absolutely nothing to those rumours. The second thing I asked was around our start to the year. I didn't get anything hugely specific, but it's been a heap of mitigating factors that we have discussed on here - the off season surgeries, a few players not coming back fit enough (I got no names, nor did I press for them, but I was also given the impression that these players did not come back 'unfit', they just could have done more over their break) and teams adjusting to our game style and us not making changes quick enough. So plenty for the club to work on, no doubt about it, and we're learning it the hard way. But one thing is for certain - Tom Morris is an A grade [censored].

I think our fans need a wake up call too. we scraped into finals last season and played 2 great finals before 1 horrendous final. Pre-season came and all of our players were sitting on the side lines. it was at this point that I thought the coaches are kidding themselves thinking we can send 17 for off season surgery and not stagger them and still be competitive. Also, when I noticed that petraccas kicking hadnt improved it confirmed that the coaches aren't focusing on what we need to improve. It's also taken Goodwin 5 weeks (arguably a season and 5 games) to realise OMac cant football.

Yep lets trade petracca for a bloke that has already had 3 knee construction, and not currently playing.. wow... we already have our own issues with our other big name recruits in May and Lever who cant even get on the park due to injuries. Some of these same people who want Petracca traded are also thick and clearly have short memories because his 2nd year of AFL football where he was averaging 18 disposals and kicked 22 goals back in 2017. Then last year he was averaging 21 disposals per game and kicked 24 goals. He is going through a rut like 18 other players on our list. Its a good learning curve for him and i am sure Goodwin will encourage him to find a way out and also put in some support around him to help him get through that. Mark my words, he will find form because he is CLEARLY a talented individual and he will go on to become a very very good player for us.

My impression is that Lyons playing career doesn't get the credit it deserves. I cannot work out why he isn't in the AFL Hall of Fame. I think he was that good. Courageous, tremendous leader. Good in the air, a brilliant one on one mark, but equally dangerous with the ball on the ground, which is an unbelievable trait considering the issues he faced with constant back injuries. Had class to burn (IMHO second only to Robert Flower for pure class amongst the Melbourne players I've seen). A genuine match winner. Had a good finals record, with the standouts being slotting the match winner vs WCE in 1988 Elimination Final, and I think his 10 goal performance against the Bulldogs in the 1994 Semi Final tends to be forgotten due to the heroics of David Schwarz that day. Captained the Vics, which a lot of the "young folk" perhaps don't understand how big of an honour that is. Quite simply, was easily Melbournes best player during an era where Melbourne had a lot of good players and not only played finals, but won finals regularly. A lasting memory for me was a game against the Brisbane Bears in 1995. Melbourne had started the season 0-6, and were playing an up and coming Bears team at the MCG. It was a must win game if ever there was one. The natives were restless in a low scoring game as the Bears looked like winners until Lyon went into the middle in the last quarter. Leading from the front, Lyon virtually single handed dragged Melbourne over the line. Again, from a guy who was essentially a key position player, had the ability and versatility to take the game by the scruff of the neck from the middle of the ground and get his team to victory when the game just had to be won. He may have played better games in that season, but considering Melbourne missed finals by 1 game after starting the season at 0-6, Lyon must take a lot of the credit for getting the season up and going on that overcast Sunday afternoon.

Thank you to our resident Essendon fan. Great memories. Lyon was a wonderfully skilled and smart footballer. His only achilles heel was not being a great pack mark, but one v one he was very good. Like most Melbourne players there were often injury concerns, namely a debilitating back. I'm not much of a fan of his media work, but a champion of the MFC.

So many weird new posters.

Max is working on lifting his profile for post football and current outside of football activities. Maybe he could write some Bob Murphy style articles about the game but in his own quirky manner. Agree, he needs to STFU about us... I'm sick of hearing from players and coaches of the MFC...

Doesn't have to write about his own club. Plenty of other football topics to write about.

Petracca plays like a koala. Looks like hes high on eucalyptus for 80% of the game. No urgency.

True. Doesn't change the fact it's an embarrassing article, written only to appease mummy and daddy supporters who want people to "stop being so negative!".

Again.. its all talk.. its all been talk the last couple years.. Max is great, but he talks a lot.. he tells us the prelim final loss is going to burn in the players.. we come out lose r1..we are 1-5 now he says judge us on how they respond. Why in the hell should we believe and trust words. its rather pathetic.

Note: I ripped this from Facebook so not sure of copyright issues. "Melbourne star Max Gawn lifts the lid on the Dees’ struggles and what has to change Max Gawn, Herald Sun April 27, 2019 The truth is, we knew there were no guarantees. We knew that just because we made a preliminary final last year didn’t mean we were going to cruise through this season. We knew that we couldn’t automatically pick up where we left off. We knew that every year that teams improve. But what we didn’t know was that we would be 1-5. This isn’t the start anyone wants. Losing hurts. It hurts even after you’ve won 21 in a row. I was drafted in 2009 in perhaps the most unsuccessful era in Demons history. Yet somewhere, somehow, I fell in love with the red and blue. I am an avid Demon supporter. I hurt when you hurt, I celebrate when you celebrate and I will listen to your feedback when things aren’t on track.

I agree. And I also want to see someone take over from Misson sooner rather than later. Big fail from him this preseason. I also want a shake up of our assistant coaching staff and to get a new strategist to get some fresh ideas, in the off season. Preferably we poach someone from the hawks or some other successful club that know how to play at the MCG, because we certainly don't.

Enough

It’s been an absolutely bizarre start to the season. Gold Coast, Freo, Saints - it’s been flipped on its head. Like everyone here, I have found our performances this far to be absolutely depressing. And inept. And a bit surprising. I had thought we were going to win the flag this year. Right now, we’re sitting last with a percentage of about 16%. It’s so bad, I don’t even feel aggrieved though - that feeling comes when you feel your club has received the hard end of the stick and deserves much better. For once, that’s not actually been us. We’ve been bloody hopeless. BUT: - there are reasons for our performances to date, some reasonable and some entirely inexcusable - injuries, overall fitness, and players out of form (McDonald, Jetta, Hibberd etc) have cruelled us, but I’m concerned the coaches haven’t exactly been at the forefront of some of the changes, which I think was perfectly illustrated in the St Kilda game. Everyone seems to have got way ahead of themselves and departed from the basics, the essence of which was trying hard and not taking anything for granted - it was been ruthless at the contest; - we have a good list - we really do - it’s a better list than the majority of other clubs right now - but it still has obvious gaps - I also don’t think our team selection has been that inspiring or imaginative prior to the Richmond game; and - we are now a well run club, i.e. we are not the same club that endured 10 years of simply miserable and heart breaking failure which caused many of us to simply give money to it to ensure its survival. We will be a very viable and competitive team next year. And beyond. While I reckon we’re pretty well stuffed on the finals campaign this year, I don’t reckon the season is absolutely over. I’m personally looking for a decent run in the second half of the season as and when we regain key players, and some fitness, and hopefully a more astute coaching group. In short, let’s try to avoid some of the cliched (and perhaps understable) bagging of everyone in the the club at the moment. Everyone’s frustrated. And bloody disappointed. But the future of this club is far better and brighter than it has ever been in the past 2 0or 30 years, which in itself is a great achievement.

Not too upset by the loss but I don't like it when we punch the ball through their points so late in the game. It was avoidable I believe. Of the MFC based players Had the following thaughts. Sparrow. Thaught he was our best player. Got the pill and disposed of it quite well. Played well from centre bounces. Petty. Solid game although not outstanding. Oscar. Played okay but got badly beaten by letinted one in 3rd quarter. Kielty. Played a good game. Must be close to a senior call up. Chandler. Very good player in 1st half but much quieter in the second. Jordan. Good game today. Got the ball a bit down back and disposed of it very well. Baker. Very poor game until 3/4 time then did some really nice things in the last quarter. He is one reason we got back in the match in the last. Josh Wagner. Very good game today. Chad Wagner. A bit quiet today. Spargo. Got heaps of the ball then wasted it with poor kicking. A casey player that I think played a really good game was Wales-Buxton. Keep an eye on him. For a side that has so many injuries it was not a bad performance. Good to see some of the young MFC players contribute well. Alas there were too many stupid Richmond supporters at the game. I am convinced they steal their torn clothing from Dimmeys.

I hope the Club is smart about this now and doesnt rush May,Lever,Vanders, Jetta etc back. The season is shot, just quietly manage the rest of the season trying younger players in different positions planning for a real assault on 2020 and beyond. Get 2-3 low picks, use them on speed and quality ball users.

Mature response.

I hope not. What a waste finishing 9th would be. No finals and no good draft picks.

Righto then mate. Stone motherless last. No scope for improvement in this side whatsoever. ?

The lofty heights of 16th is in our sights.

So what youre saying is you want to see a best 22 if the Saints and Demons merged? @WERRIDEE is already on the case

Welcome home!

Is the fixture out yet?

Sounds like the Dragon has turned into a poet.

I’m being followed by a Moonshadow Moonshadow Moonshadow.

Isn't amazing, we have a few losses and we target one player. Lets goo through them : Tmac, Watts, Omac (flavour OTM even when we & he are playing well, Weid (Still developing , last year was 3rd forward , this year (last week) No 1 fwd) I get frustrated with Trac too, but there are a lot more frustrations at the moment . He is still getting 15-20 possessions a game in a disfunctioning side.

Alright, here we go, here's how it would, could, might, in theory happen - Hawks aren't actually that good, they haven't beaten anyone impressive. The four days off trick will work and we will come in with a calmer mind and better focused on what needs to be done. Disposal efficiency climbs, workrate at least reaches adequate. Win number 2 goes on the board. We're 2-5 after 7 rounds. Suns just barely scraped their three wins against highly variable opposition and have had a bit of luck. They were exposed by an Adelaide side that still isn't really hitting great heights of their own. Their confidence will be down after being belted in Perth by an angry Eagles side. We go 3-5, and start to believe. I wont make any pretences about our chances against the Eagles at this stage. 3-6 after nine rounds and we are still right on the edge of season over. But just maybe we turn up with some fight and at least show we're still a meaningful team - part of the healing, redeption process. The Giants are still up and down and massively rely on a few stars to make them potent. Simon Goodwin pulls his first ever genius positional move and somehow matches the right players to lock down on Coniglio and Whitfield. Demons finally rediscover their forward connection and just barely come through in a low-margin shootout game for the ages. We are 4-6 and starting to believe. Round 11, we return to the Northern Territory to hunt Crows, and just like last season this is the game where things really turn. Just like last season, Adelaide wilts under the weight of lost contests and clearances. Not like last season's hammering, but an important win. We are 5-6 and looking like a menace. Queens Birthday at the MCG. We've begun to get some players back from injury, even if not stars, May, Smith, Vandenberg and Hannan have all been trickling back into the team and giving us a deeper team capable of holding their end up while the stars do their thing. Headlines start reading "Where were these Demons at the start of the year" and players respond with "we will never be caught napping in pre-season again". Incredibly, we are 6-6 at the halfway point of the season. With Lever coming back after the long break and the team finding a new solidarity and commitment, and the coaches having learnt a valuable lesson in flexibility and tactical initiative, the pieces come together and the Demons are now a team to take seriously for the second half of the season. Before you know it, we've knock over four quick wins against the unreliable Dockers, tiring Lions and Blues, and ever-stumbling Bulldogs. We are 10-6 and now the ONLY team in the competition that has managed a consistent run of wins. Suddenly, it is possible to speculate about our chances against in the Eagles, back up in the NT. It is like a whole new reality has dawned in ten weeks. So, there it is, each small delusion builds into the next. Each one only a moderate madness in itself, but when you get to the end you look back and go... naaaah, that is just total, absolute madness. If it happens, I expect not only to be given an award for my prediction, but to actually be given credit for the whole thing happening and installed as an assistant coach responsible for miracles.

Geez thats a nice reality check. And to think I'm only on stage 1. Havent even gotten angry yet. Lord have mercy

And hes barely 18. Writing him off now is absurd.