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I have watched the last 2 mins over and over and over in the last hour. Jayden Hunt was a massive part of our get out of jail win first winning the ball and getting it out to the runner in Hore and then going full bore at a 50-50 contest to setup the Harmes possession. Hats off to you Jayden my good man! This was definitely not a game the majority of AFL fans would enjoy so let’s just strip back some of the mayonnaise on that theory. It was a HARD watch for 90% of the game even as a neutral, I was a great finish though. The last 2 minutes more exciting than most of the game. In terms of a hard fought game with intensity it was great but that’s about it. Clayton Oliver absolutely immense, you think he’s having a reasonable game and then in the second half he just goes into hyperdrive! Melksham in the middle! Makes a big difference having that kicking ability and some hard running, hopefully not too hurt. Salem’s name comes up each week and is turning into our best. T-Mac is taking steps in the right direction. Plenty of under performers but most of them stood up when the game was there to be won. I just want to give a shoutout to the crowd on Melb fans behind the goals when Tommy hit the post. Making the trip up there and being right up close to the winning play and going nuts when we scored, that was just amazing. You guys are the true heroes tonight! Get in!

First up, an admission... I've never sworn at the TV screen more than I did yesterday... I reckon it is because we are such a frustrated mob in 2019... Second, yep, there were some terrible handling and disposal bloopers that players will not want to see replayed -> ever! Having said that, I thought the final minutes were fantastic! We refused to die! Hunt was great in those last 5 - 10 minutes... not just for the handball to Hore. He was one who seemed determined not to capitulate. The final thrust forward in the last 18 seconds was sensational... A surge toward victory that this club has rarely witnessed. To condemn those involved, and to complain about the chaotic nature of it, is to totally miss the point! These are exactly the moments that inject a steely resolve in the group going forward. Lets consider our opponents... GC have now played in five games that have been decided by less than a goal. Up until yesterday they had only lost one of these! They have wins over the Dockers and Carlton (two teams that look competitive after yesterdays events). They went down to WC in Perth by 23... We will be aiming to better that next week. It was slippery... it almost always is on a Gold Coast evening at this time of the year. Try handling a relatively new Sherrin after wiping it with a wet rag! And before you shoot me down on this... yes, I grew up in Brisbane and will be within 10 kilometers of Metricon this coming weekend... so I have some first hand experience! A note on Lockhart. He had 19 disposals, including 9 marks and 4 tackles. The radio station I was listening to post-game named him best Rookie in the match... Hasn't dropped away at all. Jones was very good for us in game 272. On that form he will be here in 2020, without any doubt. Wagner was good... I mention him because he cops so much! His willingness to put his body on the line is admirable. He holds his place as others go down! Ok, enough of the positivity! Brayshaw was weird! Often opted out of the contest, may have been worst offender with slippery ball. Led me to have a bet with my son that he was playing injured and would probably miss the WC game. We'll see! Billy was ordinary... takes too long to transfer ball from hands to foot... running a curve is becoming very predictable for oppo.

Not seen a lot of love for Fritsch. Thought he played his best game of the year. A way to go to get back to his best but a really consistent game. Cut off a lot of offensive efforts. Was clean in marking and disposal. Will only get better from here.

Great to see Petracca slam that important goal through from 50 metres out. He looked very relieved.

Can not stand this sort of comment. Sure, don't rate a player. But to hope a player who goes and out and gives everything they have for their team (my team - and i assume yours Martin) is injured and is not up for selection for the next game is pathetic. I hate it. With a passion. I have always hated demons fans who bag our own. And i have called out many at games over the last four decades. Demonland is like a virtual outer. And like the outer if you are are true fan there are lines you don't cross. And the number one line you don't cross is satisfaction when one of ours is hurt. And you crossed it. I have had no issue with your posts Martin. And in my nearly 10 years on Demonland i have ignored a very small number of posters. But in the immortal words of L7 you have just made my [censored] list

Garlett has the forward craft and the crumbing patterns down pat, and i think he's doing all of the team things in hitting up the 10-20m range with a short pass instead of a snap from the boundary and applying pressure on the rebound. While that's fine, he does look as though he has had all the joy and naturalness of his game sapped out of him at the same time and is a little restrained or tentative probably because he doesn't want to get a baking or be dropped. I also noticed him running to the pack of celebrating players with the faintest of smiles last night, so he perhaps is a little on the outer. One can only speculate though, i'm sure by doing this, a particular poster will chime in and tell me it's all nonsense. I wish the coaches would give him a little license to play a bit more selfishly in terms of having a few shots, because I think he's a few goals away from re-capturing some joyful footy and making the forward 50 his hunting ground, failure to give that license and balance to his game may just result in a couple of bad games that result in him losing his career at the Dees. Which would be a massive mistake.

Looking at the game again this morning, some thoughts: A win is a win. It was a poor one, but we needed it. Sometimes this can be the making of a team, and their emotion after was a clear sign that it meant something to them. Hore and Lockhart were really composed and are showing up as great additions to the team. Our back 6 is now non-existent. Teams can waltz into 50 and score almost at will. The suns were something like 3 goals for 5 entries at one point in the last quarter. Our systems are rubbish and our personnel down there second rate. Without the first-choice defence, and without the ability to structure up in a meaningful way, our D50 is awful. Oscar MacDonald is not a spud, but he is struggling to understand his role (when does he leave an opponent, when does he stay? Is he a sweeper, or is he a zone defender?) He has no confidence, and too much is expected of him when there is nothing but pain regardless of what he does. Frost seems to have turned the corner - he still makes headless chook moves, but seems to at least have some confidence in what he is trying to do. We are doing really well to make contests, especially between the arcs. Our skill level from contests and general play is appalling. The number of bad skill errors and bad choices when in possession was off the charts. If we could only think we had 120 ‘last minutes’ of the game, we would get over 700 points per game! When Gawn was caught on the pine, we were at a disadvantage and this speaks to Preuss coming back in fairly quickly. We were particularly poor at contested marking. This was evident in both arcs. Jones was in really good form and used well. In the middle he still has grunt in bursts. Viney was actually pretty good. Worked hard at the coalface and justified his inclusion. Oliver was prolific, and he is so fast sometimes that I think he catches people out. He made a few glaring bloopers, too, but certainly was not alone. Our delivery into 50 and our inside 50 setups are simply appalling. We have no speed through the middle of the ground, allowing opposition teams to set up behind the ball and make it so hard for us to score. When we don’t take contested marks, and our disposal is terrible, all the work up the field is wasted. We stop and prop, we turn it over. All we seem to want to do is to make a contest. I worry for Kielty, Stretch, OMac (confidence), Garlett (maybe the conditions didn’t suit him?), Lewis. We will miss Hibbard, who looked like he rediscovered some form. Melksham will be missed - he wasn’t very accurate by foot, but he was really getting involved. He provides something up forward. We turned a few corners last night, and TMAC started to show progress. Without much depth at Casey, we are really going to have to slug things out for the next few weeks. We might have re-established the ‘brand’ of contested footy, but this has to be built on to actually mean anything. We have so much that is not going right at the moment, that we can scrape through. Against better sides, we will be torn apart (like the Cats game where we got pantsed by 80 points), unless we rapidly improve. However, I love the fact that we won a tough one, one we would have given up so easily in the past. Go Dees.

I was there yesterday DJ, a couple of years since my last visit and back then they had a decent scoreboard. I fortunately took my binoculars, yes folks it is that bad. I was surprised that Casey won so easily, Preuss took them apart even though I though he was used sparingly. It might be my imagination but I reckon he was used sparingly with a trip to WA in mind. I watch a couple of players closely ( well I tried ). while I thought Sparrow and Petty did there jobs well at this level Baker was the only one that looked worthy of a senior game later in the season. Of the kids I liked the game of Chandler, he was probably not in the top half dozen but showed some promise. If we don't pick Smith for a forward role in the team for Perth we have rocks in our heads. While he is never going to be a very good player at senior level he is a solid mark and a good kick for goal. Yesterday he was used around the centre quite a bit with good effect. Based on yesterday's form he and the Giant are the only ones I would pick for senior duties in WA.

Really poor post he's one of our own. Post like this and others calling players spuds says a lot about a poster's knowledge of the game

Well I must be the only one who’s stoked. Yes the game was a bucket of pus, but I wasn’t expecting anything but. We’re not contenders this year, we knew that. I still like winning above all else, and we did. I jumped through the roof at the end as if it mattered.

Some random tried to take you out with a brick! Something about a goal with 47 seconds to go!

Post of the year was last night by TMAC ?

Have to laugh at the Hawks getting such a shocking crowd vs GWS at the G, especially since they've got such a monster membership! I wonder whether those same people that gave Melbourne [censored] for low attendances on Mother's Day will give it to the Hawks as well. Meanwhile Hawks beating GWS should give us confidence in a couple of weeks, unless of course we get (likely) murdered by the Eagles next week.

Salem is the bright spot in a pretty average season to date...

Had a good game, even if some on here still want to bag him. He's looking more and more confident and competitive contesting and then winning the ground balls. Does need to improve the 30m set shot tho

Totally stoked to get the win in the circumstances. That last 49 seconds was the inverse of the Leigh Montagna loss to St Kilda to me. To those criticizing the coaches - please. The coaching team are actually human beings, not robots and their reaction well understandable. Talking about some focusing on the negatives. I thought we dominated the general play for about the first time this year, but just couldn't convert that, with the entries inside 50 and lack of holding a mark our biggest problems. Should have won that game by 6 goals. I can't believe just how jinxed we are with injuries. Hibbo was just starting to play some great footy again.

Apart from the fact that this is all hindsight (bias), it's not even accurate. OMc was tackled by Holman, after Frost dumped him in it (this after Frost's first handball dumped Fritsch in it as well). In the tackle, Oscar's leg/ankle was caught under him, and in the immediate aftermath OMc was on the ground, unable to get up - which is one of the reason GC tried to play on. Play was called back and eventually he gets up, but if you watch on the full video replay, not the edit, OMc could hardly walk at that point. In fact, if you look at him standing on the mark, not only can he not walk and is limping badly, he can hardly stand. And *that's* why Holman took off and ran forward in the first place, he knew that Oscar wouldn't be able to go with him. The person who *should* have gone with Holman as he ran on was Oliver. As Holman was running through after taking the first handball receive, Oliver was in a position to tackle him. Holman handpassed - but then ran around Oliver and kept running to take the receive. Oliver stopped for a second, and it was just enough - he started chasing again, but by that stage, Holman had 10 metres on him. (And re the above, as someone else pointed out in the Changes thread, Oscar was limping at the end of the game.)

Probably don’t have one. They don’t like keeping records.

Without Hunt’s clean hands and endeavour in the last 49 seconds there’d have been no victory.

Sometimes I think people see Trac miss and easy goal and assume the rest of his game was rubbish. His work up the field has been very good this year. I said last week that when he has time and space he often seems to over think it, but when it's close and tough he does some great stuff. Edit: just checked his stats. 22 disposals at 70%, 11 contested, 5 inside 50s and 5 score involvements. Speaking of which, how good were Hunt's last 2 plays? A slippery ball, he picked it up cleanly at full tilt and had the nous to hold it and choose the right option. Then followed up the next clearance with a massive hit to spill the ball to Harmes.

I’m in the same camp. The other thing is that both teams contribute to the overall standard of the game. Gold Coast are at a stage of development where they’re heavily focused on building their defensive and contested systems, and are using those to keep themselves in the contest until the end. The games will of theirs I’ve seen have all ended up gritty and hard to watch. Add slippery conditions (notwithstanding accusations of Goodwin and McDonald lying about that), you get last night’s game. Which we won, I might add. I think the game next will be played at a much higher standard, and I think we’ll rise to it. We may not win, but I reckon it’s skewed logic to claim that because the game against Gold Coast was played at a low skill standard, we’ll play exactly the same against West Coast and get beaten by heaps.

I don’t know who first said it, but never a truer word was spoken: “One point’ll get you four!”. At the risk of be accused of accepting mediocrity, I’ll take that win any day of the week. We need to get wins any way we can until a few important players are recovered and available for selection.

Great to hear that Hannan is in good form, since he isn't playing at the moment. We desperately need him back though. I never thought he was such an important part of our forward line, but with him gone, I realise he is most things we are missing up forward: Leads at the ball carrier with pace; Gets to the fall of the ball and mops up the crumbs; Can take a pack mark; Has pace out on the flanks and delivers well inside 50; Good at kicking that mercurial goal out of nowhere.

I went to the game with a Kiwi friend who had never seen a game. I just cringed with embarrassment all game that I could possibly use this abomination of skills to showcase our great game to a newbie!! Well, until the last couple of minutes! Man, that was really something to behold! Really believed we were beaten when they got the goal to put them in front with 30 minutes on the time clock! How agony can turn to sheer delight in a matter of moments! Marty Hore's goal was a thing of sheer beauty to behold! Was thrilled to think we'd sneak away with a draw. Think the timer must have fallen asleep to let the clock keep running to enable our final, limp effort to get us past the post. Oh, and my Kiwi friend said after the game that she actually enjoyed it, in spite of the error-riddled display!

I'd like to see Petracca run away from the mark from 25m out to kick it from 50 out

A wins a win... But Goody saying the conditions were slippery was just and out and out lie. My 4 year old was cleaner with her kicks, marks and handballs on the ground after the game than all of our team bar Salem. It was great to see ANB out and about with the people having a kick after the gane.

I liked Frost’s game but this was so incredibly stupid by him and directly resulted in Gold Coast hitting the lead.

Not the only one Nasher. I have only just finished watching the game. For family reasons could not watch the game live and thanks to the well designed Kayo platform watched 'as live'. We were horrible. All our woeful kicking skills that i (and it must be said you) have pointed out for the last few years were on full technicolor display. But we got the 4 points. And that is all that matters. At least for now. The Pies, the best team in the AFL by a country mile, almost got beaten by the worst team in the AFL today. Hibberd is huge blow but if we get Hannan, May, Lever and JKH (his running will be super important for us) back in the next few weeks then we won't be far away. The AFL is becoming like the NBA. The regular season is a war of attrition. The play offs/finals is a totally new season. Even the best teams can struggle if come finals team they get key injuries. Sure the pies and the cats look good ATM. But is very long season these days. A few key injuries and the cats are among the magpies, so to speak.

27 tackles inside forward 50 - I think just one rewarded .Yeh our skills were putrid but I think that’s real effort and desire there.

Got myself into a corporate box next Friday night with all the fruit. Whatever happens, I’ll end up inebriated.

Keilty most likely to go for Preuss. Omac should be but who replaces him. I’d keep Garlett in. He’s getting to the right spots, he’s just fumbling at the moment. He’ll find some touch. Trac was our most dangerous forward tonight. Won most if not all one on ones when the ball is on the ground. And gus, he’ll b right.

1 game and percentage off 5th?

I thought Gawn was also critical in those last 2 minutes - he was mad at himself for a turnover earlier that was costly. You could almost read his thought bubble saying “ I’m not having this.”

Petracca kicked a goal from 50 + because he followed through or kicked through the ball. However when he is between 20 to 40 metres out he tends to guide the ball and lays back on his kick by dropping the ball much higher from his foot which is a recipe for spraying it. What he needs to do from close range is to take the extra seven to ten steps as though to kick through the ball like he does when kicking from 50+ and then his accuracy will be much better. It is as simple as that. Yes let him know if he needs a coach. I told him and look at him now no idea, loss of confidence. Tell him to look me up.

A number of great points. I particularly agree with the comments made Re Gawn. Perhaps it was because I was at the game and was able to notice it more clearly, perhaps it particularly bad against GC for some reason or possibly just coincidence, but I noticed exactly the same thing against GC last year in our game against them at the Gabba. Until we broke open the game against them last year, practically every time Gawn went off, we would loose control of general play and they would get a few goals back on us and stay in the game.

Casey is in the middle of Nowhere if we locate out there we will die WE NEED CITY PRESENCE PJ said it. I have thought it for years. We have NEVER used our name correctly. We hold a great Ace, but have never played it.

Salem has done a very unDemon thing: he extended his contract and is subsequently having his best year.

Wagner was good. I noted a few desperation acts that that helpeenour way going forward.

Tough call on Hore kick the winning goal yet he not good enough. Thought he showed plenty and coolness to convert magic.

Im just back from Hop, Hosptl, HOSPITAL! Whaatt happened???

Ugly game of footy, but a win's a win. Oliver = freak. Marty Hore - take a bow son. What a find he's been for us given our depleted backline. TMac finding some form, but F me, I wish he could hold a mark like he used to. Made a meal of it in the dying seconds but thankfully the footy gods were on our side for once.

Been calling for this one for a few weeks but time to try Sparrow back... Doesn't get enough ball for a mid but has attributes that might be better suited back. With Jetta, Lewis & Hibberd out nows the time to try it.

Heaven help the competition if we ever work out how to play footy forward of centre.

If anyone cares to reflect on Jones' loyalty in tough times, consider this - Robert Flower: 272 Games, 88 wins, no draws, 184 losses Nathan Jones: 272 Games, 86 wins, 3 draws, 183 losses. Another side note, since his debut he has missed a total of 11 games.

Hahaha my 5yo and 3yo girls and I went completely troppo after both Hore’s goal and Tmacs point, sh it test game ever but also one of the most incredible last couple of minutes I’ve ever seen. Whinge and moan all you like people but right now I’m loving life and loving the opportunity of having this moment with my kids!!! GO YOU GOOD THINGS!!!

The season is still in massive doubt. Yeah I get it. That’s tomorrow’s problem. Right now we just stole a win from the jaws of defeat for a change. Nothing wrong with celebrating it for 30 seconds.

An enjoyable 49 seconds! (also the name of my sex-tape)

I don't care that we won, our season is beyond over. I actually feel for the Suns, I liked what they were doing. We were Neeld/Bailey era bad. Dumb football, poor skills, nobody can take a mark, complete absence of a gameplan. Putrid. Did you see the coaching staff celebrate in the box? How embarrassing. It's like we won the Grand final when all we did is beat a candidate for the wooden spoon. Ugh

If we somehow got into finals this year, we would not have limped in.

In 2018, out 2019