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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/03/arts/music/tom-petty-dead.html

No Bennell can actually kick.

An injury-prone potential superstar? We’ve only had about two dozen.

Just a gentle reminder.....

[censored] it, lid is off! Time to unleash him goody! ❤?❤

I would have Harmes tag Cripps. IMO Harmes plays his best footy when tagging.

I'm currently watching the Queens Birthday game from 2018 and Joel Smith was the inclusion for Jake Lever. Played a really impressive game in defence that day. Definitely has all the attributes to become a really good defender, but as already noted his body let's him down.

And yet if not for our R1 defence, WCE would've won by 10+ goals. Darling and Kennedy well held. Should our connection going inside 50 improve by 25% I think we'd win an additional 5-6 games per season. To me, that's our glaring weakness.

First time on here in a long time, and good to see things haven’t changed. judging some of the comments, we have already lost the next 4 games, sacked Goodwin and are a rubbish club, While that may all be true, we haven’t even okayed the game yet! Replying to people questioning our small forward structure, I can tell you that we will have 2 tall forwards, I think tmac and wied, along with a stack of smalls this week. Someone said carltons defense is poor, that is half true. Their tall backs are very good, their small backs are very good at going forward, but crap at defending small forwards. If you look at their games recently (last season, praccy games and round 1) the oppositions smalls all kick goals, so we are planning on kozzie and others to kick 3 each. we also need to make sure our talls are separated as Jones and plowman are very good help defenders. bennell definitely in the mix, but they may play Jones as a HFF. rivers and Smith very much in line to play this week too.

Don't want to derail a thread on the best news story of year. But TJ never played a bad final. I think he put his lifestyle choices on hold for the big games. He was a pleasure to watch when on song.

I would be putting Harmes on to tag Cripps.

No 23 2017 Round 12 v Collingwood at MCG Another big Queens Birthday clash. This was huge. The Dees were now under Goodwin and Buckley was facing some heat on his coaching performance. We’d beaten them in 2016, we were the team to watch and were now capable of rising up the ladder. But 2017 started slowly with 5 wins 5 losses and had come off the mid year bye. The Pies also had 5 wins, and on a roll with 3 straight wins. We needed this. With Hogan missing, the converted Tom McDonald was our key forward amongst a few midsized options in Hannan, Melksham and Petracca. Pedersen was our makeshift ruckman. It was going to be a challenge. The game opened evenly in a spirited contest. Then the Pies got in top, taking advantage of some poor turnovers and kicked 6 in a row before Petracca magic saw us get two goals back. At half time the Pies had a 4-goal lead and momentum. Questions were being asked. We were pretenders. The Pies were on top. Howe had taken another huge speccy but this time unfortunately he was wearing black and white. But it was to be an emotional second half. Some unlikely hero’s in the third. Bugg stepped up to kick two goals in the third quarter. Frost controlled the back half and rebounded with pace. A goal from 50 metres out from Watts brought us back. It was game on. Finals atmosphere. The Pies wouldn’t stop either and by 3/4 time it was even. We were screaming in the last as we got on top. Viney and Petracca was unstoppable in the contest. The Pies get a goal to be within 4 points. 5 minutes to play. The lasting memory will be the last goal. The sealer. Dees defend in the back 50 and Oscar McDonald squirts a kick out of the pack to Harmes. Harmes gathers on half back and kicks over Watts ahead. Watts is 10 metres clear of an opponent. He gathers on the 50 arc and runs, bounces and nails the goal from 25 metres out. The roar was absolutely deafening. We were all jumping around like excited school kids. One minute to play. We held on to win by 4 points. We were hoarse. I think I lost my voice singing Its A Grand Old Flag. A great victory. (post script - the Pies got their revenge with a victory over us in round 23 by 16 points to deny us a finals spot with us missing out by a hundredth of a percentage point).

If he said that it's already been decided. Welcome back to the (silent) big time Harley. Bloody shame you cant return in front of 50,000 screaming Dees fans, but enjoy the game anyway. Your family should be very proud of your personal and professional turnaround.

Does it matter? From memory he also had 30+ possessions that game. Put a tagger on him and it's one less that Oliver has to worry about.

I was there. Watched behind the perimeter fence on far wing. So good to see live action! observations: - 4x 25 min quarters no time on played -Lots of swapping of players between the two teams -Lever Pruess Petty KK and Nietscke only 5 who didn’t play - May starred, BOG easily -Bennell played all 4 quarters, 1st half on ball 2nd half on HFF -Spargo did some great things, I’m not always a fan but he looked at the level today -Fritsch was the best forward -J Smith will be close to selection, either if Lever doesn’t come up or instead of O Mac. - I rate Sparrow. HIGHLY!! Head to head with Viney all game and not a backward step taken. - No injuries during the game to anyone. Relief! - Rivers and Hibberd were in a showdown for the final HBF spot. Both played well today - Dont expect to see any of the two Wagners, or Baker early in season. They look like the last in line depth players to me - Actually think Bradtke showed he can play. 20% better than his Casey 2019 form - Goalkicking am issue, but expect it will be for all 18 clubs next weekend till the season gets into its rhythm - Hunt looks out of favour - My biggest take - get on Brayshaw for a return to form. Played with no helmet, and moved and hunted the ball like it was 2018 again. Happy to answer questions

You're right Jacko . . . he's not an eye gauger or a chicken winger.

https://mobile.twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1269914217496395776

There’s a proposal for the competition to go ahead with stand alone clubs Coburg, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Werribee and Williamstown will join AFL affiliated clubs Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons and Sandringham. Expect an announcement shortly.

yeah, but he was only fit enough to play for a half at a time that second and third quarter against the crows one year was unbelievable he was completely out of puff in the last

Travis made time stand still when on song.His ability to swerve and thus find space followed by perfect delivery was something to watch.

I needed a laugh, thanks.

You originally posted that a failure against carlton and Goodwin would be gone. As I replied he will at least see out his contract. The current board know that you simply cannot keep changing coaches every few years, all it does is set the team back a number of years. Good clubs now work the coach and get better personal around him as both Richmond an Collingwood have done. I can see Goodwin being a long term coach of the MFC.

If he has done the work then he plays. There is no point holding him back just in case and he is not the type you need to wait to build form in some pre game hit n giggle. I have always thought whatever you get out of him this year is a bonus and getting him to a Dees debut is a major milestone in itself. I think we all need accept that in a normal year let alone the shortened season ahead there is a high chance there Will still be some hurdles along the way and just enjoy the ride.

So don’t play Weid because he may play on Weitering, he may go goalless and there may be some upset people on here? That is the best reason for not playing a player I’ve ever heard.

Really? Only 1 player in 720-odd wins the Brownlow each year... he has had a handful (at most) of excellent games in his career. Travis Johnstone says hi by the way.

I agree. Please prove us wrong Joel; but for a guy who has never played a particularly good game in his entire AFL career, he’s held in very high esteem on demonland.

I'm still backing Trac to be a better/ more productive player and yes, I think he is developing into a game changer. My bigger point was really about how impatient we all are

sure was

I understand Ron what you are trying to say but I don't think power is the thing. Its smoothness almost a gliding and pace more similar to Andrew Macleod really. I also really liked Travis and his skills and if Harley could give us 3/4 years of what Travis did we would be very privileged. Perhaps Travis could have even been a better player than even he was as he had Social issues that held him back physically and I believe mentally. Again another floored ( injured Players included) genius to join many of our Potential champs to join Schwartz Jakovich Hogan Charles Bamblett Wonnemarri Stephen Smith Glen Swann And mysterious departures of Pike and Martin. Others Will add to this list no doubt.

So we go into round 2 with the following progressive votes:- 18. Jack Viney 15. Steven May 10. Oscar McDonald 6. Jake Lever 5. Kysaiah Pickett 4. Ed Langdon 3. Christian Petracca 2. Jay Lockhart

FB: Jetta - May - (open spot) HB: Salem - Lever - Harmes C : Tomlinson - Viney - Langdon HF: Melk - Weid - Trac FF: Kozzy - TMac - Fritsch R: Gawn - Oliver - Brayshaw I: Jones - (Open back) - (open fwd) - (open fwd/mid) Backline open spots: Hibberd, Smith, Omac, Lockhart, Rivers Fwd bench spot: Bennell, Vanders, ANB, Spargo, Bedford, —— Rationale behind selections: - Hibberd: It’s still his spot to lose. Does give his heart to every contest and his penetrating kick off the half back at Etihad can be lethal. Rivers can be pushing for it later in the year. - Smith: His versatility is very valuable. Can play on tall and small, and bounces out of the backline with pace. Can throw him fwd if we are struggling to convert and mark inside fifty. - Bennell: If his body is ready, his smarts around goal could be the missing key. 75/25 forward to mid, and can work his way up to 60/40 if his body holds up. Has more talent than anyone on our list (and carltons). - Vanders: We are a different team when he plays. He hits, and hits hard. His toughness lifts everyone around him. I value him in the top 10 on our list.

Thanks Dazzledavey36 for posting the links to twitter and other media. For those technically challenged like me they are gold. Go dees.

Agree. We have to look back and agree Watts was our number 1 choice. He had a good career. Not great but good. There’s been plenty of other low draft picks that failed completely. I’d be more concerned why we selected Blease and Strauss. Should have picked Shuey and Sloane. Two standout mids at the time. Shuey to West Coast was ridiculous. Sloane to the Crows was a shocker. He missed him 3 times. He’d told him and his parents we would draft him only to pass him. We picked Blease, Strauss and Bennell ahead of Sloane. He’s never forgotten it.

This will be our line up IMO Jetta, May, Hibbard Salem, Omac, Lever Langdon, Viney, Tomlinson Melksham, Tmac, Jones Pickett, Weid, Fritch Gawn, Oliver, Petracca Int Brayshaw, Harmes, Lockart, Bennell Emg Anb, Brown, Smith, Sparrow

I’m already over-excited about the game on Saturday. To see Bennell on the team sheet will escalate my excitement to levels I’ve not experienced since I was a kid. Make. It. Happen.

Hannebery at 2? Breust ahead of Shuey? Walters ahead of Beames? I’m already looking forward to the 2008-redraft redraft in 12 years’ time.

Judging off 11 games ..... big call

OMac was one of our better players against the WCE. However unless he is carrying some sought of injury I would expect him to line up against the Blues in round 2.

https://mobile.twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1269552789606158336

He hasn't trained as a mid and is very inexperienced in general. I think Cripps would lick his lips if Smith walked over to him next weekend!

It's looking like they are trying to turn Harmes I to the Jack Crisp type player off the the half back with some run and dash. My issue is Harmes is also one of our best lock down midfielders. Harmes turning into a tagger in 2018 was one of the big reasons we played finals. He shut down some big names that really benefited the team heading into the back end of that year. I personally don't agree with him down back. But I am also not the coach.

And Harmes down back who is a goal kicking mid and a great tagger.

Marks from Weid more so than TMac. Will also say that Brown presented and marked well for the “reserves”

May rarely played on T Mac. He and Weid pushing up the ground lots with Fritsch, Melky and Pickett at times isolated inside 50. Fritsch being best forward doesn’t mean TMac wasn’t performing The forward line looked much more dynamic than last year. Although keen to see goal kicking improve

Weid was strong, kicked a couple of snags and moved well. Jackson still a way off being selected by him for now I think, although the athletic attributes of Jacko is mouth watering.

Looks like they ‘took a knee’ in one of those pics in sympathy for Black lives matter. Good to show some solidarity for your mates.

Considering it’s less than a week before a game and it’s coming in to cold/flu season, I’d prefer it if we sent a Wagner down the slide into the ice water.

Channel 9 News has Ross Lyon commentating on why Harley is looking so good...." one word..Darren Burgess" https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/ross-lyon-confident-about-harley-bennell-melbourne-demons-return/3800b7de-c3bd-4c3c-a86b-91ead1f12a72