Leaderboard

I have it on very good authority that if Bennell is selected he will play. Make no mistake. #ETtheselectionwhisperer.

Lock it in, then?

Bit harsh, Ron. I've heard everyone on our list likes him ?

Can I just point out that he hasn't played for three seasons. Don't get the expectations too high. IF he plays, I'll be happy to see him get through uninjured. Anything beyond that will just be a bonus.

No.21 1990 round 16 v Essendon at Windy Hill This game is one that most Dees fans have good memories about. The last quarter has been replayed a few times in the archive footage. But there was a lot to this match. The Dees opened 1990 with 5 straight wins against quality teams but by July we’d slipped to 9 wins 6 losses after 3 straight losses. The Dees had been beaten by 5 goals by the lowly Saints, then anniliated by the Kangas by 21 goals and then lost to the Cats by a goal at Geelong. We desperately needed to win. On the other hand, the Bombers were flying and back to the top of the ladder. 12 wins 2 losses. They had just smashed the Hawks, the reigning premiers by 11 goals. To go to Windy Hill and win seemed impossible. Yet we had beaten them comprehensively in round 3 by 6-7 goals so there was a marginal hope. My family and I were holidaying in the Gold Coast and the match was fully televised on channel 7. We had planned to watch the game but may have planned to venture out if it became ugly. The breeze was worth 3-4 goals by reports and we kicked into the breeze at the start. Whilst the Bombers were on top and missed some good chances, we were only 3 goals down. The Bombets defied the breeze to kick the opening 4 goals of the second quarter. Our hearts were dropping. The walk down to the beach was tempting us. But then the Dees clicked and kicked the next four goals to restore the faithful. At half time the lead remained 15 points to the Bombers. Bennett had been held to a single goal as we relied on Ricky Jackson as our only multiple goalkicker. Again in the third quarter we held in the game and were 27 points by the last break. It was a fight. The Bombers opened better and went out to a 34 point lead via a Greg Anderson snap in his wrong foot. Despite the wind, hope was fading by the half way point. Some quick goals gave us momentum and a Greg Healy snap under pressure made it three in a row and back to a 3 goal lead. Then a 3rd goal to Jackson and two goals to Darren Bennett (5 goals) put us in front. Bennett’s mark over Van Der Haar lives as a great moment as Van Der Haar was crushed by Bennett’s size and leap. His goal lifted all in red and blue. Incredible. We were jumping around. What a fight back. Three minutes to play and the Bombers were attacking. They were relentless. But on the rebound, Heaver ran through the middle, took three bounces and handballed to Jackson who missed from 20 metres out. But he’d been pummeled after the kick. He got a free and nailed the sealer. We won by 8 points in an amazing upset. You couldn’t get the smile off our faces. In the final 14 minutes, the Dees kicked 7 goals to snatch it. It proved the catalyst to our year and we won every game for the rest of the regular season to get 7 straight leading to the finals. (post script- But of course 1990 was still not our year).

The game is at Docklands so probably not an issue then

Don't forget that VDB came back to play around finals time in 2018 and it was as if he hadn't been out at all; he had an immediate impact. The guy has incredible, seemingly natural, stamina and if his foot is not hindering him, I would put him straight in as top 22, if not top 10.

Nah...the season was called off and no one knew whether another game was going to be played let alone finals. One team had the comfort of home the other was stuck across the other side of the country when everything was turning to s.... I'm not overly concerned with that performance. This week is a whole different story.

Whose Back Pocket?

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/703366/round-2-injury-update-three-dees-sidelined Reading between the lines of what Burgess has stated in his injury report and Goodwin's rap for him, I think Harley will be picked against Carlton.

How can you rule out Vanders and also say Bennell is a genuine chance? He very clearly says they'll be putting their hands up to play

It was hardly a dead rubber. Both sides were playing for the win and the four points, all of which are pretty handy if you want to play finals. One team built a match winning lead in the first quarter and sat back. The other team never left the starting blocks.

I'll be disappointed if Lockhart doesn't get a game. I like that he's being developed as a small defender and think he could be a good long term option for us in the backline. He offers good rebound run, tenacious tackling, decent kicking skills and is one of the few small defenders we have. With Jetta and Hibberd slowing down, Lockhart is the next in line but IMO is already superior to Hibberd. I'd be playing him and Jetta in the back pockets. In 12 months time I'd love our backline to look something like: Jetta May Lockhart Salem Petty Lever with Rivers on the interchange as the rotating option. That gives us two talls in May and Petty, a third tall type in Lever who can go intercept or lockdown, two medium with good rebound in Salem and Rivers, and two small to lockdown and rebound in Jetta and Lockhart.

I know right. How many posters said he wouldn't play until halfway through the season! Clowns. Round 2 looking likely.

I don't think we did either...it was essentially a dead rubber as 'Moon' said above.

Would be great if they did. Perhaps they could get the guys that did the Nth Melbourne practice match back in. That was a great little production really. Always like to see the reserves and I'm glad the AFL and the clubs have got together and enabled these games to happen. With a nearly completely fit list (for once) but also plenty of developing talent and depth, I think it's an advantage for the MFC for these games to be going ahead.

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

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

After more than a 2 month hiatus we've been cleared to do a social distanced podcast to wrap up the lockdown period and preview our first match for the restarted 2020 season. Join @george_on_the_outer, @Supermercado & I as we discuss all the important issues going into Round 2. Listen & Chat LIVE @ 8:30PM: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

Better to show some real character when it doesn't matter. So when the heat really is applied you're well prepared. But judging by your tone anything less than a proper victory against the Blues just won't cut it. There's a few things that need to happen if we're going to play finals (actually contending for the flag is a whole different matter) Leg speed & quick ball movement Proper ball skills especially accurate kicking to position & space. A functioning forward line (the biggie) A connect between the midfield & the forward line. Clean clearance work with a dominant ruckman A defence that plays tight and doesn't leak goals. We've got issues with all of the above so we'll need to improve immensely, right across the board. And do we possess a never-say-die will to win? In every game we play? As always, we live in hope.

B: Jetta - May - Lockhart HB: Salem - Lever - Harmes C: Tomlinson - Viney - Langdon HF: Petracca - Weideman - Melksham FF: Pickett - T.Mac - Fritsch FOLL: Gawn - Oliver - Brayshaw INT: Jones (Back/Mid), Bennell (Fwd/Mid), Vandenberg (Fwd/Mid), Hibberd (back) EMG: Bedford - Smith - Brown - ANB Bedford for Bennell if he doesn’t play

Having our 3 small forwards as Pickett, Bennell and Bedford would be pretty exciting. Bennell is the silky skills we need kicking the ball inside our 50m arc, Bedford and Pickett bringing the forward defensive pressure. I hope ANB and Spargo become back up players. My team Jetta May Hibbard Salem Lever Lockhart Tomlinson Oliver Langdon Petracca Weiderman Fritsch Pickett TMac Melksham Gawn Brayshaw Viney Bennell, Harmes, Bedford, Jones

he played WAFL last year and was on the verge of being slected before the last calf injury.

And the Bennell scenario is the reason Joe Daniher will be at Melbourne next year.

Now that we are within the last week before the restart of this season, I'm finally getting excited about footy again. It's definitely been a weird few months as a supporter. I was itching all summer for us to get back into the season proper and start to make amends for 2019 and despite the Rd 1 loss to WC, I'm still holding out hope that we can get it back together and have a decient 2020. But when the virus stoped games, I actually found it quite easy to almost completely lose interest in footy, until we were given a firm timetable for restarting games again. Asides from the increasingly promising signs from Harley Bennell and Max's hair cut, even the chatter on Demonland has mostly been a boring regurgitation of gripes about forward entries and reliving 1001 historical games, seasons and drafts. Not singling out anyone in particular about this, it's just amazing how difficult I've found it to find any of these conversations interesting or entertaining without having any current footy events to speak of for relevance. ....Anyways, looking forward to the weekend as I recon we will beat Carlton convincingly, if not smash them out of the park. GO the MIGHTY DEMONS!

Agree. However, it was effectively a dead rubber. Played after the season was postponed indefinitely. Players from both sides running at half rat pace, opponents chatting and laughing during the game, players not sure how or if the borders would be open to get home. Lots of people thought the season was over. Whilst the result was disappointing, only the brave or MFCSS sufferers would draw too many conclusions from this game. Our inside 50 entry and connection with the forwards is what kills us most weeks. Fix that and we are much more likely to win. Get wins, gain momentum.

I've changed the side due to the match sim. B: JETTA, MAY, LEVER HB: SALEM, SMITH, HIBBERD C : LANGDON, PETRACCA, TOMLINSON HF: PICKETT, T.MCDONALD, JONES F: MELKSHAM, WEIDEMAN, FRITSCH FOLL: GAWN, OLIVER, VINEY IC: LOCKHART(BACK), HARMES(MID), BRAYSHAW(MID), BENNELL(FORWARD) EMERG: O.MCDONALD, VANDENBERG, RIVERS, JACKSON

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

I’d conservatively offer him a 25 year extension.

Forget ET the news breaker. binman is the Nostradamus of demonland. A pro pontificator. Hubs: tick Crowds at footy: tick Omac in team: tick Next predictions: Harley Bennell: the best recruit (ie from another club) the MFC has had. Ever Scoring: teams to be more attacking this year with a much greater emphasis on scoring

Makes sense No cost in loss of local support and means less if any travel next year. Eddie knows that 2021 is where the money is.

Think you may have missed the joke there, Doc.

Well it is basically half way through the season so the Clowns are spot on!!

Not sure if there is sarcasim intended in your response Rjay, but I'm tired of hearing that excuse for the performance we put in. The team had just spent the whole summer apparently working their butts off to try and atone for 2019 and get back to being respected. They had pleanty to motivate them and play for. If we are going to be that mentally soft to get rattled by the COVID distraction (which I don't think they were), then how will we ever stand up in finals. That said, I'm not overly pessimistic about our whole season based on that one game. We were out played by a well organised, established top 4 team on their home deck and they got on top of us on the day, but I hardly think we were disgraced. Rectifying our own game style isn't necessarily something which can be fixed overnight during match simulation and a couple of practice games. I'm happy to see how we settle down over a decient block of games before I call curtains on our season. One thing is for certain though - we have a pretty darn fit list to pick from and take the feild, so if they don't perform, there can be no excuses in that regard, unlike 2019.

Started to get political and nasty. There was no way to sort the wheat from the chaff so I just canned the whole thread.

Yep. Especially the comment about the fact that Burgess would know more than he would. Either way, I trust whatever Burgess decides to do.

Adam Yze

just a casual non-prefered Left hand bounce of the ball at the tail end of the run down the wing. He makes the game look slow around him.

It's June and we are only a game from top spot. Exciting times.

No need to deal, he’s an RFA end of this season.

He probably will become a premiership legend, into his mid 30s at Hawthorn.

why... we've already done the trip

His long layoff from the game may have a positive outcome too. Alastair Lynch said that his longevity in the game was a result of being forced to take time off due to his CFS early in his career. If he really does come right we could see Bennell do a Burgoyne and keep going into his mid-30s.

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

His final against St Kilda in 2006 wasn’t his best, but yes Travis was probably the best big game Demon player in my lifetime. He always stood up in finals and the big matches. He’s very underrated on these forums from what I’ve read. Yes, he could’ve had a better career, but it was still a good one where he lead the league for kicks, inside 50s and score assists for years on end. He was class. Back on Bennell, he’s supremely talented and it’s exciting we might be seeing him in a red and blue so soon! He played part midfield and part forward in the practice match. Do we expect the same at AFL level or do we need to be cautious with midfield time?

No.22 2006 Elimination Final v St.Kilda at MCG After being in the top of the ladder battle and a top 4 finish, with 12 wins 5 losses, the Dees season had staggered. One win from the last 5 rounds saw us finish 7th. A round 22 thrashing by the Crows by 10 goals had us as underdogs versus the Saints. We’d beaten them earlier in the year thanks to a David Neitz 8-goal effort. The Saints started well and we struggled against their strong defence. Three goals to half time was a poor performance but thankfully we were only 20 points down at half time. Jamar and Whelan were out of the game injured. Gehrig went off injured for the Saints in the 2nd quarter after trying to evade Carroll. Neitz was being well held by Sam Fisher and Hughton double team. Harvey was everywhere and we needed someone to step up to combat him. The lift came from youngsters Davey, McLean, Bate and Jones. The mids of junior McDonald and Bruce started to win more of the footy and we got back into the game. It was only one goal deficit at 3/4 time but the Saints opened the last quarter with a goal and control of the game but couldn’t kill us off. Yet we seemed to have run our race and we couldn’t crack their defence. Halfway through the last quarter, suddenly it was the Saints that cracked. Goals to McLean and Green had us even and then Neita kicked another to put us in front. The Dees army that had been subdued roared as McLean and Yze followed with another two goals to win by 18 points. It was relief. After losing in the elimination final in the prior 2 years, we finally won a final again. It was hardly convincing and a tough win but it was September action and we’d won it and stayed in contention. Melbourne 13.12.90 defeated St.Kilda 10.12.72

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

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.

wow that first tweet from mcgowan is atrocious ball use smith takes a nice mark from a forward 50 entry bomb, takes forever to decide what to do, kicks it straight to t mac, who bombs long to a pack, may hacks it out...straight to t mac, who get it to viney who bombs it indiscriminately, before a pack and nice handball from smith and then dunkley is the only player to hit a target coming out the other side of the backline what was that about learning our lessons re f50 entries?