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Thought I’d give a little update on Dec for anyone interested This season he is playing at our home town of Moe as a development coach/player Back into his true position as a key defender and has killed it in the first 2 games On Saturday they played Maffra in Maffra and won 69-26. Moe haven’t beat Maffra away in over a decade He was dominating so much they sent a defensive forward on him but it didn’t work, he took a huge number of defensive and intercept marks and was a big reason Maffra only kicked 3 goals for the game Moe picked up a few good players this year including ex Giants and Carlton player Kristian Jaksch. Should have a good crack at the premiership this year He has floated the idea of possibly returning to Casey in the VFL next season so I will keep you updated Carn the Dee’s!

Sam Edmund on SEN just said that Christian Salem will be staying at the Dees and it's just a matter of timing before it's announced. Continued by saying he wants to stay, and the dees want him staying as well.

Watched the Casey game with an emphasis on another kid I have a lot of faith in and he was great. Toby has pace as we all know, but he now is an aggressive pressure player, who doesn't allow easy possessions to the opposition He now has very good disposal skills, as well as the ability to make a goal from nothing. IMO he will be a regular in the AFL side sooner than later and with Kozzie will prove an absolute handful for the opposition. I also thought Deakyn Smith was very good and looks a player. Rosman also looks a likely type and Bowey's disposal is superb. We now have significant depth.

This Guy: "They're actually looking really good, and some of the areas they excel are areas we aren't so strong at. Gawn will dominate against us, especially if we only play Nankervis. He will need additional support and even then, Gawn is likely to be the best big man on the ground. So they excel in our ruck weakness. Also without Prestia, their midfield has the potential to smash us inside. Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Jones will be very formidable inside and doing the grunt work. We probably have them on the spread if it gets out, but there's every chance they dominate the clearances so I think their strength there is challenging to one of our weaknesses without the Meatball to help. To mitigate this, one of RCD or Ross has to come into the 22. I think we are going to need that extra player in the mid rotations and hope they are ready to have an impact. The areas I think we are on top, is that I think our forward line stacks up well, particularly if May misses again. I rate the firepower of Lynch, Riewoldt, Martin plus our rotational smalls compared to their team. Ben Brown could be a danger if he plays, but he could also be coming in for his first game and not have a big influence or synergy yet. I also think our back 6 has the edge, and just need our mids to break even. The danger is if the mids are smashed the back 6 will be under siege and missing Vlastuin still will hurt. A lot of our forward strategy depends on if May plays. If he doesn't then Jack and Lynch need to play as far away from each other as possible to isolate the other against the lesser KPD, and force Lever to choose one or the other rather than sitting loose and zoning to cover both of them. We know that in the first 10 or so rounds, Richmond are more of a grind and get results rather than playing our best football. I feel the Demons are on a higher level than that at this point of the season, and so wouldn't be surprised if they get up. The final thing in our favour though is that Richmond do generally turn up in the big games, and while the Demons will not lack motivation, in front of a big crowd (unsure of the capacity limits?) on the big stage Richmond have to have more trust in them. It's a genuine 50/50 game for mine. IMO we need to split the Demons/Dogs 1-1. It would be a big ask to win both on current form of all 3 sides, but we can't afford to lose both either. I think this is a better match up for us, and tipping the Tigers to shake some of the early season cobwebs and flex a bit of muscle to win a great contest by 8 points."

I think Jackson suffers from the fact that he looks so much less like a young ruck/forward than most young ruck/forwards do. He moves so smoothly and with so much coordination that he gets judged like he's a 25 year old. He actually looks too good for his age so people can get fooled into judging his forward play like he's a mature player like Tom McDonald. But he's 19. He's a ruck forward. What he's doing is remarkable. He was beating Ben McEvoy, a 31 year old premiership ruckman comfortably in the ruck and then spreading like a midfielder. He's beaten or halved against every mature AFL ruckman he's played this year. He's a viable forward target against mature AFL key defenders. And he's 19. He has more contested marks this season than any player his age or younger. He gets his hands to more than others because he's much, much better than others. He's 19. McEvoy didn't have as many hitouts as Jackson had yesterday until he was nearly 22 in his 4th season. Lycett was nearly 22. Nankervis didn't even play until he was 22. Jordan Roughead was 24. Max Bailey was nearly 23. Mike Pyke was 25. Brad Ottens was 19. Darren Jolly was 21. That's all of the premiership number 1 rucks for the last 11 years, and they all first got 22+ hitouts when they were playing as a solo/leading ruck, not as a key forward who gave the number 1 a chop out when he was tired. I feel a bit sorry for those who can't appreciate what Jackson is doing. This should be a time of wonder and enjoyment at a kid who is doing phenomenal things at this stage of his career. Sit back and enjoy it.

He's on the way to becoming our version of Corey Enright, an underrated superstar in a team of bigger name superstars!

Yep, 2 games in a COVID mad year and some nearly write him off. He has definitely improved and significantly. IMO he will be a better player than Spargo and ANB long term. He has some real X factor, that I also saw in Shai Bolton when he was playing VFL and couldn’t get a game with the Tigers. Time will tell.

ANB is a very important player in our team in terms of both the forward pressure role but as importantly the distance he covers and his defensive and offensive spread. He is incredibly fit and works super hard all game. His run and work rate is critical to our game plan working. With his work rate he is almost always redlining. And no one out of the team comes close to being able to matching that work rate. AnB is a best 22 lock.

What an amazing effort from an an amazing servant of the club. This guy bleeds red and blue. He carried the team on his shoulders for so many years during some dark times. As loyal as the come. Congratulations Nathan Jones. ❤️??

Time and time again?

….be surprised, but a heck of a lot less surprised than most years. This demons side is as legit as I've ever seen, and it's a wonderful thing to experience. But win or lose I won't go read too much into it. Beating both grand finalists in April would be nice, but I'd rather beat them in September.

I have complete confidence he will win one-on-one

6072 - Days since Essendon last won a final Not relevant to this thread but it just makes me happy

I hope that his mail is correct Christian Salem is in the top echelon of our playing group has good hands and is an excellent distributor most of the time. He is also one of our best performers in the backline, a much needed player that we must keep.

I'm a big Petty fan and think he doesn't deserve to be dropped but no way Tomlinson goes out ahead of him. Tommy Mac stays in - he is in very good form. Whether he can keep it up and stay in the team once the others are back will be interesting. But with the longer quarters and our home ground as the MCG, there's a lot of reasons why he will.

keep us updated all season please @Drunkn167, he's like part of the demonland family thanks to your contributions

Fair enough Old Dee. My Dad died late last year, so this is my first season without him, and it has taken on a melancholy tone as a result. But I must say, I did feel perked up after a couple of beautiful goals by the boys on the weekend, accompanied by the roar of the crowd, and Dad would have approved and felt likewise. I hope when covid is sorted, and you feel safe, you can return to the G, so one day we can enjoy us lifting that elusive cup..

Just remind them on Saturday last year doesn't count, it was a Mickey Mouse comp and the GF wasn't even played in Victoria! Our AFLX trophy has more significance than their 2020 flag

Oh struth, did you have to?

win 3 out of 4 flags you've earnt the right to be a little cocky there is nothing to suggest we will do more than compete with them for 3 quarters.

Also lets be happy that finally, after Jones carried rubbish teams on his back for a decade, he can finally be carried by his teammates to 300 games. He sure has earnt that right!

You have serious issues

Just in case ...

I am hopeful my prediction is wrong..

A strategy that Sydney used very effectively vs Tigers was to 'divide and conquer' their defenders. Several Sydney forwards would lead in different directions so the Tiger defenders couldn't get across to intercept. If we have two of Weideman/Brown/Fritsch we can very effectively use this strategy. Even with one of them and TMac we can still make it work.

Can’t be a Tigers fan. It’s too articulate, is without spellos and well argued.

this makes no sense.

It's about this stage where if he was a young West Australian in the Eagles academy he'd be locked away out of sight, there'd be a rumour about some misdemeanor and he'd suddenly spring back after the draft with 8kgs of pure muscle added to his frame.

Hibberd did a really good job on Dusty a few years ago but I'm sure he has the capacity to go with him any more all around the ground. I think someone like Viney lining up on him for stoppages in the middle of the ground and Hibberd ready to take him as he moves forward is more likely than a singular hard tag.

Sorry, but you are wrong again...

Get moist till Sunday morning

Of course you have !!! Balanced , well reasoned commentary is what demonlanders are well known for. Well, me anyhow !!

I finally got around to renewing my MCC/MFC membership this afternoon. That’s our fourth for the household. Girl I spoke to said they’ve been very busy.

Yeah, the ‘haven’t beaten anyone’ tag is starting to frustrate me especially when other teams fans throw it out there in a conversation. Most ‘experts’ and footy followers had us missing finals preseason and probably would have pencilled us in for at least a couple of losses in the first five rounds. We beat the teams people thought would beat us and “ oh... but you’ve beaten bottom teams”. Definitely sterner tests to come but so far the signs are promising.

Missing you already...

Obviously not a visitor to this forum It's crazy. God I hope they beat us, there heads will explode and then ill sit back and watch when they lose a final. No supporter group drinks the coolaid like melbourne supporters and finish it off with this modest statement If we bring our pressure and intensity like we did against the saints they are no chance. Let's be honest guys when we are on and hunting no team in history can be beat us let alone the comp. That's why we have won 3 flags out of 4 . Because our best is by far and away the best in the comp and of all time.

We're tall, but mobile too. Going to be very hard for any team to get through our defense with Gawn, TMac and Jackson all there for kick outs and Hunt, Hibberd and Pickett with speed for the crumbs, Viney's tackling et cetera... TMac on the wing is the big unknown, but given they trained it, there must be a rationale.....

Luke Jackson is probably the main reason why Max is currently leading the coaching votes and will push for a Brownlow this year. Max's mobility across the ground has been on display and improved greatly, he's making so many more marking contests and looking strong in every one of them. In previous years ruckman have attacked Max, battering him at ruck contests and wearing him down physically. The support Jackson is providing is crucial for Max to be freed up to float forward and back with maintaining energy to compete hard every contest. Huge.

The point here is that, unlike the others you cite, Bradtke is a Category B rookie who we were able to recruit because he had not played football for several years. He came from a basketball background and, at the time of his recruitment, it was acknowledged that he was a player who would require substantial development over a number of years. Given the closure of the VFL due to Covid19, he's actually one game into his second season. Let's see where he's at after he plays another dozen games at that level.

Richmond has beaten Carlton, Hawthorn and St Kilda. The average ladder position of teams they've beaten is 14th. Ours is 11th. Geelong and Saints both in the top 8 when we beat them. Tigers have played well once this season and everyone is talking about them ... they beat up an injury ravage St Kilda that was on a 5-day break. And yet we're the team that "hasn't beaten anyone yet". Let's not forget Richmond's 5-0 start to the year in 2017... Not to understate them as a team because I think they're great, but seriously, I am very much looking forward to beating them comfortably on Saturday.

Three years on the list = Year 1 at Casey with Bayden Preuss occupying the ruck position for most of the season. Year 2 in a hub with zero matches other than some Mickey Mouse make up games. Year 3 (one round played) You call that 3 years? And what statistical information due you bring to the table about the changes in his playing weight over that time?

who doesn't love this absolute warrior of a footballer? epitomises the resilience and attitude that it takes to back up again and again so that he can deliver the best he can for the club can't wait to see him get a win in his 300th in front of a massive crowd in a massive game

I am really pleased that Dec is doing well, and good luck for the rest of the season.

I was on the fence about him playing against Richmond. I dont believe he is in great form. When you point out how significant 300 games is and the likely effect it will have on him and his teamates then I understand why it is better to played against the tigers. From this perspective I conceed I was wrong. Im sure it will fire the boys up and especially Chunk. It actually could provide the extra motivation we need. Best of Luck. One thing for sure he does deserve to play out 300. Hope its 6 zip for him and he gets amongst the votes.

There’s one category of footballer that I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss and that’s the ruck. Even allowing for the fact that he was handicapped by 3 ACL’s, our skipper was well beyond the age of 21 when he established himself in that position. History tells us that you shouldn’t write off 20/21 year old ruckmen. Dean Cox was picked as a rookie by the Eagles at 20 but didn’t come of age until he was 24. Aaron Sandilands was also picked as a rookie by the Dockers but didn’t make All-Australian till he was 26. Although he’s nowhere near to their class as a ruckman, Brisbane Lions’ Oscar McInerney was running around in the then VFL Development League (reserves) for Casey at 21 years of age and was 23 when drafted as a rookie (at #37) by the Lions. He was almost 24 when he played his first AFL game. Until injured early this season he was the #1 ruck in a team that was regarded as a premiership contender. There are plenty of other ruckmen who were barely on the radar at 21 so I wouldn’t be writing Bradtke off just yet.

If he keeps playing the way he is, he will absolutely be part of our future. He had a great game on the weekend and I’d be totally shocked and disappointed if he’s dropped this weekend. I’m incredibly proud of Tommy and the way he’s got his body right and fought back from a tough year or two, and going up for trade. He deserves some success. Bloody impressive turnaround so far!

I love watching Jackson play and develop, and it makes my heart soar hearing that it's down to Gawn on when Jackson goes into that are as I feel that Gawn is not just being a captain, but a mentor/on-field ruck coach. I've got no doubt that Max can read when things are a bit tighter and they need his experience in there, but allowing Jackson to have more ruck time (and there's no doubt he's getting it) is just absolutely brilliant. That all said, Jackson keeps being inches away from the big breakout game. That isn't a shot at his because he's only 19, but it's almost excruciating at seeing the hands have good purchase on the ball but not hold the grab, or his rove his on taps and it doesn't quite get the clean possession. It will happen this year, I would just about take that to the bank. In the meantime I'll enjoy the moments that Max allows him to take more responsibility in the ruck. @Dr.D it's hard to work out whether you're a troll or just dim. His role as a forward on paper is largely structural, have a look at his heatmap. He's being played more as a ruck/wing/onballer, his actual time deep as a forward is relatively minimal. Where he's being named on the teamsheet is largely irrelevant.

Bob Murphy on LJ: https://media.whooshkaa.com/show/1920/episode/816936.mp3

For a decade Melbourne supporters would drag themselves to games knowing we would lose. They would also drag themselves to games knowing that our captain would be giving his all. Nathan Jones is a warrior. A player who has carried himself with quiet dignity through years of working in a toxic, negative and more often than not losing environment. He withstood board meltdowns, countless coaches, and multiple trashings, and he did it all while putting his body on the line every week, getting every inch of skills out of his body, and leading a revolving door of players. In an environment that is often marked by a lack of loyalty, money chasing, and easy premiership grabbing, Jones has stood out as a beacon of a team first player. A player who puts his teammates, his club and the jumper above all else. We are so lucky to have found Jones, to have had him at our lowest moments as our shinning light in endless darkness. What a deserving milestone to play 300 games for a club you fought so hard for, for so long, and to now be playing in a winning side that you helped to nurture. Congratulations Jonesy on 300 wonderful games. Nobody is more deserving of this accolade than you.

Jonesy plays his 300th, Dusty his 250th and Brayshaw and Rioli both will play their 100th, don't know if there's ever been a game with more than 750 games in combined milestones before? All happening on Anzac Eve, which could be the biggest crowd for years. Huge occasion for the club and all involved, very fitting for Jones!