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Can I just take the time to say that, even with our recent form, I've never seen so many posts predicting a win vs a team second on the ladder during my entire time on Demonland. What a time to be alive

Whilst staring at the gathering grey gloom over Ballarat today I saw something that, at first, I thought was a little ray of sunshine. I was wrong, it was just some of last night's chicken and tomato soup on my glasses. As I wiped them clean with my wife-made mittens, I heard a vague rumble and looked back at the cloud filled sky. Had the rumble been a portent of things to come? Was this a message from on high? Was I being given a glimpse of the Dees fate on Saturday night? I waited for a clearer sign, something more definitive. Another rumble; and then I realised it was probably just another New South Wales removal truck thundering down the nearby Western Highway. As I turned to go back inside, a pair of beautiful crimson rosellas dressed in their red and blue finery flew in to partake of the free seed we provide to our feathered friends. I took a detour so not to disturb their pecking and as I turned my back I swear I heard one of them call out, "Go Dees, we've got this!" I went straight inside and said a little prayer.

If you reckon things are bad now, just wait another 20 or 30 years when the place is being run by kids who were home schooled by alcoholics.

Trying to stretch May, Lever & Petty. Could backfire if wet.

When I was asked to preview this game, I wasn’t sure whether it was going to be played in Darwin, on the Gold Coast or the MCG. I had no idea as to the identity of Melbourne’s opponent. This would have made for one hell of an interesting match preview so I’m glad that the AFL managed to reorganize its fixture to enable a game … any game at all … to proceed in Round 19. We’ll worry about the Gold Coast Suns or whoever they put us up against when the weekend’s done and dusted and if and when the Delta strain decides to move to a state or territory where there are no football teams left. Actually, I was scared suitcaseless about the prospect of taking on the 14th placed Gold Coast at the weekend. The way the Dees are going against such lowly sides at the moment, it would have been an absolute disaster facing up to the Suns so it seems that we’ve dodged a bullet for the moment at least. As coach Simon Goodwin said it all this week, “these are the type of games we look forward to as a football club”. Goodwin is satisfied that the players are doing the right things when they haven’t got the footy while most observers are worried about some of the things they’re doing when they have it. Still, a match up against the competition’s second placed club is the perfect recipe to soothe our jangled nerves along with our collective anxiety about surviving the ordeal of facing up to bottom six teams with hopeless records against all other comers. Compared to the above, the Western Bulldogs should be easy pickings for the Demons. They succumbed to Melbourne’s high pressure game a matter of only seven weeks ago in front of an empty Marvel Stadium and the only thing different this week will be that the empty ground will be the Demons’ own home, the G. The other familiar thing will be the team Melbourne assembles for Saturday night’s game assuming that none of the boys have recently wandered into a Tier One site. The club has been truly blessed on the injury front this year and I only hope that in saying so, I’m not jinxing the team. This should be an enthralling match up between clubs with premiership aspirations that would be further bolstered enormously by victory here. Both have powerful midfields with Melbourne’s rucks giving them a very slight edge. The Doggies’ strength is also up forward while the Dees’ backmen has been an absolute treat this year. If there is a criticism of that defence, it’s the fact that when that wall is penetrated, opposition forward lines score goals regularly and rarely miss. At the 10 minute mark of last week’s opening term, the Hawks sat on a score of 1.2.8. They kicked eight goals in a row from that point until time on in the third quarter when it stood at 9.2.56, a major factor in their comeback to eventually tie up the game in the end. Barring the fiasco on the small SCG against Collingwood, the team has dropped premiership points in games when they’ve had the greater number of scoring shots at goal. It’s a trend that bodes no good unless it can be dealt with sooner rather than later. On that score, I’m relying on the law of averages to start working in Melbourne’s favour this week. The Bulldogs will miss the easy shots at goal while the Demons will snag enough that just sneak through. All of this for the simple reason that the opposition is a fellow member of the top eight. The worm will turn again and Melbourne will win by 15 points. THE GAME Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at the MCG, Saturday, 24 July, 2021 at 7.25pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 89 wins 1 draw Western Bulldogs 77 wins At the MCG Melbourne 46 wins Western Bulldogs 28 Last Five Meetings Melbourne 3 wins Western Bulldogs 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 4 wins Beveridge 2 wins MEDIA TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 13.9.87 defeated Western Bulldogs 8.11.59 at Marvel Stadium in Round 13, 2021 It was the club’s best performance for the year. From the first bounce, it was clear that the Demons were on and they dominated the Bulldogs despite the fact that their stars in Bontempelli and Macrae managed to rack up at least 30 possessions. Max Gawn and Luke Jackson won in the ruck contests and around the ground. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: C. Salem 3 S. May 1 H. Petty 35 HB: M. Hibberd 14 J. Lever 8 T. Rivers 24 C: J. Jordon 23 C. Petracca 5 E. Langdon 15 HF: B. Fritsch 31 T. McDonald 25 A. Neal-Bullen 30 F: C. Spargo 9 B. Brown 50 K. Pickett 36 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Oliver 13 J. Viney 7 I/C: A. Brayshaw 10 J. Harmes 4 J. Hunt 29 L. Jackson 6 Sub: T. Sparrow 32 Emerg: T. Bedford 12 J. Smith 44 S. Weideman 26 In: J. Harmes Out: A. vandenBerg WESTERN BULLDOGS B: E. Richards 20 A. Keath 42 B. Williams 34 HB: T. Duryea 15 Z. Cordy 12 B. Dale 31 C: J. Macrae 11 B. Smith 6 C. Daniel 35 HF: R. Garcia 38 A. Naughton 33 C. Weightman 19 F: J. Ugle-Hagan J. Bruce 17 L. Hunter 7 Foll: T. English 44 T. Liberatore 21. M. Bontempelli 4 I/C: M. Hannan 29 J. Johannisen 39 J. Schache 13 R. Smith 37 Sub: A. Scott 28 Emerg: H. Crozier 9 L. McNeil 30 L. Young 2 In: M.Hannan T.Liberatore J.Schache Out: H.Crozier (omitted) J. Dunkley (isolating) L.McNeil (omitted) Injury List: Round 19 Nathan Jones (calf) — Test Mitch Brown (heel) — 2 to 3 Weeks Bailey Laurie (shoulder) — 2 to 3 Weeks Marty Hore (knee) — 6 to 7 Weeks Aaron Nietschke (knee) — Season Adam Tomlinson (knee) — Season

Harmes on Libber

The secret ingredient for every premiership winner is luck. And (touch wood) we have our fair share of it thus far. As you say we have had a great run with injuries. Good management plays a big part in that obviously, but you still need some luck. Other than the financial hit from no crowds, thus far we have avoided any real major impact from covid related fixturing reshuffles. Losing the Alice game actually helped from an on field perspective as we played that game in Sydney instead, so less time flying etc. And having to play the Pies in Sydney was not too disruptive. Haven't had to hub or do any disruptive quarantining palaver like the Cats and Dogs had to in Perth, or Pies and cats to play in Adelaide. For our Port and Crows games it was normally procedures, which really helped for the Port game (eg flying in the previous day, getting to stay overnight in a hotel, having all day to prepare etc ). And whilst flipping the dogs and gc game might impacts our preparation for the dogs game, they will alos have been impacted. And it means that the players didn't have to travel this week, giving them a couple of weeks at home. And crucially it is almost certain we will avoid having to play GC in Darwin. A game at Metricon will be much less physically taxing given the humidity in Darwin, involve much less air time and be less logistically complex. And we play well at Metricon, and have fans in Qld who can hopefully go, so that helps too. And then if they fly direct to Perth they can hunker down there and prepare for the Eagles game. In Pert, they will quarantine in a resort complex in Perth, but continue to train. Might be very helpful to be away from Victoria, be all together in one spot for a week and be able to focus on things like going through, try some new tactical ploys, work on structures etc etc. If we fly in for the GC game, say on the Saturday and then fly to Perth on the Saturday night, we can do the 7 day quarantine, play Eagles on the Sunday and then fly out again that night. So back home late Sunday night. Meaning all up they are away for only 8 days. Manageable and possibly really good timing in terms of bonding and getting reset and focused for the final push to the summit.

13-3-1 17 rounds played…..13 wins....and a draw????….. 54 points in the premiership bank and Still on top after a Bulldogs loss. 5 Rounds to go in the home and away season. Had a shocker and it was only worth 2 points, if that. Round 18 - 1 (Us) vs. 2 (Them) Earlier than expected but I predict a strong win for us. Apologies for the short version. A few things have come up at home that have made it difficult to give time to this. I hope to be able to give proper versions in Rounds to come

Some of you people laughing at Bevo could have egg all over your faces. And that is not just with the result Sat night. He probably does not care if the tallish forward line works or not but is willing to try it. He will be looking at finals and the various out comes in playing us then. He wont be worried if they lose Sat night as they have easier draw and if they finish 3rd or 4th wont bother him either as it will be us or Geelong in the qualifyings. And that may even be over at mcgowanville.

Harmes back in to do a repeat number on Libba. Right call. Schache and Hannan in for the Doggies doesn't worry me at all My confidence just went up a notch

Advantage us.

maynard is a ripper and is entering his peak years as a footballer filth needs 'points' to get daicos our first two picks in 2021 draft - likely to in that 33-45 bracket (brisbane's second rounder, hawthorn's third rounder) - would give them another 1000 points to bundle with their own scant selections, which are likely to be in that 40-50 bracket (footscray's second rounder, their own third rounder, and adelaide and freo's third rounder) i'd happily pony up a late second round pick / high third round pick in order to get maynard at the dees in 2022

Enough with the politics and media. Most people don't care and this is a thread for footy-related covid news. And yes I'm aware there's lots of politics posts but mods can't be in here all day. Please stick to footy talk.

Agreed. I reckon finishing 1st is vital, because first will likely play a home qualifying final against an injury hit Brisbane or flakey Port for a place in the prelim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNXIYBStPfA

This is our best 22 sure you can discuss Melksham, Jones and AVB but outside those there's little else. Not sure they will deliver Saturday but will they deliver over the next 6 weeks

Probably not such a strange decision at the time it was made. Firstly, Waverley was expected to become the geographic centre of greater Melbourne. That didn't happen, but not by much as the centre gradually moved eastward to about Ashburton until about 5 years ago and then started to move west again because of the rapid growth in the Werribee and Melton vicinities. Secondly, the then VFL expected a railway line to go to Waverley (VFL Park), via Monash Uni. The apocryphal story, which may well be true, is that the Premier at the time, Henry Bolte, had to choose whether to send the railway line to Monash and the proposed VFL Park or through Sandown Racecourse to Dandenong. It is claimed that he chose Sandown because he was more of a fan of racing. (It's hard to believe today but back in the 50s and early 60s, racing used to get decent crowds to every Saturday meeting.) Edit: I should add that the failure to provide a railway line probably did more to kill VFL Park than anything else. And the "killing" of VFL Park enabled the MCG to grow to become the wonderful stadium it now is. (If only we could go...)

John Northey got everything out of that group. They had a great record against Hawthorn - better than any other side over that period 87-91, when the Hawks won three flags and were runner up in another play off. Putting them out of the finals in 1990 was probably my second greatest footy memory, after round 22 1987.

Realistically the late 80s/early 90s dees were very good and had a lot of heart, but ultimately didn't have the talent to go all the way.

Chin up old dee, our parents band grandparents lived through far worse and whilst it’s easy for me to say, I’m sure we are closer to returning to more sustained normality (not that we will return to pre-covid life) than we were 12 months ago Thank god we’re travelling well as a footy team at the moment

I never have one with any of our games.

This game will be interesting tactically. Last time we cut Libba out and "blocked the corridor" with Lever going hoarse from shouting it so often. If they got the ball fwd it forced them out to the boundaries so had to take more difficult shots. We learnt that lesson from the Adelaide loss. Both tactics caught the Bulldogs by surprise. Bulldogs would have learnt plenty from the Hawks game where they made May and Lever accountable, shut down Salem making it harder for us to attack down Langdon's wing. In doing so they weakened our defensive and attacking weapons but not to the point of getting a big score or a win. Bulldgos rested Libba last week. They will be ready with counter measures for him and for the blocked corridor tactic. And, we will learn plenty from their game vs GCS in which they were average. While winning in recent times they aren't playing great football. I saw vision that showed they hunt the ball in packs leaving themselves exposed on the outside. I would really like to see Brayshaw back on the wing and we regain the extra defensive layer when he and Langdon roll back to reinforce our defence around the 50m arc. It will be fascinating to watch how it pans out. i think we will win.

Was thinking that 'A F'...he's certainly not been the same as the player who exploded on the scene. Still plenty of time for him but sometimes the expectations don't match the reality. Most only remember Trengove post injury & the comparisons with Martin don't help, but he was a seriously good player when he first arrived here. It takes serious talent & a lot of luck to be Dustin Martin.

With the talk of (just a few examples)... Hunt missing an opportunity to pull up and go lateral following his run through the middle on Sat evening Lever also ignoring / not seeing an option or two out wide to his left with a few minutes to go and maintain possession / try to ice the clock but instead taking the safe, but IMHO, incorrect down the line bail out which then turned over and came straight back for a goal. Tracc continually mucking so many entries and opportunities coming inside 50 and burning team mates / the team so often Viney, while i didn't pay much attention on Sat evening, appeared to have a couple of clean exits from center / stoppages and had opportunities to hit up players inside 50 or at least kick to their favoured side but failed badly; and Lingers constantly bombing to the hot zone without seemingly being aware or capable of hitting up anyone loose i50 or kicking to their favoured side very often or at best on rare occasions... I figured it was appropriate to re visit this analysis from a much more learned scribe in Gazza. While i've no doubt many players from other teams also suffer in this regard, especially when placed under serious pressure, is this yet again becoming an issue for some (or too many) Demons? When i re-read this analysis it still has some eerily similar examples to what we are seeing of late. Our ability to assess and select the correct play ie; slow (possession/momentum/icing the clock) vs go quick option, go lateral vs down the line from HB (Lever), take the shot from 45/50 instead of trying to thread the needle (Tracc) or taking the % option vs forcing a 45 kick etc. So is the red mist (inability to quickly assess but instead panic under perceived or genuine pressure, scoreboard pressure), still a default for some in our group when they feel the heat? If so, is this fixable or is it too ingrained in said players and they are doomed to rinse and repeat! Is the club aware of it? Does it matter or am i beating this up too much? Thoughts..... https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-melbourne-problems-analysis-demons-on-the-couch-garry-lyon-red-mist-bad-kicking-playing-too-fast/news-story/8350ba20fe8a6cdc618b51cae33c412f

Whilst it's good to see Harmes back I honestly think Vandenberg is stiff. I thought his courageous act might have kept him but obviously not. I would have easily dropped Brayshaw for Harmes and kept Vanders at half forward where Brayshaw has been shifted too. Gus has honestly given us nothing for the past month and has had 0 influence on the team. Seriously needs to pull his finger out this weekend because he's getting a free run at it with some of his insipid efforts the past few weeks. The shifting around of Brayshaw is becoming one of the more perplexing scenarios going around.

I will say we are certainly backing in the same group again. There’s an element of responsibility about this approach that I really like. Our best is good enough. We just need to bring that intensity and desire consistently. Ive been a vocal critic of Goodwin over the last few years, but I think he’s showing a teachable restraint with this group of players that hopefully really allows the playing groups to understand it’s up to them.

Could go either way. If we lose, don't get sucked into the hype about the Bulldogs or the Dees If we win, don't get sucked into the hype about the Dees or the Bulldogs.

Schache is their version of Weeds. Not overly concerned about them bringing Hannan and him into their side.

We've turned up for all our big games this year. No reason to expect we won't turn up for this one. Dees by 5 goals

I hate that umpire! Why would you let such a poor quality umpire anywhere near the best game of the round? He has already given the Dogs 8 random frees and it’s not even game day yet.

More fool them. Lever prefers summer rolls

And our weakness down back is covering mid size and small forwards

Hi CHF, happy to step in. Our result against the hawks - advantage them Midfield chaos thanks to Covid - advantage us MCG - advantage us no crowd - advantage them. Yo-yo result - advantage Sportsbet. This is an interesting game and the outcome depends on how we show up. If we keep the ball in front of us, dont get sucked into the contest and win the contested ball, we win. If we let them win the middle and fail to stop their throws/pinball out of the contest, we will get done. We need to see increases in accuracy in front of goal, and lifts across the park in terms of ball handling. This is not a make or break game, but it is important for how we see ourselves. Are we (cough) premiership material or are we falling over? A chance for the 2021 deMons to show up. Hope Brown gets a few, and we are cleaner by hand and foot. Dees by 25.

Very true. However, a flag would go a long way towards ameliorating the financial impact. In that context it is amazing we have achieved a record number of memberships

Yep such a memorable win that final in 1990. A high point. We’d just beaten them the week before in the final round of the season … so 2 wins v the hawks in 2 weeks felt like a big statement. Dees were real contenders! Unfortunately the following game ( after a week off to let the magpies and eagles replay their draw) we played the eagles at waverley and got fully thrashed. despite the weeks rest and despite the eagles travel schedule. It’s a loss that remains one of my worst memories as the 1990 flag was just so winnable. it remains “ the one that got away” in my brain. so it was a big high right next to a big low…. and of the two memories the loss makes a deeper impression.

Players regularly say they want to stay and then leave, i'm certaintly not ruling it out as a possibilty, i've just not heard anything personally about Maynard leaving, not sure if the regular high rep Demonlanders have heard anything?

Interesting, I interpret it completely differently. ’It’ll be interesting’ - adds uncertainty I’d love to stay - is also adding uncertainty

I think the Dogs HAVE to win this weekend. Sure they've beaten Port in Adelaide, the Lions at Marvel early season and the Eagles at Marvel and Optus, but all of them are looking like 2nd tier contests. They've failed the real acid tests vs MFC and Sydney at Marvel, the real Richmond at the MCG and Geelong narrowly at Kardinia Park. They just have to win to put a stake in the ground and I think Beveridge is good at getting them up for a statement game so I think they probably will win. If they don't I think it's a major hit to their campaign. I looked for some pattern in those wins and losses against contenders above. They clearly won clearances in all except their win over Brisbane. They won contested in wins against the Eagles twice, the Lions and Port They lost contested in losses against MFC, Richmond and Geelong They did win contested in their loss against Sydney however I think the superficial take away is: win contested against them and win the match Looking for an explanation against Sydney - they lost uncontested in that match and were miles down on marks 67 - 123 which was the outlier stat as I cast my eye across the match. However they regularly lose marks - they are in the negative in differential across the season, and in games they won against the Eagles they went 86 - 127 and the Lions they went 63 - 110 so I don't think that tells the story.

TBH I can't understand what Dermie is on about. I looked back at the Fritta "small bump" on Grainger-Barass and there is nothing to see. If he king hit someone, like Dermie did to plenty of opponents, I would understand, but this is a nothing small bump. Very strange.

I've actually felt confident with a few games this season, first time in a very long time. Coincidentally, we didn't win any of them. So...it's probably all my fault. Apologies

Tall poppy syndrome here. Bailey has immaculate hair. Get stuffed Dermie you closet ranga!!!

Always manages to make his commentary and writing about himself in some way. Surprised he's elected to write about Fritsch too when there are so many snipers in the game. Mumford is one that comes to mind, he's a genuine rat who always plays the man and gets away with it every time.

Ridiculous. Who says if we played them next week they wouldn’t lose a different key player to injury in the game prior? It makes 0 difference if we play each other this week or next. It’s just a crying shame that both of these top of the ladder games have gone ahead with no crowds this year.

The bleach might be effecting more than his hair

Sometimes you have to take a deeper look. Who expected us to be where we are? They've had issues but a list that has Walsh in the middle, Weitering as a KPD and McKay as KPF is a pretty good start. They don't need to rely on Cripps any more. They're well set to really move next season, they could even play finals this year. Well ahead of Freo and I think better balance at the moment than EFC but EFC are also coming...I don't think Freo are.

Derm is always whinging about people doing perceived filthy things now. He's like an ex-criminal who finds god and tries to lecture all the current crims on what they're doing wrong.

It's funny because Derm used to straight up belt people in the head when he played, and now he's the patron saint of fair play? The irony is simply too much. The bloke is an absolute moron. Someone should ask him if, by extension, that means he was a "faux tough guy" in his days as well ...

dermott literally stomped on a former teammate's head

Ha, this country has not even had a pandemic. I have friends in other countries who have lost family and every single person they know has had the virus. This is nothing. Seriously, its just attitude. Be thankful you live in such a safe place. Look at what you have got and not what you dont.

Case to be made for Melk and his zany visionary sideways kicks into 50. Or Jones when fit. He seems a calm head (feel free to correct me)