Demonland

I found the non-photoshopped image. Nice try MFC.

Nice photoshop job MFC. I'm not convinced.

I didn't see him at the Family Day either but that doesn't mean he wasn't there or was missing for another benign reason. I was a little concerned when he went down late in the game but they interviewed him in the rooms after the game and he indicated that it was nothing. Have not seen any reports since that even hint at an injury.

I wanted a new poll for the front page. What did you think about the new clash jumper?

They probably just rested him given it was late in the game. Probably 426 weeks.

TRADITIONAL RIVALS by Bewitched There is no greater "traditional rivalry" in women's football in the early days of the game at its highest level than that between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. The two clubs virtually single-handedly lifted the profile of the game in recent years to a level where the new national competition under the aegis of the AFLW could even be contemplated. Melbourne won all of their early exhibition games until the very last one in 2016 when it copped a bit of a hiding so it was fitting that the Demons would finish on top in their first encounter for premiership points yesterday at Whitten Oval. And what could be more fitting than for the skipper Daisy Pearce to be the star of the game in her team's 14 point win in the first male/female AFL double header in a game that saw her team go to a 2 - 1 record and enter the top four for the first time in the history of the competition? It was the Bulldogs that controlled proceedings early but Harriet Cordner from the famous Melbourne family making history with a late goal to put the team within a couple of points at quarter time. It was then Daisy's turn to take over in the midfield and the Demons dominated the second quarter with the wind at their backs. Goals to Deanna Berry and Alyssa Mifsud saw them to a 14 point half time lead, an advantage they held at the end of the game. The Bulldogs fought back early in the third quarter but two goals to Mifsud restored the advantage and the team's scored one each in the final term. Full marks to the strong Demon midfield of Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea who kep their team on top for most of the game and to Mifsud for her three exciting goals. Melbourne's prospects of contesting the AFLW grand final will be enhanced if it can overcome Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday. Melbourne 1.1.7 3.5.23 5.7.37 6.7.43 Western Bulldogs 1.3.9 1.3.9 3.4.22 4.5.29 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 3 Berry Cordner Hickey Western Bulldogs Clarkson Gardner McLeod Wildes Goals Melbourne D Pearce Mifsud O'Dea Hickey Paxman Mithen Western Bulldogs Blackburn Kearney Scott Wildes Injuries Melbourne L Pearce (shin) Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Michael Pell, Ryan Guy, Nathan Toner Crowd 8,000 (estimate) at the Whitten Oval https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZsxbf_eiEU&sns=em

There is no greater "traditional rivalry" in women's football in the early days of the game at its highest level than that between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. The two clubs virtually single-handedly lifted the profile of the game in recent years to a level where the new national competition under the aegis of the AFLW could even be contemplated. Melbourne won all of their early exhibition games until the very last one in 2016 when it copped a bit of a hiding so it was fitting that the Demons would finish on top in their first encounter for premiership points yesterday at Whitten Oval. And what could be more fitting than for the skipper Daisy Pearce to be the star of the game in her team's 14 point win in the first male/female AFL double header in a game that saw her team go to a 2 - 1 record and enter the top four for the first time in the history of the competition? It was the Bulldogs that controlled proceedings early but Harriet Cordner from the famous Melbourne family making history with a late goal to put the team within a couple of points at quarter time. It was then Daisy's turn to take over in the midfield and the Demons dominated the second quarter with the wind at their backs. Goals to Deanna Berry and Alyssa Mifsud saw them to a 14 point half time lead, an advantage they held at the end of the game. The Bulldogs fought back early in the third quarter but two goals to Mifsud restored the advantage and the team's scored one each in the final term. Full marks to the strong Demon midfield of Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea who kep their team on top for most of the game and to Mifsud for her three exciting goals. Melbourne's prospects of contesting the AFLW grand final will be enhanced if it can overcome Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday. Melbourne 1.1.7 3.5.23 5.7.37 6.7.43 Western Bulldogs 1.3.9 1.3.9 3.4.22 4.5.29 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 3 Berry Cordner Hickey Western Bulldogs Clarkson Gardner McLeod Wildes Goals Melbourne D Pearce Mifsud O'Dea Hickey Paxman Mithen Western Bulldogs Blackburn Kearney Scott Wildes Injuries Melbourne L Pearce (shin) Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Michael Pell, Ryan Guy, Nathan Toner Crowd 8,000 (estimate) at the Whitten Oval https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZsxbf_eiEU&sns=em

Anyone there?

Without sounding like a web M.D. or a negative Nancy this injury might be serious enough to require surgery and a lengthy stay on the sideline. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/knee-pain/tibiofibular-joint-dislocation I think Demonland needs to employ our own resident sports medicine team.

The AFL's JLT Series isn't all about winning games. There's no ladder or table to tell you where your team's at and there's no finals series or premiership cup for your captain or captains to hold up at the end of it all. In fact, it's nothing more than a glorified practice match schedule dressed up for television, running side by side with the women's competition and a handful of other sports that vie for our attention at this time of the year. While it's always better to come out of it with a win or at least a decent performance (especially against the stronger sides) and without any serious injuries to your playing list, the series is really about testing out your players (especially your newcomers), your systems and style of play and preparing your team for the long arduous season ahead. In that regard, Melbourne fans could come away from the game at Whitten Oval knowing that most of the boxes were ticked (Josh Wagner's injury is said to be not as bad as it looked) and importantly, a very seriously good midfield is emerging - and we all know it's the midfield that underpins the success of a club. The extra numbers that play in these games afforded new coach Simon Goodwin the opportunity to test forgotten man Jake Spencer in the ruck and give his All Australian Max Gawn an easier day at the office with less on ball work and more time up forward. That seemed to work and even if the plan won't always be adopted in the regular season, the option is always there. It's clear though that with no third men up Gawn is set to give his on ball division an armchair ride this season - and it will be a different, more varied and younger brigade this year than it was under Paul Roos and significantly better than the third world model that was in place when the list was in such poor shape five years and more ago. Against the reigning premier on their home patch in their first post flag game, the Demons' rucks allowed the likes of Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Christian Salem to win more clearances, control of the ball in the middle and ultimately a winning edge in inside 50 numbers. Those players are all young and they have the experience of Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince and Hawthorn's gift to the club Jordan Lewis around with the luxury of having them patrol the half back line in games such as these. And there's a bit of run about the place with Jayden Hunt and Billy Stretch. The media pack were raving about Travis Cloke's impact on the Bulldogs and his supergoal was a ripper but it was Jesse Hogan who picked up four and took some great clunking marks to suggest he will improve his goal kicking record further in 2017. He had a great foil in Sam Weideman who, for the record, matched Cloke's haul and should have kicked at least one other after he marked strongly in the second quarter and missed a relatively easy shot. Tom Bugg was his usual pesky self and also bobbed around goal. Another plus for the Demons was the first up appearance of Category B recruit Joel Smith who showed a great deal of promise, particularly early in the game. He definitely has the makings of a player. If there was a downside, it was the two glaring lapses late in the second quarter and again late in the last when the team gave away goals too easily and allowed the Doggies back into the game both times. In a seven or eight minute period before half time, the intensity dropped, the defence went missing and a 22 point lead was squandered. Weideman's goal just before the siren to restore the lead to three points was all that enabled the team to go into the sheds at the break with their heads up high. A similar fade out occurred late in the game after the Dees had led by 25 points at one stage well beyond the halfway mark of the final term. The club could do with the steadiness of Nev Jetta and the rebounding work of Michael Hibberd in its defence to halt these lapses in games. The signs are good after one practice match and next week's another game but what really impresses me is the fact that Melbourne is developing a strong young midfield engine room and that is where games are ultimately won and lost when premiership points and the big prizes are at stake. Melbourne 0.4.2.26 0.8.3.51 0.12.5.77 0.14.8.92 Western Bulldogs 0.2.0.12 1.6.3.48 1.8.4.61 2.9.14.86 Nine pointers Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Cloke Johannissen Goals Melbourne Hogan 4 Weideman 2 Brayshaw Bugg Garlett Gawn Jones Neal-Bullen Petracca Viney Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Hunter 2 Cloke Dale Lynch Daniel McLean Best Melbourne Hogan Viney Lewis Salem Brayshaw Gawn O McDonald Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Liberatore Cloke Hunter McLean Johannisen Injuries Melbourne Wagner (dislocated fibula) Western Bulldogs Roughead (right knee) Reports Nil Umpires Williamson Dalgleish Rosebury Margetts Official crowd 7,581 at Whitten Oval

IT'S THE MIDFIELD STUPID by Whispering Jack The AFL's JLT Series isn't all about winning games. There's no ladder or table to tell you where your team's at and there's no finals series or premiership cup for your captain or captains to hold up at the end of it all. In fact, it's nothing more than a glorified practice match schedule dressed up for television, running side by side with the women's competition and a handful of other sports that vie for our attention at this time of the year. While it's always better to come out of it with a win or at least a decent performance (especially against the stronger sides) and without any serious injuries to your playing list, the series is really about testing out your players (especially your newcomers), your systems and style of play and preparing your team for the long arduous season ahead. In that regard, Melbourne fans could come away from the game at Whitten Oval knowing that most of the boxes were ticked (Josh Wagner's injury is said to be not as bad as it looked) and importantly, a very seriously good midfield is emerging - and we all know it's the midfield that underpins the success of a club. The extra numbers that play in these games afforded new coach Simon Goodwin the opportunity to test forgotten man Jake Spencer in the ruck and give his All Australian Max Gawn an easier day at the office with less on ball work and more time up forward. That seemed to work and even if the plan won't always be adopted in the regular season, the option is always there. It's clear though that with no third men up Gawn is set to give his on ball division an armchair ride this season - and it will be a different, more varied and younger brigade this year than it was under Paul Roos and significantly better than the third world model that was in place when the list was in such poor shape five years and more ago. Against the reigning premier on their home patch in their first post flag game, the Demons' rucks allowed the likes of Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Christian Salem to win more clearances, control of the ball in the middle and ultimately a winning edge in inside 50 numbers. Those players are all young and they have the experience of Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince and Hawthorn's gift to the club Jordan Lewis around with the luxury of having them patrol the half back line in games such as these. And there's a bit of run about the place with Jayden Hunt and Billy Stretch. The media pack were raving about Travis Cloke's impact on the Bulldogs and his supergoal was a ripper but it was Jesse Hogan who picked up four and took some great clunking marks to suggest he will improve his goal kicking record further in 2017. He had a great foil in Sam Weideman who, for the record, matched Cloke's haul and should have kicked at least one other after he marked strongly in the second quarter and missed a relatively easy shot. Tom Bugg was his usual pesky self and also bobbed around goal. Another plus for the Demons was the first up appearance of Category B recruit Joel Smith who showed a great deal of promise, particularly early in the game. He definitely has the makings of a player. If there was a downside, it was the two glaring lapses late in the second quarter and again late in the last when the team gave away goals too easily and allowed the Doggies back into the game both times. In a seven or eight minute period before half time, the intensity dropped, the defence went missing and a 22 point lead was squandered. Weideman's goal just before the siren to restore the lead to three points was all that enabled the team to go into the sheds at the break with their heads up high. A similar fade out occurred late in the game after the Dees had led by 25 points at one stage well beyond the halfway mark of the final term. The club could do with the steadiness of Nev Jetta and the rebounding work of Michael Hibberd in its defence to halt these lapses in games. The signs are good after one practice match and next week's another game but what really impresses me is the fact that Melbourne is developing a strong young midfield engine room and that is where games are ultimately won and lost when premiership points and the big prizes are at stake. Melbourne 0.4.2.26 0.8.3.51 0.12.5.77 0.14.8.92 Western Bulldogs 0.2.0.12 1.6.3.48 1.8.4.61 2.9.14.86 Nine pointers Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Cloke Johannissen Goals Melbourne Hogan 4 Weideman 2 Brayshaw Bugg Garlett Gawn Jones Neal-Bullen Petracca Viney Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Hunter 2 Cloke Dale Lynch Daniel McLean Best Melbourne Hogan Viney Lewis Salem Brayshaw Gawn O McDonald Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Liberatore Cloke Hunter McLean Johannisen Injuries Melbourne Wagner (dislocated fibula) Western Bulldogs Roughead (right knee) Reports Nil Umpires Williamson Dalgleish Rosebury Margetts Official crowd 7,581 at Whitten Oval

Dogs starting to run over the top of us.

Smith is a player.

MAIDEN VICTORY by Bewitched After a week of soul searching after a dramatic fade out in the lightning, thunder and rain at Casey in the AFLW's opening round, the women of Melbourne had a lot to be concerned about at half time at Ikon Park last night. They were down by 19 points and being totally outplayed after recording just one goal in their past four quarters of football and staring into oblivion in a seven game competition that allows only two teams to advance to the grand final. Moana Hope, the much vaunted Magpie strong lady had wreaked havoc in the early going, setting up her team's first goal and scoring its second before Jessica Anderson's running goal opened the Demons' account but that was the team's only joy as their opponents streamed ahead. However, this time there was no storm to blunt Melbourne's style in the second half and instead, the team kept Collingwood scoreless after the main break to record their first AFLW win. The move of Mel Hickey onto Hope was a good one. The dangerous Magpie forward was hardly seen as the Demons took over. Skipper Daisy Pearce provided lots of run in the back half and Karen Paxman moved the ball forward to the likes of Cat Phillips, the ultimate Frisbee player, and Alyssa Mifsud and the flood gates opened. Phillips' goal from an impossible angle was a highlight. The team that had been starved of scoring opportunities was now alight and winning in the middle. They scored 4.1 for the term to grab the lead at the final break. The Magpie fade out continued despite some strong arm tactics which saw a late head high hit on Meg Downie force a delay in play as the Demon was concussed and stretchered off in a neck brace. Coach Mick Stinear later said his player had been cleared of any serious damage but the likely outcome should see the first tribunal sitting in AFLW history. The Dees kept on running when play resumed and finally ran out winners 7.2.44 to 5.1.31. The class of Pearce and Paxman should ensure that Melbourne remains a contender in this competition. Elise "Junior" O'Dea is a great prospect and kept going all night and Lily Mithen lived up to the family name with a solid contribution. All in all, it was a great maiden victory for the women of the Melbourne Football Club who now take on their foundation rivals, the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. The men's JLT Community Series game will be the curtain raiser to this historic match. Melbourne 1.0.6 1.0.6 5.1.31 7.2.44 Collingwood 3.1.19 0 4.1.25 4.1.25 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Phillips 2 Anderson Jolly Mifsud Paxman Scott Collingwood Cameron Edwards Grant Hope Best Melbourne Pearce Phillips Paxman O'Dea Mithen Collingwood D'Arcy Eva Barden Chiocci Crowd 6,917 at Ikon Park

After a week of soul searching after a dramatic fade out in the lightning, thunder and rain at Casey in the AFLW's opening round, the women of Melbourne had a lot to be concerned about at half time at Ikon Park last night. They were down by 19 points and being totally outplayed after recording just one goal in their past four quarters of football and staring into oblivion in a seven game competition that allows only two teams to advance to the grand final. Moana Hope, the much vaunted Magpie strong lady had wreaked havoc in the early going, setting up her team's first goal and scoring its second before Jessica Anderson's running goal opened the Demons' account but that was the team's only joy as their opponents streamed ahead. However, this time there was no storm to blunt Melbourne's style in the second half and instead, the team kept Collingwood scoreless after the main break to record their first AFLW win. The move of Mel Hickey onto Hope was a good one. The dangerous Magpie forward was hardly seen as the Demons took over. Skipper Daisy Pearce provided lots of run in the back half and Karen Paxman moved the ball forward to the likes of Cat Phillips, the ultimate Frisbee player, and Alyssa Mifsud and the flood gates opened. Phillips' goal from an impossible angle was a highlight. The team that had been starved of scoring opportunities was now alight and winning in the middle. They scored 4.1 for the term to grab the lead at the final break. The Magpie fade out continued despite some strong arm tactics which saw a late head high hit on Meg Downie force a delay in play as the Demon was concussed and stretchered off in a neck brace. Coach Mick Stinear later said his player had been cleared of any serious damage but the likely outcome should see the first tribunal sitting in AFLW history. The Dees kept on running when play resumed and finally ran out winners 7.2.44 to 5.1.31. The class of Pearce and Paxman should ensure that Melbourne remains a contender in this competition. Elise "Junior" O'Dea is a great prospect and kept going all night and Lily Mithen lived up to the family name with a solid contribution. All in all, it was a great maiden victory for the women of the Melbourne Football Club who now take on their foundation rivals, the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. The men's JLT Community Series game will be the curtain raiser to this historic match. Melbourne 1.0.6 1.0.6 5.1.31 7.2.44 Collingwood 3.1.19 0 4.1.25 4.1.25 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Phillips 2 Anderson Jolly Mifsud Paxman Scott Collingwood Cameron Edwards Grant Hope Best Melbourne Pearce Phillips Paxman O'Dea Mithen Collingwood D'Arcy Eva Barden Chiocci Crowd 6,917 at Ikon Park

Phew. Lucky I put Viney on the banner.

I think this thread might have done its dash.

... and still won a Bluey after 3 knee reco's. Fair effort, that!

I almost gave up Lamingtons for the same reason but I'm not a total idiot.

David Schwarz pre-season knee injury? To this day I will never visit Lavington (nor Laverton for sounding similar) for that reason.

AFLW Round 1 – Melbourne v Brisbane: Singing in the Rain

There have been some tweets from Matt Burgan with pictures from club training. Anyone there?

In a game of firsts, the new AFLW Demons side lowered their colours to the Brisbane Lions in what became a scrappy tussle. But this was the game that had firsts and more firsts. The first ever game for a womens team playing for the Melbourne Football Club. The first ever game played at Casey Fields for AFL championship points. The first time an AFL level game had to be stopped due to the danger of lightning strike! And it was entertaining to boot! The first quarter was played mostly in idyllic conditions in front of what must have been a crowd of 10-15K. The locals turned out in their droves with kids in tow, and demonstrated why the MFC investment in the Casey alignment is starting to pay off. The Melbourne supporters also turned up in their droves, but what was truly surprising was the strong contingent of women supporters for both sides. Girls who obviously play the game at lower levels, but were there just the same. All in all it was an impressive start, but the Demons squandered their chances. While conditions were conducive to a free running and quick ball movement the Demons took advantage. Daisy Pearce was simply a class above anyone else on the field, but we only have one of her. The ball finished up multiple times in the forward line, but the forwards simply weren’t there, didn’t play in front or couldn’t kick relatively simply opportunities when they presented. Despite multiple attacks the Demons had 4 behinds to show for it while the Lions with barely a single forward thrust scored a major. Then the storm hit. Lightning and thunder struck overhead, and the field umpires took the players off the field. Rather wisely it would seem as the skies turned black and the torrential rain began. All was not lost during that period as the crowd on the other wing was entertained by the security guard trying to put on a poncho while the wind and rain tried its hardest to remove it from him. A few renditions of The Village Peoples' “Macho man” helped him along, but it was finally one of the mothers in the crowd who showed him where his head was supposed to fit. Unfortunately, too late, because the rain then stopped following a 10 or 15 minute delay and all returned. But the Melbourne side seemed unaware that the ground was now drenched, with a slippery cake of soap substituting for the ball. They continued to try to play dry weather football, handballing and kicking short. It didn’t work time and time again, while Brisbane simply scrambled the ball forward to their advantage. Melbourne then helped the situation with two 50 metre penalties for running over the mark, both which resulted in goals. And that became the difference between winning and losing. Mel Hickey tried everything to lift the side around the packs, and Daisy was moved forward to try to provide some spark, but it was to no avail. Elise O’Dea and Karne Paxman put in more than creditable performances, but there were simply too many Melbourne players who barely troubled the statisticians. At least, the Demons are only a game out of the top four let's hope that they go into next week's game against Collingwood with more than one goal in mind which is what both teams achieved at the weekend. This was a great first game, the result may not have been what we wanted, the conditions weren’t the best, but let's remember that Paul Kelly (the singer, not the footballer) one said that "from little things, big things grow". This competition has a great future, and it is hoped the fans continue to support it in full. Melbourne 0.3.3 1.4.10 1.4.10 1.4.10 Brisbane Lions 0.0.0 2.0.12 2.1.13 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Grierson Brisbane Lions Campbell Frederick-Traub Gibson McCarthy Best Melbourne Pearce Paxman O'Dea Hickey Brisbane Lions Virgo Bates Frederick-Traub Kaslar Randall Crowd approx. 6,000 at Casey Fields

FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW by Georgina on the Outer In a game of firsts, the new AFLW Demons side lowered their colours to the Brisbane Lions in what became a scrappy tussle. But this was the game that had firsts and more firsts. The first ever game for a womens team playing for the Melbourne Football Club. The first ever game played at Casey Fields for AFL championship points. The first time an AFL level game had to be stopped due to the danger of lightning strike! And it was entertaining to boot! The first quarter was played mostly in idyllic conditions in front of what must have been a crowd of 10-15K. The locals turned out in their droves with kids in tow, and demonstrated why the MFC investment in the Casey alignment is starting to pay off. The Melbourne supporters also turned up in their droves, but what was truly surprising was the strong contingent of women supporters for both sides. Girls who obviously play the game at lower levels, but were there just the same. All in all it was an impressive start, but the Demons squandered their chances. While conditions were conducive to a free running and quick ball movement the Demons took advantage. Daisy Pearce was simply a class above anyone else on the field, but we only have one of her. The ball finished up multiple times in the forward line, but the forwards simply weren’t there, didn’t play in front or couldn’t kick relatively simply opportunities when they presented. Despite multiple attacks the Demons had 4 behinds to show for it while the Lions with barely a single forward thrust scored a major. Then the storm hit. Lightning and thunder struck overhead, and the field umpires took the players off the field. Rather wisely it would seem as the skies turned black and the torrential rain began. All was not lost during that period as the crowd on the other wing was entertained by the security guard trying to put on a poncho while the wind and rain tried its hardest to remove it from him. A few renditions of The Village Peoples' “Macho man” helped him along, but it was finally one of the mothers in the crowd who showed him where his head was supposed to fit. Unfortunately, too late, because the rain then stopped following a 10 or 15 minute delay and all returned. But the Melbourne side seemed unaware that the ground was now drenched, with a slippery cake of soap substituting for the ball. They continued to try to play dry weather football, handballing and kicking short. It didn’t work time and time again, while Brisbane simply scrambled the ball forward to their advantage. Melbourne then helped the situation with two 50 metre penalties for running over the mark, both which resulted in goals. And that became the difference between winning and losing. Mel Hickey tried everything to lift the side around the packs, and Daisy was moved forward to try to provide some spark, but it was to no avail. Elise O’Dea and Karne Paxman put in more than creditable performances, but there were simply too many Melbourne players who barely troubled the statisticians. At least, the Demons are only a game out of the top four let's hope that they go into next week's game against Collingwood with more than one goal in mind which is what both teams achieved at the weekend. This was a great first game, the result may not have been what we wanted, the conditions weren’t the best, but let's remember that Paul Kelly (the singer, not the footballer) one said that "from little things, big things grow". This competition has a great future, and it is hoped the fans continue to support it in full. Melbourne 0.3.3 1.4.10 1.4.10 1.4.10 Brisbane Lions 0.0.0 2.0.12 2.1.13 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Grierson Brisbane Lions Campbell Frederick-Traub Gibson McCarthy Best Melbourne Pearce Paxman O'Dea Hickey Brisbane Lions Virgo Bates Frederick-Traub Kaslar Randall Crowd approx. 6,000 at Casey Fields