Demonland

Yes. I will set it up this week and link to it. If you were a member last year it should automatically add you but I will post details shortly.

There was a Jones one last year.

Former Demon star Jeff White is the man behind a great kickstarter campaign product that I have backed. I wish I had one of these when I was a kid. They are footy goal posts that reatract and assemble in a few quick steps and can be used on any surface. I recommend you checking out the video and helping Jeff out if you can. I can't think of many sporty kids who wouldn't want one of these packs. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/839169656/post-hightm-footy-goal-posts

Perfect. I think we need a Goodwin one.

Not sure I have ever banned anyone for disagreeing with me. Might start with you. That was a joke. Oops I forgot the

I guess jokes aren't translated very well into text.

You do realise that I have the power to ban you. Of course I want a win and I will take any situation we can get. Sure I'd like the umpiring decisions to go our way and a bit of opposition yips is appreciated but I just don't think we have to pray for injuries to key opposition players prior to the game to get the win.

I've never liked this line of thinking. If we can't beat them at their best then do we deserve to win?

NOT THE REAL THING YET by The Oracle Melbourne finished off this year’s NAB Challenge undefeated after a bright showing at its former nemesis Etihad Stadium and recorded its first win against St Kilda in the near ten years since it last played an AFL finals series. The Demons again started slowly conceding easy goals to turnovers before picking up the tempo in the second term and outplaying the Saints for the rest of the match. Despite Max Gawn's early ruck dominance, it was St Kilda that was winning the clearance battle in the early going with Melbourne conceding some soft goals but making up for it with positive movement forward. Jack Watts continued to shine in his half forward role keeping his team in the game at this stage. Tom McDonald was a rock in defence and he was finding his targets this week. After the break, the Demon engine room, led by the skipper came to the fore and with him, Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince lifted a notch while pre season revelation Clayton Oliver stepped in with two goals from his strong play. The Saints made some attempts to surge back into the game in the second half but the Demons had all the answers. Jeff Garlett was superb with two goals in a minute. Jesse Hogan, who was being double teamed and having a poor day, lifted for a couple in the second half. Newcomers Tom Bugg and Ben Kennedy added the hard competitive edge for which they were recruited and scored a goal each. Dean Kent was also strong with two goals. But the impressive of the field was Christian Salem with a consistent four quarter performance all over the ground. One minute he was holding the opposition at bay and the next he was scoring a super goal - also a first in a while for the club. The NAB Challenge of 2016 has been great for the Melbourne Football Club but being the champions in March is meaningless if you don't perform from round 1 of the real thing. Melbourne 0.4.1.25 0.8.5.53 0.11.12.78 1.14.14.107 St Kilda 0.4.5.29 0.6.7.43 0.9.10.64 0.12.21.83 Nine pointers Melbourne Salem Goals Melbourne Garlett 3 Hogan Kent Oliver Watts 2 Bugg Kennedy Pedersen T Bugg St Kilda Billings 3 Bruce 2 Armitage Dunstan Hickey Montagna Newnes Steven Weller Best Melbourne Salem Garlett Watts N Jones Viney Bugg Gawn St Kilda Steven, Montagna Billings Ross Bruce Lonie Newnes Injuries Melbourne Jetta (ankle) M Jones (concussion) St Kilda Riewoldt (soreness) Umpires Chris Donlon Dean Margetts Leigh Fisher Jack Edwards Crowd 8,621 at Etihad Stadium Meanwhile, on Saturday at Casey Fields, Jayden Hunt and Heritier Lumumba were among the few good players in the Scorpions' big defeat at the hands of reigning premier Williamstown.

Melbourne finished off this year’s NAB Challenge undefeated after a bright showing at its former nemesis Etihad Stadium and recorded its first win against St Kilda in the near ten years since it last played an AFL finals series. The Demons again started slowly conceding easy goals to turnovers before picking up the tempo in the second term and outplaying the Saints for the rest of the match. Despite Max Gawn's early ruck dominance, it was St Kilda that was winning the clearance battle in the early going with Melbourne conceding some soft goals but making up for it with positive movement forward. Jack Watts continued to shine in his half forward role keeping his team in the game at this stage. Tom McDonald was a rock in defence and he was finding his targets this week. After the break, the Demon engine room, led by the skipper came to the fore and with him, Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince lifted a notch while pre season revelation Clayton Oliver stepped in with two goals from his strong play. The Saints made some attempts to surge back into the game in the second half but the Demons had all the answers. Jeff Garlett was superb with two goals in a minute. Jesse Hogan, who was being double teamed and having a poor day, lifted for a couple in the second half. Newcomers Tom Bugg and Ben Kennedy added the hard competitive edge for which they were recruited and scored a goal each. Dean Kent was also strong with two goals. But the impressive of the field was Christian Salem with a consistent four quarter performance all over the ground. One minute he was holding the opposition at bay and the next he was scoring a super goal - also a first in a while for the club. The NAB Challenge of 2016 has been great for the Melbourne Football Club but being the champions in March is meaningless if you don't perform from round 1 of the real thing. Melbourne 0.4.1.25 0.8.5.53 0.11.12.78 1.14.14.107 St Kilda 0.4.5.29 0.6.7.43 0.9.10.64 0.12.21.83 Nine pointers Melbourne Salem Goals Melbourne Garlett 3 Hogan Kent Oliver Watts 2 Bugg Kennedy Pedersen T Bugg St Kilda Billings 3 Bruce 2 Armitage Dunstan Hickey Montagna Newnes Steven Weller Best Melbourne Salem Garlett Watts N Jones Viney Bugg Gawn St Kilda Steven, Montagna Billings Ross Bruce Lonie Newnes Injuries Melbourne Jetta (ankle) M Jones (concussion) St Kilda Riewoldt (soreness) Umpires Chris Donlon Dean Margetts Leigh Fisher Jack Edwards Crowd 8,621 at Etihad Stadium Meanwhile, on Saturday at Casey Fields, Jayden Hunt and Heritier Lumumba were among the few good players in the Scorpions' big defeat at the hands of reigning premier Williamstown.

Thank you. It's the best way you can support the site.

Hopefully it's fixed now.

We're back after a forum meltdown.

Game over - next to POST MATCH

That's three NAB Challenge Games down. What next?

2016 SEASON PREVIEW: MELBOURNE by Rudi Edsall Last seasonThe oldest club in the land came into 2015 without much in the way of expectations. With a scarred psyche from the disastrous Mark Neeld days and a playing list that, at times in 2014, looked like it was learning how to play footy again, it’s fair to say the Demons looked at last season as part of a rebuilding arc.In the end it played out in a classic retooling narrative for them – some abject performances mixed with rousing wins, and the green shoots of a side that can make a move towards the finals.The seven victories they banked included a Bernie Vince inspired win in Geelong (their first since 2005), an expert wet weather performance against Richmond early in the season and a five-goal stroll against the otherwise rampaging Bulldogs.The round 20 return fixture against the Dogs provided the ultimate contrast, however. Melbourne conceding the first 12 majors to find themselves 74 points down just eight minutes into the second quarter. A final margin of 98 flattered the Dees. The other end of the spectrum – though no less demoralising – was a loss to St Kilda that exposed the inexperience of the playing group, with naïve defending snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.The narrative that defined Melbourne’s season, however, didn’t come in the form of wins or losses, but rather in the powerful frame of young key forward Jesse Hogan. The 21-year-old made his debut last year after a couple of seasons lost to injury and immediately made an impact with his presence, contested marking and ability to influence the contest. He was the Dees’ leading goal scorer with 44 and finished third in the league for contested marks.Comings and goingsSome tough list management decisions were made in the off-season, with loyal ruck servant Mark Jamar and hard-nosed midfielder Daniel Cross shown the door. Jumpin’ Jeremy Howe and Jimmy Toumpas found their way to Collingwood and Port Adelaide respectively in one of those deals you need a degree in pure mathematics to figure out; while ex-Pies speedster Ben Kennedy came the other way to Melbourne. Meanwhile, tall forward Jack Fitzpatrick made the move east to kick three goals in Hawthorn’s next premiership side in return for pick 94.Cross will still be at the club, having taken on an assistant coaching role, while Jamar took up the opportunity to be one of the ‘Essendon 10’, taking up the fabled 53 guernsey so that the Bombers can field a side this year. The ramifications of WADA’s ban have touched Melbourne too, with newly minted Demon Jake Melksham having to sit out the first of his four years with the club under suspension.The Dees ended the trade period with two picks inside the top ten and used them on Morrish Medal winning midfielder Clayton Oliver and contested marking key forward Sam Weideman, grandson of Collingwood royalty Murray.Ruckman Mitch King and tall forward Liam Hulett rounded out the Demons’ draft selections, while Rohan Bail, Jordie McKenzie and Aidan Riley were delisted. Viv Michie was also cut but was re-drafted to the rookie list.StrengthsMelbourne’s midfield, while perhaps not the most cultured or explosive, is a hard-nosed unit that will keep the bastards honest. Led by warrior-king Nathan Jones, with Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw to do the yeoman’s work, it’s a group that won’t be waltzed through.The big hope for the Dees is 2014 number two pick Christian Petracca. He’s effectively functioning as a new recruit after a year off with a knee injury, and will be looked to on to add the class on top of that base.Melbourne also has a fairly strong defensive unit. Tom McDonald, Colin Garland and Lynden Dunn are more than handy in the key posts, while Neville Jetta, Heritier Lumumba and Christian Salem should be able to provide run.WeaknessesThe Dees’ forward line entries were a complete mess in 2015; they averaged just 72 points per game. That figure placed them third bottom for points scored, which is also where they sat for inside 50s per game. It’s a handy thing that Jesse Hogan is so proficient at making a lot out of a little.Speaking of Hogan, his consistent contribution will be required, as the key forward stocks after him are thin. Chris Dawes is an honest trier but struggles to get his body right and is arguably not ahead of Pedersen – another trier – in the pecking order, regardless. Jack Watts may have to pinch hit as a third tall.Max Gawn is another example of a strength papering over a weakness; if his output goes down or he gets injured, Jake Spencer is the next ruckman in line.What to expect in 2016Given where they finished last year, Melbourne’s draw could certainly be kinder. They will be happy to have potentially winnable double ups against St Kilda and Gold Coast, but would have liked to have played one of Essendon or Carlton twice. Two matches against Hawthorn, Collingwood and Port Adelaide (both games against Port being interstate due to Melbourne’s home arrangement with Darwin) look tough asks, however.Another year into the legs of the tyros and some more experience in the bank is the idea. In what is likely Paul Roos’ last season at the helm before Simon Goodwin takes over, the idea will be to push for finals – regression from last season would be a disaster and leave doubts that perhaps the club isn’t that much further along than when Roos took over.Best 22B: Neville Jetta – Colin Garland – Lynden DunnHB: Christian Salem – Tom McDonald – Heritier LumumbaC: Angus Brayshaw – Jack Viney – Dom TysonHF: Christian Petracca – Cam Pedersen – Jack WattsF: Jeff Garlett – Jesse Hogan – Dean KentFOLL: Max Gawn – Bernie Vince – Nathan JonesINT: Aaron vandenBerg – Ben Kennedy – Tomas Bugg – Alex Neal-BullenThe verdictAnother year of steady improvement is likely on the cards as natural development takes place. They need to improve on last year’s seven wins – 10 would be a pass mark.We have Melbourne finishing 14th.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-07/nathan-jones-powers-on-after-neck-surgery I didn't realise that the last 8 to 10 weeks of 2015 were so hard on Jonesy. You wouldn't have known it by the way he plays. Champion.

I noticed that he copped a knock on his ankle in the 3rd and was limping for a bit. Didn't look as bad as vanders.

I know they said the same thing about Brayshaw last year but I really think they will take it slow with Oliver. Having said that he is in my Round 1 team.

Paul Couch dies: Geelong Brownlow medallist suffers fatal heart attack

I've just joined the Real Dreamteam and AFL Fantasy. Would you like me to put a invitation out on the Demonland Facebook or Twitter to entice some more people to join either comp?

It could have been 4 to 6.

I'm in. Haven't joined yet for 2016 but it's on my to do list this week.

I guess no news is good news until we get the bad news.