Demonland

Thanks for your kind words. Just found out where I can find all the international reviews so I can now give our international fans their shoutouts. Thanks for listening.

HAWKS B: Jarman Impey, Sam Frost, Ethan Phillips HB: Jack Scrimshaw, James Sicily, Massimo D’Ambrosio C: Karl Amon, James Worpel, Connor Macdonald HF: Nick Watson, Mitch Lewis, Luke Breust F: Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Finn Maginness FOLL: Ned Reeves, Henry Hustwaite, Cam Mackenzie I/C: Jai Newcombe, Bodie Ryan, Max Ramsden, Lloyd Meek, Josh Ward, Blake Hardwick, Conor Nash, Sam Butler EMER: Clay Tucker, Josh Bennetts, Jai Serong, Calsher Dear Notable absentees: Will Day, Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston, Dylan Moore, Changkuoth Jiath, James Blanck, Chad Wingard, Denver Grainger-Barras, Harry Morrison BULLDOGS B: Lachie Bramble, Liam Jones, Nick Coffield HB: Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Jason Johannisen C: Bailey Williams, Adam Treloar, Harvey Gallagher HF: Lachie McNeil, Rory Lobb, Cody Weightman F: Rhylee West, Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore I/C: Taylor Duryea, Laitham Vandermeer, James Harmes, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Daniel, Luke Cleary, Sam Darcy, Oskar Baker EMER: Caleb Poulter, Anthony Scott, Charlie Clarke, Arthur Jones Notable absentees: Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale, Alex Keath, Bailey Smith, Caleb Poulter

On the eve of the 2024 Season I ventured down to Gosch's Paddock for one of the final preseason training session before we head up to Sydney to take on the Swans. Here are my observations from the training session. The session was light and despite it being a Saturday was akin to a Monday/Tuesday session following a regular season weekend match as we played on Wednesday night and the boys had a couple of days off after the Practice Match prior to the season proper. Main Squad: May, JVR, Salem, McVee, Trac, Windsor, Viney, Lever, Gawn, Clarry, Billings, Langdon, Laurie, Bowey, Schache, Tomlinson, Jefferson, Howes, McAdam, Rivers, McDonald, Adams, Hore, Verrell, ANB, Fritsch, Sparrow, Fullarton, Petty, Kozzy, Chandler, Sestan, Tholstrup, Woey, K Brown, KFW, AMW Rehab: Brown, Spargo, Turner handballing in triangle. Hunter just arrived in training T-shirt and runners. Will keep an eye on what he does. Not present: Melksham & Smith Woey who I reported as having strapping on quad after Casey game is warming up with main group as is McAdam & Petty High Performance Manager & Head of Strength & Conditioning Selwyn Griffiths taking the boys through some warm up jog troughs McAdam has split from the main group and is doing 200m run through on the boundary as he’s been doing the last few sessions I’ve been to. Petty moving very well 😀 Selwyn Griffith is kicking the ball to McAdam far and high in the air and making him run to it. Moving much better than I have seen in a number of weeks. Can’t be too far off returning to the main group. Now McAdam doing some lateral movement ground ball drills. Reckon if he gets through today he’ll be training with the main group next week. Brown and Spargo doing rehab together. Transition/Interception drill. Simulating opposition kicking from our half forward to half back and we intercept and transition through the middle to hit up one of our forwards. Lots of long handballs. Out numbered amount of opposition in white bibs to simulate pressure from oppo. 2 separate groups simulating this drill on either side of the ground. Selwyn kicking the ball to McAdam on the lead out of the pocket. McAdam marks and kicks back to Selwyn and then has to sprints back to position by zig zagging out of the way from another trainer applying blocking pressure. Petty now left the main group and doing 200m sprints. I don’t think there is anything nefarious to it. Probably easing back into the main group. Hunter has not done much except throw the ball back and forth with one of the trainers. Worrying signs for him to not be running. Gawn and Langdon heading back to AAMI. No idea why. Neither looks hampered. Most of the boys having shots for goal now. May and Lever having a chat with Chaplin. I think that’s stumps. Light session of just over an hour. Selwyn kicking the ball high up to Petty who is being manned by Stafford and another trainer and Petty needs to lead and get separation from the two. Moving & jumping very well. Petty and McAdam last ones on the track working with the Selwyn. Both have been getting high 5s from assistants and trainers. Both seemed to have ticked off some boxes today. KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS A nice late morning run, good temperature with a bit of wind about. They are out of the sheds and walking down to Gosch's with smiles on their faces. The review about Wednesday must have gone well. The three of Kossie, McAdam and Moniz-Wakefield walk with Wheelan from a different area. Great to see Petty with the squad, Fullaton, Woey, Clarry and Moniz-Wakefield as well. McAdam did the warm-up with them. Petty building his fitness with extra running after the drills. Rehab was all split up into different programs for different levels. BBB, Spargo, Turner, Hunter (in runners but doing very little), no Melky. The squad is looking good, there was a great atmosphere about them today. It appears they are happy with the preseason being over and ready for the season to get going. They had a low-key recovery session run today. The main drills were two groups, one with the mids starting on the goal side of centre, (via a tap down) then moving the ball by handball and finding a forward who were running set patterns. Three opponents against about nine attackers. Then they changed to using the other direction. The other one started from the back of centre (via a kick towards that direction), with the backline spreading, finding a runner with a kick and hitting up a forward. Then again repeating towards the opposite goal, it also had about the same numbers of defender as the previous squad. I heard Goody say if you have any doubt of where to run, head towards the straight line corridor, and don't hang out for the angled inside kick. Plenty of kicking for goal. Many doing what Tracc does and having shots after the session has ended, mostly the young ones, but also Kossie, and Fritsch. Chandler was not hitting them well, still with the yips. Ended his shots with three bad misses, then walked off. Really needs to work on his art and get it right, I reckon.

The Coodabeen Champions have called it a day after more than forty years on various radio stations across Melbourne. When the lads chose the theme from the spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" as their signature tune, the game was uncomplicated with little time for scientific strategy. Summertime was for easy living and games of cricket, footy teams assembled in February, played practice matches in March and the season opened in mid-April. In their time, the Coodabeens saw changes upon changes that have turned the game on its head and, very late in the piece, they bore witness to a modern day miracle — the resurgence of the game’s perennial ugly duckling into a fully fledged premiership team. They saw the ugly, the bad and the good but in September 2023, the ugly returned with a vengeance. Collingwood won a flag and it was time for them to go. We usually judge a club’s off season by two measures, the quality of its list management in the transition from the past year to the present and then, by the way it prepares for season ahead with the aim of the team approaching the opening round in a positive frame of mind. The list management side of things always involves an element of conjecture about how the new blood introduced will fare and whether any departing players will leave gaps that the club might struggle to fill. The trading, free agency and draft process of October/November saw the following changes to the club’s lists:- In: Jack Billings (St Kilda), Shane McAdam (Adelaide), Tom Fullarton (Brisbane), Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges), Koltyn Tholstrup (Subiaco), Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers), Marty Hore (Williamstown) Out: Brodie Grundy (Sydney), Michael Hibberd (Port Colts), James Harmes (Western Bulldogs), James Jordon (Sydney), Luke Dunstan (retired), Deakyn Smith (delisted), Kye Turner (delisted) As stated, such things are open to conjecture. Time will eventually tell the tale but the vibe for me is a little bit of good mixed with a touch of bad in that there isn’t much coverage in ruck for an injury to Max Gawn in the short term or, down the track when his career ends, and the ongoing issue of the need for key forwards in light of the impending retirements at the end of the year of Ben Brown, Tom McDonald and Jake Melksham and potential flight risk back to South Australia of Harry Petty. The other side of the off season is the need for peace, quiet and harmony in preparing for the year ahead. This was, for the most part, ugly and bad. The staff had barely finished packing the team’s equipment away for the summer when Joel Smith was provisionally suspended over an alleged positive drug test for cocaine from the Round 22 game vs Hawthorn and more recently, he was accused of trafficking or attempted trafficking. Smith faces a long stretch out of the game if his guilt is proved. Quick upon the heels of that news, followed revelations of Clayton Oliver’s now well-documented health and legal problems, an extended stint on the sidelines after a brief but disastrous appearance at the club’s December training camp in Lorne amid questions surrounding his future. No sooner had we finished singing Auld Lang Syne and the team came back to train, that the injury list started to grow. When the time came for the first scratch match against the Tigers, there were more than a dozen players unavailable through injury and suspension (including a raft of tall forwards). The Demons made a bright start at Casey Fields but things turned ugly and the defence leaked ten successive goals against an unfancied opposition forward line. They came back but the ebb and flow left some bad vibrations as Richmond’s new coach won the bragging rights if such things belong to match simulations in the month of February. The fans were digesting all of the above when the shock news came in of the forced early retirement of Angus Brayshaw, a much loved and experienced team leader and premiership star. A brilliant career cut short was a massive blow to the player as it was to all who love the club. The off field bickering and the fallout dating all the way back to the replacement of the club’s former chair in 2021, continued as mediation talks fell apart. The media had its fun and games, somebody mentioned “culture” and then, amid all the gloom and doom and ugly fake rumour mongering and speculation about the coach’s premature demise, the fans were finally treated to some very good as Max Gawn led the team to a demolition of the Blues at Ikon Park. And we noticed some rising fortunes among maturing players, new strategies and the emergence of new blood but wait - it was still only a scratch match. Which brings us here to Round Zero, 2024 at the end of a cycle of The Ugly, The Bad and The Good. I was surprised to see the early betting odds from last week heavily favouring the Swans to win Thursday night’s game. That was before the AFL Community Series matches but even then, Melbourne’s form turnaround against Carlton and Sydney’s insipid display in the NSW Derby in Canberra and injuries to Luke Parker and Taylor Adams were insufficient to bridge the gap. What it did take to even things up odds-wise was the announcement by Demons coach Simon Goodwin on Monday confirming that Clayton Oliver had been selected to face the Swans. Suddenly, we seem to have a standoff but I’m not buying. I will gladly concede that even in the absence of Callum Mills, Parker and Adams, Sydney has substantial midfield depth led by the likes of Eric Gulden, Chad Warner and a bevy of mid size players but … Melbourne’s midfield setup headed by skipper Max Gawn in dominant form in the ruck and the class of Oliver, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, a resurgent Christian Salem back to full fitness and rising midfielder Tom Sparrow is miles ahead of whatever the Swans can produce. Brodie Grundy might have a point to prove but in cold, hard light of the evening, he won’t hold a candle to Gawn. Sydney farewelled Buddy Franklin well before the end of the last season but his replacement key forwards, McDonald and Amartey are hardly in his postcode at this early stage of their careers. And it’s a bad time for them to come up against Steven May and Jake Lever while their remaining forwards (and I include Tom Papley in that lot) are unfortunate in that they are likely to be strangled by the desperate defence of the likes of Jake Bowey, Judd McVee and Trent Rivers. There’s been a lot of talk lately about the culture of the Melbourne Football Club but little understanding that it’s actually a strong point because it’s a culture of hard work, attention to detail and hating defeat on the field of play. Cop that, Swans! Because Melbourne kicked away the chance to win both of its finals matches in 2023 (and a few others in the latter half of the season), there’s a perception out there that it has a weak attack. That’s a total misperception because even with those “connection” issues in the second half of the season it was still the sixth highest scoring team in the competition. The Demons have a good ground ball game and, as they showed last Thursday at Ikon Park, they’re handy in the air when the ball travels forward. Straighten them up a few percent and they would be top two or three in that category. And they have recruited well with youngster Caleb Windsor and Jack Billings — both of them excellent disposers of the football — to go with Bayley Fritsch and Jacob Van Royen who are no slouches with football in hand. On the small, spaceless SCG, Melbourne should be well suited to the size of ground and conditions expected on the day, even without Kozzy Pickett, Harry Petty, Ben Brown and Shane McAdam who are still to come into the forward mix. There’s something else to consider and it’s a factor of the early start to the season and the fact that the Swans have played their practice matches in oppressive heat and have not finished off strongly. That’s a sign for me that it’s unlikely for this matchup to turn into a standoff. To the contrary, it’s going to be a good, old wild, west ugly massacree with Melbourne winning bad by 49 points. THE GAME Sydney Swans v Melbourne at the SCG Thursday 7 March 2024 at 7.30pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Sydney Swans 117 wins Melbourne 96 wins 2 drawn At the SCG Sydney Swans 14 wins Melbourne 9 wins Last 5 meetings Sydney Swans 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Longmire 7 wins Goodwin 4 wins THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 11.11.77 defeated Sydney Swans 7.14.56 in Round 24, 2023 at the SCG The Demons prevailed after a see saw game, thanks mainly to its midfield dominance in the personage of Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver and an outstanding return from injury of Bayley Fritsch who overcame a knock to his foot in mid game to finish with five goals. Scores were close until three quarter time but a four goal to nil final term sealed the deal. In form forward Jake Melksham suffered a devastating blow with an ACL injury that placed his career in jeopardy. THE TEAMS Injury and Suspension List: Round 0 Ben Brown — knee/ available Charlie Spargo — Achilles/ available Kysaiah Pickett — suspended/ 1 week Harrison Petty — toe/ 2 weeks Lachie Hunter — calf/ 3 - 4 weeks Daniel Turner — hip/ 7 - 8 weeks Shane McAdam — hamstring/ TBC Jake Melksham — knee/ TBC Joel Smith — suspended/ TBC

CROWS B: Josh Worrell, Jordon Butts, Max Michalanney HB: Brodie Smith, James Borlase, Mitch Hinge C: Chayce Jones, Jordan Dawson, Lachie Sholl HF: Ben Keays, Josh Rachele, Izak Rankine F: Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty FOLL: Reilly O’Brien, Rory Laird, Sam Berry I/C: Luke Pedlar, Jake Soligo, Will Hamill, Lachie Murphy, Matt Crouch, Chris Burgess, Wayne Milera, Ned McHenry EMER: Kieran Strachan, Brayden Cook, Luke Nankervis, Lachlan Gollant Notable absentees: Nick Murray, Daniel Curtin, Rory Sloane, Mark Keane, Elliott Himmelberg EAGLES B: Alex Witherden, Tom Barrass, Tom Cole HB: Liam Duggan, Jeremy McGovern, Brady Hough C: Jayden Hunt, Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff HF: Noah Long, Jake Waterman, Jamie Cripps F: Jack Petruccelle, Jack Darling, Ryan Maric FOLL: Bailey Williams, Tim Kelly, Harley Reid I/C: Luke Edwards, Jamaine Jones, Callum Jamieson, Campbell Chesser, Harry Barnett, Loch Rawlinson, Tyrell Dewar, Coen Livingstone Notable absentees: Reuben Ginbey, Dom Sheed, Tyler Brockman, Oscar Allen, Liam Ryan, Matt Flynn, Elijah Hewett

Happy to be the underdog all year.

Swans duo Tom Papley and Chad Warner were rested for the Lions clash but are expected to be fit for Opening Round. Jake Lloyd also didn’t play due to a sore hip. Livewire Swans forward Will Hayward wasn’t seen from quarter-time onwards after copping a bump from Lions defender Darcy Wilmot, who was penalised for high contact. Mills and Parker will also miss the Opening Round.

A mixed bag. JVR dead eye. Trac sometimes watch your head.

Petty and McAdam last ones on the track working with the Selwyn. Both have been getting high 5s from assistants and trainers. Both seemed to have ticked off some boxes today.

Selwyn kicking the ball high up to Petty who is being manned by Stafford and another trainer and Petty needs to lead and get separation from the two. Moving & jumping very well.

I think that’s stumps.

Most of the boys having shots for goal now. May and Lever having a chat with Chaplin.

Gawn and Langdon heading back to AAMI. No idea why. Neither looks hampered.

Petty now left the main group and doing 200m sprints. I don’t think there is anything nefarious to it. Probably easing back into the main group.

Selwyn kicking the ball to McAdam on the lead out of the pocket. McAdam marks and kicks back to Selwyn and then has to run back to position by zig zagging out of the way from another trainer applying blocking pressure.