Demonland

Melbourne The Demons have their own first-rounder (currently pick 15), their future first-rounder and the Fremantle first-rounder (currently pick 9) acquired in the Luke Jackson trade, which is still likely to be around 10 or later this year if the Dockers’ charge continues. It’s three first-round picks but they are the worst kind – one likely to push outside of 10 when free agency compo slots in, and two which might be around 20 if the Demons win the flag or compete deep both years. The Demons could throw in an Adam Tomlinson type given he doesn’t play regularly but he’s 29. James Jordon is an unrestricted free agent so the Demons can’t include him in a deal. If you were West Coast, you would ask for Kozzie Pickett and two first-rounders this year just to start the ball rolling. Melbourne would tell them they were dreaming. Claremont’s Jacob Van Rooyen is going nowhere. West Coast would ask for East Fremantle’s Trent Rivers to be thrown into the deal. But unless the Demons could get a top five pick in this year’s draft, it’s hard to see how a deal gets done.

My thoughts exactly. As much as I want them to lose every single game we're never good in those situations. We're always the team to play another team back into form. Heaven help us if they get trounced this week and their coach gets sacked.

Thoughts and prayers

No chance

Who are you tipping this week?

I can't bring myself to Boo Dogga. I loathe the fact that he left us after 3 years of development and would only deal with a club who didn't have the best currency available in the state he wanted to return to. However the flag that he helped deliver and the feelings that that brought me outweighs the feelings that I have for him ditching us. Had we not won the flag and he left it would be Boo city.

It largely depends on whether people who already have reserved seats turn up. My reserved seats sections is never anywhere near full and I don't believe there are any spare seats available for sale.

I’m pretty sure the club sent an email around not too long ago saying GA memberships should buy a seat to ensure they get in as tickets were selling fast. Check with the club to make sure.

Just a few weeks ago when nobody had ever heard or knew about Walyalup, the outcome of Saturday’s clash at the MCG with Narrm would have been considered a foregone conclusion in favour of the Demons. The Purple Haze were wallowing in the depths. They had even lost their Round 2 matchup against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium — that’s how badly they were traveling! Meanwhile, the Demons were monstering weak opponents like the aforementioned North Melbourne to the tune of 15 goals. They were up there along with Collingwood and Brisbane in the race for flag favouritism but, after a rain-soaked night and a narrow defeat in Adelaide and a hamstring strain to one Clayton Oliver, the sky appears to be caving in. The arrival from across the Nullarbor of a Walyalup combination fresh from victories over both of last season’s grand finalists, has some Demon fans quaking in their boots with fear. The fact is that neither the Cats nor the Swans of the last fortnight are the Geelong or Sydney of September, 2022. The Dockers aren’t exactly Fremantle either because they changed their name to Walyalup Football Club for the duration of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. ‘Walyalup’ is Noongar country in and around the Fremantle region. The change of name certainly brought about a change of luck because they’ve come up against opponents stricken with injuries just as they themselves are striking form and benefiting from some crucial returnees, notably former skipper Nat Fyfe who missed the early part of the season. While the Dockers are gaining momentum, the elephant in the room for the Demons is the absence of Clayton Oliver for what seems to be at least a fortnight due to hamstring issues and Lachie Hunter for a week due to suspension. The two were close to the team’s best last week. When the Oliver/Hunter door to that room closes, another one necessarily opens for Simon Goodwin. It could invite disaster but it also could well be for the ultimate good of the club. Despite its elite standard rucks and midfielders, Melbourne/Narrm has been exposed of late in terms of winning clearances and contested ball. It wasn’t just Port Adelaide/ Yartapuulti’s Butters and Rozee last week, it was evident for more than a few brief moments against the Hawks and for much of the game against the Suns as well as in the two defeats earlier in the season. There’s no respite this week with Walyalup boasting ruck pair Darcy and Jackson to go with talented young mids Serong and Brayshaw backed up by dual Brownlow Medallist Fyfe. Demons need not go into panic however, Oliver was there when they last met but it was Viney, Petracca and the elder Brayshaw who did the damage in the engine room. The club’s two way running and tackling from the small forwards which was so effective in the premiership season has also been effectively reduced if not worked out altogether. Goodwin and the brains trust have been tinkering with the system and I don’t think it needs an overhaul, but the forced changes in personnel mean that these issues have to be met head on this week. So watch closely the changes that will be made to the lineup. The expected and logical will happen — Tom Sparrow back from suspension, James Harmes in and James Jordon from sub duties and possibly even more midfield moments from Trent Rivers and Kozzie Pickett but the Demons need a little more in the mix to meet the challenge of not only this week, but also the month to come. The 2022 story of the clashes between these teams was interesting with one win each away from their home turf. Narrm have been unmovable at home this year while Walyalup’s only win away from Noongar country, apart from an unconvincing effort on neutral territory against the Suns in the Gather Round, was over the hugely injury-depleted Swans at the SCG a fortnight ago. The Demons are goals better at home and, while I don’t condone or encourage gambling, just take a look at the odds framed by the bookies - and they know their stuff! Besides, it’s about time that the Demons proved themselves in what surely is a cutthroat game. I’m tipping them to do that and win by 25 points. THE GAME Narrm v Walyalup on Saturday 27 May 2023 at the MCG at 2.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Narrm 18 wins Walyalup 24 wins At the MCG Narrm 9 wins Walyalup 8 wins Last five meetings Narrm 3 wins Walyalup 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Longmuir 2 wins LAST TIME THEY MET Narrm 12.13.85 defeated Walyalup 5.9.39 at Optus Stadium, Round 20, 2022 It was a vital game for both sides in terms of protecting their final four aspirations and the Demons were on top of the Dockers from the outset as they overturned their loss at the MCG from earlier in the season. Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Angus Bradshaw were the team’s shock troops that dominated in the midfield in an emphatic 46 point victory that stunned the West. TEAMS NARRM B M. Hibberd J. Lever J. McVee HB C. Salem S. May A. Brayshaw C E. Langdon J. Viney T. Sparrow HF B. Fritsch T. McDonald K. Pickett F K. Chandler B. Grundy C. Spargo FOLL M. Gawn C. Petracca A. Neal-Bullen I/C J. Bowey J. Harmes T. Rivers J. van Rooyen SUB J. Jordon EMG B. Laurie J. Smith T. Woewodin IN J. Harmes T. Sparrow OUT L. Hunter (suspended) C. Oliver (hamstring) WALYALUP B B. Cox A. Pearce H. Young HB B. Walker L. Ryan J. Aish C J. Clark J. O'Meara N. O'Driscoll HF S. Switkowski N. Fyfe M. Frederick F M. Johnson J. Amiss L. Schultz FOLL S. Darcy A. Brayshaw L. Jackson I/C B. Banfield E. Hughes C. Serong J. Treacy SUB S. Sturt EMG W. Brodie N. Erasmus K. Worner IN S. Sturt OUT M. Walters (calf) Injury and Suspension List: Round 11 Jake Bowey - Calf | Test Clayton Oliver - Hamstring | TBC Lachie Hunter - Suspension | One Week Luke Dunstan - Knee | 1 - 2 Weeks Kye Turner - Groin | 3 - 4 Weeks Will Verrall - Pelvis | 3 - 4 Weeks Harry Petty - Foot | 3 - 5 Weeks

My reasoning is that I didn't want to be sad in the sun. 😎

Sorry guys. Didn't see these until after the podcast. I generally collate all the questions for the podcast on the day (morning/early afternoon) of the Podcast usually Monday. I often can't fit in the ones that come in late or just before showtime. I appreciate the questions as they form an integral part of the show. Please get the in earlier if you want them answered on the podcast. @DEE32 I think we answered this on the podcast anyway. @Gunna’s - @binman can probably answer this for you here. Thanks for listening.

Lachie Hunter rocking up to the Appeal.

By process of elimination we'll eventually get it out of you. Was it anyone in this photo?

Just for clarification are you against the action by Rozee or Hunter?

🤣 Apologies. I was away from Friday to Monday enjoying the sun. We will be LIVE tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30pm.

I believe that Fritta has had ongoing issues with his foot stemming from a preseason training foot stomping mishap.

If you arrived at Casey Fields early enough on Saturday morning, you would have been greeted with the prospect of a miserable, wet day conducive of low scoring, scrappy football. But conditions moderated, the ground dried up and the fans were treated to an entertaining, high-scoring open brand of football that saw some classic high marking and both teams topping the 100-point barrier. The Casey Demons won the contest by 117 to 102 but North Melbourne were not to be denied for the way in which they fought out the game to its very end. North have been in good form lately and, despite their injury and suspension woes at AFL level, they included some top players in their lineup. Halfway through the opening quarter, they held the upper hand until Joel Smith booted two quick goals late in the term - one off a screamer of a mark that, while not rising to his father’s mark of the last century, was top shelf. Roan Steele was in outstanding early form picking up 13 touches in a scintillating opening term. As it has often done this season, Casey slowly edged its way forward and with the likes of Ben Brown, Jake Melksham and Josh Schache joining Smith among the goalkickers, they soon moved to a four or five goal lead range which they carried into the final quarter before the accurate Kangaroos threatened on a few occasions but the home team had all the answers. James Jordon, who came on in the driving Adelaide rain as Narrm’s sub late on Friday night was flown back to play for Casey and was it's leading ballwinner, finishing with 27 disposals and eight clearances. The Casey defence held firm all day, led by Adam Tomlinson (24 disposals) who took 10 marks and Daniel Turner (22 touches, 13 marks) not far behind him. If one of them missed the mark, it would be gobbled up by Jed Adams who took seven marks. Bailey Laurie had 22 touches and two goals while Taj Woewodin kicked one goal from his 22 disposals. James Harmes (21 disposals, eight clearances) and Blake Howes (18 possessions, nine marks) both had busy afternoons. Of the Demons' younger AFL brigade, Deakyn Smith had a good game and Andy Moniz-Wakefield was prominent early. Ollie Sestan had some impressive moments while Matt Jefferson kicked a goal and had a few cameo moments. Skipper Mitch White had an excellent game and led the team well to overtake Steele as the team's best VFL listed player by game's end. Casey has a tough challenge next weekend as it takes on Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval next Saturday. CASEY DEMONS 5.1.31 9.4.58 14.7.91 18.9.117 NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 4.0.24 6.0.36 10.4.64 16.6.102 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Melksham Schache J Smith 3 Brown Laurie 2 Jefferson Sestan Steele White Woewodin NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Harvey 5 Lowson Sellers 2 Bath Cunnington Lazzaro Smith Thomas Turner Watkins BEST CASEY DEMONS White Tomlinson D Turner Jordon Schache Steele NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Lazzaro Thomas Harvey Cunnington Taylor Turner Statistics Jed Adams 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 7 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points Jack Bell 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 20 hit outs 53 dream team points Ben Brown 2 goals 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 2 hit outs 56 dream team points Matt Buntine 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points Finn Emile-Brennan 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 26 dream team points George Grey 1 behind 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 63 dream team points James Harmes 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 74 dream team points Blake Howes 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 80 dream team points Matt Jefferson 1 goals 6 kicks 6 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 43 dream team points James Jordon 15 kicks 12 handballs 27 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 96 dream team points Bailey Laurie 2 goals 10 kicks 12 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points Jake Melksham 3 goals 2 behinds 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 68 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 43 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 5 handballs 5 disposals 2 tackles 18 dream team points Josh Schache 3 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 3 hit outs 95 dream team points Oliver Sestan 1 goal 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 50 dream team points Deaykin Smith 6 kicks 7 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 32 dream team points Joel Smith 3 goals 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 66 dream team points Roan Steele 1 goal 17 kicks 6 handballs 23 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 95 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 18 kicks 6 handballs 24 disposals 10 marks 1 tackles 101 dream team points Daniel Turner 17 kicks 5 handballs 22 disposals 13 marks 97 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 10 tackles 107 dream team points Taj Woewodin 1 goal 1 behind 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 74 dream team points