Demonland

You'd have to think it's either Saturday or Saturday night (1/7) or Sunday (2/7). Most likely Sunday afternoon. I can't see it being on Thursday or Friday night.

He'll have to kick 25 goals on debut for them not to ever bring it up again.

Not excusing Petty in that match and agree that he paid the kid zero respect but it was also at the very end of a practice match where we comprehensively beat our opponent on a very hot day.

Clayton Oliver 9.5 This bloke is a star. Inside bull who draws a crowd, but never lets that faze him. Melbourne’s best first-possession winner at stoppages who kick-starts their attack. A competitor who is hard of head and hard of heart. Let’s not forget he is still only 25. Christian Petracca 9.0 Sorry Trac, we’ve marked you just under Clarry. But if you can change your goal-kicking conversion (19 goals, 31 behinds last year), we’ll have you equal to your midfield partner in crime. Another star who will be motivated to chase that second premiership. Max Gawn 9.0 Tower of strength for Melbourne for so long and leads from the front. The recruitment of Brodie Grundy will mean he will likely spend more time forward with the hope he can hit the scoreboard more regularly. Absolute star and exceptional leader. Steven May 9.0 Is it any wonder Demons fans were cheering his new contract extension, taking him through until the end of the 2025 season. He is a pillar of strength down back, a real traffic cop. He gets the best forward each week and more often than not beats them. Had a few off-field challenges last year, but barely missed a beat when he stepped over the white line. Angus Brayshaw 8.0 Multi-positional player who has seen the ups and downs as a Melbourne player. Now that he has had a taste of success, he will continue to drive high standards for himself and for his club. Brodie Grundy 8.0 This is one of the most fascinating list management decisions of the past decade. If the Demons’ contentious move to unite the two best ruckmen of the past five years works, look out! It might result in a second flag in three seasons for the club. And it looked pretty darn good in the practice match win over Richmond. Jack Viney 8.0 As tough as old teak. This bloke will never shirk an issue with his intent to win the footy and bring his teammates into the contest. Opposition mids always know he is in the vicinity. Forms a strong part of one of the AFL’s best midfield brigades. Bayley Fritsch 7.5 Opportunistic forward who has got it done on the biggest stage of all. Trusted goalkicker (55.22 last year) who can make something out of nothing. Great skills and game awareness. Ed Langdon 7.5 Langdon plays one of the most difficult roles on the wing almost as well as anyone. He has great fitness, enabling him to get up and down the ground with ease. Still a bit underrated. Jake Lever 7.5 His value to the team lies in his intercept ability, but he gets seriously challenged when he has to defend one on one. Like some of his teammates, he had a more modest 2022 off the back of the flag success, and will be looking to bounce back harder this year. Kysaiah Pickett 7.5 Excitement machine who will be given more midfield minutes. Has been a star on the track this preseason. Pickett must get his hands on the ball more as he is better than a 10-disposal per game player. Massive year ahead as he weighs up offers to return home to South Australia, or to remain a one-club player. C’mon Pickett, sign on the dotted line and stay! Christian Salem 7.5 If he was fit and well, he would be an 8/10, but he has had a difficult preseason as he deals with a thyroid issue. Let’s hope he overcomes it sooner rather than later as he is in the top bracket of talent and importance. His teammates give him the footy for a reason. Lachie Hunter 7.0 Brings experience as a premiership player to an already strong outfit, adding value to the Demons’ wing depth along with Ed Langdon, James Jordon and potentially Angus Brayshaw. Will be reinvigorated at his new club as his practice match form indicated. James Harmes 6.5 Provides the team with great flexibility and can be used in a variety of roles. You could never question his willingness to compete. It’s almost in his DNA. C’mon Goody, we’d love to see him spend more time on the ball, which we saw for periods in the preseason. Tom McDonald 6.5 If anyone doubted his importance to the forward mix, 2022 would have silenced those thoughts. Melbourne won every game he played last season, but a Lisfranc injury stopped him in Round 10. The forward line wasn’t the same without him. A solid preseason gives the Demons hope he can get back to his best - and the forward line can function better. Tom Sparrow 6.5 Adds depth to the midfield, but could win more of his own footy. He is more of an outside mid who runs the lines well. Can get better, and the Demons hope he will. We would love to see him turn low 20s disposal averages into the high 20s, which would boost his overall impact. Michael Hibberd 6.0 Entering the twilight of his career, we hope his body stays sound as he is still an important part of Melbourne’s defence. His organisation skills and match-up capabilities are big assets. Alex Neal-Bullen 6.0 The Demons’ hardest running role player who supports stoppages and creates overlap. An underrated and important part of the team’s structure. Restricted free agent at season’s end. Harrison Petty 6.0 He is an integral part of Melbourne’s three-pronged tall defensive structure, but who’s to say that Goody can’t throw him forward at times to challenge the opposition. It could act as a stimulus to him and the team. Trent Rivers 6.0 Faces a challenge this season after falling out of favour at times in 2022. Must revisit the desperation and competitive spirit which was so evident in 2021. He is too good a player not to become a permanent fixture in this team, but he will have to work for it. Charlie Spargo 6.0 Opportunistic forward who is a beautiful kick, even though his scoreboard tally last year was 10.12. Plays in the role known as ‘starvation corner’ but generally makes the most of his opportunities as he has good footy nous. Jake Bowey 5.5 Didn’t drop off a cliff last year, but plateaued in the second half of the season. Needs to start believing again like when he was the surprise packet of the Demons’ 2021 premiership side. Maybe Christian Salem’s health issues can give him an early opportunity, and he looked good in the preseason win over Richmond. Ben Brown 5.5 Kicked 30 goals from his 19 games in a difficult second season in red and blue. Covid, a VFL suspension and a knee injury impacted on his consistency. Needs to lift as one of the club’s primary forward 50 target players. James Jordon 5.5 Good role player who has graduated from sub to permanent fixture within the team. Will spend much of his time on the wing where he can find the footy and will be motivated after missing last year’s finals due to injury. Jake Melksham 5.0 Can be relied upon when it comes to forward 50 contests and scoring opportunities. Won his spot back in the side late in the season and helped to sink the Blues in Round 22 with four goals. Did enough to guarantee a one-year-deal. The 31-year-old must now justify that faith. Jacob Van Rooyen 5.0 Has come so close to making his AFL debut on multiple occasion, only to just miss out. That looks like being the case in round 1 again. He is a very talented young forward with plenty of scope. But who makes way for him? The Demons love him and have locked him in until the end of 2025. Can he fit in with Ben Brown, Tom McDonald, Bayley Fritsch and even at times Max Gawn? He’ll get his chance at some stage. Kade Chandler 5.0 A fringe player who has filled the gaps in recent seasons who might get a few more opportunities now that Toby Bedford has moved to the Giants. He will need to grab any opportunity to lock down a role and has performed well over the trial games. Luke Dunstan 4.5 Imagine trying to break into Melbourne midfield right now? It ain’t easy. He is a depth player who brings experience. Doubt he is in their best 23. His quest to break into the team won’t be easy after he suffered a recent hamstring injury. Joel Smith 4.5 Can be relied upon when needed as he competes well. Injuries have held him back for most of his career. Others looked to have passed him as one of the first-choice defenders, but if the chance arrives, you can be guaranteed he will be ready for it. Josh Schache 4.5 Key forwards are rare commodities, but this is his third AFL club, so he must make a stand. He is contracted until the end of next year, but this has to be his line-in-the-sand moment. He needs to consistently assault the ball as if his footy life depends on it. Daniel Turner 4.5 In the one game he played last year - Queen’s Birthday - we saw a snippet of the attributes he possesses- before he was concussed - they are of AFL standard. His competitiveness and appetite for hard work is something the coach would love. (Rookie) Judd McVee 4.5 Hard to assess as he spent his first season on the rookie list playing with Casey. Got some good grounding in the VFL and has some upside, even if it will be a hard side to break into. But he played in their last practice victory over Richmond. (Rookie) Adam Tomlinson 4.0 Has been in and out of the team, largely due to injuries, which have hurt his overall continuity. Played eight games last year in his return from an ACL. Is he an immediate selection? Has to earn his spot, but gives some defensive insurance. Taj Woewodin 4.0 Hasn’t played AFL footy yet, but had a good grounding in the VFL last season, playing in Casey’s premiership side. Defender/midfielder who is still awaiting that senior call-up, but looked sharp in the practice match against Richmond. Blake Howes 3.5 Possibly a surprise packet for the Demons in 2023. He has been locked in until the end of 2025, a measure of what the club thinks of him. Had some injury issues but got some good game time at VFL level in the back end of the season, playing in Casey’s premiership side. Bailey Laurie 3.5 Still yet to make his AFL debut as he enters his third season in the system, but that could change after a solid year with Casey in the VFL. Kicked 23 goals as part of the VFL’s premiership side and the small forward is already contracted until the end of next year. Matthew Jefferson 3.5 Difficult to see this pick 15 first round draft selection making too much of an impression in year one, but who’s to say he won’t get a look in if injuries strike. He will be soaking up plenty of experience learning from the likes of Brown, Fritsch and McDonald. He might even spend time forward with the captain at some stage. Jed Adams 2.5 Tall defender who was the Demons’ second round draft pick from last year. This is not an easy defence to break into, but he will learn quickly from some established teammates. Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2.0 Next Generation Academy player who was another young Demon to play in the VFL premiership side, which was a great learning curve. Small forward who can improve. (Rookie) Oliver Sestan 2.0 Rookie draft smoky who was taken from outside the traditional pathways. Medium-sized small forward who turned heads when he kicked 24 goals in a game for Mansfield and had to get an earlier flight back from ‘Schoolies’ to join the Demons. Won’t be rushed. (Rookie) Deaklyn Smith 2.0 Next Generation Academy project player who cut his teeth as a defender in the VFL last year before injury ended his season in the back end. (Rookie) Will Verrall 2.0 Young ruckman (199cm) who will learn so much from Gawn and Grundy in his first season in the system, but don’t expect him to play anytime soon. Project player. (Rookie) Kyah Farris-White 2.0 Hard to assess as he is a Category B former basketballer who is unlikely to get a look in this season with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn leading the ruck stocks. (Rookie) Kye Turner 2.0 Plucked out of obscurity from a mixture of Old Haileybury and Frankston and spent the summer training at the Dees. What a story it would be if he makes the grade. Won’t happen overnight given their depth. (Rookie)

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The match is sold out primarily because it is a double header and Port are playing after us.

Melbourne’s playing list is set to kick off the 2023 season with their minds and bodies in a much different space to where they were at the end of last season. There might not be much in terms of exposed form in these times of abbreviated preseason match play but there is compelling evidence to suggest the Demons are as fresh as daisies and in pumping form as the curtain rises on the new season. The reports from the training track going all the way back to the players’ return in November through to the match sim vs St Kilda and the practice match vs Richmond indicate a keen and relatively healthy list with some fresh players of quality recruited to add greater depth to a team that was already strong in every facet of the game. Collectively they appear to be over the condition that saw them start strongly and then fade badly as games worn on. Symptomatic of that condition was the fact that the club plummeted from number 3 in pressure rating in the competition to number 16. The way they’re looking at the moment, this trend has swung again. The players are refreshed, full of run and have restored the element of resilience to their playbook. The addition of quality personnel since their last encounter produced a 10 point Bulldogs victory at Marvel Stadium in late July is significant. The Demons went into that game missing both regular key forwards in Ben Brown and Tom McDonald, key intercept defender Jake Lever was a late withdrawal and Clayton Oliver was back but still nursing his injured thumb (he magnificent with one hand but how good would he have been with two). That quartet should all be back fighting fit on Saturday night, joined by dual All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy and former Bulldog star Lachie Hunter on the wing. This represents a massive infusion of talent across all parts of the ground. If you subscribe to the view that Melbourne’s Achilles Heel in the second half of last season was it’s forward line and in particular, the team’s inability to connect with the players deep in attack, then it would be abundantly clear that the inclusion of the two fit key forwards in Brown and McDonald is a game changer. Even when he was playing last year, Brown struggled to have an impact and his productivity levels were low. By all accounts, the formerly shaggy haired but now baldish Demon giant Brown has been one of the outstanding competitors on the training track and while he was overshadowed by the Gawn/Grundy goal kicking combo last week he looks poised to return to his late 2021 status on the forward line. McDonald’s return will help even more because of the crucial role he plays in creating pressure on opposing backmen. His influence can be seen by these graphics which compare Melbourne’s productivity in second halves with and without him in 2022:- The inclusion of the two recruits in Grundy and Hunter, from Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs respectively, will simply serve to further improve the effectiveness of Melbourne’s forward set up — ruckman Grundy in terms of getting the ball to the team’s magical midfield and wingman Hunter with his superb ball use in servicing the Demon forwards. The practice matches have already proved that the new ruck set up will also ensure more goals with the two tall resting targets. The Western Bulldogs are no slouches — they won last week’s practice match by an impressive margin, albeit against a young side expected to struggle again in 2023. They have an impressive midfield led by Bontempelli, McCrae, Treloar and Liberatore, lots of tall forwards and a seemingly improved defence with Liam Jones back after a stint with the Blues. The fact remains however, that Melbourne’s midfield is irresistible even without Jack Viney, the defence is far stronger than that of the Doggies who also have a lot of tall timber up forward. The loss of Steven May is a blow but the list is deep and while he will be missed, the Bulldogs’ concentration on height might be offset by the ground level run of the fitter, faster and fresher Demons. Compounding this is the fact that the Bulldogs are going into the game a touch underdone as they missed out on the opportunity to play another club in match sim week and, with respect to the Kangaroos, their practice match did little to prepare them for a high pressure game against a premiership contender. Melbourne to win by 19 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at The MCG Saturday 18 March 2023 at 7.25 pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 90 wins Western Bulldogs 79 wins 1 draw At The MCG Melbourne 47 wins Western Bulldogs 29 wins Last Five Meetings Melbourne 3 wins Western Bulldogs 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 6 wins Beveridge 4wins THE LAST TIME THEY MET Western Bulldogs 17.8.110 defeated Melbourne 15.10.100 at Marvel Stadium in Round 19, 2022 This was another one of those games where the Demons ran out of steam in the end after a good start. The Bulldogs were aided by their greater accuracy, a rampant Marcus Bontempelli and a breakout game from Jamara Ugle-Hagan who booted five goals. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B H. Petty J. Lever J. McVee HB J. Harmes A. Tomlinson J. Bowey C L. Hunter C. Oliver E. Langdon HF K. Chandler B. Brown C. Spargo F K. Pickett B. Grundy A. Neal-Bullen FOLL M. Gawn T. Sparrow C. Petracca I/C A. Brayshaw B. Laurie T. McDonald T. Rivers SUB J. Melksham EMG M. Hibberd J. Jordon J. Van Rooyen New faces Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs) Bailey Laurie (Oakleigh Chargers) Judd McVee (East Fremantle) WESTERN BULLDOGS B T. Duryea L. Jones C. Daniel HB B. Dale A. Keath E. Richards C B. Williams M. Bontempelli J. Macrae HF B. Smith A. Naughton J. Ugle-Hagan F A. Scott S. Darcy R. Lobb FOLL T. English T. Liberatore A. Treloar I/C O. Baker J. Bruce M. Hannan J. Johannisen SUB T. McLean EMG H. Crozier B. Khamis J. Sweet New faces Oskar Baker (Melbourne) Liam Jones (Carlton) Rory Lobb (Fremantle) Injury List: Round 1 Steven May - Calf | Test Bayley Fritsch - Foot | 1 - 2 Weeks Christian Salem - Thyroid | 1 - 2 Weeks Jack Viney - Knee | 1 - 2 Weeks

@binman called this first

The Demons go the early jump and, at one stage, held a lead of between 3 and 4 goals but the accurate Bulldogs reeled them back in and eventually prevailed in the final term. MELBOURNE 6.3.39 11.5.71 14.7.91 15.10.100 WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.0.24 9.2.56 12.6.78 17.8.110 THE TEAMS
 WESTERN BULLDOGS B: E.Richards 20 C.Gardner 43 B.Khamis 24 HB: M.Hannan 29 A.Keath 42 B.Dale 31
C: B.Williams 34 T.Liberatore 21 J.Macrae 11
HF: J.Johannisen 39 J.Bruce 17 B.Smith 6 F: J.Dunkley 5 A.Naughton 33 J.Ugle-Hagan 2
Foll: T.English 44 M.Bontempelli 4 A.Treloar 1
I/C: R.Garcia 38 L.McNeil 30 C.Weightman 19 R.West 14
 Sub: R.McComb 27 Emerg: Z.Cordy 12 L.Vandermeer 23 J.Sweet 41 In: A.Naughton Out: J.Sweet (omitted) MELBOURNE
 B: T.Rivers 24 S.May 1 H.Petty 35 HB: T.Sparrow 32 A.Tomlinson 20 J.Jordon 23 
C: A.Brayshaw 10 C.Oliver 13 E.Langdon 15 HF: B.Fritsch 31 M.Gawn 11 J.Harmes 4 F: K.Pickett 36 S.Weideman 26 C.Petracca 5 Foll: L.Jackson 6 J.Viney 7 A.Neal-Bullen 30 II/C: M.Hibberd 14 J.Melksham 18 C.Salem 3 C.Spargo 9 Sub: T.Bedford Emerg: 12 L.Dunstan 27 J.Hunt 29 In: C.Oliver H.Petty A.Tomlinson S.Weideman Out: B.Brown (knee soreness) L.Dunstan (omitted) J.Hunt (omitted) J.Lever (shoulder)

We’ll do a little preview of the Bulldogs game too.

This is the greatest time of the year. MFCSS only sets in after a loss.

Don't forget to send in your questions and comments for the show which will now air LIVE on Tuesday night 14/3 @ 8:30pm If you want to play along with us you can also provide us with your picks for Which Team will Rise & Which Team will Fall and we will read them out on the show. You can also leave us a voicemail at 03 9016 3666 and we will play it on the show. Don't worry nobody answers it so you don't have to talk to a live person. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

This is great. Thanks @WheeloRatings We’ll have to get you on the podcast one week. @binman will be in heaven.

The season after Melbourne triumphantly broke its premiership drought ended with a thud as the Demons came to the ground with a disappointing straight sets exit from the 2022 finals series. There could have been no more soul destroying an end to a year after a glorious 17-game winning streak at the back end of the 2021 season which included the winning of the grand final in Perth and the first 10 games in 2022 than to miss not only the grand final but a preliminary as well. The winning ride ended abruptly with three consecutive losses in mid-season and wins in only six of the last 14 games of the year. What was truly traumatic for Demon fans was to watch in dismay as their team was bundled out of premiership contention in straight sets at home to two interstate teams after finishing second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season. When the dust settled, the premiership defence had ended dismally as the Dees failed to back up their premiership season and missed the opportunity to achieve the promise of rewarding their fans with an opportunity to witness glory in person on the MCG. The Demons haven’t brooded over lost opportunities — after all, they have plenty of motivation from their recent experience as they go into the 2023 season. And they have left no stone unturned as they build on their strengths for the challenge that lies ahead. One of those strengths is undoubtedly the Demon midfield, which is arguably one of the finest in the competition. Led by captain Max Gawn, who is widely regarded as the premier ruckman in the game, the Demon midfield is deep and talented, with the likes of Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney all capable of dominating games. Oliver, in particular, has established himself as one of the league’s preeminent midfielders, with his contested ball-winning ability and clearance work among the best in the competition. He has outstanding vision and decision making skills and always seems to know where his teammates are and gets the ball to them in the blink of an eye. Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca is one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the AFL and a key part of the Demons’ success in recent years. Petracca’s combination of speed, strength and skill causes headaches for oppositions midfields. He has an incredible ability to break tackles, burst through packs and find his way to goal and is equally comfortable setting up his teammates. Highly skilled Vice Captain Jack Viney brings tenancity, grunt, work ethic and leadership to the table. He is a ferocious tackler and has a reputation for being one of the toughest players in the AFL. Yet, despite the physicality he brings to the game, he is an intelligent footballer with exceptional ball-handling and kicking skills. Promising young midfielder Tom Sparrow has built his upper body over the summer and looks like the next player to break into this star studded midfield on a more regular basis. He will most definitely attend a greater number of centre bounces this season. Over the preseason trackwatchers have noted that Kozzy Pickett has been training for a dual role as a forward and a midfielder. His greatest strength is his speed and agility which make him an ideal candidate for more midfield minutes with his excellent ability to evade opposition and use his skill to break through defences and create scoring opportunities. If taking him into the middle can up his output by say, an extra half dozen disposals a game, it will be a bonus for the team and give opposition clubs a sizable headache in trying to contain him. The Demons also have a plethora of second tier midfielders that can capably pinch hit in the centre throughout a game with James Harmes‘ ability to tag an opponent when needed or Angus Brayshaw leaving his defensive post as required to come back to the position in which he cut his teeth and once earned him third place in the Brownlow medal count. James Jordon can also be used in many games as a versatile sub under the new sub rule as he is capable of playing multiple roles across the field. During the preseason defender Trent Rivers was trialled through the middle much to the delight of many Demon fans. Alex Neal-Bullen also attended a number of centre bounces and stoppages as the Demons attempted to add some depth, adaptability and flexibility to the midfield. The midfield is complemented by the club’s outstanding ruck lineup. Premiership Captain and multiple All Australian, Max Gawn is a towering presence who has been the competition’s premier ruckman for more than half a decade. Dominating games in the air, Max has a versatility that allows him to play up forward or down back making him an essential component of the team’s game plan. With the departure of Luke Jackson, Max is joined by his one-time rival Brodie Grundy who also has a couple of All Australian honours under his belt and the pair look set to form a formidable ruck combination which will stretch most teams. It is expected that they will likely share rucking duties 50/50, whilst one “rests” as an extra tall up forward allowing the ruckman to play a kick behind the ball in order to pick off any quick turnovers out of the forward line. Once an early draft pick, Josh Schache can also play ruck as well as fill in as a tall key position player if and when needed. On the wings the Demon’s also have added another exciting piece to their midfield with the acquisition of Lachie Hunter from the Bulldogs. He joins winger Ed Langdon and they are expected to form a dynamic combination giving the Dees added speed, skill and endurance on both sides of the field. The former Bulldog is talented and versatile player with excellent disposal, decision making skills and vision under pressure, while Langdon, on the other hand, is a speedy and athletic player with incredible endurance. He has become one of the Demons’ most valuable players and can break lines and create scoring opportunities as well as his excellent defensive work and his limitless output. Down back we can expect the Demons to have another strong defensive lineup for the upcoming season. In 2022, Melbourne had one of the best defences in the league, allowing only 71.7 points per game and conceding the fewest points overall in the competition for the second year in a row. The backline is anchored by All-Australian fullback Steven May who is a key component to their stellar defence. May’s physicality, athleticism and tenacity contributes to his imposing presence where he can deftly use his size and strength to his advantage. He is an excellent one-on-one defender who can match up against some of the best forwards in the league limiting their impact on the game. May’s partner in crime, Jake Lever, is widely regarded as one of the best intercept markers and rebounding defenders in the league. He is a leader on and off the field who has a keen football IQ and can position himself well to intercept an create turnovers in order to initiate counter attacks. The last component of the three headed dragon in the Demon’s defence is Harry Petty. Petty is a versatile defender with a strong overhead mark and excellent foot skills who plays with composure under pressure. He too is an outstanding intercept marker generating scores from turnovers for his team. These generals in defence are ably supported by the medium and small defenders. Christian Salem, whilst currently sidelined with a thyroid issue, exudes class with expert decision making and accurate kicking. His protégé, Jake Bowey, is also an excellent user of the footy and rookie Judd McVee has put his hand up for an early season berth playing with a maturity that belies his young age. You also cannot write off Michael Hibberd as he too can still provide service on some of the competition’s best small forwards. Angus Brayshaw will continue to rack up marks in defence providing a lot of rebound and Trent Rivers too will be an outlet out of defence with his run and booming kick. The Demon’s forward line looks set to be rejuvenated from its beaten and battered form of 2022. It boasts a mix of experience, skill and youthful enthusiasm that if working in synergy with the midfield to make it a formidable force in the competition. Many pundits have earmarked the Demon's forward line as our biggest weakness highlighting the fact that the Demons were only able to score more than 100 points on 5 occasions in 2022 whereas eventual premiers Geelong were able to achieve that feat on 11 occasions. Melbourne’s efficiency when going inside 50 has been problematic in the past. Last year the Demons ranked 3rd in the league for insides 50 but only ranked 6th in points scored. The conversion of inside 50s to scoring goals is an area that needs to improve in 2023. The two towers of Ben Brown and Tom McDonald form the heart of the forward line and when fit are extremely valuable to the team’s successes. In an injury interrupted season last year the pair still managed 45 goals between them. In their premiership year the pair booted 58 goals. An injury free year is critical for the both of them. McDonald provides strength and a foil for Brown in packs and they both are very strong leads up the ground. They will be aided in the air up forward by the resting ruckmen in Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy. Versatile mid-sized forward Bayley Fritsch has been the Demon’s top goal scorer for the past three seasons. He can play as a lead up forward, using his speed and agility to create space and take marks or as a small forward, using his ground-level skills to create scoring opportunities. The fact that he’s getting close to the competition’s leading goalkickers is testament to his value to the club. Livewire Kozzy Pickett is one of the most dynamic small forwards in the competition who can be very damaging to oppositions using his speed, skill & agility to sometimes create something out of nothing. Joined by Charlie Spargo with his ability to accurately hit up targets in the forward 50 and Kade Chandler who has impressed in the preseason the Demon’s small forwards need to hit the scoreboard more often to make the side truly formidable to their opponents. Demon fans are also anticipating the emergence of talented high draft pick Jacob Van Rooyen who is coming off a great first season in the VFL and by all reports a fantastic preseason on the training track but he may have to wait for his opportunity to arise as he continues to develop at Casey. Whilst coach Simon Goodwin maintains that a strong defence will still be the thing that underpins the team’s game style, it would appear as if the Demons will be more aggressive in their ball movement with more kicks into the corridor and to the top of the goal square rather than going straight down the line along the boundaries. This more aggressive style of play has been showcased in the preseason matches and will hopefully have a big impact on scoring. Season 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting season for the Demons and their fans. Most pundits are predicting that the Demons will be a Top 4 team this season and go deep into September. Based on their form in the practice matches it looks as if the Demon’s game plan won’t be as predictable as many critics claimed it became last season. Part of that predictability was related to an inability to run out and win games after holding reasonable leads early in many of their games in the latter part of the season. Several explanations have been put forward as to how the problem came about and how it could be resolved. The likely answer is that it was related to the club’s fitness regime and to player injuries. Luck with injuries plays a huge part in any teams success. Last season the Demon’s were banged up and tired as they virtually limped into finals. Injuries to star players, Petracca's hairline fracture of the tibia, Oliver’s thumb never truly recovered from the Cats game, Max Gawn had a painful hip injury and almost missed the Semi Final and Bayley Fritsch had a knee injury that required surgery in the off season. Whilst injuries should not be used as an excuse it can explain performances. It is evident that the Demons could have managed the loads of players better throughout the long season so hopefully there have been lessons learned from last year. The early indications from the preseason and limited practice match evidence are that Melbourne will start 2023 both highly trained and full of fitness and energy for the season ahead. It is also abundantly clear that its best 23 is as good as any other team in the competition and they have the depth to go all the way. The Demons have a tough start to the season with games against the Bulldogs, Lions and Swans (all of who beat them at their last start). The test will therefore come early for them. Even if they get through that baptism of fire, they need to remember that, the season is long and circumstances can turn things around very quickly. However, having been to the mountain top so very recently and then experienced a swift fall from grace at the bitter end of last season, they have the weapons and the experience to return to lofty heights again in 2023.

The training reports forum is just a place where I can compile all the training reports on a given day into one place. It is mainly for packaging the actual reports without the other posts in the thread mainly to link to our social media channels.