Demonland

Burgess not going to the Blues CARLTON has poached Sydney fitness guru Rob Inness to serve as the Blues’ new high-performance boss. Inness will see out the season at the minor premier and premiership-hunting Swans, where he has made a significant impact since arriving in late 2020 as head of athletic performance.

They fixed it. 🤣

DEES: Hi Chris, It's the MFC. Would you like to Coach us? DEES: Chris! Chris! .... are you still there? .... Chris ... Chris .... I think he hung up.

I think they've been playing extra time in regular finals for a while now or at least had the rules for it. Not sure what the GF rules are.

😥

Yep. You can actually see that he forgot to remove the Carlton Logo layer over the Collingwood Logo layer. Anyway that ends my segment on Photoshop Fails. Back to the Trades ...

Work experience kid strikes again.

Some highlights

A bad artists rendition of what he might look like in a Dees guernsey.

https://x.com/1116sen/status/1831145610348761129 m/1116sen/status/1831145610348761129

POWER ‘AMENABLE’ TO STAR TRADE Could Dan Houston be about to do a Tom Barrass? It’s been well documented that Eagles star Tom Barrass backflipped on a previous statement that he was committed to staying at West Coast, as news surfaces of his desire to be traded to Hawthorn this upcoming trade period. Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph hasn’t ruled out Port Adelaide gun Dan Houston doing something similar. “He’s going to do a Tom Barrass isn’t he? He’s going to definitively say that I was staying until they pull the rug out and then he’s going to move,” Ralph began on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle. “He was adamant on the weekend he was staying at the Power, he said all the right things and I understand that, let’s not hang him for it, but look, his partner is in Melbourne, it’s not that she wants to move back and I think he’s very much aware of the fact he’d like to be there,” he continued. “I think Port Adelaide is realizing that if they can get a trade done for him for the right price, that they will do that. We shouldn’t lose our minds over it, so they’re amenable to the trade.” Despite previous reports indicating Houston’s desire to land at Melbourne had fizzed, Ralph can’t help but think there’s still a possibility given Melbourne’s recent positive news surrounding the likes of Christian Petracca and Kysaiah Pickett. “It’s a holding statement right now. They’ve got the cap space… I know there’s intent there, Melbourne’s got pick 5. I know that he’s officially cooled on that, but I just keep thinking, Petracca’s back, Kozzy Pickett’s not going anywhere, this is not informed mail, but I just keep thinking is there a way he finds himself at Melbourne next year?” Ralph posed. Another option for Houston should he actually want to return to Victoria would be St Kilda. “If they do get pick 8 for compensation for the departing Josh Battle, that’s a big if right now, I think that they would give it up for Dan Houston. He’s 27, he’s got six or seven good years left. He’s a dual All-Australian,” Ralph said. “You might have to throw in a sweetener pick. I just think about what it does for this half back line, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Dan Houston it’s a dynamic a half-back line, it’s turbo charged, it’s volcanic,” he said. Houston’s inclusion would allow one of that trio to spend more time in the midfield as pressure continues to mount on coach Ross Lyon to bring the Saints back to the promised land. “He doesn’t have to sell the farm or sacrifice the future if you’re bringing in a 27-year-old who let’s face is, is absolutely elite. Could Houston be the big fish the Saints are so desperate to land?

If you are driving or training it to Cranbourne on Saturday, don’t forget to set your alarm clock. The Melbourne Demons play the reigning premiers Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields this Saturday, with the bounce of the ball at 11:05am. Yes, that’s AM. The AFLW fixture shows deference to the AFL men’s finals games. So, for the men it’s good afternoon and good evening and for the women it’s good morning. The Lions were wounded last week by 44 points, their highest ever losing margin. North Melbourne really did a number on Brisbane kicking six goals in the third quarter to dominate the match Meanwhile the Dees had a confidence boosting 2-point hard-fought victory over the Cats at GMHBA Stadium. Here’s hoping we repeat last weeks contested running game style and win. Mick Stinear and Craig Starcevich (Brisbane coach) are the only remaining AFLW foundation coaches (since 2017), and this will be their 10th meeting. Stinear leads the way with 6 wins and 3 losses. BANNO'S BANNER Fan favourite and highlight reel, Alyssa Bannan, plays her 50-game milestone match this weekend. To celebrate there will be a banner for Banno on Saturday. The notorious Casey Fields wind will no doubt test the @deearmy’s expertise in holding it in place. Our premiership forward has had some memorable moments since blasting onto the scene in 2021 after being selected fifth in the 2020 draft. Banno was a Rising Star nomination in Round 2 of 2022 and finished 5th overall behind the winner, Mimi Hill from Carlton. No goal of the year but she has kicked many excellent ones including that classy running goal at Punt Road Oval in 2022 against the Tiges. What an entertainer! Her match winning display in the 2022 preliminary final at the MCG against Brisbane with three exhilarating goals, stands out to Meggs as her most brilliant career performance to date. She was awesome. In the 70-points thrashing of cellar-dweller West Coast Eagles in R7 2023, Alyssa earned 10 coaches votes and kicked 5 goals. While Eagles coach Michael Prior lost his job after publicly complaining about having to play top-placed Melbourne in a 10-week fixture. It wasn’t all bad for the Eagles as they replaced him with Daisy Pearce, while Banno got to upgrade her jumper number this year to Dais’ iconic number 6. Stats-wise, Bannan has kicked a solid 41 career goals in 50 games but her recent ability to sustain performances against the top teams could be questioned. In her last six games played against the 2023 preliminary finalists, she has averaged just six touches per game and only kicked seven points in total. Fingers are crossed that in our upcoming matches against heavyweights, Brisbane and North Melbourne, the new number 6 delivers a couple of home crowd stunners. Go for it, Banno! SELECTION THIS WEEK Tayla Harris will miss weeks with a shoulder, so Georgia (Campbell or Gall) the likely inclusion. Meggs senses a team imbalance, with one too many talls. Prefer to see one of the new recruits Lily Johnson, Jemma Rigoni or Alyssia Pisano debut and show off their pace and good skills. Brisbane will make one forced change for the injured former Eagle, Shanae Davison. MEGGS VIEWS Expect a strong rebound from Brisbane’s premiership stars who lacked their usual intensity last week. Brisbane has tall forward weapons to quell in Dakota Davison and Taylor Smith. Dangerous small Courtney Hodder usually has Heathy match up on her. The Demons rejigged backline looked solid in its first outing. Gillard, Chaplin and Paxman led the way and performed really well building connections with the others. The new-look Demons midfield functioned well with Goldrick and newcomer Beasley fitting in alongside Hanks, Mithen and Lampard. It’s fair to say that Brisbane’s midfield with Anderson, and tough nuts Dawes and C Svarc will provide plenty of physical challenges during the match. The Lions wingers Conway and O’Dwyer are dangerous and kick goals. The Demons wingers Blaithin Mackin and Eliza McNamara look in great early season touch. Loz Pearce v Tahlia Hickey will be a ruck battle royale. Hickey was quiet last week while Loz was in fine form. Brisbane’s defenders Koenen, Campbell, Ellenger, and Grider are recognised as some of the best in the competition and arguably stronger than their Geelong counterparts. No easy goals this week for Hore, Zanker and Bannan. Let’s bring our intensity from the outset and kick straight please. Go Dees! Melbourne by 5 points THE GAME Round 2: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions Saturday 7 September 2024 at 11:15am (Melbourne time) at Casey Fields, Melbourne - Wurundjeri/ Boon Wurrung HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 6 wins Brisbane 3 wins At Casey Fields Melbourne 2 win Brisbane 2 wins The Coaches Stinear 6 wins Starcevic 3 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy, Kayo. Mobile – AFL Live Official App Radio – Casey Radio. THE LAST TIME THEY MET - Season 8 Round 10 Brisbane 8.5 (53) defeated Melbourne 4.4 (28) at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield, 4 November 2023 For this Season 8 Finals-eve Top 4 match, Brisbane had certainly come to play. They outmuscled, outran, and ultimately overwhelmed us. In doing so they exorcised their 2022 grand final loss, running away with the match in the second half, defeating the Demons comfortably by 25 points. It was a pre finals glimpse at how powerful the Lions had become while conversely a reality check for the out of form reigning premiers who were to sadly exit the finals in straight sets. There was one brief moment, at the 13-minute mark of the second quarter, when Melbourne skipper Kate Hore temporarily put the Dees in front. Alas, it was the last Demon goal for the game. For the Dees, a willing group bravely resisted the fierce and physical Brisbane team, but a more even contribution was required to win. FINAL SCORES BRISBANE LIONS 2.2 4.3 8.4 8.5 (53) MELBOURNE 1.0 4.0 4.1 4.4 (28) GOALS Brisbane: Davidson 2, Conway 2, R.Svarc, Smith, Mullins, Hampson Melbourne: Sherriff, Hore, Harris, Hanks BEST Brisbane: Ellenger, Koenen, Hodder, Conway, Anderson, Dawes Melbourne: Pearce, Hore, Purcell, Hanks, Gillard INJURIES Brisbane: Nil Melbourne: Watt (concussion) REPORTS Brisbane: Nil Melbourne: Nil CROWD 3,004 at Brighton Homes Arena THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Colvin Gillard HB Chaplin Heath Paxman C McNamara Lampard Mackin HF Zanker Mithen Fitzsimon F Bannan Pisano FOLL Campbell Hanks Hore I/C Beasley Goldrick Hill Watt Wotherspoon EMG Gall Taylor IN Campbell Pisano OUT Harris (shoulder) Pearce (scaphoid) BRISBANE LIONS B Dunne Campbell HB Koenen Grider Ellenger C O'Dwyer Anderson Conway HF Postlethwaite Hodder R Svarc F Smith Davidson FOLL Hickie Dawes C Svarc I/C Boltz Hampson Hartill Lutkins EMG Crozier Peters Yoshida-Martin IN Hartill OUT Davison (wrist) Injury List: Round 2 Melbourne Lily Johnson Achilles Available Saraid Taylor Calf 2-3 weeks Tayla Harris Shoulder TBC Olivia Purcell Face TBC Jemma Rigoni Groin TBC Jacinta Hose ACL Season Aimee Mackin ACL Season Brisbane Dee Heslop Calf Strain 3 weeks Shanae Davison Wrist 6 weeks

From 2:37 Pick 25 from Adelaide which we gave the Crows for McAdam.