Demonland

For the fourth consecutive week, and the second week as the mighty Narrm, we take on a Top 8 team. Could this match be a preview of the Season 7 Grand Final? Our opponents this week, Brisbane, stand undefeated atop the AFLW ladder after slaying the struggling Freo, and the unrated Giants and Gold Coast. After amassing 225 points for and only 56 against, for a percentage of 401.8%, the pundits are claiming the Lions have the best attack the competition has ever seen. Brisbane's multifaceted forward line contains, marking talls in Farquharson, Wardlaw and Davidson, smaller pressure forwards in Bodey and Hodder and plenty of midfielders who can hit the scoreboard. By comparison Narrm’s attack has yielded a ‘meagre’ 116 points and 70 against (165.7%), ranking us sixth. But we have weapons too in Bannan, Hore, D Pearce and Zanker and goal scoring mids. Unhelpfully, this week’s line up will be without star Tayla Harris and Jordan Ivey due to 1-week suspensions. The physicality and marking strength of Tayla will be hard to replace but expect Coach Mick Stinear to have a match day game plan to compensate for her loss. An epic midfield battle awaits as the Lions have a strong group led by last year’s competition best and fairest Emily Bates, Cathy Svarc, Sophie Conway, Orla O’Dwyer and Ally Anderson. Narrm’s core group of Tyla Hanks, Liv Purcell, Eliza West and Lily Mithen match up well and with other key players rotating such as Eden Zanker and Kate Hore, Narrm will give them a contest. Brisbane’s defence is strong, led by their captain Koenen, young gun Grider, ex Tiger Phoebe Monahan and Lulu Pullar but has not been truly tested so far in Season 7. The performance of the Narrm defence led by Libby Birch will be critical to the outcome. Hopefully Maddi Gay can return to the line-up after recovering from a calf injury. Fingers crossed Goldie is not too far away either. Casey Fields is a tough assignment for all teams and Brisbane have narrowly lost the last two encounters there in rough weather conditions and howling winds. Coach Craig Starcevich wanted the match moved to a protected stadium like Marvel. He said “if you're going to have two of the better teams in the comp playing, I think in a venue and on a deck that suits the occasion probably is logical sense”. It’s only the 4-points that matter Craig. The Narrm defensive team will have its work cut out on Sunday and it will require a full team effort to secure the win. Our recent battles have been Demon victories by 2, 3 and 4 points. Expect another entertaining, close match and here’s hoping the Casey weather does not spoil the spectacle. Melbourne by 5 points THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane at Casey Fields, on Sunday 18 September 2022 at 4:10pm (Melbourne time) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Narrm 5 wins Brisbane 1 win At Casey Fields Narrm 2 wins Brisbane 1 win The Coaches Stinear 5 wins Starcevich 1 win MEDIA TV - live on 7 and Kayo. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 5.3 (33) defeated Brisbane 4.5 (29) at the MCG, 2 April 2022 The Season 6 Preliminary Final was played at the MCG, the Demon’s other home of footy. Alyssa Bannan was the star of the show, booting three goals in a match-winning turn, which helped Melbourne defeat the reigning premier and book its maiden grand final spot. Three impressive third quarter goals set up the win. A beauty from Bannan on the run, an Eliza McNamara miracle dribbler and a Lauren Pearce goal from a ruck stoppage, Tom Hawkins style. Brisbane came back in the last quarter as you would expect but the Dees hung on for the win. Melbourne’s best included Paxman, L Pearce, Bannan and Mithen, while Heath did well on the dangerous Hodder and McNamara battled hard against Conway. THE TEAM Injury and Suspension List: Round 4 Maddie Gay - calf | Test Tayla Harris - suspended | 1 week Jordan Ivey - suspended | 1 week Sinead Goldrick - knee | 1-2 weeks Georgia Gall - foot | 4 weeks Gab Colvin - knee | season Eliza McNamara back | season Rhi Watt - knee | season

Part 1: The year we stood still (or did we?). Premiership coach David Parkin who coincidentally turned 80 yesterday, famously used to say that even a premiership team needs to bring at least five new players into the fold in order to advance from year to year and therefore, if this adage remains true, then the Melbourne Football Club really did stand still in 2022. Of the players recruited after the club’s premiership in September, 2021, only Luke Dunstan (5 games) managed to provide service at AFL level. In addition, defender Daniel Turner who was picked up in the Mid Season Draft in June 2021, saw action for less than a half before he was injured against Collingwood in the last Queens Birthday game for a while — the only genuine debutant in terms of AFL games for the year are concerned. None of this is necessarily a criticism of either the coaching or the recruiting people at the club. That’s how it happened in 2022 when the playing list was strong enough to finish second on the ladder in the wake of a particularly tough draw. It all broke down in the finals but, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “it is what it is” and there’s a silver lining there in that the club moves towards the next phase with a number of players who have yet to be tested at senior AFL level and can therefore be considered recruits for 2023. They are — • Blake Howes Now here’s a player who is versatile; he can play as a tallish winger or as forward who wasn’t far off senior selection before he injured his foot early in the season. Will benefit from a full pre season. • Bailey Laurie He has now spent two seasons at the club and was also close to stepping up for senior selection, particularly after one outstanding 30+ possession game at GMHBA Stadium for Casey against the Cats. Hoping for a breakthrough in 2023. • Fraser Rosman Another two year player with height, pace, a good engine and versatility. Unlucky with injuries. • Jacob Van Rooyen We’re all waiting with bated breath to see how this 194cm key forward with vice like marking grip, the strongest 18 year old Tom McDonald’s ever seen and boundless enthusiasm goes when he finally gets a senior call up. • Taj Woewodin Son of a club Brownlow Medallist and an emerging midfield talent. • Judd McVee Rookie from WA who spent most of his time in defence at Casey. • Deakyn Smith Another rookie with two seasons behind him, learning the back pocket ropes (mentored last year by Neville Jetta). • Daniel Turner I’m including him here because the dashing defender is virtually a recruit having spent not much more than half an hour in AFL ranks (and it was an impressive half hour). • Andy Moniz-Wakefield A Next Generation Academy player from the NT who the Demons managed to capture and who has plenty of flair and X Factor. Fingers crossed but he could be very, very good. And there you have it! Even before the club’s National Recruiting Manager Jason Taylor, List Manager Tim Lamb and their recruiting staff begin to roll up their sleeves and get to work, there are nine names who are in contention for new places in the team. Some won’t make it and, based on the percentages, it’s likely that the majority will not. However, if three or four of them can become regular performers at the highest level, then it’s a bonus for the club. Which is just as well because at this point in time, Melbourne’s first pick in the November Draft is a late second rounder at number 34. Let’s take a step back to earlier in the year when the club sat out the Pre-season supplemental selection period and the Mid Season Draft. With all those untried players already at the club there was no need for further picks. Melbourne’s player list looked like this in early June:— PRIMARY LIST: — Oskar Baker Toby Bedford Jake Bowey Angus Brayshaw Ben Brown Luke Dunstan Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn James Harmes Michael Hibberd Blake Howes Jayden Hunt Luke Jackson James Jordon Ed Langdon Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Tom McDonald Steven May Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Fraser Rosman Christian Salem Joel Smith Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Adam Tomlinson Jacob Van Rooyen Jack Viney Sam Weideman Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Mitch Brown Kade Chandler Majak Daw Judd McVee Deakyn Smith Daniel Turner ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Andy Moniz-Wakefield A few weeks later, there might have been some regrets about the inactivity when Majak Daw retired, leaving the club a little light on for ruckmen. Things changed again today when Luke Jackson formally asked to be traded to his home state of Western Australia. This has already sparked speculation as to what Melbourne will ask in return for the former number 3 draft pick who became a premiership star for the club. And by way of a replacement, the Demons have already held talks with Magpie big man Brodie Grundy. So folks, relax, sit down, get yourselves a big bag of popcorn at the ready and enjoy the hectic trade, free agency and draft period that awaits us.

CHANGES 2022 by The Oracle Part 1: The year we stood still (or did we?). Premiership coach David Parkin who coincidentally turned 80 yesterday, famously used to say that even a premiership team needs to bring at least five new players into the fold in order to advance from year to year and therefore, if this adage remains true, then the Melbourne Football Club really did stand still in 2022. Of the players recruited after the club’s premiership in September, 2021, only Luke Dunstan (5 games) managed to provide service at AFL level. In addition, defender Daniel Turner who was picked up in the Mid Season Draft in June 2021, saw action for less than a half before he was injured against Collingwood in the last Queens Birthday game for a while — the only genuine debutant in terms of AFL games for the year are concerned. None of this is necessarily a criticism of either the coaching or the recruiting people at the club. That’s how it happened in 2022 when the playing list was strong enough to finish second on the ladder in the wake of a particularly tough draw. It all broke down in the finals but, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “it is what it is” and there’s a silver lining there in that the club moves towards the next phase with a number of players who have yet to be tested at senior AFL level and can therefore be considered recruits for 2023. They are — • Blake Howes Now here’s a player who is versatile; he can play as a tallish winger or as forward who wasn’t far off senior selection before he injured his foot early in the season. Will benefit from a full pre season. • Bailey Laurie He has now spent two seasons at the club and was also close to stepping up for senior selection, particularly after one outstanding 30+ possession game at GMHBA Stadium for Casey against the Cats. Hoping for a breakthrough in 2023. • Fraser Rosman Another two year player with height, pace, a good engine and versatility. Unlucky with injuries. • Jacob Van Rooyen We’re all waiting with bated breath to see how this 194cm key forward with vice like marking grip, the strongest 18 year old Tom McDonald’s ever seen and boundless enthusiasm goes when he finally gets a senior call up. • Taj Woewodin Son of a club Brownlow Medallist and an emerging midfield talent. • Judd McVee Rookie from WA who spent most of his time in defence at Casey. • Deakyn Smith Another rookie with two seasons behind him, learning the back pocket ropes (mentored last year by Neville Jetta). • Daniel Turner I’m including him here because the dashing defender is virtually a recruit having spent not much more than half an hour in AFL ranks (and it was an impressive half hour). • Andy Moniz-Wakefield A Next Generation Academy player from the NT who the Demons managed to capture and who has plenty of flair and X Factor. Fingers crossed but he could be very, very good. And there you have it! Even before the club’s National Recruiting Manager Jason Taylor, List Manager Tim Lamb and their recruiting staff begin to roll up their sleeves and get to work, there are nine names who are in contention for new places in the team. Some won’t make it and, based on the percentages, it’s likely that the majority will not. However, if three or four of them can become regular performers at the highest level, then it’s a bonus for the club. Which is just as well because at this point in time, Melbourne’s first pick in the November Draft is a late second rounder at number 34. Let’s take a step back to earlier in the year when the club sat out the Pre-season supplemental selection period and the Mid Season Draft. With all those untried players already at the club there was no need for further picks. Melbourne’s player list looked like this in early June:— PRIMARY LIST: — Oskar Baker Toby Bedford Jake Bowey Angus Brayshaw Ben Brown Luke Dunstan Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn James Harmes Michael Hibberd Blake Howes Jayden Hunt Luke Jackson James Jordon Ed Langdon Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Tom McDonald Steven May Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Fraser Rosman Christian Salem Joel Smith Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Adam Tomlinson Jacob Van Rooyen Jack Viney Sam Weideman Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Mitch Brown Kade Chandler Majak Daw Judd McVee Deakyn Smith Daniel Turner ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Andy Moniz-Wakefield A few weeks later, there might have been some regrets about the inactivity when Majak Daw retired, leaving the club a little light on for ruckmen. Things changed again today when Luke Jackson formally asked to be traded to his home state of Western Australia. This has already sparked speculation as to what Melbourne will ask in return for the former number 3 draft pick who became a premiership star for the club. And by way of a replacement, the Demons have already held talks with Magpie big man Brodie Grundy. So folks, relax, sit down, get yourselves a big bag of popcorn at the ready and enjoy the hectic trade, free agency and draft period that awaits us.

Discuss everything to do with the Draft and Trade Week. https://demonland.com/forums/forum/38-trading-drafting-to-get-back-on-track/

He's Gone

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.intix.com.au/events/vflgrandfinal2022

Thank you to @kongwacker @AmsterdamDeesFan @Jibroni @Demonised @Watson11 @KLV @Trac-man @BW511 @OhMyDees @Singa @layzie @Deeoldfart @EverDee @Engorged Onion @—coach— Thank you to our voice messagers Demonlogist, Terrance, Noah & Anonymous Caller Thank you to my cohosts @george_on_the_outer & @binman. And thank you to you our loyal listeners. We'll be back in a few weeks with our Season Review.

We may be put out of our misery tomorrow

The Dees will host the 2023 Kings Birthday Big Freeze 9 Match