Demonland

I didn't received any of the emails in the lead up to today's barcode emails but luckily I received the important one. I presume the barcodes stay the same for the entire finals series?

We'll probably talk more about this next week but I don't think JVR was going to get a look in this year. There were plenty of opportunities for him to come him before finals. I think we'll only go with another tall forward if TMac can prove his fitness and even then it's 50/50.

We might touch on the TMac bit this week but we'll keep (and please ask this again in the thread next week) the other one for our QF Preview show next week.

I did of course mean those that are in Melbourne or who can afford to travel. No offence meant.

I plan to have my ashes scattered either on the exact spot that Steven May predictably kicks out to or the forward pocket where we always go Inside 50 to.

The only event a fan should be attending instead of a final is their funeral. And even then ....

I guarantee you that every one who takes the time to listen to an hour and a half Dees podcast will be going to the game. I guess we could try to persuade them to bring family members along.

Very late in the last qtr.

@binman you have some homework to do (if you have time that is).

I have a feeling we're going to disagree about this.

I have something to say about this but will save it for the podcast.

@george_on_the_outer usually has these stats.

I will definitely bring it up to the guys on the pod.

I doubt it. When they (might have been Richo) were talking about Jackson coming off they mentioned that they despite taking him off being a precaution (calf tightness) they felt that it still fell within the rules of the medi sub. To me that means that we are a team that plays by the rules with this sort of thing and I doubt we will see a super sub in September. Other clubs of course are a little bit loosey goosey with their interpretation of the rule.

Please feel free to ask us questions or post your comments here and we'll read them out on the show. Keep in mind that we will be doing a Qualifying Final preview show next week so perhaps keep the questions related to the Brisbane game and player/tactics related. Next week we'll preview our upcoming match against the Swans and the finals in general.

Join @george_on_the_outer, @binman & I on the Demonland Podcast Monday night 22nd August LIVE @ 8:30pm for breakdown of the Round 23 win against Brisbane. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

Winning streaks are meant to be broken and just like their big brothers in Melbourne earlier in the year, the Casey Demons saw their run of victories come to an end after exactly 17 straight games at the weekend. Making their first visit to Brisbane’s Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, the Demons found the Queensland warmth a touch harsh after a cold hard winter and struggled for goals and for air after half time to lose a high quality VFL match by 14 points - 10.11.71 to 8.9.57. There were no excuses for Casey as it fielded a strong team with 16 AFL listed players but from even before the start, the omens were not good. The Demons lost the Melbourne/Casey partnership’s lucky charm in Jake Bowey on the eve of the match when he was called up to replace Christian Salem for the AFL Demons’ Friday night clash at the Gabba and while his presence there was noted, the loss of the pocket sized #17 was significant for Casey. There’s that number 17 again! From the very start, the Demons struggled to get their usual rhythm going on the ball. Their two dynamic running smalls in Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler who hadn’t played for three weeks after the bye and missing last week’s game against Carlton, looked rusty and were playing well below their previous levels. Neither found their touch around the ground and between them, they only contributed a single goal. Luke Dunstan was also less productive in the middle and the team missed the hard tackling in and under work of Jimmy Munro. Oskar Baker with 23 disposals was the best of the Casey smaller brigade. Without their usual midfield ascendency, the pressure was well and truly on the forwards and, with a singular exception, they struggled to trouble the scorers. That exception came in the form of exciting youngster Jacob Van Rooyen who played a lone hand role up forward with his marking and around the ground exuberance to contribute four goals. Had his enthusiasm only rubbed off on his fellow forwards, we would surely have been celebrating another victory instead of mourning the team’s first loss of the season. The enigma of JVR is that the Melbourne selectors have, perhaps wisely, determined to hold him back for a 2023 AFL debut. Whilst not at their absolute best, the defence led by Adam Tomlinson, Daniel Turner and Corey Ellison went about their duties in a workmanlike manner and the older heads in skipper Mitch White and Matthew Buntine tried their best to steady the ship. There was another exceptional display for the Demons from James Jordon who was a trifle unlucky to be omitted from their AFL side at this stage of the season. He responded with a superb display on the wing - with a team-high 27 possessions and eight tackles. His hand remains held high for a return to the fray at the higher level. A qualifying final against the Sydney Swans Reserves awaits the Casey Demons who will be happy to return to their home fortress for that encounter. CASEY DEMONS 2.5.17 5.5.35 6.6.42 8.9.57 BRISBANE LIONS 3.2.20 5.5.35 8.8.56 10.11.71 Goals Casey Demons Van Rooyen 4 Baker Baldi Chandler Dunstan Brisbane Lions Robertson 3 Cox Fort Fullarton Lester Manly Sharp Smith Best Casey Demons Jordon Baker Van Rooyen White Baldi Ellison Brisbane Lions Robinson Robertson Fort Lester Buzza Smith Statistics Oskar Baker 1 goal 18 kicks 5 handballs disposals 9 marks 93 dream team points Riley Baldi 1 goal 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 39 dream team points Toby Bedford 1 behind 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 9 tackles 51 dream team points Jack Bell 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 16 hit outs 46 dream team points Mitch Brown 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 53 dream team points Matt Buntine 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 78 dream team points Kade Chandler 1 goal 1 behind 7 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 54 dream team points Luke Dunstan 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 58 dream team points Corey Ellison 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 2 hit outs 63 dream team points Blake Howes 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 31 dream team points James Jordon 1 behind 18 kicks 9 handballs 27 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 116 dream team points Ryan Koo 4 kicks 1 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 25 dream team points Bailey Laurie 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 31 dream team points Tommy Macrae 1 kicks 1 disposals 1 mark 6 dream team points Judd McVee 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 67 dream team points Deakyn Smith 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 67 dream team points Joel Smith 2 behinds 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 55 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 17 kicks 3 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 64 dream team points Daniel Turner 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 4 goals 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 2 hit outs 74 dream team points Sam Weideman 2 behinds 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 3 hit outs 32 dream team points Mitch White 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 74 dream team points Taj Woewodin 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 55 dream team points

It was third vs fourth on the ladder and everything was on the line for both Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions. The prize was a place in the top four of the AFL ladder going into the 2022 final series. A season’s tale not dissimilar to that which prevailed in the last round of 2021 when the Demons played against the Cats. What the Lions didn’t realise was it was the Melbourne Premiership side with more Devil in their approach to the game and it saw them run out winners by nearly 10 goals. Right from the start it was all Melbourne. The fans would have been familiar with the style of play they had seen late last year and earlier this year. As the Demons approach finals time, the defensive lines are returning to impenetrable with Jake Lever, Steven May and Harry Petty marking, spoiling or intercepting everything coming their way. Michael Hibberd, in his 99th game for the club, blanketed the Lions’ Charlie Cameron and kept him goalless - again. Trent Rivers, Jake Bowey and Jayden Hunt have found their old mojo, sweeping the ball effortlessly from out of the defensive zone. At quarter time the Demons had a five goal lead and the game would have been as good as over for most other teams, but Brisbane are the highest scoring side in the competition, so the danger existed still. The challenge came with two early goals to the Lions, but then the Devil in the Demons’ tale came out again, and the next seven in a row came all too easily it seemed. By the major break Melbourne had opened up an 11 goal lead while Brisbane could only manage two goals to that point in the game. Up forward Kysaiah Pickett and Bayley Fritsch have rediscovered their dashing best with Kozzy putting four majors through before the half time siren. Ben Brown also helped to break Brisbane hearts with accurate, unwavering set shots at goal, including one from the boundary after the half time siren. There was also an unrecognised effort from Brown who tapped the ball on at least three occasions from highly contested marking events, to the advantage of Pickett and Petracca. No stats there, but without his efforts the goals would not have come. The game continued on its way with a lot of spite. After all both sides had much at stake and the Lions could see their chances disappearing quickly. Zorko in particular took every opportunity to rub his opponent faces into the turf and apparently followed that up with some unsavoury remarks to Petty. It was all for nothing and did nothing to advance the cause. When you take out a pact with the Devil, the payback is required, and the Demons continued to grind their opponents through superior football in spite of the nasty cheap shots. In the middle we saw the return to form of Max Gawn and Luke Jackson, who looked to have much more spring in their step and their marking capabilities which had been missing in past weeks. They also effectively negated the efforts of McInerney and the Brisbane mids with hitouts 43 to 34 in the Demons favour, and stoppage clearances 31 to 20. All around the ground the Demons were simply out muscling and outplaying their opponents. The return of Angus Brayshaw to the middle saw no drop off from when Christian Petracca was playing more minutes. His 27 disposals and 450 metres gained were only exceeded by Clayton Oliver who probably put another three Brownlow votes in the bag with 30 touches and an incredible 578 metres gained. This game saw a return to the form for Melbourne that scares opposition sides. Geelong, Bulldogs and now Brisbane know what that means. Other aspirants in season 2022 would have been watching and dreading having to come up against the Demons in the coming weeks. The players are running with ease, the defensive systems have returned to their ruthlessly miserly returns. The mids are powerful and unrelenting. The overlap run is back and the forwards are taking full advantage of the upfield swift movement. This is the Tale of the Demons again in 2022 - absolutely hitting their straps at exactly the right time of the year. With almost a full list to choose from and prospective opponents dispatched with ease, the team is physically well prepared and at its peak. The Devil in the Demons is back to create Hell for those who might dare to challenge.  MELBOURNE 6.2.38 13.3.81 17.4.106 18.7.115 BRISBANE LIONS 1.1.7 2.3.15 5.6.36 8.9.57 GOALS MELBOURNE Fritsch Pickett 4 Brown 3 Petracca 2 Jackson Langdon Lever Melksham Neal-Bullen BRISBANE LIONS Daniher McCluggage 2 McCarthy McStay Rayner Robinson BEST MELBOURNE Oliver Petracca Brayshaw Pickett May Fritsch BRISBANE LIONS Neale McCluggage Rich McInerney INJURIES MELBOURNE Christian Salem (groin soreness) replaced in the selected side by Jake Bowey Luke Jackson (calf) BRISBANE LIONS Jarrod Berry (ankle) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Cam Rayner for a dangerous tackle on Ben Brown SUBSTITUTES MELBOURNE James Jordon (replaced Luke Jackson) BRISBANE LIONS Mitch Robinson (replaced Jarrod Berry) UMPIRES Matt Stevic Andrew Stephens Brendan Hosking CROWD 32,172 at The Gabba

In stage 1 nominations were submitted by players from each club in regards to their club. In stage 2 players will votes competition wide. Best Captain – Rory Sloane Best First Year Player – Jake Soligo Most Courageous – Ned McHenry MVP – Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird, Taylor Walker Best Captain – Dayne Zorko Best First Year Player – Kai Lohmann Most Courageous – Noah Answerth MVP – Charlie Cameron, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale Best Captain – Patrick Cripps Best First Year Player – Jesse Motlop Most Courageous – Sam Docherty MVP – Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh Best Captain – Scott Pendlebury Best First Year Player – Nick Daicos Most Courageous – Brayden Maynard MVP – Jack Crisp, Jeremy Howe, Nick Daicos Best Captain – Dyson Heppell Best First Year Player – Nic Martin Most Courageous – Jayden Laverde MVP – Mason Redman, Peter Wright, Zach Merrett Best Captain – Nathan Fyfe Best First Year Player – Neil Erasmus Most Courageous – Hayden Young MVP – Andrew Brayshaw, Brennan Cox, Will Brodie Best Captain – Joel Selwood Best First Year Player – Oliver Dempsey Most Courageous – Tom Atkins MVP – Jeremy Cameron, Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins Best Captain – Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller Best First Year Player – Mac Andrew Most Courageous – David Swallow MVP – Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, Sam Collins Best Captain – Josh Kelly, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio Best First Year Player – Finn Callaghan Most Courageous – Harry Perryman MVP – Sam Taylor, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene Best Captain – Ben McEvoy Best First Year Player – Connor MacDonald Most Courageous – Blake Hardwick MVP – Dylan Moore, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily Best Captain – Max Gawn Best First Year Player – Jacob Van Rooyen Most Courageous – Jack Viney MVP – Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver Best Captain – Jack Ziebell Best First Year Player – Paul Curtis Most Courageous – Luke McDonald MVP – Ben McKay, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke Best Captain – Tom Jonas Best First Year Player – Jase Burgoyne Most Courageous – Tom Jonas MVP – Connor Rozee, Sam Powell-Pepper, Todd Marshall Best Captain – Dylan Grimes, Toby Nankervis Best First Year Player – Josh Gibcus Most Courageous – Liam Baker MVP – Dion Prestia, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton Best Captain – Jack Steele Best First Year Player – Marcus Windhager Most Courageous – Daniel McKenzie MVP – Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele Best Captain – Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker Best First Year Player – Matthew Roberts Most Courageous – Paddy McCartin MVP – Callum Mills, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney Best Captain – Luke Shuey Best First Year Player – Brady Hough Most Courageous – Tom Barrass MVP – Jack Redden, Shannon Hurn, Tom Barrass Best Captain – Marcus Bontempelli Best First Year Player – Robbie McComb Most Courageous – Josh Dunkley MVP – Aaron Naughton, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore