Demonland

The City of Adelaide played a significant role in Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign. The Demons kicked off the finals series over there when they brushed aside the Brisbane Lions on the Adelaide Oval and before that, they began their rejuvenation in early July when they won a true crossroads game against Port Adelaide after a flat month or so during the midseason. They return to the scene on Thursday night another mission to accomplish - a tricky little encounter against the home side after a humiliating last-minute jaws of defeat loss to their crosstown rivals, the Crows. What can we say about them after that, except the fact that they’re in our hearts and prayers. The challenge of beating a Port Adelaide that has seemingly been on the slide since it capitulated to the Bulldogs in last year’s Preliminary Final might look easy on the face of it - especially when they go into the game without their key position bookends in Aliir Aliir and Charlie Dixon but it would be folly for the team to completely let its guard to slip against a team with its backs to the wall. The Power will struggle if they bring the same game and attitude that they took with them into their encounter with the Hawks in Round 2 when they were putrid. As a Demon fan living in the City of Churches, I would like to see a lot more of the same. However, unless the players have totally lost themselves vis a vis their coach (and I don’t believe that to be the case), then it’s likely that they will be at the very least competitive knowing they’re coming up against the best side and they will be front and square on the football stage on Thursday night. Not only is their club’s reputation at stake but also, so is their own future and that of their coach. This, coming from the club that dominated the competition in 2020 and that has the 2021 Brownlow Medalist working in the team’s engine room. As against that, it’s being said that at least two premiership players will be added to the 22 who will run out for Melbourne, namely Jake Lever and Ben Brown. The presence of these two can only result in a strengthened team performance over that of recent weeks (which was already good enough to claim the four points) and the Demons will make the most of the circumstances. The fact of the matter is that Port are not at full strength and are a bit stunned by increased pace in the competition this year. Their style of play does not seem to work against the AFL’s power teams (of which the Power is not one). I suspect that for all his good intentions and effort, poor old Ken Hinkley will be looking sideways and behind his back when the game’s done and dusted. Melbourne by 33 points. And when that happens, make sure that you stay in town to watch the Demon Women demolish the other team that goes around in the City of Churches. THE GAME

 Port Adelaide v Melbourne on Thursday 7 April, 2022 at 7.40pm at Adelaide Oval

 HEAD TO HEAD

 Overall Port Adelaide 21 wins Melbourne 14 wins 

 At Adelaide Oval Port Adelaide 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins

 Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins 

 The Coaches Hinkley 3 wins Goodwin 2 wins 

 MEDIA
 TV — live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio — check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET

 Melbourne 12.14.87 defeated Port Adelaide 8.7.55 in Round 17, 2021 at the Adelaide Oval Melbourne charged out of the blocks and led all night maintaining the ability to stave off any minor challenges Port Adelaide would make from time to time during the game. Christian Petracca with 33 touches and 3 goals was in outstanding form for the Demons. THE TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE B: T.Jonas 1 T.Clurey 17 L.Jones 34 HB: R.Burton 3 R.Bonner 26 D.Byrne-Jones 33 C: D.Houston 5 Z.Butters 18 K.Amon 15 HF: O.Wines 16 S.Motlop 6 C.Rozee 20 F: S.Mayes 32 T.Marshall 4 M.Georgides 19 Foll: S.Lycett 29 T.Boak 10 W.Drew 28 I/C: S.Powell-Pepper 2 M. Bergman 14 J.McEntee 44 J.Mead 44 Sub: T.Dumont Emerg: 43 S.Hayes 25 M.Frederick 45 In: M.Bergman T.Clurey T.Dumont Out: M.Frederick (omitted) T.McKenzie (knee) S.Skinner MELBOURNE B: J.Hunt 29 S.May 1 A.Tomlinson 20 HB: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Lever 8 J.Bowey 17 C: J.Jordon 23 C.Petracca 5 E.Langdon 15 HF: J.Viney 7 T.McDonald 25 A.Neal-Bullen 30 F: C.Spargo 9 S.Weideman 26 B.Fritsch 31 Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 K.Pickett 36 I/C: J.Harmes 4 L.Jackson 6 T.Rivers 24 T. Sparrow 32 Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: B.Howes 22 L.Dunstan 27 K.Chandler 37 In: J.Lever Out: S.Smith (H & S protocols) Injury List: Round 4 Ben Brown - H & S Protocols | Available Jake Lever - Foot | Available Harry Petty - Calf | Available Michael Hibberd - Calf | 2 - 3 weeks Daniel Turner - Foot | 3-5 weeks Christian Salem - Knee | 4-6 weeks

https://demonland.com/forums/topic/52379-2021-members-names-to-be-inscribed-on-the-flag/

Lever is on the list 😜

The old bait and switch …

Injury List Michael Hibberd Calf | 2-3 Weeks Daniel Turner Foot | 3-5 Weeks Christian Salem Knee | 4-6 Weeks

Interesting question. Not sure how deep he will go into divulging any state secrets.

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This is a good question. We all have our favourite Ooze moment but what is his favourite moment.

Good question. I have already written out quite a few but I think this warrants a go as it is definitely a concern of mine. So far it is unfounded as we always seem to wrestle control back and in the GF and Rd 01 were able to go on to comfortable wins. My concern is for when we don't get it back but it seems the coaches and the team have the belief. I have a question about how do you instill that belief in the playing group that they can reset and wrestle control back. I think I might need to merge the two as I'm sure his answer to your question is that they aren't concerned because the players have the belief that they can reset.

I'm going to ask him about that considering his current role has him in the box while Goody is on the bench. Perhaps what his preference would be should he have to fill in as head coach or if he ever gets his own gig. The Sound the Alarm series is a great example of Goody providing that instant feedback and encouragement directly to the players.

Melbourne v Essendon 10 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 8 Angus Brayshaw (MELB) 4 Sam Weideman (MELB) 4 Peter Wright (ESS) 4 Ed Langdon (MELB) LEADERBOARD 25 Patrick Cripps CARL 20 Andrew Brayshaw FRE 20 Christian Petracca MELB 17 Jordan De Goey COLL 17 Tom Green GWS 17 Clayton Oliver MELB 16 Changkuoth Jiath HAW 15 Isaac Heeney SYD 13 Max King STK 13 Touk Miller GCFC 13 James Sicily HAW 12 Lachie Neale BL 11 Patrick Dangerfield GEEL 11 Mitch Lewis HAW 11 Jeremy McGovern WCE 11 Bailey Smith WB 10 Stephen Coniglio GWS 10 Jordan Dawson ADEL 10 Sam Docherty CARL 10 Tim English WB 10 Dan Houston PORT 10 Nick Larkey NMFC 10 Luke Parker SYD 10 Matt Rowell GCFC 10 Lachie Schultz FRE

Join @george_on_the_outer, @binman & I on the Demonland Podcast on Wednesday @ 9:30pm for our interview with former Demon player and current Premiership Assistant coach Adem Yze. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Let us know if you have something to ask Adem and we'll try to include it.