Demonland

Trac’s back on the track

Who are you tipping this week and what combination and winning margins leads us on the path to Premiership Glory?

If he returned Carlton would be in the box seat to secure his services.

I like the AFL’s idea of a Retro Round but I don’t think we need to go back as far as 1998 as suggested by the Melbourne Football Club. Three years will be good enough for me. I would happily travel back in time on the Demonland DMC De Laurean to Thursday 8th July 2021, a time when the fog of COVID19 was slowly lifting and Melbourne gave Port Adelaide a 31 point spanking at Adelaide Oval. Before that, there’s really not much to go retro about all the way back to the early 90s when the Port team was admitted into the VFL/AFL. Melbourne, which promised so much in the first third of the season but faltered thereafter, is now merely playing for the time when the sun goes down on it’s season at roughly 10:00pm on Friday 23 August 2024. There are too many players for who the season is over or might as well be over, for it to matter. Too many who feature in the club’s best half of players on the list have had their season ended and most of those not ruled out in that category going all the way up to are carrying injuries or for one reason or other, are playing at well below 100% capacity. This is not making excuses for an anticipated defeat but being realistic. The Demons have run into a brick wall. They are coming up on a weekly basis against teams that are highly motivated to fit into the top echelon of the competition at this juncture, are building to peak fitness and have few injuries to contend with in the march towards September. The exact opposite of what Melbourne is experiencing. Until last week, the club could rely on its highly performing defensive group but the rib injury to Steven May (almost certainly season ending) has cast a pall on its strongest link. The midfield, once so supreme, potent and confident, is struggling to win clearances. There have been numerous instances this season where that malady has appeared early enough in a game to effectively rule out a victory in quick time. What are the odds of Rozee, Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines and Drew, having plundered the top team in the competition by 112 points, allowing a weakened Melbourne into the contest? The Demons will need warriors like Max Gawn and Jack Viney who are nowhere near 100% fit themselves to lead them in the ruck and on the ball but this, in turn demands that a number of inconsistent players perform at their best. It’s a bridge too far. I’m afraid. Port Adelaide by 40 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 10 August 2024 at 7.30pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 17 wins Port Adelaide 22 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 3 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 4 wins Port Adelaide 1 win The Coaches Goodwin 5 wins Hinkley 4 wins THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.6.96 defeated Port Adelaide 13.11.89 in Round 3 2024 at Adelaide Oval The Demons were in a completely different space then than they are today. They ran hard, played with confidence and took control in the final quarter, something they haven’t been able to manage to do in recent weeks. Gawn with 50 hit outs, Neal-Bullen with his football smarts and a resurgent Clayton Oliver were the stand outs. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B A. Tomlinson, J. Lever, J. McVee HB M. Hore, T. McDonald, C. Salem C E. Langdon, C. Oliver, A. Neal-Bullen HF K. Pickett, H. Petty, K. Chandler F K. Tholstrup, B. Fritsch, J. Van Rooyen FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, T. Sparrow I/C J. Billings, B. Howes, T. Rivers, D. Turner SUB J. Melksham EMG K. Brown, M. Jefferson IN J. Billings, M. Hore, C. Salem, A. Tomlinson OUT J. Bowey (illness), S. May (ribs), A. Moniz-Wakefield (omitted), T. Woewodin (illness) PORT ADELAIDE B L. Jones, B. Zerk-Thatcher, M. Bergman HB L. Evans, A. Aliir, D. Houston C J. Burgoyne, O. Wines, W. Drew HF D. Byrne-Jones, T. Marshall, W. Rioli F E. Ratugolea, C. Dixon, C. Rozee FOLL J. Sweet, J. Horne-Francis, Z. Butters I/C T. Boak, F. Evans, K. Farrell, J. Mead, Q. Narkle EMG R. Burton, W. Lorenz, D. Visentini IN T. Marshall OUT M. Georgiades (quad strain) Injury List: Round 22 Steven May — ribs / TBC Christian Salem — hamstring / 1 - 2 weeks Caleb Windsor — ankle / 2 - 3 weeks Charlie Spargo — Achilles / season Christian Petracca — spleen / indefinite

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Closing off the questions here. See you tonight LIVE at the newer earlier time of 7:30pm.

1 more hour to get any final questions in.

PLAYER VOTES 1 Max Gawn 183 2 Steven May 104 3 Trent Rivers 102 4 Christian Petracca 97 5 Jack Viney 94 6 Alex Neal-Bullen 85 7 Ed Langdon 69 8 Clayton Oliver 65 9 Kysaiah Pickett 60 10 Jacob van Rooyen 56 11 Judd McVee 49 12 Christian Salem 44 13 Jake Lever 43 14 Tom McDonald 35 15 Bayley Fritsch 31 =16 Tom Sparrow 25 =16 Caleb Windsor 25 18 Kade Chandler 19 19 Harry Petty 14 20 Jack Billings 12 =21 Blake Howes 11 =21 Daniel Turner 11 23 Jake Bowey 10 24 Adam Tomlinson 9 =25 Jake Melksham 2 =25 Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2

Don't forgot to get your questions in by midday Monday. Perhaps hold off on questions about what to do with draft picks/trades etc as there will be plenty of time to talk about that.

It took little time for Footscray to establish its domination over the Casey Demons in their VFL Round 19 clash at Mission Whitten Oval on Friday afternoon. The Doggies had the early advantage of the breeze and, as those with a knowledge of the old VFL venue second only to Essendon’s ground for swirly winds will tell you, a good start is vital in such conditions. The five goal to one opening term which saw Footscray’s midfield dominate possession, turned out to be enough to secure the win as Casey was never really unable to make inroads on their supremacy. The visitors bravely fought a tie over the next two quarters to remain 29 points down at the final break and they still had the wind at their backs on the home stretch to give them some hope. Seven straight goals from the Bulldogs put an end to that and the 56 point margin at the end was a fitting one and a real sight for motorists driving home from town on a Friday afternoon. There were very few shining lights for the Demons as they spluttered their way through their last Victorian game in a disappointing season. They have a bye next week and then follow that up with a 10:00am game in the final round at People First Stadium against last year’s premiers, the Gold Coast Suns. It’s time to look forward to the future for the club and the combined entity it represents. The combine has been at its strongest when the VFL team has been at its best as it was two or three years ago. This year, injuries have been at play and, despite the lionhearted efforts of skipper Mitch White, assisted from time to time by Tyler Edwards and Roan Steele, the cupboard has been relatively bare. Similarly, Melbourne’s own contribution has not been as significant as in the past. In this game, Casey’s best was Bailey Laurie 29 disposals and ten tackles but he was well and truly overshadowed by Footscray’s Riley Sanders and Jack MacRae who, along with former Demon Oskar Baker monstered his team in every way on the ground and statistically. From. An AFL point of view, Laurie has been in and out of the team like a yo yo so fans will most likely have to look elsewhere for inspiration. Inspiration will most certainly not come from the likes of Ben Brown, Jack Billings, Adam Tomlinson or Lachie Hunter who are nearing the end of their careers. Shane McAdam booted two goals but will need good health and a strong pre season if he is to have an impact in 2025. Tom Fullarton had a strong game around the ground but was easily overshadowed in the ruck duels. This leaves Matthew Jefferson as this team’s leading light for the future and, unlike his 2023 fadeout, the young key forward is presenting well. His four goals in a team that well beaten at stoppages should not be underestimated and he is a 50:50 chance for elevation for an AFL game now that Melbourne’s season is over. Kynan Brown also impressed with his 18 disposals and eight tackles and also stands in line for promotion late in the season. He needs to improve the depth of his kicking but looks like a good learner. Ollie Sestan made a strong start but faded while Jed Adams was serviceable in defence. Along with young ruckman Will Verrall and midseason recruit Luker Kentfield, they are on a long journey to the big time. And so, the VFL season tapers off to a subdued ending at a distance in a fortnight’s time. CASEY DEMONS 1.1.7 5.4.34 8.5.53 10.8.68 FOOTSCRAY 5.6.36 8.6.54 12.10.82 19.10.124 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Jefferson 4 McAdam 2 B Brown K Brown Fullarton Kentfield FOOTSCRAY Sanders 3 Baker Bianco Gallagher Hargraves Owen 2 Bedendo Clarke Freijah Jones Smith Sparkman BEST CASEY DEMONS Hore Jefferson Laurie McAdam White Tomlinson FOOTSCRAY Sanders MacRae Baker Gallagher Owen Freijah Statistics Jed Adams 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 40 dream team points Jack Billings 8 kicks 10 handballs 18 disposals 3 tackles 47 dream team points Ben Brown 1 goal 7 kicks 7 disposals 5 marks 43 dream team points Kynan Brown 1 goal 13 kicks 5 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 8 tackles 94 dream team points Jesse Craven 1 behind 1 kick 3 handballs 4 disposals 1 tackle 14 dream team points Tyler Edwards 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 56 dream team points Tom Fullarton 1 goal 10 kicks 10 handballs 20 disposals 6 tackles 28 hitouts 111 dream team points Roy George 1 kick 5 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 13 dream team points Max Gregory 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 3 tackles 30 dream team points Marty Hore 16 kicks 16 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 76 dream team points Lachie Hunter 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 7 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Matt Jefferson 4 goals 1 behind 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 77 dream team points Luker Kentfield 1 goal 2 behinds 4 kicks 1 handball 5 disposals 1 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points Bailey Laurie 14 kicks 15 handballs 29 disposals 3 marks 10 tackles 119 dream team points Shane McAdam 2 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 76 dream team points Nick Moodie 2 kicks 1 handball 3 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 15 dream team points Josh Schache 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 54 dream team points Ollie Sestan 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 59 dream team points Roan Steele 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 47 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 17 kicks 6 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 86 dream team points Will Verrall 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 3 tackles 5 hitouts 28 dream team points Mitch White 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 91 dream team points Kai Windsor 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 1 mark 13 dream team points