Demonland

I think it was a caller to the Demonland Podcast called @binman

The AFL would still play favourites in this "The Purge" like (look it up) scenario. The little guys would still get [censored] while the untouchables would still be untouchable.

The Melbourne Football Club should hand out an award to the person who came up with the concept of the 20 day football frenzy the football world experienced from Round 9 to the completion of Round 12 on Monday. When the AFL fixture was moved into a state of perpetual motion, things changed so quickly that it was difficult to fathom exactly what was happening to the competition but the Demons have been one of the beneficiaries to date. The flogging the team received at the hands of Port Adelaide at the Gabba in late July that evoked the Chairman’s angry response seems a distant memory. Melbourne’s plight was considered with shock and awe by all and sundry in the football world in much the same way as the world looked at the Titanic when it hit that iceberg in the North Atlantic; left sinking near the bottom. Then, in the short space of eleven days, the ship was salvaged, the engine room was restored to full capacity and the vessel was last seen steaming towards safe harbours. A football miracle! The miracle can be explained in terms of the resolution of problems exposed in the game against Port and earlier losses during this season and the last. A number of selection issues were dealt with, we saw better and more efficient composition from the midfield, there was better spread and more creativity from the forwards, more composure around the ground and a strengthening of the already solid back half. In short, things began to gel - and with the team at peak fitness, they rolled over three opponents with massive final quarters. Suddenly, they were in the top eight. As Angus Brayshaw said in an interview earlier this week, “It's taken a bit to get going but we feel like now when we go out and play there's a bit of a blueprint on how to do it. You just have to keep doing it against the best teams.” And that final sentence is the crux of the matter going forward. The first two teams in the triple header of wins in a fortnight are languishing at the bottom of the ladder, while facing an injury depleted Collingwood coming off a four day break was like approaching road kill. So while the frenzy has seen a restoration of belief, it has yet to answer the big question facing the Demons in 2020. This year, Melbourne has lost to the five teams in the competition that have a superior percentage and, of the teams above it on the ladder, it has yet to play against St Kilda. The Saints are coming soon but in the meantime, the Demons face a major challenge in the big eight point game against the Western Bulldogs who were catapulted into form by the hapless Crows at the weekend. The importance of a win this week simply cannot be underestimated as it would virtually see off a major competitor in the quest for a finals place. In the run up to finals, you must win the games where you have the control of your own destiny. This is therefore, where the team has to address and fulfill Glenn Bartlett’s call to arms from the early days of the frenzy. For their game against the Bulldogs, Melbourne faces the strongest midfield it has come against since the games against Brisbane and Port Adelaide. Led by Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore and with an up and coming ruckman in Tim English, this is as tough an on-ball division as you can meet. And with Aaron Naughton back at full forward, the Doggies’ attack looks so much more assured than it was just a few weeks ago. The teams look evenly matched and there’s no doubt, that the Western Bulldogs present a formidable opposition that will be desperate to win. This is Melbourne’s big moment. The team has won three nice games in a row, each by more than fifty points but this week will be different. I’m banking on superior fitness and the momentum built up during the weeks frenzy to continue to give them victory, but only just. Melbourne by 5 points. THE GAME Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium, Saturday 22 August 2020 at 1.45pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Western Bulldogs 77 wins Melbourne 88 wins 1 draw At Metricon Stadium Western Bulldogs 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins Last Five Meetings Western Bulldogs 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Beveridge 1 win Goodwin 3 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy Channel live at 1.30pm Radio – Triple M 3AW SEN ABC 774 AFL Nation THE LAST TIME THEY MET Western Bulldogs 10.14.74 defeated Melbourne 9.12.66 at Marvel Stadium in Round 17, 2019 The teams slugged it out until well into the final quarter when Bayley Fritsch was awarded a free kick close to goal with minutes to go. A goal would have put the Dees 2 points in arrears with enough time to turn the result around. However, Fritsch played on and his snap for goal just missed. The Bulldogs had their eyes on the finals and they managed to hold on for a vital win. THE TEAMS WESTERN BULLDOGS FB Easton Wood Alex Keath Caleb Daniel HB Bailey Williams Ryan Gardner Hayden Crozier C Bailey Smith Jack Macrae Lachie Hunter HF Toby McLean Josh Bruce Mitch Wallis FF Tom Liberatore Aaron Naughton Ben Cavarra FOL Tim English Marcus Bontempelli Josh Dunkley I/C Jason Johannisen Patrick Lipinski Ed Richards Laitham Vandermeer, EM Tory Dickson Riley Garcia Roarke Smith Lewis Young IN Josh Bruce Hayden Crozier Jason Johannisen Laitham Vandermeer OUT Bailey Dale (omitted) Sam Lloyd (omitted) Roarke Smith (managed) Rhylee West (groin) MELBOURNE FB Jay Lockhart Steven May Jake Lever HB Christian Salem Adam Tomlinson Michael Hibberd C Ed Langdon Jack Viney James Harmes HF Nathan Jones Sam Weideman Christian Petracca FF Kysaiah Pickett Tom McDonald Bayley Fritsch FOL Braydon Preuss Jake Melksham Clayton Oliver I/C Angus Brayshaw Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Aaron vandenBerg EMG Mitch Brown Mitch Hannan Trent Rivers Joel Smith NO CHANGE Injury/Suspension List: Round 13 Max Gawn (knee) – test Braydon Preuss (hip) - test Alex Neal-Bullen (suspension) – 2 matches Luke Jackson (hamstring) – 4 - 6 weeks Marty Hore (toe and quad) – indefinite Harry Petty (groin) – indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

I can see situations where this would be fair but sometimes that silly indiscretion deserves the harsh penalty.

@binman @george_on_the_outer

I still haven't forgiven him for the Bruise Free comment even though he was probably right. Still waiting for him to be tackled ferociously by Viney or Vanders so I can say "Howz that for Bruise Free". He doesn't even need to hear it. It will just make me feel better.

I'm not suggesting that ANB shouldn't have been suspended for his sling tackle as he absolutely should have been. I question the severity and wonder whether a high profile player would have been treated the same way. I just cannot reconcile how a tackle that is an actual part of the game is treated more harshly than a punch that is not a part of the game. I thought the AFL wanted to stamp out gut punches. I guess they just want to stamp out gut punches from less high profile players. Would be interesting to see how a Tom Sparrow would be treated for doing the same thing. Not that Tom would do such a thing. He was just used as an example here. You could insert any low profile player really.

Vicious Vote Night | 4 - Published on Tuesday, August 18 - LISTEN HERE The Demon Alternative and Operation Payback scrambled to get last minute press ahead of the Members' Vote Night. Wild scenes greeted the pro-merger Boards, as the merger descended into a night of utter chaos. Vicious taunts and toxicity pervaded the Dallas Brooks Hall and Camberwell Civic Centre, where both sets of supporters would decide upon the future of their football clubs.

All included. Did a deep dive on all the injuries he's had since coming to the club including the shoulder surgery he had prior to us taking him as a mature age rookie. Surprised he can still stand.

Already got that one in. Goes nicely into the next one about what it's like to play in front of empty stadiums. Missing 2019 he basically went from Full to Empty Stadiums.

Will definitely be asking about the Burgess Effect & Hub Life too.

That question had crossed my mind. Perhaps as an icebreaker.

Every game except against Geelong & Richmond.

Order to end of Round 12 - Adelaide 1 10 20 28 42 49 61 Brisbane Lions 18 19 41 65 Carlton 7 26 44 Collingwood 13 32 39 69 Essendon 8 43 63 70 71 Fremantle 5 30 Geelong 11 16 17 35 Gold Coast Suns 6 25 36 72 GWS Giants 29 47 67 Hawthorn 3 21 40 45 58 64 Melbourne 22 48 60 62 North Melbourne 2 12 27 57 66 Port Adelaide 24 31 37 51 55 Richmond 14 33 50 68 St Kilda 15 59 73 Sydney 4 23 54 56 West Coast Eagles 34 52 53 Western Bulldogs 9 38 46

I'll be interviewing Aaron vandenBerg on the Demonland Podcast on Tuesday 18/8 @ 8:30pm. If you have a question for Aaron let me know. Afterward join @george_on_the_outer, @binman & I LIVE to discuss the dismantling of Collingwood. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

So this time it wasn’t necessary to conscript players from other clubs than the Demons and Magpies at their hub at Maroochydore Sports Complex. Highlights - • You can’t keep a good big man down. Max Gawn might have been nursing that injured PCL but it didn’t stop him from being one of the goal umpires. • Melbourne ran away with a convincing 39-point win scoring 12.8.80 to 6.5.41. • Suspended Alex Neal-Bullen was considered best afield playing up forward (he still has two matches to serve); • Toby Bedford was lively and did the damage on the scoreboard booting four goals; • The defence stood strong throughout the game; • Trent Rivers enjoyed some time up the ground, impressing with his run around the ball; • Oskar Baker’s pace shone through on the wing; • Recovering from a broken wrist Corey Wagner played well in the middle unhindered by the protective glove he wore; • Josh Wagner pushed off half-back to help around the contest; • Jayden Hunt was the carry over emergency for Melbourne in Round 12. As mentioned above, no mention made of Brown, Bennell or Hannan or any news on the four injured horsemen - Hore, Petty, Kolo and Nietzchke.

Melbourne: Christian Salem The Dees jumped out of the blocks against a poor-performing Collingwood outfit and so did Christian Salem. Salem finished the game with 22 disposals at a staggering 96 per cent efficiency, took a game-high 10 marks – all of which were uncontested – and had five rebound 50s. Salem’s free-flowing performance summed up the Dees’ 56-point victory against a poor-performing Magpies side.

I’m not sure my heart could take it.

unfortunately we wouldn't be getting anything near that. No offence to big Preussy. Love the guy but he's not got the runs on the board to command that. he was very important to us this week with both our Rucks out but I'm not sure an insurance policy gets a late first round.