Demonland

325 is the new 426

The compromised AFL fixture will get another test this week with the first lot of teams getting a bye after only two matches. Despite this Round 2 starts off with two cracking games as the Hawks host the Swans at the G on Thursday Night and then on Friday Night the Crows host the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval. On Saturday Christian Petracca will return to the MCG as his new Suns take on the Tigers. Later that day the Saints head to Greater Western Sydney to take on the Giants as they try to avoid an 0 and 3 start to the season. Sunday will see a double header of 4 teams that will likely be propping up the ladder in 2026 as the Power host the Bombers at Adelaide Oval and the Eagles host the Kangaroos at Optus Stadium. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

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Carlton v Richmond10 Sam Walsh (CARL) 6 Patrick Cripps (CARL) 6 Jayden Short (RICH) 5 Jagga Smith (CARL) 2 Tim Taranto (RICH) 1 Jacob Weitering (CARL) Essendon v Hawthorn9 Nick Watson (HAW) 5 Tom Barrass (HAW) 4 Jack Gunston (HAW) 4 Conor Nash (HAW) 3 James Sicily (HAW) 3 Jarman Impey (HAW) 1 Zach Merrett (ESS) 1 Jai Newcombe (HAW) Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney10 Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 8 Aaron Naughton (WB) 6 Tom Liberatore (WB) 3 Matthew Kennedy (WB) 2 Tim English (WB) 1 Lachie Jaques (WB) Geelong v Fremantle8 Max Holmes (GEEL) 7 Luke Jackson (FRE) 7 Shannon Neale (GEEL) 4 Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) 2 Caleb Serong (FRE) 2 Jeremy Cameron (GEEL) Sydney v Brisbane8 Nick Blakey (SYD) 8 Joel Amartey (SYD) 7 Tom McCartin (SYD) 4 Riley Bice (SYD) 2 Isaac Heeney (SYD) 1 Jarrod Berry (BL) Collingwood v Adelaide10 Wayne Milera (ADEL) 5 Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) 5 Josh Worrell (ADEL) 4 Nick Daicos (COLL) 3 Alex Neal-Bullen (ADEL) 3 Dan Houston (COLL) North Melbourne v Port Adelaide10 Charlie Comben (NMFC) 6 Luke Parker (NMFC) 4 Harry Sheezel (NMFC) 4 Tristan Xerri (NMFC) 4 Dylan Stephens (NMFC) 2 Luke Davies-Uniacke (NMFC) Melbourne v St Kilda9 Jacob van Rooyen (MELB) 8 Max Hall (STK) 7 Max Gawn (MELB) 2 Callum Wilkie (STK) 2 Jack Sinclair (STK) 1 Jack Steele (MELB) 1 Caleb Windsor (MELB) Gold Coast v West Coast10 Christian Petracca (GCFC) 8 Jarrod Witts (GCFC) 6 Noah Anderson (GCFC) 3 Ben King (GCFC) 2 Touk Miller (GCFC) 1 Milan Murdock (WCE) LEADERBOARD20 Christian Petracca (GCFC) 14 Nick Daicos (COLL) 13 Sam Walsh (CARL) 10 Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 10 Charlie Comben (NMFC) 10 Tom McCartin (SYD) 10 Justin McInerney (SYD) 10 Wayne Milera (ADEL) 10 Ed Richards (WB) 10 Jake Stringer (GWS) 9 Jacob Van Rooyen (MELB) 9 Nick Watson (HAW) 8 Joel Amartey (SYD) 8 Nick Blakey (SYD) 8 Errol Gulden (SYD) 8 Max Hall (STK) 8 Max Holmes (GEEL) 8 Bailey Humphrey (GCFC) 8 Aaron Naughton (WB) 8 Jack Sinclair (STK) 8 Jarrod Witts (GCFC)

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We’ll leave the questions there for this week. There’s plenty to unpack, and I’m very conscious of the need to trim the runtime of the show while also easing the preparation load at my end. That said, I really do appreciate all the questions and comments from the audience. They’re a big part of what helps shape the agenda each week and give us a strong sense of what people want discussed. Even when we can’t get to everything, the feedback is always valuable and helps guide the conversation.

The first round results for the 2026 Demonland Player of the Year 17. Max Gawn 16. Jacob van Rooyen 8. Jai Culley, Kysaiah Pickett 7. Jack Steele 4. Brody Mihocek 2. Koltyn Tholstrup 1. Harrison Petty

One of the big stories of the AFL off-season was the spending spree of Melbourne’s Round 1 opponent, St Kilda. They splashed out heavily, first to retain Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera - the hero of last year’s epic come-from-behind miracle victory - turning him into a $2 million man. They then effectively took out an expensive overdraft to recruit a string of expensive players from other clubs. It was a risky investment strategy and, although it’s still early days, it certainly failed to pay off in Sunday’s season opener, with much of the glitter turning to fool’s gold. Melbourne’s thriftier and more measured approach looks the better bet at this stage. Having decided to clear the decks of some outstanding icons of the past - players who might still have had a few quality seasons left in them - the Demons instead turned to youth in the draft and adopted a restrained recruiting strategy. The result was not a bargain-bin Temu Melbourne, but rather a collection of hard-working contributors: the blue-collar reliability of Brody Mihocek, a real steal in former Saints captain Jack Steele, and the unpredictable Jack-in-the-box dynamism of Changkuoth Jiath. All appear to be solid pieces in a team willing to commit fully to the cause. A new coach and the fresh approach he has brought with him have also provided an important ingredient for change. The Saints, with the advantage of a Round Zero game already under their belts, started more strongly but were soon reeled in. Rule changes introduced by the AFL over summer appear to favour a faster, more direct style of play. Stolid, slow ball movement won’t cut it. For now, the theme seems to be survival of the fittest. Enter eight-time All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn. He struggled a little early against St Kilda’s $1.75 million ruckman TDK, but when the contest intensified he produced a herculean masterclass of ruck craft, endurance and strength. Gawn dominated the second half and played a pivotal role in delivering victory for the Demons. With Steven May now retired, young forward Jacob van Rooyen commands the team’s highest guernsey number. Sporting a newly shorn look and a leaner frame, he stepped up to the honour superbly, kicking six goals alongside Mihocek’s three - a clear reflection of King’s overhaul of the way Melbourne structures its attacking entries, sometimes starting from deep in defence. The avenues into attack now come from different places than the ineffective methods of recent seasons and the result in terms of efficiency of the forward line is obvious and glaring. The statistics are being turned on a head. On that subject, Christian Salem capped off his 200th AFL game with a team high 23 possessions, a solid performance from the loyal defender. The team’s enthusiasm is infectious. First goals for new players were celebrated with genuine excitement. Latrelle Pickett had a relatively quiet debut, but the reception from both teammates and crowd when he produced that sizzling run around a flat-footed line of St Kilda defenders for his first goal will become an unforgettable memory. His older cousin Kozzie came alive in the second half when it mattered most. Koltyn Tholstrup was handed the daunting early-career task of minding Wanganeen-Milera and, although the maestro slipped away a few times, the youngster can hold his head high. And in a game increasingly demanding elite fitness, Harry Sharp became more valuable as the match wore on. There is still a mountain of work ahead. Not everything went to plan in the heat of the contest. Frustratingly, kicks and handballs did not always hit their targets. The reshaped midfield remains a work in progress and the list still needs depth to navigate through a long, hard season. They will face a sterner test against Fremantle’s high-quality on-ball brigade next week. But if Sunday is any indication, Demon fans have reason for optimism. It may not yet be gold-class football, but it’s a promising start. MELBOURNE 3.3.21 9.7.61 14.9.93 18.12.120 ST KILDA 4.4.28 9.5.59 13.11.89 15.17.107 GOALS MELBOURNE van Rooyen 6 Mihocek 3 Chandler Culley Fritsch Gawn K Pickett L Pickett Sharp Steele Windsor ST KILDA Hall 4 Wanganeen-Milera 3 Higgins Owens 2 Keeler Ryan Wilson Wood BEST MELBOURNE Gawn van Rooyen Mihocek Windsor K Pickett Steele ST KILDA Hall Wanganeen-Milera Sinclair Wilkie Windhager Flanders INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil ST KILDA Matteas Phillipou (corked quad) Liam Ryan (corked shoulder) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil ST KILDA Nil UMPIRES Nicholas Jankovskis Matt Stevic Andrew Heffernan Harrison Birch CROWD 44,577 at the MCG

👆Paging Dr @binman for the Stats Files on the Podcast.

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The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th March @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees stunning victory over the Saints at the MCG. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. PLEASE TRY TO KEEP THE QUESTIONS/COMMENTS TO ONE SPECIFIC TOPIC/PLAYER IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PREPARATION FOR THE PODCAST EASIER. Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

After a stunning victory over the Saints in the first round of the Season the Demons head over to Perth to take on the Dockers who choked in their first match against the Cats. Who comes in and who goes out?

Max Gawn is gunning for his 5th Demonland Player of the Year award after going back to back for the past two season. Your votes for the Dees thrilling win over the Saints at the MCG. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

Never in doubt!!! In Steven King’s first game at the helm of the Melbourne Football Club, the Dees outlasted Saints in a wild, momentum-swinging thriller at the MCG, running out 13-point winners.