Demonland

Only the Dees could go almost cherry ripe into a season that might not go to completion.

Majak Daw to be named in North Melbourne's squad but is at home today as a precaution with a cold ---- Oliver Gaffrey (AAPNewswire sports reporter in Melbourne)

Finals fixture locked in. See you on Saturday, GWS Giants AFLW Semi Final locked in against GWS Giants

PLAYER INJURY LENGTH Nathan Jones Achilles Test Braydon Preuss Knee Test Joel Smith Quad Test Mitch Hannan Groin 6 Weeks Harrison Petty Groin 6 Weeks Aaron vandenBerg Foot 3 Months Kade Chandler Finger TBC Harley Bennell Calf Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij Head Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee Season

Kyle Dunkley Heel | Available Kyle Dunkley has been on a restricted program in recent weeks due to some heel soreness, but he is back training with the main group and available for selection. Sam Weideman Ankle | Available Sam Weideman rolled his ankle against the Hawks in Launceston, and while he has been on a managing his training over the past two weeks, he also looks to be fit for Round 1. Nathan Jones Achilles | Test Nathan Jones will have to prove his fitness before Melbourne’s trip to Perth after experiencing some soreness in his Achilles after the second Marsh Series match of the pre-season. Braydon Preuss Knee | Test After tearing his meniscus in February, Braydon Preuss has made a very quick recovery. The ruckman’s knee is back to full strength, allowing him to compete freely at training and he could be ready to go this weekend. Joel Smith Quad | Test Joel Smith suffered a minor setback in the lead up to the Marsh Series, injuring his quad at training. While he wasn’t able to play a practice match, he has returned to the main group and looks likely to put up his hand for selection. Mitch Hannan Groin | 6 weeks Mitch Hannan was hindered by some groin issues last year and has faced more challenges this pre-season. He is still in the rehab group but looking to increase his workload in the coming weeks. Harry Petty Groin | 6 weeks Similarly to Hannan, Harry Petty has been restricted over the summer with a groin issue and is still up to six weeks away from a return. Aaron vandenBerg Foot | 3 months Aaron vandenBerg’s misfortune has continued, with the 28-year-old expected to be sidelined for up to three months with a broken foot. The hard-at-it Demon, who has played just seven games in the past three seasons due to an on-going foot injury, did the damage in Melbourne’s last pre-season hit-out against Hawthorn. vandenBerg’s injury came in unlucky fashion, with the midfielder simply kicking the shin of an opponent in Launceston. Fortunately, the injury has no relation to the foot trouble he has had in the past, with the hopes that he will be back to full fitness after his stint in rehab. Kade Chandler Finger | TBC After breaking his wrist earlier in the pre-season, Kade Chandler unfortunately went down once again at training on Monday. Chandler suffered a broken finger at Casey Fields, leaving him to assess his options in the coming days. Harley Bennell Calf | Indefinite Harley Bennell pulled up sore after a training session last week and scans showed he had a low-grade strain in his calf. While it is disappointing for the Demons’ rookie to face another minor setback, there is no rush in getting him back to full fitness, with a long-term plan in place. Kade Kolodjashnij Head | Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij’s ongoing battle with concussion has been well documented, and the club is looking to take a cautious approach with his recovery. Aaron Nietschke Knee | Season Towards the end of 2019, Aaron Nietschke went down with his second ACL injury in under 12 months, ruling him out for the entire season.

Will no crowds fix the yips? COULD GHOST CROWDS FIX FOOTY'S GOAL KICKING YIPS?

I didn't see any. Perhaps better for a homebound TV audience. People who go to games with kids prefer the earlier timeslot. Perhaps broadcasters prefer it later.

The reality is every time a player gets a sniffle which will be more and more as the colder weather sets in they will have to be isolated and tested until tested negative or positive. I truly can't see this season, even shortened and crowdless, being viable.

No NRL player as far as is public knowledge. The story was about an amateur rugby player. It highlighted the fact that you can feel fine, play one day and the next day test positive. In a contact sport there is the very real possibility that you just infected your teammates and opposition and support staff. They then spread to family and friends. Every other aspect of life is being told not to be in this situation

This thread now has a poll for better or for worse.

Three matches will have new bounce times for Round 1

The AFL is in a good spot to accelerate Round 2. Why wouldn’t Collingwood vs Richmond and Carlton vs Western Bulldogs be brought forward to next Wednesday and Thursday night? They all play in the next 48 hours. Take advantage. ---- Sam Landsberger

“It’s a possibility.” The entire 2020 season could be locked out to fans, reports Callum Twomey ? 'It's a possibility': Entire season could be locked out to fans

We're in ...

I believe so unless they change something due to the new situation. Here is the current ladder.

Only from 100 different posters.

Dees make the finals .... The AFL has announced it will forego the final two weeks of the home + away season, moving straight to finals. The full fixture will be revealed tomorrow.

I was holding off starting this thread but Round 1 is a go ... Round 1 • West Coast Eagles v Melbourne Sunday 22 March 2020 • 6:20 PM (AEDT) BEST IN SHOW by Whispering Jack I am writing this knowing that the AFL has deemed that the opening round of competition will proceed but fully believing that it should not. The world is going through cataclysmic change as a result of the overwhelming spread of the Covid-19 virus and I agree that a distraction like sport would be good for the public. However, while the physical threat to the population is bad enough, there are other issues to be addressed including the mental health of the community and the effects on the economy, business and leisure which are profound. Then there is the effect on the sport itself. While many activities are being postponed and cancelled to permit the isolation of participants and thereby minimise the possibility of contracting or passing on illness to the vulnerable in the community, the AFL has forged onwards with a business as usual approach, albeit without the crowds that often give the game what we describe as “atmosphere”. But can we really claim that the show must go on when the health and well being of our elite sporting persons - the players - is at stake? Compare us with the American National Basketball Association which cancelled its season last week when the first player tested positive. Yesterday, it was revealed that one of the game’s superstars Kevin Durant is among four Brooklyn Nets players to have tested positive for the coronavirus. Will we only follow suit when inevitably one of ours is found to be infected? And what then will be the effect on our national game? The AFL has deemed that the show must go on and so it seems it will. Over in Perth where it’s always a difficult place for visiting sides to win, I expect Melbourne to make a good fist of things. I’m expecting the team to be much fitter than this time last year. We should see a great midfield battle with the team at close to full strength there, a stronger defence than the one the club could muster last year, but perhaps still not enough up forward to beat the Eagles on their home turf. And despite the fact that the affirmation of that home crowd in favour of West Coast will be missing, they remain one of the competition’s frontrunners and, by the end of the day, they’ll be the best in show. West Coast by 13 points. TEAMS WEST COAST EAGLES B Jetta McGovern Duggan HB Gaff Yeo Brander C Sheppard Barrass Hurn HF Redden Darling Sheed F Ryan Kennedy Cripps FOLL Naitanui Kelly Shuey I/C Ah Chee Hickey Nelson Petruccelle EMG Hutchings Schofield Waterman Williams MELBOURNE B N Jetta S May J Lever HB O McDonald J Harmes M Hibberd C E Langdon C Oliver A Tomlinson HF A Neal-Bullen B Fritsch J Viney F C Spargo T McDonald A Brayshaw FOLL M Gawn C Petracca J Melksham I/C T Bedford M Brown J Lockhart K Pickett EMG M Hore L Jackson T Sparrow S Weideman Melbourne Football Club: Injury List: Round 1 Kyle Dunkley (heel) — available Sam Weideman (ankle) — available Nathan Jones (Achilles) — test Braydon Preuss (knee) — test Joel Smith (quad) — test Mitch Hannan (groin) — 6 weeks Harry Petty (groin) — 6 weeks Aaron vandenBerg (foot) — 3 months Kade Chandler (finger) — TBC Harley Bennell (calf) — indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij (head) — indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) — season

16.5 minute quarters. 17 Rounds

Expect AFL season to start tomorrow night --- Jay Clark