Demonland

Harley will be on SEN tomorrow morning with Garry & Tim. I'll post the audio once it drops.

Carlton fancies itself to beat Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday and, based on exposed form, why not? The Blues took it right up to the reigning premiers in their last up start and the Demons were simply horrible against the Eagles at Optus Stadium. That opening game of the season revived all of the nightmares of 2019 for a team that went inside the 50 metre arc 45 times, an advantage of 10 times over the home side and yet lost by almost five goals. Such statistics sum it up for a game style and a system of going into attack that defies belief. Time and again throughout the day, the Demon midfield would storm out of the middle with strength only to kick the ball high to a two on one contest where the target was not only outmanned but lacked the size to contest the ball even if he made position to get the ball. This was particularly evident from the beginning when Melbourne dominated early but couldn’t hit the scoreboard. The Eagles capitalised with a burst of four goals in the space of two minutes late in the first quarter which was effectively the difference between the sides at the end of the day. If the Demons reproduce that form against the Blues, they will struggle again. It simply beggars belief to understand what has happened to the attacking high scoring combination of 2018 that would benefit week in, week out from a team dominant at the midfield stoppages that moved the ball quickly into a forward line and was capable of converting with ease. Most of that group are still around and the injection of a couple of outside runners on the outside in Ed Langdon and Adam Tomlinson could help in terms of scoring output. Perhaps, the promised injection of youth and the classy disposal of Harley Bennell might make a difference? Carlton is on a rapid upward curve and has a strong midfield, a settled defence and plenty of avenues to goal. Its main weakness appears to be in the ruck where Max Gawn is due to dominate after a lacklustre performance at his last start. The point has been made over the break between games that Melbourne simply doesn’t make the most out of one of the competition’s dominant ruckmen. The skipper needs to fire both in the ruck and on the ball to inspire his team to victory. Melbourne by 1 point. THE GAME Carlton v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium Saturday 13 June 2020 at 4.35pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Carlton 117 wins Melbourne 93 wins Drawn 2 At Marvel Stadium - Carlton 3 wins Melbourne 1 win * Past five meetings Carlton 1 win Melbourne 4 wins The Coaches Teague 0 wins Goodwin 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel at 4.30pm THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.15.105 defeated Carlton 15.10.100 at the MCG Round 16, 2019 The inaccurate Demons limped home after establishing a big lead halfway through the quarter. The trouble started when Tom McDonald who had six goals and looked like kicking ten for the day went off with a knee injury. A couple of others followed a the Dees were reduced to effectively no interchanges and nearly ran out of puff. * Then there was the day back in 2009 when they last met at Marvel (then known as Etihad). The Blues thumped the Dees in a high scoring shootout. The Fev kicked seven straight and Chris Judd was best on ground. Mark Jamar and Robbo contributed five goals each. THE TEAMS CARLTON FB Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Nic Newman HB Sam Docherty, Jacob Weitering, Sam Petrevski-Seton C Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Will Setterfield HF Mitch McGovern, Levi Casboult, Jack Martin FF Eddie Betts, Harry McKay, Michael Gibbons FOL Marc Pittonet, Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy IC Kade Simpson, Jack Newnes, Jack Silvagni, David Cuningham IN Eddie Betts Harry McKay Marc Pittonet OUT Paddy Dow (omitted) Zac Fisher (injured) Matthew Kreuzer (injured) NEW Marc Pittonet (Hawthorn) MELBOURNE FB Neville Jetta, Steven May, Christian Salem HB Nathan Jones, Jake Lever, James Harmes C Ed Langdon, Clayton Oliver, Adam Tomlinson HF Bayley Fritsch, Tom McDonald, Angus Brayshaw FF Alex Neal-Bullen, Luke Jackson, Christian Petracca FOL Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Jack Viney IC Harley Bennell, Trent Rivers, Jayden Hunt, Joel Smith IN Harley Bennell Jayden Hunt Luke Jackson Nathan Jones Trent Rivers OUT Toby Bedford (omitted) Mitch Brown (omitted) Michael Hibberd (omitted) Jay Lockhart (omitted) Oscar McDonald (omitted) Kysaiah Pickett (suspended) Charlie Spargo (omitted) NEW Harley Bennell (Fremantle) Luke Jackson (East Fremantle) Trent Rivers (East Fremantle) Injury List: Round 2 Braydon Preuss (Achilles) – 4-5 weeks Marty Hore (toe) – 6-8 weeks Harry Petty (groin) – indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

Well it has been 80 days since then so ...

Sounds like it's not a extra ump but an ump on the bench that rotates into the game. I assume that it's because they want to keep umpires employed & presumably fit while there is no reserves competition.

PLAYER INJURY LENGTH Braydon Preuss Achilles 4-5 Weeks Marty Hore Toe 6-8 Weeks Harry Petty Groin Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij Head Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee Season

There will be just five names on the club’s injury list heading into Round 2, with Braydon Preuss (Achilles), Marty Hore (toe) and Harry Petty (groin) the most recent Demons to be sidelined. Also no AVB as they are increasing his loads. Obviously Nietschke is sidelined with an ACL.

After more than a 2 month hiatus we've been cleared to do a social distanced podcast to wrap up the lockdown period and preview our first match for the restarted 2020 season. Join @george_on_the_outer, @Supermercado & I as we discuss all the important issues going into Round 2. Listen & Chat LIVE @ 8:30PM: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

Started to get political and nasty. There was no way to sort the wheat from the chaff so I just canned the whole thread.

Sunday night Grand Final anyone?

Who wants to bet that we'll be one of the teams heading to WA?