Demonland

Dropped some easy marks but I'll concede the rust factor.

Bruce loves pumping up Carlton.

Lynch not far behind.

Had a mare tonight.

He'll be back just in time for Anzac Eve.

Someone in graphics at the MFC really did a major stuff up with the half forwards/full forwards and followers.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-fremantle-reportedly-stops-referring-to-jesse-hogan-diagnosis-as-clinical-anxiety-after-medical-backlash/news-story/e7ef967d832cd326b3350cc0f1ff144c

Sometimes they are quick in updating the podcast links. The other day when Pert was on with Andy Maher it went up straight away.

1. Collingwood 2. Adelaide 3. Richmond 4. West Coast 5. GWS 6. Melbourne 7. Geelong 8. Essendon 9. North Melbourne 10. Brisbane 11. Hawthorn 12. Sydney 13. Port Adelaide 14. Carlton 15. Western Bulldogs 16. St. Kilda 17. Fremantle 18. Gold Coast

Yes. There are 18 spots in the league. If more people want to join but can't before the deadline then I will flick some of the "experts". There are 4 more spots and I can free up to 5 extra ones.

I forgot to mention that the PREGAME Thread will be divided into those that say relax we've got this by 100 points and those that think we shouldn't even turn up for [insert reason/excuse here].

I'm thinking to keep it all in the PREGAME Thread. Going forward there will be a PREGAME thread in the work week leading up to the game which will include team selection. Then there will be the GAMEDAY thread for everyone to [censored] about the game, the gameplan, the players, the coaches etc in real time. Then there will be the POSTMATCH Thread where we can all slit our wrists and proclaim who should be sacked this week. Rinse and repeat.

There are still a few spots left for any last minute entrants.

Just a reminder to either join or reactivate your http://footytips.com.au account https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/Demonland&p=demons If you've previously joined the competition then logging in and reactivating your account is all you need to do as you will already be in the Demonland competition. If you are new then click the link above and created an account. Don't forget to submit your tips prior to the first game. Good luck.

The Melbourne Football Club has moved forward in leaps and bounds since it last met Port Adelaide in a totally forgettable (for Demon fans) season opener on the MCG. That game, played on Sunday, 31 March, 2013 before a crowd of 22,924, was supposed to be a close encounter between two of the competition’s lesser lights from the previous season when the Power had finished 14th and the Demons 16th (ahead only of AFL newbies Gold Coast and GWS). It turned into a slaughter with Port taking the lead in the first minute with a behind to Justin Westhoff, followed a minute or so later with a goal to Hamish Hartlett and the deluge continued until the final siren blared as the scoreboard read, “Port Adelaide 19.19.133 Melbourne 8.6.54”. From there Port Adelaide went on to play off in the finals and went down to Geelong in the Semi Final after beating Collingwood in a Qualifying Final while Melbourne finished in 17th spot with two wins, ahead only of the Giants and with a percentage of 54.07. Plenty of water has flowed under the Swan Street Bridge after that fateful day with the club moving forward on an upward trajectory on an annual basis ever since. The top four finish after the finals last year left it close to football’s holy grail. Close ... but no cigar. The summer has been an unusual one for the Demons who encountered the unfamiliar territory of a late start to the pre season (due to them having gone deep into the finals) with plenty of players undergoing operations and hence, making late starts to their preseasons - and we all know how vital it is for the playing group to have a clear and uninterrupted run into a new season. Notwithstanding, Melbourne’s summer remained full of hype standing as a legitimate premiership contender until the last few weeks when things began to go awry with two relatively unconvincing JLT performances and injuries and a suspension serving to dent the confidence of the supporter group, at least. The game takes on even greater importance when one looks at what lies ahead beyond week one with games against Geelong, Essendon and Sydney to complete the first month. I’m going for Melbourne because it is playing at home which is exactly the right place for it to welcome in a new season. Port Adelaide doesn’t win at the MCG very often and I don’t think they can win what the AFL has dubbed “The Welcome Game 2019”. While Port has a shorter injury list, it still has its worries and will be taking a lot of youth into the game. The Demons have greater depth and, despite those injury woes, they should go into the game with all of their A-listers involved again at the stoppages where they were so dominant in 2018. The AFL’s leading ruckman Max Gawn looks strong and fit and is a master of the centre clearance game with enough class gathered around him to ensure that the team gets enough of the ball forward to the club’s key forwards to win the game. Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman have been rather subdued in the JLT series but with Max heading the abovementioned group, the force of numbers will help them and the likes of Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca to hit the scoreboard with regularity. They probably won’t miss Jesse Hogan one iota. Melbourne by 30 points THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 1.45pm (AEDT) at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1.30pm live RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 11.9.75 defeated Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2018 at the Adelaide Oval, Melbourne led for most of the night but was held back by poor disposal in front of goal and some inexplicable umpiring decisions didn’t help the cause. THE TEAMS INJURY LIST Round 1 Injury List: James Harmes (finger) – Test Braydon Preuss (adductor) – Test Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – Test Steven May – (suspension) – 1 week Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – TBA * Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA * Mitch Hannan (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 10-12 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season * appears like 4 - 6 weeks

THE WELCOME GAME by Whispering Jack The Melbourne Football Club has moved forward in leaps and bounds since it last met Port Adelaide in a totally forgettable (for Demon fans) season opener on the MCG. That game, played on Sunday, 31 March, 2013 before a crowd of 22,924, was supposed to be a close encounter between two of the competition’s lesser lights from the previous season when the Power had finished 14th and the Demons 16th (ahead only of AFL newbies Gold Coast and GWS). It turned into a slaughter with Port taking the lead in the first minute with a behind to Justin Westhoff, followed a minute or so later with a goal to Hamish Hartlett and the deluge continued until the final siren blared as the scoreboard read, “Port Adelaide 19.19.133 Melbourne 8.6.54”. From there Port Adelaide went on to play off in the finals and went down to Geelong in the Semi Final after beating Collingwood in a Qualifying Final while Melbourne finished in 17th spot with two wins, ahead only of the Giants and with a percentage of 54.07. Plenty of water has flowed under the Swan Street Bridge after that fateful day with the club moving forward on an upward trajectory on an annual basis ever since. The top four finish after the finals last year left it close to football’s holy grail. Close ... but no cigar. The summer has been an unusual one for the Demons who encountered the unfamiliar territory of a late start to the pre season (due to them having gone deep into the finals) with plenty of players undergoing operations and hence, making late starts to their preseasons - and we all know how vital it is for the playing group to have a clear and uninterrupted run into a new season. Notwithstanding, Melbourne’s summer remained full of hype standing as a legitimate premiership contender until the last few weeks when things began to go awry with two relatively unconvincing JLT performances and injuries and a suspension serving to dent the confidence of the supporter group, at least. The game takes on even greater importance when one looks at what lies ahead beyond week one with games against Geelong, Essendon and Sydney to complete the first month. I’m going for Melbourne because it is playing at home which is exactly the right place for it to welcome in a new season. Port Adelaide doesn’t win at the MCG very often and I don’t think they can win what the AFL has dubbed “The Welcome Game 2019”. While Port has a shorter injury list, it still has its worries and will be taking a lot of youth into the game. The Demons have greater depth and, despite those injury woes, they should go into the game with all of their A-listers involved again at the stoppages where they were so dominant in 2018. The AFL’s leading ruckman Max Gawn looks strong and fit and is a master of the centre clearance game with enough class gathered around him to ensure that the team gets enough of the ball forward to the club’s key forwards to win the game. Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman have been rather subdued in the JLT series but with Max heading the abovementioned group, the force of numbers will help them and the likes of Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca to hit the scoreboard with regularity. They probably won’t miss Jesse Hogan one iota. Melbourne by 30 points THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 1.45pm (AEDT) at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1.30pm live RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 11.9.75 defeated Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2018 at the Adelaide Oval, Melbourne led for most of the night but was held back by poor disposal in front of goal and some inexplicable umpiring decisions didn’t help the cause. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Marty Hore Oscar McDonald Neville Jetta HB Michael Hibberd Sam Frost Nathan Jones C Bayley Fritsch Clayton Oliver Christian Salem HF Alex Neal-Bullen Tom McDonald Christian Petracca F Jake Melksham Sam Weideman Jack Viney FOLL Max Gawn James Harmes Angus Brayshaw I/C Jayden Hunt Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Corey Wagner EMG Declan Keilty Harrison Petty Braydon Preuss NEW Marty Hore Tom Sparrow Corey Wagner PORT ADELAIDE B Riley Bonner Tom Clurey Dan Houston HB Ryan Burton Tom Jonas Darcy Byrne-Jones C Steven Motlop Tom Rockliff Justin Westhoff HF Travis Boak Jack Watts Brad Ebert F Robbie Gray Paddy Ryder Connor Rozee FOLL Scott Lycett Sam Powell-Pepper Willem Drew I/C Karl Amon Zak Butters Xavier Duursma Todd Marshall EMG Kane Farrell Sam Gray Dougal Howard Sam Mayes NEW Ryan Burton Zak Butters Willem Drew Xavier Duursma Scott Lycett Connor Rozee INJURY LIST Round 1 Injury List: James Harmes (finger) – Test Braydon Preuss (adductor) – Test Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – Test Steven May – (suspension) – 1 week Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – TBA * Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA * Mitch Hannan (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 10-12 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season * appears like 4 - 6 weeks Late out Jordan Lewis (hamstring) - TBA

When I posted the article the thought that some might confuse them did cross my mind but then I thought "nah that couldn't possibly happen" yet here we are.

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I'll try to keep you tin foilers in mind when I post.