Demonland

On top of its injury problems Melbourne ran into an “in-form” GWS Giants at the MCG in a game which, apart from a final quarter junk-time spree served to highlight the club’s current problems. There’s a virtually non-existent forward line; a plethora of VFL standard players, who might be getting plenty of game experience but most will simply not be up to AFL standard; an inability to kick straight and an ability to waste simple opportunities so that they mustered up only one goal in the first half with the second coming 17 minutes into the third quarter. These are all giant problems on their own, but there is no light at the end of the Tunnel for the Demon supporters until that injury list is reduced. Make no mistake, the Giants will be a serious threat to the Premiership this year. We played last year’s Premiers just a week ago, and took the game up to them. At no point were Melbourne even close or in the contest with this mob. A solitary goal in the first half, with yet another goal-less second quarter. If the Giants had kicked straight, even in the first quarter they could have been 6 goals ahead. They saved that six goal onslaught for the 3rd quarter when Melbourne were made to look like witches hats at a training session. The Giants obviously took the foot off the accelerator, put the cue away and saved themselves for their next game at the final break. This allowed Melbourne to score more in the first seven minutes than it had kicked in the previous 3 quarters! By the final bell in the last term, it had nearly tripled its efforts from the previous three. GWS had 11 players with more than 18 touches, and only two who recorded less than double figures. Melbourne in contrast had seven who only managed a touch or two each quarter. Small wonder at the disparity of score at ¾ time. Max Gawn was easily the best of the Melbourne players with 25 touches of his own and 35 hit outs. A ruck shouldn’t be getting those sorts of numbers, and the fact that he is able to do so is a credit to his willingness and abilities. Marty Hore filled a vital role in defence again with his intercept marks and 6 contested possessions. Not much blame could be apportioned to the backline, given the ease of entry from the GWS players and the lack of pressure from the Melbourne players up the ground. Once again the forward line was completely dysfunctional. Firstly, with the continuing non- selection of Braydon Preuss. He is a big body who can be used in multiple roles, and not only provides a break for Max but also can help out the forwards. At one point in the third quarter, Max was off the ground getting a dislocated finger attended. Tom McDonald was moved up to the wing to get him into the game, and Smith into the ruck. This left a forward line of Hunt, Garlett, Spargo, Baker, Lockhart and Brayshaw! A big bodied Preuss would have been nice to stick in the goal square, or even better into the centre square! GWS must have wet themselves laughing at that line-up, none more so than Heath Shaw who watched Garlett avoid him for most of the match as he sought cheap out the back kicks all game. Shaw just kept on getting the ball, with 27 touches while Garlett managed only 6 for the day. Trouble is that Melbourne has nothing with which to replace these players. Wagner x 2, Stretch, Garlett, Spargo, Lockhart, Fritsch, even Smith and Petty should all be playing at VFL level, but we simply do not have anyone else (apart from Preuss) to bring into the side. Reports are that Lever has injured himself again to compound the problems and there is no point bringing in Jordon, Chandler, Keilty or Bedford over any of the above players. ALL the rest are injured! We have a GIANT problem. We had another Giant problem in this game, and until some injury list relief happens (and the way things are going that is only a remote chance of happening) then the 2019 season will be a Giant failure. Melbourne 1.1.7 1.3.9 3.6.24 10.8.68 GWS Giants 2.5 6.8 12.9 14.10.94 Goals Melbourne Baker T McDonald 2 Hunt Garlett Petracca Lockhart Stretch Spargo GWS Giants Himmelberg 5 Cameron 3 Whitfield 2 Coniglio Finlayson Kelly Taylor Best Melbourne Gawn Hore J Wagner Baker Viney GWS Giants Kelly Hopper de Boer Taranto Himmelberg Haynes Injuries Melbourne Salem (concussion) replaced in selected side by Spargo GWS Giants Nil Reports Melbourne Nil GWS Giants Nil Umpires Haussen Gavine Chamberlain Official crowd 20,023 at the MCG (50% more than Hawthorn could muster!)

Was in the bay next to me. There was a female Dees supporter evicted with two males. One of the guys was a Giants fan the other had a Tigers beanie. I didn't notice them until they were ejected. They were in the front row and they were remonstrating with people on the bottom level.

Have your say here ...

Cast your votes please - 6,5,4,3,2,1 ...

Which results favour the Dees in Round 10?

On Sunday, the team will run out to 'It's a Grand Old Flag' in Woiwurrung language.

The selections last night for the Seniors and Casey have whittled down the injury list. PLAYER INJURY LENGTH Alex Neal-Bullen Concussion Test Michael Hibberd Collarbone 1-2 Weeks Kade Kolodjashnij Concussion 1-2 Weeks Steven May Groin 1-2 Weeks Jake Melksham Foot 3-4 Weeks Joel Smith Groin 4-6 Weeks Aaron vandenBerg Ankle TBC Neville Jetta Knee 7-9 Weeks Guy Walker Shoulder Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee Season

In the coming weeks we'll be interviewing Steven "Strawbs" O'Dwyer on the Demonland Podcast. Let us know if you've got a question for Strawbs.

Gold Coast. They're both Demons through and through though. Jeff's son plays AFL up there.

It seems so long ago that Melbourne took an unchanged line up into a game on the MCG against the Greater Western Sydney Giants and cleaned them up to the tune of 45 points. In truth, the event occurred literally half a season ago in the final home and away round of the 2018 season and marked the Demons’ return to the finals with more triumphs to come in the weeks ahead. Of course, back then, it was the Giants who were wracked with injuries as they stumbled into the finals series facing their hoodoo on a ground where they rarely play well. This time, it’s GWS that’s flying while Melbourne is not only licking its injury wounds but seems to be struggling for form at both ends of the ground. That super attack of last year is simply not performing and, despite having far more opportunities than its opponents virtually on a weekly basis, the team is beating itself by its failure to convert. At the other end of the ground, the defence is leaking to many goals - the opposition is finding the goals to easily, especially at the business end of things. The last three weeks have seen a total Melbourne score for of 6.10 in the final quarters of its matches against 14.1! It seems that it’s always left to Max Gawn to dominate the rucks and afford his midfielders like Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and James Harmes to get the first use of the ball to even stay close in the tussle - this will naturally be of paramount importance against the Giants on Sunday. Last week, Melbourne came close to bringing its season back on track but it faltered when the game was on the line. While the Demons showed signs against West Coast they were returning to their exciting 2018 form they couldn’t do it for the full four quarters and their wastefulness in front of goal prevented them from having a big enough lead at the final half to enable them to control matters in the final term. The dilemma has given Simon Goodwin a giant headache and he has obviously been worrying himself sick trying to work out that something different to give his team the winning edge back. He’s also waiting for that long injury list to go down to manageable levels but relief still appears a few weeks away. In the meantime, I’m tipping a 9 point win to the Giants. THE GAME Melbourne v GWS Giants at the MCG, Sunday 26 May, 2019 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall – GWS Giants 5 wins Melbourne 6 wins At The MCG – Melbourne 4 wins GWS Giants 1 win Past five meetings – Melbourne 3 wins GWS Giants 2 wins The Coaches – Goodwin 1 win Cameron 1 win THE MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel, Live at 1.00pm RADIO - SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.12.102 defeated GWS Giants 8.9.57 at the MCG, Round 23, 2018 Melbourne had to win to secure its place in the finals in 12 years thanks to Max Gawn’s ruck dominance and the strong work of the midfield headed by Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes, the Demons broke away with a five goal to zip third term to romp home by 45 points. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Jay Lockhart Sam Frost Josh Wagner HB Matt Hore Oscar McDonald Jayden Hunt C Angus Brayshaw Jack Viney Oskar Baker HF Nathan Jones Tom McDonald Harry Petty F Jeff Garlett Tim Smith Christian Petracca FOLL Max Gawn Christian Salem Clayton Oliver I/C Bayley Fritsch James Harmes Billy Stretch Corey Wagner EMG Jordan Lewis Braydon Preuss Charlie Spargo Sam Weideman IN Corey Wagner OUT Alex Neal-Bullen (concussion) GWS GIANTS B Adam Kennedy Phil Davis Nick Haynes HB Heath Shaw Sam Taylor Brett Delidio C Brent Daniels Harry Perryman Lachie Whitfield HF Matt de Boer Harry Himmelberg Toby Greene F Jeremy Finlayson Jeremy Cameron Sam J Reid FOLL Shane Mumford Tim Taranto Josh Kelly I/C Stephen Coniglio Isaac Cumming Jacob Hopper Adam Tomlinson EMG Jackson Hately Lachlan Keeffe Daniel Lloyd Dawson Simpson IN Stephen Coniglio Isaac Cumming OUT Daniel Lloyd (omitted) Zac Williams (hamstring) Injury List - Round 10 Mitch Hannan (knee) – available Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – available Alex Neal-Bullen (concussion) – test Christian Salem (concussion) – test Tim Smith (concussion) – test Charlie Spargo (foot) – test Sam Weideman (hips) – test Michael Hibberd (collarbone) – 1-2 weeks Steven May (groin) – 1-2 weeks Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – 1-2 weeks Jake Melksham (foot) – 3-4 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – 4-6 weeks Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – 4-6 weeks Neville Jetta (knee) – 7-9 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

Our future Ruckman?

Admin note: The 2018 Injury List thread was 24 pages and 584 posts. The 2019 Injury List thread is 32 pages and 777 post just 9 rounds into the season.

Positives: KK now 1 to 2 weeks upgraded from TBC. vandenBerg now 4 to 6 weeks upgraded from TBC. JKH and Hannan now available Concussion boys likely to be available Negatives: Joel Smith should have been 3 to 5 weeks this week but is still 4 to 6 weeks.

Round 10 Melbourne v GWS Giants Sunday May 26, 1.10pm AEST MCG 11.00am: MCC Reserve opens 11.30am: AFL and Public Reserve opens Members Members with match access can scan in using their card or Digital Membership in the club app. General admission Tickets to the game can be purchased via Ticketek. Public transport Train There will be planned outages on the Sandringham, Frankston, Sunbury and Werribee line, with buses replacing trains. Use the PTV Journey Planner to view disruptions and plan your trip to the MCG. Tram The MCG is well serviced by trams along Wellington Parade (route 48 + 75) and the Olympic Park light rail (route 70). Car parking Parking is available in the Yarra Park precinct: Gate 3: 9.00am Gate 5: 11.00am Gate 6: 10.00am Gate 7: 8.30am (pass holders only) For the latest parking information, visit the MCG website. General admission seating bays Great Southern Stand M1 (Rows A-Z) M2 (Demon Heartland) M3-M12 M12 (Rows A-Z DRY) P5-P7 Q1-Q15 Ponsford Stand M28-M36 Q29-Q36 Olympic Stand M53-M54 (Rows A-Z) M55-M57 Q49-Q57 Please note the general admission areas are subject to change. Look out for the screens displaying the map of available general admission areas on a match day, located inside each entry gate. Cheer squad bays Melbourne: M3 Rows A-T GWS GIANTS: M33 Rows A-D Purchase your 2019 Indigenous Guernsey at the Demon Shop, located on Brunton Avenue. The shop will be open from 10.30am until 30 minutes after the final siren. TV times All broadcast info in local times. Melbourne: Fox Footy – 1.00pm Sydney: 7mate + Fox Footy – 1.00pm Brisbane: Fox Footy – 1.00pm Adelaide: Fox Footy – 12.30pm Perth: Fox Footy – 11.00pm Tasmania: Fox Footy – 1.00pm Canberra: 7mate + Fox Footy – 1.00pm Darwin: Fox Footy – 12.30pm For all other regions and radio info, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide. Mobile app Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app. Download it for iOS or Android. Social media Match hashtag: #AFLDeesGiants Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day. VFL and VFLW double header VFLW Round 3 Williamstown v Casey Sunday May 26, 11.30am Downer Oval, Point Gellibrand VFL Round 8 Williamstown v Casey Sunday May 26, 2.00pm Downer Oval, Point Gellibrand Admission prices Melbourne/Casey Demons Members: $5 when you present your card on entry Adult General Admission: $10 Concession/Pensioner General Admission: $5 Children Under 15: Free Broadcast Radio: Casey Radio 3SER 97.7FM will provide play-by-play coverage of both matches from 11.00am GIANT HEADACHE by The Oracle It seems so long ago that Melbourne took an unchanged line up into a game on the MCG against the Greater Western Sydney Giants and cleaned them up to the tune of 45 points. In truth, the event occurred literally half a season ago in the final home and away round of the 2018 season and marked the Demons’ return to the finals with more triumphs to come in the weeks ahead. Of course, back then, it was the Giants who were wracked with injuries as they stumbled into the finals series facing their hoodoo on a ground where they rarely play well. This time, it’s GWS that’s flying while Melbourne is not only licking its injury wounds but seems to be struggling for form at both ends of the ground. That super attack of last year is simply not performing and, despite having far more opportunities than its opponents virtually on a weekly basis, the team is beating itself by its failure to convert. At the other end of the ground, the defence is leaking to many goals - the opposition is finding the goals to easily, especially at the business end of things. The last three weeks have seen a total Melbourne score for of 6.10 in the final quarters of its matches against 14.1! It seems that it’s always left to Max Gawn to dominate the rucks and afford his midfielders like Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes to get the first use of the ball to even stay close in the tussle - this will naturally be of paramount importance against the Giants on Sunday. Last week, Melbourne came close to bringing its season back on track but it faltered when the game was on the line. While the Demons showed signs against West Coast they were returning to their exciting 2018 form they couldn’t do it for the full four quarters and their wastefulness in front of goal prevented them from having a big enough lead at the final half to enable them to control matters in the final term. The dilemma has given Simon Goodwin a giant headache and he has obviously been worrying himself sick trying to work out that something different to give his team the winning edge back. He’s also waiting for that long injury list to go down to manageable levels but relief still appears a few weeks away. In the meantime, I’m tipping a 9 point win to the Giants. THE GAME Melbourne v GWS Giants at the MCG, Sunday 26 May, 2019 at 1.10pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall – GWS Giants 5 wins Melbourne 6 wins At The MCG – Melbourne 4 wins GWS Giants 1 win Past five meetings – Melbourne 3 wins GWS Giants 2 wins The Coaches – Goodwin 1 win Cameron 1 win THE MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel, Live at 1.00pm RADIO - SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.12.102 defeated GWS Giants 8.9.57 at the MCG, Round 23, 2018 Melbourne had to win to secure its place in the finals in 12 years thanks to Max Gawn’s ruck dominance and the strong work of the midfield headed by Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes, the Demons broke away with a five goal to zip third term to romp home by 45 points. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Jay Lockhart Sam Frost Josh Wagner HB Matt Hore Oscar McDonald Jayden Hunt C Angus Brayshaw Jack Viney Oskar Baker HF Nathan Jones Tom McDonald Harry Petty F Jeff Garlett Tim Smith Christian Petracca FOLL Max Gawn Christian Salem Clayton Oliver I/C Bayley Fritsch James Harmes Billy Stretch Corey Wagner EMG Jordan Lewis Braydon Preuss Charlie Spargo Sam Weideman IN Corey Wagner OUT Alex Neal-Bullen (concussion) GWS GIANTS B Adam Kennedy Phil Davis Nick Haynes HB Heath Shaw Sam Taylor Brett Delidio C Brent Daniels Harry Perryman Lachie Whitfield HF Matt de Boer Harry Himmelberg Toby Greene F Jeremy Finlayson Jeremy Cameron Sam J Reid FOLL Shane Mumford Tim Taranto Josh Kelly I/C Stephen Coniglio Isaac Cumming Jacob Hopper Adam Tomlinson EMG Jackson Hately Lachlan Keeffe Daniel Lloyd Dawson Simpson IN Stephen Coniglio Isaac Cumming OUT Daniel Lloyd (omitted) Zac Williams (hamstring) Injury List - Round 10 Mitch Hannan (knee) – available Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – available Alex Neal-Bullen (concussion) – test Christian Salem (concussion) – test Tim Smith (concu ssion) – test Charlie Spargo (foot) – test Sam Weideman (hips) – test Michael Hibberd (collarbone) – 1-2 weeks Steven May (groin) – 1-2 weeks Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – 1-2 weeks Jake Melksham (foot) – 3-4 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – 4-6 weeks Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – 4-6 weeks Neville Jetta (knee) – 7-9 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinit e Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

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The show will be LIVE tonight in 15 minutes. The streaming server issue has been fixed. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

According to the streaming host the data centre will be replacing the hardware within the next 60 minutes (this notification was 1/2 an hour ago). This was delayed due to stock allocation issues. We may be able to do the show LIVE after all but I will keep you posted.

Our access to do a LIVE show might be affected tonight due to defective hardware. The server is being replaced. At this moment in time the host is unable to ascertain how long this will take. In the event that the problem hasn't been rectified @Grapeviney and I will still record the show but it will not be live and we probably won't take calls. I'll keep you updated via this thread.

PLAYER INJURY LENGTH Jordan Lewis Ankle Test Alex Neal-Bullen Concussion Test Christian Salem Concussion Test Tim Smith Concussion Test Charlie Spargo Foot Test Sam Weideman Hip Test Mitch Hannan Knee Test Jay Kennedy-Harris Leg Test Michael Hibberd Collarbone 1-2 Weeks Steven May Groin 1-2 Weeks Jake Melksham Foot 3-5 Weeks Joel Smith Groin 3-5 Weeks Neville Jetta Knee 7-9 Weeks Kade Kolodjashnij Concussion TBC Aaron vandenBerg Ankle TBC Guy Walker Shoulder Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee Season