DemonWheels

Something I see every week: We'll have a player with a clear run, in possession of the ball, from about 70m out and take 2 steps and kick it forward (similar to the vision Ross showed on FC). As soon as the camera pans forward to where the ball lands you see that there was no opposition player coming towards the kicker. Opposition players just hold back and know the ball is coming in. We should be running the ball closer to goal and where possible shooting for goal once we get to the 50m mark and if not we've had enough time for the forwards to actually 'lead' at a kicker, even double back and lead again to lose their opponent. It's teenage/junior footy basics but we're playing like Auskick in the forward half. When do we ever see a Melbourne player cross the 50m mark with the ball in their hands?

This sums us up perfectly in my opinion. I’m sure a large number of DemonLanders would agree, at least to a certain degree: Demons are a bull at a gate type of team with players like Oliver, Viney & Brayshaw in the middle. They’ve brought in width with Langdon & Tomlinson, yet still butcher the ball going forward and run forward of the ball and get exposed the other way. If they put it together they can blow us away, yet they’re very inconsistent and poorly coached. They’re definitely a mood team.

He’s just not a footballer. Not sure if he watched his dad or not but he just doesn’t seem to understand the game. It’s not about ‘getting a kick’ or jumping high - it’s about teamwork and he’s got no idea. No slight on him as a bloke but we need to move past him.

Yep. He’s just had a kid in the last year and a bit and I can see he’s put it all on the hips. Same thing happened to me, but like everywhere. Would be keen to see how he goes in the time trial now, looks a mile off unfortunately.

Giving them a sniff allowing those goals. Where did all the influential players go? Stopped winning the ball

Should get multiple weeks for that. But of course if the player gets up and plays on the AFL won’t punish.

Watched for about 2 minutes. Thought Howe shirked it going back with the flight of the ball. Game not too interesting yet, might wait till Saturday.

Bennell, Jones, Salem, Weid all come in for mine. Vanders would be great on Cripps for those calling for a close tag, not sure if he squeezes into the team just yet though. Better quality across the park compared to against WCE but it doesn’t really matter if we just bomb the ball inside 50 –need to be smart and we’re still missing the proper link up player at CHF. Go Dees.

Can anyone access the club website? I've been trying for a few days now and it isn't working. All the other clubs are.

Could Jonesy potentially edge out Viney Senior for an interchange spot? Career averages Career totals

Our game is going ahead to ensure Rd 1 is completed - Via AFL App

Interesting. The players still know that there’s a million people watching and that every innocuous little piece of play will be analyzed. They just won’t have the instant feedback from the crowd – it will all be on their own shoulders. In similar circumstances (jokes) I played touch/social footy not that long ago and I couldn’t temper my competitive streak, didn’t matter that no one was watching – I just had to beat my opponent and was willing to go above and beyond to do it. Footy players are ultra competitive so I think it will be high intensity – question is whether that translates for the viewers without crowd involvement / feedback. Could be a bit like watching a sitcom without the ‘laugh track’ - a bit soulless unless the true quality of the content is prominent.

A few words from Harley’s old coach Ross Lyon: ”But Lyon had caught up in Melbourne with another recruit and (now ex) Docker that struggled to get on the field in Harley Bennell, who has been listed by Melbourne. He said Bennell was sprinting in a way that he had never managed as a Docker. Lyon said Bennell, who had a succession of calf injuries at Fremantle, was "going really well" in Melbourne, having had successful surgery to his calf. "He's excited. He's sprinting. He's sprinting at levels he never was able to achieve at Fremantle. Up on his toes sprinting," Lyon said. Source: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/recruiting-jesse-hogan-a-whole-club-not-just-coach-call-lyon-20200309-p548cl.html

The game must get pretty tiresome if you live in it with that amount of detail as shown with so many coaches and reviews and meetings and rules about where you should be once the ball is turned over at point A, etc. As much as I love it I think that would ruin it for me.

Can’t recall ever having them so might need to give them a shot.

I loved coming home from school in winter and pouring hot milk over a bowl of Weet-Bix, make them all mushy and throw on some sugar or honey. TV on, kick back. Simpler times.

Why are so many expecting North Melbourne to make the 8? Am I missing something?

They’re amazing highlights. Fingers crossed he can get back to that level this year.

Weid is reminding me a lot of Gawn prior to his break out game against Geelong. Reads the ball, gets to the rights spot, beats his man... does all of the hard stuff... drops the ball. In the space of one match, Gawn changed that and hasn’t looked back. - I feel this so much that I’m just letting your words repeat themselves again. Carry on.

Our kicking skills need some work

I’m probably getting a bit too excited for just a practice game, but I can’t bloody wait. Might have also had too much coffee. Is it beer O’clock yet?

That was sensational. I could watch hours and hours of that. Such a fantastic insight into the personality and characters of the players, coaches and the club in general. Its amazing really how simplistic it all is. For some reason a big part of me thinks that the club operates like a big corporate and would speak that way but it’s really just a footy club with players and admin that attend and operate 7 days a week.

Must be something in the Gatorade over at Tullamarine.

Hate it.

Had a quick chat over Christmas with a relative of mine that is closely tied to the Petracca clan (specifically the older brothers). Reckons the penny has dropped and he has taken massive strides forward in maturity and ownership of his career/goals/fitness and wants to leave no stone unturned to ensure he reaches his potential (also with a mention to this being the last year of his contract, not that he wants to move but wants to build on what he’s done). Broken up with the Mrs and been spending all summer committed to the cause and working bloody hard.