Rodney (Balls) Grinter

I've noticed Gus does get most of his possessions in the ways described above. Makes me wounder why the opposition don't put more effort into manning him up at times. Though he doesn't gain huge territory with some of the dinky little 20m passes that he chips back and forth almost in a 1-2 get back your own ball type fashion, it does let us walk the ball away from the oppositions dangerous space and towards the wing/forward area for us in a pretty low risk way, which I think relieves pressure for us and helps us control the game on our terms more.

I've got no problem with them being called the Devils. I think it's by far the most natural and logical thing for them to be called and one that their population down there could all rally behind, which is important, because as a lover of the game more broadly, I think Aussie Rules needs Tassie to have a team and for it to succeed as a club. If the league is big enough to have Crows, Magpies, Eagles and Hawks, Lions, Tigers, Cats and Dogs, then I think it would be fine to have Demons and Devils. In fact I'd look forward to having an evil battle of the underworld against a potential Tassie team.

To a certain extent, just winning consistently by the modest, but comfortable 20 - 30 point margins we do builds a healthy %, particularly when we restrict the oppositions scoring to such low levels, but agree it's much more important to be walking away with the 4 points every week and solidifying out spot towards the top of the ladder. The systematic, almost clinical way we have developed over the last season or so to bank the wins has been somewhat of a revolution for me in my time watching the might Melbourne Demons.

Great post. I also love how Joel Smith has stepped up and added to our defensive capabilities. My take is that he's probably our second best key defender in the side so far this year. Smith playing the Petty one on one lockdown defender type role, but with a bit more flair. Some of those come from nowhere diving spoils are almost Sean Wight like. With Lever back, I think it will be Hunt or Tomlinson out on current form. Will be good to see what Smith can do with Lever around to take off some of the heat and control the troops bit.

Once we get our accuracy right, that's when we blow them away Premership 3rd quarter+ style. Mind you, I don't think our on ball, centre clearance game was quite as on tonight. Gee that game against the Dogs was one 'out of the box'.

Sometimes Brayshaw's value to the team gets questioned, because he's been squeezed out of an elite midfield and could have become a bit of a third wheel. When we are winning well, he is often quiet stats wise, which reinforces that. But the way he has embraced his new role and the team first attitude he embodies are second to none. Further when the chips are down and we're under fire, I find it's when he seems to most rise to the challenge, dig deep and keep us in the game. Lingers Langdon is similar in this respects. Core part of the team and great to see him getting the recognition he deserves for his hard work. Doesn't play second fiddle to Clarry, Trac and Viney at all, just plays diferntly and plays a different role.

Bedford and Chandler have played that few games because guys like Kossie, Nibbler and Spargo have maintained their form, we haven't had any injuries to that type of player and they have been deprived of opportunities that might have got elsewhere. I'm not saying I want the club to push Charlie out the door by any means, as he brings a hardness and aggression that some of those other smalls may not be quite up to as you are perhaps suggesting, but if we do have a cap squeeze on, perhaps he's one of the second tier / B grade players in our best 22 that we would be prepared to let go for the benefit of the team?

I totally rate Charlie and his contribution to the side, but I do also wounder if he is the sort of player that we see as replaceable with other similar players we have comming through like Bedford, Kade Chandler, Bailey Laurie etc. Another article I read reciently put the case that if we are to keep other higher profile, more unique out of contract players like Brayshaw and Jackson, we might need to sacrifice a few mid tier players to keep the salary cap space available. At this point in the big picture, you would home that the respective players recognise what a rare and unique oppertunity they have have sucess and to win multiple premierships and do place more value on that than more imeediate finacial rewards, but I'd also understand if a player like Charlie prioritised their long term finacial future, though that he is still realitively young should temper that a little you would hope.

Thought Lewis was a good player for the MFC and certainly added to our team at the time. I used to hate the guy at Hawthorn, but these days I quite like him after playing for us and enjoy his commentary on Fox Footy. I think that partly because I've almost erased any memories of him playing from Hawthorn from my mind and just remember him in a red and blue jumper.

Bernie was a star for a few seasons and I love the larrakin attitude, energy and hardness he bought to the team when he arrived. It's just a shame he dropped off at the end and didn't make the team for finals in 2018

The giant bronze beard would be a great addition to Yarra Park. Could situate it somewhere on the periphery of the paths they park the food vans next to, of which I'm sure Max would approve. Come to think if it, perhaps the statue could be of him with pizza in one hand and a durry in the other, with a huge grin from ear to ear.

I really think the two bits in bold are the most significant points out of all this. He hasn't exactly got off to the flying start to the season that Trac has, but few do. I'll be concerned if his form isn't there by mid season, but until then, I think the challenge of Dogga / Gawn will test alot of teams and either one or the other or both will get off the chain at some point.

Nailed pretty important goals in both games. Max has the runs on the board as both an individual player and as captain. I think we've got so use to him dominating each week that it's become an expectation that isn't exactly normal for most players. If Max can pace himself, really turn it on in the games he has too and share, duties with Dogga when the opportunities are there, I think that's great for the medium to long term development of the team and both Max and Dogga as individuals.

Yeah, that Rd 1 night game was somewhat warm and humid, but from my recient experience somewhat the exception to the rule. My regular 20min walk from home to the station would usually result in beads of sweat rolling down my back at 6am in the morning in SEQ, due largely to the humidity and secondly due to it being near enough degrees even at that early part of the day.

I think that's largely the mentality we took in a number of games in the middle of last season until the pre-finals killing spree. I'm not sure if it was just conserving for next week once the games in the bag, or more of a focus and emphasis on making sure our defensive game is well tuned, but it seemed like a number of games last year that we effectively shut down the opposition in the last quarter, without attempting to put them to the sword when we probably could have.

As Goody remarked, the guys we had in down back held their own and got the job done.

I hear you Faulty. I've just moved back to Vic from SEQ ( have also traveled/worked a far bit in FNQ) and it's been quite a shock to the system. Cold mornings see me don jeans for the day, but then I'm sweating in them by mid arvo, but can't understand the life long Victorians saying how hot (it hasn't) got some days with like 0% humidity! Doing my head in!! Lol

Weid was pretty decient for most of 2020, when many said it was T Mac's cards that were marked an Weid would be our key forward from then on. It's Rd 1 VFL, I'm happy to give Weid the benifit of the doubt and see what he can do. It's a long season and who knows.

I think Weid spending some time in the ruck is good for getting him involved, physically fired up and attacking the ball with a bit of aggression.

Of course it's not. Lingers is 'a machine'.

So refreshing to be on this forum after a 2 - 0 season start. Entirely different mood to previous seasons when we could well have been 0 - 2 and jumping down the throats of each other and our players. The game scenarios we have faced this season, trailing to the Dogs and Suns and being challenged could easily have seen us loose the plot and throw the game in previous seasons, but now we have the confidence, poise and disipline to stick to our systems and grind out the wins in a clinical controlled way. In that last quarter we weren't dominant, but also looked pretty much totally in control. I love this winning feeling. GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS!!

While Tommy certainly isn't in smashing form, one not the things he does do well is get up the ground, provide an outlet target and contest. He rarely gets beaten 1 on 1, enables the team to reset once the stoppage occurs and I think that probably pretty important to our structure and game style.

Gawn is on the record as stating that he finds Witts to be a formidable opponent. Chol was also quite difficult at the centre bounces and looks to be quite the athlete, despite not being able to maintain the rage all game, although, I think most players out on the ground were just about spent at 3/4 time with the humidity.

Was just by accessing through several web browsers. Pretty sure web browser was up to date.

Trying to help out my old man, who has just reactivated Kayo and is getting Error Code 3007. Contacted Kayo several times and apparently they haven't been very helpful. Anyone got an tips/tricks? As a related issue, it's bloody pathetic that channel 7 appears to be showing the Port Hawthorn game in preference to ours. Got the premership and an attractive brand of footy, but seems the free to air networks still don't give us any love or respect.