Demons1858

A few of our 'bigs' are looking a little sore at the moment. They say playing in NT is quite slippery so we can drop one key tall. Oscar and Weid have been poor all year. Weid in particular was average last week and poor this week. Don't buy that he played well last week. Shouldn't have been selected by the match committee. Also looks like he is carrying some leg soreness. Bugg showed some fight so we should give him another week despite some negatives. Kent has been good in the past but this year he is clearly no superman. He pulled out of 1 contest which will be highlighted by the coaching staff. Would like to see if he can fire up and redeem himself this week knowing everyone will be watching him closely. We probably need change given some are looking tired and playing in the NT can be draining. So Melkshem and Harmes (held over as emerg) I would think are guaranteed a game given their solid VFL performances. Would like to see Stretch get a run. Out is Weid, Wagner, and a surprise omissions to shake the team up.

Good to hear he is getting back to the club soon and is in good spirits. I can assure you he won't be coming back through the 2's though. Just give him and extra week of training instead. Would take a non match fit Hogan (as long as he is completely over his cancer) ahead of Oscar and Weid. Both are developing but not ready yet for regular AFL footy.

As pleased as l was with the win last week, l wrote in the post match discussion that this week was a more difficult game given we were expected to win and thats exactly how it has turned out. Even so our predictable inconsistency is still draining and tiring. Starting to lose interest but will persist as always

Good on Ward for putting out the message and facing up to his issues. Neale Daniher is a legend and great man for many reasons!

What's strange is that apparently club presidents like this idea. Surely not. Do we really need to sell our sole any more in the interests of a commercial return and the networks . We put up with a lot already - including but not limited to:. * A painful fixture e,g, inconvenient 3.20 pm Sunday time slots, limited free to air games * 23 rounds to narrow the field by only half so we can generate more finals matches with inflated ticket prices * Corporate finals tickets at the expense of members * Rule changes each year to speed the game up e.g. the 'no intent' out of bounds which just doesn't feel fair and right for the game * Sports betting advertising and pokies * Anthony Hudson

Sensational win and should naturally build some confidence in our young, talented, and emerging team. Probably the bigger test will be this week when we take on North Melbourne with the expectation we win. Will the young group tighten up against for fear of expectation or excel in it? I think consistency and maturity is developing slowly but nicely - we just need a few more team defining wins to build that confidence and belief. We are on our way though !

Both Neeld and Beamer made significant errors and need to take responsibility for their own actions before blaming others. At least Neeld isn't blaming others for what he inherited. Beamer was one of our best players with Bailey designing a game plan that suited the cattle we had but wasn't going to develop and propel us forward. The game breaking Jamar-Beamer ruck taps were no longer the focus of the Neeld era that wanted to spread the load and develop a deeper younger midfield. Beamer didn't embrace the new game plan and so he shouldn't be surprised with what happened. An average game plan that everyone follows will always beat a good game plan that no one follows. Beamer was too self absorbed as were others at that time Neeld identified a problem with the professionalism, work ethic, and leadership in the players and was incorrectly told to use a heavy hand in managing them by the board and the club. It's always difficult when your best players use their leadership and influence poorly. Neeld's execution and game plan was poor at best. Brisbane is in a similar position with Rockliff being removed from the captaincy and their next best options are Beams and Zorko - not exactly perfect leaders. At least Brisbane haven't made the MFC mistake of giving their player group to an inexperienced operator. Chris Fagan is a mature football person with people skills to grow the right culture and leadership. At the time, I was invited to a supporter Q&A forum at the club (when media were getting stuck into them) and asked Neeld to what degree do you design the game plan to cater for the playing list (with Beamer, Jamar and others in mind). His answer was something to the effect that each player has the opportunity to fit into his game plan. Seemed a bit blunt and clearly wasn't the right answer. You can have a game plan and still be creative to find roles to get the best out of players. At that point I knew for sure he wasn't going to make it. Players are often a product of their environment and the people instilled to provide leadership and learning. So that brings me to Garry Lyon. Clearly a poor decision maker off the field. Was instrumental in getting both Bailey and Neeld to the club. Given his history he still has the nerve to tea off on one of the youngest teams in the league for apparently not meeting 'winning' expectations recently. Just doesn't get what young players need to develop. Was part of the boys club that managed the club poorly along with Schwab and Connolly. Unfortunately we learnt the hard way that low draft picks and tanking combined with poor player development leads to more rebuilds.. Gee we were poor and naïve back then. Thanks PJ, Roosy, and perhaps a little controversially, the AFL for influencing them to fix the MFC. .

Would love to see Trenners play and all the players getting around him again after a goal. Deserves a chance. He just needs to be sharp in the mind. There are plenty of slowish mids (he isn't that slow) but what they have is great decision making and execution. Lewis is no speedstars.and Tyson speed and execution has been poor this year Could also see him playing off half back where he can read the play, cut off the angles, and intercept mark. If we had another accomplished quick forward then he could also go forward to complement them but we don't. and so might not be a good fit there

Goodwin quoted today saying he is ahead of schedule and expected to play in 5-6 weeks.

The race is now on to identify our new sponsorship partner before its official ... might be better timed leading into a home game however

Apart from Max's obvious talents, he has strong self belief and appears to relish tough challenges which I suspect gives confidence to those around him

The letters isn't a big deal. Supporters and 'past player' commentators bag players all the time - its usually a little more constructive is all. Its just in writing that makes it interesting. My reading of history tells me a couple of things about teams on the rise and on the way down (although there are some rare exceptions including impact of free agency).. Teams like Hawthorn on their transition down typically find a way to win close games because of their experience and composure but have to do it more often until eventually the group ages and tires, and the belief goes with it. Young talented teams on the way up typically lose to sides like Hawthorn who still have elite composure and the know how to win games. Eventually the pendulum swings and as the young team chips away at its belief long enough. The critical thing is that Melbourne need to have high effort even if they are losing as eventually (if they do) luck will fall their way more and more in close games and belief will lift naturally. That didn't happen on the weekend I think its healthy for the playing group to feel the expectation we have as supporters and not be apologetic. Who cares if one supporter expresses their passion more than another. Everyone is different. It's what supporters of successful teams do all the time. We have seen enough in the playing style and list to know that if they can compete for longer than 3 quarters their time will come. It's definitely mental but not unusual for emerging young teams. It needs to stop at some point however otherwise their is the risk the players accept they are unlucky and shy away from expectation and hard work. Its probably time that started to happen for the MFC soon. If we are to be successful, at some point this year the drive and hunger to win (or not lose) and play finals will need to overshadow the fear of expectation and the hard work that is needed. Hopefully that comes sooner than later. For me this has been a good week as the acid is on MFC players to overcome their fears. Their next main test will be against North as they have nothing to lose against Adel this week

Not sure about the Jones comment. He was pretty good last week. A few other more established players probably need to have a think about when they play their best footy.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/melbourne-demons-supporter-has-had-enough-and-writes-angry-letter-to-coach-simon-goodwin/news-story/a4857d62724d82fe18c01a6a4516d3fa

Interesting to see the changes. Jhk would be getting an extended opportunity to see if he can fill the difficult small forward role and develop into the next jeff garlett. This week would have to be his last chance. With Wagner back so quickly its clear Melksham was getting a game given the injuries to other backs and should find form at Casey and come back better. Wagner could be handy with hawthorn having 3 medium talls plus roughead. Kent needs to string some performances together before being considered l would think. Has been a bit disappointing so far this season although last week was apparently better. Seems injured alot so starting to wonder whether he works hard enough or is just one of those players Trengrove ... deserves a game but appears destined for Casey. Not tree right fit for our needs this week in any case

Still feel we don't know the full story of why Dunn was suddenly on the outer. I would love to know but don't think we will get a real answer until he perhaps retires. One year he was vice captain coming off a brilliant year or two at full back and the next he was plarying regular vfl without a call up ....

I think you're gone a bit too hard on this post jnrmac. Gorgorth made a pretty reasonable observation. Perhaps you need to get over yourself

Pound for pound both were as strong and courageous as each other. Wheels using his rugby style tackles and hip and shoulders and Nev his glove like tackles and general strength over the ball

True. Apparently a master tactician back then, who was instrumental in getting Barassi to instill handball into his attacking game plan

Forgot to mention Len Smith brother of Norm

Take your pick. Ted or John Fidge. Had some talent though

He's one of those heart and soul type of players that every team needs but not every team has. Worth mentioning his outstanding work in the community and his mentoring of younger players. Deserves all the recognition he gets

Some of the posters on demonland should probably take a moment to reflect on some of the overly strong posts re hogan and the recent trivial issues on his break in WA. We were told his dads health had deteriorated.

Who cares if he was injured 4 months ago. Clearly he needs to rehab better or get match fit and sharpness at Casey. Agree he will get better by seasons end but why pick him until then? Give him 100 percent game time at Casey until he is back to his peak

Refer to quote below on MFC website from Dom Tyson. King isn't likely to play. Looks like Frost, Pedersen, and Watts will shoulder the work load which makes sense ... DOM Tyson says Cam Pedersen looms as the most likely option to come in and help Melbourne’s ruck situation, given Max Gawn (hamstring) and now Jake Spencer (AC joint) are sidelined until after the mid-season break. Speaking on 1116 SEN on Wednesday, Tyson said Melbourne had to be inventive in the ruck in the coming weeks. “It’s a tough one and a match committee conundrum. We’ve got options. Cam Pedersen is doing some good things down at Casey and there is Sam Frost, who is super athletic,” he said. “Wattsy (Jack Watts) has been doing a good job [as a support ruckman] and it gets him involved, up around the ball, because he’s a great ball user and classy around there. “We’ve got a young fella, Mitch King, who has just come back off an ACL and he’s played one game for Casey, but it’s probably too big of an ask to tell him to really step up. The readymade ones are probably Cam Pedersen.” .”