D4Life

9 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Demons 4, Adelaide Umpires 0.

Holding the ball didn’t seem to apply for the Crows, lots of 360’s then a handball or just let ball drop for no frees!!

Still happy, if we had those umpires against Port we would have lost!

Good kicking is good football!

Bad kicking cost us a couple of finals last year!

I prefer good kicking!!!!!!!

Sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and the Demons did it!

ANB top game, Langdon back in form, and BBB making a big contribution.

It’s terrific to see BBB and TMac back in form, I thought their injuries had finished them last year, a great bonus for the team to have them in good health!

ANB has kept improving every year, like a fine wine, getting better with age, a highly valued member of the team!

Jack has been a great player for the Demons, 100% effort every game.

14 hours ago, layzie said:

A 9 goal win and keeping opposition to under 40 is a smashing no matter where abouts in the season it happens!

It’s hard for Melbourne to win by more or kick more goals when 30-40% of the game is Hawks playing kick to kick in their backline!

7 hours ago, seventyfour said:

Everything i've read said he was "ok without being outstanding" in Sydney's sim today. That is exactly how he played at Melbourne.

We need to move on. Sparrow is entering his prime, RIvers is ready to go to another level, Woewodin could be anything, and Billings could be a great addition once he finds his groove. There are plenty of players available to fill the small shoes left by Jordon.

Agree and when he had chance in finals last year against Blues was a no show!

Depth but no star!

Thanks Angus for your huge contribution in our flag year and for everything you’ve done for the Demons over your career!

Best of luck for the future particularly your health!

AFL will eventually have a massive law suit against them, and their inaction on Maynard’s blatant career finishing hit, will come back to haunt them.

On 14/11/2023 at 17:42, WalkingCivilWar said:

Seems you may’ve answered your own question.

 I watched them train today. They trained hard and look great. Having seen the session I’m super confident about this weekend. 

Sounds like this week they may have more spring in their steps!

5 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Only half a dozen? Covid is infectious and the players are in close contact. 

Demons infected pre match! True or False?

Played like True! 
Didn’t run and seemed like North had 4 extra players.

Heard rumor half a dozen Demons impacted by Covid. 
Any truth re this rumour.

Feels like we let the flag slip away this year!

Shocking goalkicking!

Forward connection average, also impacted by terrible goal kicking!

Forward half injuries, Oliver injury!

Brayshaw being taken out!!

2024 should be amongst it again!

Go Demons!

On 9/20/2023 at 2:15 PM, The heart beats true said:

Blake Howes, Disco Turner and Woewodin (both who you’ve seen) all look more than capable.

AMW came on a bit towards the end of the season.

Personally I rate Jefferson. It’s a huge jump in strength and lack of space playing against under 18’s to the VFL. He can mark and kick.

I expect us to bring in experienced midfield depth to replace contest players Dunstan and Harmes, and to a lesser extent JJ.

Did Dunstan play a game this year?

Did Harmes play a good game this year?

JJ was poor in loss against Blues, player 22-26 on our list.

On 9/16/2023 at 9:43 AM, Webber said:

But it’s a relative spectrum across the clubs, layzie. Every club has greater or lesser problems with injuries across the season. Some have a dream run (which are rare), others a horror, and everything in between. I suspect we were probably mid-table for ‘games unavailable’. If we had a full fit list, we would have done better, which obviously means finishing second, or first, and gone straight to a preliminary final, and been odds on for the flag. Then the whole argument of big changes goes away. In truth, we actually did well for our injury stats. Which suggests that big change is NOT needed, and we did well at managing what could be controlled. But, of course, every club seeks to change for the better after every season, and we will. The current MFC is a very high performing club, that I think should be praised for how it managed the season, despite that we all wish it had ended better. 

We got too many injuries in one part of the ground:

Bbb

TMac

Petty

Melksham

Fritsch.

Could connection have been better - definitely. 

Could goalkicking have been better - definitely. Just this component improves 10% and we are playing this weekend in the Prelim finals.

If Petty & Melksham were available in finals, both of the above would have been better!

Question - Who would you chase as a forwards coach?

Forwards you would chase?

Tomlinson is needed if May goes down. Otherwise see him getting similar opportunities to this year.

I’m supporting anyone playing Pies or Blues!!

On 9/16/2023 at 1:32 PM, layzie said:

Things are still very raw and I thought about waiting a bit but there's no time like the present. When you truly love something, you need to love it when things are at their worst as well.

Demonland means a lot to me and I wanted to express my gratitude to all of you for providing the best place in town for all talk regarding our beloved Demons.

I'd firstly like to give a shoutout to Andy and the moderators for keeping Demonland running smoothly as usual and taking the podcast to yet another level with a great format and tons of great content, quick shoutout to @george_on_the_outer and @binman too for their efforts throughout the year. This became the only Melb and Footy pod I listened to this year and the analysis went to a new level. Looking forward to seeing what's in store next year guys!

To @WalkingCivilWar for providing a weekly update on the making of the banner. Something I've never been exposed to before and it was amazing to see how much time and effort goes into these things. Also thanks for giving us amazing insight to how much the Demon Army accomplishes based on the little resources they have to play with. Again, a realm I'd had very little exposure to and I'll be taking out a DA membership next year no doubt.

@kev martin Your training reports just like last year were amazing. This was another reason why I tuned out to the main footy media so much this year because I was getting so much info from these reports alone! You do all this work off your own bat and I can assure you it is much, much appreciated on DL. 

@Lucifers Hero Your workings of the contract details and number crunching is info that is not readily available in a short space of time on the interwebs. You pull this all together into one concise format and it is an amazing resource. Thanks also for the 'what they are saying' threads. There's so much respect for you here and deservedly so.

To @joeboy the 3 word reviews are like an exclamation point on a game just played. I still don't know how you front up each week and do it knowing what might be coming back in response but you do and I'm looking forward to seeing many, many more. 

Thanks also to anyone who is able to share contents of an article behind a paywall. You guys are the lords of the dance! If I've missed anyone I apologise, feel free to fill in some blanks. 

And finally there's you, the Demonland poster.

Thank you.

There's those of you I get along very well with and think alike with, those that have slightly different views that really make you think and those that I may rarely agree with but the bottom line is that I've learned that 95% of the people who frequent this site (That have been here longer than a day) seem to have a mutual respect for one another. Disagreements and conflict are admittedly not my forte, I used to be someone who never ever wanted to rock the boat or put noses out of joint but I really appreciate those of you that express your different view but don't make it personal or hold grudges. It's a great skill to be able to disagree with someone but then put that out of your mind when you move on to the next point which might actually be something that the same two people agree on. I'd even go as far as to say I've learned a lot from those of you who are like this so thank you. Anyone who frequents Demonland is usually highly invested and regardless of agreement or disagreement I have respect.

It's a cruddy feeling going out in straight sets two years in a row, it will burn, I will not want to watch anymore footy this year but probably will. However this is our club, we live by the sword and die by the sword. I'll never lose the passion and I doubt any of you will too. Enjoy the Grand Final if you watch it and have a great/safe Xmas and New Year period. I'm looking forward to chatting about the hot topics with all of you again in 2024. 2023 the year of the Dee rhymed so we won't have that but I'm sure we'll be in the thick of it.

GO DEES!!!

 

We are lucky to have Demonland adds massively to my understanding of all things Demons and enjoyment!

A huge Thank you to everyone mentioned above for doing a fantastic job and displaying a passion and time commitment that can only be loved and admired!

Go Demons & Demonland!

PS-Demonland also kick straight!

In future if Maynard gets off:

- every player can launch themselves late into the air to smother

- not be anywhere near the ball

- not have time to turn their body

- hit the player in the head

- and take out opposition player

- no punishment

- as it’s a footy act!

A joke, total BS!!

We lost by 7 points and had our chances, not 10 goals. Also key player knocked/taken out in first few minutes that upset team balance and shocked our players. Brayshaw not just a popular player but one with head trauma background - definitely unsettled our team in first quarter!

Carlton beat Swans by one goal and a suspect goal review at the “G” with lopsided supporter presence!

Demons beat Swans away at SCG by 21 points in round 24!

Demons can and should beat the Blues, and past performances have earnt our support not abandonment, as many supporters on Demonland have forgotten the prior eight week’s performances! Yes, I recall we lost to Blues with pispoor VAR!
Anyway, onwards and upwards Demons, will be at the “G” cheering you on loudly Friday night!

On 9/8/2023 at 10:25 AM, Stiff Arm said:

But they have a forward set up that works 100% better than ours

IMO Checkers and McStay are much better for them than JVR and Tmac are for us

JVR 1st year AFL forward and TMac at end of career recovering from injuries, both his speed and agility compromised, so would hope Pies two are better.

Petty or Melksham play instead of TMac we win!

Take out Mihicek or McStay, Curnow, Daniher or Hipwood, Port key forward, Hogan for Giants, King for Saints in last six weeks of season, and none of them win!

Demonscdealt a [censored] injury run with key forwards this season, that has a major impact on forward line functioning!

We looked like we had it made vs Tigers, take out Petty & Melksham - there’s your difference. 
 

Hard to find new structure when you keep losing key forwards! Coaching team can only do so much!

On 9/7/2023 at 10:22 PM, joeboy said:

Gawn - an Herculean effort

Viney - quiet after first

Petracca - amazing second half

Oliver - many irrelevant possessions 

May - passion and heart

Lever - had little input

 Bowey - an important game

Rivers - was surprisingly quiet

Salem - slow and loose

McVee - often out positioned 

Smith - had limited opportunities 

McDonald - needed more involvement 

vanRooyen - will be suspended 

Fritsch - still wearing moonboot

Pickett - an almost game

Neal-Bullen - was rarely sighted

Sparrow - better second half

Chandler - little to praise

Hunter - slow decision making

Hibberd - slow but tight

Laurie - was seemingly overwhelmed 

Langdon - better second half 

Maybe 6 of our players played well, our goalkicking was bad, and we only lose by 7 points!

We don’t need much improvement to beat the Pies!!

9 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Just btw, do we have a Darren Jarman or Andrew McLeod in our squad?

No, but Crows did when they lost by 48 points. We have:
 

Petracca

Gawn 

Oliver

May

Fritsch

Kossie

Lever

Viney

Demons have made life much harder, but we still have a chance, and our coach has overcome the same obstacle as a player, we’re not done yet!

Simon Goodwin played in the Crows flag winning team that the Demons belted by 48 points in a QF!

So at least he knows what is required to come back!

11 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

I wonder if there is truth to the whispers that Gus may not play again, if Laura intervened for fear of additional litigation against the AFL.
Brayshaw and Frawley are powerful footy names and given Anita is currently in active litigation with the AFL, this can’t be good for their case.

If Maynard is allowed to play because his is deemed a reasonable action, and Gus has to retire as a result of repeated head injuries, it only further weakens the position of the AFL in their ongoing legal battles. 

Gus did not put himself in a situation where brutal force could have been expected such as throw himself into a pack or run backwards for a mark. He was running with the ball in open space trying to kick it away. He has every right to expect to walk away from that without a severe head injury. 

Whether you think what Maynard did was intentional or just a footy action gone wrong, there is no doubt the consequences of his action could well be catastrophic. The AFL cannot just simply turn a blind eye or succumb to the pressure of the feral Magpie Army. There are far bigger chess pieces in play here. 

Well congratulations to Laura Kane if she did! Showing courage to do the right thing.

Multiple reasons:

- Maynard chose to take Brayshaw out, total rubbish he had no other choice

- Footballers, ex footballers seem to stupid, or thick to realise, it’s to their benefit to protect the head, perfect example is Barry Mitchell father of Tom, life massively impacted by head collision trauma 

- Tom Mitchell’s action highlights his level of stupidity, obviously forgot his fathers problems

- Richo, BT & co. Must have had incredibly thick skulls not to have been more severely impacted by the hits taken, but why they protect weak dog acts is beyond me

- Could write pages on this topic but enough said!

Most important point - hopefully Brayshaw is okay, for now and rest of his life!

17 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Tomlinson is one of the enigmas of the recent team selections, for me. I have been impressed with his ability, build and mobility since he joined the Mighty Dees. I prefer him on the wing - where we once played him - for his talent to 'go solo' finding absolute space continuously and ready to receive.

These were the days when our 'long-bombing' was our absolute stamp on the game ... and Tomlinson was always 'overlooked' by downfield defenders/midfielders striving to put the ball on top of the forwards'/deep forwards' heads in packs - another kicking statistic and metres gained marque for that distributor. We were just getting out of that poor habit but it has returned for unknown reasons to our modus operandi.

Your suggestion of putting Tomlinson as a CHF makes sense to me, in the absence of two or three key forwards due to injury and the onset of '...[censored] on a bull...', aged weariness. What are the positives? Well, Tomlinson does have an impressive frame, is quite quick and mobile and finds space so well he decreases the prevalence of opponents that assists him to mark and play on with considerable ease (and these attributes characterised his game and applied talents for what was about 60% of his game time - when someone lined him up with a foot pass, eventually. So, we made him work out of synch as a backman. Heh? Just to interrupt the game flow of Lever and May, in a crowd. 

Tomlinson can mark, bump and is more mobile than most, is a remarkably agile tall, is very fit these days and in reality, is built like a brick xxxxhouse, quite good at freeing himself from tackles, holds, jarring collisions, episodes of holding. I repeat, he also finds consistent space and can do much within it. Now, as part of his baptism as a 'defender', he also knows a few more tricks with the old 'don't argue' tackle and those tackles that stick, within the rules. 

If he plays at CHF and gets three kicks, two marks, and two goals, he will have done more than those asked to step into the breech. He'd play a good wayside chapel for the long-bombers who attempt to move the ball effectively into the forward arcs. He'd most probably synch very well with JSmith, another agile forward with an ability to find space, take the grab and slot the goal - and play a defensive mindset within the forward line.

Just some thoughts ... perhaps, worth a try?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately since doing his knee he is slow and struggles to move off a straight line. Pre knee mobility etc. he’s a lock in backline, post knee only a replacement if May injured.