D4Life

BBB for Weid Harmes for Chandler BBB for Weid is the obvious change, but hard to make any other changes as the team did a great job, every player, playing their role, Weid excluded and maybe even he did what he was asked! Its a great sign that we have Bowey, Smith, Chandler waiting in the wings, even Harmes being medi-sub, gives us some coverage, other than 2nd tall forward role and Melksham has exceeded my expectations of him, in play a negating role in that position the last few weeks.

All hail to the new guru called Binman and his disciples, Vipercrunch coming to mind! Following the Demons for 50 plus years, aside from calling out at the footy, go Dees, umpire, the next would be RUN, as for so many years lots of our players were very reluctant to put in the extra yards! Our current Demons really run, tackle go hard, and it has been noticeable over last eight weeks when it drops off, it stands out and is explained by Binman and his loading disciples. Fantastic to see the Demons running, tackling, going hard for four quarters last night. Aside from loading we saw with finals coming near, the little extra effort or ruthlessness as mentioned by Gus on display last night! Lots great points already made in this post game thread, but a number of things I really liked: - Rivers back in business, but more zip and confidence back in his game - Hunt was good and I like his speed - Trac back in beast mode - Salem looking more like Salem - Fritsch, Kossie, Spargo all good smart forwards games - Melksham level of effort - Brayshaw gave different look in the middle and the backline didn’t miss a beat Tough night for all talls!

Yes, King just tries to grab headlines, very one point sensitive and never gets called on it. Would love to see him on Demonland podcast, he would get obliterated! As mentioned at some point in last 24 hours on one of the Demonland threads - Ross Lyon bags May game against Freo and no idea he played half a quarter and went off! Demonlanders on the podcast much better listening and pretty close too the money for mine!

Anyone doubting the value of Gus should just go and re watch the grand final. There are players who are very good H&A players and there are players who step up in the finals and GF - the game that matters most! Absolutely delighted he has signed for six, he wants to be part of a dynasty team! Is there some risk in our long term deals - yes, but we are taking a balanced approach to risk and reward. Long-term deals for Max, Viney, Salem, Clarrie, Trac & Gus likely means they are all taking unders, multiply 6 players *$ 150-200k leaves an extra $900k - $1.2M to keep other players. That core group of players will keep us in the mix for a flag for the next 5 years.

I’m in your camp on glass half full, loading, and that team defence and run leads to forward line functioning better and us winning. While many on Demonland worried about Gus on SEN, the comment I really liked was about being ruthless. I think it was Luke Hodge said after a flag, the following home & away season is a bit ho hum after all the excitement of finals and a flag. Demons finishing loading and recognising that they are lacking that ruthless commitment for four quarters can hopefully turn it around from this week onwards. We learned last year we do play finals football, come September it’s up to the others to match us! I will be amazed if the Geelong midfield setup can hold the Demons come a final in September, MCG is very different to Kittycat Park! looking forward to a win on Friday night and the start of our run toward another flag!

Money coming in for Demons this weekend, Binman on the money! Few Dockers injuries maybe having some influence!

Agree! If 2021 is our only flag. At least I got to see one and what a finals campaign it was to behold, just unbelievable after waiting so many years. This year has still been enjoyable, with a few frustrations: - while loading, having multiple players going down injured or ill mid-match in our three losses to Freo, Swans & Pies really hurt. - losing to Dogs when we should have won! - umpires against Swans, Pies & Dogs. I know you should ignore them, but there are definitely matches they influence - 2016 GF and throw dogs still stands out and I was happy to see Dogs break their drought! - Brayshaw commented this morning lacking ruthlessness, which probably cost us against Swans, Pies & Dogs. So 18 matches in, 13 wins still happy, have my fingers crossed for luck with injury between now and end of year and that we don’t have a bad one off game or umpire ruined game! So with a little luck, end of loading, finding that extra desire coming towards finals, I still think we can do it and go back to back. Cats have improved so will be tougher, but I really can’t see any of the other teams being good enough, if we find near our best. That will make it a GREAT 2022 going BACK to BACK! Go Demons, upwards & onwards to the 2022 Flag!!

I think the list Mngt will work it out with him, as hopefully they are not too far apart on terms. Fortunately he continues to play really well.

Decision making is different for all, I recall Tom McDonald saying he was so relieved to get his deal done, released pressure on him. Brayshaw is obviously different, playing great, so it isn’t impacting his play. In his shoes with his concussion history I would be keen to get a deal signed asap. Anyway he is weighing up pros and cons while trying to get best deal, which is just smart: Demons staying Pros: Happy at Demons playing with great mates Playing great on half back as he did on wing last year Standing in club as a leader (also Gus & Gawny) Premiership player ( chance to win more) Will get a very good deal (600k for 5yrs) Financially post career will potentially be more reward as a one club player (ok this is totally my personal view) Leaving pros: If he wants to play in midfield, better chance elsewhere Higher salary longer term (might get an extra 200k per year and get an extra year on deal, after tax means approx an extra 104k per annum) Fresh start to reinvigorate Risk cons of leaving: Move doesn’t work out, culture, coach, other players (as Deeko2 said in their post, left for an extra 60k but didn’t like culture etc, moved back 3 years later) Waiting might get Gus an extra $50k a season or maybe an extra year on his deal, that could close the gap on rival offers, time will tell! Also heard a few Hawk players say after winning flag, motivation during season harder to find, as it can be a bit ho him after excitement of finals and flag. But when September comes around and Grand Prize is 2-4 games away, the players motivation and hunger comes back. Hopefully this happens for the Demons!!

It’s funny, just went looking around to see if official announcement coming out and get to see positive signs on Demonland. I think it would give the team a bit of a boost this week, hopefully resulting in a win on Friday!

Everyone knows the rules don’t apply to Hawkins, Selwood, Cameron, Dangerfield, or Bontempelli, Daniels or Dogs generally!

There you go Jimmy, I didn’t think you had it in you to be glass half full after reading your posts over last few years. Dogs played out of their skins and with an extra player in the 2nd half wearing yellow they just got us as we tired off our 6 day break and if Kossie kicks his last shot, we would have hung on. If we win 2 or 3 of our last four we will finish second and even finishing fourth and playing Cats is fine. There is a big difference between H&A and finals - unrelenting pressure. Our Demons showed last year we can do it and that has earned my trust in us giving it another red hot crack come September. Last night positives for me was some of Max’s tap work was superb in the middle, leading to fast breaks and scoring. Frittata 1st half, Trac showing some signs of form. Weid also did some good things, faded a bit, but 2nd half ball was in Dogs forward half a lot. Looked like half the team have major room for improvement. Bowey & Chandler both played well in VFL so putting some pressure on for selection plus Lever & BBB to come back. Fortunately we are well enough placed to rest BBB and Lever so they will be ok for the finals. BBB plays next four then gets a week to rest his knee pre finals. I’m an optimist but prior to what we did in last years finals would have been a big gloomy after last 8 weeks, but Demons play finals footy. How Dogs played last night Won’t win finals footy at the G, as under extra pressure will fall over. Come on Demons supporters show some faith in our team and FD, they brought us a flag last year and Goody has developed a team and style suited to winning finals. Go Demons.

Did we lose to the Dogs in round 19 or 20 last year?

You missed my point. Also perhaps look at how Demons play and watch last years finals! Our starting point is defence, listen to pretty much every Goodwin press conference last two years. How we attack is influenced by how we defend across the ground. It is obvious our attack can be better as Demons playing at about 80%, but if our defence is on top and ball is coming out of middle as it did at times yesterday we can score.

Collingwood % is 106 - 10th on ladder, they have ridden their luck and have had a soft draw. They really look like Demons of 2018, actually not as dynamic, our % was in 130s. In an even year, a soft draw and luck has them approaching top 4, but really analyse their results and they would need to be luckiest team of all time to do anything in the finals.

Crap forward line that kicked 11.4 in 1st half!

We’re still Premiers last I looked 😃 Really need things to go right on the injury front and we will still be in good position to defend our flag come September. 3 more wins would help!

BT is the worst. But Darcy follows closely, even worse than Ling. Just don’t understand how he has been on TV and radio for such long stints, comes across as an arrogant prat!

I think you’ve nailed it, exciting Dogs win, but high risk and style won’t win a final. Also Lever & BBB out hurts our structure. We seemed to run out of puff in the last qtr, I’m sure hot Alice Springs game and 6.day break didn’t help. Port also ran out of puff and only gave Cats an extra day break advantage.

The morning after, still angry but credit to Dogs, they played well. However without 10 more frees, almost the disposal count of an extra half a player, they lose. Particularly as they were almost 10 frees up after half time. Compare the Jack Viney swing around and kick the ball, to Bontempelli over 360 tackle and throw/drop one handed the ball. Kossie catches Dale in middle of ground vs Demons getting pinged. Across season they have most frees in AFL. Just bloody annoying. Watching the game, minimal umpire whistle, Demons winning. Umpires whistle Dogs get back into game. Same happened last year in same game. Anyway as mentioned by a few, Kossie goals we win.

Umpires - totally bl..dy inconsistent Umpires - killed our momentum

Umpires - best for bulldogs

Screwed by AFL 6 day break vs 8 then screwed by umpire’s

Cheating maggots

Different rules on disposal playing against 25 no whistle demons score