D4Life

While I’ll have a much more enjoyable Saturday night watching the Demons pump the Cats, a close loss wouldn’t be end of the world. Potentially playing Port in Adelaide next week is still a very winnable match and even losing that match, we only have to win three in a row! Top 4 is the key and no injuries. Dream scenario, win our next four matches!! But three may suffice! Go you mighty Demons!

You obviously watch a lot of replays, read a lot articles, and do significant research! Your input to Demonland and the podcast provides some great insights ! Reflecting on last week and the team picked, I felt Rivers went flat out like Hunt at least once possibly twice and can play that role. Smith to Cameron wouldn’t surprise as he has done it previously with some success, and has great closing speed. Petty to Rohan, May to Hawkins and Lever to roam, could work well, with Salem, Bowey & Rivers to mop up! I was surprised Sparrow was picked ahead of Jordan, as he had a few delivery howlers and also against Suns! Perhaps Jordan being rested as his form has tapered off! Hibberd being dropped surprised me, as he seems to be a good fit for the Dusty, Stringer & Dangerfield types. His form has dropped off, and people have noted his falling to the ground in contests as happened with Lewis. If I was Hibberd would do some martial arts training this summer, to work on his balance and reflex speed. Still Demons in a great position win or lose, as while preferring to win this weekend, we are top 4 lock and if Dogs win, won’t have to play a true “away” final. Go Demons, can’t wait for finals to start!

Thanks for the article! Highlights the importance of Lever and Geelong losing Stewart will have a big impact. All cards seem to be falling for the Demons: Cats lose Stewart Lions Hipwood Dogs Bruce & others Port getting players back but struggle to beat Top 4 teams (makes Dogs a huge game) Swans out of 4 makes it tough for them Likely Giants/Bombers playing mini finals for 8-10 weeks will hurt them. Demons lost Tomlinson early in season, Petty has grown into the role and shown rapid improvement, and losing Hunt hurts as he was starting to look like the Hunt of old (pre knockout) with heaps of run, but I think Rivers can pick up the slack. If we can beat the Cats we get choice of venue and shouldn’t have to cop a Port or Lions home crowd/ground/umpire bias, so we are terrifically placed to have a real crack!!

Hawkins & Dangerfield both get off - what a surprise! 🤦🏻

Seeing the Eagles really struggling against Freo team missing Fyfe and Brayshaw, puts Demons struggling to get out of 2nd gear into perspective. Very good result today, Fritsch, Langdon both hitting form, Jackson another 👍game, Spargo played well, Pickett won’t be far away from coming good. Smith filled in well. Only downers we’re Brayshaw & Melksham very quiet, and Sparrow turned it over too much. Jordon fair! Assuming Viney, May & TMac all good to come back next week, we should be cherry ripe heading into the finals, and a big show to beat the Cats next week at GMHBA (Hawkins should get a week or two, the guy was concussed, so careless, high & high).

Sparrow is going along fine, difficult to play consistently when can’t get any Casey games, when not in ones. Wasn’t a good disposal day today, but will be better next year. Viney in for Sparrow.

Think he missed last and alt his week, so good to replace Sparrow!

Agree, one minor modification! Smith played pretty well, possibly stays as medi-sub, VDB out.

Mids need to lift definitely! Run is also down. Let’s see what happens this quarter.

How about a win!

I really like your ppt idea, the umpires could watch pre game as well. That Bulldogs players seem allowed to do a 360 up to 720 degrees while tackled and not get called for holding the ball always confuses me! Probably need three ppts shown per rule: - normal rule - rule as applied to Bulldogs - rule applied in last quarter for interstate teams playing at home (especially Eagles, Crows, Power & Lions)

Hibberd for Hunt - don’t mess with backline cohesion. Either of VDB or Sparrow out and Weideman in, as agree with prior comment that Fritsch better as 3rd marking target. Re cohesion, Bowery has slotted in incredibly well, very good disposal skills and decision making, looks like a 200 game player. Demons are lucky to have Taylor, as recruitment has been terrific the last four years for the pick #s we’ve had in the draft!!!

Forget race, colour, creed, religion, simply “treat people the way you want to be treated!” A simple rule if applied by all would make the world a better place.

Agree, seemed like BBB tackled to the ground, taken out of contest, and you then compare the Rivers mark minor bump out to Darling that gets paid! The terrible umpiring just made it an even better win!

Great to see Maggotts go! If Nicholls, umpire 22 and the other maggot with bright blonde hair would join him in retirement would be fantastic! Suggestion for finals each team should be able to nominate two umpires they don’t want! Dogs couldn’t find two, but would make for better umpiring in finals.

Home record 7-3 & 114% vs away 3-6 & 79%, so in region of 5 goals per game better at home. Assuming it’s a low scoring game due to rain, we’re probably giving away 3 goal disadvantage. Eagles form has dropped off, so will see if they put in last ditch stand after criticism from Simpson. If we bring top effort and pressure, we will win!

Yes, their form is ordinary, it’s just whether they lift after their bake from Simpson and being a big game re finals for them. If Demons bring our A grade effort, we win.

I’m not sure it’s ever easy to beat the Eagles in Perth. They are a 5 goal or more better team in Perth than playing away. Would be interesting to see their season broken into home and away results with respective %.

Weather seems like it will be exceptionally wet & windy, so result becomes a bit more of a lottery. But more Victorian like conditions, so hopefully that suits Demons, versus Eagles pinpoint passing dry weather style.

Seems a long long wait for GameDay when your waiting till the Monday!

Giants / Saints into Bombers & then Demons winning, would look fine re the Ladder! For all those Demons who say Melbourne are hopeless whenever we lose a game, I’m assuming that Geelong and the Swans are now similarly useless?

It would be good if Vardy plays, as a reminder of 2018 prelim. Demons should be up for this game: - lock in top 4 - part of run into finals building form - challenging game being in Perth - locked in for 7 days adding to challenge - hopefully mindset won’t slip marginally as has seemed to happen against poorer teams - stick it to Eagles Demons please kick straight!!

I reflect on trade targets and the draft and it’s amazing how much we underrate our own players and overate other teams players. Jack Martin in another thread is a perfect example. Some people wanted to pay him $750k by 4 years!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone goes Geelong had great gets in Cameron, Smith & Higgins, but they were very interested in Viney who many trash on this site, unfortunately! Our list management, trading and drafting has been very good to excellent of recent years: - 1st round trades - Lever & May - 2nd round trades - Brown, Langdon, Tomlinson, Hibberd & Melksham - 1st round draft - Jackson & Pickett - 2nd rounders - Fritsch, Spargo, Petty, Jordan, Rivers, - Bowey looks promising The list strategy from 2018 in filling our deficiencies: - brought in key backs to fill hole (Lever, May) Petty from 2018 prelim - 2019 brought in wings after 6/6/6 rule highlighted importance (Langdon, & Tomlinson, even though He went back) - Small forward with X factor Pickett - Tall (support for Max) with X factor Jackson - Big forward in BBB - Skill & disposal efficiency Spargo, Bowey, Pickett The more you look at it, the more you can only congratulate the list management and recruitment, a gold medal effort. Even on improving coaching getting Yze & Choco has been great. I heard some commentator or journo going Melbourne don’t have premiership star factor, obviously he can’t see the following across the field: Midfield: Gawn, Oliver, Trac (add Bont and you have AA midfield) Backs: May, Lever, Salem(carrying groin hasn’t helped since mid season) Forward: Fritsch (look at stats for goal kicking # 3 forwards) Pickett ( look at pressure stats and goals) We are going to go very close this year, fingers crossed, but regardless club has done a great job in building the playing list and coaches plus high performance team - IF we can find goal kicking solution for next 6-7 matches, we will be exceptionally hard to beat from here on in!

Absolute Gun with a capital G! Not sure his numbers last year but in a 17 game season he was probably on his way to another 400 in a normal season. We are lucky to have Petracca and Oliver together, both stars! Add Maxy, May, Lever, Salem before injury slowed him, and look forward to Pickett and Jackson, our future is bright!!

In effect best 8 players out vs strong Dogs team. Not surprising they won well.