D4Life

If you don’t chase and go in expecting to win without effort you lose to the Saints by 2 points. After that disgraceful performance last year the Demons tightened team defence, similar to what we did against the Swans in the 2nd half last week. If Melbourne turn up, ready to play team defence, they win! If they don’t it will be a likely loss. We look average with Hore & two Wagners in the team, prefer see Jeffy in and anyone instead of JWag. HOre was better against Swans but still looks slow and disposal iffy! Anyway let’s hope they all play well and the Demons win!

Last year start of the season, same errors: - nobody minding goal square - 2-3-4 players go the punch, while opposition left to crumb unattended (J Wagner has less awareness than Frost!) - loose defenders, rarely manning up - no chasing in middle of ground (Jones is worst offender, looks like he is above chasing his opponent) - bomb into forward line - don’t lead in forward line - don’t tackle in forward line - across the ground, everyone try get the ball, even from one another, while opposition just wait for it to come out - Under 12s It will take an amazing turnaround to win in Sydney. Anyway fingers crossed. Go Dees! One question to any of the guys who watch training. Do the backs all fly for the ball in training and try punch it, while nobody stays on the ground for the crumbs?

Agree: backs one man up just drives me crazy! mids run both ways, in particular Jones just awful example as Captain, I’m above chasing! forwards make some space, agree 100%, don’t all run to same space! coaches: Backline disorganised, would love to hear from someone who attends training, they can’t possibly coach lets all fly together?

It’s raining cats & dogs, so Demons better play with a bit of mongrel and desire. Normally I’d much prefer better weather for Melbourne to play in, might just help us tonight. Often seems like the team that really wants it, comes out on top in the rain, let it be the Dees!

After last weeks match, it’s hard to see us beating any team, reflecting on a few key points, there is hope for a turnaround: - only Salem out of22 players played well for four quarters. Melksham 2.5 quarters. - at 10 minute mark of last quarter still just over a goal, with one player playing well - Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Jones, TMac, Jetta couldn’t be that bad this week - May coming in is big and hopefully KK is ready - last year we showed some quality & competitiveness to make the last four, the players seem to be tight knit, today should at least show the effort if not the ultimate result Go Dees!

Cunnington smashed Bernie Vince in the guts at the ‘G’ in 2017 members wing right in front of umpires, Vince went down nothing. Cunnington is a protected species & no idea why as he is a dirty player. Did anything happen to guy who smashed Max?

The rubbish 50 to Gray late in the third and Jones brain fade, and we could have been in front. Amazing when aside from Salem no other player played four quarters and most of the team were abysmal! Yet we weren’t totally out of it. Fingers crossed for a lot better display against the Cats. Hard to see us winning after round one, but we can only hope and support the team. Go Dees!!

Yes it was very poor, in fact [censored] poor, we looked underdone! i just looked outside, the sky is still in place. Best of all, at least we’re not Essendrug!!!!!

A really bad day for the Demons, let themselves get roughed up by a young Port team and did nothing about it. May and Preuss can both come in and do something about it!

I thought Lewis tweaked a hamstring, so won’t be ready. Unless K.K stars in VFL would rather see him play a couple of VFL games so he is really ready. Jones, Viney looked short of a gallop and Melksham ran out of puff, don’t want KK doing the same. Agree Horne out and May in. Perhaps Frost or O Mac out and Preuss in to support Max and bring in some strength. Not sure answer re more speed, just the team playing better makes a big difference. Hopefully bit of a reality shock will help make players more accountable! Can also see why FD wanted JSmith in forward line, speed and pressure on opposing backs running the ball out of the backline. Out: Hore & Frost In: May & Preuss (not sure why we let Port push us around yesterday, but these two will help)

Our Collingwood trades have gone badly for last 5 years. Kennedy, Lumumba, Dawes and now Hore. Looked very slow and disposal ordinary at best. Reminds me of a slow Wagner in defence. Not good enough for AFL. Hopefully I’m wrong!

Part of yesterday’s game reminded of our loss to St Kilda last year. We got out run and Port ran in waves, particularly from backline were they outnumbered us around the ball, then would typically break away as a group of three and start running and passing the ball amongst themselves. Several Demons weren’t running and chasing, led by our captains, Jones who seems to think he is above chasing, Viney who looked injured, and Petracca. Hore just looked slow, and the team generally didn’t seem to be running. We recovered after losing to St Kilda last year and am expecting almost the whole team other than Salem & Melksham to improve on yesterday’s performance. Would live to see Jones chase!!

Veery tough to pick 6: 6 Salem (best by a mile) 5 Melksham 4 Brayshaw 3 Harmes 2 Hunt 1 Sparrow Worst also difficult as so many to choose from unfortunately!

MFC - Very bad day Team ball movement- slow slow slow Kicking out - slow, short, poor Not so good: Viney, Gawn, Oliver, Harmes, Jetta, TMac, Hibberd, Petracca - well below average ok Jones - will not chase (did not mark!), end is near! Frost - replace with May OMac - was no Mac Spargo - brushed aside easily, at least smart ANB - missed two & disappeared Fritsch - a bit spasmodic Weid - not his best (no easy possessions, slow ball movement, into forward line) Showed something: Hunt - had one crack Newbies: Hore - looked very slow, out of position, replace with anyone Wagner - had a crack Sparrow - some good signs The Good Salem - a class act Melksham - forward line spark Normally don’t bother with player summary but found it cathartic! Shocker of a performance, hopefully can only get better, roll on round 2!

Jones won’t chase and incredibly casual dropped simple mark, when mark and captains goal may have kept us in it.

May for Hore

So why aren’t we smashing into Ryder! Too passive! Jones refuses to chase, poor example from captain!!

Jetta OMac Hibberd Salem Frost Lewis Fritsch Oliver Harmes Petracca Weideman Melksham Spargo TMac ANB Max Brayshaw Viney Jones Hunt Preuss Sparroe or Stretch Backline same as finals last year Fritsch skills to wing Preuss to help counter two Port rucks

Agree DeeSpencer post was good. Give Spargo some time, last year was first season after interrupted pre season, so hopefully this year will be better. I would like to see Clarry kick more, as he is a smart ball user. Dangerfield & Martin both have very average disposal efficiency rating, due to pressure when kicking, and this impacts our mids as well. Disapppointing part is when player is clear and gives it to opposition, ANB, AVB, Hunt and Brayshaw at times are guilty. As DeeSpencer highlighted KK, Fritsch, Spargo, Melksham, all use ball well, most of the backs are good, Weid smart with ball in hand, so we should be improving. Some players like TMac & Hunt probably better near goals, get ball go for goal, nothing to think about. As highest scoring team last year, only need some small improvements to make a big difference. Go Dees can’t wait for Saturday!

While I would love to see point 1 occur, petracca go wild, I think supporters in general have an unrealistic expectation of Half Forward or Forward Pocket players when it comes number of possessions and goals. If Melksham, ANB or Spargo averaged 2 goals a game, 15-20 possessions a game and 3-4 tackles, across the season they will have a great season. But lots of supporters seem to have far greater expectations.

If Smith misses, definitely not playing a Hore from Collingwood! Much prefer Spargo in. Rest of team looks good.

Very good side. Agree coaches will go OMac ahead of Frost, ANB instead of Stretch. Spargo has to crumb in the pocket, using Van DB off bench. Hard to know what to make of JLT form, seemed haphazard and defence pretty loose. Be great to see Viney back in, and Melksham is a key part of forward line functioning properly. Can’t wait for the 23rd!

Very good team, but looking at last years team selections, OMac will get nod over Frost, Lewis over Hunt(early in season). Round one - Preuss in against Port onto bench, ANB into pocket and Hannan out for mine. Harmes on wing Fritsch on bench. In waiting room: Backs: Lever, Hunt, Frost Mids: Stretch, Sparrow, Maynard Utility: J Smith (has the speed and can close opponent down) Forwards: Garlett, Hannan, T Smith, Keilty Team just looks a step up from last years finals team!

Max Petracca Fritsch Preuss & KK

Nice to remember Jakovich in particular that game against North when he kicked 11 goals and about 10 points and was just running around getting the ball for himself, he was a freak! schwartz before he got injured, the nine goals against the Swans, he was going to be a superstar! Farmer kicking 8 against Fremantle at Etihad! But it’s gotta be about 2019: Melksham Weideman Petracca ANB TMac Spargo or Farmer if he comes good Gawn & Preuss dropping into forward line Oliver swapping with Petracca Adding May, Preuss and KK just brings another dimension to the team. If Hunt can get it together and J Smith take the next step it’s going to be hard picking a best 22! Roll on round one, can’t wait!!!!! Gawn Brayshaw Viney Harmes Oliver KK all in the middle feeding the forward line, sounds good!